Hockey is a hobby of a huge number of people of all ages. But to get the best result, you need to choose the right children's ice hockey skates, not just coaches, stadiums or a helmet. It is on them that the confidence of movements largely depends ... and much more, which at first is not obvious to most people.
Features:
Ice hockey skates are by no means the standard of convenience. Even after relatively short use, the break in training is a relief. This is typical even for professional athletes, therefore, for children, "ice shoes" must be chosen even more carefully.
A mistake can lead not only to excessive fatigue and deterioration of sports results, but also to damage to the musculoskeletal system. Not to mention that children are emotional, and even if they themselves do not understand the cause of the inconvenience, they can unleash their anger on the sport in general.
Size matters
The size of the skates is the very factor that provokes most problems. In terms of dimensions, they do not correspond to shoes, but most often surpass them. For measurement, you need to go in the very socks in which they are going to go out on the ice. The most important criterion is a snug fit. Even a small, barely perceptible gap threatens ankle injury!
But at the same time, you need to select both professional and teenage hockey skates without fanaticism. "End-to-end" should not enter anything. The best option (or rather, the only correct one) is when the heel rests against the back wall, and the toes are confidently in contact with the toe, but can move freely. Another point is fullness (as professionals call the width of the skate).
The movement of the leg sideways relative to the blade is very bad for ice skaters. The most popular version is marked with the letters D or R. If the marking contains the characters C, N, then this is a narrower model. E, EE, W - all of these designations refer to the extended version. Both the contraction and the expansion are approximately 5 mm. To exclude mistakes, it is necessary to take the selection of the "running tool" with all seriousness.
It is categorically unacceptable to use walking or other skates for hockey.
About manufacturers
The leading position in the Russian market is occupied by SK (the name stands for "Sports Collection"). For nearly two decades now, it has been offering a huge range of competitive equipment. For lovers of Swiss quality, it is quite appropriate to opt for Graf. But we must remember that she produces both hockey and curly designs. And to complete a short review is appropriate at Bauer: it is the world's favorite in the industry, and some of the products are sold under the Jeckson brand.
Choosing hockey skates for personal needs
Children who are just starting out on the ice must wear skates that:
- covered with a nylon layer that can withstand a variety of mechanical stress;
- hold the foot as clearly as possible (without experience it is difficult to fix it yourself);
- Eliminate foot slippage in full gear.
In the semi-professional class, those modifications are already in demand that allow you to freely maneuver, while reliably protecting them. Shock protection and moisture absorption are especially important as training intensity and duration increase. When buying, one should be interested in what kind of preparedness this or that option is designed for. The undoubted advantages will be hydrophobic pads and the use of stainless steel.
Even if all the moments seem to correspond to the norm, it is required to experience the sensations from a particular pair of skates.
Additional Information
For beginners in hockey, it is better to take models that have a caliper and inserts that fix the ankle. The stiffness of the boots, worn with the skates, increases the support of the foot. Of course, it is better to choose shoes and skates from the same company, and even better - recommended for a specific model. In advance, before visiting the store, you need to choose a method of securing the skates. Lacing is characterized by simplicity and increased reliability, and if the dressing time is critical, you need to choose riveting.
All hockey skate boots must be synthetic, and their soles are formed from extra hard grades of plastic and rubber. After all, it's easy to imagine what would happen if a puck hits soft material at high speed, and more than once during a match or training session. When choosing skates for children, preference should be given to options with quick-drying insoles that duplicate the configuration of the foot. They make you feel more comfortable; even if there are no such products in the kit, they should be purchased separately.
As for the boots, the best ones are with ventilation polyurethane or nylon mesh.
The symmetry of the shoe soles is critical. You should not buy shoes that do not have a lace groove. After all, the tongue without it will not be able to repeat the shape of the leg and will quickly roll. Even such a tongue must be thoroughly sewn on. Important: only professionals should sharpen skates using special equipment.
For information on how to choose the right hockey skates for your child, see the next video.
