The 11 Best Women’s Figure Ice Skates to Hit the Ice

While a good pair of ice figure skates can’t make up for lack of dedication, talent, or patience, they can give you the edge and support needed to take you to the next level of competition.

After all, you wouldn’t wear figure skates if you were playing ice hockey. So why would you use generic or cheap ice skates if you’re figure skating?

Buying figure skates isn’t like buying a pair of sneakers or high heels. They are a completely different type of footwear, and there are a lot of things you need to consider before you buy a pair. This guide will give you the information you need to make a smart, well-informed decision.

Please bear in mind that the skates listed here are aimed at beginners or recreational use.

Things to Consider

If you plan on buying a good pair of figure skates – whether for yourself or your child – there are some things you should pay attention to. After all, the quality of the skates will have a big impact on how well you or your child can perform while wearing them.

1. Talk to a Pro

This one doesn’t apply so much for adults as for children. It may be a good idea to consult with your child’s skating coach before buying a pair of skates. They can provide you with valuable feedback and can help guide you in the right direction.

2. Shoe Size

When you’re buying tennis shoes or hiking boots, you don’t want too tight of a fit; you want your feet to be able to breathe. Figure skates are different. Because figure skates are so tight, breaking in a pair can be painful. But it’s worth it in the long run.

3. Blades Included

The blade is arguable even more important to figure skating than the shoe itself. Although many beginner and intermediate shoes come with the blades, most high-end blades are sold separately from the shoes. This allows experienced skaters to be more discerning with their purchases.

4. Choosing a Blade

If you are just getting started in figure skating, the quality of the blade isn’t the biggest concern; things like balancing are more important. However, cheaper blades need to be sharpened more often, and once you start learning how to do spins and other tricks, the quality of the blade becomes a lot more important.

5. Price

Again, this is an area where you want to think about who you’re buying this for and how serious you are about skating. You can get beginners-level skates for about $50, but more professional-grade figure skates can cost you several hundred dollars.

QUICK OVERVIEW

The Best Women’s Figure Ice Skates

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Products	Features
EDITOR’S PICK 4.4 25+ 25+ Riedell Skates – 119 EmeraldRiedell Skates – 119 Emerald	Flex notch Hand-rolled collar PRICE RANGE: Under $150 Flex notch Hand-rolled collar PRICE RANGE: Under $150 Check price at Amazon
MOST REVIEWED 4.6 380+ 380+ Jackson Ultima GS180 SoftSkateJackson Ultima GS180 SoftSkate	Comfortable fleece lining Easy-to-clean vinyl exterior PRICE RANGE: Under $100 Comfortable fleece lining Easy-to-clean vinyl exterior PRICE RANGE: Under $100 Check price at Amazon
TOP PICK 4.5 15+ 15+ Jackson Ultima Competitor DJ2470Jackson Ultima Competitor DJ2470	Comfortable velvet lining Good ankle support PRICE RANGE: Under $400 Comfortable velvet lining Good ankle support PRICE RANGE: Under $400 Check price at Amazon
BUDGET PICK 4.1 103 103 Lake Placid Everest Women’s Soft BootLake Placid Everest Women’s Soft Boot	Features hook-and-loop power strap Soft faux-fur lining PRICE RANGE : Under $50 Features hook-and-loop power strap Soft faux-fur lining PRICE RANGE : Under $50 Check price at Amazon
BUDGET PICK 4.3 650+ 650+ American Athletic Tricot Lined Ice SkatesAmerican Athletic Tricot Lined Ice Skates	Tricot lining is easy to clean Price is very reasonable PRICE RANGE: Under $50 Tricot lining is easy to clean Price is very reasonable PRICE RANGE: Under $50 Check price at Amazon

Under $50

American Athletic Women’s Tricot Lined Ice Skates

As you could probably expect from the price, these American Athletic women’s skates are a beginners-level pair. The skates are lined with tricot, a specially engineered fabric that is textured on one side and smoothes on the other, making it a perfect match for a figure skate.

These figure skates are white and are available from sizes 5 to 11. Each skate size is intended to be a true fit, matching women’s shoe sizes. However, many customers report that the skates run a little large, so you may want to buy a size lower than your shoe size.

The boot heel is made with PVC, and the blades are composed of nickel-plated carbon steel. Thanks to its tricot texture, the skates are easy to wipe and keep clean.

