A Comprehensive Guide to Selecting Ice Skates for Children and Adults

Explore your choices when it comes to selecting the appropriate beginner's ice skates for both children and adults. Hockey skates are swift and manoeuvrable, providing excellent foot support, making them an ideal option for novices. Hybrid ice skates, with their soft boots, are also a suitable choice for beginners interested only in leisurely skating. However, if you desire to practise jumps, spins, and other technical tricks, a figure skate would be the best option.

There’s no necessity to invest heavily in ice skates if you plan to use them just a few times annually. Economical ice skates are available for around 25 pounds, though it's important to note that pricier ice skates often offer enhanced comfort and better ankle support.

Selecting the Perfect Size for Your Ice Skates

Avoid purchasing ice skates that are too large, especially figure skates, where precise control over the blade is crucial for executing tricks and jumps. Your ice skates need a snug fit without being excessively tight. Once the laces/buckles are untied, and your foot is pushed forward, ensure there's adequate room for a finger behind your heel. It’s also wise to try the skates with the socks you'll be using for ice skating.

Many children's ice skates are available in adjustable designs, which allow the boot's length to be altered. This feature enables your child to expand the fit by 3-4 sizes as they grow. Adjustable ice skates are designed for recreational activities, matching the quality of standard models. We thus recommend adjustable skates if your child is still growing and only needs them for casual use.

We strongly advise examining the size guides if you’re uncertain about the size to purchase. Each product page includes a link to the size guide.

Ice Hockey Skates - Speed and Suitability for Novices

As their name implies, ice hockey skates are perfect for ice hockey, yet they are equally adept for regular ice skating if you are just starting or if you crave speed.

These skates feature a rigid shell to safeguard your feet from impacts during a hockey match. The interior is cushioned for comfort, making them suitable for beginners seeking comfortable skates. Designed to offer excellent support for your ankle and foot, the blade is short and curved, allowing for agile movement and rapid acceleration, although they are less suited for longer rides. Unlike figure skates, hockey skates lack toe picks at the blade's front; hence, your blades won’t inadvertently get caught in the ice, causing a loss of balance.

At SkatePro, we provide hybrid ice skates, which pair the blade of ice hockey skates with the soft boot associated with fitness inline skates. If you are accustomed to the soft boot of recreational inline skates, you’ll find the transition smoother, as you maintain the same level of comfortable feel. Hybrid ice skates are meant purely for “normal” ice skating.

Figure Skates - Perfect for Tricks and Figures

For those aiming to perform tricks on the ice, figure skates are ideal. The toe picks at the blade's front, utilised for launching, enable you to undertake a range of tricks such as pirouettes and jumps. Three to four toe picks suffice.

Figure skate boots are available in leather or synthetic leather. Leather is generally used in pricier models intended for professional use, offering a stiffer boot that enhances ankle support at the expense of some comfort. Synthetic leather boots typically provide more comfort but less ankle support. However, some modern synthetic options offer superior support than traditional leather boots and boast better padding for added comfort.

Hybrid Ice Skates - Ideal for Kids, Beginners, and Intermediate Skaters

When discussing hybrid ice skates, stability and high comfort take centre stage. These skates feature a soft boot reminiscent of fitness inline skates. The blade could be an ice hockey or a figure skate blade with toe picks.

Figure skates generally lack the same comfort level, so purchasing a hybrid ice skate with a figure skate blade can be wise for younger children. This enables them to learn tricks without any compromise on comfort or support. Of course, the appearance will deviate from the classic figure skate look.

3-in-1 Skates for Children

Should your child also enjoy traditional skating, consider our 3-in-1 skates, featuring a boot to which one can affix an ice blade, inline wheels, or quad roller skate wheels. This setup allows for use across both summer and winter seasons without the need for three separate pairs. Quality and performance might not match individual purchases, but they’re excellent for occasional use.

If you're still unsure about which type of ice skates to buy, renting a pair at your local ice rink could help you get closer to your preferred choice.

Browse our extensive range of ice skates

You might also be interested in our other guides: Purchasing Ice Hockey Skates and Care and Maintenance of Ice Skates

If you have any remaining questions, please feel free to reach out for more assistance. Our customer support team is always prepared to assist you. :-)