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Guide on how to choose figure skates for the beginners Figure skating tips

The Essential Guide on How to Choose Figure Skates,…

  • May 21, 2019March 16, 2020
  • by Daniil Timin

This article is written for parents whose children are taking their first steps in the figure skating world and for everyone else who is looking for tips on which figure skates they should get.

Here, you’ll find detailed information about the most popular figure skating boots and blades, how to choose the right size when buying ice skates and what are the best skates for toddlers, adult beginners, and competitive/professional figure skaters.

You probably already know how important it is to choose the right pair of skates for your individual size and needs. I would even say it’s critical because it can affect skating experience in a negative way or even worse, lead to an injury.

What are the best figure skate brands out there?

  • Edea

Edea is currently the most popular brand of figure skating boots among the top-level competitive skaters. They are used by many champions and medalists such as Yuzuru Hanyu, Evgenia Medvedeva, Alina Zagitova, Boyang Jin, Kaetlyn Osmond, and many others.

Edea is an Italian brand of ultra-lightweight boots that are 20-50% lighter than other manufacturers. They are made of fiberglass and nylon instead of leather which makes them lighter than any other skates out there.

I personally tried to skate in Edea’s but they didn’t fit me right because I have a really wide foot and Edea’s I tried (it was a standard C width) felt pretty narrow in the toes area. But I have a ton of friends who skate on Edea’s and they are in love with them. They are very comfortable and light to the point that when skating you don’t even feel like you have skates on.

  • Jackson Ultima

Jackson Ultima is another popular brand of figure skating boots and blades.

Jackson is a Canadian brand, lately, they came up with a few upgrades to their boots to make them lighter.

I can’t give you my personal experience of skating in Jackson boots as I never had them but I do have Ultima blades which are awesome. Ultima blades are a great cheaper alternative to John Wilson blades.

Some of the top-level figure skaters that wear Jackson Ultima are Nathan Chen, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, Evgeni Plushenko, Adam Rippon, Dmitry Aliev, Jason Brown, Michal Brezina, Nam Nguyen, Maria Sotskova.

  • Graf

Graf is a brand of figure and hockey skates from Switzerland. Up until a few years ago they also made Graf’s in Canada but at the moment all Graf figure skating boots are being made in Switzerland and their quality is exceptional.

I’ve had Graf Edmonton Special boots for over 10 years and for me they work the best out of all. I like my skates to be a little bit heavier with more support and it’s exactly how Graf’s are made. Also, as I mentioned earlier, I have a wider foot and Graf’s fit is just perfect for me.

Graf skates are not very popular in the US and mostly used by the European skaters: Javier Fernandez, Carolina Costner, Maxim Trankov, Phil Harris, Nicholas Buckland.

Graf Edmonton Special boots with Jackson Ultima blades

  • Risport

Risport is another Italian brand of figure skating boots. Risport’s were more popular back in the day, I had a few pairs of Risport’s when I was younger before I switched to Graf.

These days not many competitive skaters use Risport’s – I feel like they more of a cheaper option for the beginners and intermediate level skaters.

  • Riedell

Riedell is an American made figure skating boots. They are mostly used by the American skaters and not as popular as Edea, Jackson or Graf.

I have experience of skating in Riedell’s for a few months. I bought a pair of Riedell Fusion boots just to compare them to my Edmonton Special Graf. Well, the skates itself were really nicely made and I liked how comfortable they were on my feet. But in the end, I never felt comfortable skating in them, every time I put them one they felt like a brand new pair of skates. I definitely noticed the balance on Riedell’s was very different from Graf and it was a struggle for me to adjust and perform certain spins and jumps.

  • Harlick, Avanta, SP-Teri

These three are American skating boot companies that mostly focus on custom orders. They are not as big and popular as the brands I mentioned earlier. Custom skates are significantly more expensive in comparison to regular models.

  • John Wilson & MK Blades

These are 2 British brands of the most popular figure skating blades. They owned by the same company HD Sports which produces John Wilson and MK blades in Sheffield, England.

John Wilson and MK Blades are used by most famous ice skaters – they skate in iconic “Gold Seal”, “Pattern 99”, “Gold Star” and “Phantom” blades.

What size figure skates to get?

The worst thing you can do is to buy the same size skates as your normal shoes because the sizing doesn’t match. Typically, shoes are a little bit longer than skating boots because they need more flexibility.

That’s why the first thing you need to do is to measure the length of the foot. It’s something that they offer at any skating shop but it can also be easily done on your own at home.

To measure your feet for ice skates at home, you will need a measuring tape, a pen and a clean sheet of paper. It will have to be done on a hard surface while wearing socks which will be used for skating.

Step 1. Place the paper against the wall.

Step 2. Put your foot on the paper with the heel against the wall.

