Looking for the best girls ice skates for your kid? This guide will help you understand the various elements to consider and review some of the best options for beginners. But what truly makes this guide unique is that unlike most conventional posts, this guide not only recommends the best figure ice skates for girls but also recommends the best hockey ice skates for them.
(Most of the ice skates recommended here are ice skates for kids. If you are looking for ice skates for your little toddler, read my other detailed guide and if you are looking for a teen/adult, check out this article).
And if your girl is advanced and taking classes, better ask your coach for advice (as it depends on level, intensity, foot shape...)
This article may contain affiliate Links (info on the Disclosure page). If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.
Best girls ice skates - Quick overview
Don't have the time to read a long detailed post? No problem! Here's a quick overview of the best ice skates, that can be a great ice skating gift for your girl -
Best girl ice skates for recreational figure skating - absolute beginners
Jackson Soft Skate
Best hockey ice skates for recreational ice hockey -
CCM Super Tacks 9350 Ice Hockey Skates
NOTE
If you are looking for skates for a very young toddler, you can consider double blades or adjustable skates - check out my article about the best toddler ice skates with their reviews. Here are 2 examples.
Hockey Skates vs. Figure Skates
For many years, societal norms have led us to believe that figure skating is a sport for girls, and ice hockey is a sport for boys. That is also one of the reasons why most hockey skates come in black color. But with changing times, these conventional norms have been questioned time and again.
Today, many girls take to ice hockey and perform exceedingly well at it. So how do you determine which type of skates to buy?
The decision depends entirely on personal preference.
But to make it easier for you, let me briefly discuss the difference between the two types of ice skates -
Figure skates
- Boot - Lighter and thinner and comes with a small outer heel
- Blade - Longer blade, thicker blade with a toe pick in the front
- Use - Figure skating, which is an artistic sport involving moves.
- Advantage for beginners - Easier to gain balance because of the stability provided by the blade and toe pick. However, the use of the toe pick for propulsion could result in the development of improper technique.
Hockey skates
- Boot - Heavier, thicker, and padded
- Blade - Lighter, thinner, deeper and does not extend beyond the boot.
- Use - Hockey skates are used while playing ice hockey, which is an aggressive team sport involving the use of hockey sticks and pucks.
- Advantage for beginners - Use of hockey skates can develop correct technique because of the lack of a toe pick. The light weight also promotes speed and does not cause fatigue even after long hours of practice. However balance can be more difficult to find because blades are shorter and have more of a rocker.
How to choose the best ice skates for girls?
Before you buy ice skates, you must consider certain factors that will help you make the right choice and that you get the best out of the ice skates you buy.
The one entirely unimportant factor is the decor on ice skates. Girls ice skates come in attractive designs. I often find girls falling for the looks of the ice skates without considering essential factors.
To prevent you from making that mistake, let me set out some critical considerations before buying ice skates -
Ankle Support
Ankle support is crucial to the development of correct skating technique. It also prevents long term injuries and posture defects.
Inherently, hockey skates are stiffer and therefore offer better ankle support.
Figure skates, on the other hand, need to be thoroughly checked for ankle support.
So how do you determine if your beginners' ice skates offer appropriate ankle support?
- Wear the ice skates and see if there is any extra room around the ankle area.
- Check if the ankle area of the boot folds or crumples.
- Check if you can move your leg without bending at your ankle area.
If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, the ice skates do not offer proper ankle support and, therefore, must not be used.
Fit
How well you learn the art of ice skating depends entirely on the fit of your kid's ice skates. Skates that do not fit properly restrict freedom of movement and put you at a greater risk of injury.
How should you ensure that your ice skates fit correctly?
- The big toe must sit comfortably and should not press tightly against the inner edge of the boot.
- There should be no extra space around the sides of your feet.
- There should be no extra space above the ankle area.
- The heel must be locked in place, leaving no wriggle room.
To be sure ice skates fit properly, it is also best to consult a coach and read customer reviews. Different brands have different fit (wide, narrow, high arch...)
