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Best Ice Skates for Absolute Beginners: Stop Renting
Stepping onto the ice for the first time should feel like an adventure, not a painful balancing act on dull rental blades. Owning your own pair is the most effective way to gain stability and build confidence quickly. The best ice skates for absolute beginners are the Jackson Ultima SoftSkate and the Riedell 110 Opal for figure style skating, or the Jackson Ultima Men’s Softec and the Bauer X-LS (Learn to Skate for kids) for a hockey style fit. These specific models provide the essential ankle support and interior padding required to help you stay upright while you learn to glide.
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Why Buying is Better Than Renting
Rental skates are often worn out, lack support, and have dull blades that slide sideways. When you buy your own skates, you get a consistent fit and a sharp edge every time you hit the ice. This consistency allows your muscle memory to develop faster because the feel of the skate never changes.
Essential Benefits:
- Ankle Stability: New beginner boots are designed with reinforced uppers to prevent your ankles from flopping.
- Superior Comfort: Modern beginner skates use memory foam and fleece linings to eliminate the break-in pain common in rentals.
- Safety: High quality stainless steel blades offer better grip, making it easier to stop and turn safely.
Top 3 Best Beginner Ice Skates for Women
Women’s skates typically feature a narrower heel and higher ankle support to accommodate a smaller foot structure while providing maximum balance.
1. Jackson Ultima SoftSkate (Best Overall)
The Jackson Ultima SoftSkate is the top choice for recreational or figure skating beginners. It combines the aesthetic of a classic figure skate with the feel of a plush sneaker.
Jackson Ultima designed the SoftSkate models to bridge the gap between stiff, competitive boots and flimsy recreational skates. Most beginners quit because their feet hurt; this skate is built to solve that problem.
The SoftSkate name is slightly misleading, it is only soft on the inside. The exterior is quite sturdy. As a beginner, you need this external stiffness to help you find your balance.
The interior padding is the standout feature. Unlike rental skates that feel like hard plastic, the SoftSkate feels like a padded winter boot. The rolled collar around the ankle prevents lace bite and chafing, making it ideal for girls with sensitive skin or women who want to skate for hours without discomfort.
Most professional figure skates have a large toe pick (the jagged teeth at the front). Beginners often trip over these. The Mark I blade on the SoftSkate has a smaller, more forgiving pick. It allows you to learn how to push off correctly without the fear of face planting every time you lean forward. It’s a personal favorite for most girls and women on the rink.
2. Riedell Soar (Best for Comfort)
If your main goal is to have fun without the foot aches, the Riedell Soar is hard to beat.
These skates provide the perfect balance of light support and extreme warmth for recreational skating. Women often struggle with cold feet and heel slippage in generic rental skates. The Riedell Soar for Women features a narrower heel cup and a higher level of insulation.
The split tongue design provides extra stability, which helps beginners keep their feet from caving in while learning to push off. Most beginners who have tried them have really loved them and would never go back to rental skates.
3. Jackson Ultima Mystique figure ice skates (Best for Lessons)
For beginners who plan on taking advanced ice figure skating classes, the Jackson Ultima Mystique offers a slightly stiffer boot.
Many beginners start with soft boots like the Jackson SoftSkate, but quickly find them too flexible when learning three-turns or mohawks. The Mystique offers a more traditional leather style construction that supports your weight while you master the fundamentals of figure skating.
One of the biggest advantages of the Jackson Ultima Mystique over cheaper alternatives is the Ultima Mark II blade.
Unlike recreational blades that are permanently molded into the plastic, the Mark II is attached with screws. This allows a professional skate technician to adjust the blade alignment if your natural gait causes you to lean inward. The chrome finish resists rust, and the blade holds a sharp edge longer, meaning you spend more time skating and less time at the sharpening shop.
Top 3 Best Beginner Ice Skates for Men
Men’s beginner skates focus on a wider toe box and robust construction to handle more weight and power.
1. Jackson Ultima Men’s Softec Sport (Pure Recreational Ice Hockey Comfort)
The Jackson Ultima Men’s Softec Sport stands out as one of the most popular choices for men who prioritize comfort over competitive ice hockey performance. If you want to skip the painful break-in period of traditional stiff leather skates, this model offers a step in and go experience.
Jackson Ultima designed the Softec Sport to feel more like a high quality hiking boot than a rigid ice skate. The heavy foam padding inside the boot cradles your foot, eliminating the pinching sensation common in entry level hockey skates. You will find that the Thinsulate lining does an excellent job of keeping your toes warm during long outdoor sessions in sub zero temperatures.
