How do you "know" when it's time for new skates?

[Fremitus Borealis]

I thought about posting this in the general "SKATES" thread, but thought it might be broad enough to warrant its own thread; that is, I'm not asking for any specific skate recommendations or anything. (But if the mods want to move it to that thread, that's fine, too.)

Basically, I've been thinking a lot about getting new skates lately, but I haven't really moved on to "actively" looking for new ones, partially for money concerns, but also because I'm just not sure that I really need new skates at present, you know?

So I was just curious about how other people determine when it's time to replace your old skates. Is it when they hit a certain number of miles? Is it when new fancy ones come out? Or is it when they physically start falling apart?

I'm still using a pair of low-level Bauers I bought over 10 years ago (but only used them for occasional recreational skating over that time, and have only begun playing men's league hockey in the last year). Part of me wonders if/how much they're negatively affecting my skating/playing, and now that I have the time to actually spend time on hockey as a hobby, whether I shouldn't just take the plunge and get a new mid-range pair. But the other part of me (the part that grew up poor, and doesn't like spending a lot of money at once ) says not to get new skates until these ones are really starting to visibly fall apart. So I'm torn.

 

[AIREAYE]

Well, I'll draw upon testimonies from literally the hundreds of men's league guys I've fitted over the years who inevitably ask the same question coming into the shop!

The majority of them know because of the age of their current pair of skates. Often, that age means that the skate has broken down and barely usable. Other times, but less so, that age means that the skate in question has lost it's stiffness or 'pop' for performance. The people falling in the former category tend to look not want to spend too much and look at mid end/discounted skates, while the guys in the latter obviously care about performance more and are looking to get skates that will also last longer.

Many actually realize that they need new skates because their steel has either worn down far enough to prevent sharpening/proper turning, or has broken. The cost to purchase a replacement pair of steel (usually $70) is not worth it at that point and thus those people would rather use that money on new skates.

If you've been reading through these threads, you may pick up the common advice that the pieces of gear to spend money on are skates (as that is the base of performance in the sport, and comfort for your feet are vital) and helmets (for protection of course). I personally suggest that if you intend to participate regularly (once a week or so) going forward, you should invest in a better pair of mid end skates, hopefully on clearance from previous years.

 

[jazzykat]

I can only tell you from my experience.

I play in competitive beer league (does that exist?) and we even pay a coach who plays the equivalent to D3 hockey.

I changed my skates because my coach told me my skates were really soft and so did one of the best skaters on my team. The steel was also pretty low as well.

EDIT: The rivets were also pretty rusted/corroded but that is because I skate bare foot.

 

[Goonzilla]

It's a combination of personal preference, economics and necessity. I play with some guys who can really wheel and some of them have the latest and greatest in skates and sticks, while some have skates that look like they're falling apart. I marvel at some of the older guys at pick up in old skates, socks like Swiss cheese and pants long since faded from their original colour. They're not hard up, but they just seem to have some attachment to their old gear; and they can play. Maybe they still carry some psyche or mindset left over from the Great Depression?

I remember being younger, with the same skates lasting forever, repairing protective gear with tape and not taking slap shots to preserve wooden sticks.

Being older now with higher disposable income it's now just a preference thing. Sticks are made and bought to be smashed and skates get replaced way too early, but hockey's my thing. Other guys spend on their cars, bikes, boats, hunting, surfing holidays, golf, or whatever. Every dude in my office has their 'thing' they spend far too much money and time on.

If you feel like getting new skates and hockey's your thing..and you can..buy them. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

 

[Fremitus Borealis]

Thanks for the input so far, guys. Regarding the "range" of what you see guys wearing, yeah I've seen that too. Some guys do have old stuff that looks like it could explode at any moment, and others seem to have a CCM sponsorship or something based on the amount of shiny, new, matching gear they have

One thing I'm definitely conscious of is not wanting to be that d-bag who has a pair of top of the line skates, but is falling all over the place. But then again, come to think of it, that might hint at another problem: I am one of the faster skaters on my team, if not the fastest, but I do find myself lacking a little confidence on my edges at times because of some spills I've had (with the obvious negative effect on my game), and I'm wondering if this has to do at least partially with the quality of my skates. Additionally,there are times on the ice where I definitely feel like one of the skates is "wobbling" a bit which is distracting at best, and probably dangerous at worst. Then there's the issue (which, for all I know, could exist with any skate no matter of price-point) where some days, I just simply cannot get one of them to fit properly; last game I must have re-tied my right skate 3 or 4 times to get it to not hurt, but it simply moved the problem around each time. Anyway, I know that getting a new pair won't turn me into Pavel Bure or anything, but if they are in fact hindering me, it makes the decision to upgrade a little easier.


