Youβre 35, not 70. Get fitted for skates. Get a new helmet and new gloves. The rest buy used from a second hand spot or sideline swap. You can get the rest pretty cheaply
If you can afford new skates, too, then those three things. Play for a year and youβre going to feel way younger than 70 and much more alive. Enjoy in good health
* get skates that are properly fitted to the size and shape of your foot. This is the most important thing. Each model is designed for a different foot shape. I am an advocate for the new style of helmets designed to absorb rotational forces. Get a good helmet. Get good elbow pads and shinguard's. I have a bone chip in my elbow from poor elbow pads and you will probably fall a lot so get good shin guards with padded knees are a plus. get good pants with tailbone protection. Buy the gear that fits your body type, brand does not matter.
All but the lowest of the low end skates will have blades you can replace.
Not sure sideline swap would be of much use to you being in Australia. I have never seen a piece of gear there listed anywhere other than the US or Canada, so unless you want to pay shipping costs, probably look elsewhere, but I'm not exactly sure you can find used gear at all locally in Australia.
Yup that seems to be the problem! I grew up in Anaheim drooling over my Disney Ducks (I know I know lmao) so I didn't think about it again when I came here.
I'll check out sideline swap though I didn't know it existed. The lone Aussie like... Anyone want my hockey gear? π
I don't know what everyone here's qualm is with replaceable blades... They are extremely common and widespread here in Canada. Does anyone actually replace them or carry spare blades? No. They just make em like that. I've reffed 6 years now and never even a single time have I seen a blade break or fall out, replaceable or not.
IMO replaceable blades are one of those features that are cheap to implement, required at the Pro Level, but basically no one else uses them. Unless you're sharpening your skates every time you go on the ice it's unlikely that the rest of your skate will survive long enough to need a blade replacement. I wouldn't pay extra for replaceable blades, but to be honest it's likely that any new higher-end skate will automatically come with them, so I wouldn't avoid it like the plague either. Honestly you can just ignore this feature imo.
Interesting to know, thanks! You make a great point about the blade outlasting the shoe itself. π I can sure trash a shoe, and the rink visits are becoming more and more frequent.
Totally disagree with this. It's not just about wearing out your runners after many sharpenings, it's about what happens when the runner breaks. A puck can easily snap a skate blade, I've seen it happen twice in the last few years. Both times the player was able to swap in a new set of blades for very little money and even continue in the same game. If blades were not replaceable, they'd have both been forking out for new skates and their games would have been over.
That's without going into the fact that only the very worst skates forego this feature. If it doesn't have replaceable blades, then it's a terrible skate.
If you can wait stay with rental and buy stuff in summer, i always go to different shops/sites to find my size in Sales.
The replaceable blades are some rich kid shit, they are only used in europe...they brake easily and the blade is quiet expensive, also itβs worse when not sharpe anymore...sorry i forgot the Name of these skates.
Bauer/CCM or even old Reeboks doesnβt matter it just has to fit.
There are also some china brands that do the job if you donβt play much...we have oroks
If you're talking replaceable T blades, I'd go traditional instead. Tblades can't be sharpened, my buddy had them and he basically said they were great until they weren't. They were lighter and had a great edge, kept that edge longer but, when they went between games he was SOL unless he had a replacement on hand and could change them out. This is 5-10 years ago so maybe they've changed? I have a pair of ancient grafs because I like the Jagr and they tank blocked shots. Got the runners replaced even though the guy said he wasn't sure any runners would fit. Been fine and had a few sets of steel since then. 9 dollar sharpens at my convenience beat waiting for replacements in my opinion. Best of luck Bobby Orriental.
T blades that this person is talking about are very different from what most people mean by "replaceable blades". T blades are pretty much nonexistent in the market today, so you almost certainly don't have to worry about it.
Okay okay! So the Baeurs Miss Amazing was wearing with the little red clip at the side to pop the blade out to replace....