Comfort
The only way you will enjoy your ice skating experience is by being comfortable in your ice skates. However, several elements contribute towards the overall comfort of ice skates, such as -
- A proper fit (most important)
- Good internal air-circulation and breathability of the feet
- Moisture wicking and quick drying technology
- Adequate padding for warmth and softness
The best way to gain an insight into the comfort of kids' ice skates without trying them on is by reading customer comments under the product description.
How to check the Size
Sizing in ice-skates differs from brand to brand. Some brands use the same sizing as regular shoes.
But most ice skates run smaller than regular shoes.
To buy ice skates of the correct size -
- Wear ice skating socks and measure the foot correctly. Alternatively, outline the foot on a piece of paper and measure the outline.
- Refer to the sizing chart of the brand whose ice skates you plan to buy
- Read customer reviews for more insights.
Never buy a bigger size to accommodate the growing feet of your little girl. Loose ice skates can damage the learning experience of your girl.
It is always best to upgrade to bigger ice skates with every change in foot size. But to save costs, you could buy adjustable ice skates such as the Lake Placid Adjustable Hockey Skates, which are one of the best ice skates for a beginner child.
Best Figure Skates for Girls - Recommendation and Reviews
Pros
- Good quality blade
- Stylish look and color variants available
- Maintenance-free sole and durable make
- Moderately priced
- Comes in a wide range of sizes
Cons
- Weak laces
Review and features
These Jackson ice skates are the best recreational ice skates that can work well as both toddlers' ice skates as well as little girls ice skates. In fact, these ice skates come in a wide range of sizes ranging from tots to women.
First of all, these ice skates come with a beautiful foam padding that keeps the feet dry and comfortable.
Additionally, these ice skates are constructed using vinyl-coated synthetic uppers, reinforced eyelets, and PVC sole to guarantee quality performance. Together, these features ensure optimal support for better balance and technique.
Plus, the Mark I Blade attached to the boot is made using high-quality stainless-steel that doesn't need frequent sharpening.
These skates by Jackson come in four lovely colors that are likely to appeal to most girls. However, the laces that come are quite fragile and should be replaced by stronger laces.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Adequate support for beginner
- Durable
- Quality Mark II blade attached
- Good value for money
Cons
- Only suitable for beginners
Review and features
There are few women's ice skates that are specifically made for beginners performing twirls and turns.
These Jackson Ultima Excel skates are one of those few ice skates.
The vinyl-coated upper and tongue feel sturdy when worn. At the same time, the felt back padding on the inside and the foam reinforced liner make sure that the feet are not rubbing against any harsh materials.
To make performing tricks possible, these ice skates employ a high-quality Mark-II blade. The PVC outsoles also require no maintenance and can easily withstand turns, tricks, and occasional falls!
Overall, there is no doubt that these are one of the best ice skates for girls who are a bit more serious about figure skating. However, the make of these ice skates will not support advanced levels of figure skating.
Best Hockey Skates for Girls - Recommendation and Reviews
As I mentioned earlier on in this this article, I am going to break certain stereotypes by recommending a few ice hockey skates for girls.
Unfortunately, some of the ice skates specified here will be available only in the classic men's skates color - black. However, don't let that deter you from choosing these skates and engaging in this wonderful sport.
Pros
- Extremely comfortable
- Durable
- High-quality blade
- Ergonomic design
- Stylish looks
Cons
- Not suitable for professional players
Review and features
These CCM skates work well for girls who are recreational ice hockey players.
These CCM Super Tacks work exceptionally well at ensuring player comfort. They employ a thick 7mm tongue, which is further infused with thick injected foam.
This overall thickness offers comfort to the top part of the foot and protects against unintentional slashes and pucks. The thickness also safeguards the foot, especially a narrow one, against lace bites.
Furthermore, the microfiber lining also enhances comfort and promotes freedom of movement.
The blade on these skates is a stainless steel speed blade that also complements an attacking style of play.
