Recreational Skates vs Hockey Skates | What’s the Difference?

Even though it’s one of the world’s most popular sports, not everybody plays ice hockey. Some people simply like to head down to their local rink or frozen pond and enjoy a leisurely skate. 

The main difference between recreational and ice hockey skates is the amount of added protection and overall design in ice hockey skates. If you don’t intend on using your skates for playing hockey, that’s fine as you can still use ice hockey skates for recreational purposes. However, you shouldn’t wear recreational skates for hockey as they’re not designed to give you the support and protection needed.

What Are Recreational Skates and Why Would You Buy Them?

Recreational or leisure skates aren’t built to handle the rigors of ice hockey and they’re less complex in design. They’re basically built for comfort and while enjoying casual or family skating. If you’re not interested in playing hockey and just plan to wear the skates for this purpose then there’s no need to purchase hockey skates.

However, if you already own a pair of hockey skates you don’t really need to buy recreational skates too as the hockey skates are fine for recreational purposes. 

What Are Hockey Skates and Why Would You Buy Them?

Ice hockey skates are made specifically to better protect your feet while playing the game. You need protection from pucks and sticks as well as comfort and fit. In reality, while the skates are made to propel you around the rink you should also look at them as a piece of protective equipment for your feet and ankles. 

The Differences Between Recreational Skates and Hockey Skates:

Protection

A good pair of hockey skates should offer adequate protection for the ankles and all areas of the feet. They need to be durable and padded in these areas to help prevent injuries. Recreational skates don’t need this type of protection but should still be relatively strong and durable.   

Ankle Support

There’s no need for padding in recreational skates but some types may not offer any ankle support. It’s recommended that you buy skates that offer some type of stiffness and support in the ankle area to help stop you from rolling your ankles and injuring them while skating.

This is especially true for beginners. Your weight can also determine which skates to buy. For example, heavier people typically need more rigid ankle areas to offer them the support they need. 

The Blades

In some styles of older recreational skates, you may find the blades are directly riveted into the bottom of the boot. This means you can’t really replace the blades. However, hockey skates and newer recreational skates have removable, molded plastic holders for the blades which allows you to replace and exchange them if they become damaged or worn out.

Recreational skates have holders which are functional and simpler in design. Hockey blades and holders are generally made with better quality materials so they can withstand puck and stick impacts.

The holders and blades are made to be as light and aerodynamic as possible and hockey blades are generally curved, shorter and lighter than those on recreational models for increased maneuverability and speed. The best type of blades for both hockey and recreational skates are made of stainless carbon steel for maximum strength. 

Boot Design (Comfort)

Ice hockey skates need to be more rigid and protective than recreational skates and because of this they may not be quite as comfortable as their counterparts. There’s no need to block shots and to protect yourself from the hazards of hockey while out for a casual skate so they’re designed more for comfort than for performance.

This isn’t to say hockey skates aren’t comfortable though as many models are heat-moldable which enables you to form them to the unique shape of your foot after heating them in an oven. This provides a proper fit as well as comfort.

Also hockey skates typically cost more because they’re made with better materials. The toes on hockey skates need to be hard and thicker for protection and the boots have padding placed in strategic areas. Both types of skates are usually made with a combination of synthetic materials and leather. 

The Verdict – What Skates Should I Buy?

The type of ice skates you buy should be determined on what you’re going to wear them for. If you’re planning on playing hockey it’s highly recommended that you purchase skates that are specifically designed for this rough and tumble support. You should be looking for a strong, lightweight pair that offers plenty of protection.

Just remember, you can always wear ice hockey skates at any time you feel like going for a leisure skate. Whether you buy recreational or hockey skates be sure to look for a pair that has enough ankle support and offers the right fit and enough comfort for your feet. The quality of skates you buy will largely depend on your need and financial budget, but above all, make sure they fit properly.