Hockey Vs. Figure Skates

Most people can tell whether an ice skate is a figure skate or a hockey skate when they see one--but this doesn't mean they understand the difference between the two or why each one is designed the way it is.

  1. Hockey Skates

    • Hockey skates are designed for speed, comfort and protection. The blades of a hockey skate are generally soldered directly into the skate and the skate itself is often made of firm, tough material to protect the foot and ankle of the hockey player

    Function of Hockey Skates

    • Hockey players need to be able to stop, start and turn quickly and in a tight area. Because of this, the blades of a hockey skate are sharpened regularly to maintain their deep "U" shape. Hockey skate blades are also shaped like rockers on a rocking chair, meaning the front and back of the blade don't touch the ground when the skate is flat.

    Figure Skates

    • Figure skates have toe picks at the front of the blade. Figure skate blades are also longer and heavier than hockey skate blades. Figure skates are also traditionally made of leather, and because of this they usually are more expensive than hockey skates.

    Function of Figure Skates

    • Figure skaters need to balance on all parts of the skate blade, unlike hockey players. Depending on the nature of the movement being performed, figure skaters will use the front toe picks or the heel of the blade to balance and execute tricks.

    Varying Blades

    • Within hockey and figure skates, there is an even higher degree of variance. For instance, hockey goalie skates are specially designed for shifting back and forth in front of the goal.

    Which Skate to Use

    • If you are a recreational or novice ice skater, it is better to use hockey skates because they are more comfortable and easier to use. Most hockey rinks rent a simplified version of hockey skates. If you are interested in learning how to figure skate, then you should start by learning to skate in figure skates.