I'm looking into getting a skating skirt for my practices because I very much think that looking the part helps you learn. So, obviously I need tights. Although I currently have a huge supply of pink ballet tights- I have no beige tights.

So here are my questions, to be answered by the experts before I buy.

Do you skate in one pair of tights or two? My drill team always wore 2 pairs of beige tights, but in ballet we only wear one pair of pink- and the pink is more see through. Which is more common in the skating world?

What brand or material of tights is your favorite?

Do you prefer over the boot or in the boot tights? Why?

Thanks I am currently high bidder on a really cheap, but cute skirt on ebay- that I'm kind of hoping I'll be outbid on, I'm not too sure it's going to fit. And after I found that I found an adorable Capezio one. Eh, I'll ask that here too- (just changed the subject line)

Where is your favorite place to find skating skirts? I've found them harder to find on websites than skating dresses, which I'm not really looking for at this point. What style skirt do you like most?

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-Jessi
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Recently I bought mondor style #3310 footed tights in suntan, I just ordered to put on top of that the footless version of that which is mondor 3312. the extra footless on top will give me more warmth. I have also skated with just regular black opaque tights and capezio black footless dance tights on top. However the suntan will look better against my skirts that are colorful and not black. At first I felt silly wearing skating tights but y'know what sometimes if you dress the part you feel it more. same with ballet, in ballet I wear a leotard even though some of my peers come in yoga stlye clothes. Oh i chose not to buy over-the-boot, since I've seen so many other skaters with holes in them, no sense buying these expensive tights and then having to throw them out. check out ebay for some good buys on tights.

I buy danskin tights (I think that's how it's spelled). I wear one pair of footed tights and one footless that tuck into the skates.

I think whether or not you get over-the-boot tights or not is basically just a personal preference. I used to wear over the boot tights all the time and then switched over. There really is no different for me, though.

As for skating skirts, sorry, but no idea. I buy my skating dresses from a dressmaker locally (well, as a treat, very rarely, since they cost over $100 a pop. . .they're great, though. I buy them once a year at most).

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Make sure you buy tights that are specifically for skating, they're thicker (ie, warmer), & won't run the first time you fall! I wear one pair, I know some people wear 2--I think maybe it depends on how cold your rink is. I wear thicker tights, & one pair is fine for me.

I only wear one pair -- have never worn two.

Have liked all of the major brands, especially Danskin, Capezio and Baryznakov (I like them, but can't spell).

Suntan or Toast is the color most often worn by figure skaters. I used to wear black when I lived in Boston, but then again, everyone in Boston wore black for everything. Here on the West Coast, suntan is in, I guess!!

I used to always wear footed tights, now I don't like how they feel in my boots (too slippy or something) so I wear footless tights pulled down over the top of my boots. NOT over-the-boot tights which I think are about the weirdest things on the planet.

What? You have a blade on the bottom of your bare foot? Is that the point of those?

Anyway, end of rant.

I know a lot of people wear two or sometimes even three pairs of tights. I can't imagine how hot that would be, even in a cold rink -- if you are working hard, one pair should be enough, but maybe it's my ample body fat that keeps me warm!

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I just wear one pair of tights (unless the rink is freezing). I prefer the footless style, because then I pull them down over my laces. I wear nylon knee-hi's on my feet. The way I see it, I like to be able to get to my feet quickly if I need to, without having to undress. I do have a pair of footed tights, but I don't wear them much. I've tried Mondor tights, and I don't really like them much--I don't think they're sized well for an adult body. I really like the Capezio microfiber tights. They look teeny right out of the package, but they stretch really well. And they just feel nice.

Re: skirts--with a wrap skirt, you'll need a leotard. Since you do ballet, I'm sure you've got that covered. Otherwise, you can look for a pull-on skirt. I got mine at a competition booth, but I think Rainbo is one place to find them. I honestly don't wear mine much--I usually end up pulling on cotton aerobic shorts over my tights.

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
--Thomas Jefferson

www.signingtime.com ~sign language fun for all!

I don't wear flesh-tone when I practice -- I wear regular microfiber tights in a dark color, usually from Target or somewhere cheap, and then those black ribbed Mondor footless tights, made out of a sweater-like material.

For competition I wear Capezio light suntan tights with Capezio over-the-boot tights -- I use OTB tights for competition because I wear bunga sleeves, and without the OTB they would show and look really bad.

