Guide to Purchasing Ice Skates for Children and Adults

Explore your options when selecting the ideal ice skates for beginners, both children and adults. Hockey skates are swift and nimble, while providing excellent foot support, making them a suitable option for novices. Hybrid ice skates, featuring a soft boot, are also a great choice for those only interested in leisurely skating. If you are aiming to practise jumps, spins, and other technical moves, a pair of figure skates would be recommended.

If you only plan to use ice skates a few times annually, you need not spend excessively. Affordable ice skates are available from around 25 pounds, but keep in mind that pricier options tend to offer greater comfort and superior ankle support.

Choose Ice Skates in the Correct Size

Ensuring your ice skates aren’t too large is crucial, particularly with figure skates where precise blade control is necessary for executing figures and jumps. The skates should fit snugly without being overly tight. After loosening the laces or buckles and pushing your foot forward, there should be just enough space to fit a finger behind your heel. Trying the skates on with the socks you plan to wear while skating is also advisable.

Many children’s ice skates come in adjustable models, allowing the boot length to expand. This feature enables your child’s feet to grow by about 3-4 sizes with the skates. Such adjustable ice skates are intended solely for recreational use and their quality matches that of regular models. They are recommended for children still growing who require skates for casual use.

We always suggest consulting the size guides if you’re unsure about which size to select. Each product page has a link to the relevant guide.

Ice Hockey Skates - For Speed and Beginners

Ice hockey skates, as their name implies, are perfect for ice hockey but are equally suitable for general skating, especially for beginners or those with a desire for speed.

The skate's structure comprises a rigid outer shell that safeguards your feet during ice hockey matches. Despite the hard shell, the skate’s interior is well-padded, ensuring comfort, hence making them ideal for beginners seeking comfortable skates. The boot is engineered to deliver robust support to your ankle and foot. With a short and curved blade, these skates are highly manoeuvrable, providing quick acceleration to achieve speed, though they’re less ideal for longer sessions. Unlike figure skates, hockey skates lack toe picks on the front, preventing the blade from catching in the ice during figures, which could unbalance you.

SkatePro offers hybrid ice skates that blend the blade of hockey skates with the soft boot familiar to fitness inline skates, making the transition smoother for those used to such boots. Hybrid ice skates are suited for regular ice skating.

Figure Skates - For Performing Tricks and Figures

For those planning to execute figures on the ice, figure skates are essential. Equipped with toe picks at the blade’s front for take-off, traditional figure skates allow you to undertake a variety of maneuvers like spins and jumps. Three to four toe picks are usually adequate.

Available in either leather or synthetic leather, the boot is often higher-priced when made from leather, designed for professional use. While firmer, thus less comfortable, leather also provides enhanced ankle support. Those made from synthetic leather generally offer more comfort but less support. However, some contemporary synthetic leather figure skates now provide superior support to leather boots, with better padding for increased comfort.

Hybrid Ice Skates - Perfect for Children, Beginners and Intermediate Users

When considering hybrid ice skates, stability and comfort are the key considerations. These skates come with a soft boot, akin to fitness inline skates, and can have either an ice hockey blade or figure skate blade with toe picks.

While figure skates might not offer comparable comfort, opting for a hybrid ice skate with a figure skate blade for younger children can be beneficial. This choice allows for practising figures with no compromise on comfort or support. Cosmetically, these skates lose the traditional figure skate appearance.

3-in-1 Skates for Children

If your child fancies skateboarding too, 3-in-1 skates may be the way to go; a boot can be fitted with an ice blade, inline wheels, or quad roller skate wheels. These skate options transform the experience catering to both summer and winter without needing to purchase three separate pairs. While the quality and performance might not match products bought individually, they function well for infrequent use.

If you remain unsure about which type of ice skates to select, renting a pair at a local skating rink can be a valuable step in determining your preferred style.

Explore our extensive range of ice skates

Additionally, consult these guides: Buying Ice Hockey Skates and Maintenance of Ice Skates

Do not hesitate to reach out for more advice if you have any questions. Our customer support team is eager to assist you. :-)