Most ice rinks offer hire skates with either hockey blades or figure blades (some rinks only stock one type).

• Toe pick at the front (the “teeth”).
• Slightly more curved blade profile, which can feel more agile once you’re comfortable.

Beginner note: The toe pick is not for walking yourself along the ice. Using it that way tends to create bad habits and can make learning proper balance and glide harder.

• No toe pick (no need, as normal skating shouldn't use it)
• Flatter on the mid-section, often feel stable and predictable for basic forward skating and learning edges.

For public skating, either is absolutely fine. If you can, try both and choose what feels more comfortable. You only need to commit to a style if you’re specifically pursuing figure skating or ice hockey (and some skaters do both).

Hire skates are designed to fit “everyone”, which often means they fit no one perfectly. Your goal is simple:

• Your heel should feel held in place.
• Your toes should be able to wiggle slightly, but your foot shouldn’t move around.
• If your foot shifts side-to-side or forward-back, your balance point changes and learning becomes harder (and you’re more likely to fall or strain something).

Thicker socks can improve comfort in hire skates, but too much padding can make the boot feel “spongy” and allow too much movement. If you add thicker socks, make sure the skate still feels secure.

• Laces and/or buckles done up firmly, especially around the ankle. Get a member of staff to check if you're not sure.
• No obvious heel lift when you bend your knees.
• If the skate feels roomy, try a smaller size.
• If your foot or toes are squashed, try a larger size.

Once you begin to enjoy skating, owning skates is usually more comfortable and provides consistency over hire skates, allowing faster progress. Fitting, renting and selling skates are all services offered by TheRink.

When choosing your first pair:

• Figure skates: often made from leather/softer materials and can feel more flexible. Used for Learn-to-Skate classes to learn technique and beyond for figure skating (ice dance, synchro, freestyle, etc.)
• Hockey skates: typically a stiffer boot shell for support and protection against impact. Provide good cornering and speed/fast stops.

Both should fit snugly and secure your foot properly—fit matters more than the style.

It’s common for beginners to assume they need expensive skates. In reality, your first pair is often a learning step: you’re still discovering what shape, stiffness, and feel suits you. However, very cheap skates are not good value for money - they will lack support, have poor blade profile quality and may impede your ability to learn.

As a rough guide:

• Recreational / beginner skates are often plenty to start with.
• Many beginner skates can be bought for under £200; above that you’re usually paying for features you may not need yet. There is an exception to this - if your feet are not a normal shape (you have bone spurs, for example), it's often necessary to find skates that can be reshaped.

If you’re taking lessons or skating regularly, getting the right fit and an appropriate boot level will make progress much faster.

Most skates you buy come without having been sharpened, or have a factory sharpening that is often uneven and either deeper, or shallower than you would need for yourself. Contact us to arrange a first-sharpening of your skates.

Skates aren’t all the same. The right fit and setup can make skating feel more stable, more comfortable, and easier to learn—especially as you start using edges, turns, and (for some) spins.

If you’re unsure what to buy, a professional skate fitting can save time, money, and frustration. At TheRink, we help skaters choose appropriate equipment and set it up correctly from day one.