Figure Skating Gear: Boots and Blades, Guards, Gloves, Padded Shorts and Spinners

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A skater’s bag says a lot about where they are in the sport. At first it’s rental skates and a pair of mittens. Then come the first real skates, still squeaky and stiff, a set of bright guards, fuzzy soakers and a towel. A few levels later there’s a second pair of laces, gel sleeves for the ankle bones, padded shorts for the Axel months, a spinner for practicing at home and a foam roller for the ride back. The right figure skating gear starts and ends with boots and blades that fit. This guide covers fitting and choosing skates, blade care and sharpening, guards and soakers, gloves, padded shorts, off-ice spinners and the recovery gear many skaters use.

Prices change often. The prices below are what we saw at the maker or a major retailer in October 2026; check the current price before you buy.

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Boots and blades: fit comes first

Boots matter for more than comfort. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) links poorly fitted skating boots to many youth skating injuries, from blisters and lace bite to heel bumps, bunions and curled toes, and says boots that are too stiff limit motion and put stress on the ankle, knee, hip and back. A 2025 systematic review listed a difference between boot and foot length among risk factors reported in studies. Here’s how skate makers and the AAP say to get it right:

• Don’t go by shoe size. Riedell says figure skates usually run smaller than street shoes: women often start ½ to 1 full size down, men the same size or ½ size down, and kids may match their shoe size. Every brand has its own chart, so measure your foot in centimeters (heel against a wall, mark the longest toe) and use the brand’s chart.
• Buy for now, not for growth. Both Riedell and the AAP warn against skates bought too big to grow into: the foot slides, support suffers and the boot breaks down sooner.
• Check the fit standing, laced. Seat your heel at the back, lace firmly from the toe up (a bit lighter at the top), and stand. Toes should lightly brush the front without curling, the heel shouldn’t lift, and the foot shouldn’t slide side to side. If the two sides of the lacing almost meet, the boot may be too wide; if they’re far apart, too narrow. Widths are often marked with letters, A for narrow up to D for wide.
• Match stiffness to level. Higher-level boots are stiffer to support bigger jumps, but too stiff for the skater’s level limits ankle bend. A pro fitter and your coach should choose together.
• Break them in slowly. Riedell suggests shorter sessions of 20 to 30 minutes at first with simple glides, stops and turns. New skates feel snug and stiff, but they shouldn’t hurt.

Blades in plain English. A figure skating blade has a toe pick (rake) at the front for toe jumps, a curve from heel to toe called the rocker or radius (more blade on the ice means more speed, less means more agility), and a groove ground into the bottom called the hollow, which creates the two edges. Beginner skates usually come as a boot and blade together; advanced skaters often buy boots and blades separately and have the blade mounted by a technician.

For skaters moving on from rentals, the Jackson Ultima Excel is a women’s and girls’ figure skate listed in medium width at about $190 on Amazon. Jackson’s Classic 200 and SoftSkate models are cheaper recreational options, and Riedell, Jackson and Edea all make stiffer boots for skaters working on doubles and up. Have a pro fitter check any skate you buy online.

Check the Jackson Ultima Excel price on Amazon

Sharpening and blade care

Riedell says new blades need to be sharpened before first use, and that blades usually need sharpening every 20 to 30 hours of skating, depending on how often and how hard you skate. Signs it’s time: slipping more than usual, trouble holding an edge, nicks or shiny spots on the edges, or rust in the hollow. Leave sharpening to a professional and stick with one you trust. The AAP adds that blades shouldn’t be too sharp for new skaters, because overly sharp blades tend to grab rather than glide.

Guards and soakers

These are two different things, and skaters need both. Hard guards go on whenever you step off the ice; even sand and dirt on rubber floors dull the edges. Soakers are soft, absorbent covers for storage. Riedell’s routine: wipe the blades dry as soon as you take off the guards, wipe again after leaving the rink when condensation forms, and store skates in soakers. Never store blades in hard guards; they hold moisture and cause rust.

The CRS Cross guards, soakers and towel set puts all three in one box for about $29 and fits figure or hockey skates. On a budget, Guardog Top Notch hard guards are about $12 and are cut to fit the blade length; add any absorbent soakers.

