Newbie wanting help with picking a skate

[napoleon83 0]

As a kid I always played roller hockey. I love to skate and have a strong desire to get back into it. I decided I want a challenge and would like to play ice hockey instead of roller hockey. I know how to skate and I been ice skating probably about 10 or 12 times. I have a cheap pair of Bauer skates. I am starting to practice off ice and on ice to get my skating skills up.

I am wanting to get a new pair of skates and I like the Bauer line. I been doing a lot of reading about the One95 and the X:60. I am curious which would be better for me. I know everyone says which ever one fits better but I am new so I am not really sure yet how the skates should fit and which fit I would better perfer.

Another thing I am curious is besides the fit which would be better performance wise. I heard the One95 can help you can faster is this true?

I have tried them both on but not really knowing how a ice skate should fit I was not sure which would be better for me or which one I truly liked better.

Please help me pick a skate. As far as performance goes which would be better and how should I decide on a skate when I am not really sure how they should fit. They both seemed fine to me.

P.S. I seen and read some about the Total One skate and thought this would be an interesting one as well. Should I just wait until this skate comes out and get this one.

(lets not worry about price either)

[Composite Freak 0]

You really need to go and spend some time in a LHS trying on skates and find which one feels best.

You shouldn't worry about performance between the one95 and X:60 if you have only been ice skating a dozen times or so.

Also, don't close your mind to other brands.

I have played very high levels of hockey my entire life and currently coach rep hockey and I'm a hockey skating instructor. I recently switched from Graf to Bauer one95 and the skating stance, fit, comfort level etc is completely, completely different. That being said, I do not believe there is such a huge performance difference that anyone, including me, will notice.

Going from one95 to X:60 would be even less noticable.

If an Easton fits and feels best for you and you go with a Bauer Total One, you would not be making the best choice. If an X:60 feels and fits better than the one95, then you go with that.

Try them all on and see which feels best!

[Tikkanen 1]

I have the X60's and love them. I tried on the One95's and had instant pain on the top of my foot in both skates. No pain in the X60's so it depends on your feet.

[caldakid 0]

Not sure I would get such a stiff skate if you have only skated 10 or 12 times?

[hockeyfreak7 0]

i agree with the post above. maybe start with something that isnt meant for high quality players? just my opinion here, but a $700 skate wouldnt be worth it if youre not getting the most out of it.

no skate is going to "make you skate faster". that is purely marketing at its best. you need to pick which ever one you feel most comfortable in.

[gxc999 7]

Not sure I would get such a stiff skate if you have only skated 10 or 12 times?

DING DING! Do NOT get one of the x60 or one95 if you're a newbie skater, bad, bad idea. You'd likely need to start in no more than a one55 and work up from there.

[jumtao 0]

The Supreme and Vapor series have different boots suited for different foot types. Generally, the Vapor line has a more narrow and less volume boot while the Supreme's are wider and deeper.

When you put the skates on, your toe should feather the tip of the toe cap; this indicates you have the correct length. Also, you shouldn't have any movement in the heel when the skates are tied up while in your hockey stance. If your heel lifts up, it may be too wide. To find the correct depth, do the pencil test.

Following these guide lines should help you in finding which skate fits you best.

Finally, go to your LHS and have your foot measured by someone who knows what they're doing.

[jmacie3 0]

I was just wondering why you guys don't recommend such a stiff skate. I figured it wouldn't be a bad thing to buy a top of the line skate since I'm not growing anymore. Doesn't weight also have something to do with choosing a stiffness too? I personally weigh 225 so that was another added reason I went with the X60.

[jumtao 0]

Weight is one factor to consider but skating ability is just as if not even more important.

[tooomey 1]

I bought the one95's and liked them alot except for the pain in the top of my foot from the thin tounge. "I have bony feet" So got rid of them and got x60. Noticable difference in stiffness. I barley had to tighten one95's and I need crank on the x60 to get same support, I think the x60 fits my foot better though. I like the stiffness of one95. One95 has longer steel which they claim will help you go faster. "LOL" If you get 9ft radius done it will be the same on both pairs if you get a 10ft radius you'll go faster but have less turning abilty. The radius on the blades will determine how much steel will be used on the ice, not the length of the steel. The total one is a juiced up one95 with an adjustable tounge stiffness, new steel that is lighter and some other things with a heavy price tag of 700+... They are all top of the line skates that will give you about the same performance depending on which one fits the best... IMO if you can barley skate you have no business buying any of these skates but its your money ;) You should also try on next model down in both these skates

[Johan Santana 0]

I would go with neither

If you have only driven 12 times in your life, you wouldn't go out and buy a Brand new Ferrari. same goes for these skates...they might be too stiff for you (which in turn will HURT you more than HELP you). Just because something costs the most doesn't mean its the best FOR you. Go to your local hockey shop and look into intermediate level skates like the One75 or X:40 (even these are borderline pro skates) or something. If you have only skated a dozen times in your life, you will not be able to notice the difference between a 100$ skate and a 600$ skate to be honest. Talk to your LHS and get the skates that fit your foot the best instead of getting NHL level skates.

