I remember unboxing my first pair of proper roller skates, lacing them up, and immediately hearing a sound that made me think I had bought a lemon. Every push produced a squeak. Every turn had a click. I almost returned them that same week.
If you are asking yourself why your new skates squeak and click, the short answer is this: you are not alone, and your skates are probably not broken. Most noises from brand-new skates come down to three things, and each one has a straightforward fix. In this guide I will walk you through both sounds specifically, what causes them, when they signal a real problem, and exactly how to silence them.
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What causes new skates to squeak and click?
New skates make noise because nothing has settled yet. Out of the box, every moving part is dry, every screw is at factory torque, and every boot liner is still stiff. The moment you start skating, friction and small movements produce vibrations that translate into the squeaks and clicks you hear.
Squeaks happen when two surfaces rub together without enough lubrication. Metal on metal, plastic on metal, even leather on leather can all squeak when dry. The pitch of a squeak is usually higher and more continuous, especially under load, like when you push off or lean into a turn.
Clicks happen when a part shifts a tiny amount and then snaps back into place, or when something loose taps against another surface. A click is shorter, sharper, and usually tied to a specific motion like stepping, stopping, or spinning a wheel.
Both sounds are amplified in new skates because the components have not yet worn into each other. Once parts are seated and a thin layer of lubricant or moisture builds up, most of these noises disappear on their own.
Common causes of squeaking in new skates
Squeaking in new skates is almost always a friction problem. Here are the most common culprits I have run into, both on my own skates and on pairs our team has tested.
Dry pivot cups and bushings
The pivot cup and bushings sit where the truck meets the plate on roller skates and inline skates. These are the parts that let you turn. When they are dry, every lean produces a high-pitched squeak that seems to come from the wheels but actually comes from up inside the boot.
Factory grease on these parts is usually minimal. A single drop of silicone-based lubricant on the pivot point is often enough to silence the squeak for weeks.
Bearings that need lubrication
New bearings sometimes ship with light factory oil, but it is rarely enough for actual skating. When bearings run dry, they create a thin, persistent squeal that gets louder the faster you go. If you spin a wheel by hand and hear a high whine, the bearings are the prime suspect.
Liner rubbing against the boot shell
This is the one nobody talks about. New skate liners are stiff, and your foot moves slightly inside the boot. That micro-movement creates friction between the liner and the plastic or carbon shell. The result is a creak or squeak that happens with every stride, and it can fool you into thinking the sound is coming from the wheels.
It usually disappears after a week or two of regular use as the liner molds to your foot.
Leather boot break-in creaks
If you skate in leather boots (figure skates, Riedell, Jackson, Sure-Grip), expect some squeaking for the first few sessions. Leather stiffens when dry and produces a creaky, almost saddle-like sound as it flexes. It is part of the break-in process and goes away once the leather absorbs some moisture from use.
Common causes of clicking in new skates
Clicking sounds are different from squeaks, and they point to a different set of issues. If you hear a click, your skate is trying to tell you something specific. Here is what most clicks mean.
Loose axle nuts and wheel mounting bolts
The number one cause of clicking in new roller skates is axle hardware that was not tightened properly at the factory. When you spin a wheel and hear a tick-tick-tick, or when you hear a click every time your weight shifts onto a particular wheel, suspect the axle nut or the bearing lock nut.
I check mine after the first session, then again after the third. Factory torque is rarely perfect.
Missing or wrong-size bearing spacers
Bearing spacers are small metal cylinders that sit between the two bearings inside each wheel. Without a spacer, the bearings can shift side to side slightly, producing a click that speeds up as you roll faster. Many budget skates ship without proper spacers, and even quality skates sometimes have mismatched sizes.
If every wheel clicks at speed, spacers are your likely culprit.
Heel screws and blade mounting hardware
For ice skates, clicking usually points to the screws that hold the blade to the boot. Pro shops often do a temporary mount, then a final mount after you have skated the boots a few times. If you hear clicks when you walk off-ice, especially under the heel or ball of the foot, the blade hardware likely needs a re-mount.
Community forums like goldenskate.com have hundreds of threads on this exact issue. It is one of the most common complaints from new figure skaters.
Toe stop bolts working loose
On roller skates, the toe stop is held on by a single bolt. When that bolt loosens, the toe stop rocks back and forth slightly with each step and clicks against the plate. It is a quick fix with a wrench, but a lot of new skaters never think to check it.
Is it normal for new skates to make noise? Break-in explained
Yes, it is normal. Almost every pair of new skates makes some noise in the first few sessions, and most of it goes away on its own within a week or two of regular skating. Knowing what to expect helps you tell the difference between normal break-in and an actual problem.
Typical break-in timeline by skate type
Roller skates (quad): 2 to 6 sessions for most squeaks to settle, longer for new leather boots.
