Understanding Boot Support & Stiffness Ratings

Stiffness is the single most important specification on a figure skating boot. It determines how much support the boot provides, how much impact it absorbs, and how much ankle mobility it allows. Both brands we carry publish a number for it — EDEA calls it stiffness, Jackson calls it a Support Rating — but the two scales are built differently and cannot be compared directly. This guide explains what each number means and how to match either one to your skating.

What Stiffness Means Physically

Stiffness describes how much force is required to flex the boot at the ankle. A stiffer boot resists bending more, providing greater lateral support and absorbing more impact energy from jump landings. A softer boot flexes more easily, allowing greater ankle range of motion but offering less protection under high forces.

When you land a jump, the impact force can reach 2 to 8 times your body weight. The boot's stiffness prevents your ankle from collapsing under that force. A boot too soft for your jumps will bend past its structural limit and wear out rapidly. A boot too stiff for your level requires excessive effort to flex, slowing your progress and causing fatigue.

Two Brands, Two Scales

Both EDEA and Jackson rate their boots on a numbered scale that tops out at 95, and both measure the same physical property. That is where the similarity ends. The scales are calibrated against different ranges of skater, so the same number means a different boot depending on the brand.

The reason is range. EDEA builds freestyle boots and starts its scale at 40. Jackson builds everything from learn-to-skate rentals to elite competition boots, so it needs a scale that stretches much further down. Both converge at the top: an EDEA 95 and a Jackson 95 are each built for triples and quads.

The EDEA Stiffness Scale

The Jackson Support Rating Scale

Jackson groups its ratings into named tiers. Because Jackson sells complete skates at the recreational end and boot-only models further up, the table below shows how each family is sold as well as how it rates.

Matching the Two Scales

Because the numbers do not translate, the only honest way to compare the brands is by what you are actually skating. Find your row, then read across.

Notice that the Chorus appears in two rows. That is deliberate — at 75 it carries a skater from their first doubles right through consistent doubles, so one boot covers a stage where Jackson offers two finer steps in the Synergy Spark (60) and Premiere (65–69). Neither approach is better: EDEA asks you to grow into one boot, Jackson lets you match your support more precisely as you progress.

The Axel itself sits with the Overture, which EDEA rates for single jumps through the Axel. Move up when you start working doubles, not when you land the Axel.

One genuine gap is worth naming: Jackson makes no dedicated show-skating boot, where EDEA has the Showgirl.

See the EDEA Range

Wave — Stiffness 40

Motivo — Stiffness 45

Overture — 55

Chorus — 75

Concerto — 85

Flamenco Ice — 85

Ice Fly — 90

Piano — 95

See the Jackson Range

Excel — Support 2–5

Mystique — Support 10–19

Elle — Support 30–35

Freestyle — Support 40–49

Debut — Support 45–55

Premiere — Support 65–69

Supreme — Support 65–95

Synergy Torch — Support 85–95

How to Pick Based on Weight, Skill, and Jump Level

Whichever brand you are looking at, the choice depends on three factors:

• Skill Level and Jump Type: The primary factor. The jumps you are currently performing and those you will work on in the next 6 to 12 months determine the minimum support you need.
• Body Weight: Heavier skaters generate more landing force and may need to go one level stiffer. A 140-pound skater working doubles may thrive in the Chorus at 75 or a Supreme at 75; a 180-pound skater at the same level might benefit from the Concerto at 85 or a Supreme at 85.
• Training Intensity: Skaters who train many hours per week break down boots faster and may benefit from a slightly stiffer boot that maintains support longer.

What Happens If You Pick Wrong

When to Move Up in Support

Consider moving to a stiffer boot when:

• You are consistently landing the highest jump level your current boot supports and are ready to progress.
• Your current boots show visible ankle collapse on landings.
• Your coach recommends increased support based on your progression.

Not sure where to start? Our Find Your Skate guide walks you through it in three questions. For help choosing a specific model, see our How to Choose Figure Skating Boots guide. For recommended pairings at each level, visit Boot and Blade Combinations.