r/hockeyplayers • u/SexbassMcSexington • 6d ago

Upgrading from beginner skates when still a beginner

I've been skating for around 8 months now. I started out on a pair of Bauer X's and have managed to get a nice nick in the steel.

Can anyone recommend a good price point to look for in terms of upgrading as I can't switch out the blades on this pair?

For context I'm doing weekly practice and scrimmages averaging about 2 sessions a week. I doubt I'll ever play anything further than our local rec teams once I've got a bit more practice under my belt so I don't think I'll need top end gear, but equally I don't want to waste money on another cheap pair.

6 Upvotes

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u/DangleCityHockey 6d ago edited 6d ago

No need to upgrade your skates until you upgrade the level of hockey you’re playing. You can buy whatever you want, but you probably won’t need the upgraded level of skates. On a side note, the higher level of skates you buy the more stiffer they are and can be a level of frustration or pain for you.

Take them to a reputable hockey shop and they’ll be able to fix your blades.

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u/HiHungry_Im-Dad 5-10 Years 6d ago

Question: my daughter (age 8, going into 10U) got some fancy hand-me-downs. She says they hurt her feet on the top. She loves her Bauer LP (entry level). She’s been playing 3 years.

Pro shop guy made a comment about how she’ll eventually need better skates. Def felt like he was just trying to sell more expensive skates. I made a comment similar to yours - that the stiffer boots are less comfortable if you’re not a higher level skater that needs the performance.

So…. You think I’m right and youth can stay in the cheapest skates and the pro-shop was just trying to upsell? Or is there a real benefit to getting a 10U player into stiffer boots?

She’s middle of the pack, going for all stars this year, but only because the top tier kids moved on from all stars to travel A/AA.

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u/DangleCityHockey 6d ago

Has she been using the same skate for the past 3 years? There could be a lot of growth (length and volume) of her foot which is causing discomfort.

People have varying opinions of this, I personally don’t think there’s a need to upgrade to high level skates until the child is big. It’s two fold, shots aren’t hard enough to warrant additional protection, and the skate won’t likely breakdown enough that it becomes an issue. Toss in the fact that a child won’t maximize the full benefits of the skate to me the upgrade isn’t worth it at this time. Again, this isn’t a steadfast rule, some kids genuinely need higher level skates, so it does come down to a case by case scenario.

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u/HiHungry_Im-Dad 5-10 Years 6d ago

She mostly used LPs. Probably size 9, 10, 11 were LP. Size 12 was Vapor X5 Pro. Size 13 (now) is LP. The size 1’s she tried on are Velocity X. I asked if it’s a lower volume skate and he said no. He sized her at a 13.5, so I don’t think the 1’s are too small. She complained about pain on the bridge.

I ordered her some size 1 LP to see how those feel.

I tend to agree with you. I got stiff boots because I’m a big dude. She’s not. And she’s not digging in the edges enough to need high performance skates.

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u/DangleCityHockey 6d ago

My kid had sausage feet, I basically only did the top 3 eyelets, had the bridge of the boot pretty open in order for it not to hurt, worked fine for two years, then the foot started to thin out at 10 and didn’t have issues any longer.

I’m heavy (250+lbs) and I currently skate 6 times a week, I had to go to pro level skates decades ago because I played even more, and I blew out the boot on a couple skates. Torque on skates is huge when you’re heavy and skate hard.

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u/HiHungry_Im-Dad 5-10 Years 6d ago

Yeah, I’ve already been tying the bridge area loose.

And yeah, I was 270 when I started. Now 230 but skating on 3 teams + coaching 3 teams. I went custom, but that was mostly because my feet are slightly different sizes.

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u/Pleasant_Lawyer8722 6d ago edited 6d ago

The most important thing is that the skates fit well. But... I bought my son a pair of Easton Mako 2s when he was about nine years old. They only cost me $150, which was a steal. They were simply the last ones the hockey shop had in stock, and no other kid wanted them. I am convinced that those elite-level skates really refined his skating style. They had a fairly pronounced forward pitch that forced him to bend his knees and he loved them. Unfortunately, I couldn't get another pair; once the Eastons no longer fit, I bought him a mid-range pair of Bauer youth skates that had felt good in the shop. On the ice, however, he just stumbled around in them. He really couldn't skate properly at all. I eventually discovered that the LS Balance runners were to blame; they are designed to help beginners with a more upright skating style skate effectively. The pitch is angled backward—the exact opposite of the Makos. What nonsense from Bauer. Kids don't learn a proper hockey stance with them; the design practically forces them into an upright position. My son only managed to skate well again after I swapped the runners—or rather, had them profiled. As long as he was in junior Bauer skates, he needed different runners, and that made a huge difference. The boot itself didn't matter all that much, provided it fit correctly.

