6 Best Speed Skating Blades for Advanced Skaters Worth the Investment

Your speed skater has been dedicated for years, and you’ve seen their passion grow with every lap. But now, the coach pulls you aside after practice with a familiar line: "They’re starting to out-skate their equipment." This moment marks a shift from supporting a hobby to investing in a competitive pursuit, and choosing the right high-performance blades is a significant part of that journey.

Investing in Blades for Competitive Skaters

When a young athlete reaches a certain level, their equipment is no longer just a tool—it’s a partner in their development. Entry-level or intermediate blades are fantastic for learning the fundamentals, but they have a ceiling. They can be too flexible, unable to hold the force of a powerful push, or made of softer steel that doesn’t hold a sharp edge, leading to a loss of grip and confidence in the corners.

Upgrading to an advanced blade isn’t about buying speed. It’s about providing your skater with the precision and feedback necessary to refine their technique at an elite level. These blades are stiffer, built with superior materials, and engineered to translate a skater’s hard-earned power directly onto the ice. Think of it less as an expense and more as an investment in their technical foundation, preventing the formation of bad habits they might develop trying to compensate for subpar gear.

Of course, the price tag can be intimidating. But it’s important to consider the context. This step is for the skater who has shown consistent dedication, whose coach has confirmed they are ready, and who is competing seriously. High-end equipment also carries significant resale value within the tight-knit skating community, allowing you to recoup a portion of the cost when your child eventually moves up in size or model.

Maple Gold: A Trusted Choice for Versatility

You’ve decided it’s time to upgrade, but the options feel overwhelming. You want something proven, reliable, and effective without being overly specialized for one type of race. The Maple Gold blade is often the go-to answer for this exact scenario. For decades, it has been a trusted workhorse for competitive skaters moving into the top tier.

The Gold is celebrated for its excellent ice-feel and all-around performance. It’s stiff enough to handle significant power but still offers enough feedback for a skater to feel their edges and make subtle adjustments. This makes it a fantastic blade for developing athletes who compete in a range of distances, from sprints to longer mass-start events.

Consider this the most dependable first step into elite equipment. It provides a massive leap in performance from intermediate models and builds a skater’s confidence on a blade that is respected worldwide. It’s a smart, versatile investment that supports a skater’s growth across the board.

Viking Nagano: Legendary Feel and Cornering

Is your skater the one the coach describes as having "great edges" or a "natural feel for the ice"? As they advance, their ability to maintain speed and control through the corners becomes a critical differentiator. The Viking Nagano is a legendary blade built specifically to enhance that connection between the skater and the ice.

Viking blades are known for their unique feel, often described as being more flexible or "springy" than other brands. This isn’t a weakness; it’s an intentional design that allows a skilled skater to "steer" the blade with precision, especially in the tight radiuses of the track. It rewards a smooth, technical style and helps an athlete master the art of corner entry and exit.

This blade is an excellent choice for a skater who is no longer just muscling their way around the track but is developing a deep, nuanced understanding of pressure and flow. If your skater’s strength is their technique, the Viking Nagano can provide the responsiveness they need to take their cornering to the next level.

Marchese Record: For Power and Straightaway Speed

Perhaps your child is an explosive athlete. They have a powerful start, and their greatest strength is generating raw speed on the straightaways. For this type of skater, a blade that can handle immense force without flexing is paramount. The Marchese Record is engineered for exactly that purpose: maximum power transfer.

These blades are known for their exceptional stiffness. This means that every ounce of energy from the skater’s push is directed straight into the ice, creating powerful acceleration. While some skaters might find them less "forgiving" in the corners, a strong skater can use that rigidity to their advantage, feeling a direct and immediate response.

When a coach’s feedback shifts from "work on technique" to "let’s harness that power," it might be time to look at a blade like the Marchese. It’s an investment in your skater’s primary weapon—their strength—and is a common sight on the starting line for sprinters and powerful middle-distance skaters.

Bont Platinum: Precision Engineering for Technique

Does your skater analyze every detail of their form? Are they the kind of athlete who works tirelessly with their coach on push angles, body position, and recovery? For the technically-minded skater, the Bont Platinum blade offers a level of precision that can match their focus.

Bont is a brand built on biomechanics and engineering, and their blades reflect that philosophy. The Platinum is crafted with incredible consistency and rigidity, providing clear and immediate feedback. A skater can feel exactly how their foot is pressuring the blade, helping them identify and correct the smallest inefficiencies in their stride.

This is a fantastic option for the dedicated skater who is looking to refine their already-solid technique into something truly world-class. It’s a tool that helps turn good form into great form by eliminating the variables that a softer, less precise blade might introduce. This choice is about investing in your skater’s technical mastery.

EVO Arc: Innovative Design for Elite Skaters

At the highest levels of youth competition, skaters are looking for any possible advantage. You may hear coaches discussing advanced concepts like maintaining blade pressure longer through the push. The EVO Arc blade, with its distinctive curved tube, is an innovative piece of equipment designed around this elite concept.

The unique shape of the Arc is engineered to help the blade stay on the ice for a fraction of a second longer at the end of the stride. For a highly skilled skater, this extended contact can translate into a more powerful and efficient push. This is not a blade for developing skaters, as it requires exceptional strength and technique to use effectively.

This is a specialized piece of equipment you would only consider after extensive discussion with a high-level coach. It represents the cutting edge of blade technology and is suited for national-caliber skaters who have mastered the fundamentals and are now seeking marginal gains to reach the top of the podium.

CadoMotus Record: Top-Tier Bimetal Performance

As your skater spends more time on the ice, you become very familiar with the cycle of sharpening blades. You may hear talk of "bimetal" runners as a solution. This technology involves fusing a strip of very hard steel for the running surface onto a more flexible steel tube, giving skaters the best of both worlds.

The CadoMotus Record is a premier example of bimetal performance. The hardened steel edge holds its sharpness significantly longer than traditional blades, providing consistent grip and glide session after session. At the same time, the tube retains the flex and feel that elite skaters need for control. This means less time spent sharpening and more time training on a reliable edge.

For the committed family, investing in a bimetal blade like the CadoMotus can be a practical choice. While the initial cost is high, the durability and reduced maintenance can be a significant advantage over a long and demanding competitive season. It’s a choice for those who value consistency and top-tier material science.

Protecting Your Investment: Blade Care Tips

A $500+ set of blades can be a game-changer for your skater, but only if they are treated with care. This is a perfect opportunity to teach your young athlete about responsibility and respecting their equipment. Proper care is non-negotiable and will ensure the blades perform as they should and last as long as possible.

Instilling a simple post-skate routine is the most important thing you can do. It takes less than two minutes but makes all the difference in preventing rust and damage, which can permanently ruin a set of high-performance blades.

Make these steps an automatic habit:

• Wipe blades completely dry with a soft cloth immediately after getting off the ice. Don’t wait until you get home.
• Use fuzzy, soft soakers to cover the blades for transport home. Never store blades in hard plastic guards, which trap moisture.
• Find a trusted, professional sharpener who specializes in speed skates. A bad sharpening job can undo the benefits of a great blade.
• Regularly inspect the edges for nicks or burrs, which can be carefully removed with a small sharpening stone.

Ultimately, the best blade isn’t the most expensive one; it’s the one that matches your child’s size, strength, technical skill, and competitive goals. Have an open conversation with your skater and their coach to make a choice that feels right for this exciting next step in their journey. Your thoughtful investment is one of the best ways you can say, "I see your hard work, and I believe in you."