Step 3. On the paper, mark a straight line at the end of the big toe.

Step 4. Do the same thing with the other foot.

Step 5. With the measurer tape, measure the length from the end where your heel was to the mark you made. Now that you have measurements of both feet, you can find out what size figure skates to get (keep in mind that size charts will differ from brand to brand).

Important information if you are buying skates for children: a lot of parents make a mistake by getting skates which are way too big for their children (thinking that they’ll grow eventually). I don’t recommend buying skates that more than half-size bigger than actual size.

Yes, it will cost money to switch skates every year or year and a half as the foot of your child is growing but in the long run, at least you’ll avoid unnecessary feet problems and injuries. Skating in figure skates that are big in size is very uncomfortable because it causes the heel to move within the boot and also, could slow down a learning process.

An ideal fit of the figure skating boots is when you can squeeze half of an index finger behind the heel. If you can fit a full finger with extra space, it means that skates are too big. If you can’t get it in at all, then the boot is probably too small.

Feet problems among the figure skaters is a real problem and it’s not something to mess around with.

Which are the best figure skates for toddlers and children?

Like I mentioned earlier, when you are shopping for toddlers ice skates, the most important is to choose the correct size.

Another thing to look for is for skates that have toe picks if you are planning on taking figure skating lessons in the future.

For example, on Amazon, they sell good toddler ice skates Bauer Lil Champ but they are like hockey skates have no toe picks. These toe picks do make a difference in balance and it might be difficult to learn to skate on skates without toe picks and then make a switch. I suggest getting figure skates with toe picks from the very start if you are planning to continue figure skating later on.

Here are a few figure skates for toddlers and kids which I recommend:

  • Riedell Model 14 Pearl Jr.

They sell this model on Riedell’s website (under recreational skates, their cost is $100). This is a good option to start out, they have sizes from 9 Youth (6 3/16 inches) to 3 Junior (8 1/2 inches). When buying Riedell ice skates, make sure to always double-check their sizing guide and charts. They also sell some recreational Riedell skates on Amazon as well.

  • Jackson Ultima Softec Classic Junior

These toddler ice skates made by Jackson Ultima are sold on Amazon. They have a great look and very well-made for the price. Once again: to choose the correct size, make sure to double-check Jackson’s sizing chart for children.

For tots, you can also consider getting an adjustable plastic skates with straps – they are extremely easy to put on kind of like ski boots with straps.

Ice skates for adult beginners

What kind of figure skates is the best for an adult beginner who is wanting to ice skate more seriously than simply using rental skates?

Adult figure skates are meant to be stiffer than the ones for children and they should have more ankle support. The stiffer the skate, the stronger the support. For adult beginners, I would recommend getting figure skates with boots support level at least 15 and above. These skates will allow you to learn some basic skating moves and steps such as crossovers, swizzles, free turns, basic spins, and single jumps.

Most beginner-level skates are sold as a kit “boots + pre-mounted blades” altogether. Another option which is more advanced and expensive is to buy boots and blades separate and mount them at the skate shop.

  • Jackson Mystique

Boot support level: 15

Price: under $150

Jackson Mystique is a good choice for beginner adult skaters. These skates come as a kit with pre-mounted Ultima Mark entry-level blades. Jackson Mystique is a lot better than rental skates and their cost is under $150.

  • Jackson Artiste

Boot support level: 25

Price: under $200

Jackson Artiste is a more expensive version of Mystique boots with better ankle support. Blades are the same as on the Mystiques.

  • Riedell Emerald

Boot support level: 30

Price: over $150

Riedell Emerald skates also come as a kit with mounted blades. This is a great pair of skates for adult beginners with a higher boot support level; these Riedell skates are similar in quality to Jackson’s but cheaper in price compared to Jackson Artiste model.

  • Riedell Diamond

Boot support level: 40

Price: about $200

If you are okay to spend a little bit more and want to get a more professional pair of skates with more ankle support and a better blade, Riedell Diamond skates are a perfect choice.

  • Risport Venus

Boot support level: 25

Price: under $150

Risport Venus is the cheapest beginner-level model of Risport’s out there at the moment. With the stiffness rating of 25 and affordable price under $150, Venus skates are lightweight and they come in a kit with the TAU blade.

  • Risport Antares

Boot support level: 35

Price: over $200

Antares is a more expensive model of Risport’s. It’s a stiffer boot than Venus with a higher support level and a better blade – it comes with MK 21 blades.

Boots and blades for competitive skating

Information below is for skaters that have plans to seriously practice figure skating, take private lessons on a regular basis, do tests and skating competitions.

The first thing you should know is that competitive figure skaters purchase boots and blades separately. You will get the boots and blades based on your skill level and then, mount them together at the skate shop. Another important thing to know beforehand – competitive figure skates are very expensive, you can expect to spend about a thousand dollars or even more on a pair of high-level figure skates.

