Hockey Skates vs Figure Skates - What You NEED to Know!

The age-old dilemma: hockey skates or figure skates? Which should you get? Each style of skate is designed for different functions. The skates are specialized. Let's look at each of these. Let's compare the differences and why you might want to get one over the other.
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🎥 Trying Adjustable Size Skates: • Pro Skater/Coach Tries...
🎥 Videos About Buying Skates: • Buying Figure Skates
🎥 Everything You Need To Know About Figure Skating Blades: • Figure Skating Blades
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00:00 Introduction to Hockey Skates vs. Figure Skates
00:36 Hockey Skates
01:12 Hockey Skate Balance Point
01:29 Hockey Blade Profiling
01:47 Why are Hockey Skates So Stiff?
02:39 Are Hockey Skates Beginner Friendly?
03:12 Figure Skates
03:34 Figure Skate Balance Point
04:19 Why Do Figure Skates Have a Toe Pick
04:29 Toe Pushing in Figure Skates
04:44 Hybrid Ice Skates | Recreational Skates
05:16 Should I Get Hockey Skates or Figure Skates?
05:28 Why Are Figure Skates More Beginner Friendly Than Hockey Skates?
06:03 Is It Easier to Switch from Figure Skates to Hockey Skates Than from Hockey Skates to Figure Skates?
06:14 Can I Figure Skate in Hockey Skates?
06:22 Can I Play Hockey in Figure Skates?
06:49 What Are the Best Ice Skates for Learn to Skate?
08:11 Should I Wear Thick or Thin Socks with Ice Skates?
08:25 Where Should I Go To Buy Ice Skates?
08:46 Are Adjustable Size Ice Skates Good?
My name is Aimée Ricca, and I’m an ISSA Certified Elite Personal Trainer (E-CPT), Nutritionist (CN), and Youth Fitness Coach (CYFC). I'm also a PSA Ranked and Rated Skating Coach/Choreographer. My passion is to inspire and empower you to achieve your healthy living goals - because I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive!
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⚠️ I am not a medical doctor. Each individual’s health, fitness, and nutrition success depends on his or her background, dedication, desire, and motivation. As with any health-related program or service, your results may vary, and will be based on many variables, including but not limited to, your individual capacity, life experience, unique health and genetic profile, starting point, expertise, and level of commitment. Full disclaimer: aimeericca.com/disclaimer/

✅ Get Your 2023 Figure Skating Planning & Goal Setting Guide: www.skatewithaimee.com/shop Use the Promo Code KZbin to Save! ❤ More About Hockey Skating: skatewithaimee.com/hockey-skating ❤ Polar Skate Shop in East Hanover, NJ: www.polarskateshop.com (not sponsored) - let Greg know that I sent you! 🎥 Trying Adjustable Size Skates: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4DNpYqpeL-afKs 🎥 Videos About Buying Skates: kzbin.info/aero/PLhIvo-BmGcaWrdSOyrzbgzakn8HtnAGqV 🎥 Everything You Need To Know About Figure Skating Blades: kzbin.info/aero/PLhIvo-BmGcaU_Oz4eM2T7YCAZWDKkch4I ❤ Get Your Team USA and Olympic Gear Here: fanatics.ncw6.net/rnG2RQ ✅ Get 10% off your purchase from Kiss & Cry Angels: kissandcryangels.com/?ref=aimee Use Promo Code AIMEE (affiliate link). ✅ Become an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer and/or Nutrition Coach! Current ISSA Promotions & Discounts: bit.ly/3iiovZ5 (affiliate link)

[@stephanieweingarten7934]

I learned how to skate at the age of 39 with hockey skates. I prefer them because I’m wary of toe picks and they help with my cross overs. And I’m more agile while wearing hockey skates.

[@mrshakey2533]

Great video! Yes, figure skates are better for beginners coming to a public session with little or no experience. The other ‘touchy’ subject is skate fitting. I would guess that over 80 percent of hockey players are wearing the wrong (too big) skates. Even the ‘older’ hockey players are coming in to a pro shop and saying ‘I’ve been wearing a size 9 for 30 year’. Yeah, newer skaters think that skates are supposed to feel like their tennis shoes and buy the wrong size skates because of that. Again, great video, I only hope more skaters watch this video before buying the wrong skates.

