1. Pick your Genre
There are three basic categories of ice skates on the market. They are figure skates, hockey skates and speed skates. Figure skates have a toe pick, a heel pick and a long, flat blade. Hockey skates have no toe pick or heel pick. They operate on a short, rockered blade. Speed skates have a long, thin, flat blade. Each type of skate is designed for specific use. Past a basic level, the three are not interchangeable. Before deciding which skates to buy, take a few lessons in each of the different genres. Consider your comfort and what kind of skating you would enjoy. If you want to meet new people, you may enjoy learning to hockey skate and joining a pick-up league. If you enjoy racing and want to get involved in a competitive sport, think about speed skating. Figure skates are great for skaters of all levels.
2. Start Slow
Spend a few sessions testing out different brands of skates. Different companies mold their boots in different shapes and sizes, so there is probably one brand that will fit your foot better than others. Get your feet measured in a sporting goods store and start trying on the skates. Walk around in the skates, bend your ankles and practice balancing on each leg. You may even want to wait a day to see if any hot spots or blisters develop, a sure sign that the boots are the wrong shape or size.
3. Go Small
Ice skates tend to stretch as you wear them in. When you buy ice skates, you should go to the store wearing thin skating socks and choose a pair of skates that feel snug around the heel and at the point where your toes touch the front of the boot. Your toes should not be able to move from side to side in the front of your boots. They should be able to wiggle slightly up and down. Your heel should feel snug and stabilized in the heel cup. Your skates will break in as you wear them, so buy a pair that fits tightly without pinching anywhere. If your boots feel like they fit perfectly when you first buy them, they are likely to be too loose after they wear in, leading to bad form and blisters.
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