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 soccer, 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. Here’s what you need to know.
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 |
3 Best Junior Hockey Skates & Ice Skates For Kids
Brand | Skill Level | Weight | Rating | Check Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Bauer Supreme 2S Editor's Choice | Intermediate/Advanced | 780 grams | 100% | |
2. CCM Jetspeed FT390 Runner-Up | Intermediate/ | 636 grams | 98% | |
3. Bauer Supreme S29 Budget Friendly | Beginner/ | 650 grams | 97% |
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.
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.
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. CCM Jetspeed FT390
Runner-Up
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Final Verdict
The bottom line is that the Bauer Supreme 2S skates are without a doubt the very best junior hockey skates that you can get for your child. Not only do they protect the feet and ankles, but they have essential support for developing hockey skills. With these high performance skates, corning and speed will come naturally, allowing for a great time on the ice.
Between the CCM Jetspeed FT390 and the Bauer Supreme 2S, you will find that they are both high performance skates with great structure and design. One of the biggest differences between the two is that the Supreme 2S has been designed with a liner that does not simply wick moisture away within the boot, but instead evaporates it all together, leaving the boots and the feet dry. This combined with the Tuuk blade holder that Bauer is known for, makes the Supreme 2S the better of the two and the overall best junior hockey skate.