Finding the best hockey skates for your game is always an important decision, whether you’re a seasoned skater or you’re getting ready to step onto the ice for the first time.
Some players might be looking for the latest-and-greatest skates to take their game to the next level, while others might be looking for a simple pair of rec skates for pick-up games. No matter your experience or skill level, Pure Hockey has you covered with a wide selection of ice skates from top brands like Bauer, CCM, and TRUE.
Let’s take a look at some of Pure Hockey’s top picks for the best ice hockey skates on the market this year, with options for all different price points and styles of play. If you’re still not sure which pair of skates is right for you, we also offer more general information on How to Buy Hockey Skates, and we encourage you to stop by your local Pure Hockey store to get a full assessment from our staff.
Pro Hockey Skates
The Pro-level ice hockey skates are where you’ll find first-class technology to provide the best protection and comfort features. These top-of-the-line skates will be thermoformable, offer a stiffer boot for better energy transfer, more protection in the tongue and the top of the foot, extra padding in the ankles, high-performance footbeds, and the ability to choose your steel based on your needs. A lot of Pro skates also include a Flex Facing technology near the eyelets of the skate that provide players more ankle mobility.
The extra padding in the ankles and high-performance footbeds will give you more comfort and a more customized feel. Thermoformable means the skates can be baked in a skate oven to allow the boot to conform to your foot for a customized fit. You will be able to bake your skates at any of our Pure Hockey stores.
Most Pro-level skates come with the ability to quickly change your steel, allowing you to swap it out without missing a shift. With this feature, it’s a good idea to carry extra steel in your hockey bag with a runner sleeve so you always have a set on hand and don’t have to worry about broken blades or losing an edge and needing them sharpened right away.
For the player looking for a top-of-the-line skate, the Bauer Supreme Mach is an excellent option. The latest addition of the Supreme family is designed for power and acceleration. This skate is lighter than other Supreme skates, with an increased wrap that improves lateral stability.
Upgraded from the previous generation Supreme Ultrasonic skate is the 12K Carbon Curv Composite boot, Powercoil Tongue, AMP Flex technology, and the ability to choose your steel based on your personal performance needs.
The AMP (Active Motion Performance) Flex Technology is a facing technology that improves the overall flex profile of the skate. The AMP Flex Facing is added between the 2nd and 3rd eyelets of the skate to allow increased forward mobility through the skating stride, enhancing the range of motion for the skater.
With Bauer’s fit system, you are able to choose your skate based on the performance features rather than picking the skate because it is made for a certain foot type. If you are a player looking for a more explosive stride, the Supreme line focuses on power with the lower part of the skate being stiffer to optimize energy transfer and the upper part of the skate being softer, allowing for increased mobility.
The Bauer Vapor Hyperlite skate is designed for the player looking for a skate with top-of-the-line technology and performance benefits. The latest version of the Vapor family has plenty of upgrades from the previous generation 2X Pro skate and is designed for speed and agility.
Some of the key upgrades from the 2X Pro include Hyperflex Facing, Hyperflex Sole, Aerolilte tongue, and the ability to choose your steel based on your personal performance needs.
With Bauer’s fit system, you are able to choose your skate based on the performance features rather than picking the skate because it is made for a certain foot type. If you are a player looking for quickness and agility, the Vapor line focuses on speed, with the lower part of the skate being softer for increased response, and the upper part of the skate being stiffer, allowing for better ankle support.
CCM has built the Tacks AS-V Pro with its all-new, highly advanced One-Piece Boot Power technology. The lightweight RFM composite material is engineered for performance and acceleration, giving players a more direct energy transfer and a closer fit for more powerful strides.
New to the CCM Tacks line is the ability to choose your steel based on your performance needs. Other great features include high-quality memory foam for comfort, a Power Flex Tendon Guard for increased mobility, a molded Ortholite Ultralite footbed with heel grip, and CCM’s TotalDri Pro+ Liner with Polygiene.