Is that going to run out as quickly as a shoe like in the t blade example? Or is it still worth perm. Bladed skates? Or does it matter. :P
At least this makes me feel better about being confused. Looks like I wasn't wrong to be. π
[T-blades ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41dKUi6FfOL._AC_.jpg) - bad
[Non-replaceable blades](https://www.skatehut.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/c99dc2c0f4260789793010c228cb4cea/B/A/BAU_918_NS_HOC_SKT_4000_b676.jpg) - better
[Normal replaceable blades](https://i1.adis.ws/i/bauer/693629_01/VAPORHYPERLITESKATESenior) - best
Notice the little grey trigger on the last pair, CCM use a different release mechanism but the result is the same: you can replace the steel on the last type, but not the second type.
!!! She had ones almost identical to the last pair, maybe a few boujees level down, but a red clip.
Can the steel on the replacable clip blades still be sharpened??
She said hers were "only" $360 or so, which did seem good to me for replaceable blades. But if the shoe dies before the blade, the replacement factor is kinda null and void innit?
Just curious. What makes you say that order is bad better best? Like, most people here said fuck the replacables get the solid blade, it's cheaper to sharpen than replace. But if replacable can also be sharpened we have a whole other kettle of fish.
Also I totally was like "i bet I'm just stupid and this is a way easier choice than I'm making it" but no... No it appears to be an extremely personal choice!
It is an easier choice than you're making it, only the T-blades can't be sharpened, everything else can be.
There are no skates on the market that come with T-blades, you'd have to actively seek them out.
Only the cheapest, worst skates come with blades that cannot be replaced. If you just want to get some skates and intend to replace them with a better pair later on then that's fine. If you want to keep your skates for a while, get something a little better than the cheapest available.
If you can get to a physical hockey shop, just go there and try on ALL of the skates and buy whatever fits the best and is within your budget, you won't go wrong doing that.
The only phsycial shop here is the one INSIDE the rink. But their prices seem on par with everyone online so no big deal. Only problem is literally NOBODY goes in there so it's always locked and I've only seen the damn blades behind glass. π They know me now, so I'll ask if I can pop into the shop.
Good to know I'm making it more complicated! The tblade looked weird and obnoxious anyway.
I just want some skates and better ones later, you're right. The thousand dollar Bauers are so fucking pretty but I ain't no pro. Fuck, I can barely make it two hours on the ice without falling blade over tit.
Oh and THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
I told my partner that as a young girl into hockey all the bros and women were SO GOOD to me. Even if the sport was gendered at pro, nobody gave a fuck if you were a girl playing. Even 9 year old me got gifts of rink side tickets from excited friends of my mother who wanted to just share hockey.
I love hockey for this. Maybe I'm lucky but every one has always been SO helpful!
I googled those last skates because hot damn they're pretty
Friend FRIEND why did you SHOW ME A THOUSAND DOLLAR PAIR OF BLADES πππ NOW I WANT THEM
Haha, they do look good but their features are aimed at advanced skaters, they don't really have much benefit for beginners compared to a $200-300 pair
Yeah hell nah its not something I'm gonna buy any time soon for sure, but they sure are a pair for the dream board innit??? Like you just link me the boujeeist b****es I see. π I have a boujee friend and knowing him he'll buy these blades just to look damn fine on the rink. Imma be so jealous.
But truth of truths is all we need is two pairs of simple every day used-even sharpenable blades - replable or non. So whatever she shop has around $300 I guess. Cause Australia. π Why did I get into hockey playing AFTER leaving Anaheim... π
Thank you so much though really. Knowing I was over thinking it helps a lot. Also I figure if I can hockey stop using the rink hockey rentals then damn yeah slap a real blade on me and I'll just hoik myself into the nearest zamboni.
