Find Your Skate

From a child's first lap to a competitor's triples, the right boot keeps you comfortable and in control — and the wrong one holds you back. This guide walks you through three quick questions and points you to the skates made for your skating, across both brands we carry: EDEA, handmade in Italy, and Jackson, with a skate for every stage.

Step 1: Complete Skate, or Boot Only?

Your first decision. Most skaters up through their first jumps want a complete skate; more advanced skaters build their own. For the longer answer — what each route costs and where the line falls — see Complete Skates vs. Boot and Blade Separately.

Step 2: What Are You Working On Right Now?

Pick the row that sounds like your skating today — not where you hope to be. Each level lists strong picks from both brands and a link to shop that level.

The Weight Factor: Matching Support to Your Body

Support isn't only about skill — your body weight is the other half of the equation. Landing force runs 2–8× your weight, so the more you weigh, the more boot you need to resist bending. It's why the softest "beginner" skates — built for light, young skaters — can be too soft to support an adult, even a first-timer.

So if you're an adult just starting out, skip the softest recreational skates and step up to a boot with real structure. In EDEA that means around 55 — the Overture. In Jackson, where the scale sits lower, the equivalent is around 40–55 — the Freestyle or the Debut. Both support an adult frame while staying forgiving to learn in.

Understanding "Stiffness" & "Support"

Every boot carries a number. EDEA calls it stiffness and rates from 40 to 95; Jackson calls it a Support Rating and rates from 2 to 95. Both measure the same thing — how much the boot resists bending at the ankle — and in both, higher means more support for powerful jumps and less ankle flex than a new skater needs.

But the two scales are not interchangeable. Jackson's starts far lower because its range runs from a toddler's first skates all the way to elite competition, so the bottom half of Jackson's scale covers ground EDEA does not sell into. In practice a Jackson 45 supports about what an EDEA 55 supports; the two only line up again at the very top, where 95 means triples and quads in either brand. For the full side-by-side breakdown by weight, skill, and jump level, see our Understanding Boot Support & Stiffness Ratings guide.

EDEA or Jackson?

You'll find a great skate in either brand — here's how they differ so you can lean the right way.

Step 3: Getting the Fit Right

• Width matters. Jackson boots come in Regular and Wide; EDEA fits many feet out of the box and heat-molds for the rest. A correct width does more for control than a stiffer boot.
• Men's, women's & kids. Men's sizing runs about 1.5 sizes smaller than women's, and we carry kids' sizes too — always check the model's size chart. Shopping for someone specific? Use the Shop For filter on any Boots or Complete Skates page to jump straight to women's, men's, or kids' models.
• Blade & mounting. Complete skates arrive mounted and sharpened. Boot-only means adding a blade and a professional mount — see our Boot & Blade Combinations guide, and we can fit it for you.