Looking for the most comfortable hockey skates might be easier than you think. It is easy to assume that because performance skates need that stiffness to help you manoeuvre, that hockey skates are just meant to be uncomfortable. That is not true.
A quality skate, complete with great padding, an appropriate outsole, and even a reliable boot, can easily be comfortable as well as functional.
We will break down what the most comfortable features are for some of the best skates on the market.
Remember that you will be on these skates for many hours, pushing hard against the ice to get the best speed possible.
You need to keep your feet dry and cozy in order to be effective on the ice. In order to keep your head in the game and off your feet, get the most comfortable skates possible.
How To Choose The Most Comfortable Ice Hockey Skates
When you begin the process of finding skates, this is what to look for.
Skate Sizing & Width
If you really want your skates to be comfortable, they have to fit your feet to begin with. Well-fitting hockey skates will not have any gaps in the heel and will generally fit your feet snugly. You should not be able to wiggly your foot when laced up.
But they also must not be too tight. If your skates are squeezing your feet, including being too narrow, they will never be comfortable. Follow size guides closely.
Boot
The boot of your skates should not only fit, but needs to be the right boot for your skating needs. If you are just getting into hockey, you will need a pair of skates that have enough stability to be safe, but they cannot be overly stiff.
If they are too stiff, you will not be able to manoeuvre well. If you are an elite hockey skater, the stiffer the boot, the better.
Outsole
The outsole of your hockey skate is the bottom of the boot. It is the part that the blade holder attaches to. The outsole needs to be durable, but in comfortable skates, it is often vented as well, having a quick release for any sweat or liquid that has built up in the bottom of the boot. The outsole is usually rigid, because it transfers the power from your leg to the blade.
Padding
The padding of the skates can mean a lot of different things. There should be a reliable amount of padding under the tongue, protecting the top of your foot from lace bite.
There should also be some padding along the ankles as well, to give you the right amount of protection. You will find that some skates have padding along the liner as well, which can be a big feature if you like to skate without socks.
7 Most Comfortable Hockey Skates (2021)
Brand | Skill Level | Weight | Rating | Check Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Bauer Supreme 3S Pro Editor's Choice | Intermediate | 878 grams | 100% | |
2. CCM Super Tacks AS3 High Performance | Advanced | 921grams | 99% | |
3. Bauer Vapor X2.7 Budget Friendly | Beginner | 810 grams | 96% | |
4. TRUE TF9 Skates | Intermediate | 904 grams | 98% | |
5. Bauer Supreme S29 | Beginner | 820 grams | 94% | |
6. CCM Ribcor 76K | Beginner | 897 grams | 95% | |
7. CCM JetSpeed FT470 | Intermediate | 862 grams | 97% |
1. Bauer Supreme 3S Pro Hockey Skates
Most Comfortable Hockey Skates (Editor's Choice)
If you are after the most comfortable hockey skates, you cannot do better than the Bauer Supreme 3S Pro.
You will see that they use the new Bauer fit system, which definitely helps with the overall comfort of the skates. The new fit system allows you to choose the volume or width of your skates, so they will fit your feet as they should.
Design
Starting with the design of the Supreme 3S Pro, you will find that they have a high level of comfort, further enhanced by the Reflex tendon Guard, the Reflex tongue, and Standard Facing. The skates have an increased forward flex as well that will help with your overall performance on the ice.
The Supreme 3S Pro also uses a power cut for better stability and stride efficiency. The footbed is a Lock Fit, which will help keep your foot right where it should be. That way, your performance will be even better.
Features
The Bauer Supreme 3S Pro skates use the Bauerskate blade holder called the Lightspeed Pulse TI Edge. It also uses the Tuuk LS Pulse premium-grade steel blade, which has a mirror finish to enhance your gliding ability.
The Supreme 3S have an 80 flex rating making them more appropriate for elite skaters who have a lot of experience. They are stiff with a high level of stability, which more inexperienced players would have a hard time with as they manoeuvre.