Polygiene is an odor control technology that protects fabrics from odor-causing bacteria, which helps you stay fresh longer and makes your equipment last longer.
The Ortholite Ultralite insole technology provides long term cushioning, moisture management, and a high level of breathability.
CCM also includes their Fit System in the Tacks AS-V Pro skates, allowing you to choose a skate based on your unique foot shape, not the product line. The AS-V Pro skate will give you superior energy transfer and a closer fit for optimal power and explosiveness.
CCM built the all-new Jetspeed FT4 Pro with their highly advanced One-piece Boot Speed technology. This skate will help generate a more direct energy transfer that will focus on acceleration and faster strides.
Some key upgrades in CCM’s Jetspeed FT4 Pro, not found in the previous FT2 skate, are the replaceable tongue, the molded Ortholite Ultralite footbed, and the STEP Blacksteel.
The replaceable tongue takes comfort and protection to an all-new level. You can switch out various tongue inserts to optimize feel and protection in your skate. The XS Tongue System gives the player options in thickness to either increase or decrease the inner boot volume to achieve the best fit.
The STEP Blacksteel has carbon nanoparticles that coat the outer layer providing an extremely hard edge. This produces incredible bite and control on every turn and stop, and also prevents burrs after sharpening.
CCM also includes their Fit System in the Jetspeed FT4 Pro skates, allowing you to choose a skate based on your unique foot shape, not the product line. The FT4 Pro skate is built for pure speed and agility. It is great for any player looking for those performance features in a top-of-the-line skate.
Elite Hockey Skates
The elite skates make up the second price point within a product line, and include a lot of the features found in the top price point skate but at a lower cost. These skates will be thermoformable, in many cases you will have the ability to choose your steel, and the boot will usually be made with the same high-end materials as the Pro skates but won’t be as stiff.
Thermoformable means the skates can be baked in a skate oven to allow the boot to conform to your foot for a customized fit. You can bake your skates at any of our Pure Hockey stores.
Most Elite-level skates come with the ability to quickly change your steel, allowing you to swap it out without missing a shift. With this feature, it’s a good idea to carry extra steel in your hockey bag with a runner sleeve so you always have a set on hand and don’t have to worry about broken blades or losing an edge and needing them sharpened right away.
There will be some downgrades in other materials and technology, like the liner and tongue, but these skates are still a great option for an elite level skater who is looking for top-notch features in a high-end skate but doesn’t want to pay top dollar.
The Bauer Supreme skate family is designed for power and acceleration. The M5 Pro includes a LockFit Liner, Reflex Tendon Guard and a Reflex Classic Pro Felt tongue. A lot of these materials were found in the previous generation top-of-the-line Ultrasonic skate, making this a great skate at this price point.
Another key feature passed down from the Ultrasonic is the 3D Lasted Carbon Curv Composite boot. This enhances thermoformability, while keeping the skate very lightweight. New to the Supreme line at this price point is the ability to choose your steel based on your performance needs.
With Bauer’s fit system, you are able to choose your skate based on the performance features rather than picking the skate because it is made for a certain foot type. The Supreme line focuses on power with the lower part of the skate being stiffer to optimize energy transfer and the upper part of the skate being softer, allowing for increased mobility.
With their many high-end features and technologies, the Bauer Vapor 3X Pro hockey skates make a great choice for the player who skates three to four-plus times per week and is looking for a skate that maximizes agility and speed.
The 3X Pro uses 3D Lasted Curv Composite in the boot, providing a lightweight skate that’s also supportive. Additional key features in this skate include a Hydrolite Liner, Lockfit Footbed, and AeroFoam+ interior padding.
With Bauer’s fit system, you are able to choose your skate based on the performance features rather than picking the skate because it is made for a certain foot type. The Vapor line focuses on speed, with the lower part of the skate being softer for increased response, and the upper being stiffer, allowing for better ankle support.
Passed down from the top-end Tacks AS-V Pro is the highly advanced One-Piece Boot Power technology. This technology will help the modern power skater with intense strides achieve more explosiveness without restriction.