Oh and since you mentioned helmets, Aireaye, I guess I should point out that I definitely have the oldest helmet of anyone I play with or against so far It's one of those old CCMs from the 90s that I used to use for roller hockey. Knock on wood, I've taken a few head-to-ice spills and had some sticks to the head over the last year with no negative effects yet, but I will most likely look to upgrade that area after I get new skates.

 

[AIREAYE]

Fremitus, then it seems like you're one of those dudes with crappy gear that plays better than most people with the new stuff haha.

 

[Summer Rose]

I've only ever paid for my own pair of replacement skates (first pair I ever got was when I was a teenager and my parents paid) when they broke beyond feasible repair.

First time was when my blade holders fell apart. Later on, the laces on those broke but it was December 20th of 2014 and they were temporary budget skates so I asked for a new pair for Christmas and got them. Still have them and use them

Second time was with goalie skates. First pair I ever got had the cowling crack. I glued it back together with JB Weld and it held up a few games, then I took a slap shot off that same skate and the cowling shattered. Good thing it was pickup when it happened, because I just left at that point. Bought a new pair of goalie skates a few days later.

I don't plan on replacing my current pair of Bauer Vapors until they fall apart or run out of steel.

 

[DevsFan84]

It comes down to the person, a lot of the time...in my experience.

Some guys will do anything to keep their old skates. I have installed LS2 Edge TUUK's on beat up Canstars because the customer insisted, but to each their own. Some people just have way too much disposable income, or just spend it all on hockey....which is fine, but that just isn't me.

Personally, I'd consider replacing my skates when they started breaking down to the point where it either didn't make sense to keep repairing them or they inhibited by skating. You can get a pair of pretty decent skates for around $200 or $300, which I would probably do instead of spending 60 bucks on steel if my boots were really beat up.

For what it's worth, some of the best skaters I know are using some pretty ancient equipment. It's the wizard, not the wand...as they say.

 

[Fremitus Borealis]

Fremitus, then it seems like you're one of those dudes with crappy gear that plays better than most people with the new stuff haha.

It's possible My shin guards look like they've been run over by a truck, because I used to use them for roller hockey, too. And yeah, when I started ice hockey, I just went to the used sporting goods shop and grabbed what I could; my hockey pants are held up with an old skate lace... and so on... but I am also currently tied for the division lead in scoring

But back to skates, yeah I figure I'll probably just try and get through the Spring with my old ones, and if work/life allows it, maybe start "shopping" for a new pair in the $300 or so range before league play resumes in the Fall. Part of me would love to take advantage of one of the Hockey Monkey blowouts, but this really seems like something that would be stupid to try and buy off the internet.

 

[jazzykat]

It's possible My shin guards look like they've been run over by a truck, because I used to use them for roller hockey, too. And yeah, when I started ice hockey, I just went to the used sporting goods shop and grabbed what I could; my hockey pants are held up with an old skate lace... and so on... but I am also currently tied for the division lead in scoring

But back to skates, yeah I figure I'll probably just try and get through the Spring with my old ones, and if work/life allows it, maybe start "shopping" for a new pair in the $300 or so range before league play resumes in the Fall. Part of me would love to take advantage of one of the Hockey Monkey blowouts, but this really seems like something that would be stupid to try and buy off the internet.

I buy EVERYTHING off the internet except skates. I bought RBZs in a hockey giant for 250 +tax on Clearance.

Assuming you live in the US $300 during clearance season is plenty of money to buy really good skates (maybe not top but close enough) that fit.

 

[rawkstar]

If you wait until your current skates are completely unusable and you have to then go out and get skates right away then you're kind of at the mercy of the current prices and whatever is available as far as sizing goes. If you can afford to wait until the best deal comes along then you can get the best skates for your money in the right size. If something goes wrong with the new skates you still have a usable pair to fall back on.

 

[Goonzilla]

If you wait until your current skates are completely unusable and you have to then go out and get skates right away then you're kind of at the mercy of the current prices and whatever is available as far as sizing goes. If you can afford to wait until the best deal comes along then you can get the best skates for your money in the right size. If something goes wrong with the new skates you still have a usable pair to fall back on.

You raise a pretty good point. It probably is handy to keep a spare pair for any emergency. My last pair had plenty of life left in them and guy at the LHS even offered to buy them when I upgraded, but I figured they may still come in handy at some stage. If you break, lose, or something gets stolen, pretty hard to rustle up a new pair of skates at short notice.

