Women Hockey Skates
Women in hockey have become used to coping with the equipment made for males. They use unisex hockey equipment or wear male’s gear. Traditionally, women’s hockey gear did not take into consideration the female shape. Modifications, however, have finally been made in protective gear. Manufacturers such as Itech, Mission, CCM and Lousiville TPS have at last begun to produce equipment designed to serve the female hockey player. Hockey pants with narrow legs and tapered hips, gloves with narrower fingers and palms, shoulder pads designed to protect female chests and “jills” to protect the pelvic area.
One area requiring attention was the footwear. A women’s hockey skate, for a long while, was a man’s skate that happened to fit. After all, traditionally, women were to wear figure skates not ice hockey skates. Eventually, the various hockey equipment manufacturers began to produce female specific hockey skates. It is a step in the right direction.
Women’s hockey skates and girl’s hockey skates need to be anatomically correct for a woman not a boy or a man if they are to skate their best. For women, a skate still needs to provide the speed and durability of a man’s hockey skate, but it must fit the shape of a woman’s foot and provide extra support where she needs it. CCM produces the CCM Tacks 452 woman’s ice hockey skate. A skate for both junior and senior skaters, it conforms to the female foot providing an anatomically correct fit at the ankles/tendon area. The Tack has a heel-stabilizing wedge to control forward flex and its heel-lock synthetic upper enhances the fit of the skate. A strengthened insole increases both durability and support, while the wetness control lining allows for rapid drying. The Prolite blade holder and a stainless steel blade, both replaceable, accent the optimum combination of speed, agility and stability.
Mission has also come out with truly female women hockey skates. The Mission Pure SW Women’s Ice Hockey Skate, also, is correctly anatomically designed for the female foot, as is their Mission Betty Amp 3. These are women hockey skates with higher arches, wider cuffs and offer a three setting adjustable, nylon blade holder and a stainless steel laser cut blade, both replaceable.
Whether the skates are women hockey skates or men, they are still in three basic parts: the interior boot, the exterior holder and the attachable blade. Be sure the inside of the skate is properly padded, the boot fits snug and you can lace up without a problem. Check how heavy the skate is. Ask whether it cleans easily and if the blades remove without a fuss. Be sure to pick a style of boot suitable for your style of play and, if you are a goalie be sure to buy goalie skates.