The skates also have a Power Profile feature that will help you maintain your speed and a powerful stride. The Power Profile is a 4-zoned radii, which is also called a quad profile, helping with four different types of movements.
2. CCM Super Tacks AS3 Pro Hockey Skates
High Performance
The most comfortable skates that you can get that are high performance are the CCM Super Tacks AS3 Pro. These are a great option for elite-level skaters who are looking to add some power to their strides.
Design
Starting with its design, the Super Tacks AS3 Pro uses a one-piece MonoFrame book. The MonoFrame is a one-piece carbon composite that will help with energy transfer and fit, but it also has the added benefit of helping to keep the boots lightweight.
Part of the comfort with the design comes from the XS Tongue, which provides a more custom feel. The tongue is there for both comfort and protection, and the comfort can even be furthered by changing the tongue out when you want to. For example, if you would like a tongue with more padding, you can change out the tongue for one that is thicker.
Features
Looking at the features of the Super Tacks AS3 Pro skates, there is an Ortholite UltraLite footbed. This is a streamlined approach to the footbed, which is different than its predecessor and it helps to keep the skates as light as possible.
The moisture is also released out of the bottom of the boot, pairing well with the Total Dri-Pro liner. Together, they ensure that there will be no excess water, keeping your feet as dry as possible.
The Super Tacks AS3 skates also come with CCM DuraZone abrasion pads, which extend the life of the liner. You will also get a positive-lock mechanism called the Xchange System with these skates, which will secure the blade to the holder.
3. Bauer Vapor X2.7 Ice Hockey Skates
Budget Friendly
For a budget friendly pair of comfortable hockey skates, the Bauer Vapor X2.7 Ice Hockey Skates are a great choice. These are another great model from Vapor.
Design
Comfort was a big factor in the design of the Vapor X2.7. Their lightweight design will give you all of the needed support for a comfortable fit. Part of their comfort can be attributed to the 40oz white felt tongue that was constructed with extra padding in order to add extra metatarsal support while also making sure that your foot does not fall victim to lace-bite.
Another one of the design advantages of this skate is that it was specifically to hug your foot, molding itself around to prevent any gaps that could result in injury or foot trouble.
This snug fit might not work out well for every player, so you will need to check out the depth of the skate first to confirm that it will work with your feet. The X2.7also has a wide toebox with a narrow heel to create a heel lock so your foot cannot slip or move around within the skate itself, keeping you safe and stable.
Features
One of the best comfort features of the X2.7is that it can help you out with moisture control. Because there are so few gaps throughout the boot, preventing pooling sweat, any moisture will be absorbed into the hydrophobic microliner.
The liner will not only keep your feet comfortable on the ice, but it will also make sure that your skates dry quickly before you need to use them again. For regular feet, the X2.7 is a great and comfortable choice.
These skates are also thermoformable, which means they can be baked to help reduce your break in time. It is best if you can have this done by a pro, but you can do it yourself as well if you are careful.
4. TRUE TF9 Hockey Skates
The True TF9 skates are without a doubt some of the best comfortable skates that you can get.
The skates have a best-in-class fit, using features that are specifically in place to increase your overall comfort. These work for elite players who like to be light on their feet.
Design
Let?s look at the design of the TF9. With this, you will find that the skates have a personalized fit system that works to integrate the insole of the boot to accommodate players who have a variety of arch heights. The skates are also ultra-lightweight, which will keep your energy where you need it to be.
The skate also have an anatomical tongue with a t-guard insert. With a stiff and contoured design that will give you a lightweight tongue, the t-guard ensures that the tongue has an anatomical fit for increased comfort.
Features
Moving onto the features of the TF9, first, you will see that they use True?s antimicrobial, moisture-wicking liner made out of HydroFoam.This liner will increase your overall comfort-level, while helping to keep water away from your feet.
The skates work with all arches, including low, medium, and high-arched feet. The insert placement can be adjusted to meet the needs of your feet, giving you the perfect amount of support. The skates offer a Shift holder. This is a new feature that uses BenchChange technology to easily swap out your blades.
