hi, im relatively new to figure skating and am currently in basic 1 learn to skate classes. I'd like buy my first pair of skates. im 15 years old, 5'9, and about 135lbs. I have a budget of $150 and im looking to get the Jackson Men's 452 skates, are these a good option? If not, please provide me with other suitable choices. thanks.
Should I get the Jackson 452s?
- Thread starter robrdum
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2022
Hi and welcome: It's a question of whether Jackson is the right brand for your feet, since different brands fit feet of different shapes. What shape are your toes (there are diagrams on Google showing the various toe slants and their names)? Do you have high/normal/low arches? Narrow heels? If you can describe your foot shape in more detail, we can determine if Jacksons are right for you or if you should be looking at some other brand.
Where do you live, specifically? GS members live all over the world, so there will be someone who can point you to a recommended skate shop near you. Good luck!
@GS Forum Staff . This thread should be moved to the Boots and Blades subforum, where it would likely receive more attention.
@robrdum . Another piece of info that would be useful: Have your feet stopped growing?
@robrdum . Another piece of info that would be useful: Have your feet stopped growing?
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2017
Hi and welcome. No, they are considered rec or hobby boots.
And like others here have said, we need to determine what is the best boot brand for your feet.
i have greek/african toes, i have normal size arches, and i believe i have thicker heels. I live in Evanston, Illinois.
yes, my feet have stopped growing.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2022
At 15? I had four older brothers, and I have two adult sons, and all of them still had quite a bit of growing ahead when they were in their mid-teens. However, if your foot shape is fairly set by now, and considering skates need to be replaced frequently when they break down, we can still look at boot brands that you can stay with while you learn.
ive been wearing the same shoe size (10.5) for about 3 years now, so im pretty sure that's it for them. Anyways, what do you have to recommend?
Jackson has a fit page
https://jacksonskate.com/pages/fitguide
If you were under 40 lbs, Jackson recommends them for Basic 1-3. But above 80 lbs, like you, they aren't recommended by Jackson for any level skating.
In any event, it's impossible to guess what boots would fit your foot, without pain and/or risk of injury (sometimes including severe lifelong injuries), without a knowledge of the shape of your feet, and whether you have any of a number of other issues.
Men usually can't find figure skate boots that fit in stock at local stores, maybe at no stores anywhere. So most men have the fitter order based on their best guess, using rather simplistic measurements. The best figure skate boot fitters (there aren't many really good ones) guess wrong less often. If minor modifications are needed once they arrive, they know how to make them, and have the equipment to do it. They also know how to recognize defective figure skate boots and blades, which are surprisingly common, and might help you convince the manufacturer to make good on defective products. I'm a total cheapskate, and like to do as much as I can myself, but the extra cost of a really good skate fitter is probably worth it, especially if you don't have the knowledge and experience to do everything right yourself.
https://jacksonskate.com/pages/fitguide
If you were under 40 lbs, Jackson recommends them for Basic 1-3. But above 80 lbs, like you, they aren't recommended by Jackson for any level skating.
In any event, it's impossible to guess what boots would fit your foot, without pain and/or risk of injury (sometimes including severe lifelong injuries), without a knowledge of the shape of your feet, and whether you have any of a number of other issues.
Men usually can't find figure skate boots that fit in stock at local stores, maybe at no stores anywhere. So most men have the fitter order based on their best guess, using rather simplistic measurements. The best figure skate boot fitters (there aren't many really good ones) guess wrong less often. If minor modifications are needed once they arrive, they know how to make them, and have the equipment to do it. They also know how to recognize defective figure skate boots and blades, which are surprisingly common, and might help you convince the manufacturer to make good on defective products. I'm a total cheapskate, and like to do as much as I can myself, but the extra cost of a really good skate fitter is probably worth it, especially if you don't have the knowledge and experience to do everything right yourself.
Ok, thanks.
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2017
Sounds like Risport RF line or Jackson for you, but you are going to need something that's a 60 or up in boot stiffness.
* I'm afraid I have bad news for you. You'll not be able to find suitable skates within your target budget. Especially since the post-COVID recovery, prices for figure skating equipment have zoomed.
* I assume you picked the Jackson 452 based on price ($134.95 list). But as Ic3 mentioned above, these are recreational or hobby skates. These would be fine if you just want to skate 'round and 'round the rink while chatting with friends over holiday breaks.
* In the Jackson line, the bottom model you should consider would be the Freestyle 2192. It is a kit/combo (boot plus pre-mounted blade). It is the lowest men's boot that is (a) heat moldable (which is a great plus for adjusting fit) and (b) built on the Elite last/foot form (more advanced Jackson boots are built on this particular last; if Jacksons are right for you, and if you continue with Jacksons as you progress, you'll have fewer adjustments to make). Unfortunately, (a) the list price is $379.95, which is ~2.5X your target budget, and (b) the stiffness rating is 49, lower than the 60 or so that Ic3 recommends. If your feet were still growing (which they aren't), this would still be a viable option (assuming you could afford it), because there would be a good chance that you would outgrow them before they break down. But I'll keep this as an option on the table (pending comments by others) in case you absolutely can't afford separate boots plus blades (see below).
