Top 10 NHL Player Skates in 2025

With hockey season right around the corner, it’s time to look at the top skates for 2024-25. What do the pros use?

What does your favorite NHL player use? What’s the most-used skate in the NHL?

All of this information can be found at GearGeek, along with nearly every NHL equipment stat and number you could ever desire.

Also, I'd like to give a big shout out to Matt Stathopoulos at GearGeek for putting this comprehensive list together.

What I've learned is that the majority of players upgrade their equipment regularly, while some cling on to their "aging" gear.

This is especially true for skates that go through less wear-and-tear than gloves or sticks. Furthermore, you can easily swap out the blade or blade holder. 

Meanwhile, there are players that will regularly flaunt new equipment because of endorsement deals. 

Of course, it doesn't hurt that these products boast the latest enhancements and are tailored to their individual needs.

With that said, let's take a look at the skates that top our list.

Top 10 NHL Player Skates in 2025

For those that don't know, there are currently only 3 brands of skates used in NHL at the moment. They also happen to be the only brands available for purchase in North America.

These brands consist of Bauer (69.1%), CCM (21.6%) and TRUE (9.3%). The usage percentages are based off of 746 active skaters in the league.

While these quantities are subject to change, the distribution amongst the brands stay relatively consistent.

Note that each brand consists of 2-3 collections that are geared towards agility, power or acceleration.

Also, make sure to check out my blog post on the Best Hockey Skates in 2025, where I cover all currently available skates in depth.

I provide a skate rating for each model, my own personal likes/dislikes, low-budget alternatives and options for senior, intermediate and junior players.

If you are in the market for ice hockey skates, I break down the best quality options in the most structured manner.

My analysis is complimentary to the top 10 list presented below.

1. Bauer Vapor HyperLite 2

The Bauer Vapor HyperLite 2 has become the go-to skate for a large portion of NHL players (~39%).

David Pastrňák was the first to wear them in the NHL, toward the end of the 2022-2023 season, although Shea Theodore donned them when he lifted the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights.

The HyperLite 2 boasts a new Powerfly holder — specifically engineered to flex and respond to all skating situations — increasing take-off acceleration and side-to-side transitions.

Bauer says this skate will give you maximum quickness and unrivaled agility due to embedded Hyperflex technology.

2. Bauer Supreme Mach

Bauer’s Supreme Mach skates made their NHL debut in 2021 with Nikita Kucherov, but they have caught on with plenty of other NHLers and are now the second-most popular skate in the league at 17%.

With stars Erik Karlsson, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel and Adam Fox all rocking Bauer Supreme Machs, it’s easy to see why this model is so high on our list.

Bauer describes the Supreme Mach as the “next generation of power.”

The boot consists of a 12K Carbon Curv composite material, which makes it sturdier and allows for maximum acceleration — you can boost stride length and maximize speed.

3. Bauer Supreme Shadow

The Supreme Shadow skates are succeeding the Mach line. Charlie McAvoy was the first player to be seen wearing them in a September 2023 preseason game. 

In just their first year of official release, they've already rounded out the top-3 skates worn by NHL players.

This group includes players such as Cale Maker, Jack Eichel and Jesper Bratt.

The Bauer Supreme Shadow skates are designed with a focus on delivering maximum power while maintaining unparalleled comfort and agility.

The high-performance boot construction features a Curv® composite material, which enhances stiffness to provide greater energy return and explosive acceleration.

4. CCM Jetspeed FT6 Pro

Originally worn by Auston Matthews, they are now sported by Nikita Kucherov, Brock Boeser and have seen action by Sarah Nurse in a PWHPA game.

While looking like the Jetspeed FT4s, the JetSpeed FT6 Pro features an advanced one-piece boot that claims a game-ready fit right out of the box.

The Jetspeed FT6 is advertised to provide quicker acceleration and overall better performance than the FT4, making this a top-3 choice for skates this year.

