Figure skating is a great activity that helps you stay active in the winter. But like any winter sport, you need to use the proper gear or equipment for the best experience. For women, finding right size can be challenging because the sport was once dominated by men. But with more women participating in ice skating, manufacturers have been pushed to make skates tailored for women.
If you are a beginning skater, finding the best ice skates for women can still be a challenge because now there is an abundance of choice on the market. It will take research and time to find a quality pair of women’s figure skates. To help you with your search, we have a list of the ten best women’s ice skates and included our detailed buying guide. With our help, we hope that you find the best ice skates for women that will inspire you to step out on the ice.
OUR TOP PICK
Jackson Ultima Figure
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Made of a hardy vinyl material that is fully reinforced
- Padded tongue and ankle for comfort
- Rolled collar provides support and comfort to your ankles
- Keeps your feet warm on the ice
- PVC outsoles are minimum maintenance
- Ideal for beginner skaters
Materials: Vinyl, PVC
Blades: Ultima Mark I stainless-steel
Features: Padded tongue, rolled padded collar, PVC outsoles, vinyl upper, chrome inserts
Sizes: Adult 4-10
Colors: 4 options
EDITORS CHOICE
Jackson Ultima
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Maximizes comfort
- Cushy foam padding around the collar and tongue
- Stiff ankle support
- Nylex lining for warmth
- Double stitched and reinforced vinyl exterior
- Nickle all-purpose blades for soft carving
Weight: 6 pounds
Materials: Vinyl, PVC
Blades: Nickle
Features: Padded collar and tongue, Nylex lining, vinyl exterior, double stitched, PVC outsole
Sizes: Adult 4-10
Colors: 5 options
BEST VALUE
American Athletic Tricot
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Easy to maintain
- Tricot lined for comfort
- Padding provides a snug fit
- Durable PVC outsole is easy to clean
- Plastic protectors included for safety
Product Dimensions: 13 x 13 x 4 inches
Weight: 4 pounds
Blades: Nickel plated steel
Features: Tricot lining, PVC outsole, multi-layered ankle support, hollow ground, full quarter padding
Sizes: Women’s 5-11
Color: White
American Athletic Cougar
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Increased stability in the multi-layered boot construction
- Foam padding for warmth and comfort
- Metal lace loops and a Velcro strap for added support
- Pull-on heel tab is easy to use
- Carbon steel blades to go faster
Weight: 7 pounds
Blades: Carbon steel
Features: Thick foam padding, quick lacing, Velcro strap, pull-on heel tab
Sizes: Women’s 6-13
Color: Black
Riedell Recreational
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Ideal for casual skating on a pond or rink
- Stainless-steel spiral blades provide great handling
- Lightweight support with foam quarter padding
- High quality leather is reinforced
- PVC sole is safe and water-resistant
Weight: 6. Pounds
Materials: Leather, PVC
Blades: Stainless-steel
Features: Quilted lining cushions, split tongue, PVC sole, ankle support
Sizes: Women’s 4-13
Colors: White or black
Jackson Ultima Excel
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Ideal for level 5 beginners with light support
- Soft, vinyl coated upper is flexible
- Synthetic lining is soft
- Foam backed tongue keeps your feet secure
- PVC outsole is long lasting
- Easy to interchange or replace the blades
Materials: Vinyl, synthetic
Blades: Ultima Mark II
Features: Synthetic lining, foam backed tongue, stylized PVC outsole, screw on blades
Sizes: Adult 4-10
Color: White
Lake Placid Cascade
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Quick drying woven lining keeps your feet warm
- Water-resistant exterior for better protection
- Padded for firm ankle support
- Speed hooks make lacing and un-lacing faster
- Blades have a toe pick for figure skating
Weight: 5.3 pounds
Materials: Synthetic
Blades: Stainless-steel
Features: Quick dry lining, water-resistant synthetic upper, comfort padding, firm ankle support, speed lacing hooks, synthetic sole, blades have toe pick
Sizes: Women’s 6-10
Color: White/gold accent
Jackson Ultima Mystique
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Flex notch for better flexibility
- Soft leather material is waterproof with a polyurethane coating
- Stylized PVC outsole is easy to care for
- Two chrome blades are attached with screws
Weight: 6 pounds
Materials: Leather, polyurethane, PVC
Blades: Chrome
Features: Flex notch, soft topline, stylized PVC outsoles, synthetic lining
Sizes: Adult 6-13
Colors: 3 options
Lake Placid Starglide
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Sport boot design is perfect for beginners
- Vinyl upper is padded for comfort and stability
- Adjust the fit with the lace closure
- Double runner blades are extra stable and help teach better balance
- Zinc plated blades are treated with carbon steel for durability
Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 4 inches
Weight: 2 pounds
Materials: Vinyl
Blades: Zinc plated carbon steel
Features: Sport boot, vinyl upper, double runner blades
Size: Women’s 9
Color: Pink/white
American Ice Force
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Lightweight sidewall injection mold for a custom fit
- Extra lateral support around the ankles
- Breathable inner liner is also padded
- Stainless-steel blades are ideal for indoors and outdoors
- Nylon blade holder for safety
Product Dimensions: 20 x 14 x 6 inches
Weight: 6 pounds
Material: PVC
Blades: Stainless-steel, carbon steel
Features: Lightweight sidewall injection, breathable inner liner, padded, nylon blade holders included
Size: Women’s 5-13
Color: Black
How To Choose A Pair Of Ice Skates For Women– Buying Guide
Material
Top-rated ice skates for women will be made out of leather or a synthetic material. The difference between the two materials is the price, skill level, and personal preference. Leather is a more expensive material and it is frequently coated to be fully waterproof, which makes it durable and long lasting. Synthetic materials are more affordable that is flexible and comfortable.