For example, a combination of the most popular boots among the high level figure skaters Edea Ice Fly with John Wilson Gold Seal blades costs about $1400.

How to choose figure skating boots?

Let’s talk a little bit more in detail about the boots. Earlier in the article, I already mentioned the most popular figure skating boot makers such as Edea, Jackson, Riedell, Graf.

All these brands have boots for a different level of competitive skaters:

1) for those that are just starting out;

2) the next level of boots is for single jumps and single axel;

3) for double jumps;

4) for triple and quad jumps.

The main difference between them is in stiffness of the boot and ankle support – skates for triple and quad jumps are the stiffest and they have the most ankle support which is needed to perform the hardest jumps. The price is also increasing from lower to higher level boots – boots for triples/quads are the most expensive ones.

An important thing I would like to note: the more expensive boots not necessarily mean they will be better individually for you. I don’t recommend buying the most expensive figure skating boots unless a skater is at that level. And simply purchasing the most expensive skates won’t make you a better skater.

For example, it is absolutely unnecessary and not very safe (because of the stiffness) for a skater that is just starting out or learning single/double jumps to be getting Edea Ice Fly skates – those are meant for skaters that perform triple and quadruple jumps. Instead, in this situation, if that skater would like to get Edea’s, I would recommend getting boots which are a better fit for their current level of skating – Edea Overture or Edea Chorus. Eventually, once a skater moves up a level and starts working on triple jumps, then it’s time to try out at the skate shop and maybe consider getting higher-end boots like Edea Concerto or Edea Ice Fly.

Here is a list of some of the best figure skating boots out there for the intermediate, junior and senior-level skaters.

Edea Ice Fly

Ice Fly is the most popular figure skating boot among the high-level skaters. They are used by many famous figure skaters from all over the world like Kaetlyn Osmond, Gracie Gold, Satoko Miyahara, Alina Zagitova, Alena Kostornaia, and many others.

I personally know a lot of friends/skaters who have Ice Fly’s and they are in love with them; they like how light and comfortable they are – “as comfortable as slippers”. But there are also some people like myself that don’t like how they fit because they are pretty narrow in the toe area and they don’t feel tight in the ankle because of the different tongue (it’s made that way to add more flexibility which not everyone likes).

But speaking of the majority, most skaters adjust to Ice Fly’s very quickly even when they switch from Jackson, Graf or Risport skates.

Something I noticed when I first tried Ice Fly after my Graf Edmonton boots – I felt like the hill on Edea’s was a little bit higher. The same thing noticed my wife when she switched to Edea from Jackson’s.

Edea Ice Fly vs Edea Piano design comparison

Edea Piano

The “Piano” is the newest and the most expensive model of Edea’s. Personally, I am not a big fan of their design and look which is even worse than Ice Fly. Edea Piano has a similar fit but a little bit stiffer and has more support than Ice Fly.

Piano’s are used by the highest level figure skaters like Yuzuru Hanyu and Evgenia Medvedeva.

Edea Concerto

Concerto is another popular figure skating boot made by Edea. They are very similar to Ice Fly in all areas; the main difference is that they feel a little bit stiffer with more support because of the thicker leather on the tongue. That’s why they are mostly used by male skaters and pair skaters.

Jackson 5000 series boots

These are new and recently updated models of the Jackson boots. They have a look of the traditional leather boots but 20% lighter than them.

Men’s models:

  • Jackson Supreme 5852 – is the stiffest Jackson boot with the most support for triple/quad jumps. Used by Nathan Chen, Evgeni Plushenko, Adam Rippon, Jason Brown, Michal Brezina among many other popular skaters.
  • Jackson Supreme 5452 – low-cut boots mainly used by ice dancers and synchro skaters.
  • Jackson Elite 5252 – this model is very similar to Supreme 5852 but not as stiff. Elite 5252 is a perfect choice for skaters who work on their double/triple jumps.

Women’s models:

  • Jackson Supreme 5500 – the stiffest women’s model of Jackson boots with the support for triple/quad jumps. Worn by Mariah Bell, Maria Sotskova, Anna Pogorilaya.
  • Jackson Supreme 5410 – a low-cut model for freestyle, ice dance and synchro skaters. Also very popular among the ice shows performers for its elegant look. A few of my friends from ice shows recently switched from Edea Ice Fly to Jackson Supreme 5410 Low-Cut boots and they said that Jackson’s are definitely not as comfortable as Edea’s but they feel just as light as them.

Jackson figure skating boots

  • Jackson Elite 5200 – a model similar to Supreme 5500 with less stiffness with the support for double/triple jumps.