5. True SVH Custom

Sticking with the TRUE brand, SVH Customs were also worn first in the NHL by Mitch Marner and currently are used by other speedsters such as Brayden Point, Jared Spurgeon and Connor Garland.

If you’re a smaller, quick player, these SVH Customs are a great fit.

To see everything that Marner wears, check out his Geargeek equipment profile here.

Speaking of great fit, these skates also employ TRUE’s 3D anatomical digital imaging.

Thanks to such customization, you can truly say “no two pairs of skates are the same” or “one of one” when talking about these SVH Customs.

These skates are low maintenance and completely customized to take your skating to the next level.

6. CCM Tacks XF Pro

The XF Pros are the successor to the Tacks AS-V Pro skates.

Players including Sidney Crosby, Victor Hedman and John Tavares currently sport them in the 2024-25 season.

The latest and truly the greatest from CCM's iconic Tacks line of skates!

The XF Pro has brand new enhancements that are centered around its one-piece boot technology. Topped off with a sleek black and silver design.

If you're in need of increasing your speed on the ice, look no further than the CCM Tacks XF Pros to deliver.

7. CCM Jetspeed FT4

The most popular CCM skates, the Jetspeed FT4, are used by nearly 9% of NHL players.

The likes of Miro Heiskanen, Nazem Kadri and Brock Boeser wear these skates, but Auston Matthews was the first to strap them on during an NHL game in 2021.

With one-piece boot technology and a new fit, CCM continues to make strides in creating the go-to skate for NHL and amateur players alike.

The Jetspeed FT4 will help you generate a more direct energy transfer and a tighter fit for faster strides.

It also features a boot built for pure acceleration, and CCM’s replaceable XS Metatomic tongue is engineered to fit your exact foot shape.

8. CCM Ribcor 100K Pro

Morgan Rielly began wearing CCM Ribcor 100K Pro skates at the start of the shortened 2021 NHL season.

In 2025, you'll still see players such as Nathan MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl and Artemi Panarin wear them.

Unfortunately, they are no longer available to the public to purchase brand new. The closest CCM alternative would be the Jetspeed FT6 Pro line, which are available at discounted prices.

If you're looking to maximize agility on the ice, these are the skates for you.

The first RIBCOR hockey skate to use the patented One-Piece Boot Flex technology, it offers excellent forward flexion to help players generate power and maintain lateral stability.

Its STEP BlackSteel lets you dig into the ice and change directions effortlessly.

9. Bauer Vapor Hyperlite

Before the release of the Hyperlite 2 skates, the Bauer Vapor HyperLite was used by up to 34% of NHL players.

Drew Doughty, Patrick Kane, Matthew Tkachuk and Steven Stamkos all trust their feet to the Vapor Hyperlite series.

Kane is a Bauer guy through and through — check out his entire equipment lineup here.

This model is designed for elite players who skate nearly every day and need a lightweight, high-performing skate to play their best every time they step on the ice.

It boasts an improved overall flex profile to maximize quickness and agility, an aerolite foam tongue that makes the skate lighter, and an asymmetrical toe cap for a better overall fit.

They’re also really good skates for beginners or amateur players.

The Bauer Vapor HyperLite also offers some customization.

You can choose which runner to add to the skate — Carbonlite, Pulse TI or the Pulse, each with its specific benefits.

10. CCM Super Tacks AS3 Pro

The CCM Super Tacks AS3 were originally spotted on the feet of several NHL players during the 2019-20 NHL season.

This is a true testament to a robust skate if players are still wearing them until today (2025).

That list includes Alex Ovechkin, Sam Reinhart and Jason Robertson.

Featuring a highly advanced one-piece boot and made of a premium carbon composite, the SUPER TACKS AS3 PRO hockey skates were carefully designed to prioritize direct energy transfer from your leg to the skate.

Which simply translates into faster, longer strides and increased power on the ice. You can expect the same features to have been transferred to the existing CCM Tacks XF Pro model.