Are Adjustable Skates Good For Beginners – Fully Explained
Introduction
When you or your kid starts skating, the many costs associated with skating start weighing on your mind and you start looking for options that give you the most value for your buck. That’s often when you hear about adjustable skates- yes, skates that expand a couple of sizes and thus save you some money.
But the next question that you automatically think of is – are adjustable skates good for beginners?
Adjustable skates are excellent for recreational skaters or for those who are comfortable with skating. Adjustable skates do not help absolute beginners because of the blade size which stays constant despite a growing foot. The ankle support offered is also often not as good as standard skates making beginners more likely to fall.
But that doesn’t mean you should rule out adjustable skates completely. This guide on adjustable skates will help you understand
- what adjustable skates are
- whether you should buy adjustable skates
- what to consider when buying adjustable skates
- which adjustable skates to buy
- when to avoid adjustable skates
- better and budget-friendly alternatives to adjustable skates
So let’s get started!
What are adjustable skates – Explained
Adjustable skates look exactly like standard skates but their length and height can be adjusted using a lever at the bottom of the boot.
- To increase the size, release the lever and pull the toe of the boot.
- To decrease the size, release the lever and push the toe to the middle of the skate
- On getting the desired size, lock the lever.
In other words, most skates can be adjusted up to 3-4 full sizes.
To adjust the size of a skate, you should push a button on the bottom and roll the button to the desired size.
What’s adjustable in an adjustable skate?
- The length of the boot
- The height of the boot
What is not adjustable in an adjustable skate?
- The size of the blade
- Ankle support because of the unavailability of laces to cinch down the boot opening for a snug fit
Are they good for beginners?
Adjustable ice skates are not suitable for absolute beginners because of insufficient ankle support. Unlike regular skates with laces, the straps on adjustable skates only secure the foot but don’t provide a snug fit at the ankle making it difficult for beginners to learn how to balance, and hence adjustable skates do not work for beginners.
On the other hand, adjustable ice skates are an ideal option for
- those who are comfortable skating but
- only engage in recreational skating
Opting for adjustable skates for recreational skating can help save hundreds of dollars spent on constantly upgrading sizes.
In some cases, the same skates can also work for both the kid and a parent (especially for those around size 10 and above) and could be an economic buy to take care of one-off skating sessions.
How to choose adjustable skates?
To choose ice skates –
- check if the skates are hockey skates or figure skates and buy the type that you are used to skating in.
- check the sizing guides of skates. If the adjustable ice skates do not have a brand-specific sizing chart, opt for a size close to your shoe size or a bit smaller. It is ideal if your size falls on the lower end of the sizing range to get the most from your skates.
- For better sizing options, compare skates of various brands.
Best adjustable hockey skates
Honestly, most adjustable ice skate brands deliver comparable quality skates. The decision is very often only dependent on the sizing options of the skates.
Here is a quick round-up of the best adjustable hockey skates
| Name | Image | Sizing Range | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nattork Adjustable Skates |   | Small (Kid) to XL (Adult) | Hockey | Check latest price on Amazon |
| Pamir's Adjustable Skates (Boys) |   | Small (11 - 1) Toddler/Kid | Hockey | Check latest price on Amazon |
| Lake Placid Summit Adjustable Skates (Boys) |   | Small to Medium (10J to 8) - Toddler/Kid | Hockey | Check latest price on Amazon |
| Lake Placid Monarch Adjustable Skates |   | Small to Medium (11 to 4) Toddler/kid | Hockey | Check latest price on Amazon |
| Hedstrom Adjustable Ice Skates |   | Youth Size 8 to Size 2 | Hockey | Check latest price on Amazon |
| Jackson Ultima Adjustable Skates |   | Small to Large (Girls) and Small to Large (Women) | Figure | Check latest price on Amazon |
| Bladerunner Adjustable Ice Skates |   | 12J (Toddler) to Size 8 (Girls) | Figure | Check latest price on Amazon |
When to avoid adjustable skates?
By now you must have understood that should only be used for recreational skating. But there are some situations in which the use of adjustable skates should be avoided-
- If you are working on your skating technique and still haven’t learnt to how to balance, glide and stop.
- If you want to take part in competitions or play league matches.
- If you have narrow feet (cinching down the boot of an adjustable skate for a perfect fit becomes difficult).
- If your rink has excellent rental skates that provide top-notch ankle support.
- If you are an adult whose foot size would remain the same
Better and budget-friendly alternatives to adjustable skates
If based on the above, you think that adjustable skates are not suitable for you, you don’t have to break the bank. Here are a few budget-friendly options:
Budget-friendly skates
Hockey skates
Bauer X-LS (Youth) – These are excellent budget-friendly skates designed to improve balance skills of absolute beginners
Bauer X-LP (Junior) / (Intermediate)/(Senior) – These are great for juniors who want better durability but great ankle support at a fairly low price point.
Bauer Expedition Recreational– These are excellent skates for adults who want comfortable recreational skates that are affordable
Figure skates
The Jackson Ultima Figure Skates are comfortable and durable for their low price – an excellent money-saving solution for amateur or recreational figure skaters.
Rented skates
Kids keep outgrowing their skate size frequently adding to their parents financial woes.
But renting skates helps cut down the costs to a great extent.
Rental skates are available at all rinks. There are various online platforms too that rent out skates.
To get the most from your rented skates-
- opt for the most suitable size
- try out longer term rents for a more consistent fit
- check the quality regularly to ensure there are no loose screws, the blade is sharp and hasn’t started rusting
Used skates
By used skates I mean skates that have been worn and used by someone and then passed on.
Wearing used skates is often not recommended as the boot takes on the shape of its wearer and then does not offer an ideal fit to its subsequent user.
But at times, brand new skates, worn only a few times, also get passed on. If you can find a pair of such skates, that do not feel too broken in or that do not look too worn out, using used skates can be a viable money-saving solution.
Wrapping Up
To conclude, adjustable skates can work for beginners if the fit offers excellent ankle support. If not, adjustable skates should not be used at a beginner stage. However, adjustable skates are an excellent budget-friendly option for recreational skaters.
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