If you’ve paid good money for your ice skates and want to get the most out of your investment then we’ve got some tips for you.

 If you are a parent who has a child in figure skating and will be trading in skates as your child grows then a good idea is to cover the boot with skate tape or as it is known sk8tape brand tape.  This will protect the boot and keep them looking new so when you trade them in you get more value back.

Check out the picture below and see the effect the tape has!

skate tape on ice skates

Dramatic difference of using skate tape on ice skates!

 For hockey skates the toe of the boot gets a lot of wear and tear.  One thing you can do to help protect the toe is to coat it with a polymer coating such as What a Toe or Bauer has a good method also.

 When you lace up your skates never wrap laces around your ankles.  This will cause damage to you boot at ankle level and wear the support out.  If you feel you need to do this, you’ve chosen the wrong size of ice skate or they have worn out supports and it’s probably time to bronze these ones over and retire them, go get a new pair.

 Be sure to dry the blades off after you take them off.  Remember they are cold from being on the ice so if you bring them into a warm environment they may condensate again.  Check them about half an hour after you get home and wipe them off again. 

You can get soakers that stretch over the blade and soak up extra sweat as well.

Use the plastic guards when coming off the ice to get to your dressing room.  This will ensure you don’t knick and edge.  Never leave plastic guards on the blades ever, only use them to transport short distances and then remove them.  If you leave them on they will rust your blades.  Wipe off the outer surface of your boot as well.

 Some people like to go barefoot in their skates.  This is a personal choice but I don’t recommend it because moisture exposure shortens the life of your boot.  A sock will soak most foot sweat up and prolong the life of your boot.  Along with this remove the sole insert if you can, and allow it to dry out in the open air away from your boot.  Some people even have boot dryers.

 The boot should be waxed periodically to protect and lengthen its life.  You can buy special polish from the manufacturer of the skate that is better than the regular shoe polish you get at the corner store.  Many skaters recommend Renapur leather balsam.

 When you get home let your boots air out in a room temperature area.  Don’t put them near any source of heat such as a furnace vent.  You can get skate driers from your local skate store.  These help absorb sweat and odour nicely.  Lay them on their side on a towel for one day and switch over to the other side next day.  Never hand them by their blades ever.

 Check over your laces to make sure they won’t break.  Also carry an extra set of laces with you as a back up just in case.

 Check your blade mounting and make sure there is no play in the mount.  If the blades are held on by screws check the tightness.  If a rivet is loose have it replaced as soon as possible.

 Sharpen your blades regularly (approx 20 – 40 hours of use) by a qualified skate sharpener.  Talk to others in the same sport as you and you will soon hear of a good place to take them to.

 If you are going to store your ice skates for a longer period of time put some Vaseline on the blades, wax the boots, store them in low humidity and tied them together hanging them.  Never just lay them on the floor blade down.

 Take care of your ice skates and you will get the most out of them.

60 Comments »