SKATES
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when faced with the necessary equipment when just starting out skating, figure skating, or power skating because there is so much and it comes at you all at once. Sports equipment is based on many things such as necessity, safety, quality, durability, skill level, and capabilities. Equipment can be costly and often deters proper research leading to a lack of understanding and eventually purchasing improper equipment for the athlete and the sport. This is one of the reasons that having an experienced coach on your team is a great asset beyond skill instruction because we have dedicated our lives trying out everything available to us in our chosen sports. With so many options citing so many benefits, it’s no wonder people are overwhelmed when facing the selection and purchasing of equipment. On Ice Advantage is here to help you understand your equipment needs and offer solutions that will offer optimal, middle of the road, and economic solutions that helps athletes be there very best.
Skates and Other Equipment
It is important to know that On Ice Advantage receives no benefits from the advice given on this page regarding equipment. As such, this advice should be taken only as advice. Everyone’s athletic regimen is different and therefore will need different equipment. All recommendations are based on experience, assessment, and what your goals are. It is strongly recommended that you always discuss your equipment concerns with your coach or industry expert that prioritizes your benefits over profits before making any major equipment purchases.
The following information is meant to be a general guide in regards to purchasing, use, and maintenance. For more specific equipment information, please visit the sport specific pages on this site, or consult your local sports equipment pro-shop.
What is it going to COST!?!?
This is the most common question and concern among new parents and athletes when entering any sport. It is true that the cost of sports has increased ten-fold over the last few years, and equipment is a large part of that. It is now normalized to see so many options spouting so many benefits and promises that using their brand and such and such model will deliver Olympic golds and Stanley Cups. It is simply not true. Equipment is an important part to any sport, but it will never exceed passion, patience, and practice. There will always be some equipment that is absolutely necessary like skates for skating, but you don’t need everything all at once, right away. Equipment should happen in stages as the athlete shows commitment and dedication to their sport as it is an investment (and quite costly at times). There are plenty of ways to get started with good stuff that will last a long time that doesn’t break your bank.
Cost is a big driving factor in these types of situations and proper research and understanding of the needs of your athlete as it relates to their goals and abilities should be prioritized right behind safety. Below, we will start from the very beginning and touch on varying levels of ability and need all the way to elite level competition. Please always consult your coach or industry professional when it comes to equipment purchases as they are best suited to offer you unbiased information.
Before anyone tells you that their stuff is the best and will deliver, your new equipment mantra should be, “more expensive does not mean optimal!”
Safety
First, anything designated for safety should always be considered an essential. Never try to save money on safety. That is not to say that means needing to spend more, it means understanding what the safety requirements are and if the equipment you are purchasing satisfies those requirements. It should be known that safety goes beyond regulation. For example, certain figure skating boots should never be purchased because they don’t offer the correct fit or support to absorb high impact jumps, which can severely injure the skater.
As a general, good safety items to consider when skating:
Helmet
This is probably the most important piece of equipment you will need if you are just starting out, in Basic Skills instruction, or have any inclination of playing hockey (in which you will be wearing a helmet forever). A bicycle helmet is more than sufficient and if you want to play hockey, might as well get used to wearing a hockey helmet with or without a cage, visor, or fishbowl (which is determined by age, league, etc.) The helmet protects the head from injuries related to falling, tripping into the boards, colliding with other skaters, flying hockey pucks, etc. Remember, that ice is as hard as concrete and just unforgiving!
Attire
Mainly for comfort but also for safety, it is recommended that all skaters wear long pants, long sleeves, and gloves. Falling is a part of learning and it will happen a lot. As the ice surface is skated on, it wears down, the smoothness goes away, and it gets rigid and choppy. This is not an ideal environment for bare skin sliding across the ice. When that happens the skater can experience “ice burn” or cuts on their skin and that is just never fun. The ice is also cold! So these garments will help protect against the low temperatures needed to keep the ice.
Water Source
You should also consider your water bottle a safety item because good hydration keeps a healthy body!
