These Are The Best Goalie Skates Money Can Buy

Goalie Skates. Besides your helmet, we argue that the goalie skates you chose are the single most important piece of equipment you’ll ever buy. If you can’t skate, you’ll have a tough time getting in front of pucks. If you have a tough time getting in front of pucks, your odds of making the save is lower and you’ll find yourself riding pine, as they say! Choose a pair of skates that are heavy and on the lower end of the price range, and you’re going to be upgrading in a year or two.

Opt for a high performance, lightweight goalie skate, and you’ll wear them for years. Case in point. A few years ago, one of my young goalies was struggling to find a skate he liked. He was in a set of Bauer Reactor skates (remember those?!) and opted for a top of the line at the time, Bauer 2S Pro. Mind you, 5 years later, these are still great skates if you can find them. He wore these skates for 4 years!

We get asked this question time and time again, “what is best goalie skate?”. Keeping the story from above in mind, we say that you should buy the most high end goalie skate that you can afford.

In our honest opinion, that’s going to be either the Bauer PRO or the CCM SuperTacks AS3 Pro, but we’ll get into that below.

Editors Note: in this goalie skate buying guide, we’re talking about the top end, pro level goalie skates. These are the same skates many NHL goalies wear, which means they’re also very expensive. If you’re a parent searching for your son or daughters first pair of goalie skates, we recommend taking a look at our Youth Goalie Skates buying guide.

These are the best goalie skates money can buy.  

• Bauer PRO Goalie Skates – Top Performance
• CCM SuperTacks AS3 Pro – Best for Wide Feet
• True 2 Piece Custom – Most Customizable
• Bauer UltraSonic 
• True TF9
• Bauer Elite

Here’s how we rated the highest-performing goalie skates on the market. 

Goalie Skate Model	Skate Rating
Bauer Pro	71/80
CCM SuperTacks AS3 Pro	70/80
True Two Piece Custom	69/80
Bauer UltraSonic	67/80
True TF9	66/80
Bauer Elite	60/80

The most popular goalie skate, and the best bang for your buck this year, is the Bauer PRO goalie skate.

As the game of hockey evolves, goalies are becoming faster and quicker with their edges on the ice.  Players are moving at fast speeds and shots are coming from all angles in split seconds. Having high quality skates is more important than ever before in hockey history.  

First, we must point out that the best goalie skates are the skates that fit you the best. When your skates fit well, you’ll move better. When you move better, you get in front of more pucks. When you get in front of more pucks, well, you get the point.

We update this list of the top goalie skates on a regular basis, and right now, Bauer makes the best goalie skate on the market for both elite and youth goalies alike.

Bauer PRO Goalie Skates – Top Performance

We’ve been testing the Bauer PRO goalie skates for over a month now, and feel comfortable enough to include these here. There are three things that make the Bauer PRO goalie skate the most advanced skate ever manufactured by the company.

Note: the toe in our pair of Bauer Pro skates cracked just 3 months in to on ice testing. We detail that further below.

Here’s what’s new with the Bauer PRO Goalie Skates

• Redesigned ankle collar
• New “Stanceflex Pro” boot design, for improved mobility and attack angle
• Introduction of the “Agility” blade profile specifically for goalies

Redesigned ankle collar. Honestly, this one’s a bit of a marketing ploy by Bauer. Basically, they’re saying they used new material in the ankle region of the skate. In my personal opinion, we’re at the phase of goalie skate design where companies are being forced to coin new phrases and say things are all new, so this isn’t a huge improvement (the ankle area on previous Bauer skates was not broken).

New “Stanceflex Pro”.Marketing jargon aside, this is a pretty big deal. From the ankle to the toe, the boot of this skate has been slimmed down, giving the goalie a lighter product that offers better attack angles and positioning from head to toe. Believe it or not, the height of your goalie skate does make a difference, even if in just the way your pads sit on your foot.

“Agility Blade”. This is also big.

