Why do hockey skates have lower boots and less ankle support? What does "ankle flex" mean?

I am a long time skier but just started hockey. I don't understand why most of the hockey skates out there have low boots on the sides (with typically a high plate at the back which is totally useless.) Are hockey players supposed to be able to move their legs left and right w.r.t. the skate (does the term "ankle flex" refer to this?) I can't believe it if it is so!


No matter how tight I tighten up the laces of my new skate (rbk 7k) after skating for a while the skate starts to wobble left and right. I had to tighten the laces at the top so much that I got bruises on my leg where it touches the side rim of the skate. No ski boot would have such a low side support and you can never move the leg right and left without moving the boots with your leg. Why is hockey skate different?

Why do hockey skates have lower boots and less ankle support? What does "ankle flex" mean?
As the other guys said, as you play hockey, you'll come to love and cherish that ankle mobility.





Your knees and ankles have to bend in order to be agile on your skates. Every direction. You can't do good backwards or forwards crossovers, you can't stop and change directions quickly, you can't lean and reach or go down on one knee and pop back up again without your skates giving you room to bend your ankles.





Wobbly ankles (as Habitant and the other guy said) are, sadly enough, just a rookie thing. If you skate a couple of times a week -- I'd take some time to go to public skate and put in your laps when you're not in gear and trying to focus on stickhandling and everything else -- your ankles and feet will strengthen in a couple of months. You'll stop wobbling.





Don't overtighten. Everyone's got a different style/preference, but personally, I tighten snugly around my foot but not too much, then the lace right *at* my ankle joint (not above it) I really haul in on. Then up the rest of my ankle I keep it pretty loose.





The first couple of months are really hard on your feet and ankles. You'll be developing new muscles, callouses, and you'll wonder if it's the skate, or if you're doing it wrong because you're going to wobble and be unsteady and your feet are just going to plain old hurt.





It's a stage, and you get past it. Soldier on. It's worth putting the time in, and once you get through this stage unless you break a foot or something (ahem, not that I speak from experience) you won't have to go through it again.
Reply:You have asked a very good and important question about hockey skates. If you have noticed on the back plate on some hockey skates, there are two holes. Some skates have them and some don't. These were used years ago and I mean years ago, to tie the chin guards to the skates. Now we use chin guard tape. As far as the boot, you need to be able to bend at the ankles in order to get the proper stride. Skiers use their hips and knees for turning and the other moves they do on the slopes, hockey players use their hips, knees and ankles for their moves on the ice. For the proper hockey stance, you bend at the knees and ankles. If you take your hockey stick and stand it straight up from your toe of your skate, your knees and helmet should touch your stick. This shows you the proper hockey stance, also much like a skier, with most of your weight is forward and not on the back of your blades. I hope that this helps you out. You can always go on line and search for skating skills. There are a lot of sites on power skating. Just remember, that skating and skiing are two different styles, but the balance is the same. It will take time for you to get comfortable on the skates. Just remember, like I tell my students, don't get into one comfort zone and stay there, push yourself and get to the next zone and keep going, never stop pushing yourself. You will never get better if you don't.
Reply:The skate is not wobbling because it's not tight enough. It's wobbly because your ankles are not strong enough yet.





Watch some hockey, then you will understand the type of movements a player must make, and understand the skate.





My husband (life long hockey player, played college hockey, has a nephew in the pros, and a brother who coaches college hockey) disagreed with my answer.





He agrees that the low boot is for freedom of movement, but states that your ankles are not weak. Any hockey player must "get used" to the "unsupportive" feel, which may feel particularily loose to you after the stiffness, and support of a ski boot.
Reply:your ankles must not be strong enough yet. allot of new skaters have this problem we call them ankle burners. it will take time and once your ankles get stronger you won't be as wobbly.




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