Check the CRS Cross guards and soakers set price on Amazon

Gloves and practice clothes

Rinks are cold, and hands hit the ice in every fall. Thin, stretchy gloves keep fingers warm without getting in the way of spins and arm movements. The CRS Cross padded ice skating gloves are water-resistant poly-spandex with three pads for falls, about $25. For practice, wear close-fitting layers you can move in so your coach can see your positions. Competition dress has rules: the ISU requires clothing that is modest and appropriate for athletic competition, men must wear full-length trousers, and a costume decoration that falls on the ice costs a deduction. More in our figure skating rules guide.

Check the CRS Cross padded gloves price on Amazon

Padded shorts

Learning a new jump means falling on the same hip again and again. Padded shorts worn under tights or practice pants soften those landings on the hips and tailbone. The CRS Cross padded figure skating shorts use ¾-inch pads over the butt, hips and tailbone and are about $45; CRS also sells an extra-thick 1.5-inch version. Padding can’t prevent every injury, and a fall that leaves hip or back pain that doesn’t settle needs a doctor.

Check the CRS Cross padded shorts price on Amazon

Pads for boot pressure

The AAP suggests silicone or gel sleeves and padding for skin irritation from boots, and gel sleeves or “donut” padding around (not over) the ankle bone for pressure there. The ZenToes ankle bone gel sleeves are made for boots and skates and sold as a pair. Pads help with comfort, but repeated pain or swelling usually means the boot needs work: a skate technician can stretch or punch out pressure points, and lasting pain needs a sports medicine doctor or physical therapist. See our figure skating injuries page.

Off-ice spinners

A spinner is a small rounded board that lets skaters practice spin positions, balance and rotation at home or before a session. The CRS Cross figure skating spinner is a metal 8-inch spin trainer at about $60; cheaper plastic turn boards are around $20. Use it on a smooth, clear floor with room around you, and practice only positions your coach has taught. Our figure skating training page covers off-ice jump and spin work.

Check the CRS Cross spinner price on Amazon

Figure skating gear compared

Product	What it’s for	Key detail	About
Jackson Ultima Excel	First real skates	Women’s and girls’ sizes	$190
CRS Cross guards, soakers and towel	Blade care	All three in one set	$29
Guardog Top Notch	Walking off the ice	Hard, adjustable, cut to fit	$12
CRS Cross padded gloves	Warmth and falls	3 pads, water-resistant	$25
CRS Cross padded shorts	Falls on hips and tailbone	¾-inch pads	$45
CRS Cross spinner	Off-ice spins	Metal, 8 inch	$60
TriggerPoint GRID 1.0	Recovery	Multi-density foam roller	$40

Recovery gear

After a long session, calves, quads and hips feel it, and feet are glad to be out of stiff boots. Many skaters use a foam roller like the TriggerPoint GRID 1.0 (about $40), soft OOFOS OOahh slides (about $60, with the APMA Seal of Acceptance) for the walk out of the rink, and, for older skaters, a small massage gun such as the Theragun Mini (about $220). These are comfort tools, not treatment. Compare more in our foam roller, recovery shoe and massage gun guides, and see the figure skating recovery page.

How to choose figure skating gear

• Spend first on boots and blades that fit, fitted in person if you can; everything else is cheap by comparison.
• Buy skates for the level you skate now. A boot that’s too stiff or too big holds a skater back.
• Get both hard guards and soakers, and dry the blades every time.
• Find a sharpener you trust and stick with them.
• Re-check fit every few months for growing kids.

More for skaters: the figure skating hub, the youth figure skating guide for parents, ice hockey gear for the other side of the rink, and Training & Performance.

Figure skating gear FAQs

Are figure skates the same size as shoes?

Usually not. Riedell says women often go ½ to 1 size down from street shoes and men the same or ½ size down, but every brand differs. Measure your foot and use the brand’s own chart.

What is the difference between skate guards and soakers?

Hard guards protect the edges when you walk off the ice. Soakers are soft covers that absorb moisture while skates are stored. Never store blades in hard guards; they trap moisture and cause rust.

How often do figure skates need sharpening?

Riedell says about every 20 to 30 hours of skating, depending on how much and how hard you skate. New blades need sharpening before first use.

Do padded shorts help in figure skating?

Many skaters wear them while learning jumps to soften falls on the hips and tailbone. They add comfort; they don’t prevent every injury. Pain that lasts after a fall needs a doctor.

Can I buy figure skates online?

Yes, especially recreational and entry-level models, but measure carefully with the brand’s chart and have a coach or pro shop check the fit. Higher-level boots are best fitted in person.