Collection: Ice Hockey Skates

If you’re a slight, agile forward or an offensive-minded defenseman, you want to go for a more flexible skate with a forward lean to them; we recommend the Bauer Vapor or the CCM Jetspeed.

Whether you’re a physically larger forward player or a defensive defenseman, stiffer skates with a more neutral lean will deliver the power you need to play at your best. The Bauer Supreme or the CCM Super Tacks are excellent choices for this style of play.

If you have more of an old-school hockey playing style and want a really flexible skate, the CCM Ribcor is the way to go.

If you’re just starting out with playing hockey, it’s important that you find a player-specific skate. Recreational, figure or goalie skates won’t fit quite right and can impact your performance while you learn the basics of playing hockey.

There is a huge range of entry-level hockey skates designed specifically for beginner players; they’re inexpensive and not as stiff as pro skates, so you can move about easily while you practice the fundamentals.

For beginners that are just starting out skating recreationally, we recommend the Bauer X-LS or the CCM Tacks 9550, thanks to their lightweight and comfortable padding. For beginner players that are learning the basics of the game up to playing in NIHL1 and NIHL2 leagues, we recommend the Bauer X-LP skates, which come with additional protection.

Skate fitting for hockey players is often called an ‘imperfect science’, as each player’s foot and preference is unique. A general guideline to follow is that players should wear one size down from their regular shoe size to get a comfortable fit in their skates — your skates should feel snug but not uncomfortably tight! Hockey skates not only come in a range of shoe sizes but also have different widths or volumes as well as lengths, so you can find the perfect fit to compliment your game. 

For junior players, we typically recommend skates the same as their shoe size to leave a little growing room, but it’s better to have a pair of comfortable skates for a shorter amount of time rather than stumbling around in ill-fitting skates.

Want more help with figuring out the right fit for you? Check out our guide to fitting hockey skates that covers the basics, or get in touch with our expert team that can advise you on your individual preferences and playstyle.

Hockey skates come in a range of price points, with skates getting more advanced with more features the further up the price range you go.

Entry-level player skates usually cost between £50 and £120. Mid-level hockey player skates are anywhere between £120 and £400, with advanced skates starting from £400 up to around £780.

Depending on how often you play and at what level, advanced skates are well worth it. As you would expect, more expensive skates come with better features and more innovative materials that help with weight reduction, improved stiffness and elite protection. Higher-end player skates are also better quality, taking more abuse from hard shots and holding sharper edges for a longer time.

If you’re a beginner hockey player learning the ropes, entry-level skates do the job and are budget-friendly. Once you start playing more regularly and competitively, you can level up your performance on the ice in more advanced skates with higher quality features.

From our Willies store in Coventry, our expert team can help you find the perfect fit for your next skate. As a Bauer 3D Skate Lab retailer, we use a 3D scanner to maximise your fit and performance by taking a detailed analysis of your foot and matching you with the best skate for your needs. 

If you’re looking for an even more bespoke fit, Willies is also a TRUE Custom Fit Centre. Utilising TRUE’s foot scanning software, our team can take a 3D model of your foot to build a completely custom boot for you.