Don't Waste Your Money is supported by our readers. When you purchase an item through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best Ice Skates

Last updated on August 4, 2024
Categories Clothing & Accessories Tags

We looked at the top 9 Ice Skates and dug through the reviews from 27 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Ice Skates.

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in a category.

Our Picks For The Top Ice Skates

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Key Takeaway
Pros
Cons
 Top Pick

American Athletic Reinforced Ankle Ice Skates

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

American Athletic

Reinforced Ankle Ice Skates

When you think about professional figure skaters, these are the ice skates you picture. The pure white skates offer a stainless steel blade and a reinforced ankle. They also lace up for a snug and safe fit every time.

Overall Take

Traditional DesignYou'll find these ice skates come in women's sizes ranging from 5 to 9.

Pros
" Very stiff ankle support and stable last that keeps feet centered over the blades. Fits most users comfortably, with little adjustment needed."
Cons
"Skates can run large"
 Runner Up

Lake Placid Cascade Comfort Padding Ice Skates

Lake Placid

Cascade Comfort Padding Ice Skates

These ice skates have everything you're looking for in a high-quality pair of skates. There's a sharp stainless steel blade for digging into the ice, a strong upper boot with added ankle support and a warm inner lining with extra padding. It's the added gold touches throughout, however, that really make the skates stand out.

Overall Take

Attractive Gold AccentsThe waterproof sole on these ice skates keeps your feet nice and dry while participating in the sport.

Pros
" The exterior is made of a synthetic vinyl material that is stiff, providing good ankle support. Inside, the velvety lining gives decent comfort, without affecting the stiffness needed in figure skating."
Cons
"Finding the right size can be a hassle with these."
 We Also Like

Xino Sports Adjustable Push Button Ice Skates

Xino Sports

Adjustable Push Button Ice Skates

Designed for kids, these adorable ice skates come in a choice of blue or pink. They feature the ability to adjust to four different sizes, which means they'll grow along with your child. Parents will appreciate the added ankle support, while kids enjoy the extra padding for comfort.

Overall Take

Budget-Friendly OptionThanks to the affordable price tag on these ice skates, you'll be able to get your kids out for some exercise in the winter.

Pros
" Their soft padding provides adequate ankle support while their stainless steel blade promises long-lasting use and stability."
Cons
"Can be hard to adjust"
 Strong Contender

Riedell Soar Recreational Beginner Ice Skates

Riedell

Soar Recreational Beginner Ice Skates

Available in a cool mint or a sleek onyx, these ice skates are best for beginners. They are outfitted with a lining that not only provides comfort, but also 3M Thinsulate insulation for warmth. The outer boot is thick, durable and easy to keep clean.

Overall Take

Best for Those New to the SportIn addition to laces, these ice skates have a Velcro closure above the ankle for a snug fit.

Pros
" The boots also feature a split tongue design and maintenance-free uppers with a support rating of 20."

Buying Guide

If you’re shopping for ice skates for yourself or others, you might not know which type to look for, but there are three varieties they typically fall into. Depending on what type of ice sport you or your child may be getting into, they can look for skates that are either made for hockey, figure skating or speed skating.

Hockey skate blades are curved at each end and flat in the middle. Hockey boots have a high ankle and are made out of or encased in rigid materials, such as plastic. The short, rounded blades increase maneuverability, designed for lots of sudden starts and stops, as well as sharp turns. The boots limit flexibility but provide more power.

Figure skates have longer blades, which are rounded and have spikes called toe picks at the front. They are flat at the back. Figure skate boots are also high-ankled, still fairly stiff, but made of more flexible leather. The longer blade allows the wearer to build up more speed for jumps, and the toe pick allows the skater to perform jumps and control their landings.

Speed skate blades, meanwhile, are the longest of the three, flat at both the front and back. Long-distance and high-speed skates have a hinge at the toe, allowing the blade to remain on the ice for as long as possible, while short-track speed skates are fixed at the heel to give better control for wearers making frequent corners. Both versions have reinforced heels.

When buying skates for yourself or your little one, a good fit, comfort and safety are primary concerns, of course. Use any measurements provided by manufacturers to ensure the skates will fit because an ill-fitting pair can slow your technique on the ice.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
16

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the ice skates available to purchase.
9

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

27

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: BestReviews, Mom Junction, Trip Savvy, Red Flag Deals, Live About.

6,001

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 9 Ice Skates and also dug through the reviews from 27 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Ice Skates.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval
Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Bang For Your Buck

Xino Sports Adjustable Push Button Ice Skates

Key Takeawy

Designed for kids, these adorable ice skates come in a choice of blue or pink. They feature the ability to adjust to four different sizes, which means they'll grow along with your child. Parents will appreciate the added ankle support, while kids enjoy the extra padding for comfort.

What other experts liked

Their soft padding provides adequate ankle support while their stainless steel blade promises long-lasting use and stability.
- Footwear News
Not only are these skates good looking, but they’re also comfortable to wear and expand to a larger size as your child’s feet grow.
- Trip Savvy
The blades are already sharpened and ready to use and come with a protective cover.
- Stick Handling Pro
These ice skates are warm and feature an easy break-in process, making them the ideal choice for kids under 130 pounds.
- Best Hockey Products

What other experts didn't like

Can be hard to adjust
- Trip Savvy
Out of stock in most of the sizes but keep on checking to find one for your boy/girl
- Best Hockey Products

What to Look For

  • Most new skates will need to be sharpened before use. The edge will have a generally correct shape, but it will not have the sharpness nor the particular grind radius best for your little one’s skate style or experience.
  • Smaller grind radii (i.e. deeper) are better for smaller and more lightweight skaters, as it allows the skate to cut deeper into the ice and provide more fine control and acceleration. Sharper blades will have a lower top speed as it loses more energy into the ice.
  • Larger grind radii (i.e. flatter) will allow larger and heavier skaters to move faster and more efficiently across the ice, but it offers less explosive acceleration and stopping.

More to Explore

Skate edges are not a single edge, but rather two edges with an arch between them. The size of the grinding wheel used to create this arch is referred to as the “radius of hollow.” Wow your kid and their friends with that nerdy fact next time you’re all at the rink!

Experts recommend that kids who are just getting into skating look for a radius of hollow that’s a 1/2 inch. That size can work for children of most sizes and weights as they first get used to skating, especially in a hockey setting. Bigger kids will then probably want a flatter ROH, while smaller kids may want a deeper one.

From our partners