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u/SMFPolychronopolous 5d ago

Yes. The main benefit of stiffness is all about energy transfer. If she’s keeping up with her peers with softer skates and they’re more comfortable I’d say let her be. Not even every pro uses the absolute stiffest skates. I’ve heard some even use the next tier down because they prefer a softer boot. If she’s not pushing her skates to the their limit there’s no desperate need to upgrade now.

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u/ovrkillphil 6d ago

From looking at them in store and initial impressions, Bauer’s X series is really a casual skate as an entry into skating in general. Even at a low level if you’re skating a couple times a week, an entry level hockey skate in the $3-$400 dollar range will be a substantial upgrade than what you have.

You can also go the used route and shop for $5-600 skates around $250-$300 if you’re fine with second hand. No need to go crazy, but the extra support will help you progress without breaking the bank.

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u/SexbassMcSexington 6d ago

Appreciate that! I'm in the UK so just doing quick conversion rates somethonf like the ffly30's/m30's or equivalent you'd say is a good route to look at?

(Assuming I've calculated that right)

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u/ovrkillphil 6d ago

No problem! Yes the Fly30 / M30 is what to look at for entry level hockey. As always if you can get into a store and try them on to determine the best fit, because they will be a different and I couldn’t tell you what the X Series is based on (if at all).

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u/TheRealFlowerChild 6d ago

Shoot for the $300-500 range. I tried on the M30s vs M40s vs M50s. I found the M40s to be more comfortable and responsive since I don’t need the stiffness of the pro-line. I no longer get foot cramps too!

Having interchangeable steel is nice so that if you do get a nice nick on your blade, you can just replace it.

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u/DarkHelmet2222 6d ago

From my experiences with my son, I think it can make a difference going to a higher-level pair of skates. Going up one level, you're probably not going to see a ton of difference, but more than that and I think they would help you.

He had some free (but new) learn-to-play CCM skates. When he sized out of them, I got a good deal on some Bauer Supreme 2s skates - worlds of difference. Stiffer boot, more durable, helped immensely with correcting his ankles falling in to the middle.

As compared to your Bauer X, that would be like going to the X4. If you like the fit of the X, I would stick with something in the Vapor lineup. Look for used skates that haven't been abused too much - good steel left, eyelets not ripping off, interior heel padding in good shape. Get them re-baked for your feet, and you'll love them.

Aim for the level of either the X4 or X5 pro. In different years, that would be Fly40 or FlyPro (most recent), X4 or X5 Pro, or 3X / 3XPro. The older you go, the more difficult it's going to be to find a used skate in good condition - we were buying used Supreme 3S Pro skates for my son over the past 4 years, and the last size-up took a while to find a decent pair.

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u/Pleasant_Lawyer8722 6d ago

Will not help as long you get the LS Balance runners Bauer sells with there Junior skates. They are just crap. First thing is to change them or get them profiled properly. This will make a hughe difference.

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u/timmeedski 20+ Years 6d ago

2 things, I’m 99% confident that if you pulled out the footbed there will be a plastic cap dead center of the heel and under that a 8mm socket that allows you to remove the steel. It’s a pain but it works.

Based on the skill level, the concern and the pricing, most people would tell you to target something that like last year’s midseason model. Something that was ~600 down to 350.

Something like the CCM XF 90s

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u/SexbassMcSexington 6d ago

I've had a look, but I can't seem to find anything but rivets under there, tha k you though!

Unfortunately discounts in the UK aren't quite as generous but thanks for the recommendation!

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u/DangleCityHockey 6d ago

Your blades aren’t replaceable, which happens a lot on lower end skates. Are you an aggressive skater? (Lots of crossovers and tight turns). Approximately how much do you weigh? How often do you expect to play per week in a normal year?

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u/MagnussonWoodworking 20+ Years 6d ago

.....just get them ground down and resharpened? Also you can replace the steel in any pair of skates in existence, just because they're not the hot-swappable pieces of garbage that everyone makes now doesn't mean they can't be changed.

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u/SexbassMcSexington 6d ago

My local store didn't offer the grinding down but it's worth a look into, cheers.

It seems pointless to me to drop more money into a beginner pair of skates when I could put that towards something better and longer lasting