Stiff junior skates really worth it?

[stljrs 5]

My 11 year old who plays at a competitive level is going to need new skates soon. I've thought about moving him up in skate quality from something like the one.6 to the one.8 or if in the new vapor line from the 60 to the 80. However there is a huge jump in the boot stiffness. Even if you bake the one.8 or x80, will it really be as comfortable as say the one.6 or x60, both of which are nowhere near as stiff? Obviously if you try a skate on in the store, prior to baking the more flexible skate will be more comfortable out of the box so he is going to pick that lower line skate. Did that last year. For an 11 year old, will that higher level skate with composite outsole and stiffer boot really make that much difference?

Thanks.

[jdksaves 56]

Stay with the more flexible boot. It will be more beneficial, not necessarily for comfort, but for over all performance at that age. Work up slowly to the higher end stiffer boot

[Tyler Roy 86]

When you replace skates is it because they are broken down or don't fit?

[stljrs 5]

It's because they don't fit. I don't buy lots of extra room hoping he'll grow into them. You can see parents that do that to their kids on the ice. I probably buy within 1/2 size and he gets a year maybe more and then has outgrown them. I guess as he outgrows the skate he packs the ankle and heal area out but I wouldn't say they are broken down otherwise. I know if the tried to get his foot into a brand new skate of the same size he has today, he probably couldn't get it in. During the fall season, he's on the ice roughly 4-5 times a week, less so spring and summer but still on a couple of times a week even then.

[Tyler Roy 86]

At his age hes going to outgrow skates faster than he breaks them down(just like you said above). Buying skates closer to an ideal size creates better skating habits and less stress on the eyelets from needing to tie them so tight. If I were to break skate levels into categories I would label them performance/elite/pro, performance being the more entry level and pro being the highest end. I would recommend staying in the elite level because he needs something that will perform at the level he needs and hold up over time but also something soft enough so he can move and be quick. Breaking in stiff skates takes time and weight. The one70 or the X70 might offer the best of both worlds.

[MThockeydad 469]

How about some used skates in the one70/X70 range from another kid who outgrew but didn't wear them out?
They can be baked 2-3 times.

[stljrs 5]

Never have done the used skate thing. Early on a skate instructor who led some local coaching clinics was pretty adamant that you don't want to put your kids feet into another kids foot problems, or something similar to that. Perhaps with the new skates and thermoforming it's less of an issue now than it was in the past. We have local resellers. Can't hurt to look I guess. Some people buy new equipment for their kid to try hockey and they quit after only a few times. I'm probably not lucky enough to find those skates!

Otherwise, he's in a one.6 now and assuming he doesn't need new for a few more months (there is no room at the back of the skate period but he's not complaining they hurt yet) I'll either look for clearance of last years model or check the new 160 or 170. A one.7 on clearance could be a good deal transition up from the one.6 I know it's stiffer and has the composite outsole, but it's not unreasonably stiff.

[stljrs 5]

Well we picked up last year's clearance skates. Tried a one.7 on and he said it hurt his ankle bone. For grins we tried a one.9 on and of course he really liked it. But the one.9 ended up being more than 50% off list which was a bargain for that skate and less than the original price of the one.7. So now he's in a one.9. My issue will be next year sometime when that level of skate isn't on sale for that price. I worked the tongues by hand to take some of stiffness out. He can flex forward without his heel or the back of the skate coming up. First skate he said felt a little weird. But he's going up in size, to a stiffer boot, and the 2.1 runner. But by the end of the practice he said they felt great and he looked really comfortable on them. He even said he felt they carved the ice better than his old one.6 skates. I noticed him throwing more snow on stops and he seemed to lay them over farther on tight turns. Not a mark on his foot when he came out of it. I'm surprised he liked the one.9 so much but not the softer one.7. I guess on the comfort side the better padding in the one.9 more than makes up for it being a bit stiffer. I was worried they might be too stiff but apparently not. Note also the junior one.9 doesn't seem to be as stiff as the senior one.9 so maybe Bauer does account for that.

[Souldriver 64]

I'm glad you got a comfortable boot at the right price and it will live up to your sons higher skills. Fowing up skates always hurt my feet and it took some of the enjoyment out of it. Now with better fitting and lacing trickery the pain doewnt come around as often and akting is more enjoyable weither it's competitive or just a pickup.

[Pucks & Palm Trees 3]

The truth of the matter is that almost any good skate is going to be pretty stiff for an 11-year old, so boot comfort is probably the most important factor. There are exceptions around the edges -- some of the Graf models can still flex some -- but until they get powerful enough post-puberty to really notice the difference, keeping the sleds comfortable is a great approach.

[Innocent Bystander 5]

Easton RS skates are not stupid stiff, but they are a top end skate with a great clearance price. They are very comfortable and quite light... and for $180 you can't go wrong. Easton skates will size a bit smaller (1/2 size to Bauer). I know some folks that picked them up based on bang for buck to replace their kid's Vapors and the kids really seem to like them. They are being discontinued, but when you consider that kids are in skates for about a season.. who cares.

[ulf 5]

i don't know about "any good skate is going to be stiff" or "easton rs is stupid stiff"

i will say that the 2004 jr easton z-air comps are indeed stupid stiff. prolly one of the most stiff skates i've ever seen. my son looked like frankenstein on the ice, and after seeing him twice in them i said, you're not using these...no give at all for a 10 year old

[Pucks & Palm Trees 3]

The issue isn't just that the boots are stiff. It's that, unless the boy or girl is especially heavy or powerful, they won't have the physics to make the boot do what is is designed to do for an adult, at least not nearly as well. There's a related issue for some kids, too: stiff, high-end kids skates can also be difficult for kids to tie tightly enough/correctly enough, so they lose torque and, again, the skate -- which may be a fantastic piece of equipment -- can't do what it's designed to do. It's odd to me that more manufacturers don't seem to appreciate (or, if they do appreciate, they don't emphasize) that kid equipment isn't/shouldn't just be shrunken down adult equipment.

I miss the days of the old Super Tacks, or Daoust 301/501 Nationals, which would hurt for a practice or three or five, but would then somehow feel just right. And by the time the support might start to soften, you would outgrow them. Unless you were wearing a pair of Lange's...

[SLAYEROFSOULS 7]

I see your point Pucks & Palm Trees but in my case as a 25 year old 190 lb male who isn't growing anymore, but happened to have odd feet I.E I need a size 4 junior skate - I would be pretty screwed if they made all junior skates softer. Manufacturing for masses of people who are very much different in build and size and shape is a complex beast, so how they go about it is about as good as it is going to get lest everyone has the ability to get customs made.

[Xuno 14]

I see your point Pucks & Palm Trees but in my case as a 25 year old 190 lb male who isn't growing anymore, but happened to have odd feet I.E I need a size 4 junior skate - I would be pretty screwed if they made all junior skates softer. Manufacturing for masses of people who are very much different in build and size and shape is a complex beast, so how they go about it is about as good as it is going to get lest everyone has the ability to get customs made.

Same with me. I'm 23 and wear a 5.0 EE. If they made them softer I wouldn't exactly be happy.