Jackson, Riedell, Edea, Risport, Graf and Harlick are six boot makers adult skaters ask about. Each one builds its boots on its own shape, sets its own support scale and offers its own widths, so the same size can feel very different from brand to brand. This list sets out what each maker says about its own fit and support, so you know what to ask about at your fitting.
Key takeaways
- Support ratings are each maker's own scale, so compare them within one brand and not across brands.
- Riedell recommends a complete boot and blade set for a first pair, from its Casual or Developmental series.
- Edea says about 90 percent of skaters wear its C width, and that the heel pocket matters most.
- Harlick is the custom option, with adult stock boots from $1,250 and adult custom boots from $1,995 on its shop page.
Ask adult skaters what's on their feet and the same few brand names keep coming up. This list covers six of them, with what each maker says about its own fit, widths and support. Everything here comes from the makers' own pages and catalogs, so it's their description and not a ranking. Where a maker lists a figure in dollars, we've included it.
If you're still on rentals, read this as a map of what's out there before your first fitting. A pair that fits your foot matters far more than the name on the side, and a good fitter can tell you which makers suit your shape. Our boot guide for adult skaters covers stiffness ratings, fit problems, heat molding and break-in in more depth.
1. Jackson Ultima
Jackson Ultima Skates makes a full ladder of boots, and it says they keep a consistent shape and fit from its 2000 Fusion Series up through its 5000 Supreme and 6000 Synergy series. That's handy if your first pair suits you, because moving up shouldn't mean getting used to a whole new fit. Every Jackson boot has a support rating, and the Artiste 1790, one of its 2000 series boots, is built at 25.
Jackson builds its boots on what it calls the Elite Performance Last, which it describes as rounder in the toes with tighter heels. Its boots come in a regular width and a wider one, and its heat moldable fit system lets a skate technician shape the boot to your foot. Jackson also warns that a boot that's too stiff for you can get in the way of learning and is hard to break in properly.
That's a good reason to buy for the skater you are now and not the one you hope to become. A rating that suits a skater landing doubles can feel like a cast to someone still working on crossovers. Ask your coach or fitter what range suits you before you shop, and take that number to the store.
2. Riedell
Riedell started when Paul Riedell and his wife Sophie began making hand-crafted ice skates in Red Wing, Minnesota, and its top models are still handcrafted in the United States. It sells complete boot and blade sets in three series, called Casual, Developmental and Competitive. For a first pair, Riedell itself recommends a set from the Casual or Developmental series over buying a boot and a blade separately.
Riedell's advice for adults is to put comfort and durability first if you plan to skate regularly or take lessons. It also says to expect a snug fit, with your toes lightly brushing the front when you stand and pulling back a little when you bend your knees. If your feet are different sizes, Riedell's tip is to measure both and fit the larger one. Its 2026 catalog has width charts, and it notes that Riedell accommodates extra wide widths.
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Build a bundle3. Edea
Edea is an Italian maker, and its FAQ says every Edea boot is made in Crocetta del Montello, from design through production. Its boots have memory foam that shapes itself to the person wearing them, which is one reason Edea says not to size yourself in a friend's pair. Edea sizes in millimeters, and it says sneaker sizes are no guide because they differ by country and brand.
On width, Edea says about 90 percent of skaters use its C width, with narrower and wider options too. What matters most, it says, is the heel pocket that holds your heel in place. For beginners on ice, its FAQ names the Tempo, Wave, Motivo and Overture, and it describes the Tempo as designed for the skater learning basic figures up to single jumps. Edea's advice is to see a dealer, since nothing beats the personal touch.
4. Risport
Risport makes its skates in Montebelluna, which it calls the beating heart of Italian sports footwear, and the brand is part of the Rossignol Group. It says each skate is designed with differentiated support based on the athlete's level and with thermoformable structures that adapt to the foot. Its entry model, the Venus, carries a soft support rating of 25 and is listed for single jumps.
The Electra sits a step up, with a medium-rigid support rating of 45, for skaters working on figures and single and double jumps. Width depends on the model, and the Venus page lists its width as C Comfort. Risport also says it tests its boots by flexing them at different angles to simulate an entire life cycle of use.
5. Graf
Graf is a Swiss maker based in Kreuzlingen, and its collection workbook dates the company to 1921. Its website has a skate advisor that suggests a model from your discipline, skill level, foot size, height and weight. Graf rates each model's stiffness out of 100, from 25 for the Bolero Crystal starter skate to 80 and 90 for the white and black Edmonton Special.
Those numbers make the range easy to compare, even if you never buy a pair. The workbook gives widths as small, medium and large, and several models are listed as thermoformable. Ask a fitter who carries the brand to try a pair on, because an online pick is only where you start, not a fitting.
6. Harlick
Harlick is the custom maker on this list, and its shop page says it has made custom skating boots since 1933. It offers stock boots and fully custom ones, with hand designed patterns, uppers made to your foot measurements and personalized lasts. Harlick lists more than 50 customizations, chosen by skating level and personal preference.
Its shop page lists adult stock boots from $1,250 and adult custom boots from $1,995. An order starts with a deposit of at least $700 on stock boots and at least $1,000 on custom boots. Most adults don't need a custom boot for a first pair, and Riedell's advice is that you should always start with beginner figure skates. It's still good to know the option is there if nothing off the shelf ever feels right.
Choosing between them
Edea and Riedell both say to get fitted in person, and Jackson's heat molding is done by a skate technician. Take the socks you skate in, measure both feet and bend your knees in each pair before you decide. Our skate fitting guide explains what a good fit feels like, from a locked heel to toes that ease back when you bend.
Our boot quiz asks seven quick questions and gives you a support range and three boots to try on. The boot and blade library lists the models the quizzes recommend, with the specs each maker publishes. If you're deciding between a set and a separate boot and blade, our page on complete skates versus boots and blades compares the two, and the boots and blades for adult beginners guide has more on first pairs.
Sources
- Jackson Ultima Skates, Jackson Advantage (boots) page and the Artiste 1790 product page: series, support ratings, the Elite Performance Last, widths and heat molding.
- Riedell, What You Need to Know When Buying Your First Figure Skates (blog): the three set series, first-pair advice and fit tips.
- Riedell, competitive skates blog post: the company's start in Red Wing, Minnesota, and its U.S. handcrafted models.
- Riedell, 2026 ice catalog: width charts and extra wide widths.
- Edea, Frequent questions and What's my size pages: where the boots are made, memory foam, millimeter sizing, widths, the heel pocket and the Tempo.
- Risport, Technology page and the Venus and Electra product pages: Montebelluna, the Rossignol Group, support ratings, widths and testing.
- Graf, Skate Advisor page and Skates Workbook, Collection 2024/25: Kreuzlingen, 1921, stiffness ratings and widths.
- Harlick, Shop page: custom boots since 1933, customizations, adult prices and deposits.
- Adults Skate Too, Boot and Blade Library, Figure Skate Fitting Guide and boot quiz: support scales by maker and fitting advice.