New to the CCM Tacks line this year is the ability to choose your steel based on your performance needs. Other great features include multi-density memory foam for comfort, a Power Flex Tendon Guard for increased mobility, a molded Ortholite Ultralite footbed, and CCM’s TotalDri Pro Liner with Polygiene.
Polygiene is an odor control technology that protects fabrics from odor-causing bacteria, which helps you stay fresh longer and makes your equipment last longer.
The Ortholite Ultralite insole technology provides long term cushioning, moisture management, and a high level of breathability.
CCM also includes their Fit System in the Tacks AS-V skates, allowing you to choose a skate based on your unique foot, not the product line. The AS-V skate includes some of the top-end technologies found in the AS-V Pro but the materials will be slightly downgraded. This skate makes a great option for a player looking for more power and explosiveness but who doesn’t want to pay at the top price point.
The CCM Jetspeed FT4 ice hockey skate has an all-new design and highly advanced One-Piece Boot Speed technology passed down from the top-end FT4 Pro. One main difference from the top-of-the-line FT4 Pro model is the boot stiffness and the slightly heavier skate in the FT4.
A slight downgrade from the top-of-the-line FT4 Pro is the TotalDri Liner and the Step Steel Runners. This skate still features a replaceable tongue, the Ortholite Ultralite footbed, and memory foam pads for comfort.
The Ortholite Ultralite insole technology provides long term cushioning, moisture management, and a high level of breathability.
CCM also includes their Fit System in the Jetspeed FT4 skates, allowing you to choose a skate based on your unique foot shape, not the product line. The FT4 skate is built for pure speed and agility. It is great for any player looking for some top-of-the-line features but at a lower price point.
TRUE Catalyst 9 Skates ($699.99)
The Catalyst skate is an all-new product line for TRUE. The Catalyst 9 is designed for the player looking for more speed and agility. The one-piece thermoformable carbon fiber boot makes this skate lightweight, with a custom-feeling fit.
The moderate stiffness rating and flex tendon guard will give you better ankle mobility. For comfort, TRUE uses multi-density foams in the tongue and a Clarino Hydrofoam liner.
The Shift Max holder comes with bench change technology, allowing you to swap out your blades in between shifts. The Catalyst 9 skate is the perfect option for players seeking custom skate performance in an off-the-shelf design.
Performance Hockey Skates
Performance skates fall into the mid-price point and often feature some top technologies but won’t offer the same protection or durability as the Pro or Elite skates. Mid-price point skates will be thermoformable, but the boot will be a lot less stiff, allowing for easier ankle bend and a quicker break-in process. The softer boot won’t provide as much support, but inside the skate still includes a quality footbed and a moisture-wicking liner.
Thermoformable means the skates can be baked in a skate oven to allow the boot to conform to your foot for a customized fit. You can bake your skates at any of our Pure Hockey stores.
Most Performance-level skates now come with the ability to quickly change your steel, allowing you to swap it out without missing a shift. With this feature, it’s a good idea to carry extra steel in your hockey bag with a runner sleeve so you always have a set on hand and don’t have to worry about broken blades or losing an edge and needing them sharpened right away.
These skates are designed for players skating at a competitive level a couple times a week or for a men’s league player who doesn’t need all the high-end materials and features but who wants a quality skate with the comfort and technology they need.
The Bauer Supreme skate family is designed for the player looking for more power and acceleration out of their stride. The M4 will provide a good balance of fit, performance, and comfort at a much lower price point.
Although a lot of the material and technology is downgraded, the M4 still comes with Bauer’s Lightspeed Edge Holder to quickly swap out steel, is thermoformable, and includes memory foam in the ankle pads and footbed.
This skate comes with the LS+ runner and does include Bauer’s Fit System so you can choose your skate based on your unique foot shape.
The Bauer Vapor 3X is a great example of a skate at an affordable price point that also offers excellent performance. While not all the features are high performance, you do get a nice selection that will meet the needs of the performance-level skater who is on the ice 2–3 times a week.