Oh -- the wrap skirts don't have attached panties -- you can either wear a leotard, or buy some of what we used to call "trunks" in the old days -- thick panty-like objects.

My little secret for this: I wear black cotton stretch underwear (like Jockey for Women-type undies) over my tights. No one is the wiser.

Leotards are a pain in the butt since you have to basically take off everything if you have to go to the bathroom, and that is just no fun!!

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Is Portland the only city with it's own ice-dance website? http://www.pdxicedance.net/

well, i only wear tights for testing and competitions. I just get plain old mondor footed tights because i hate the look of over the boot tights and i have to have something between my foot and the boot or it feels strange. Never wore two pairs..I'd get too hot.

I know you are sure about tights, but I wanna reccomend to you leggings. I always practice in under armour black or navy blue leggings and they are perfect for skating. They keep you warm and don't get in the way, and aren't a huge hassle like some over the boot tights are. They are jsut so comfortable...ideal for skating.

I wear two pairs of tights in the winter and one pair in the summer. I skate in a cold rink. I also wear black Danskin tights over these. Many skaters at my rink just wear a wrap skirt over the black tights/leggings. My local dance shop sells skating tights, Danskin tights/leggings and wrap skirts. If you sew try making your own skirt. I tend to like tights that pull down over my ankle but not my boot. I just wear knee highs for "socks". Wash your tights on the gentle cycle and air dry. The dryer kills them in my experience. Clear nail polish stops runs from becoming huge. Of course this does have it's limits.

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"I truly believe, when God created skating, he patted himself on the back."

I always used to wear a pair of matt (so you don't get the 'double sausage skin' effect if the top pair are a bit shiny) Danskin footed tights (Model 73 I think) with either Mondor thick OTB/stirrup/footless tights over the top for practise or the more sheer OTB for tests/comps.

Although I don't like the look of OTB close up they look ok on the ice and give the illusion of a longer leg line as long as you point your toe .....

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I just wear one pair of tights - Danskin 73 footed tights. It's never occurred to me to put more than one pair on and I'd worry about them feeling a bit too tight if I had on more than one pair. I guess I'm pretty lucky as I (apparently) skate at the warmest rink in the UK.

I also prefer to wear a dress in practice rather than a skirt. I find that with a skirt my top goes up and my skirt goes down, especially on a sit spin, and I hate my lower back being exposed. I don't get that with a dress!

Nicki

I think Slough is just warmer than your rink, Nicki, but it's a close-run thing!

I wear thick black supermarket tights for practice - the kind that are sold 3 pairs for a fiver! And our discount supermarket recently had some wonderful microfibre tights that I stocked up on. It doesn't really matter what you wear, as long as they're warm enough - the only thing is, a hard line at the thigh is a bit ugly, so try to get a pair that doesn't have that. And well worth buying specialist tights - either footed, or OTB, whichever you prefer - for "best" (i.e. test, competition, dance socials, etc).

Usually, for competition, I wear over-boot tights, but always with pop-socks underneath so I can fold the top of the socks down over the lace pegs and protect the tights. And I have one pair of stirrup tights, bought by mistake, which are blissfully warm, so I sometimes wear them to dance club, and then I do wear another pair underneath, but just ordinary 15-denier everyday tights.

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Mrs Redboots
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Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Great- thanks all for the responses! It gives me a lot to go on. I wouldn't have thought to get "skating tights" as opposed to just tan tights.

Thanks also for the advice on the wrap skirts- don't worry I have both leotards and trunks in supply from dance- I can't imagine the person who would have forgotten them, but I appreciate those who stated the obvious to make sure I didn't

I just won this skirt- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=7226411641 on ebay. For only $6 including shipping, I figured if it won't fit I can just give it away. I'm so excited- I've always wanted a skating skirt

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

1 pair... no need for more.

My favorite brand is Mondor, specifically the opaque over-the-boot tights. They're nice and thick plus the hooks are already sewn on. I've had my pair for about 1 1/2 years now and though the over-the-boot part on the right foot is pretty torn from doing lunges I won't give them up!
A close second is Danskin, also over-the-boot tights... pretty much the same thickness as Mondor but not quite as matching to my skin tone in color and the hooks are not sewn on... also the foot part tends to be a bit tight on my size 9 wide skates... still a good pair of tights!