[EastonFan44 0]

If your open for the idea Easton S12 or S17 there a unique fit because of the Stealth Padlock which locks in the ankle (amazingly) and it also has a semi tendon structure they use. I played Roller for 11 years and been playing competitive ice for at the most 6 months and just like you I used a pair of cheap Easton SE2's and then upgraded to the S12 and the transition was great. And as far as getting a great energy return to maybe improve speed (I really wouldn't call it a speed difference but It makes skating feel "smoother") is the easton coil which is just a carbon boot made to flex with your foot similar to the idea of the flex on a vapor but I think Easton does it better. The only problem I had is with the heel lifts in the eastons it took me a while to get familiar with the feel of skating with them but now I cant skate without them. Also the vapor line is going to have somewhat of the same thing with the aggressive position boot, from my experience with my brothers x40s the aggressive boot is no joke and it feels completely different. So im just saying if your shops got them and your open to the idea try the S12s or S17s but the only difference in those two is that the S17 is going to use a different liner, the elite blade instead of LPS2 and its slightly stiffer but I felt no huge difference in the skates and for me $570 and $300 is a big difference in price.

[skyscrape 5]

Buy the best fitting 250-350 dollar pair of skates and invest the rest in good gear!

[chk hrd 164]

I was just wondering why you guys don't recommend such a stiff skate. I figured it wouldn't be a bad thing to buy a top of the line skate since I'm not growing anymore. Doesn't weight also have something to do with choosing a stiffness too? I personally weigh 225 so that was another added reason I went with the X60.

Good skating means good form; stride legth, power in the push, skate return, skating position. A softer boot will allow you to work on your stride and technique alot better than a stiff boot. A stiff boot is much less forgiving and reacts alot more to the little things that you don't really notice as a new skater. To many people who consider themselves good skaters are not good skaters at all, it takes alot of time and practice. I have seen alot of roller players who are good skaters play ice and can't skate well at all.

[gxc999 7]

The bottom line is, if you're a beginner, you need to get at most an intermediate skate, even if you're 240-250 lbs. A really stiff boot is simply not forgiving enough to allow you room for error.

[duch 0]

Most of the guys are giving you great advice when they say to get an intermediate skate until you've developed your skating technique. A stiff skate is not good to learn in for a beginner until you develop your stride and push off to a reasonable degree. A Bauer Supreme One/55.Vapor XXII, Easton S-9, Reebok 5K, CCM Vector 07 or Mission AG 90 are some good examples of what you should be looking at instead of higher end skates. Not only are they easier on the pocket book but on your ankles until they strengthen enough to skate more efficiently.

[Andoy 5]

I knew a guy who bought one90s who only skated 1-2 a week. He gave up on them after a month because they were too stiff and he just didn't skate enough to break them in. A stiff skate takes longer to break in and I can see why alot of novice intermediate skaters get discouraged.

I'd start off with intermediate skates. As previously mentioned stiff skates, especially if you're not fitted properly can have consequences on your foot (calcium deposits, bone spurs, etc.).

[thorbs 2]

one75s might be a good choice...cheap now and not that stiff.

[gxc999 7]

one75s might be a good choice...cheap now and not that stiff.

They are quite stiff though, same as the one90 from the year before, basically.

[IniNew 53]

Too add to this topic, when do you know when its time to move to a stiffer skate?

I started in Nike Quest 2s, and am now in X:30s and feel like it might be time to move up to a stiffer skate. My ankles just feel wobbly if I don't crank my waxed laces as tight as possible.

[skyscrape 5]

Too add to this topic, when do you know when its time to move to a stiffer skate?

I started in Nike Quest 2s, and am now in X:30s and feel like it might be time to move up to a stiffer skate. My ankles just feel wobbly if I don't crank my waxed laces as tight as possible.

When you are in the market for a new pair move up to a stiffer boot. Sounds like you answered your own question. :D

[jmacie3 0]

Well after reading different opinions on here from what I saw when I was buying my first skates, should a newb who has been skating in x60's switch to x30's? I've been skating in them for like 3 months and my skating has progressed a lot but from what everyone is saying on here, I'm hampering my ability.

[Andoy 5]

It's up to you to decide for yourself.