Figure vs Hockey skates for general ice skating

[pete6032]

I've been ice skating once or twice in my life and want to buy some of my own skates. I just go to the local ice rinks. What would be a better buy for me, hockey skates or figure skates? I will not be playing hockey, just going to the ice rink and skating in a circle. Which skate is easier to learn on?

 

[soulcougher73]

I've been ice skating once or twice in my life and want to buy some of my own skates. I just go to the local ice rinks. What would be a better buy for me, hockey skates or figure skates? I will not be playing hockey, just going to the ice rink and skating in a circle. Which skate is easier to learn on?

Rental skates?

 

[pete6032]

Rental skates?

Where I am the rental skates are like $15 but it is free to skate on the rink. I can get used pair of sharpened skates for prob $40-$50. So even if I go 3 times this year I've made my money back.

 

[IronWing]

Hockey skates are more forgiving of imperfect fit. Figure skates are mo better for skating if they fit perfectly. I'd go with hockey skates.

 

[DaTT]

I have been told that hockey skates are easier to learn. Better ankle support and no toe picks. I've seen people eat ice when they accidentally catch a toe pick.

 

[IronWing]

I have been told that hockey skates are easier to learn. Better ankle support and no toe picks. I've seen people eat ice when they accidentally catch a toe pick.

I just wanted to stop very quickly, it was all planned.

 

[sdifox]

Hockey. Them toepicks are evil.

 

[uclaLabrat]

Absolutely hockey skates. As previously mentioned, much better ankle support and no toe picks. Might have better rocker on the blades too, which makes turning and agility much easier.

 

[WhiteNoise]

Been ice skating since I was a kid. I have always used figure skates.

 

[purbeast0]

It depends on the answer to this question - do you have a vagina?

 

[Wuzup101]

Unless you have a reason to use figure skates (i.e. you are figure skating) I would go with hockey skates.

 

[Ferzerp]

Anyone above who has cited ankle support should be entirely disregarded. They have no idea what they're talking about. Your ankles are effectively entirely immobilized laterally with both styles.

 

[SamQuint]

Hockey skates have a curve on the front and back of the blade so if you lean back a little too far you can fall on your ass. I have a pair of figure skates and have never caught the toe pick, the front of the skate curves so the pick is out of the way.

Go to a rink that rents both kind of skates and then try on each kind to see which you like the best or find easiest to skate in.

I also disagree with the ankle support is better with hockey skate folks. First learn to lace your skates correctly and you will not have any ankle issues with either type of skate. Also don't skip your leg day at the gym if you have weak ankles that can't handle ice skates.

 

[Ferzerp]

Agreed. You actually need decent ankle strength to be able to *move* them when you need. It's not a support issue. It's pushing against the extensive support you have.

 

[deustroop]

 

[ctbaars]

SPEED skates!

 

[Slew Foot]

Roller skates!!

In all seriousness, get hockey skates, they are much easier to learn on.

 

[uclaLabrat]

Anyone above who has cited ankle support should be entirely disregarded. They have no idea what they're talking about. Your ankles are effectively entirely immobilized laterally with both styles.

What? No. Just no. Ever seen kids on skates (or adults for that matter) wither their skates splayed out at 45 degree? Ankle support matters.

 

[Ferzerp]

If you have seen such a thing, that is a function of improperly sized and/or laced skates. It is absolutely not inherent in the design. I can only assume whoever put them on didn't know what they were doing.

edit: unless you mean rotation. In that case, again, no different between hockey and figure skates there. You have to be able to rotate your ankles to function.

 

[WhiteNoise]

Maybe some people have weak girly ankles? I have never had an issue with figure skates and keeping my ankles in the proper position. Nor have I ever required additional support. I'm just skating though and not playing a sport like hockey.

 

[Wuzup101]

Anyone above who has cited ankle support should be entirely disregarded. They have no idea what they're talking about. Your ankles are effectively entirely immobilized laterally with both styles.

If you have seen such a thing, that is a function of improperly sized and/or laced skates. It is absolutely not inherent in the design. I can only assume whoever put them on didn't know what they were doing.

edit: unless you mean rotation. In that case, again, no different between hockey and figure skates there. You have to be able to rotate your ankles to function.

Ferzerp is very much correct. It's common to see people in rental skates at the ice rink with their skates splayed out at 45 degree angles. This is more common with figure skates than it is hockey skates, but it has nothing to do with ankle support in either skate being deficient. In my experience (been skating since I was a very young kid, mother was a professional figure skater/coach, played hockey for ~20 years, have owned dozens of pairs of skates), figure skates are a bit more sensitive to fit than hockey skates, but fit is important for both. Go to the ice rink and watch an open practice session or some lessons / team practice with figure skaters / hockey players. You generally will see no-one with their skates splayed out because everyone has equipment that fits. Both sports are very expensive compared to the other things your kids can play / do. When you are paying thousands of dollars for ice time a year, you make sure your gear works (you also know how to lace your skates).

Note that I'm not saying that either type of skate is superior. Hockey skates are more rigid and have more padding because the sport involves fairly dense objects being shot at high velocities. Figure skates do allow for a bit more freedom of movement because the footwork a figure skater has to perform is much more intricate. When laced and sized properly, both should feel like an extension of your body more than an article of clothing.

I should also note that MOST rental skates that I've seen are broken down well past the stage where anyone serious would have thrown them away. If you are a casual skater a pair of good skates will last you for years. If you are on the ice 5 days a week, you can go through multiple pairs of skates in a year.