I'm very surprised but very happy my 5 y/o son has recently decided he's going to be a skater too. He's currently in hire skates but really wants proper black men's skates like the bigger boys (who almost all have figure skates bless our rink).
His feet are tiny and there's no hope of getting 2nd hand skates where we are. Given we have to import from the US or Canada or somewhere anyway and postage is a huge chunk of the cost, I'm resigned to getting new ones.
On the upside he's tiny and none of his elder brothers and sisters have had a growth spurt in their whole lives so he should get a decent length of time out of them (at least a year is our experience so far).
Riedells and Jacksons are the only brands I can get from here, but I have absolutely NO IDEA which is suitable and which is meant for toddlers in the boys' stuff?? I doubt he'd get much beyond the beginner crossovers/3-turns type stuff before he grew out of them. But before I just pick whatever is cheapest ... any advice?? Please?? :BS: :BS: :BS:
PS: Yes if he wasn't a twin he'd have just gotten hand me down girl skates and black boot covers. But it's not an option with both twins skating at the same time.
Is there any chance of getting him fitted with white skates and then dying or painting them black? A shoe repair shop would be able to do it for you if you didn't want to do it yourself.
Other than that, it's tough to recommend one brand over the other since it all depends on which one fits best.
My first pair of skates was a pair of Riedells and they were great! They took me to beginner jumps, but then I chose to change to Edea skates, but a lot of people have said to me that Jacksons are just as good! and they come in small sizes as well :) good luck!
I'd suggest the Riedell 21RS if they fit his feet well. Jackson's range of boy's skates tend to be really stiff for toddlers and small children.
Didn't someone suggest here that you can stretch the skates up to 1/2 size when the kid is growing out of them? That may save a little money as he grows.
I recommend the Riedells over the Jacksons. I'm not a fan of Jackson at all. Reidell does make very good children's beginner skates.
Thank you all enormously!! I'm just now putting my order in and you've given me the confidence to go for the Riedells. My 5 y/o girl has Jacksons and it's certainly been true that they've been awfully stiff.