CCM U+10 vs. U+08 Youth Skates

[BrookB 0]

CCM U+10 vs. U+08

I need some help on youth hockey skates. I have a 9 year old who will be a second year squirt next year. He will be playing travel (in Michigan, lots of game). He is a good skater, plays mostly defense and usually half the game plus special teams. He’s about 55” tall and about 60 lbs. He has a wide fore foot and an average heel width. He doesn’t give a lot of feedback on skate fit other than “they are okay” or “they kind of hurt.” Through the years we have found that CCM EE width are the best fitting and most comfortable for him.

I have read all the specs that I could find on both the U+10 and the U+08. I have also watched a few product description / review videos. I like the upgrades the U+10 has over the U+08, but I worry a little about the vented tongue over the plain felt tongue. He likes his shin guards on the inside of his tongues and this will be the first year he ties his own skates for games and practices (he has been tying them for the backyard rink for a couple of years but no shin guards) and I worry he won’t be able to get them tight enough.

I few years ago I picked up a pair of skates from the CCM U line for me and they are okay, but I’m wondering if anyone has any experience with these skates on a youth level and how they worked out for the kids.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks from a hockey dad.

[Monty22 833]

My son is a squirt sized mite (4'3, 90lbs) and has been in CCM U+ CL's and C12 the last few seasons. We've been very happy with both models, honestly there is little to no noticeable difference between the two . He skates tongues in, but has gone tongues out when I get to the rink late and his mother gets him ready.. No issues with that. If I recall the 10's are slightly lighter. With your son skating so much I would lean towards the 10's.

[start_today 773]

I have read all the specs that I could find on both the U+10 and the U+08. I have also watched a few product description / review videos. I like the upgrades the U+10 has over the U+08, but I worry a little about the vented tongue over the plain felt tongue.

What, in particular, do you worry about between the vented tongue and plain felt tongue? I'm someone who has complained about my tongue ripping along those vents, but that was also a result of how a couple variables lined up for me (tongue, shin pad, forward flex, etc). If he's 9, I assume he'll outgrow these before anything gets too bad.