Supporting your children's love of hockey goes beyond taking them to practice and games. It starts with their feet. When kids have the right equipment to play hockey, they are already on a path to success as well as building a lifelong love of the game.
When it comes to your kids, you cannot just buy any type of hockey skate, but you need to be sure that you are getting the best junior hockey skates possible.
Part of that is knowing the differences in quality between brands and styles while the other part is knowing how to size them correctly.
Purchasing junior hockey skates is not the same as purchasing senior hockey skates. Children grow, their feet can change, and they have different needs as far as protection and stability go.
Regardless, you need the best junior hockey skates you can get.
Also, if you play hockey a few times a week, buying a home Sparx skate sharpener might be a good investment.
What Feet Size Are Junior Hockey Skates For
Junior hockey skates are sized to fit kids in the range of approximately 7 to 13 years old with a US shoe size of 2 to 6.5.
There are three sizing categories when it comes to hockey skates: youth, junior, and senior. Youth skates are typically for kids that are 7 and younger, junior for kids ages 7 to 12, and senior skates for ages 13 and up. The shoe size equivalent for junior skates is a US 2 to 6.5. Juniors are the child’s sizes before adult sizes.
Sizing for children is a little bit different than sizing for an adult. With an adult, it is important that the skates fit snugly, but not too tightly, to ensure the feet cannot slip around within the skate.
With ice skates for kids, if you buy them snugly, you will find yourself replacing the skates a lot sooner than you would want to. Children’s feet grow rapidly and unpredictably, so you should prepare yourself for needing to replace the skates every so often.
So how do you size junior skates for kids the right way? When you are sizing an adult, you usually size 1 to 2 sizes down from your street shoe size, depending on brand and fit. The same is true for children. You still want to size down 1 to 2 sizes, but also an extra half size to give a little room for the children to grow.
Bauer Junior Ice Skate Sizing For Kids
Bauer Skate Size | U.S. Shoe Size | Euro Shoe Size | U.K. Shoe Size |
|---|---|---|---|
1.0 | 2.0 | 33.5 | 1.5 |
1.5 | 2.5 | 34 | 2.0 |
2.0 | 3.0 | 35 | 2.5 |
2.5 | 3.5 | 35.5 | 3.0 |
3.0 | 4.0 | 36 | 3.5 |
3.5 | 4.5 | 36.5 | 4.0 |
4.0 | 5.0 | 37.5 | 4.5 |
4.5 | 5.5 | 38 | 5.0 |
5.0 | 6.0 | 38.5 | 5.5 |
5.5 | 6.5 | 39 | 6.0 |
5 Best Junior Hockey Skates & Ice Skates For Kids
Brand | Skill Level | Weight | Rating | Check Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Bauer Supreme 2S Editor's Choice | Intermediate/Advanced | 646 grams | 100% | |
2. Bauer Vapor 2X Pro High Performance | Advanced | 693 grams | 99% | |
3. Bauer Supreme S29 Budget Friendly | Beginner/ | 665 grams | 97% | |
4. CCM JetSpeed FT2 | Advanced | 721 grams | 98% | |
5. CCM Jetspeed FT390 | Intermediate/ | 636 grams | 95% |
1. Bauer Supreme 2S Ice Hockey Skates
Best Junior Hockey Skates Overall (Editor's Choice)
The best pair of skates that you can get for juniors is the Bauer Supreme 2S ice hockey skates. These skates are worn by the most elite players out there who are looking for high-end, professional-grade skates.
Design
In order to give you the best performance possible, these skates are specifically made for professional-level play. They have a 3D carbon Curv composite boot that will give you a lightweight, performance.
This means that your feet are not going to get too hot within the boot and as you skate, the boot will mold to your foot, giving you a custom fit. The lining is made from a LockFit+, which is actually two materials that leave you with durability and comfort.
Features
The 2Ss also come with the Bauer Speed Plate 2.0 foot bed which will give your kid a lock-fit. A lock-fit leaves them with customized stability, keeping their ankles and feet as safe as possible on the ice. The tongue is made from a high-density foam underneath a durable layer of felt, leaving you with a 3-piece, 48 ox reflex tongue.
One of the best reasons to get the Bauer Supreme 2S for your child is the Tuuk Lightspeed Edge holder and the Tuuk stainless steel runners. The edge holder means that you or your child will be able to change out the blades quickly if you have to. The runner is made from a quality grade stainless steel that will not dull on you quickly. The runners are meant to last.
2. Bauer Vapor 2X Pro Junior Hockey Skates
High Performance
For the best high performance junior hockey skate, we suggest the Bauer Vapor 2X Pro. These skates are built for both comfort and performance, giving you an extra edge on the ice.
Design
To begin, the Vapor 2X Pro skates have a Dynaflex system in place. The Dynaflex system includes an asymmetrical toe cap that will reduce the overall volume of the skate. It also has an integrated injected facing, which goes all around the foot for better fit and support.
With a better fit, you will get improved agility and speed, giving you ultimately better control over what your feet are doing.
