Hockey Skate Laces Fitting Guide
Despite being one of the more overlooked pieces of hockey kit, having the right hockey skate laces can drastically change how you look, feel and perform on the ice. From length, to style, design and how they’re tied, there are several important factors to consider.
This is why our experts here at Puck Stop have put together this ultimate ice hockey skate lace fitting guide to help you get the perfect length and fit.
How Should Hockey Skate Laces Fit?
Your hockey skate laces should fit snug enough to ensure minimal movement of your skates, but not so tight that they restrict blood flow, cause discomfort or restrict your range of motion.
You want to leave a bit of room for flexibility, as overly tight laces can cause foot pain and negatively affect your performance on the ice. When tying your skate laces, it’s important to ensure the laces are even on both sides, with no loose areas that could lead to unnecessary movement on either side.
Unwaxed Laces Fit
Unwaxed laces are standard rope laces. They are a more traditional choice and are generally more flexible than waxed versions. These laces offer a lighter feel and are easier to untie.
The fit should be snug, especially around the ankle, but you can adjust them more freely since they don’t hold their shape as firmly as waxed laces. Make sure not to tie them too loosely, as unwaxed laces can loosen up over time, especially during heavy skating.
Waxed Laces Fit
Waxed hockey skate laces are designed to be more durable and resistant to dirt and wear, offering a more secure hold on your boots.
When it comes to lacing waxed laces, you’ll want them to be snug but not too tight. Waxed laces tend to stay in place for longer than unwaxed ones.
Hockey Skate Lace Length and Sizing Chart
When it comes to choosing the right lace length, you should opt for laces which have enough lace to go through all of the eyelets on your skate and plenty left to make a double bow (there are other ways to tie your skate laces - but more on that later).
Take a look at our handy hockey skate lace length sizing chart to find the perfect size lace for your skates. Use the left column to find your skate size, then move over to the right column to find the recommended lace length that corresponds to your skate size.
What Length Hockey Skate Laces Do I Need?
| SKATE SIZE | LACE LENGTH |
|---|---|
| Y8.0 - 1.5 | 72" |
| 2.0 - 3.5 | 84" |
| 4.0 - 5.5 | 96" |
| 6.0 - 8.5 | 108" |
| 9.0 - 11.5 | 120" |
| 12.0 - 15.0 | 132" |
If you are between skate sizes, we’d recommend opting for the size up, to ensure that you can tie your skate securely and safely.
How to Lace Your Hockey Skates
No matter how you choose to lace your skates, when tying, make sure that the skates are snugly tightened, particularly in the ankles, for ultimate support. Your skates should feel snug enough so that your feet aren’t able to move around in the shoe with movement, but they shouldn’t cause any pain or discomfort due to the lacing.
When it comes to lacing styling, you have a few options which will all do the job, when tied correctly.
Under Criss Cross Lacing
The benefits of under criss cross lacing include providing a more secure, snug fit, especially around the ankle area. This method can also help prevent your laces from loosening during gameplay, as the laces are tucked under and more resistant to shifting. It offers excellent stability while maintaining flexibility.
How to under criss cross lace your hockey skates:
- Start at the bottom of the skate (at the first eyelet on each side) and lace outside to inside.
- One by one, work your way up the eyelets towards the ankle part of your boot. Cross the ends at each eyelet pair, and feed the laces through the inside of the final eyelets.
Over Criss Cross Lacing
The benefits of over criss cross lacing include improved flexibility and ease of tightening. This method allows for a slightly looser fit around the ankle, providing more comfort for players who prefer less pressure on their feet. It's also great for evenly distributing tension across the skate, reducing the chance of hot spots or discomfort.
How to over criss cross lace your hockey skates:
- Start at the bottom of the skate (at the first eyelet on each side) and lace from outside to inside.
- Work your way up the eyelets. Cross the ends at each eyelet pair, and feed the laces over the sides and through the next eyelet.
It’s worth noting that due to the nature of the lacing, the over criss cross method does typically use more of the laces. So, if this is your preferred method of lacing, you may wish to size up with your laces length.
Lock Lacing
The benefits of lock lacing include increasing the amount of forward flex you have during defense plays and hard skating strides.
How to lock lace your hockey skates:
- Lace the skates up using any of the methods listed above, leaving the top two eyelets on each side open. Cross the laces, and from inside to out, then insert the laces into the lower pair of corresponding eyelets.
- Next, work from outside to inside, lacing both ends through each of the top two eyelets (without crossing). From here, tie the skate up as you normally would.
This method of lacing also uses slightly more lace, so you may wish to size up if this is your preferred method of tying.
Double Cross Lacing
The benefits of double cross lacing include its simplicity, and reducing slippage which is particularly important during gameplay.
How to double cross lace your hockey skates:
- Lace up your skates using any of the methods listed above.
- One you get to the final eyelets and go to cross the laces, cross them two times instead of just once.
Partial Lacing
One of the key benefits of partial lacing is that it gives you more freedom of movement and side-to-side mobility, so you can carry out tight and glide turns much more easily than other lacing methods. For this reason, this style of lacing is popular among advanced skaters, rather than beginners.
How to partial lace your hockey skates:
- Start by lacing up your skates as you normally would, but stop before you reach the top eyelets.
- Lace halfway up the boot, leaving the top portion of the skate (usually the last eyelet) untied.
At Puck Stop, you can choose from a wide range of waxed or unwaxed ice hockey skate laces, from brands like Bauer Hockey and Howies, suitable for everything from practice sessions to match day. We also stock a variety of skate accessories including skate insoles and skate guards, helping you to get the most out of your ice hockey skates!