Graf Edmonton Special

“Edmonton Special” is the best women’s and men’s model of Graf figure skating boots out there. Graf Edmonton Special is a traditional leather boot made in Switzerland; they are not lightweight like Edea’s or new Jackson models. I’ve been skating on Edmonton Special’s since I was 15, and despite trying other brands since then, I was always coming back to Graf’s.

How to choose figure skating blades?

Just like boots, figure skating blades come in a variety of styles and price ranges. I have to mention it once again – it won’t do any good if you simply purchase the most expensive ones. So, the question you may have is – which figure skating blades should you get?

Blades should be chosen based on skater’s skill level, skating technique, and style. There are a few important things you should look at when choosing figure skating blades.

Rocker radius and spin rocker of the figure skating blade

1) Rocker radius.

It’s a measure of the back of the blade which determines how much of the blade touches the surface of the ice when skating. Rocker radius mostly has an effect on stroking and gliding backward. Most figure skating blades have either a 7 or 8-foot radius.

7′ rocker blades are rounder, they allow more agility and deeper edges; 7′ blades are a good choice for beginners, intermediate level and petite skaters.

Examples of blades with a 7′ rocker radius: MK blades “Professional”, “Gold Star”, “Phantom”, John Wilson “Coronation Ace”.

8′ rocker blades are less curved than 7′, they allow to get more speed, have more stability and control when doing edges. When skating backward’s, the balance on 8-foot radius blades is further back compared to the blades with 7′ rocker radius. 8′ blades are used by most higher-level figure skaters.

Examples of blades with an 8′ rocker radius: John Wilson “Gold Seal”, John Wilson “Pattern 99”, Jackson “Ultima Supreme”, Jackson “Ultima Elite”, Riedell “Eclipse Pinnacle”, Riedell “Eclipse Infinity”.

2) Spin rocker (also known as rocker shape or rocker profile).

It’s not the same as a rocker radius. A spin rocker is located in the front part of the blade behind the toe picks. It mostly has an effect on jumps and spins.

The larger the radius of the spin rocker, the flatter that part is. For example, John Wilson’s Pattern 99 and Coronation Ace have the flattest spin rocker – 29′ radius; “Gold Seal”, MK “Gold Star” and MK “Professional” rocker shape (12′ radius) is curvier and the balance (also known as “sweet spot”) on those blades is farther forward. The MK “Phantom”s blades spin rocker has 17′ radius which puts them in the middle.

3) Toe picks.

Most figure skating blades have either straight-cut toe picks or cross-cut toe picks.

Straight-Cut: allows a skater to dig deeply into the ice with toe picks which could result in higher jumps. Blades with the straight-cut toe picks are not recommended for the beginners as they have less grip than blades with a cross-cut toe picks. Examples of the straight-cut toe pick blades are John Wilson “Pattern 99” and its analogs “Ultima Elite” and Riedell “Eclipse Infinity”.

Cross-Cut: most of the figure skating blades on the market have cross-cut toe picks and they are used among skaters of all levels. This design of the toe picks gives a skater more grip and control. Examples of the cross-cut blades are John Wilson “Gold Seal”, “Coronation Ace”, MK “Phantom”, “Professional”, “Gold Star” and its analogs from Jackson Ultima and Riedell Eclipse.

In this picture, you can see a difference between a blade with Straight-Cut toe picks (Riedell Eclipse Infinity at the top) and a blade with Cross-Cut toe picks (Riedell Eclipse Pinnacle at the bottom).

Figure skating blades with Straight-Cut toe picks and Cross-Cut toe picks

4) Weight.

Regular figure skating blades are made of stainless steel. The higher level blades such as Gold Seal or MK Gold Star are made of the lighter and stronger steel. But there is also even lighter figure skating blades out there which are made with carbon elements (like Revolution MK and John Wilson blades), titanium instead of steel (like Riedell Eclipse lightweight blades) or lightweight aluminum holder (like Jackson Ultima Matrix blades).

Ultra-lightweight blades are used by most single skaters at the highest level. They are the best for the triple and quadruple jumps as they help to skate faster, get greater height on take-off and quicker rotation in the air. These lightweight blades are 30%-50% lighter than regular stainless steel blades.

I personally don’t recommend getting these ultra-lightweight blades for the entry-level skaters. I think it’s important to start skating and learn single and double jumps with the heavier regular blades and later on switch to the lighter blades as a skater starts working on the triple jumps.

As you can see, choosing figure skates is not as easy as you might think. There are a lot of options to choose from out there and it is very important to make a right decision on which figure skating boots and blades you get based on skater’s level, skills, style of skating and fit (for example, not all skates will fit well if you have wide feet).

Especially if you are buying the first pair of figure skates, I recommend taking advice from a professional at the skate shop. At the shop, you will be able to try a bunch of different models of boots to see which one you like more and which one has the best fit.