Skates
You will need skates to get skating! There are many options to chose from and it all depends on your goals as a skater. Typically, there are two types of skates to consider: figure skates and hockey skates.
Recreational Needs
For the recreational skaters just starting out and trying to see if skating as a general is something of interest, then rental skates are usually a good place to start. Rental skates require little financial equipment and the cost may even be included on the days of any registered group Learn to Skate lesson as it is at Ellenton Ice. It is recommended that beginners start out in figure skates because unlike hockey skates, figure skates have toe picks at the front and straight cut blades at the back. This makes it easier to avoid falls because hockey skates have rounded toes and heels. Starting out in figure skates will help build on-ice confidence and make your lessons and sessions more enjoyable. If playing hockey is the plan, switch to hockey skates once your confidence on the ice reaches a point when you can skate both forwards and backwards, glide on one foot forwards and backwards, perform two foot turns from forwards to backwards, and consistently perform a snowplow stop.
Rental skates can take you through your beginner levels in the USA Learn To Skate Basic Skills program, but it will cause a slow down in skill mastery because, rental skates are just that, rentals. They will have likely been well worn and won’t offer the same stability, stiffness, support, or sharpness that your own skates would. They are often neglected when it comes to sharpening, and the skaters before you are less likely to take care of that equipment as they would their own, so they’re condition can be questionable.
When Should I Buy My Own Skates?
Beginner Recreational Skates and Figure Skates
The time to purchase your own skates is just as unique as each athlete. Your own equipment is an investment in you or your athlete with the hopes of returning all goals achieved in the future. For parents, purchasing equipment can be a motivation factor measuring commitment and desire to pursue the sport (good time to switch to hockey skates!), or it can be a motivation to get started. There will come a time however when development is going to come to a stand still because rental skates just cannot handle what high-level recreational, or Basic Skill skating needs, let alone figure skating or hockey.
The main difference in hockey and figure skates is the following:
Hockey Skates
- Rounded toes and heels
- Lower cut boots exposing more ankle for sharper, more responsive turns and edges
- Usually made of plastic or a composite
- Blade chassis is permanently affixed to the boot
- More room through out the ball of the foot and toe cap
- Shorter “break in” period
- Can be heat molded for additional comfort depending on the boot
- Notable brands are: Bauer, CCM, Graf, True
Figure Skates
- Blades have sharp claw-like spikes at the toe known as toe picks, and straight cut heels
- Higher boot at the ankle offering more support and stability
- Usually made of leather
- Blade can be removed and independently aligned using the “sliders” or mounting holes
- Tighter fit throughout
- Longer “break in” period
- Can be heat molded for additional comfort depending on the boot
- Notable brands are: Jackson, Graf, Ridell, Risport, Adea
When skaters get to that level, coaches usually have “the talk” that it’s time to consider purchasing your own skates and should recommend the following points.
Figure Skates
Do not buy the fuzzy, fancy, looking skates on Amazon or at major sporting goods stores. These are the products that are a money trap. They don’t offer support, stability, and are usually low quality, while promising the exact opposite. With all the new products on the market there are several good entry level options that won’t break the bank. For example, Jackson Skates have come out with an amazing entry level line of figure skating boots. If you know you will forever be a recreational skater, then their Softec line might just be right for you. If you are looking to be a little more aggressive or even have the smallest hopes of figure skating one day, then their Regular Lesson line is a good fit. This line has skate boot and blade combos that have shown to be durable, good quality, and developmental longevity. Popular models to start out in are the Mystique, Artiste, Evo, Elle, and Freestyle.
A good rule of thumb: as the boots and blades go up in price, so does the stiffness, support, and material quality of the boot as does the quality of blade. As skill level increases, so does the level of equipment. For example, when a skater is starting Axel, the Elle or Freestyle boot and blade combo from Jackson would be a great fit.
It should also be known that the skater’s size, how often, and how “hard” they skate depends on what equipment is needed. Your coach or a skate tech professional at a specialized pro-shop (usually found in all arena venues) can help make that determination.