 

[KingKopi11]

Hockey players are very superstitious and creatures of habit, so I would take that into account when you hear stories of guys that are lighting up their beer league but using skates that are old as dirt. The reasoning for not wanting to upgrade can be because they feel they have no issues skating, or maybe because they don't want to have to deal with the breaking in process of new skates. Either way there is always going to be a transition process, even if they new ones are the same line as the old. Sure a player may skate just fine on his decade old skates, but that's because over the years they have learned to compensate for any weaknesses their skates might have. You give them a couple weeks to break in and get used to new and improved skates, you can bet that they will notice an increase in performance.

As its already been said skates are hands down the most important piece of equipment, and with the amount if technology that goes into gear these days, even people that are on a budget can still benefit from an upgrade. Also, depending on how often you play, you'll get at least a good 5 years out of them and are well worth investing the most money in.

I recently just upgraded from x40's that were only 3 years old, to x700's and it made a big difference. My reason for getting rid of the x40's was because I knew they had become too soft for my level of of skating, the steel was too worn down, and also realised that I could fit into a half size smaller. My turns are sharper, stops are quicker, and fatigue less late into games; all stuff I didn't feel were issues until I had better skates on my feet.

 

[Fremitus Borealis]

You all have some great points, thanks!

Yeah I'm usually a pretty savvy online shopper myself, but I just cannot fathom the idea of buying skates without trying them on first. I actually saw that Total Hockey is running a sale currently and they have the RBZ White Ices heavily discounted, AND they have my size (or at least, the same size as my current skates), so it's tempting.... but I'm honestly not even sure if the size on my current skates is my "real" size or not, so I'd really like to get fitted by a real shop. Also, with the fact that skate baking is pretty much mandatory now, I assume there'd be some extra fee to walk into a shop and have them do it, anyway.

 

[KingKopi11]

You all have some great points, thanks!

Yeah I'm usually a pretty savvy online shopper myself, but I just cannot fathom the idea of buying skates without trying them on first.

Do NOT buy skates online unless you have tried them on before hand. You're pretty much playing russian roulette with your feet. Every brand and every line within each brand will fit differently. For example I can fit into an 8D in Supremes, but am an 8.5D in Vapors (not to mention the difference of pitch between the two). Even some of the different levels of vapors had a different feel to them, so I would highly recommend you try on the exact skate you are looking for before you purchase online.

You can always get pressure points punched out at the same time you heat mould them, but the overall fit still has to be pretty spot on. And yes you will get charged at a shop for heat moulding if you didn't purchase the skates from them, unless you have a hookup.

 

[AIREAYE]

Do NOT buy skates online unless you have tried them on before hand. You're pretty much playing russian roulette with your feet. Every brand and every line within each brand will fit differently. For example I can fit into an 8D in Supremes, but am an 8.5D in Vapors (not to mention the difference of pitch between the two). Even some of the different levels of vapors had a different feel to them, so I would highly recommend you try on the exact skate you are looking for before you purchase online.

You can always get pressure points punched out at the same time you heat mould them, but the overall fit still has to be pretty spot on. And yes you will get charged at a shop for heat moulding if you didn't purchase the skates from them, unless you have a hookup.

Shops are fully aware of online prices. It's almost always better to work something out with a brick-and-mortar while trying skates on there than using them as a dressing/show room while taking your business online.

 

[jazzykat]

Shops are fully aware of online prices. It's almost always better to work something out with a brick-and-mortar while trying skates on there than using them as a dressing/show room while taking your business online.

Agreed!

 

[Fremitus Borealis]

Yeah I used to work at a small business, so I know all about how that works. Nothing was more annoying than someone coming in, wanting to touch everything, then leaving to "think about it"... and then coming back 2 weeks later with their new toy they bought online that they can't get to work right, and want you to fix

So anyway yeah, I fully intend to go to a physical store to get fitted and all for a pair I can actually see. The real question comes down to "when", but the suggestion above is a good one, that waiting until my current ones are literally falling apart is probably a bad idea, since if I got a new pair relatively soon I'd have a backup pair if something went wrong.