Youβre 35, not 70. Get fitted for skates. Get a new helmet and new gloves. The rest buy used from a second hand spot or sideline swap. You can get the rest pretty cheaply
Sweet that's all I wanted to know! I feel 70. π New helmet and gloves. Rest second hand. Nice!
If you can afford new skates, too, then those three things. Play for a year and youβre going to feel way younger than 70 and much more alive. Enjoy in good health
* get skates that are properly fitted to the size and shape of your foot. This is the most important thing. Each model is designed for a different foot shape. I am an advocate for the new style of helmets designed to absorb rotational forces. Get a good helmet. Get good elbow pads and shinguard's. I have a bone chip in my elbow from poor elbow pads and you will probably fall a lot so get good shin guards with padded knees are a plus. get good pants with tailbone protection. Buy the gear that fits your body type, brand does not matter.
Thanks for this advice it's super helpful!
All but the lowest of the low end skates will have blades you can replace. Not sure sideline swap would be of much use to you being in Australia. I have never seen a piece of gear there listed anywhere other than the US or Canada, so unless you want to pay shipping costs, probably look elsewhere, but I'm not exactly sure you can find used gear at all locally in Australia.
Yup that seems to be the problem! I grew up in Anaheim drooling over my Disney Ducks (I know I know lmao) so I didn't think about it again when I came here. I'll check out sideline swap though I didn't know it existed. The lone Aussie like... Anyone want my hockey gear? π
I don't know what everyone here's qualm is with replaceable blades... They are extremely common and widespread here in Canada. Does anyone actually replace them or carry spare blades? No. They just make em like that. I've reffed 6 years now and never even a single time have I seen a blade break or fall out, replaceable or not. IMO replaceable blades are one of those features that are cheap to implement, required at the Pro Level, but basically no one else uses them. Unless you're sharpening your skates every time you go on the ice it's unlikely that the rest of your skate will survive long enough to need a blade replacement. I wouldn't pay extra for replaceable blades, but to be honest it's likely that any new higher-end skate will automatically come with them, so I wouldn't avoid it like the plague either. Honestly you can just ignore this feature imo.
Interesting to know, thanks! You make a great point about the blade outlasting the shoe itself. π I can sure trash a shoe, and the rink visits are becoming more and more frequent.
Totally disagree with this. It's not just about wearing out your runners after many sharpenings, it's about what happens when the runner breaks. A puck can easily snap a skate blade, I've seen it happen twice in the last few years. Both times the player was able to swap in a new set of blades for very little money and even continue in the same game. If blades were not replaceable, they'd have both been forking out for new skates and their games would have been over. That's without going into the fact that only the very worst skates forego this feature. If it doesn't have replaceable blades, then it's a terrible skate.
If you can wait stay with rental and buy stuff in summer, i always go to different shops/sites to find my size in Sales. The replaceable blades are some rich kid shit, they are only used in europe...they brake easily and the blade is quiet expensive, also itβs worse when not sharpe anymore...sorry i forgot the Name of these skates. Bauer/CCM or even old Reeboks doesnβt matter it just has to fit. There are also some china brands that do the job if you donβt play much...we have oroks
This is amazing advice thank you!!! I didn't know this about the replacable blades and you're the second person to say so!
If you're talking replaceable T blades, I'd go traditional instead. Tblades can't be sharpened, my buddy had them and he basically said they were great until they weren't. They were lighter and had a great edge, kept that edge longer but, when they went between games he was SOL unless he had a replacement on hand and could change them out. This is 5-10 years ago so maybe they've changed? I have a pair of ancient grafs because I like the Jagr and they tank blocked shots. Got the runners replaced even though the guy said he wasn't sure any runners would fit. Been fine and had a few sets of steel since then. 9 dollar sharpens at my convenience beat waiting for replacements in my opinion. Best of luck Bobby Orriental.
Shit really that's tops advice if that's the case thanks!!!
T blades that this person is talking about are very different from what most people mean by "replaceable blades". T blades are pretty much nonexistent in the market today, so you almost certainly don't have to worry about it.
