making hockey skates bearable for someone with crappy ankles?

[xanis]

I have weak ankles. Not sure why, I just do.

I'm taking a lady (no pics, sorry) ice skating tonight, and in an effort to retain my man card, I'd like to rent hockey skates. Unfortunately, the last 2 times I've done this I've wound up skating like an idiot because my ankles are weak.

Any suggestions for making hockey skates more bearable?

 

[Nik]

 

[IcePickFreak]

Hockey skates already have the most ankle support built in to them so if that doesn't help you're SOL. Did you ever try just regular skates that have a wider blade?

 

[xanis]

Hockey skates already have the most ankle support built in to them so if that doesn't help you're SOL. Did you ever try just regular skates that have a wider blade?

Don't think so. I'll have to see what they have.

 

[Spikesoldier]

be sure to tighten the hell out of them otherwise youll have problems

 

[actuarial]

My only suggestions: Lace them up REAL tight - if I have give I find it's harder on my ankles. If you have extra lace, wrap it around your ankle above the top eyelet before you tie them up.

 

[Whisper]

My only suggestions: Lace them up REAL tight - if I have give I find it's harder on my ankles. If you have extra lace, wrap it around your ankle above the top eyelet before you tie them up.

Honestly, beyond this, there isn't much you can do other than to skate enough to the point that your ankles strengthen. I've skated on and off for years, and every time I get back to it after an extended break, I'm fairly unsteady the first couple weeks until my ankles re-acclimate.

 

[BoomerD]

 

[Sukhoi]

Are you talking about real hockey skates, or ice skates? The shitty ice skates most rental places have give you no support. Real hockey skates (which aren't all that expensive to buy) have a ton more support.

 

[KillerCharlie]

I don't think hockey skates have nearly as much ankle support as something like a hiking boot. They don't always lace up as high.

Actually I just took a girl skating last night and I've only gone a couple other times in my life. It wasn't bad at all - I was able to go pretty fast and never fell. My skates didn't fit very well (way too much slop) but it wasn't that hard to stay upright.

 

[shopbruin]

Go down half a size, see if that helps in stability. Lace them up tight. Usually if I see people flopping around on ice skates, they're wearing a pair that's too big. You can see the boot almost folding in.

 

[TheVrolok]

From my experience, whatever rental skates are available are absolutely terrible. My ankles are fairly bad, as well, but I do like ice skating as a date, and my current gf enjoys it so awhile back I just went out and bought a pair of decent hockey skates. Great decision.

 

[thepd7]

be sure to tighten the hell out of them otherwise youll have problems

My only suggestions: Lace them up REAL tight - if I have give I find it's harder on my ankles. If you have extra lace, wrap it around your ankle above the top eyelet before you tie them up.

this. Most people aren't used to having to really tighten their shoes so they don't properly tighten the skates.

 

[PClark99]

I would tape them. 1" wide fabric tape.

TBH, lacing them up too tight will cut off your circulation. Make them snug, but not to the point of being painful. The, tape them up starting low on the ankle at the top of the foot. Stop an inch from the top of the skate.

Used to play ice hockey, and my ankles were and still are fairly loose (right ankle sprained prob 20 times) I used to tighten my skates tight but then ended up with a pretty sever case of lace bite.

 

[sandorski]

Buy your own. Go to sporting shop, try out a few different models, buy the one with the best support.

 

[ShawnD1]

Go down half a size, see if that helps in stability. Lace them up tight. Usually if I see people flopping around on ice skates, they're wearing a pair that's too big. You can see the boot almost folding in.

They should be so tight that it almost feels like they are cutting off your circulation. When I played hockey as a little kid, I remember that my mom was not physically strong enough to tie my skates properly. You need to lace them as tight as you can.

When they're properly tightened, you can't move your ankle. It's an annoying feeling because it greatly restricts mobility, but that's the whole point. Moving ankles = risk of broken ankles

 

[Spikesoldier]

ask whoever hands out the skates if he has a skate key you can borrow.

 

[0roo0roo]

yea i dunno, i had hockey skates but i still couldn't keep the blades vertical. its like they aren't in the right place to feel stable.