As you might expect from the price, these are an entry-level skate. You’re not going to pull off any amazing spins with these blades, but if you are still learning or just enjoy skating around the rink, these are an affordable way to get into skating.

Under $100

Lake Placid Everest Women’s Soft Boot Figure Ice Skate

These figure skates from Lake Placid are a lot more stylized than the less expensive American Athletic skates. These skates have golden lines along the upper. They seem to be quite a bit more durable than the less expensive skates, and the heel is better-made.

One of the good things about these skates is that they’re designed with both faux-fur lining and are padded for comfort. These are welcome additions, as they keep your feet both warmer and more comfortable, both of which are important when you’re out on the ice. The ankle support seems pretty good, and there is a hook-and-loop power strap to help keep your feet in place as well.

That said, there are two issues here that mark this as an entry-level skate. First, these skates fit too loose once you break them in after a year of constant use. Second, the blades aren’t sharp at all. Even out of the box, you’re going to have to sharpen them before you can use them.

I’m sure there are safety reasons behind that, but it nevertheless adds to the cost of the shoe. If you have to take it to get sharpened before you even use it, are you saving all that much money?

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Jackson Ultima GS180 SoftSkate Women’s Ice Skates

The fleece lining of the Jackson Ultima SoftSkate is a wonderful selling point, helping to set these skates apart from other entry-level products. The interior of the skates is lined entirely with fleece, which has the dual benefit of providing much-needed insulation while also being thoroughly comfortable.

The fleece lining has another upside: these skates are an excellent fit. Where other beginner skates tend to run large, these fit perfectly in size, which is one less thing to worry about. The skates have a vinyl outer layer that is easy to clean. The blades are made with nickel figure, and the boot-style soles are made with rubber.

While the Jackson SoftSkates are available in a variety of sizes, they are not organized very well on Amazon. Rather than offering a list of sizes to choose from, each size skate has it’s own product page, so I’m not entirely certain how many sizes it comes in. This isn’t a complaint against the skate itself, but it is worth mentioning. Still, this is a comfortable skate and a perfect place for beginners.

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Riedell Skates – 110 Opal Ice Skates

The Model 110 women’s figure skates from Riedell are manufactured in Europe. The skates are available in both white and black and come in a wide range of sizes, from 4 all the way to 13. The sizes tend to run a little large, however, and you’re recommended to buy a size lower than your shoe size.

The skates are made with a foam quarter padding with velvet lining for extra comfort and support. The soles are made with PVC for easy care, and the carbon steel blades come sharpened. The shoes are a good fit and last a while. The quality of the blade, however, is not as good. The blade gets dull quickly and will need to be resharpened regularly.

All in all, this is another good introductory set of ice skates. The quality of the blades isn’t the best, however, and there isn’t enough support in the ankles for attempting any tricky moves. This is good if you’re still learning, but if you want to do serious moves, you need something with better support.

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Bladerunner Ice by Rollerblade Aurora

These women’s figure skates from Bladerunner take their name from the popular Harrison Ford movie from the 1980s. The quality of the boot part is very good, but the blades are made of stainless steel and could be better.

Let’s start with the boot part first, because they’re well-made. They have a warm, synthetic lining that provides a good deal of insulation. The exterior is made of vinyl and is easy to keep clean. It provides ankle support as well. The blades are another matter. Stainless steel isn’t the most durable type of steel, and these don’t maintain their sharpness very well, so if you do a lot of skating, be prepared to sharpen them regularly.

Like the rest of the skates on this guide, these are intended for beginners. With a better blade, you could use these for intermediate level skating. The shoes are comfortable and warm, but without better blades, these are just beginner skates.

Riedell Skates – 114 Pearl – Ice Figure Skates with Steel Luna Blade

The Riedell 114 Pearl Ice Figure Skates are similar to the 110 Opal model listed above, but of a slightly better quality and offering a little more support due to its double synthetic reinforcement. The added tongue reinforcement also provides increased protection and strength, while an additional padded Achilles tendon collar provides a snug, comfortable fit.

However, the support level is still ‘light’ overall and, therefore, may not be appropriate for everyone.

They feature stainless steel Luna blades, the quality of which is better than that of the 110 Opal model, offering a smoother glide with better grip on the ice. They come in either black or white and run from size 4 all the way up to size 11.