Here’s how we rated the Bauer PRO goalie skates.

Rating Categories	Bauer Pro
Comfort	10/10
Protection	10/10
Attack Angle	10/10
Break In Time	9/10
Longevity	8/10
Versatility (for Different Foot Types)	9/10
Breathability	8/10
Price	7/10
Final Skate Rating	71/80

Editors note: the toe in our Bauer Pro goalie skates cracked after just 3 months of use. We covered that further in detail on our review of the Bauer Pro goalie skates, however, we believe this was a one-off issue. While the company did not honor the warranty and we were unhappy with the result, these are still one of the most comfortable pairs of goalie skates we’ve worn and we feel they are still an excellent option for goalies looking to upgrade their goalie skates.

CCM SuperTacks AS3 Pro – Best for Wide Feet

Move over, True Hockey. Without question, the CCM SuperTacks AS3 Pro goalie skate is highest rated pair of CCM skates on the market. We wrote a more advanced in depth CCM AS3 goalie skate review on another section of our website, so for the sake of time we’ll hit the big stuff in this section.

The CCM SuperTacks AS3 Pro has been a long time coming. For years, CCM has focused on its bread and butter, the goalie pads. It’s not that skates haven’t been a priority, it’s just that they’ve been focused on perfecting their goalie gear lineup in other areas.

That said, however, it’s time to take a look at the AS3 Pro. Now, we should point out that when it comes to us writing about the “best of the best”, we don’t like to just make things up.

So, when we start hearing from our pro clients about a certain piece of gear.. we take notice. Over the past summer, we heard and saw quite a bit of rumblings about the AS3 goalie skate making a name for itself. Having worn this skate for a couple months, we decided it was fit for the top ranking on this list.

See, Bauer basically reinvented the goalie skate with the “cowling-less” profile. CCM and other brands soon followed, but they couldn’t match the performance of Bauer.

While Bauer has shifted focus into sticks, they’ve offered less innovation on the skate side. Now, don’t get us wrong. They still make one of the most elite goalie skates available to the public in the UltraSonic, 2S, 3S and now, Bauer PRO.

So, our favorite things about the AS3?

These skates are built to basically form to your foot on the ice. Which, is what a great skate should do. They’re a one piece frame, with a low cut ankle and stiff profile designed to form to your foot. Wait, what? Stiff skates that form to your foot? How?

• The tongue is built with memory foam designed to mold to the top of your foot
• Built with Rocketframe composite, super lightweight, NHL caliber material designed to shape with your foot
• Thermo-formable core fits your foot from the start and gets better with time
• Molded dual density footbed is the single best performing sole of a goalie skate on the market

What makes the AS3 goalie skates special? 

These skates will perform at every level of play. They’ll also adapt to ANY FOOT. Unlike thin profile skates (Bauer 2S / 3S) the CCM AS3 are built with literally every goalie in mind. They combine performance and adaptability unlike anything else on the market, and they’re worth every penny.

Editors note: since we’ve wrote this, Bauer has released the Bauer PRO. The Bauer PRO comes in three “FITs”, designed to adapt to any foot.

Here’s how we rated the CCM SuperTacks AS3 Pro goalie skates.

Rating Categories	CCM SuperTacks AS3 Pro
Comfort	10/10
Protection	9/10
Attack Angle	10/10
Break In Time	8/10
Longevity	9/10
Versatility (for Different Foot Types)	9/10
Breathability	8/10
Price	7/10
Final Skate Rating	70/80

True 2 Piece

The True 2 Piece Custom skate moves up our chart of the top-performing goalie skates in this edit of the article. It’s due in large part to their custom options. The True 2 Piece Custom skates are an excellent option for those with varying foot types, but they lack in overall price. They’re one of the most expensive goalie skates money can buy and for good reason. 

These skates are going to be similar to True’s one piece skates but these are stock model compared to a custom fit.  