Inline skates: 1 to 3 sessions for hardware to settle and bearings to redistribute lubricant.
Ice skates (figure): 5 to 15 hours of ice time for boot creaks to fade, plus a professional blade mount within the first month.
Ice skates (hockey): 3 to 8 hours of ice time, though clicking from loose blade hardware should be addressed immediately.
When to worry and when to wait
Wait it out if the noise is a soft squeak that fades as you skate, a creak from leather, or a faint tick that disappears once the skates warm up.
Worry (and fix) if you hear sharp clicks that do not change with temperature, grinding sounds, wheels that wobble when spun, or any noise paired with looseness you can feel when you tilt the skate side to side.
Why Edea boots squeak more than other brands
This comes up constantly on Reddit and skating forums. Edea figure boots are known for squeaking more than other brands during break-in because of their lightweight, heat-moldable construction. The boot flexes more, which means more movement between the liner and the shell. It is not a defect. It is just how that boot breaks in.
How to stop new skates from squeaking and clicking
Now for the good part. Here is exactly how our team silences a noisy new pair of skates, in the order we always try.
Tightening hardware – tools and technique
For roller skates, grab a skate tool or a set of wrenches that fit your axle nuts and kingpin. Tighten each axle nut until the wheel spins freely with no side-to-side play. Then check the kingpin nut on each truck, and the toe stop bolt.
For ice skates, take them to a pro shop for blade mounting. Do not try to tighten blade screws yourself unless you have been trained, because over-tightening can strip the mounting holes in the boot.
Pro tip from skate techs: tighten to snug, then back off a quarter turn. Over-tightening strips screws and cracks plates.
Lubrication: what to use and what to avoid
Use silicone-based lubricant or PTFE dry lube on pivot points, bushings, and toe stop mounts. Use a few drops of bearing oil on each bearing after cleaning them. Use a thin coat of leather conditioner on leather boots.
Avoid WD-40 as a long-term solution. It is a water-displacer, not a true lubricant. It will silence a squeak for a day or two, then the noise comes back worse as the WD-40 evaporates and leaves residue behind. If you must use it, follow up with a proper lubricant.
Liner and boot shell solutions
If the squeak is coming from the liner rubbing against the shell, try this. Remove the liner, sprinkle a tiny amount of baby powder or talc inside the shell, then reinsert the liner. The powder reduces friction and the squeak usually disappears.
For leather boots, wearing them around the house with thick socks for a few hours helps the leather flex and mold faster.
Skate maintenance checklist
Once you have silenced the noise, keep it that way with a simple maintenance routine.
Before each session, give your wheels a quick spin and listen for clicks. Wiggle each wheel side to side to check for play. Make sure toe stops are tight.
Weekly, wipe down the boots, check axle nuts, and inspect the trucks for any looseness.
Monthly, clean and re-lubricate the bearings, check bushings for wear, and inspect the liner for any tears.
Seasonally, take roller skates apart for a full clean, and take ice skates to a pro shop for a blade check and remount if needed.
Frequently asked questions
How long do new skates take to break in?
Most new skates take between 2 and 15 hours of active use to fully break in. Roller skates and inline skates usually settle within 2 to 6 sessions, while ice skates and leather boots can take 5 to 15 hours of ice time. Squeaks and clicks are normal during this period and often disappear on their own once components seat and the liner molds to your foot.
Why are my skates squeaking?
Squeaking in new skates is caused by friction between dry or unlubricated parts. The most common sources are dry pivot cups and bushings, bearings that need lubrication, the liner rubbing against the boot shell, and stiff leather during break-in. A small amount of silicone-based lubricant or a few hours of regular skating usually resolves the noise.
Do I need to oil my roller skates?
Yes, bearings and pivot points on roller skates benefit from regular lubrication. Use a few drops of bearing oil on each bearing after cleaning, and silicone-based lubricant on pivot cups and bushings. Avoid WD-40 as a long-term solution because it evaporates quickly and leaves residue that can attract dirt.
How do I break in my new skates?
Start with short sessions of 20 to 30 minutes to let the liner warm up and mold to your foot. For roller skates, skate on smooth surfaces and avoid aggressive maneuvers until the boots flex naturally. For ice skates, expect a pro shop blade remount within the first month as the boot compresses. Wearing leather boots around the house with thick socks also speeds up the break-in process.
Final thoughts on why your new skates squeak and click
If you take one thing away from this guide, let it be this: noisy new skates are almost always fixable with 15 minutes and a basic tool kit. Squeaks point to friction, clicks point to loose hardware, and both are normal during break-in. Tighten what is loose, lubricate what is dry, and give your boots time to mold to your foot.
Within a couple of weeks of regular skating, most of the noise will be gone, and you will be left with exactly what you bought: a quiet, smooth pair of skates ready for whatever you throw at them.