[@romahnae]

6:34 "look!" "listen!"

[@CosmicMomentumX]

Very informative. I bought my first pair last month, Bauer x3's. Love em. Just here to see what I should suggest my friends use that are new to skating. Thanks for posting.

[@ruchejche]

I have a pair of hockey-style recreational skates. After falling badly twice, I started investigating why it's so hard for me to even skate forward wearing them. I wish I'd seen your video earlier. Now I know the reason why it's so hard for me to even get started. Thank you for this video.

You’re not alone! I hope that helps you find comfort 😌

[@ruchejche]

@ the video gives me hope ;) I thought I was a lost cause 😂

You’re not! Just make sure you get professional fitted 😉

[@p3nac0ny]

i love your video , you explain everything so well!!

Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to comment 😀

[@lavonecoleman9955]

I wear hockey skates because they help me with my cross overs allot since they don’t have a toe pick. The balance is very diffrent and sometimes it’s hard for me to switch back to them but I’m a figure skater so hockey skates aren’t used that much

It’s difficult to switch between different skates. You should try working with your coach on your crossovers wearing figure skates.

[@josequintanilla6864]

Thanks for the info. Very helpful.

Glad it was helpful!

[@99xara99]

To be honest I've never tried figure skates. The cheap ones you could buy for kids as well as the sh*y blue rental ones are always hockey style skates, so I didn't really get the chance to wear anything else + I'm scared of stumbling over the toepick. I feel like casual skaters like me really don't need the toepick anyway 😅 Honestly most people I know just go skating maybe 1, 2, 3 times every season, we're happy if we can just do our slow rounds without landing on your faces!

Rental skates can be either hockey-style or figure-style, it depends on what the rink decides to offer. Honestly, most beginners find figure-style skates easier because the blade is longer and the toe pick can help keep you from falling over. In beginner figure-style skates the toe pick is less prominent to minimize the chance that you will stumble over it ;)

[@MLGGedits]

I want to start ice skating regularly since I love it but cause the blue rental skates are HORRIBLE on my feet, now I'm looking into what skates I should get, might wanna try out ice hockey (I already play field hockey), seeing if I should get hockey skates and if I can use them for normal use

Many people skate in hockey skates and don't even play hockey!

[@Newphase111]

Thank you so much

You’re welcome!

[@WN-ff4qb]

Great video. Very informative. I learned to skate (on figure skates) when I was 8 or 9 years old and skated every winter (outside, for recreation) until I left for college. I'm 66 years old and in pretty good shape. I walked by our towns winter ice rink today, and just wanted to get right back on the ice. i think that despite all of the rental figure skates being in white, I'd be better off using them. Any thoughts?

Try not to hung up on the color of the skates! Of course it's ok to try out the rental skates! Keep in mind though, often rental skates are not the best if you plan on skating regularly - even just during the winter season. Here's another video on rental skates: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imWXlXRrmpKKirc

[@abdulwaduod11]

I am big guy 100+kg who just started iceskating for fun immediately fell in love with it, now I want buy my skating shoes instead of using the rental one, this video made it clear that figure skating shoes is the best pick

Buying your own after you’ve been fitted is the best way to ensure progress and safety’

[@Aunald]

I can strongly relate… self teaching how to skate based off KZbin videos and clips. Getting my own figure skates was the best thing ever.

I'm glad you benefited fro getting your own skates. However, figure skating is a sport that requires professional supervision for proper development of technique and safety! Please consider enrolling in group lessons or working with a coach.

[@abdulwaduod11]

@ I have already gotten my jackson shoes from shop who checked my size and foot properly, I enrolled with coach who can 1 to 1 teach me the basic for 5 sessions for now

[@rawcinematic]

Great info

Glad it was helpful!

[@charlygestern6556]

I can skate pretty decent in rental skates that are in a hockey style but now I really would like to get my own skates because I really want to go skating more often and learn to be a lot better at it, and not hurt my feet so much… I do feel apprehensive of getting figure skates though because of the toe picks. Only one time I skated with them and I only stumbled over the toe pics the whole time. Should I give them another chance? Probably I was not used to the balance point beeing somewhere else?

