Buying Guide for Ice Skates for Kids and Adults

Discover your options when selecting the ideal beginner's ice skates for kids and adults. Hockey skates are swift, maneuverable, and provide excellent foot support, making them a great choice for beginners. Hybrid ice skates, with their soft-boot design, are also suitable for beginners interested in leisurely skating. If you aim to practice jumps, spins, and other technical tricks, figure skates are your best bet.

If you plan to use ice skates only a few times a year, there's no need to spend a lot of money. Affordable ice skates can be found for around 25 pounds, but keep in mind that pricier skates often offer better comfort and ankle support.

Buy your ice skates in the right size

It's crucial not to buy ice skates that are too large, especially figure skates, as you need precise control over the blade for figures and jumps. The skates should fit snugly without being too tight. When the laces/buckles are loosened and your foot is pushed forward, there should be just enough room for a finger behind your heel. It's also wise to try on skates with the same socks you plan to wear while skating.

Many kids' ice skates come in adjustable models, allowing the boot length to be expanded. This feature enables your child to grow 3-4 sizes with the skates. Adjustable ice skates are meant for recreational use and are as high-quality as regular models. We recommend adjustable skates if your child is still growing and only needs them for casual skating.

We always suggest reading the size guides if you're unsure about which size to choose. You can find a link to the guide on each product page.

Ice Hockey Skates - for speed and beginners

As the name implies, ice hockey skates are designed for ice hockey but are also suitable for regular ice skating if you're a beginner or have a "need for speed".

The skates feature a stiff shell that protects your feet during an ice hockey game. The interior is well-padded, making them comfortable despite the stiff shell, which is why they're suitable for beginners seeking comfortable skates. The boot offers excellent ankle and foot support. The blade is short and curved, making the skates highly maneuverable and ideal for quick acceleration, though less suitable for long rides. Unlike figure skates, hockey skates lack toe picks at the blade's front, preventing accidental blade catches that could cause a loss of balance.

At SkatePro, we offer hybrid ice skates that combine the blade of ice hockey skates with the soft boot of fitness inline skates. If you're accustomed to a soft boot from recreational inline skates, the transition will be smoother, providing the same comfortable feel. Hybrid ice skates are only intended for "normal" ice skating.

Figure Skates - for tricks and figures

Figure skates are designed for those who want to perform figures on the ice. Featuring toe picks at the blade's front, which are used for takeoff, classic figure skates enable you to execute various figures like pirouettes and jumps. Generally, three to four toe picks are sufficient.

The boots come in leather or synthetic leather. Leather is often found in more expensive figure skates used professionally. These boots are typically harder and less comfortable but provide more ankle support. Synthetic leather boots are usually more comfortable but offer less ankle support. However, some modern synthetic leather figure skates provide better support than leather boots and have superior padding, making them more comfortable.

Hybrid Ice Skates - Great for kids, beginners, and intermediate riders

Stability and high comfort are key features of hybrid ice skates. These skates have a soft boot similar to fitness inline skates. The blade can be either an ice hockey blade or a figure skate blade with toe picks.

Figure skates, by contrast, don't offer the same comfort level, so it might be wise to choose a hybrid ice skate with a figure skate blade for younger children. This way, they can practice figures without compromising on comfort or support. These skates won't have the classic figure skate appearance.

3-in-1 Skates for Kids

If your child enjoys various types of skating, we offer 3-in-1 skates that consist of a boot to which you can attach an ice blade, inline wheels, or quad roller skate wheels. This allows the skates to be used in both summer and winter without needing to buy three separate pairs. While the quality and performance of each component may not match that of individual specialized skates, they are suitable for occasional use.

If you're still unsure about which type of ice skates to buy, consider renting a pair at your local skate rink to get a better idea of your preferences.

See our wide selection of ice skates

You can also read our guides: Buying Ice Hockey Skates and Maintenance of Ice Skates

Feel free to contact us for further advice if you have any questions. Our customer support team is always ready to help you. :-)