Good Quality Youth Skate for a Mite

[sk8 0]

My son plays in the Mites and is currently using Bauer Vapor VI's which he has been using for 1 year. The skates are pretty beat up with all the skating - aprox 5 days per week throught the entire year.

I am looking to purchase a new pair of skates but the selection is very limited in my LHS's. Some carry one model and the others carry another. I am looking for some selection advice and then will find an LHS in my area to purchase and fit the skate. They can possibly order something as well. If you have any suggestions please let me know. The way I see it is if Mite age kids are playing travel hockey they should have quality products out there for them. They are not just recreational skaters and need good quality just as Jr's do.

Thank you

[jimmy 194]

You certainly want to upgrade to a skate with a stainless blade, especially for a 5 day a week player. The XIV is a nice skate for that level of play, so if he fits into Bauer Vapors well, then that would be a good choice.

RBK 4K, CCM 492, Vector 6.0, and Easton have nice skates as well. I like the RBK/CCMs because their mid-low ends are heat moldable and the blade attaching system is the best, although for a mite, not a big deal. You'll get a lot of responses but the bottom line is fit, comfort first, then support, then features. Heat moldability and stainless are my top requirements.

[sk8 0]

Youth skate engineering design question. I have heard that regardless of what level youth hockey a child plays or even how much they skate better quality skates are simply too stiff for youth players. If this is true then wouldn't it mean that skates such as Bauer Vapor XXX and RBK 9K in youth sizes are not only a waste of money but are actually poorly engineered for youth players in general?

I would think that large reputable manufactures such as Rbk/CCM and Nike/Bauer would engineer skates in youth sizes with youths in mind. Let's use stiffness as an example. Would a Vapor XXX or 9k in youth have the same proportional stiffness as the Senior models do? If so why make these higher end skates at all? I guess what I am asking is the design philosophy behind youth skates.

thank you

[Scarecrow 0]

I was in the same boat a month ago. It came down to 05 vector 6.0 and Bauer 5090's. We were looking at youth size 12's. The 5090's felt pretty stiff, but the 6.0's were like rocks. We ended up with the 6.0's because of the fit and stiffness. He is skating 3-4 times a week and loves the skates. The only thing is that it appears they do not have stainless blades. There is some coating that is flaking off the blades. It appears to be only a cosmetic issue.

[hockeymom 2]

sk8: My kid grew out of youth skates before I ever found an answer to your question. Proportional stiffness for youth and junior skates would seem to be one of the great mysteries in hockey.

While they are not as stiff as senior skates - no one has ever been able to give me a satisfactory answer to this question. I just kept it at mid-level because they only had to last 1/2 to 1 season. Now there is a scientific way to make a decision!

[indaslot 0]

My kid always wore CCM852.The only issue was the tendon guard that I beleie has since been fixed.It depends on your kid's foot though, if he is more comfortable with a Bauer or CCM.

[sk8 0]

Thank you everyone for your replies as I know I am not alone in this quest for information. The demands of youth hockey at Mite & Squirt level have definately incresed since I played in the early 80's. I find that if I look to purchase equipment for myself playing in adult leagues there is much information and knowledge about products with ranges from the once a year player to the once per week player. However, youth products seem to be tailored to the learn to skate 8 year old and not the travel Mite player who plays all year. Many of these kids attend summer camp skating every day. They do train as much as the older travel players and definately more than the weekend adults.

I not only see this trend with hockey but also with other sports such as soccer and baseball. I think the equipment manufacturers need to take this into account and provide more information so we can make informed decisions. Equipment does matter for these kids.

[chippa13 1844]

Youth skate engineering design question. I have heard that regardless of what level youth hockey a child plays or even how much they skate better quality skates are simply too stiff for youth players. If this is true then wouldn't it mean that skates such as Bauer Vapor XXX and RBK 9K in youth sizes are not only a waste of money but are actually poorly engineered for youth players in general?

I would think that large reputable manufactures such as Rbk/CCM and Nike/Bauer would engineer skates in youth sizes with youths in mind. Let's use stiffness as an example. Would a Vapor XXX or 9k in youth have the same proportional stiffness as the Senior models do? If so why make these higher end skates at all? I guess what I am asking is the design philosophy behind youth skates.

thank you

For the majority of youth players top of the line skates are a waste of money.