Finally, the skates are thermoformable as well, so the skates can be baked before wearing in order to mold them around your feet. That means that you will have a reduced break-in period, getting them to a perfect comfort-level for your needs.
5. Bauer Supreme S29 Ice Hockey Skates
These Bauer skates have all of the quality features that you would expect to get from Bauer, but also have the level of comfort that you might only dream of.
Design
The design of the Supreme S29 skates is pretty sleek. The skates have a low cut and are designed to give you the most comfortable fit that you can get. The design includes the 3D composite injected quarter package which means that the fit of the skates will be anatomical right when you take it out of the box.
The outsole of the boot is a fiber composite material, so when mixed with a full-fiber boot, even the most aggressive skater will have reliable and comfortable performance. This design means that there are improvements to the torsional stiffness, which is the twisting movement of the outsole and the boot.
The hydrophobic grip microfiber lining is designed to wick the water away from your feet, keeping them dry and comfortable. Combined with the memory foam ankle padding, the skates are incredibly comfortable to wear for an entire game.
Features
he features on the Bauer Supreme S29 are really all made with your comfort in mind. To begin with, the boot is made of a 3D fiber composite+ quarter package which will increase the durability and the longevity of the boot. A durable boot will help keep your feet as safe as possible.
Another one of the best features of this skate is that it has Form-Fit+ thermoformable technology, which means that you will be able to bake the skates in order to reduce the break in time. This will make them more comfortable because once they have been appropriately heated, they will mold around your feet and ankles in order to give you a custom fit.
6. CCM Ribcor 76K Ice Hockey Skates
The CCM Ribcor 76K hockey skates are without a doubt some of the most comfortable hockey skates that are out on the market.
Combining technology with performance, these skates will not disappoint you. The Ribcor 76K skates are ideal for players who are on the ice two to three times a week.
Design
The Ribcor 76K skates were designed with an anatomical response footbed, which is really what helps to make these skates so incredibly comfortable.
They also use a Metaframe quarter composite that increases the overall stiffness and the durability of the boot itself. The most comfortable features with these is the ADPT memory foam padding that will give you the most personalized amount of comfort.
Features
Like most CCM skates, the Ribcor 76K skates have a lot of great features, including the Speedblade XS runners. They offer a quick release blade exchange system and a longer edge life than other runners out there. They also have an HD microfiber liner that will keep your feet as dry and comfortable as possible.
7. CCM Jetspeed FT470 Ice Hockey Skates
These are a good choice for weekly players who like to have a high level of performance.
Design
The design of the CCM Jetspeed FT470 includes a multi-density memory foam that will provide you with a customized feel and keep your feet as comfortable as possible.
The design also features smooth contour pads that are in place to provide an enhanced level of comfort, ensuring that you can focus on your game instead of your feet.
Features
The features for the Jetspeed FT470 includes the Speedblade XS holder and stainless steel runner that will make it easy to change out the blades when you want to.
They also are made for durability and longevity. The skates also come with an HD microfiber liner that will ensure that your feet stay as dry as possible. The liner is resistant to wear as well.
Get Your New Skates Baked/Heated
Getting your skates baked is the best way to reduce the amount of time that it takes to break in your skates. Baking heats up the composite material of your skates to the point that they are flexible and can be molded.
Ideally, you should have your skates molded by a professional, but it can be done at home carefully.
To do it yourself, make sure that the skates are able to be baked and that you have a reliable oven. The skates should indicate the appropriate temperature to bake them at. Follow the instructions thoroughly to get the best results.
Final Words
The clear winner for the most comfortable hockey skates are the Bauer Supreme 3S Pro. These skates use the new Bauer fit system that will allow you to buy skates based on the width and volume of your feet, giving you more flexibility with fit.
The True TF9 model is made especially with comfort in mind and they deliver well. They might not be as high performance as the CCM Super Tacks AS3 Pro, but they do offer a high level of comfort.
What is the most comfortable for you might not be the same as what?s comfortable for someone else, so make sure you are fully happy before committing to one skate over another.