These skates still hold many of the positives I like in the first skate on the list, such as, the design of the eyelets to keep the angle of the skate attacking the ice lower, the carbon fiber design and monocoque toe, and the comfort that allows for long playing periods without pain. 

The True 2 Piece skate works by attaching a boot and runner separately. What does this mean? There is most likely a decrease in energy transferring from the push to the ice compared to their one piece offering (honestly that seems minuscule, unless you’re Carey Price).

I think that if you are looking for a comfy skate with a cheaper price tag than the 1 – piece goalie skates made by True, definitely go with these ones.  

Biggest features of True 2 Piece Pro Skates

• RocketFrame composite rivals Bauer’s Curv Composite (we rank Bauer’s slightly better in both durability and weight)
• Excellent moisture control in the skate boot
• Superior ankle mobility

Biggest disadvantages

• Slightly heavier than some of the other elite pairs of skates on the market

Here’s how we rated the True Two Piece Goalie Skates.

Rating Categories	True Two Piece Custom
Comfort	10/10
Protection	7/10
Attack Angle	10/10
Break In Time	8/10
Longevity	9/10
Versatility (for Different Foot Types)	9/10
Breathability	8/10
Price	6/10
Final Skate Rating	67/80

Bauer Supreme UltraSonic

With the rate at which goalie gear manufacturers release new gear, it feels as if the Bauer Ultrasonic goalie skates are distant history.

If you just want the best of the best, go with the new Bauer PRO goalie skates.

With that said, if you’re patient, you could pick up the Bauer Ultrasonic skates at a discount as retailers try to move them. I’ve been wearing a pair of Bauer 2S skates since before they were released several years ago, and they still perform like they’re brand new. Seriously. Bauer does not miss when it comes to goalie skates.

These are a top pair of goalie skates that many pros have been wearing in practice leading up to the August NHL playoffs.

Advantages

• Lightweight
• Low-angle design allows for lower stances
• Some of the most comfortable goalie skates
• Carbon coated steel
• Durability

Disadvantages

• Expensive

The Ultrasonic skates are some of the best stock option goalie skates you are going to find on the market.  If you can afford them, they’re worth it.

True TF9

I’m excited about this edition to the list. True makes one of the most popular goalie skates amongst NHL goalies, the True Custom skate, but they haven’t offered a really great option for younger goalies who aren’t looking to buy a fully custom skate.

Well, wait no longer. Meet the True TF9 goalie skate. This is a highly versatile skate that’s going to be a step-down performance-wise from the custom models offered by True, but an awesome skate nonetheless.

Realistically, this skate should be in a different category from the first skates on our list. It should be in the “non-pro level” goalie skate category, as it’s not truly a pro-level skate like the skates we ranked higher than this one are.

Here’s how we rated the True TF9 goalie skate.

Rating Categories	True TF9
Comfort	8/10
Protection	8/10
Attack Angle	10/10
Break In Time	8/10
Longevity	7/10
Versatility (for Different Foot Types)	8/10
Breathability	8/10
Price	9/10
Final Skate Rating	66/80

Related: Best Goalie Sticks

Bauer Elite

The Bauer Elite goalie skate graded low on our goalie skate ratings, but make no mistake, this is an excellent skate for those looking to get a high end goalie skate at a bargain price.

I’m really excited about this addition to the top goalie skates guide, as this is the first time that I truly feel Bauer has made a highly competitive, lower end skate. This skate molds the Bauer 3S and features from the Bauer 2X line, coming together for what they’re calling the “Elite” skate. This skate is a step down from the Bauer PRO.

Here’s how the Bauer Elite goalie skates graded.

Rating Categories	Bauer ELITE
Comfort	8/10
Protection	7/10
Attack Angle	10/10
Break In Time	9/10
Longevity	5/10
Versatility (for Different Foot Types)	7/10
Breathability	5/10
Price	9/10
Final Skate Rating	60/80

Related: Best Goalie Masks

Honorable mention goalie skates

There are a ton of other high-performance skates on the market. Unfortunately, in terms of the true, highest performing goalie skates, we’re not willing to list every skate just because it exists. If you’re considering getting into a lower end goalie skate, take a look at some of the skates we’ve got broken down here below.