If you still have any questions regarding purchasing figure skates or want to share your personal experience and feedback, feel free to ask/comment below this post. I’ll get back to you as soon as I get a chance!

Thanks for reading, I hope this information was helpful. See you at the rink, fellow skaters!

Is it too late to start figure skating at 13-18 years?
How often should you practice ice skating?
Daniil Timin
Daniil Timin is a Russian figure skating coach in the Chicago suburbs and Kenosha, WI. Daniil is a former Disney on Ice principal skater and he has more than 20 years of experience as a competitive single skater in Russia, professional ice shows performer and a figure skating coach.
daniiltimin91@yahoo.com

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    39 COMMENTS
    • Helen Cowles
      September 24, 2019 at 11:34 am
      Reply

      I have a question concerning blades. Until a month or so ago, I had a Coronation Ace blade which I loved but wore out so quickly due to a serious addiction to doing spins. About a month ago, I changed to the Gold Seal blade because that blade keeps its sharpness longer and I would not wear down the blade as quickly. Since being in the Gold Seal blade, I am struggling to skate backwards, and to get and keep control of my spins. All I can really gain control of is my two foot spin. I feel like my Gold Seal blade is sliding even after getting the blade just sharpened. Should I go back to the Coronation Ace blade even though I go through it a lot faster than a Gold Seal blade?

      1. Daniil Timin
        September 24, 2019 at 5:17 pm
        Reply

        Hello, Helen! Coronation Ace might be a better fit for you and you just got so used to them. That’s why now you having a hard time adjusting to Gold Seal’s because you are trying to do the same thing as you did in your old blades but everything feels different. Changing blades does make a huge difference, at one point I switched from Gold Seal to Pattern 99 and I really struggled with spins (my spins were “traveling” a lot on Pattern 99’s) and toe jumps so I had to go back to Gold Seal’s.

        I would recommend you to keep Gold Seal’s for now – give it some time. Basically, you need to forget how you used to skate/do things on your old blades. Start from scratch, the balance on Gold Seal’s feels very different from Coronation Ace. Same goes to spins – it’s not going to work if you spin the same way as you did on Coronation Ace. Try to do it a different way, find that balance and “sweet spot” on Gold Seal’s.

        Gool luck! Let me know if you have any other questions!

    • Alexandra
      September 24, 2019 at 2:23 pm
      Reply

      Thank you very much for all this work. I’ve learned so much. As a beginner adult skater, I have so many questions, and this article helped me to understand many things.

      1. Daniil Timin
        September 24, 2019 at 5:22 pm
        Reply

        Thank you, Alexandra! I’m happy to help with advice!

    • Kai
      October 9, 2019 at 4:27 pm
      Reply

      Hi,

      I was looking the picture of your blades. The spinning rocker and area which is about 1/2″ behind the toe picks. The profile does not look very smooth curve. There is kind V-shape where sharpening ends and cross grind starts. Are you not worried about this? Which machine your are using to sharpen your blades? What is the diameter of the grinding wheel?

      1. Daniil Timin
        October 10, 2019 at 5:10 pm
        Reply

        Hi, Kai! I know exactly what you mean, it happened because my skates are being sharpened on crappy machines and not exactly by professionals 🙂

        I’m not really concerned about it as I got used to skating the way it is now 🙂

    • olivia
      October 12, 2019 at 6:45 am
      Reply

      Hi!

      I am an adult skater and wearing Edea Icefly with the goldseal blade. I’ve had used the coronation ace revolution parabolic and never liked them. They make wired clunking noise when landing and my body leaned forward when doing backward strokes, and spins were nightmare.

      Since I’ve changed to the goldseal, backward skating got heaps better and my spins are 10times better and they give me smooth glide after landings from jumps.

      But! I am struggling to get a strong, solid grip of thr topick for toe jumps esp Flip. It never really feel solid hence losing my confidence to take off fully and rotate.

      You said you didn’t like the change from goldseal to pattern99. Patter has bigger toepick and how come your toe jumps got worse??

      I wOuldn’t like spending more money on trying out new blades but I really want the strong toe assistance. Any advice??

      Thank you!

      1. Daniil Timin
        October 26, 2019 at 9:39 pm
        Reply

        Hi! Yes, I can see how your skating and spins got a lot better on Gold Seal’s! Your problems with toe pick on take off of toe jumps must something to do with your technique! You should have a solid grip with Gold Seal’s toe picks, I never personally experienced any problems with it on neither toe jumps. Don’t switch to Pattern 99 because if you are used to skating on Gold Seal’s it will affect your spins (when I switched to Pattern 99 I couldn’t spin like I did on Gold Seal’s). Once again, that grip on take off must something to do with the way or angle you put your toe down so you need to play around with it. You can practice take off without an actual jump just by doing it standing on one spot. It might help.