 

[Fremitus Borealis]

Another question (which, I apologize if it's answered in the SKATES thread, but I didn't notice it): is there a normal "season" when skate manufacturers--and, hence, hockey shops--tend to have more sales? Or is it more play-it-by-ear? I've tried to track the trends with sticks before, but it just ended up seeming pretty much random. I just wanna make sure I'm getting the most bang for my buck if I'm gonna be blowing $300 or so at once

 

[AIREAYE]

Another question (which, I apologize if it's answered in the SKATES thread, but I didn't notice it): is there a normal "season" when skate manufacturers--and, hence, hockey shops--tend to have more sales? Or is it more play-it-by-ear? I've tried to track the trends with sticks before, but it just ended up seeming pretty much random. I just wanna make sure I'm getting the most bang for my buck if I'm gonna be blowing $300 or so at once

Hmm every shop will have pre-season sales, namely in August-October. Ditto the holiday shopping season for Black Friday and December. In between though, it really depends on the store. Most new skate lines release in the off-season from May-July to prepare for the Back-To-Hockey sales. The skate lines that are making way for them may go on sale before that or during that time. Some stores could also have sales on a few models or lines only, as they had opportunity buys w/ manufacturers looking to clear out old stock. Chain stores are more predictable, so it's best to call the smaller chains/independents to ask.

 

[deadman1515]

Another question (which, I apologize if it's answered in the SKATES thread, but I didn't notice it): is there a normal "season" when skate manufacturers--and, hence, hockey shops--tend to have more sales? Or is it more play-it-by-ear? I've tried to track the trends with sticks before, but it just ended up seeming pretty much random. I just wanna make sure I'm getting the most bang for my buck if I'm gonna be blowing $300 or so at once

The shops are telling me they will have stock back on shelves in June with exception to Vapors, something to do with this being an awkward year and CCM and Bauer as I'm told updating lines. That said there are some ridiculous sales, I just grabbed a pair of Bauer Nexus 6000 for $229 for example. I've seen some insane deals on Supremes as well.

 

[Fremitus Borealis]

Hmm every shop will have pre-season sales, namely in August-October. Ditto the holiday shopping season for Black Friday and December. In between though, it really depends on the store. Most new skate lines release in the off-season from May-July to prepare for the Back-To-Hockey sales. The skate lines that are making way for them may go on sale before that or during that time. Some stores could also have sales on a few models or lines only, as they had opportunity buys w/ manufacturers looking to clear out old stock. Chain stores are more predictable, so it's best to call the smaller chains/independents to ask.

Good to know, thanks!

Of course after I post all this, I'm really fighting the urge to just bite on Hockey Monkey's 40% off clearance sale this weekend. I see a pair of CCM RBZ 70s that are actually in "my size", and with the clearance+discount they'd come out to like $65, instead of $240. I guess worst case I *could* just send them back within 14 days if it's obvious they don't fit. I dunno. Of course I don't really know that these would be much "better" than what I'm using now, though they would at least be like 15 years newer. Hmm..

 

[deadman1515]

Good to know, thanks!

Of course after I post all this, I'm really fighting the urge to just bite on Hockey Monkey's 40% off clearance sale this weekend. I see a pair of CCM RBZ 70s that are actually in "my size", and with the clearance+discount they'd come out to like $65, instead of $240. I guess worst case I *could* just send them back within 14 days if it's obvious they don't fit. I dunno. Of course I don't really know that these would be much "better" than what I'm using now, though they would at least be like 15 years newer. Hmm..

Skates have evolved A LOT in that time.
I used to run CCM 1052 Custom Lites, was their top of the line skate in '99 or so. Just grabbed a Nexus 6000 which is a midrange skate and it's much, much better in every aspect.

 

[Fremitus Borealis]

Skates have evolved A LOT in that time.
I used to run CCM 1052 Custom Lites, was their top of the line skate in '99 or so. Just grabbed a Nexus 6000 which is a midrange skate and it's much, much better in every aspect.

Yeah. I'm still using a pair of Bauer Comps I bought just to mess around with back in the day. They're good enough to get the job done, but I'm really curious to find out how much they're affecting my overall skating, because they were basically "bottom of the line" back when I bought them, and they're ancient now.

 

[Fremitus Borealis]

Well, I made an executive decision and took a trip to Total Hockey to try on some skates. I spent the last couple of days doing my research both on this board and other spots online, and found that Total Hockey had a sale this week good for 20% off of skates that are on clearance. Went in looking for the CCM JetSpeed Maxx 2.0 (marked down to $199 from like $325), and although they didn't have this exact model, they did have other JetSpeeds for me to try on, and they ended up being the best-fitting one in my price range, so I guess I got lucky there.

I ordered a pair of the 2.0s and should have them this week. Really looking forward to see how well they fit once they're all baked up.