As you progress in figure skating you will need to start purchasing higher end boots and blades that are bought separately. Boots will get stiffer and heat molded to contour the lines of your foot and ankles for increased comfort and a tighter fit. The blades can be mounted onto the boot to accommodate each skater’s body alignment. Points of pressure can be “punched out” at most pro-shops to alleviate pain or prolong the longevity of the skate. Freestyle boots are higher cut at the ankle than that of their dance boot counter parts. Freestyle boots are specific to singles and pairs, while dance boots are for ice dancers. Dance boots and blades are specific to ice dance because the boot being lower cut allows for deeper knee and ankle bend. The blades are shorter in length and have a smaller toe pick for increased edge quality and control. Freestyle blades can have monster sized toe picks to assist with jump take offs and landings.
Your skill level, body type, and how hard you are on your boots will determine when you will need a new pair or need to move up. Typically a skater will get one to two seasons out of a pair of boots. Blades can last longer and is dependent on the size of the boots and the longevity of the sharpening. Figure skate blades are typically two toned. The shiny stainless steel at the top and the thin line of tempered steel at the bottom. The tempered steel is what is sharpened and when that runs out, the blade is finished and a new blade will need to be purchased. Figure skate blades have a “rocker” typically measured in feet with the common sizes being 7′-9′ and is the radius of the curvature of the blade. The rocker is what allows skaters to skate without constantly tripping on their toe picks, spin effortlessly, and launch high in the air during jump takeoffs.
Hockey Skates
When it comes to hockey skates, they are all fairly similar with the same level increasing attributes. Hockey skates are made from harder materials to absorb blocked shots and slashes, have lower cut heels for aggressive turns and more explosive power, rounded toes and heels for deceptive deking and maneuvering, and as they increase in level, the ability to change out your blade on-the-fly during game time. Hockey blades have a longer sharpening-life and as mentioned before can be swapped out when their life has expired as long as they fit the current chassis. Hockey skates are not the focus for a hockey player, but a critical tool for the player to play the game at an elite level.
Blade Sharpening and Maintenance
As you skate, your blades will become dull and require sharpening. This is completely normal and sharpening is based on preference. Your skate blade has two edges, inside and outside separated by the middle called the hallow. The hollow is measured as a radius and determines the sharpness of your blades. 1/2″ is typical with 5/8″ being less sharp and easier to stop but providing less “bite,” and 7/16″ giving more bite and increasing the difficulty to stop. You can go as sharp and dull as you like, but starting at 1/2″ is ideal because it’s right down the middle. The blade is sharpened by being aligned to a circular stone that is “dressed” for the desired level of sharpness by using a diamond to shape the stone, before being lightly pressed against the stone and ran done the entire length of the blade. This will take several passes to achieve the desired sharpness and to remove any nicks in the blade. A finishing stone is then run down the face of the blade to remove any burs produced from being sharpened.
All skaters should wear skate guards when not on the ice. The floor is dirty and even the smallest particles can cause nicks in the blade which can only be removed by sharpening the blade over time. If the nick is bad enough it will need to be removed completely and thus shortening the life-span of the blade.
Figure skates have claw-like spikes at the end of their blades called toe picks. Toe picks assist figure skaters in all maters of skating, but mainly for jump takeoffs and landings. Toe picks come in all shapes, sizes, and patterns and are a based on jumping style, preference, and need. Straight cut toe picks allow a skater to pick deeper in the ice, but offer less “grip” and can slip easier. Crosscut toe picks allow for increased rotation, jump height, and grip making it harder for the blade to slip. You should consult with your coach on which toe pick is right for you.
Some figure skate blades are dove-tailed, meaning there will be a point on the face of the blade where the blade will go from it’s current thickness to thinner, and then flare back out. This helps skaters get deeper edges, elevated lift, etc. and is just one of the many unique attributes that a figure skate blade can have. Others offer permanent chassis with removable blades or unique blade constructs that offer lighter weight, and so on and so forth.
Hockey skate blades are pretty straight forward, but also offer their own attributes when it comes to speed, control, weight, etc.