Definitely over-the-boot!!! My first pair of tights were footed and thus for in the boot... I wore them once and never again. I hate how it feels to have my foot in tights and how that feels inside the skate. I prefer wearing nice cotton socks (is warmer too) and that's why I like the OTB tights... not to mention that I like the longer leaner look you get with them (just make sure not to pull them all the way down over the heel... the heel should remain out).

The only two skirts I own were handed down to me from a relative who gave up skating, but in general I love Ebay for skate wear... can't beat the price!!!
Another site I like is www.tidewaterice.com and they carry quite a few skirts as well. My favorite style in skate skirts is the straight flat front with slits on the side... looks more mature... a fact I like since I'm not a little skate girl any more (actually never was since I didn't start skating till I was 38).

In terms of skating skirts, check out your local pro shop for sales. I picked up a pair of skirts for my kids that ended up costing about $21 each. They were on sale for 40% off, so that was a good buy, with no shipping expenses.

I prefer the pull-on skirts with the attached panties, which are more expensive than the circle and wrap skirts. Easy to change into when we come right from school to the rink. (There's a debate on another board about that topic!)

Tights: same deal. Make a note of how much they cost and check out the displays at skating shows and competitions as well as the pro shop. Local dancewear places can order them. If you find a brand/style you like, take the tag to the dancewear place and ask about a discount if you order 10 pair.

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Just moved up from NV, not quite West Coast but close enough, and have a couple pairs of black tights. I like them better than the tan ones with a couple of my dresses and one of my skirts since it gives such a nice long continuous lean line.

Eehm, no it's not as the heel of the boot should still be showing... it just gives the skater a longer looking leg/line that's not cut off at the top of the boot. Since most skaters tend to be on the shorter side and thus often with short legs I find it gives them a nicer look... but that's I guess in the eye of the beholder as all questions of beauty.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that as one of the reasons why I prefer OTB tights... I too like to have my laces covered!

Did you buy an adult size?
I find that my Mondors fit better than my Danskins... but I guess it would also depend on what shape your body is.

I just wear plain tan footed dance tights under microfleece leggings for practice. My favorite brand of the moment is Main Street Dancewear (Wolff Fording).

For tests/competition, I wear the same dance tights, plus I wear a pair of the Mondor microfiber over-the-boot tights. If the rink is really really really cold, I'll wear the Mondor heavyweight OTB tights.

Most days I am doing the quick-change artist imitation to get into my work clothes after skating and head to work, so I find leggings & tights much more convenient (and if all else fails and they're nice leggings, I can just wear them tucked into a pair of boots with a nice hip-length sweater).

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In the future check out this site as well:

http://tidewaterice.com/mondorpage3.htm

The skirts almost all cost less than $21 without being on sale and shipping is not all that much (I think around $5 if I remember correctly) since the skirts (or dresses for that matter) don't weigh much and fit in a padded envelope.

Which board? I'm new to the skating world- so I'm still looking to find the best ones for skaters- most seem to focus on spectating.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Thanks for the link. I still made out great with the ones I bought at the pro shop, but I'll check them out next time I'm buying.

The "other board" is for skating directors and coaches, but if you search in Groups under Yahoo or Google, you can find adult skaters' boards.

[Edited to add:] Learn something new every day - here's a cool site: Ice Skating Addict

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Yeah, I got an adult size. The 'sweater' pair was particularly bad--too narrow in the thighs, and the crotch was, I swear, a mile long. I could have pinned it to my bra and had material left over. And no, it was not a 'body sock'. The stirrup pair I had had those glittery flecks in it, and the material was far too easy to snag. I've never had a problem with my Capezios--even pulling them over the hooks doesn't seem to snag them.

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
--Thomas Jefferson

www.signingtime.com ~sign language fun for all!

I wear two pairs of Capezio ballet tights. There are a lot more colors to choose from, and I can find some that are much closer to my skin tone than the typical "suntan." Yes, I'm a bit anal, but especially for competition I like to have the color of my legs approximate the color of my arms.

I wear two pairs because, as they're dance tights and not skating-specific, they're very thin.

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I need a detachable left foot!

I have taken to wearing 2 pair of footless tights because we officially have hockey ice and it's very very cold!!!. Mondor opaque don't know what model #. I also wear a pair of socks. I don't pull my tights over my laces (I hate that look). I'm weird.

Sometiems I wear a dance skirt and leotard combination for ice dance class-makes me feel pretty when dancing.....different strokes I guess. All the other times I wear pants (and the 2 pair of tights).

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!