    • Jackie
      November 4, 2019 at 7:07 pm
      Reply

      Hi Daniil,
      Thank you very much for a very helpful blog! Would you be able to elaborate on the reasons why entry-level skaters should start with heavier blades and only later switch to lighter ones? If someone is doing double jumps, is it OK in your opinion to switch to lighter blades?
      Thank you.

      1. Daniil Timin
        November 5, 2019 at 6:21 pm
        Reply

        Thank you, Jackie! In my opinion, lightweight blades are designed for triple/quad jumps and this recent quad revolution partly has to do with the lighter boots and blades. Back in the day skaters didn’t have boots and blades as light as they make now.

        That’s why I think the best is to start out on regular heavier blades and make a switch to lightweight models once you past doubles and working on triple jumps. It will be easier to learn and perform triples, it will be like a boost to make faster progress.

    • Amber
      November 13, 2019 at 5:33 pm
      Reply

      Hello,
      My 16 year old daughter figure skates at an intermediate level, working up to double lutz in the star skate program, currently Star 6-7. She is very tall 5’10 and a very solid stature. Her current GAM silver label skates with MK professional blade have broken down after almost 2 years of use and she is insistent on the edea ice fly. The other recommendation was the Jackson Elite 5200 although a lower stiffness then what she currently has and that concerns me because of her stature. Can you provide some advice on an appropriate boot and blade combo for her? She gets good height in her jumps, but is slower to enter into the jump and rotate them. She also has scoliosis. Thank you.

      1. Daniil Timin
        November 14, 2019 at 2:49 pm
        Reply

        Hello, Amber! I do like new Jackson models, I’ve been only hearing good things about them! Elite 5200 is a good model but if you want a stiffer boot there is also a Jackson Supreme DJ5500. I personally not a huge fan of Edea’s unless a skater is working on higher triples/quad jumps but it’s totally up to you to decide. Regarding blades, you should upgrade from MK professional as well, the best would be going to Ultima Supreme or Gold Seal which are basically the same radius/profile/feel.

    • Sofia
      December 29, 2019 at 10:59 pm
      Reply

      Hi , I was thinking on upgrading my skates and blades , recently I have Jacksons excel with inbox blade , I am doing doubles and this aren’t helpful anymore and are already broken down a lot ¿what skates and blades would you recommend to me ?

      1. Daniil Timin
        January 22, 2020 at 12:00 am
        Reply

        How often do you skate? If you are serious about the sport, you should invest more in skates with a higher support rating! Visit a skate shop nearby and try in person higher-level Jackson models, for example, Jackson Artiste.

    • Nilay
      January 22, 2020 at 7:58 pm
      Reply

      Hi Danill,
      My daughter is 12 and does figure skating as part of a team. She is doing a double luz right now, getting close to finishing her doubles, and will hopefully work her way up. Her Edea Chorus boots recently broke for an unknown reason. She was wearing MK Professional blades with them. Now we are in the process of buying a new pair but I am very much confused.
      She would like to get Edea Icefly, which I believe is fine. Would you agree? But I am not sure how to proceed with the blades. From what I understand we can still wait a little longer before we get Gold Seal or is now the time? What do you think about Coronation Ace Revolution or MK Professional Revolution? Thank you so much for your time.

      1. Daniil Timin
        January 29, 2020 at 3:32 am
        Reply

        Hi, Nilay!

        You can get a combination of Ice fly and Gold Seal blades already as it will take some time to adjust to Gold Seals from MK Professional.

        Revolution blades are lighter than their regular versions. I don’t really think there is a need in them unless a skater is already working on higher triple jumps.

    • Stacey
      January 25, 2020 at 11:25 pm
      Reply

      Hi! I’m looking to buy some new skates and need some advice. I have top of the line Risport skates from 1990 which I still love but I think it’s time to update. They are really starting to fall apart. They almost look little they’re melting. Haha. I am 49 years old and I’m currently landing axels and attempting doubles again. I only skate once a week so I want something that won’t take forever to break in. I’d like something similar to my Risport boots but I have heard they’re not as good as they once were. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks so much!

      1. Daniil Timin
        January 29, 2020 at 3:48 am
        Reply

        Hello, Stacey!

        Yeah, Risport’s are not the same as they used to be in the 90’s. They are making them with microfiber lighter materials like most figure skating boots these days.

        Jacksons have more of a traditional look. But they still use carbon fiber materials and they are lighter than the boots you currently skate in. I would recommend you to try Jackson boots at your local skating shop, for example, Jackson Elite 5200 model.