At the end of practice, you should dry your skate blades (and boots) completely and then cover with a soft-guard or soaker. Soakers help to absorb missed moisture while drying. Failure to do this will cause your blades to rust. If this happens, do not panic. WD40 will help remove some of the rust, and over time and sharpening, the rust will whither away. It’s just not ideal skating on rusty blades at any time.
General Tips and Tricks
Below is a list of general tips and tricks for your skates:
When you get fitted for your skates, your toes should just barley touch the end of the toe cap if you stretch out your toes. Skates are supposed to fit tighter than your shoes so they can support your feet. If you are a recreational skater, you can wear thicker socks and have a looser fit than that of a figure skater or hockey player. If you are not a recreational skater, find a pair of thinner socks you like, buy 12 pairs and wear those socks to the sizing and fitting of your new skates and then every time you skate moving forward. Wearing the same socks removes variable while skating. Figure skaters typically wear extremely thin nylon-style socks while hockey players can wear thicker socks due to the increased room throughout hockey boots.
Your skates will have a “break-in” period. Breaking your skates in is not fun, even more so when you are in figure skates. It takes time for the skate material to soften up and get comfortable. When starting out in brand new skates, skate for 20 minutes, and then rest for 20 minutes, and repeat for as long as you are skating that day. While breaking in skates, ensure you have water-proof blister bandages on-hand. Blisters are common and hurt a lot when breaking in new skates. Epsom salt soaks after practice or skating help the healing process. Break-in periods are unique to each skater, but two to three weeks is typical for a skater skating three to five days a week.
Skate guards should be on when tying your skates and once your foot is in your skate, lift your heel and smack the floor with your blade to make sure you heel is secured at the back of the boot prior to lacing up.
When tying up your skates, start at the bottom and pull each set of laces tight and snug. Skates should feel snug but not too tight where you lose circulation. Loose skates provide little to no support and can cause injuries to the ankles and knees, as well as cause the boots to break down improperly. When you reach the hooks or, “eyelets” on figure skates, run the lace over the eyelet you are tying rather than under because this preserves the longevity of the eyelet and keeps your skates tighter longer. If your figure skates are new, skip the top eyelet while breaking in your boots to allow for more knee bend and control. When you feel you need more support, it’s time to lace up the top eyelet. It is common to feel your skates come loose while skating and you should always re-tie when necessary. Use wax-coated laces if you find that you are constantly having to retie your skates. Once you are done tying your skates, ensure you laces are either tucked in to the boot, your sock, or your leggings, tights, or pants, or do not hang anywhere near the ice as this causes a tripping hazard.
Once you are done skating, dry your skates completely! This includes both boots and blades and you should use soakers to absorb any missed moisture. Water is the enemy of skates! Your skates should also be stored in your skate bag and aired out often. When you skate, your feet will sweat and transfer heat to the inside of your boot. This is the perfect recipe for bacteria to wreak havoc on your boot, breakdown the material, and produce nasty odors. Using moisture absorbing products meant for the inside of shoes or skates is always a good idea.
Tying your skates correctly and taking care of your equipment increases the longevity and skill development.
If you are worried about cost, most arenas and localities have second-hand equipment on sale. This is a great option if you are just starting out, but there are also hidden gems where skates are returned after a few uses for a multitude of reasons. Just research the brand and ensure they have a good return policy.
Skate in skates you like. Just because so-and-so are using whatever is newer or popular, does not mean it’s a good fit for you. If what you are using is working, there is no need to change unless necessary for more support and elevated skill level. Changing your boots or blades can be a long daunting process to find what might work better. In the beginning, skates are uncomfortable. You need to give yourself time to adjust to the regression you might experience when breaking in new skates.
Skate Away!
While skates and other equipment can be overwhelming, always consult your coach with any questions or concerns before purchasing anything. It is better to learn and understand about the equipment of your sport to ensure productive, safe, and fun skating. On Ice Advantage supports its students and skates with equipment knowledge based on many years of experience in many different brands and levels of skates, for both hockey and figure skating.
See you on the ice!
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