6 Best Affordable Figure Skates For Aspiring Skaters for Proper Form

Your child just finished their first "Learn to Skate" session and is completely hooked, already asking when they can go back. You’re thrilled they’ve found something they love, but now you’re staring at a wall of shiny white boots online, wondering what to do. The rental skates worked for a few weeks, but their coach mentioned getting their own pair to help them progress.

Proper Skates: The Foundation for Good Form

It can be tempting to grab a cheap pair of skates from a big-box store. They look the part, and the price is certainly right, especially when you consider how fast little feet grow. But in figure skating, the skate isn’t just footwear; it’s a piece of athletic equipment that directly impacts safety and skill development.

Think of it like learning to write. You wouldn’t hand a child a floppy, wet noodle and expect them to form letters. The same principle applies here. Inexpensive, recreational skates often lack the crucial ankle support needed to stand up straight and balance on a thin blade. Without that support, a child’s ankles will wobble inward, making it impossible to learn proper "edges" and forcing them into bad habits that are difficult to unlearn later.

A good beginner figure skate provides a firm, structured boot that holds the ankle in the correct alignment. This stability is the foundation for everything else—from a simple two-foot glide to the first tentative one-foot balances. Investing in a proper entry-level skate isn’t about chasing an Olympic dream; it’s about giving your child the right tool to learn correctly and safely from the very beginning.

Jackson Ultima Excel JS1290 for First Lessons

So, your five- or six-year-old is ready for their first pair of skates. They’ve tried rentals, they enjoy being on the ice, and you’ve signed them up for their first full session of group lessons. The Jackson Excel is often the first skate a pro shop will recommend, and for good reason.

This model is a significant step up from any rental or recreational skate. It offers the minimal amount of support needed for a young, lightweight skater to learn the basics without their ankles collapsing. The vinyl boot is easy to clean (a real parent-win), and the attached all-purpose blade is perfectly adequate for learning forward and backward swizzles, stops, and glides.

Consider the Excel the "trial" skate. It’s affordable enough that if your child decides after a session or two that skating isn’t for them, you haven’t made a huge financial commitment. Yet, it’s supportive enough to give them a real chance to succeed and build a solid foundation.

Riedell 110 Opal for Basic Skills Classes

You’re in a familiar spot for many parents: your child has completed a session, loved it, and is eager to sign up for the next level of your rink’s Basic Skills program. They’re starting to feel more confident on the ice, and you want to support that momentum. The Riedell 110 Opal is another excellent choice in this category.

Riedell is a trusted name in skating, and the Opal is their answer to the needs of the beginning skater. It provides light support, which is appropriate for young children who don’t have the weight or power to break down a stiffer boot. It’s known for its comfortable padding and easy break-in period, which is a huge plus for sensitive kids who might be put off by stiff, uncomfortable equipment.

This skate is built for the fundamental skills taught in early group lessons. It’s a reliable workhorse that will see your child through their first year of skating. The key is matching the light support of the skate to the light demands of the skater’s current skill level.

Jackson Ultima Mystique for Advancing Beginners

Your skater is no longer just shuffling around. They’re confidently gliding on one foot, attempting backward crossovers, and maybe even trying a little two-foot spin. This is the point where the most basic beginner models might start to hold them back.

The Jackson Mystique is one of the most popular next-step skates for advancing beginners. It offers a noticeable increase in stiffness compared to the Excel, providing the extra ankle support needed for skills that require more balance and power. The blade is also a step up, with a more defined toe pick that helps skaters learn the basics of scratching for jumps and spins.

This is a great investment for the child who has shown a consistent interest over six months to a year. It has enough support to take them through the higher Basic Skills levels and potentially into their first waltz jumps. Because of its popularity, the Mystique also has decent resale value, which is always a bonus for parents of growing athletes.

GAM Pirouette: A Solid Choice for Learn-to-Skate

Sometimes, a particular brand just fits a child’s foot better. GAM is another well-respected Canadian brand that offers excellent options for skaters progressing through a structured program. The Pirouette model is a direct competitor to skates like the Jackson Mystique.

This skate is designed for the skater who is mastering their basic one-foot skills and is on the cusp of learning introductory jumps and spins. It provides solid, moderate support that helps stabilize the ankle during more dynamic movements. It’s a durable boot that can withstand the repetitive practice required to pass skating levels.

If you’re at a pro shop and your child tries on a few different brands, don’t be surprised if the GAM Pirouette is the one that feels "just right." Fit is intensely personal, and this model provides a quality, supportive option for the dedicated young skater.

Risport RF Light: A Step Up for Young Skaters

You’ve reached a new milestone. Your child is no longer just "in lessons"; they are now a "skater." They might be moving into a pre-freestyle or introductory private lesson program, and their coach is talking about single jumps like the salchow and toe loop.

The Risport RF Light is an entry point into a more serious level of equipment, specifically designed for younger, lighter skaters tackling these new challenges. The boot offers more substantial support and structure than beginner models, which is essential for protecting ankles during the impact of landing jumps. The "Light" designation means it achieves this support without being overly heavy or stiff for a small child.

This is the kind of skate you purchase when you and your child are committed to the sport for the foreseeable future. It supports the transition from basic skills to the fundamentals of competitive figure skating. It’s an investment in their progress and safety as the technical demands increase.

Edea Motivo: Supporting Early Jumps and Spins

Edea is a brand you’ll see on many high-level skaters, and the Motivo is their introductory model. It’s designed for the skater who is consistently working on and landing their first single jumps. The fit and feel of Edea boots are quite different from other brands, often described as feeling more like a sneaker with a quicker break-in time.

The Motivo has a unique design that allows for good flexibility while still providing the necessary support for jumps and spins. This is a skate for the dedicated 8- to 12-year-old who is practicing multiple times a week. It provides the structure needed to learn proper jump technique without being as restrictive as an advanced, high-level boot.

When a coach recommends a skate like the Edea Motivo, it’s a sign that your child is showing real potential and needs equipment that can match their developing skills. This is a significant step, reflecting a deeper commitment from both the skater and the family.

Professional Fitting: The Key to Skate Success

Here is the most important piece of advice I can give you: do not buy skates online to save a few dollars. The single greatest factor in a skate’s effectiveness is not the brand or the price, but the fit. A $500 skate that fits poorly is worse and more dangerous than a $150 skate that fits perfectly.

A reputable skate technician at a pro shop will do more than just ask for a shoe size. They will:

• Trace your child’s feet to understand their unique shape.
• Measure both the length and width of each foot.
• Understand the different fit profiles of each brand (Jacksons run differently than Riedells, which are different from Edeas).
• Ensure there is just the right amount of room for growth without allowing the foot to slide around.

A proper fitting ensures your investment pays off in comfort, safety, and performance. The fitter can also professionally sharpen the new blades, which is crucial as new skates do not come ready to use. This expert guidance is invaluable and is the true secret to finding the "best" skate for your aspiring skater.

Choosing the right skates is about matching the equipment to your child’s current stage in their journey. The goal isn’t to buy the most advanced skate, but the most appropriate one. By providing the right support at the right time, you’re giving them the best possible chance to fall in love with the glide, the spin, and the joy of mastering a new skill.