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gear fitting - goalie skates

Writer's picture: mekenzieericksonmekenzieerickson

In a slight deviation from the head to toe blog series, we skip down to the goalie skates in this post - best for last, right?!


As a note, when I wrote this originally, most shops were not as advanced as they are now in sizing. Even the big chains have come leaps and bounds in their ability to get you into the right skate and their knowledge, processes, and technology leave me without a doubt you will be able to walk into most shops and walk out with the correct skates for you. With the advent of Bauer's Konekt series, the fitting process is more dialed in than ever! That said, it never hurts to learn more!



While not as much of a science as some pieces of equipment, having comfortable and form-fitting skates will save you from sore feet and pucks alike! Performance wise, your skates could be viewed as one of the most important pieces of equipment you have (I'm definitely a broken record at this point, but they all really are!). Without the ability to skate efficiently and be in position, the rest of your gear doesn't matter because you won't be making any saves.


Another theme continuing here is having all of your measurements ready to go. Measure both of your feet for length and width while sitting down. It is recommended you wear a pair of socks that you would normally wear while playing. For length, take the measurement from the tip of your big toe to the back of your heel. For width, take the measurement across the widest part of the bridge of your foot. Record both of these in centimeters and inches. Also note your shoe size and last skate size - including width, such as D or EE for example. Most shops will also have shoe sizing devices, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.



Most manufactures size their skates differently than shoe sizes, and a rule of thumb is skates will be 1-1.5 sizes smaller than your shoes. Generally, there will be charts or listings comparing each brand's sizing compared to general shoe size. Skates deviate slightly from other gear groupings and are listed under Youth, Junior, and Senior. Update - many brands have your shoe size listed on the box or even skate now! Still doesn't hurt to have all of this info, shoes can vary widely in their listed size.


Now that you've narrowed down selections and picked a set to try on, it's time to dial in the fit. With your heel snug against the back of the skate, your big toe should be within 1/4" of the toe cap and even brush it slightly. Take a few moments to walk around in the skates and make sure your foot doesn't unlock from the heel as this will cause blisters and a sloppy fit. Growing goalies can get away with slightly more space in the skate so long as it does not cause too much movement.



Once you've chosen a pair of skates, don't bake or sharpen them quite yet. Lace them up as you would normally and wear them for 15-30 minutes around the house or at the shop to make sure they feel good for your feet. Once you are comfortable with them, now is a good time to bake the skate to reduce break in time and improve the skates fit. Most skates cannot be returned once they are baked or sharpened. Note - baking will sometimes reduce the hold of waxed laces by glazing them. Throw on an old set of laces or non-waxed prior to baking to prevent this.

Now you're all set to pick out a new set of wheels and carve up the ice!


happy tending,

mek

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