Help with skate suggestions

[navy21 4]

Hi guys.

Im just getting back into hockey after a 9 year hiatus....and I need to replace my skates. I hung it up due to time constraints at the end of college (was playing intramural/men's league) and was skating on an aging pair of bauer Air 90's (EE width) at that point.

Do any of you guys have a suggestion as to what brands/models I should check out? Durability is not that big of an issue (only going to be playing twice a week) so I am really just looking for comfort. Tough to get an idea of that when trying on skates in the store....

thanks in advance.

[LGRHockey 0]

It really depends on your budget.

Just a look at Bauer's vapor line; X:40s or even X:30s will definitely get the job done for you + a whole lot more. I have a pair of X:40s because they're built by Bauer in a size 14 and I'm able to compete at a AAA level in them. From the sounds of it, you probably wouldn't need a top of the line skate at the moment but I wouldn't dip below the X30s since at that point you sacrifice the quality of what you're wearing.(X:40s about $350, X:30s about $200)

[wrangler 157]

Try on everything you can to narrow down your choices to the lines that fit you. Supremes are wider than Vapors, for example. Once you've got a few to compare, you may get better info here.

Check out the threads here on skate choices. There's a lot of information, which many folks may not feel like duplicating on every new thread on skate choices.

Some LHS won't mind ordering in some skates for you to try; Total Hockey did it for me, since they didn't stock E or EE.

[GoBucky 0]

Any of the name brand skates will serve you well. What brand and model is the best really comes down to the shape/size of your feet. Different skates fit some people better than others.

Me personally, I have wide feet and I havent been able to find any Bauers or Eastons that fit me well, yet CCMs and Reeboks fit my feet well.

My advice would be go to a reputable skate shop, try on all the different skates you can, have the skates fitted to your feet and you likely will be happy with them. Any good skate shop will do just about whatever it takes to get you a pair of skates that fit you and that you are happy with.

[xFortune 0]

Graf