Choosing the right skate

We receive many questions about how to choose the right skates, so we have compiled this guide. With our extensive experience fitting skates, we can help you find the perfect pair for your feet. Please contact us if you would like personal advice!

Information we need to help you choose the right skates

To give you the best possible recommendation, we need to know:

• The skater’s skill level, any tests taken, amount of training per week, and jumping ability
• Age and weight
• Which skates are currently being used and in what size
• Foot length for both feet (measure according to the instructions in our online store, preferably with a proper measuring stick from a shoe store)
• Foot width – measure the widest part of the foot at the base of the toes by wrapping a tape measure around it

There is no “best” brand—it is about the fit

It is important to understand that no brand is better than another. The key is to find the boot that fits your particular foot best. We are always happy to advise you on the right boot and blade. With ready-made sets, the manufacturer has mounted blades that match the stiffness of the boot.

Not sure? Call or email us for a consultation! We are here to help you choose the right skates.

Note: Unfortunately, we are unable to assist with the purchase or sale of used skates.

Things to consider when choosing skates

Which is the best skate? Generally speaking, no brand or model is better than another. It is about finding a boot that fits the foot well and is sufficiently supportive, but not too stiff, for the skater who will use it.

This means that an elite boot such as Edea Ice Fly, or an elite blade such as Goldseal or Supreme, is not suitable for a beginner learning the basics of figure skating. It will be difficult and stiff, and the stiff boot and difficult-to-skate blade may hinder the skater’s development—especially if the skater is a child (by child, we mean someone who has not finished growing).

Narrow feet – what should you consider?

The boot must fit the foot. A narrow foot needs a narrow boot. But what does that actually mean?

• A narrow boot may be narrow around the heel and/or narrow around the toes
• If the skater has narrow, slim ankles and heels, it is important that the boot is narrow there too, to prevent it from being loose
• A wide toe area is problematic for a narrow toe joint - the foot slides around inside the boot
• When the boot is too wide for the foot, the risk of additional cartilage growths increases (small lumps that can develop where there has been friction). These lumps can be very painful, and it is not uncommon for us to see this in skaters who have used boots that are too large and too wide for an extended period
• A narrow, pointed toe joint works well when the boot is narrow and pointed
• A straight, more square toe area is better suited to a roomier toe area, but if the heel is narrow, it is important that the boot also has a narrow heel

Width options for narrow feet:

• Wifa: Available in many widths - contact us for advice on which width suits the skater's foot
• Edea: The standard C width is wide in the heel and narrow across the toes. D is wide in the heel and slightly roomier across the toes, but still has a narrow toe area. B width is narrow at both the toe and heel and is better for a narrower heel than C
• Risport: C is as wide in the heel as Edea's C but wider across the toe joint, although it has a tapered toe. Contact us for advice on choosing a width if you want to skate in Risport and have a narrower foot
• Jackson: The standard widths R and W are both narrower in the heel and wider across the toes. R width is narrower, while W is more suitable if you have a wider foot. However, if you are wide across the heel, you will probably not appreciate Jackson's W width

Wide feet - what options are available?

If you consider your foot to be slightly wider, measure its length and the circumference around the toe joint so that we can easily determine whether a wider width would be preferable.

Width options by brand:

• Jackson: W width
• Edea: D width
• Wifa: LL for children and C or CC for adults
• Risport: C-Comfort wide

Here, it is important to identify where the foot is wide and what the shape of the foot looks like. If you have problems with regular shoes and always have to go up a size just to get the shoes on, then you have a genuinely wide foot. In that case, the following shoes may be suitable:

• Jackson in D or W width - but not if you have a narrow heel
• Wifa in CC width - very suitable for duck-shaped feet that are considerably wider on the sides before the toe joint begins
• Edea in E width - this is where you move up from the narrow toe

Which brand and model are right for you?

As a figure skater, you can skate in any of the brands we sell at Tinas Konståkningsshop. You can also change brands over the years—it will not negatively affect your skating as long as the boot fits the foot well and the skater has the correct size.

For a growing child, we usually allow extra room for growth so that the boots will work for the following year. It is impossible for us to know how much a child’s foot will grow, but approximately 1 cm of allowance is usually sufficient.

Once their feet stop growing, skaters wear out their boots. How long a boot lasts depends on how much it is used, who uses it, and how stable the boot is in relation to the user. However, approximately 1–1.5 years is the normal lifespan of a boot used 5–7 days a week.

The blade lasts significantly longer, so more expensive, high-quality blades can easily be transferred as long as the skater wears the same size. Some blade sizes also fit two half-sizes of boots and can therefore be moved when the skater goes up half a size.

Our recommendations by level

Beginners attending children’s skating school (doing no more than three jumps, weighing under 40 kg)

• Jackson Excel
• Jackson Mystique
• Wifa Prima
• Risport Venus
• Edea Tempo
• Edea Motivo

Beginners who weigh over 40 kg or are taller than 150 cm

• Jackson Artiste
• Jackson Elle or Freestyle
• Wifa Prima Intermediate
• Edea Overture
• Risport Antares
• Risport Electra

Intermediate skaters/basic-test level, under 40 kg, training 2–4 times/week, doing loop jumps

• Jackson Elle
• Jackson Freestyle
• Jackson Flex
• Edea Overture with Mirage
• Wifa Prima Intermediate with Mirage/Flight
• Wifa Inti with Flight
• Risport Electra Light with Mirage

Intermediate skaters/basic-test level, over 40 kg, training 2–4 times/week, doing loop jumps

• Jackson Freestyle Fusion
• Wifa Prima Intermediate
• Wifa Inti
• Edea Overture with Mirage
• Edea Chorus (if you weigh more than 60 kg)
• Risport RF3

Do you have questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us for personal advice—we’ll help you find the right fit!

We have extensive knowledge of skates and feet, as well as many years of experience fitting skates. Clubs are welcome to share this text, but we do not want other figure skating shops to copy it. Contact us if you would like more information.