    • Farel
      February 1, 2020 at 8:28 pm
      Reply

      Hello daniil, I have a question. I am an intermediate level skater, I have 1 year with gold seal blades, but it is difficult for me to do spins,I don’t know if I need more practice or change the blade, could you recommend me a blade? I have thought about mk phantom, but I would like to know your opinion. Thank you

      1. Daniil Timin
        February 2, 2020 at 5:22 am
        Reply

        Did you have similar difficulty spinning before you switched to Gold Seal? What kind of blades you previously had?

    • Veera
      February 4, 2020 at 5:18 pm
      Reply

      Hi! I’m having a hard time choosing which blades I should get for my new skates. Basically I’ve been skating with the Jackson Ultima elites for about 3 years now and I’m wondering if I should switch to supremes? I’m going to by a new pair of ice flys. I can do a 2A and I’m practicing triples right now.

      1. Daniil Timin
        February 6, 2020 at 4:30 am
        Reply

        Hi, Veera! Jackson Ultima Elite blades have straight-cut picks and Supreme’s are cross-cut picks like Gold Seal blades. Did you always have blades with the straight-cut picks or you skated before on blades with the cross-cut?

        If you are used to and happy with your current blades, I wouldn’t change them. If you do make a switch, it might take a while to get used to different blades. I would stick with Ultima Elite blades as long as you are comfortable with them.

        Hope this helps! Good luck!

        Daniil.

        1. Veera
          February 9, 2020 at 4:24 pm
          Reply

          I’m not sure? All I know is that these are the first light weight blades I’ve had and they’ve been working quite well. I was just wondering if the gold seal profile would help me with my triples? But I guess it doesn’t really matter. I would have time to adjust to the blades now tho because I just had my last comp of the season this weekend.

          1. Daniil Timin
            February 19, 2020 at 8:01 pm
            Reply

            I don’t think you need to switch to Gold Seal’s if you are happy with your current blades. Like they say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

    • Christy
      February 24, 2020 at 4:29 am
      Reply

      I am a former competitive figure skater. I haven’t skated very often for 38 years. My foot “spread” during college when I was almost always wearing sneakers. Therefore, my old skates are too tight now, so I want to get a new pair. I don’t know what to get, but I know I don’t want to go through the agony of breaking in a new pair of skates. I plan to skate once or twice a week. I want to do spins and single-rotation jumps.

      1. Daniil Timin
        March 4, 2020 at 5:27 pm
        Reply

        The best option for you is to go in-person to a skate shop and try a few different boots!

    • jaynie
      February 24, 2020 at 10:23 pm
      Reply

      Hi Daniil, this is a great page, thanks!
      I am look for some help on skates for my daughters. They have been skating off-ice/inline figure skating for years (no ice) but have just taken up ice-skating last month to complement their inline training, but I don’t know what blades to get.
      On wheels they use snow-white frames with
      DD1-(13 years, 34kg) is using risport electra (she skates up to doubles, skates very gently and has no creases in these boots after a over a year)
      DD2 (11 years, 39kg) uses Risport RF2 (skates up to axel, attempts doubles, and creases her boots after a month)

      At the moment they have recreational ice-skates (haroy) with a basic blade, DD1 using MK21s, DD2 (I am not sure, but more basic than MK21), amazingly DD1 can do doubles, but not spin.

      I am limited to edea and risport(in europe) or I can order jackson online but risk getting the sizes wrong. I was thinking of risport rf3s for both of them or maybe edea overture as I assume they should need less support on ice , but I don’t know if this logic is correct, and I have no idea about blades. Could you advise?
      Thanks!

      1. Daniil Timin
        March 4, 2020 at 5:34 pm
        Reply

        Both Risport RF3 and Edea Overture are good options for your daughters. I would probably go with Edea.

        Speaking of blades, MK Professional or John Wilson Coronation Ace will be a good fit.

        Please let me know if you have any other questions.

    • oneill.cath@gmail.com
      June 17, 2020 at 6:49 pm
      Reply

      My 14 year old daughter (average size) has been wearing the jackson debut’s (with coronation ace blades) for the two years. These are her second pair and she really likes them, but she has outgrown these last pair and I have noticed that the boot of her landing foot has a large crease (broken down?) and has only been in this pair for 9 months. I am just wondering if it is time for her to go to the next level in stiffness (premiere’s) or if she would be just fine going back into the debut’s again. These will likely be the last skates we buy due to a growing foot so I am hoping to get as much life out of them as possible. She skates about 12 hours week (about half of that is doing synchro) and is working on her double jumps. Would love to hear your thoughts.

    • Kat
      August 17, 2020 at 9:31 am
      Reply

      Hi.
      My daughter is 7 y old and she’s working on doubles. She is wearing edea overture with mk professionals. Now she needs a new pair. I’m thinking about edea chorus, but not sure about blades. She is small and very light, so coach suggested revolutions, but wich ones?
      Thanks

    • Rebecca
      September 11, 2020 at 4:58 am
      Reply

      Hi! Thank you for making this great page. It greatly helps me to consider what shoes and blades to buy.

