The Ultimate Guide to Buying New Hockey Skates

Buying new skates is one of the most exciting and intimidating purchases a hockey player or parent can make. The right pair can take your game to the next level. The wrong pair? They can leave you uncomfortable, slow, and frustrated.

Most players focus almost entirely on the boot: the stiffness, the fit, the price. And while the boot is important, there’s a hidden factor that often determines how your skates will really perform, the blades.

Step 1: Know Your Game and Your Needs

Before you even try on a pair of skates, think about your style of play:

• Are you a fast, agile forward? You’ll want a skate that feels light and responsive, with a blade that allows quick edge transitions and explosive starts.
• A power forward or defenseman? You’ll want more stability, strength, and a blade profile that maximizes glide and long, powerful strides.
• A recreational player? Comfort, durability, and ease of maintenance will be just as important as speed and agility.

Your playing style will influence the boot stiffness, fit, and most importantly, the steel profile and quality you should look for.

Step 2: Get the Right Fit

Skates that don’t fit properly will ruin your game, no matter how expensive they are. Keep in mind:

• Skates should fit snugly, think “second skin”, with your heel locked in place.
  

• You should be able to wiggle your toes slightly, but not slide your foot around.
  

• Consider your foot width and arch height. Some skate lines are narrower or wider than others.
  

Getting your fit right will make every stride more efficient. But even the perfect fit can’t compensate for dull, low-grade steel.

Step 3: Don’t Overlook the Blades

Here’s the truth: the boot is just the holder. The blades are the real performance engine of your skates.

Why Blades Are So Important:

1. Performance and Speed: The steel affects how quickly you accelerate and how much energy you waste with each stride. Higher quality steel returns more energy and allows for smoother, faster skating. This is what "Flex Force Advantage" technology creates.
   

2. Edge Control: Great steel holds a sharper edge for longer, so your turns, stops, and crossovers stay crisp. Cheap stock steel dulls quickly, forcing more frequent sharpenings.
   

3. Durability: Premium steel resists chipping, rusting, and bending far better than standard factory blades. DLC coating can help prevent this with options suchas our 24K Gold and Black DLC finishes to Bladetech Blades.

Step 4: Try Before You Buy

Whenever possible, test the fit and feel in store or during a demo skate. But remember: the blades are often not the ones you’ll actually play with. That’s why upgrading to high-performance steel before your first real game is key.

Summary

Your skates should be more than just a piece of equipment, they should be a weapon! Also with the right combination of blades, turn every stride into an advantage. Make sure to check out Bladetech Hockey Blades with Flex Force Advantage technology here and improve your game!