Features
These skates also have a Lock-fit pro liner, which will not only keep your feet from slipping around within the boot of the skate, but it will also increase the life of the boots.
Also in the inside, you will find Aero Foam Pro padding, which will give you improved comfort and fit all around. The Recoil Pro tongue and the memory foam are other added features that will increase your overall comfort.
Like most Bauer skates, the Vapor 2X Pro has the Tuuk Lightspeed edge holder as well as the Tuuk LS5 runner. These will give you an added height on the ice while also giving you a better feel and a longer lasting edge life.
3. Bauer Supreme S29 Ice Hockey Skates
Budget Friendly Junior Hockey Skates
If you are not on board with spending a lot on a growing child’s hockey skates or your child is not playing so regularly that he or she needs anything more durable, then you should go with the Bauer Supreme S29.
They are listed as being a great choice for aggressive skaters who want to take their game up to the next level.
Design
The Bauer Supreme S29 may not cost as much as other hockey skates on the market, but you are still getting the Bauer quality that you can expect from them. Bauer skates are always built for the best on-ice execution possible.
Features
The S29 has an anatomical fit, which will help prevent blisters due to slipping around within a boot. They also have the Form Fit+ technology which means that they are thermoformable. Thermoformable skates can be baked in order to mold to your feet, giving you the snuggest fit that you can get.
In addition, the S29 has a 2-piece, 48 ox felt tongue. The tongue is thick, but comfortable and made up for a high density reinforced metatarsal guard. The S29 also has an updated lace bite guard made out of a high-density foam. This will keep the top of your foot protected in the rink. For the ankle, there are thick memory foam pads that will lock in the heel for the most power possible.
Finally, the Supreme S29 also has the Bauer Tuuk Lightspeed edge holder that allow for a quick an easy release of the runners. The runner is an LS1 stainless steel runner, providing a great edge retention and durability.
4. CCM Jetspeed FT2 Junior Hockey Skates
High End Skates
Another great pair of high performance hockey skates is the CCM Jetspeed FT2 hockey skates. They are comparable to the Vapor 2X Pro, but they do not have the same features.
Design
The Jetspeed FT2 skates have the Liteframe 360 Evo technology, which means that they have a comfortable one-piece design. This also helps to make the boots lighter and easier to wear for longer periods of time. They are made to be a natural extension of your foot and make energy transfer effortless.
Features
You will also find that these skates have the Speedblade technology, which includes the XS holder, making it easy to swap out blades, and the XS1 runner that makes it effortless to stride. This system allows the blades to lock in tightly, giving great security, but also makes it easy to unlock the blades and remove them when you need to.
The footbed on the FT2 skates is the CCM OrthoMovefootbed, which provides both support and comfort, keeping the feet where they should be within the skates.
The Jetspeed FT2 skates have a narrow forefoot, intended to be more anatomical. The heel and ankle are also made to be narrow anatomically. This fit might not be comfortable enough for everyone, but the average size and width foot should find them form fitting.
5. CCM Jetspeed FT390 Skates
If the Bauer Vapor 1X LE is not the right choice for your child, the second best ice skates for kids is the CCM Jetspeed FT390. The FT390 is made from a lightweight composite boot that has an ergonomic shape as well as an exhaust system to help with energy transfer.
Design
The shape will make sure that the boot naturally molds around the skater’s foot for the best level of comfort possible. The FT390 also has a solid heel lock which not only helps with control and turning, but it also prevents blisters or injury from having the heel slide around in the boot.
Features
The FT390 is made with a Totaldri Pro liner. The Durazone abrasion protection works by wicking away water from the skin, keeping feet dry while on the ice.
The liner is also lightweight, which helps keep the skates lighter instead of weighing them down. The soft pad around the collar of the boot adds an extra level of comfort for both the foot and the ankle.
The tongue of the FT390 is made with Tritech technology, protecting a vulnerable area of the foot while also preventing lace-bite. The footbed of the FT390 is made with aeration vents to help keep the feet from getting too hot on the ice while also preventing sweating.
Combined with the multi-density memory foam, the skates will provide their wearer with the best comfort and protection possible.
Final Verdict
When it comes down to it, the best junior hockey skates are the Bauer Supreme 2S ice hockey skates.
These work well for the elite skaters who spend several days a week out on the ice working. They are lightweight and durable with their lightweight composite outsole and 3D carbon Curv composite boot.
While the Supreme 2S is the best all-around skate, the best high performance skate is the Bauer Vapor 2X Pro.
While they are both in the Bauer family of skates, the Vapor 2X is made to be more powerful and will work for the skaters who are really working toward perfection on the ice.
Between the two, they are both wonderful skates, so if you had to choose one, we recommend the practicality and power that comes with the Bauer Supreme 2S.
Ultimately, you need to find a skate that works well for your child, ensuring that they have a safe and comfortable fit.
Hey there, my name is Shawn and I’m a semi-professional hockey player. I’m also the founder and chief editor here at Hockey Pursuits. I love playing hockey and helping players improve their game and that’s why I decided to start this blog.