Skates: sizes, how to choose the right one

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

To become a master in hockey or figure skating, first of all, you need to ensure yourself a confident skating, that is, an athlete on skates must feel comfortable. To do this, you need to choose the right skates for your foot size.

Sizes of hockey skates and their impact on the quality of the game

Nothing should interfere and distract the hockey player from the game, and, of course, he should not even remember that he is now not in ordinary boots or sneakers. There is no universal recipe for choosing skates. This is an individual matter, and you should focus mainly on the feeling of whose leg they are being picked up.

Skates, the sizes of which are correctly matched to the player's foot, become, as it were, an extension of his body. Between the athlete's foot and the inside of the ice boot there should be no "bumpiness", but there should also be no undue pressure. There are some principles when choosing skates for yourself that you should pay attention to when buying them.

Foot size and boot size

If you navigate by the North American dimensional system, thenThe most suitable pair of skates will be that which is half a size larger than the size of the feet involved. But this, of course, should not be taken as an unconditional guide to action. Because the main selection criterion is how comfortable your feet feel in fully laced boots.

Habits, preferences and purpose also play an important role. Someone chooses skates, the dimensions of which are close to the leg. And some are even half a size smaller. This is done in order to increase mobility and maneuverability, since the smaller the size of the skates, the shorter the length of the blade. After all, as you know, a long blade reduces maneuverability. And remember: never buy skates for children for growth, 2-3 sizes larger. This not only increases the risk of injury, but also can completely ruin the child's skating. Given that each manufacturer has its own table of skate sizes, you can choose the right one by matching your country of residence with the shoe size. To find out the latter, you need to measure the length of the foot and find in the table the size corresponding to the received indicator.

When hard is better, and when soft

There are plenty of skates on sale today, and therefore, when choosing a pair for yourself, try to focus not only on the size of figure skates or ice hockey skates, but also on some important nuances. Skates come with a low or high heel, they come with a high or low rise, and the choice in this case is determined by the individual structure of the athlete's legs. Besides,you should pay attention to the stiffness of the boots.

To prevent injury, it is best to choose a hard variation. However, a hard boot will not give you the freedom of action that a soft boot can. Professional athletes usually opt for a soft option, because their leg muscles are already well trained and ready for specific loads. A beginner, on the other hand, is not so well prepared, and therefore, in soft boots, he can twist his leg.

Smallest size skates and sliding models for toddlers

The first ice skating for a child can be the most joyful event. Moreover, nowadays it is not difficult to buy skates for kids. Models for the smallest "future stars" are so wonderful and comfortable that it's a pleasure to look at. The smallest skate size is approximately 22-23, but the bottom line is that the legs grow very quickly in babies. And taking skates for growth, as mentioned above, is not recommended. Skate designers have thought about this and created skates that can change size.

There are four types of sliding skates. They are divided into separate types, depending on the method of their extension, that is, they are push-button, bolted, screw and lever. How these mechanisms work is easy to understand. Screw skates are recognized as the most convenient, because thanks to this method, the dimensions of sliding skates can be changed smoothly, and the boot can be adjusted literally to a millimeter under the baby’s legs.

Nuances when choosing sliding skates

Of course, it is best to buy sliding skates with a baby, because these models require fitting. It is imperative that the child himself answer whether his legs are comfortable in the chosen pair. If it is not possible to take the child with you to the store, or if you want to surprise him, then measure the length of the child's foot in advance. Then the skate size chart will help you decide on the size. And in this case, agree with the sellers about the possibility of exchanging the goods, in case you still made a mistake with the size and the skates do not fit your baby.

When choosing skates for a child, be sure to pay attention to which part of the boot moves apart. For very young children, choose those in which the toe moves apart, because when the heel moves apart, the center of gravity shifts, and the baby may fall. In general, it is best to give preference to plastic sliding skates, as they are both comfortable and light, and will last several seasons. In such models, only the boots are plastic, and the blades of the skates are made of durable carbon steel.

Figure Skates

Skates for figure skating differ from other types of skates in the shape of the blades. The peculiarity of these same blades is that they have sharp teeth in front. Thanks to them, the skater can take steps and jumps, as well as move on his toes. At the same time, the blade itself is not at all even, but curved, which helps in performing movement, sliding, rotation, which is what distinguishes such blades.skates. Sizes are also very important, but their choice is based on the same criteria as for the selection of models for hockey.

When choosing, pay special attention to the blade of the skates. Here, such a criterion as "inexpensive" does not fit absolutely. This is because low-quality steel wears down quickly and does not glide very well on ice. And if you want to raise a great skater or figure skater, then make sure that your child is provided with only high-quality sports equipment.

General recommendations for choosing skates

Research the individual characteristics of your foot, as these are important criteria for choosing the right model. Take a close look at your old skates. The sizes and their correct or incorrect choice in the past will tell you the look of the old insole. How correctly the foot imprinted on the insole, whether it is evenly distributed over the entire insole or somewhere goes beyond its edges - try to take all this into account when choosing a new pair.

Socks and lacing

You must wear the socks you will wear when you try on. This refers to the thickness and density of socks. It is recommended to wear thin socks, as the inside of the boot will form and adapt to your unique foot shape faster.

So, the ice boots are bought, and you are ready to go out on the ice in them. While putting on shoes, loosen the lacing lower, move the heel vigorously back. The tongue of the boot, when properly laced, will hold the foot in that position, preventing your heel from moving in the back of the boot. The leg should be tightly fixed, but in no case squeezed. You are now completely ready to ride.