Guide to Purchasing Ice Skates for Children and Adults

Discover your options when selecting the ideal beginner's ice skates for children and adults. Hockey skates offer speed, manoeuvrability, and provide excellent foot support, making them an excellent choice for novices. Hybrid ice skates, with their soft-boot design, are also a wonderful option for those keen on leisurely skating. For practising jumps, spins, and other technical tricks, figure skates are recommended.

You need not invest heavily in ice skates if you plan to use them just a few times annually. Affordable ice skates can be found for around 25 pounds. Nevertheless, it's good to note that pricier skates generally deliver superior ankle support and comfort.

Select the Right Size for Your Ice Skates

Avoid purchasing overly large ice skates, particularly figure skates, as precise blade control is essential for executing figures and jumps. The skates should fit snugly without being overly tight. Once the laces or buckles are loosened and your foot is shifted forward, there should be just enough room for a finger behind your heel. It's advisable to try the skates with the same socks you plan to wear while skating.

Many children's ice skates come in adjustable models, allowing the boot to be extended in length. This feature means the skates can grow by approximately 3-4 sizes, accommodating a child's growth. These adjustable skates are purely for recreational purposes and match the quality of regular models. We thus suggest adjustable skates if your child is still growing and requires skates for casual use only.

We always advise consulting the size guides when uncertain about which size to select. Each product page includes a link to the guide.

Ice Hockey Skates - Ideal for Speed and Beginners

Ice hockey skates, as indicated by the name, are used for hockey but equally suited for general ice skating activities, particularly for beginners seeking speed.

These skates have a rigid exterior to safeguard your feet during hockey games. Inside, they are well-padded for comfort, despite the hard shell, making them suitable for beginners desiring comfortable skates. The design provides substantial ankle and foot support. With a short and curved blade, these skates allow easy manoeuvrability and rapid acceleration, though they're less ideal for lengthy rides. Unlike figure skates, hockey skates lack toe picks at the blade's front, preventing the blade from accidentally catching in the ice and causing a loss of balance.

At SkatePro, we supply hybrid ice skates that merge the blade of hockey skates with the soft boot of fitness inline skates. Those accustomed to soft boots from fitness skates will find the transition smoother, as the comfort level remains unchanged. Hybrid ice skates suit “normal” ice skating activities.

Figure Skates - Designed for Tricks and Figures

Figure skates are made for those wishing to perform figures on the ice. The presence of toe picks at the blade's front aids in propelling off the ice, allowing routines like pirouettes and jumps. Typically, having three to four toe picks is sufficient.

The boots are available in leather or synthetic leather. The former is often found in pricier skates for professional use and offers better ankle support, although less comfortable due to the stiffer boot. In contrast, synthetic leather boots tend to be comfier but provide limited ankle support. Yet, some contemporary figure skates in synthetic leather offer superior support compared to leather ones and even better padding, ensuring comfort.

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

Key factors for hybrid ice skates include stability and comfort. These skates feature a soft boot, akin to fitness inline skates. The blade can be either a hockey blade or a figure skate blade with toe picks.

In contrast, figure skates offer less comfort, making hybrid skates with a figure skate blade an excellent choice for young children. This selection enables them to practise figures without sacrificing comfort or support. The design of these skates will naturally differ from the traditional figure skate appearance.

3-in-1 Skates for Children

For children interested in roller skating, we offer 3-in-1 skates. These use a boot where you can attach an ice blade, inline wheels, or quad roller skate wheels. This adaptable system allows usage during both summer and winter without needing to buy separate pairs. While each part's quality and performance isn't on par with individual purchases, these skates serve well for occasional use.

If you're still uncertain about the type of ice skates to buy, consider renting a pair at a local rink to help refine your preferences.

Browse our extensive ice skate selection

Additional resources: Guide to Buying Ice Hockey Skates and Ice Skate Maintenance

If you have further questions, please contact us for advice. Our customer support team is always ready to assist you. :-)