The leisure blade offers a stable, predictable glide. It is flatter than a professional hockey blade, which helps you maintain your balance if you are still finding your ice legs. However, because it is a recreational blade, it does not support tight, aggressive turns or high-speed hockey manoeuvres.
While these skates mimic the aesthetic of a hockey boot, they use lightweight synthetic materials that significantly reduce foot fatigue. You can skate for two hours and feel much less strain on your calves and shins compared to wearing heavy, traditional rentals.
2. Riedell 110 Opal (Best for Traditional Learning and Longevity)
The Riedell 110 Opal is widely regarded in the ice skate community as the benchmark for traditional beginner ice skates. While many modern skates move toward a sneaker like feel, Riedell maintains a classic boot design that focuses on fundamental support and long-term durability.
If you are looking to build a strong technical foundation on the ice, the Opal provides the structure you need to progress.
The Riedell 110 Opal offers a distinct advantage in ankle stability. Unlike hybrid or soft skates that can feel flimsy, the Opal uses a reinforced synthetic upper. This structure holds your ankle upright, preventing the inward collapse that is common among new skaters.
The split-tongue design ensures the boot wraps securely around your foot. This minimizes heel lift; the annoying sensation of your foot sliding up and down inside the boot, which gives you more control over your edges and better balance during glides.
Riedell equips the Opal with a Spiral stainless-steel blade. For a beginner, this blade is excellent because it features a very small toe pick. This allows you to learn the basics of figure skating or general recreational maneuvers without the “trip hazard” of a large, professional-grade toe pick.
The stainless steel holds its edge longer than carbon steel found on cheaper department store skates. This means you will spend more time on the ice and less time at the pro shop paying for sharpening.
3. Bauer X-LS (Learn to Skate) – Best Kids Ice Hockey Skates
The Bauer X-LS (Learn to Skate) Kids’ Ice Skates take the stress out of a child’s first time on the ice. Bauer engineered these specifically for the youngest beginners, focusing on stability, ease of use, and immediate comfort. Instead of fighting against a stiff, professional grade boot, your child can focus on the fun of gliding.
The biggest hurdle for kids is the wobble. Standard hockey blades have a significant curve (rocker) that can make a child feel like they are balancing on a tightrope. Bauer fixes this by using a 13-foot radius blade.
This flatter blade profile puts more steel in contact with the ice at all times. This extra footprint creates a much more stable base, helping your child stay upright and build the confidence necessary to take their first independent strides.
Kids are often the first to complain about hard skates. Bauer addresses this with a flexible 3D Poly Carb boot. Unlike adult performance skates that require baking or a long break-in period, the X-LS is soft enough to move with the child immediately.
The microfiber liner keeps feet warm and dry, while the extended felt in the tongue protects the top of the foot from lace bite. This ensures that the skating session ends because the child is tired, not because their feet hurt.
Bauer knows that kids are tough on gear. The X-LS features a reinforced toe cap that protects against stubs and scrapes. The stainless-steel blades hold an edge well, meaning you won’t have to sharpen them after every visit to the pond or rink.
Beginner Skate Comparison at a Glance
| Model | Style | Best For | Support Level |
| Jackson SoftSkate | Figure | Recreation | Medium |
| Riedell Soar | Figure | Maximum Comfort | Light/Medium |
| Jackson Mystique | Figure | Skills, Learning | High |
| Jackson Softec Sport | Hockey | Recreation | Light/Soft |
| Riedell 110 Opal | Figure | Recreation/Leisure | Medium |
| Bauer X-LS | Hockey | Early Hockey Learning | Balanced/Stable |
How to Get the Perfect Fit
Ice skates do not fit like sneakers. In fact, most skates run 1.5 sizes smaller than your standard shoe size.
- Measure your foot in centimeters: Use a ruler to get an exact measurement for the most accurate sizing.
- Check the brand specific chart: A Size 9 in Bauer is different from a Size 9 in Jackson. Always refer to the manufacturer’s chart on the Amazon product page.
- Wear the right socks: Avoid thick, bulky socks. Wear thin, moisture wicking athletic socks to ensure the boot can mold correctly to your foot.
- The “Finger Test”: Lace the skates up. If you can slide more than one finger behind your heel, the skate is too large.
Don’t Forget the Essentials
Once you have your skates, you need a few accessories to keep them in top shape:
- Hard Guards: Use these to walk from the locker room to the ice without ruining your blades.
- Soakers: These soft covers absorb moisture after you finish skating to prevent the blades from rusting.
- Hand Towel: Always wipe your blades completely dry before putting them in your bag.