The flex-notch lacing system is designed with comfort in mind, while the VC sole unit lined with dri-lex will keep your feet warm and dry. All in all, the Riedell 114 Pearl ice skates are a great choice for those of you that want a reliable, durable pair of skates for light recreational use, either indoor or outdoor.

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Riedell Skates – 19 Emerald Jr.

Most of the skates reviewed so far have been women’s skates. The Riedell 19 Emerald skates are sized for children. Although I believe girls are the target demographic, these work perfectly well for boys too. Thanks to its smart design, it doesn’t look like a boys’ or girls’ skate, which makes it ideal for parents of either sex.

There is plenty of reinforcement in these skates for your children’s feet. A leather tongue keeps their ankles protected, and PVC soles and Dri-Lex lining protect their feet from getting wet. The blades are made with stainless steel but do not come pre-sharpened. The best thing about these skates is the ankle support. Without proper support, it’s impossible to develop the skills necessary to progress.

The Riedell 19 are available in 1, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 Medium, as well as 9-13 Medium. Like many other beginner skates, the blades aren’t the best, but they work well enough to get you started down the right path.

Under $200

Riedell Skates – 119 Emerald Figure Ice Skates

These Riedell 119 Emerald figure skates are the same as the 119 model listed above. The difference here is there is plenty of reinforcement in these skates for your feet. There’s a leather tongue to help support your ankles. The soles are made from PVC, and the bottom of the shoe is lined with Dri-Lex. The blades are made of stainless steel but are not pre-sharpened.

These skates are available in a huge number of sizes, from 4 all the way to 10, with a lot of half sizes in the middle. If you’re looking for a high-quality recreational or beginner’s figure skate, this is an excellent choice.

Under $250

Riedell 133 Diamond/Women’s and Men’s Figure Ice Skates

The Riedell 133 Diamond figure skates are the same as the 119 model listed above. The differences are mostly aesthetic, but the 133 does offer improved support over the 119. They are available in both white and black.

Like the 119 Diamond, these skates are comfortable, with an open-throat design, insulation and a leather tongue for your ankles. The soles are made from PVC for easy maintenance. The shoes are lines with Dri-Lex to keep your feet dry while you skate. Like other similar skates, these blades are not sharpened.

These skates are available in a huge number of sizes, from 4 all the way to 10, with a lot of half sizes in the middle. Many sizes are also available wide. The differences between these skates and the 119 Emerald are minimal, and both make a great pair of beginner’s skates.

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Jackson Ultima Classique Series Ice Skates for Women

There are a lot of Jackson Ultima brand figure skates on here and for a good reason. Jackson is one of the leading producers of introductory figure skates, and their Classique JS1990 is a perfect example of why.

Let’s start with the ankle support. The tongue of the skates is made with genuine leather, and behind it is a thick foamed back for better support. In fact, the placement of the foam padding is specially designed to protect your ankles.

Also, the skates incorporate covered hooks to minimize the strain placed on your ankles. The skates have a simple, timeless appeal. The outside of the shoe is made with polyurethane-treated leather for easier cleaning.

Although the boot part of these skates is good enough for the beginner or intermediate skaters, the blade – which does not come sharpened – is more suited for beginners. Fortunately, that can easily be replaced by anyone who enjoys the quality of the boot. The skates are available in sizes from 4 to ten. This includes half sizes and two separate widths for every size. This makes it easier to find the perfect fit for your feet.

Under $300

Jackson Ultima Competitor DJ2470 Ladies

These Jackson Ultima Competitor skates are perfect for the advanced beginner who’s getting ready to take the next step in her skating abilities. These are extremely high-quality skates, and the performance justifies the price.

The skates are padded with foam, but Jackson takes an interesting approach here. By making the foam padding irregular, it provides superior support for your ankles, giving you more freedom to practice your spins, flips and other advanced moves. The lining is anti-bacterial, helping to fight off bacteria from sweat.

While these skates may not be suited for advanced use, they’re more than good enough to use in beginner’s competitions. In fact, they’re good enough that they just might give you an edge over the competition.

Conclusion

While I am familiar with figure skating and enjoy participating myself, I am no coach, and I can’t offer really thorough guidance over what pairs are the best for you or your children.

However, I do feel comfortable recommending either Riedell or Jackson brand of figure skates. Hopefully, this guide has given you an idea of where to begin. If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment. We’d love to hear from you about your shopping experience. Good luck!