If you just skate for fun, it doesn't matter if you purchase figure skates or hockey skates. If you want to try figure skating, though you will need figure skates as the toe pick is necessary for jumps and spins. So it depends on what your end goal is.

[@loopylucifer]

I've tried both the rental hockey and figure skates. I want to do all those cool jumps and spins but I seem to fall the most wearing figure skates due to the ankle pick.

The toe pick in figure skates is what allows you to jump and spin. Hockey skates are not designed or intended for jumping or spinning. If you are falling due to the toe pick, you are likely not using the blade correctly. I suggest that you take lessons. Most rinks offer affordable group lessons as well as private 1:1 coaching. You can also talk to the skating director or your coach about where to go to purchase figure skates.

[@urlocalh2h033]

Hey! I inline skate and i can skate decently on ice. My inlines dont have any breaks at the front similar to toepicks so im not sure what to get...I also skate just for fun so

As I said in the video, the toe picks in the front of ice skates are not for stopping, so they are not breaks! It's best to go to a specialty skate shop for a fitting. Here's another video that can help you! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHipl6t5fdWrZ5I

[@urlocalh2h033]

@ okay tysm for answering!!

You're welcome!

[@lz5517]

I have a question. How are figure skates supposed to fit in the ankle? I was fitted for figure skates for LTS classes by a professional fitter (someone you recommended to someone else in a comment). I'm a woman, but the skates I was recommended and purchased were men's skates due to my wide feet. However, I have very narrow ankles even compared to other women and, after getting on the ice, I found I have a lot of space around my ankle. I'm really confused and was very disappointed in the skate fitting process. Do you have any advice? Thank you.

They should fit snuggly without any lifting or rubbing. However, if you were fitted into a men's skate that could be due to your budget constraints. Stock boots can only do so much and some feet require custom boots or higher end models that can cost significantly more. In my experience, professional techs do the best they can with the skaters budget. It is possible that the tech can do some targeted shaping around the ankle or in some cases even use material to add to the ankle. Let them know what your issue is and they will provide you with options. If you don't say anything, they may think it's fine! But, if you tell them, they can do what they can to accommodate your needs.

For the record, I once went to someone that recommended by many as the best professional tech! However, I have narrow feet and even narrower heels. He fitted me in Riedell because he doesn't sell Edea. It was horrible! My ankle never fit correctly in that skate! It wasn't until I went to someone else for Edeas that I was comfortable. That was a $900 mistake on the Riedell Silver Stars! But, I had to write it off as a loss and spent $1500+ on my Edea Ice Flys with JW Gold Seal Blades. My foot would never work in a stock Riedell or Jackson for $200 - I need the dual last that Edea provides for my unique feet and have to spend $1500+ every two years to get what works best for me!

[@lz5517]

@ thanks for replying!! I was specifically asking about the very top of the boot, around the lower shin. Should that fit closely around the leg? I feel like I'm standing inside it, not that it's hugging my leg, and it wobbles side to side. I can't get a good heel lock, my toes keep falling asleep, and it actively hurts to wear these skates. The only way I can get it to feel remotely right is to knock the back of the blade against the boards, but that doesn't solve the problem up top. The fitting was quite an odyssey and took hours, and, honestly, I was really thrown off by how he spoke to me. I gave a lot of feedback and asked a lot of questions, but I definitely wasn't heard and my questions were not answered. I kept asking how it was supposed to fit and that was never clarified. The reason we tried the men's is because the women's didn't allow my feet to lay flat side to side. I'm going to try someone else closer to home and see what he can do, but I'm hoping it's not a loss. This is a casual hobby for me, so I'm really hoping these can be salvaged. I really appreciate your videos! I have learned a lot!

I think you would be referring to what Edea would call the "collar." How it fits depends on the brand and model. For example in Edea, no they would not fit snug around the leg. If you are wobbling from side to side and your heel lifts, it sounds as if you in too wide or too long of a boot. I would love to know where you went!

[@sihembouaoud8226]

If I correctly understood figure skates are the same as recreational ones?

No. Recreational skates can be an “figure-style” but those are not figure skates.