Most beginner women’s recreational skates will be made of a synthetic material because it takes less time to break in and provides more flexibility. If you are an experienced skater, you may prefer that you have leather women’s figure skates because of the long-lasting features and high-quality design.
Type
Not all ice skating shoes for women are the same type. There are a few different types of skates and it is important that you are aware of the variations between types.
Women’s hockey skates will be lighter in weight than other types and should have blades that are slightly shorter than other types of cheap women’s skates. The boots need to be flexible to better accommodate jumps and twists. The flexibility will also allow you to travel faster on the ice.
Women’s figure skates need to have a toe pick in the blade design so that skaters can facilitate their precise jumps and turns. The extra thick blade provides more stability and should extend past the heel of the boot. Finally, the boots should be stiffer for better ankle support.
Speed skates have a flat base that provide excellent stability at high speeds. The blades are designed to rest on top of the ice, without digging in, so that you can travel faster.
Touring skates are designed to go the distance, so they need to be extra durable in their construction and have a longer blade. Ice skating shoes for women who tour will have the longest blade length, which allows you to cover a larger distance in less time.
Women’s recreational skates are the most popular design amongst beginners because they are affordable, stable, and durable. The design of these skates will be closer to that of women’s hockey skates in that the boot is sturdy and the blade is shorter.
Blades
Top rated skates for women use a variety of materials for the blades of the skates, but the most common are stainless steel, nickel, or aluminum. You want to be sure that you invest in a high-quality blade because they will stay sharper for longer. Women’s ice skate reviews are a great way to determine whether the blades are high quality or worth skipping over. Reviewers will often comment on how well the blades have lasted and if they are easy to maintain.
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Comfort
The best women’s figure skates will be comfortable so that you can spend all day on the ice without complaining about sore feet. Most top-rated skates for women will use padding and soft linings to make the boot more comfortable. Additionally, the design of your ice skating shoes for women should have a boot that has a wide toe box and strong ankle support.
Women’s ice skate reviews can help you determine the comfort of a pair of cheap women’s skates before you make a purchase.
Fit
Most cheap women’s skates will be sized like a normal pair of boots, but the fit may not always match the size. Size charts should be provided by the brand but look for specific product information or read women’s ice skate reviews to determine if the size is true to fit.
Style
Just like type, there are many styles of ice skating shoes for women. Some styles have a more feminine touch and use light colors, while others may be more gender neutral in their design. Ultimately, the style of your cheap women’s skates is not as important as the features, so don’t worry too much about how your skates appear on the outside.
FAQs
Q: What Is The Difference Between Men’s and Women’s Ice Skates?
The biggest difference between men’s and women’s skates is fit and comfort. Men’s ice skates have been designed to fit larger feet and wider ankles. Top-rated ice skates for women will feature a design that caters to women’s feet sizes. For women, this means that their skates have more padding to support their ankles. Additionally, cheapskates will have a slimmer design to reduce bulk around your feet and ankles.
Q: Can I Use Regular Men’s Ice Skates?
Yes, but they make women-specific skates for a reason – to better fit women’s fit. While you may be able to slip on a pair of men’s ice skates and take a casual stroll around the rink, it can be difficult to use the larger and bulkier boots for technical moves. Even women’s recreational skates have been made to be less bulky so that you feel more confident in your movements and aren’t scared of tripping over the blades.
Q: How To Dry Ice Skates?
You should always allow your skates to air dry. It is suggested that every time you have finished with your time on the ice, you allow your skates to fully dry by placing them out in a cool or warm room. You can remove excess water around the boot, sole, and blades with a towel. But you should never try to speed up the drying process or you could risk damaging your skates.
Globo Surf Overview
Ice skating is a fun activity and it can even help skiers with their moves on the slopes. With a pair of top rated skates for women, you can feel confident on the ice and hone your techniques. Top-rated ice skates for women will be durable, reliable, and comfortable so that you can stay out on the ice all day. With our guide of the best women’s figure skates, we hope that you find a pair of skates that you’ll be eager to take out on the ice.