Having said that, these ice skates will not meet the needs of girls playing ice hockey at advanced levels.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Made using high-quality material
- Comes with a toe protector
- Durable
Cons
- Not suitable for absolute novices
- A bit expensive
Review and features
Girls that are serious about ice hockey or those that have just started playing for a team should invest in the Botas Draft 281.
The Botas Draft 281 beautifully blends strength and comfort, making them one of the best ice skates for kids.
The strength quotient in these ice skates comes from the side-strengthened ergonomic boots. In addition to this, the padding at the ankle made of two varying stiffnesses (DDP) and a synthetic velour rendering resistance to the boot.
In terms of comfort, the two components that facilitate the foot's breathability are the anatomical tongue and a thick felt insole.
Moreover, these ice skates are armed with a plastic toe to protect against collisions. Similarly, the carbon steel blade permits quick side to side movement and momentum building for performing in team play.
To round it up, those looking for girls ice hockey skates for competitive play can safely rely on the Botas Draft 281.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Durable
- Provides adequate support
- Equipped with mid-level blade
- Moderately priced
Cons
- No toe protector
Review and features
The Bauer Supreme series often features in the list of best boys ice skates. Therefore, there is no reason why these skates should not feature on this list too.
These Bauer ice skates have been designed to cater to the needs of a young hockey player.
Accordingly, the quarter package draws its strength from a fiber-based construction that excels at providing due protection to the player. The thick, felt tongue boosts this protection without restricting forward movement.
The memory foam used on its ankle padding securely locks the heel in place and encourages a smooth stride. The only element lacking in these skates is a toe protector (like the one provided by the Botas Draft 281)
The bottom end of these skates has been powered for performance by using a TPR outsole and the LS1 blade packed in a TUUK Lightspeed holder.
As a whole unit, the make of these skates can easily support from a beginner to mid-level team player.
Additional Ice Skating Equipment for your daughter / grand-daughter
No matter what ice skating sport you take up, you will need to invest in additional ice skating equipment to get the best out of your ice skates for children. More on my article about the 10 essentials to have in your figure skating bag.
Gloves
We all know that gloves work wonders at keeping our hands warm.
But over and above that, when ice skating, they can even offer some level of protection against falls.
In fact, ice hockey players wear properly padded gloves for protection against collisions.
No matter what sport you follow, remember that the gloves you buy must be warm and quick drying.
Find out the best options
Socks
Using the right type of socks is very important when ice skating.
Avoid wearing thick socks at all costs. Thick socks will not let you feel your sole, and you will not be able to control your movements.
It is best to use thin, seamless socks that extend above your knees.
Helmet & other protections
Depending on the age of your ice skating girl, you should consider the helmet. Like riding a bike, or rolling on the street, falling on the ice is hard.
Other protections to consider are knee pads and wrist pads.
Water bottle
Hydration is very important. Just because you are in a cold environment and it looks like not much effort to glide, don't be fooled. It is demanding effort from a lot of muscles. You need to hydrate frequently. Here are some water bottles to go with your new passion - or see all my designs in my shop.
Personalize your water bottle! See all my available designs and colors here.
How to take care of ice skates
Taking proper care of ice skates determines how well the skates perform and how long they last.
Here are some quick tips for you (more on this article)-
Before first use
Most blades for ice skates do not come pre-sharpened. You must sharpen the skates before the first use.
After every use
- Wear blade guards whenever you walk off the ice rink.
- Dry the blades out completely using an absorbent towel - see my designs below (more on my shop) or learn more on my article.
- Cover the ice skates using soakers for ice skates when carrying them in your bag.
- Take out the ice skates and let the ice skates air dry completely.
Periodic checks
Periodically check the ice skates for wear and tear and damages. The areas that must be inspected are
- Blades: to see if there is a dent or if they need sharpening
- Boot: to see if there are any wear and tear or cuts and if it needs polishing
- Laces: to see if they have started thinning out and need to be replaced
- Heel: to see if there are cuts
- The blade holder: to see if the blades are firmly affixed to the holder and if the screws need to be tightened.
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