Riedell Ice Skates for Beginners

Riedell offers a number of ice skates for beginners. Choosing among the different options can be a bit daunting. With a little forethought, it's possible to narrow your search. When you are ready to buy, go to a reputable fitter, if possible, rather than taking a chance on ordering over the Internet.

  1. Boot Basics

    • Beginner ice skates come with the blade already attached. Expect to wear a smaller size skate than shoe. Wear thin trouser socks when trying on the skates. The skates should feel snug, even when buying skates for a growing child. If the skate has "room to grow," your child will struggle, because the skates and the feet will not move in unison.

    Ask Yourself These Questions

    • What do I hope to achieve? If you just want to be able to skate around a rink on your own, the Soft series might be your best option. If you want to learn to figure skate, choose a higher-end skate. It will offer more support in the boot and a blade designed for figure skating.

      How much support will I need? The larger a person is, the more pressure there will be on the skate. A larger person will need a more supportive (and hence, more expensive) boot than a smaller person who is attempting the same things on the ice.

      What is my budget? The more you spend, the more options you'll have, and the higher quality the boot and blade will be. On the other hand, you should not just go out and buy the most expensive boot and blade. "Over-booting," or skating in a boot that is too stiff, can cause permanent physical damage and hinder learning.

    Soft Series

    • These are the least expensive of Riedell's skates, with prices in 2009 in the $59 to $69 range. They are designed to be warm and comfortable. The 615/625 SS is a figure skate with a toe pick on the blade. The 800/830 is designed for hockey--it has no toe pick and the blade is made of carbon steel.

    Beginner and Recreational Skates

    • In 2009, Riedell replaced its Ribbon series with the RS line. There are four models, ranging in price from $62 to $139. The higher the price, the better the quality of the lining and the blade and the more options in width and sizing. All of these should be pretty comfortable as soon as you put them on.

    Instructional Skates

    • These high-quality skates replaced the Medallion series in 2009. The 133 TS (33J or Y) cost about $150 and the 255 TS (25J or Y) are more than $200. They have leather uppers and some of the features of Riedell's higher-level skates, like a rolled top to prevent chafing at the ankle and a notch at the ankle to aid knee bend. Someone who is serious about learning to figure skate should consider these.