To measure blade radius, place the ends of the blades together (bottom to bottom). The length where the edges of the blades make contact is the blade radius.
3. Break-in period.
Break-in period of a skate is the amount of time it takes for the padded lining of the skate to get molded and adjusted to the shape of your feet. How soon the break-in happens depends on a lot of factors, like the quality of lining and body-weight of the player, among others. A heavier person will generally have a faster break-in period than a light person. So if you have lighter body mass, try to go for skates with a softer lining. You can also try the following tips to for a faster break-in:
- Blow hot air into your skate with a blow dryer keeping the dryer at a safe distance. Put the skate on immediately after around three minutes of blow drying. This will cause the foam to mold to your foot faster.
- Try coating the inside of your skates with thin layer of petroleum jelly; it softens them up. This will aid in a faster break-in as well.
4. Used or new skates?
Hockey skates are supposed to be stiff. This is something that you should be aware of before buying them. Some people might opt to buy the less expensive used hockey skates instead of the more expensive brand new ones. Bear in mind that used skates may have lost their stiffness factor, which is essential for more powerful skating action and support for the legs, feet and ankles.
5. How much to invest?
You can buy a good pair of skates for anything around $100 to $700. It is recommended not to buy expensive skates for your first pair. Until you play in a league, you won’t know what position you are playing or what kind of skate with best accommodate it. The first pair is more for practice and introduction to the sport.
Good luck and play hard!
