Kids’ ice skates

How to choose adjustable skates

Measure your child’s foot in millimetres and choose a range in which it falls in the lower half. Set the adjustment to the current foot length, not with room to spare. The skate must hold the heel; in one that’s too big the ankles roll inwards and the child skates on the inside edges of the blades instead of their middle.

Closure and ankle support

For the youngest, firm ankle support and a closure that can be pulled tight matter more than the type of blade. A buckle and a strap work better than laces alone, because children can adjust them themselves, even in gloves.

If your child is starting hockey or figure skating training, ask the coach which skates are required. Training usually calls for non-adjustable models: hockey skates or figure skates.

Before the first time on the ice

New skates need sharpening — without a hollow the blade slides sideways and there’s no way to push off. Put a helmet and gloves on your child: an inline skating or cycling helmet also works at the rink, and gloves protect the hands in a fall. Helmets in kids’ sizes are in the inline skating helmets section.