* In the Jackson line, to get to the ~60 stiffness level, you would need to get separate boots and blades. The lowest level men's separate boot is the Debut 2452 (stiffness 55); the next level up is the Premiere 2802 (stiffness 69). But note that the price of the Debut is ~$390 - 400, and the price of the Premiere is ~$450 - 475 (Jackson used to post list prices for their separate boots, but they don't on their latest website). And remember, those are for the boots only. For an intermediate pair of regular Wilson Coronation Ace or MK Pro blades, the price is ~$300. There are cheaper beginner blades, but not likely worth it.
* So, those are the ugly numbers you're facing. Before we zoom in on more specific recommendations (and possible trade-offs if you need to settle for a lower model because of cost constraints), what realistically can you afford (even if you have to wait a bit to save up)?
Last edited:
Thanks for this great in-depth reply to my question. I've been researching over the past couple days, and I've concluded that a good pair of figure skates unfortunately cannot be found at my original price point. So, with some money loaned from my parents, I've raised my budget up to $260. I believe this should be sufficient for a at least decent pair of beginner skates. Now, what can you recommend at this pricepoint?
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2017
That is the issue. With your height/weight and foot needs you do not fit at recreational or "beginner" skate set and need something stiffer. Those are not going to be 260 and with what @tstop4me was trying to explain is that with what you need, you need separate boot and blade level. Each cost about 3-400$ each. You're looking at least at around 500-600$ for boots and blades. You cannot just go with a recreational set that is designed for a 6 year old to skate around at the local rink for fun with friends, they will not support you and you risk injury.
Ok. I might start looking at used ice skates or boots and blades because I cannot afford that number- i don't have a job and i get paid like 10 or 15 dollars a month in allowance. I'll also go to a specialty figure skating store near me called Rainbo Sports to get their opinon/quote.
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2017
I know Rainbo well, and they are going to quote you around the same. I would be very very cautious buying used boots and blades. Blades don't last that long as it is, and you have to make sure the boots are still going to support your needs and aren't already too broken down for you, b/c if they are you risk injury and waste your money. I am super happy you love this sport and want to participate, but you do need to know it is not by any means a cheap sport. It's very expensive.
(1) In general, buying used skates is risky business. Since you're a beginner, you don't know how to evaluate used boots and blades. Don't even consider it, unless a knowledgeable skater or coach accompanies you.
(2) Since you're a full-grown male skater, chances are really low that you'll find what you need (level, condition, size, price) in the used market anyways.
Then should i just continue using rentals and save for a while until im able to afford a good pair?
I'm not certain that rental skates would be better than what the o.p. could afford new.
I've looked at one rink's rental skates which were fairly good quality boots - or at least their newest ones were, though the toepicks on the blades were fairly far forwards and difficult to reach. But all the other rinks whose rental skates I looked at, the boots were really bad quality, deliberately quite wide, and usually mostly broken down, so they provide virtually no ankle support, partly construction, and partly because one skater skating for one hour in loosely laced boots, or boots too large for them, is enough to break them down past the point of usability. (I worked for a while at a rental counter, and saw that happen a LOT.) On top of that, used footwear of any type has a chance of transmitting a variety of diseases. Rental skates ARE used skates. Plus most typical pro shops try to sharpen rental skates in about 30 seconds or less, which isn't enough time to do a good job - and they are used by pro shops as practice cases for new skate techs.
To me at least, the Jackson Freestyle seem to come with OK blades. Nothing special, but I don't see that as a major issue at USFS Basic Skills 1-3, maybe not even Basic Skills 4-6. I wouldn't be surprised if they are cheap metal, and won't last as long as more advanced steel blades, but they are screw mounted, just like separate boot/blade combinations. Even rivet mounted lower level boots can be unmounted and replaced by well equipped pro shops.
Another issue is going to be that as a guy, he is going to have very little choice in terms of what used or new stores have in stock. Finding something that fits is extremely hard. Especially if his feet are too wide to fit women's sizes, or he is unwilling to wear white skates.
Of course, maybe figure skating is the wrong sport for someone with that limited a budget. But at group lesson recreational level, maybe not. It can still be fun.
I've looked at one rink's rental skates which were fairly good quality boots - or at least their newest ones were, though the toepicks on the blades were fairly far forwards and difficult to reach. But all the other rinks whose rental skates I looked at, the boots were really bad quality, deliberately quite wide, and usually mostly broken down, so they provide virtually no ankle support, partly construction, and partly because one skater skating for one hour in loosely laced boots, or boots too large for them, is enough to break them down past the point of usability. (I worked for a while at a rental counter, and saw that happen a LOT.) On top of that, used footwear of any type has a chance of transmitting a variety of diseases. Rental skates ARE used skates. Plus most typical pro shops try to sharpen rental skates in about 30 seconds or less, which isn't enough time to do a good job - and they are used by pro shops as practice cases for new skate techs.
To me at least, the Jackson Freestyle seem to come with OK blades. Nothing special, but I don't see that as a major issue at USFS Basic Skills 1-3, maybe not even Basic Skills 4-6. I wouldn't be surprised if they are cheap metal, and won't last as long as more advanced steel blades, but they are screw mounted, just like separate boot/blade combinations. Even rivet mounted lower level boots can be unmounted and replaced by well equipped pro shops.
Another issue is going to be that as a guy, he is going to have very little choice in terms of what used or new stores have in stock. Finding something that fits is extremely hard. Especially if his feet are too wide to fit women's sizes, or he is unwilling to wear white skates.
Of course, maybe figure skating is the wrong sport for someone with that limited a budget. But at group lesson recreational level, maybe not. It can still be fun.
The Jackson Freestyles sound good, I might be able to get those. What about the Artistes?