[@ericmolina2300]

I just want something comfy that I can use for fun 😭 on a budget 💀

I have am upcoming video that will help you!

[@brookeelayna7217]

Honestly just get the figure skates. As someone who started out in hockey skates and made the switch, they're way easier to skate in.... although they do come with the side effect of the figure skaters more easily converting you to the dark side. Lol

I (obviously) agree :)

[@brookeelayna7217]

@ I never would have guessed lol

[@4theLifeOfTae]

Nice voice, thank you

Welcome 😊

[@pazobackenstein6473]

But why can't I use hockey skates for figure skating? I mean, there's this whole thing called "FREE programme" that means I'm free to do whatever I feel like, doesn't it? What of I'm not interested in jumping, but rather spinning and stuff? I already purchased my new skates, according to what group coach said, but now I feel like maybe I should have gotten hockey blades. I mean,, it's too late for me to become competitive anyways... why not spin a lot?

The free skate program actually does not mean that you can do whatever you feel like. There are different requirements depending on the level you are skating. We actually do use the toe pick for spinning! Without a toe pick you will not be able to learn a pivot (which leads to a spin) or be able to rock to the toe to start your spin. You can be competitive at any age so I'm unsure what you mean that it's too late to be competitive. I coach a 62 year old competitive skater!

[@pazobackenstein6473]

Yay, thanks for the answers, but I must tell you a secret! It's super duper easy to spin on hockey blades, much easier than with the figure skate blades. I'm 23 btw. Also you're great!

That’s not a secret! I work with hockey skaters and tech them spins. They just can’t do a pivot.

[@pazobackenstein6473]

Oh I see! So the pivot before is a necessity! Like when you do rotation jumps there's a specific way in which you must enter the jump. That is not free at all! They should have given it some other name. Hahaha

Yep, there are technical requirements that must be met. It's sometimes referred to as the "long program" rather than free skate.

[@TheBeingReal]

Toe pick.

😉😂

[@jamesandolina9546]

Hockey skates are different because sharpener 5/8 3/8” up to 1-1/2 1" come down to it hockey skates ring forget tell people that have be up to you hockey skates to .sharpener most NHL use play use 3/8

Yes, hockey skates and figure skates are sharpened differently. I didn't get into that in this video because I have so many other videos and this was for questions I've been asked by viewers about the main reasons to get one kind of skate or the other. I have more information about ROH - Radius of Hollow - here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnbao1jbLOAars figure skaters use many different ROH depending on their preferences.

[@jamesandolina9546]

If ask someone about figure skates go be guidelines for her tell you because do not know about sharpener those skates

I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to say. I have a whole video series dedicated to figure skate blades here: kzbin.info/aero/PLhIvo-BmGcaU_Oz4eM2T7YCAZWDKkch4I

[@sarahcovell561]

I HATE toe picks. they are horrid

Once you get used to them and learn how to use the blade correctly, they're not that bad!

[@Lavenderyc]

Okay but then why did all my friends laughed at me (they have hockey skates, but we’re all beginners) when I told them I bought a figure skate (I skated in rentals & my friends did too)? They said its very hard to skate in those🥹 But I said im gonna learn to skate in figure skates anyways because I want to, so no problem really!

I have no idea why your friends would laugh at you! They are incorrect about figure skates being harder, unless they did not learn the correct way to skate and used their toe pick for pushing! That would cause them to hit their toe pick and fall frequently. But if you learn to use the blade correctly they are easier! I suggest signing up for group lessons!

[@keziatheofani1741]

I almost falling into a trap that I want to buy skates online because of cheaper price and I want to learn figure skating but luckily I didn't fall into that trap as I start my lesson. pheww...Thank God😮‍💨. As I started my lesson I Immediately asked my coach where to buy skates properly for skaters who are in lesson and which brand is the best and which type is suitable for beginners and also thanks to you for saying "Don't buy skates online"🥹💕

You really don't save much, if anything by purchasing online. I'm glad that you asked where to go to get fitted!

[@keziatheofani1741]

@ agreed. The lesson is not cheap, the ice time ticket isn't cheap, and so the equipment. No please don't make it more pricey just because of inappropriate equipment especially skates😌

Exactly!