Troubleshooting Painful Skates

Although this topic has been addressed in several other posts, I think my answer here might mean more because of the context…

Q: A young hockey dad, from New York, explains that his son “says his skates are pinching him around the ankles”, and that they hurt as he skates. He goes on to mention the various combinations of socks he’s had the boy try wearing, and he also asks about the local pro shop’s offer to “bake” the skates.

A: Hmmmm… From more than a few hundred miles away, my first and second guesses are that 1) the youngster’s skates don’t fit properly, and/or 2) the dad isn’t tying the skates properly. As an important aside here, he should know that most elite level players don’t wear socks at all. They want their skates to fit and feel like gloves. Furthermore, while there is absolutely no ankle support quality derived from socks, the fact that different combinations of socks were tried has me thinking his son’s skates might be a little on the large side.

As for tying the skates… There is only one area where snug laces aid support. I mean, the lowest eyelets should be left as loose as street shoes, while tying too tightly over the arch-area is sure to cut-off circulation and cause pain. Only about the top three or four holes need to be really tight, since this pulls the boot snugly around the all-important ankle area.

As for the baking process… Yes, heating the boots will soften them so they can be re-formed around the boy’s unique foot-shape. However, no amount of baking is going to help overcome improper fit or improperly tied skates.