Hockey Skates Vs Figure Skates: What’s The Difference?

Ice skating can be done when playing hockey or figure skating, and the core principle is similar. However, both sports are widely different and require different kinds of ice skates. In this article, I will compare hockey skates to figure skates to see how they are different.

Hockey skates differ from figure skates by having a shorter blade without a toe pick. The weight is lighter, and its construction is harder to maximize agility and protect from pucks and other players. In addition, most hockey skates are black, whereas figure skates are white.

That’s a quick generalization of the subject, but you can believe there’s more to know! Before going more in-depth about the subject, the features of hockey and figure skates are so different because they are meant for different uses. Take a look at the core principles the skates are made for;

Hockey skates:

• Fast stops
• Quick movement changes
• Protection

Figure skates:

• Jumps & spins
• Easier landing
• Flexibility

Next, let’s look at each hockey and figure skate difference individually and see why they are a certain way.

Related: Ice Hockey Goalie Skates Vs Player Skates: 3 Differences

Differences Between Hockey and Figure Skates

There are six main differences between hockey and figure skates: blade, boot, weight, comfort, color, and price. The blade is the most significant one so let’s start with that.

1. Blade

When you compare the blade on hockey and figure skates, you’ll see a few differences immediately. The first thing you use is the toe pick on figure skates and its absence on hockey skates. The sawlike ridges at the end of the blade, called toe picks, are used by the figure skates to make jumps and pivots on the ice. This isn’t used nor needed by hockey players.

The second difference is that the blade on hockey skates is curvier and shorter than on figure skates. Figure skates have longer blades for optimal arcs and lines or figures, if you will. Hockey skates need to be more agile for movement, turning, and speed, making the blades shorter.

2. Boot

After the blade, boot construction is the second most notable difference between hockey and figure skates due to the different nature of the sport.

Hockey skate boots are much harder because the players need considerable protection from ice pucks, hockey sticks, and other players’ skates and tackles. This makes them less flexible, and the construction material is harder. Hockey goalie skates are added with even more protection.

Movement in ice hockey is also different, and the rigid construction of hockey skates serves that as well. The harder and more unforgiving build gives ankle support when quickly changing movement or stopping, decreasing the chance of injury.

In comparison, no pucks or other people are striking or hitting your feet in figure skating, allowing more freedom with the skate design. For this reason, figure skates are often made from leather, tightly conforming to your feet. This creates a flexible boot, making acrobatic jumps and beautiful movement smoother. This takes us to comfort.

3. Comfort

Since figure skates are softer, flexible, and will conform to your feet better, they are more comfortable. Hockey skates often need to be tight to give the needed support; however, this creates a tight feel on the feet.

Many hockey players won’t tie the hockey skates from the last holes on the skates because this gives more freedom of movement at the expense of support. However, I have found this to be the best way if you tight the laces well while leaving one or two rows of holes empty from the top.

All in all, figure skates are more comfortable to wear.

4. Weight

Believe it or not, figure skates are heavier than hockey skates. I first believed it to be otherwise, as hockey skates look sturdier and bulkier than figure skates.

In ice hockey, agility and swift movement changes are more important, so the weight is reduced as much as possible. Also, when you examine the blade on both skates, you’ll notice that figure skates have thicker and bigger blades.

Generally, hockey skate blades are 3mm thick. In contrast, figure skate blades are 4.8mm thick, creating a considerable weight difference, especially when you account for the bigger blade size of figure skates. The metal material varies as well.

Hockey skate blades are usually made from stainless steel, considered more high quality than tampered carbon steel, a common material for figure skate blades. Although, you can find both skates made from both materials.

Related: Hockey Skates Vs Speed Skates: What’s The Difference?

5. Color

When it comes to the color, you can find hockey and figure skates in black and white and other colors such as red, blue, or brown. Still, a clear winning color is found in both skates.

Hockey skates are almost always black with one secondary color, usually red, blue, or yellow. In contrast, figure skates are almost always white with some delicate markings with black, grey, or gold.

Of course, you can find both skates in various colors and pattern designs, but almost always, hockey skates are black and figure skates white.

6. Price

Finally, there are price differences between hockey and figure skates.

Figure skates are much more expensive than hockey skates. That’s because figure skates can be found in a more narrow price range that is higher than the wider price range on hockey skates, on average.

However, when looking at the most expensive pairs of skates, you can find them in the hockey skate category.

Figure skates are usually found between the $150 to $300 range, whereas hockey skates are from $50 to $500 or even more.

However, you can still find both skates under $50 and close to $1000. High-end figure skates can get very expensive if you buy the boot and blade separately. Amazon offers a wide selection of hockey and figure skates, so if you want to compare differences on your own, I suggest taking a look.

To recap, you can find an informational table of the feature differences between hockey skates and figure skates below.

Feature	Hockey Skates	Figure Skates
Blade	Short & curved	Straight, long & toe pick
Boot	Harder	Softer
Comfort	Less comfortable	More comfortable
Weight	Lighter	Heavier
Color	Usually black	Usually white
Price	Less expensive	More expensive

Can You Interchange Hockey Skates and Figure Skates?

Hockey and figure skates certainly have many differences; however, they have similarities too. Both skates are used for playing a sport on ice, and after all, ice skating isn’t that different with either skate. That might raise a question about whether you can use hockey skates for figure skating and vice versa.

Generally, you can’t interchange hockey skates to figure skating or figure skates to play ice hockey because both sports are so different and require different things from the skates. However, you can interchange the skates to play the most basic form of sport.

There are many reasons you can’t use hockey skates and figure skates interchangeably other than learning the absolute basics.

First, figure skate boots are made from leather and arent hard as hockey skates, which doesen’t provide the required protection against hockey pucks, sticks, and other players. In contrast, hockey skates aren’t nearly as flexible as figure skates, making acrobatic movement difficult.

The blade difference is huge as well, and you can’t move as smoothly and quickly with figure skates when playing hockey. Figure skating with hockey skates won’t be great either, as you can’t use the toe pick to execute jumps and won’t have as long and thick a blade as needed, making figure skating difficult.

You see, properly playing either sport with the wrong pair of skates won’t be possible if you want to do it well. However, learning to play both sports if you haven’t ever done it before will do for a short while, although you want to eventually get the right skates for the right sport.