True Custom 1 Piece Pro

First on my list was an easy decision for me, the True – 1 Piece Custom goal skate.  True excels in the skate department and in recent years we’ve seen many pro goalies switch over to them. This skate would be one of our top ranked goalie skates for this year, minus the fact that it’s a few years old, the True Custom 1 Piece skate is still popular at the NHL level.

True says that since the skate is designed as a one piece there is less energy loss from the push to the ice, if that’s true or not (I’m hilarious) the company has a convincing case going for itself. 

The skate is one of the most comfortable skates on the market right now hands down. With that being said, it isn’t the lightest.  The outer shell is made of carbon fiber and the toe wields what they call the “True ToeCap” that absorbs pucks off the toe without pain in the foot. This is a huge bonus.

The eyelets of the skate are put in such a way that goalies wearing them are at a lower angle to the ice which is better for grabbing an edge here or there quickly. Not only that but True also uses a 3D scan to create a skate that will fit each goalie individually, a huge advantage over other stock skates.  These, like most skates on the market aren’t without a hefty price tag, but the performance and comfort surely won’t disappoint.  

Biggest features of True Custom 1 Piece Pro

• They’re custom fit to your foot (yeah, that means custom)
• These are the single best goalie skate money can buy
• True ToeCap designed to absorb pucks off the toe

Biggest disadvantages

• They’re one of the more expensive goalie skates on the market

Bauer 3S 

The Bauer 3S would be the knockoff goalie skate in the Bauer Ultrasonic line. The different between these and the Bauer Ultrasonic is actually quite minimal, with the Ultrasonic using some improved materials for protection and comfort. The Bauer 3S skate is still a high performing skate, it just comes without the price tag of the UltraSonic, always a nice bonus.

Buy at Goalie Monkey.

Bauer 2S Pro

The Bauer 2S Pro goalie skates can be had at a discount these days. When it was first released, the 2S Pro was far and away the top goalie skate on the market. It’s been long since forgotten about with the release of the UltraSonic and the Bauer Pro, but for a pro-level goalie skate, this one can currently be had at a very affordable price.

Buy at Goalie Monkey.

Graf Pro G

The days of Graf making the top skate on the market are long gone, it’s safe to say the small skate manufacturer has been steamrolled by innovation from larger manufactuers such as True, Bauer, and CCM.

Buy the Graf Pro G at Goalie Monkey.

Things to consider when buying new goalie skates

That will wrap up this post on the best goalie skates of 2022.  If you weren’t able to find something that will fit your budget, remember that each skate on this list has different skate options in the same lineup which are priced lower.  

For example, if you want the Bauer Ultrasonic skates but at a better price, get the Bauer Supreme 3S skates. They’re not the same quality as the 3S are lesser than the Ultrasonics, but still very good. With every new iteration and technology change in the goalies skate, comes lower-end skates that are still high quality.

Goalie Skates Are Much Different Than Player Skates

There are major differences in goalie skates vs player skates. Traditional hockey skates are built specifically with speed in mind. Less blade contact with the ice means less friction and more speed, whereas goalie skates feature a longer blade built for the maximum grip of the ice.

Other differences include

• Increased protection in goalie skates
• Better attack angle in goalie skates
• More ice grip with goalie skate blades

Where to Find Discounted Goalie Skates

When it comes to skates that will give you the maximum performance, buying the exact same skates worn by your favorite NHL goalie is a no-brainer. If you’re looking to save money on your new skate purchase, there are a couple of ways to do this.

• Check eBay for used skates, many goalies upgrade each year and sell their goalie skates at a discounted rate
• Use buy and sell Facebook groups for goalie equipment
• Ask your local association coaches if their goalies are selling their old equipment
• Check Pure Hockey and Goalie Monkey for skate sales