Difference Between Hockey Skates & Regular Skates

As technology has advanced, the materials involved in making ice skates has allowed for improvements in design. Once cumbersome and somewhat unresponsive, skates now are categorized into two basic types: hockey and figure skating.

  1. Cowling

    • Cowling refers to the plastic protective shell that houses the boot. A cowling, more pronounced on hockey goalie skates, is evident by the hard toe area of the skate. Figure skates don't have cowlings.

    Toe Picks

    • A common feature on all figure skates is the inclusion of a set of "teeth" on the front of the toe part of the blade. These toe picks allow for better stopping and pivoting on the ice. Toe picks aren't on hockey skates.

    Blades

    • Although roughly the same thickness, figure skating blades feature a curved toe but flat heel end. Conversely, hockey skates (excluding goalies) have curves on both the toe and heel ends that allow for quicker, precise turns.

    Chassis

    • Figure skates have their blades exposed and riveted directly to the boot. Hockey skates have a hard plastic chassis that surrounds the blade, allowing for the blades to be replaced with ease.

    Boots

    • Both skate types use laces, but hockey boots are stiffer and come up further on the foot than figure skates. Figure skates have boots made of leather, and hockey skates are made of leather and various foams to increase protection and decrease weight.