Checking skates for my 7yo son

[akravetz 29]

Hi all, my son, 7, has been playing hockey for three plus years and is having a blast at the mite level. He's in a pair of Easton S1s which he has had for about a year now. My wife is convinced they are too small as she thinks she sees red marks on his feet when he's done with practice. When I put his skates on, I don't have an issue. We have repeatedly asked him if they are getting too small. I have told him they are to feel tight but not hurt. That the toes are to touch the end of the skate but not be curled under. He says they are fine. We have taken out of the footbed and it appears that he's right at the end which, from what I have gleaned, is okay. He tends to wear dress socks which are thinner when he skates, not the white athletic socks.

I went to Total Hockey when I was in St. Louis visiting the folks and they said they don't have a fit scale for kids that small. He's still in youth skates. (for reference. my son is small. He's about 45 pounds, not yet four feet fall. He's doomed as i am 5'5 and the wife is 5'). The Easton is a size 9 and he wears a shoe size of about 12 (kids). We can't check,obviously, like shoes as the toe cap is too hard. The skates do "pop" on when I loosen the laces four or five eyelets.

My question is: how do we know if his skates are too small. He says they are fine, so I guess we should go with that, but I hate to have him in skates that don't fit. But, at the same time, if they fit and he's happy, Iet him go. Thoughts from any parents or LHS guys out there?

Andy in Peoria

[forbs02 20]

Loosen up the skate and have him kick his toes to to front. Look down the back of the skate or slide your finger behind the heel to see how much space there is.

[akravetz 29]

How much space should be there?

[AIREAYE 248]

If his toes aren't curled as you say, his toes reach the end of the footbed and he says that it doesn't hurt him, he should be just fine. The skates are getting to the point where they will be too small and just a small growth spurt might do it. At the moment from what you're saying, it should be ok.

[Davetronz 109]

Yeah, remove the footbeds from the skates, have your kid stand on them one at a time with his heel all the way back on the insole, and see where his foot comes to on the footbed.

As long as he isn't spilling over the end of the footbed or the skates hurt him, then he's fine for a bit longer.

[Vet88 674]

How much space should be there?

Take the laces out of the skate and pull the tongue all the way out, this really helps in getting the toes into the right position to check sizing.

With his toes touching the toe cap and not curled up, a perfect fit is 1mm - 2mm of space between the back of the heel and the boot. If you can slide a pencil down the back of the heel then they are 1/2 to one size to big, if you can slide a finger down there then it is one size to big.

[bwhinnen 1]

For a 7 year old who could change as much as a full size in a year some more space is needed. Our Son is in the same skates and it is hard to figure out the right size, but we did the kick the feet forward and check how much room in the heel. For a kid our LHS guy (who has been doing this and playing for years) advised that being able to get on finger down the back will be a good compromise between too big and enough room to grow.

One thing that I have noticed is that he used to get rubbing on the inside of his heel (both feet) so we put him in a pair of ezeefit booties and he doesn't have any problems anymore.

[akravetz 29]

Thanks for all the answers. I don't mind getting him new skates as he has been in the same ones for a year now and the ones before lasted 18 months. (we are lucky). The Eastons we got new from a friend whose kid quit after one session. So we don't have much invested. But the boy doesn't want new skates. He is happy with his now. And of course, if he thinks it's fine; then go with it. I know. But the wife is convinced the skates are too small and we are looking for some guide as she thinks my son is just saying they feel okay because he likes them.

Tonight I'll try out some of what people said about the toes and what not. Again, when I put them on, I loose the laces quite a bit and the boot "pops" on. I tighten from the bottom up and he seems happy and doesn't complain. So, again, I think they are fine but I was looking for guidelines

Andy in Peoria

[AIREAYE 248]

Thanks for all the answers. I don't mind getting him new skates as he has been in the same ones for a year now and the ones before lasted 18 months. (we are lucky). The Eastons we got new from a friend whose kid quit after one session. So we don't have much invested. But the boy doesn't want new skates. He is happy with his now. And of course, if he thinks it's fine; then go with it. I know. But the wife is convinced the skates are too small and we are looking for some guide as she thinks my son is just saying they feel okay because he likes them.

Tonight I'll try out some of what people said about the toes and what not. Again, when I put them on, I loose the laces quite a bit and the boot "pops" on. I tighten from the bottom up and he seems happy and doesn't complain. So, again, I think they are fine but I was looking for guidelines

Andy in Peoria

Won't be any different than what people have mentioned here. You're good.

[akravetz 29]

Figured as much. Thanks again. Like I said, we'll try it tonight and see how it works with the boy.

[epstud74 24]

Rule #1 Do not listen to the wife when it comes to hockey :)

[akravetz 29]

Rule #1 Do not listen to the wife when it comes to hockey :)

You are a brave man, my friend. Yes, I don't take advice but I do heed her words. Hell hath no fury.... :)