Are figure skates faster than hockey skates?

Answer 1

Figure skates are in general a faster skate than hockey skates. Figure skates have more blade on the ice compared to hockey skates, the blade is thicker, so when you push, more force is applied to the ice compared to a thinner hockey blade. However, a thinner hockey blade glides better when power is not applied compared to a thicker figure blade, so that's the tradeoff. Also, most figure blades have more blade in the back of the skate, and from the back of the skate is where all your power is from, it works out much better for transferring weight to get more skating power. The other factor is, skate technique, figure skaters in general are faster/better skaters, but obviously they don't play hockey, so the point is pretty much moot except in the rare cases they race each other for fun (which is not often, as usually there's a tad bit of animosity between figure skaters and hockey players on both sides.)

However, there's lots of reasons figure skates aren't used for hockey. First is the toepick, you'll fly forward from leaning too far forward on it, it's meant to stop you instantly for doing jumps/etc, but if you're at all careless with the front of your skate, you can send yourself flying forward. Also, hockey boots are tougher constructed, they have to take stick/puck/people hitting into them, too. The other factor, just in blades alone, hockey blade design compared to figures, while not as powerful, is much more forgiving. The balance on most hockey skates is neutral, set in the middle, whereas figures, the balance point is on the back of the skate, so in a hockey game, it's not ideal, as you're having to make quick moves a lot of times without "thinking" so they work great for that. Also, the neutral balance works out if you're getting hit into by people/pucks/sticks, as it's neutral, so if you go too far back or forward, it's easy to correct yourself.

Sorry for my long James May sounding answer, but I wanted to correct the misconception people have.