      I have a question. I’m a 20 years old female, 5’3”, trying to get serious on figure skating. I’m a beginner and never own a pair of skating shoes. I want to buy shoes and blades with good arch support that are not entirely on the starting level (at least one that can hold until I reach single jumps). Based on your article and other websites, I’m planning to buy Edea Overture boots with John Wilson Coronation Ace REV/Gold Seal REV.

      Is it too high level for me? Could you give me your advice? Thanks in advance.

    • rima
      September 15, 2020 at 3:07 pm
      Reply

      Hello, five months ago we purchased Edea Chorus and had Eclipse Infinity blades put on for our 11 y son, he is in Free-skate (or freestyle) 2 level starting simple jumps. He loved them, unfortunately skating was canceled due to Covid and he outgrew them. We need new ice skates but can not pay that price again. Would EDEA OVERTURE BOOT +FLIGHT BLADE do the job for the skater strartig the jumps? Is the Flight blade good enough for any of the jumps? Please help, need skates now. Thank you.

    • Connie
      September 26, 2020 at 9:26 pm
      Reply

      Hi Daniil, the information you provided is great, so thanks! I am researching for my daughter’s next pair of skates. She is 10 years old weigh less than 60lb. She landed her double salchow and working on the rest of the double jumps. She is in Riedell Stride with Astra blades right now. I think we will get the Jackson Debut Fusion skates. But I have a hard time to decide what blades we should get. My choice in considerations are Eclipse Infinity, Eclipse Aurora, and MK Professional. Do you have any suggestion or preference between these? Thanks!

    • El
      November 27, 2020 at 1:00 am
      Reply

      Hello Daniil,
      I’m currently working on my Novice Solo Free Ice Dance test, and my current skates (Jackson Freestyle Fusion, Womens 6.5W) are very much broken down and I’m looking for a new pair of skates. I’ve seen a lot of “hype” when it comes to EDEA skates, and none of the skate shops near me stock or affiliate with EDEA. Should I just buy new Jackson skates or just hope the the EDEA E width work? My current Jacksons (when I bought them about 1.5 years ago) were kinda uncomfortable when I first got them (not because of size, I just don’t think Jackson’s work for my high arches, even with special insoles). What do you think I should do? Thank you for any help you can give me 🙂

    • Hajar
      December 26, 2020 at 12:20 am
      Reply

      Am a beginner , am 20 years
      The information you wrote is really helpful but am still confused , I was wondering
      Some freinds told me go for edea overture and some other go for Jackson Ultima
      I tried them at shop but I felt free more with Graf because my leg is wide too ..but I don’t know about the blade and I don’t know I choose it according to what & am really confused ! It’s my first skates & I don’t have many options
      Just Graf splinded & edea overture

    • Lana
      May 15, 2021 at 6:56 pm
      Reply

      Hi
      I am an adult skater, have skated for more than 20 years with large time gaps, so have only progressed to single jumps (no attempts at Axel yet), but would really love to improve. I learned to skate on Wifa boots with Coronation Ace blades, then had another pair of Wifas with Wilson Excel blades, and loved both pairs. 2-3 years ago I needed a new pair (as the hooks on my boots were coming off) and bought Risports with Edea Rotation blades, and have struggled on them ever since. I understand that the problem is most likely my technique, but I have trouble with outside edges and skid a lot on these (even when they are sharpened), which means my spins have deteriorated as I cannot do a confident entry, and many other elements. Anyway, I decided to bite the bullet and buy a new pair. Wifas are not sold in the UK, so what would you recommend to me (in terms of blade shape mostly I guess) that would feel similar to the Wifa pairs I had? Any advice appreciated.

    • Laura M
      July 19, 2021 at 3:47 am
      Reply

      I really enjoyed reading this article! I am struggling right now getting new skates, its been 10 years! I found the perfect boot, but I’ve been skating on John Wilson Coronation Comets. I LOVE my Comets but they don’t make them anymore. They had a 8 1/2 rocker radius. Any suggestions on what to switch to? Thanks!

    • Nikola
      December 21, 2021 at 12:45 am
      Reply

      Hello, that was a really helpful article, thanks Daniil.
      And my question is have u heard about curium figure skates? How r they?
      Looks like their supporting rate is 50 i don’t know can i use this for some single and double jump or not.
      I’m 26years old female with 68 weight.

      1. Daniil Timin
        December 23, 2021 at 9:13 pm
        Reply

        Never heard about them! I would recommend to go with one of the trusted brands such as Jackson, EDEA, Risport, etc.

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