Kit Nordic skate for kids
$190.00
Adults love their Nordic skates, and now young adventurers can too! Kit is the first ever Nordic skate for kids. Kit combines premium construction and materials with a fun, kid-friendly design.
We believe that outdoor gear built for kids must adhere to the same high standards as gear for adults. Kit uses the same improved 1.57mm 440C steel blades, hardened American-made coiled spring pins, and new streamlined design as our Ak1 skate, just sized down and optimized for the smaller Jr. NNN binding.
Kit comes in three eye-catching polymer ceramic colors, and all marks are permanently laser etched. This is a skate that a child can use for years, pass down to his or her siblings, and then pass on again to someone else. Kit is built for fun, and engineered to last.
Kit is suitable for those with a maximum boot size of EU40, and is available with or without bindings pre-installed.
Proudly Made in Alaska by Ermine Skate
FREE shipping anywhere in the USA
Kit may be small, but it’s still designed to pass the “Alaska test” with flying (and sometimes neon) colors. Photos courtesy Kristin Katoski
Kids Nordic skate FAQ
Is Kit lighter and/or shorter than an adult Nordic skate?
Both. Kit is noticeably lighter than our shortest A-Series adult Nordic skate, and at 37cm it’s a full 5cm shorter than our shortest adult skate.
Are there other differences between a kids Nordic skate and an adult skate?
Absolutely. Manufacturing a top-notch Nordic skate for kids is about more than just making a short adult skate. In addition to its lighter weight and shorter length, we’ve rounded all of the edges on Kit for safer handling and falls, and we optimized Kit to use a smaller Jr. NNN binding. We also coated Kit with three durable, fun, and colorful kid-friendly finishes. We customized the coatings on Kit to make them glossier and easier to clean.
My kid needs new boots every year, will I have to get new skates every year too?
We’re happy to report that Kit can grow with your kid. Kit’s Salmonshark Jr. binding mount pattern provides four different mounting positions. As kids get older and boots get bigger, you can move the binding forward on the skate to keep it balanced correctly. Kit fits boots up to EU40.
What are appropriate ages for a kid to Nordic skate?
We designed Kit around smaller boots, not age per se. Every kid is different, and we believe that parents are in the best position to decide when their children are ready to Nordic skate.
What kind of binding does Kit use?
Kit is designed for Salomon’s Prolink (NNN) Jr. line of bindings, including the Prolink Access Skate Jr. and Prolink Race Skate Jr. These bindings are compatible with NNN boots.
Is Kit built to the same standard as your adult skates?
Yes. We believe that a kids Nordic skate needs to be built to the same – it not higher – standard as an adult skate when it comes to performance and durability. Kit uses the same type of aluminum deck as our A-Series skates, and the same 1.57mm stainless steel blade. The materials, from the blade steel to the hardened aluminum frame, are exactly the same premium quality as our adult skates.
I'm an adult, can I skate on Kit?
We’re not stopping you! Adults with boot sizes of EU40 or below should have no problem skating Kit. Some adults with smaller feet have reported that Kit is exceptionally fun and highly maneuverable, though it gives up a bit of stability and glide.
Where is Kit made?
Kit is designed and manufactured right here in Southcentral Alaska by the team at Ermine Skate. Purchasing Kit helps support Ermine, local manufacturing, and the local small businesses and groups that we partner with.
Nordic skating safety tips – skating with kids
Kids love Nordic skating just as much as adults! That said, a few tips will help you maximize safety and fun on wild ice with younger adventurers.
- Kids need safety gear and training too. Kids are resilient, but at the end of the day they still need to follow the same best practices for safety as adults. That includes (but is not limited to) access to self-rescue picks and dry clothes, and the training to both self-rescue and assist in a rescue. Helmets should be considered mandatory, and other pads (such as knee or elbow pads) may be helpful.
- Kids can get far out on thin ice. Because they weigh much less than adults, kids (and dogs!) can often get far out on ice that cannot support an adult. This can potentially make rescues far more difficult. Supervision, ice testing, and situational awareness is essential. Avoid taking kids on or near moving water, where the consequences of an immersion are vastly increased.
- Dress kids for warmth. Kids should be dressed in clothing that will stay warm when wet. Wool works, though fully synthetic materials are even better. Avoid cotton, Lyocell, bamboo, hemp, or other organic fabrics since they absorb water.
For additional tips, please see “Wild Ice Play with Kids,” by Kristin Katoski.