Feet First: Why Skate Fitting Matters

Whether you’re a figure skater performing technical elements or an ice hockey player sprinting across the ice, skating starts from the ground up… literally.

Understanding how your feet work with your ice skates isn’t just a technicality; it’s essential for ensuring you stay comfortable and on top of your game.

The Anatomy Of Your Foot

Your foot is a complex structure made up of 28 bones, 27 muscles, 16 joints, and 107 ligaments. It’s designed to absorb shocks and adapt to quick movements, both critical functions that are constantly at play when you skate. 

Unlike casual shoes that move with your foot's movements, ice skates are built to be more rigid to provide the necessary support for skating. This means they won't naturally conform to your foot's shape, which can lead to discomfort and even injury if they don't fit properly.

The Perfect Fit Is More Than Just Comfort

A lot of skating issues stem from skates that don’t fit right. Overpronation, where your foot rolls inward, or over supination, where it rolls outward, can throw off your balance and strain your feet. Properly fitted skates address these issues, improving your stability and control to make your movements more efficient and prevent pain and injuries.

To make sure you’ve got correctly fitting ice skates, you can always measure your feet at home, or you can pop into one of our Willies stores and get one of our expert skate technicians to give you a professional skate fitting.

Our Fitting Process

When you visit us for a skate fitting, we assess your:

• Arch Type: Whether you have a high, medium, or low arch.

• Foot Volume: If your feet are narrow, medium, or wide.

• Foot Shape: Whether your feet are square, triangular, or rounded.

We also take into consideration your position, playing ability, and weight so that we can recommend the best skates for you before even starting to fit your feet with the perfect ice skate.

We may also recommend adding custom insoles to help stabilise your feet within your skates, aligning your foot correctly within the boot so that you can perform at your best without any pain. 

We’re also one of only three authorised BAUER FitLab stores in the UK so that hockey players can take their skate fit to the next level with performance-enhancing customisations.

Why Fitting Matters

The right fit does more than keep you comfortable — it transforms your skates into the most powerful tool you have on the ice that allows you to perform better. 

Properly fitted skates allow for precise movements, better agility, and more efficient power transfer from your legs to the ice. This means you can skate faster, turn tighter, and perform at the top of your game, whether you're scoring goals or nailing those jumps.

Ready To Lace Up?

Choosing the right skates is crucial, and at Willies, we provide more than just gear. Our expert team offers a fitting experience that ensures your skates are a perfect match for the unique anatomy of your feet. 

Your feet are your foundation on the ice, so let's make sure they're fully supported. Come and visit us at one of our stores and discover how the right fit can elevate your ice skating experience.