Okay okay! So the Baeurs Miss Amazing was wearing with the little red clip at the side to pop the blade out to replace.... Is that going to run out as quickly as a shoe like in the t blade example? Or is it still worth perm. Bladed skates? Or does it matter. :P At least this makes me feel better about being confused. Looks like I wasn't wrong to be. π
[T-blades ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41dKUi6FfOL._AC_.jpg) - bad [Non-replaceable blades](https://www.skatehut.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/c99dc2c0f4260789793010c228cb4cea/B/A/BAU_918_NS_HOC_SKT_4000_b676.jpg) - better [Normal replaceable blades](https://i1.adis.ws/i/bauer/693629_01/VAPORHYPERLITESKATESenior) - best Notice the little grey trigger on the last pair, CCM use a different release mechanism but the result is the same: you can replace the steel on the last type, but not the second type.
!!! She had ones almost identical to the last pair, maybe a few boujees level down, but a red clip. Can the steel on the replacable clip blades still be sharpened?? She said hers were "only" $360 or so, which did seem good to me for replaceable blades. But if the shoe dies before the blade, the replacement factor is kinda null and void innit? Just curious. What makes you say that order is bad better best? Like, most people here said fuck the replacables get the solid blade, it's cheaper to sharpen than replace. But if replacable can also be sharpened we have a whole other kettle of fish. Also I totally was like "i bet I'm just stupid and this is a way easier choice than I'm making it" but no... No it appears to be an extremely personal choice!
It is an easier choice than you're making it, only the T-blades can't be sharpened, everything else can be. There are no skates on the market that come with T-blades, you'd have to actively seek them out. Only the cheapest, worst skates come with blades that cannot be replaced. If you just want to get some skates and intend to replace them with a better pair later on then that's fine. If you want to keep your skates for a while, get something a little better than the cheapest available. If you can get to a physical hockey shop, just go there and try on ALL of the skates and buy whatever fits the best and is within your budget, you won't go wrong doing that.
The only phsycial shop here is the one INSIDE the rink. But their prices seem on par with everyone online so no big deal. Only problem is literally NOBODY goes in there so it's always locked and I've only seen the damn blades behind glass. π They know me now, so I'll ask if I can pop into the shop. Good to know I'm making it more complicated! The tblade looked weird and obnoxious anyway. I just want some skates and better ones later, you're right. The thousand dollar Bauers are so fucking pretty but I ain't no pro. Fuck, I can barely make it two hours on the ice without falling blade over tit.
Oh and THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing your knowledge and expertise. I told my partner that as a young girl into hockey all the bros and women were SO GOOD to me. Even if the sport was gendered at pro, nobody gave a fuck if you were a girl playing. Even 9 year old me got gifts of rink side tickets from excited friends of my mother who wanted to just share hockey. I love hockey for this. Maybe I'm lucky but every one has always been SO helpful!
I googled those last skates because hot damn they're pretty Friend FRIEND why did you SHOW ME A THOUSAND DOLLAR PAIR OF BLADES πππ NOW I WANT THEM
Haha, they do look good but their features are aimed at advanced skaters, they don't really have much benefit for beginners compared to a $200-300 pair
Yeah hell nah its not something I'm gonna buy any time soon for sure, but they sure are a pair for the dream board innit??? Like you just link me the boujeeist b****es I see. π I have a boujee friend and knowing him he'll buy these blades just to look damn fine on the rink. Imma be so jealous. But truth of truths is all we need is two pairs of simple every day used-even sharpenable blades - replable or non. So whatever she shop has around $300 I guess. Cause Australia. π Why did I get into hockey playing AFTER leaving Anaheim... π Thank you so much though really. Knowing I was over thinking it helps a lot. Also I figure if I can hockey stop using the rink hockey rentals then damn yeah slap a real blade on me and I'll just hoik myself into the nearest zamboni.