The Bauer Vapor 3X is a great example of a skate at an affordable price point that also offers excellent performance. While not all the features are high performance, you do get a nice selection that will meet the needs of the performance-level skater who is on the ice 2–3 times a week.
The skate also comes with Bauer’s Fit System and is fully thermoformable, which means your skate can have that custom feel and fit based on your personal foot shape. The Fit System and thermoformability are nice features to have at this price point—they help players to really own, and really fashion, their equipment based on their specific needs.
A great performance offering from CCM is the Tacks AS-590 skate, which has a lot of quality features for a much lower price. The one-piece boot and thermoformable core give players a custom feel and allow a more direct energy transfer for more powerful strides.
Like the top two price points, the AS-590 comes with a replaceable tongue, Powerflex Tendon Guard, and the ability to choose your steel based on your game and preference.
The replaceable tongue takes comfort and protection to an all-new level. You can switch out various tongue inserts to optimize feel and protection in your skate. The XS Tongue System gives the player options in thickness to either increase or decrease the inner boot volume to achieve the best fit.
The Powerflex Tendon Guard allows for greater mobility in the ankle to generate more power out of every stride.
The boot of this skate will not be as stiff and is made with a lower-quality carbon blend, but still offers a lot of comfort and protection for someone skating 2–3 times a week and looking to stay within a certain price point.
The Jetspeed skate line is all about acceleration and faster strides. The FT485 skate is designed for someone looking for some top technologies and solid performance features at a great value.
Like the top two price points, the FT485 comes with a replaceable tongue, RFM composite material, and the Speedblade XS holder so you can change your blades quickly before your next shift.
The one-piece boot allows for this skate to remain lightweight, while the memory foam pads, TotalDri Liner, and Ortholite Footbed will keep you comfortable and give you the protection a performance-level player needs.
Entry-Level & Recreational Hockey Skates
Entry/Rec skates fall into the lowest price point and make an adequate option for someone just starting out or who plays occasionally. These skates will sometimes be thermoformable, and now include the ability to quickly swap out steel, but do not come with a performance fit system. The boot is usually made with a carbon blend and will offer some protection in the tongue, with memory foam padding inside the skate for comfort.
There are cheaper skates than this price point, but we recommend those for pond hockey or public skating, as they offer very little protection or performance features.
The Bauer Supreme skate family is designed for the player looking for more power and acceleration out of their stride. The Supreme M3 skate is designed for new-to-hockey or occasional players looking for some protection and comfort. The M3 skates have a Digi Composite boot, a microfiber liner with memory foam padding, and a 40oz. felt tongue with a metatarsal guard for protection.
If you’re a recreational player or you’re new to the game of hockey, you certainly aren’t restricted to this price point. If you want the top technologies and performance features that Bauer has to offer, resulting in more comfort, a better fit, and improved performance, it is certainly worth considering a higher-end skate. But if you’re looking for an affordable and comfortable skate that offers good features at a great value, the Bauer Supreme M3 is a great option.
The Tacks AS-570 offers some technologies found in the high-end Tacks models but at a much lower price point. These thermoformable skates offer the ability to swap steel on the fly with CCM’s quick-release holder.
The boot is one-piece, which is a unique feature to this price point, but will be softer than the higher models to allow recreational players more ankle flexion to help with balance. The replaceable tongue is also a feature found in the top two price points that make this skate feel customizable.
The CCM Tacks AS-570 is ideal for the recreational skater who doesn't need all the top features, but will still get some impressive tech at a budget-friendly price point.
Are you in the market for a new pair of ice hockey skates? Pure Hockey offers a full range of skates for every size, price point, and style of play. We also have resources on How to Buy and How to Fit Hockey Skates, and tips for maintaining your skates, such as our Hockey Skate Sharpening Guide.
Contact us online or at your local Pure Hockey store if you need more information to help you with your skate purchase.