[indaslot 0]

My son played AAA always+camps,clinics etc. and the CCM852 caliber skate was just fine. I went higher caliber from second year peewee. As your son gets older, you will look back on these days as less important hockey-wise than you find them now (IMO from experience).A decent skate will be fine.

[chk hrd 164]

any middle of the line skate is more than adequate for youths as long as they feel good and are fit correctly. Don't make the typical mistake of buying them big and letting the kid grow into them. Don't forget to look at "older" model skates that might be on closeout. You can get a good quality skate for a very reasonable price.

My 12 year old son plays PeeWee AA. This season he is using the RBK 5k Pump, last season it was the Vecotr 5.0 and before that the 652's. Kids grow out of skates to fast to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on them. I have yet to have him wear out a skate before out growing it.

[mccaff 0]

Adding to this thread so as not to spread good info all over this board.

Question on youth skates:

Is there any difference in pitch between a Bauer and CCM or Reebok skate?

My son skated in CCM 92's and I bought him a pair of Vapor VI's. In the CCM he stops fine. In the Bauers he cannot stop and must make a tight turn or drag his foot.

My LHS insists that the blade length is the same, as well as the radius and pitch. If that's true then does anyone have a theory as to why he skates so much differently?

(Just as an aside...when I told my LHS this, their reaction was to say "that's because the Bauer is a better skate"...which is why this board is such a good resource.)

[colin97 0]

sk8: I find it hard to believe that an 8 year old needs skates just as good as Jr's. First of all hes probably not skatingas hard as him and most likely doesnt take slapshots of the foot. An 8 year old doesnt need 300$ skates, just find something that fits good whether its high quality or not.

[Jordan 13]

Is there any difference in pitch between a Bauer and CCM or Reebok skate?

Yes. the Bauers are much more neutral than the CCMs...you can get the Bauers profiled to a more forward pitch.

[mccaff 0]

Jordan - Thank you, that's what I suspected but wanted to confirm. Makes sense since he looks like he's trying to keep from falling backwards at times.

[Jordan 13]

sk8: I find it hard to believe that an 8 year old needs skates just as good as Jr's

If your son/daughter is in youth sizes, they are indeed less stiff than the junior sizes which in turn are less stiff than the senior sizes.

They also cost considerably less than $300 if they are in the youth sizes. My son is in the Vapor XXXXs and has enjoyed them immensely.

They are a stiff boot; however, they are low cut enough that he has excellent ankle flexion. This a key factor, many boots though softer are cut much higher abd I see kids all of the time that can't bend their ankles forward so as result they do not bend their knees. the instructors bark at them to bend their knees but when they do, they get "in the back seat" if they can't equally bend their ankles.

Finally, they are much more durable than a cheaper skate and since he is on the ice a ton, that is a savings in and of itself. Also, the stainless blade will hold a sharpening longer than the carbon steel.

[Bmplam 1]

Supreme One30s worked out great for my mite last season. Skated about 4x a week and still plenty of life in them.

[jimmy 194]

Adding to this thread so as not to spread good info all over this board.

Question on youth skates:

Is there any difference in pitch between a Bauer and CCM or Reebok skate?

My son skated in CCM 92's and I bought him a pair of Vapor VI's. In the CCM he stops fine. In the Bauers he cannot stop and must make a tight turn or drag his foot.

My LHS insists that the blade length is the same, as well as the radius and pitch. If that's true then does anyone have a theory as to why he skates so much differently?

(Just as an aside...when I told my LHS this, their reaction was to say "that's because the Bauer is a better skate"...which is why this board is such a good resource.)

The radius and pitch is not the same between Bauer and CCM/RBK. Your LHS is wrong. They are not the same. Also, there is nothing wrong with the Bauers. He prob had trouble stopping because bauer radius is smaller, less contact area to grab. More radius (edge) to grab = better stopping Also, any time you change brands, you have to adapt to the feel of the other. If you have your skates radiused by a competent radius shop, the transition is much easier. BTW, the CCM92 and Vapoer VI are garbage skates. Not for serious hockey. An upgrade is prob in order. For the serious hockey plater, 3 times a week or more, much more skate is needed.

[sk8 0]

We decided to go with the RBK 9k Pumps. My son has been skating on them for a few months now. The skates were profiled with a 7' radius and a medium forward pitch. Hollow is currently 1/2". In a youth size the RBK 9K has a stainless blade and the skate is still reasonably priced as are all youth skates. It seems to be wearing much better than his old vapors. I originally posted this message because I needed to find a good quality youth skate.