Hockey skate fit starts with measured feet.
Hockey players size skates down 1 to 1.5 sizes from their shoe size, and at that compression a few millimeters of width or instep decide whether the skate locks the heel or ends the shift early. The Volumental scanner captures a 3D scan of both feet in about 5 seconds and matches the player's actual foot shape to the skate lines and holders the shop carries.
Book a DemoWhy skate sizing is harder than shoe sizing
The size-down convention means the shopper's shoe size is the wrong starting point, and the compressed fit leaves no room for error: a skate that fits at the toe can still slide at the heel, and a skate wide enough for the forefoot can collapse the arch. When skates fit right, players perform: heel locked, no numb feet, and comfort that holds shift after shift.
How 3D scanning helps fit hockey skates
The scan measures length, width, arch height, instep and total foot volume in about 5 seconds. These are the dimensions that decide heel lock, wrap and comfort in a skate. Staff match those measurements to the skate models and widths in stock instead of working down from shoe size.
The result is a first-pull fit rate that keeps the counter moving during season peaks, and fewer skates coming back because they never quite fit.
Stocking the widths shoppers actually have
Most skates on the shelf come in one volume. Measured feet show how many shoppers sit outside the standard width, so the store can stock and recommend the width variants the line actually offers. For shops, that turns an unmeasured majority into a fit conversation.
CCM Hockey works with Volumental to recommend skates from a 3D scan of the player's feet, putting measured fit behind skate selection across its retail network.
Common questions about foot scanning for skate retail
What measurements does the skate scan capture?
Length, width, arch height, instep and total foot volume, both feet.
How long does the scan take?
About 5 seconds per player.
What about figure skates?
The scan measures the foot; the store's catalog and fitting expertise decide the boot.