Hockey Equipment

Lacing your hockey skates might seem like a simple step before hitting the ice—but the way you lace your skates can make a huge difference in how you perform and how comfortable you feel. Proper lacing affects: Fit and support Foot stability Ankle mobility Injury prevention Whether you’re a beginner, a goalie, or a seasoned player, learning the right way to lace your hockey skates ensures you stay confident, secure, and pain-free during every shift. Let’s break it down! 1. Why Lacing Your Skates Correctly Matters Think of your laces like the tuning knobs on a guitar. Too loose? You lose control. Too tight? You risk numbness, cramps, or even long-term foot issues. Good lacing helps you: Lock your heel in place to prevent slipping Support your ankles without restricting motion Avoid lace bite (pain across the top of your foot) Skate more efficiently with better energy transfer 2. Basic Method: Traditional Criss-Cross Lacing This is the most common and beginner-friendly method used by players at all levels. ✅ Step-by-Step: Start at the bottom eyelets: Thread the lace evenly through both bottom holes. Criss-cross the laces: Pull each lace across the boot and insert it from the outside in (over-under…

Got a brand new pair of hockey skates? Excited to hit the ice? Hold up—before you dive into a full game or intense practice, there’s something crucial you need to know: Yes, hockey skates need to be broken in. Just like a new pair of shoes or boots, hockey skates require a break-in period to mold to your feet and feel comfortable. Without it, you risk blisters, foot pain, poor performance, and even long-term injuries. In this guide, we’ll walk you through why breaking in hockey skates is necessary, how to do it properly, and what mistakes to avoid—so you can skate in comfort and confidence. 1. Why Do Hockey Skates Need to Be Broken In? Hockey skates are built with stiff, durable materials like carbon fiber, reinforced plastic, and thick padding for maximum protection and performance. But those materials don’t flex easily right out of the box. Breaking in skates allows: The boot to mold to your foot shape The padding to compress around pressure points A tighter, more responsive fit for performance Prevention of blisters and hotspots Without breaking them in, new skates can feel painfully tight, especially around the ankles, toes, and arches. A proper break-in process…

If you're buying your first pair of hockey skates—or even upgrading to a new model—you might be surprised to hear that hockey skates don’t fit like regular shoes. In fact, one of the most common questions people ask is: “Do hockey skates run big or small?” Short answer? Hockey skates typically run smaller than your regular shoe size, but there’s more to the story. Skate fit depends on brand, model, foot shape, and even skill level. In this guide, we’ll break down how hockey skates fit, how sizing works, and how to make sure you get the right pair the first time. 1. Do Hockey Skates Run Big or Small? They Usually Run Small—But Not Always Most hockey skates are 1 to 1.5 sizes smaller than your regular shoe size. For example, if you wear a men's size 10 in sneakers, you’ll likely wear a size 8.5 or 9 in hockey skates. But here's where it gets tricky: Different brands (like Bauer, CCM, and TRUE) have different sizing systems. Some skates are made with a narrow or wide fit in mind. Performance-level skates may have a snugger fit for better control and responsiveness. Bottom line: Hockey skates generally run smaller…