So the boot covers are good at protecting my boots, but the soles are, of course, on their own.

They're not leather (Riedell 133s), and I found today that if they get scraped, it's noticeable. It's like the color scrapes off and leaves a lighter-colored patch (I noticed this thing about the color transfer my first time out, when I noticed a couple small brown streaks on the boots themselves--which really got me rolling on making my boot covers!).

Anyone with non-leather soles have tips for this? If worse comes to worst, I'll just go at them with brown shoe polish or a brown Sharpie or crayon or something, but that's my "ghetto-rig" way of doing things and I figured i"d see if someone else has a better solution first...

I wonder if I do something like shellac them, will that help seal the color, or will it cause problems somewhere down the road (cracking, flaking off, generally looking ugly, etc.)?

Do what you want, but I tend to look at nicks and scrapes on my boots as badges of honor and don't stress over them too much. If my boots were in mint condition, it would mean I wasn't doing anything in them!

I agree - "lived in" skates are fine. No one else notices scratches but the owner, lol. It's like a new car.

Don't paint or shellac them; it might not stick to the PVC and some coatings could actually melt the plastic soles. Yuck. Plus, it's a messy task.

If it's really bugging you out, take a skate into an arts supply store and match the original sole color to a permanent or paint marker. Test in an out-of-the-way spot like the heel upright part, to be sure it doesn't melt the PVC. You can then touch up as much as you like.

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When I was skating synchro, we had to paint our (leather) soles black. We used either sharpie or black nail polish. A few of us just used black electric tape.

If it really bothers you, just use a sharpie or paint pen or something simple. Like the others mentioned, no one notices but you. I'm on my 3rd season in my current boots (2nd full season), other than having to tape the soles for synchro the first few months I had them, I've never done anything to cover or protect them (other than sno-seal on the soles). They've got some scratches but they're battle wounds and you can't see them from the ice anyway.

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2010-2011 goals:
Pass Junior MIF test
Don't break anything

I've learnt my lesson to leave my skates alone unless I'm really sure of what I'm doing.

I doubt that people can see the scruffs when you're skating. Are you more worried about the color transferring to the white area of the boots? You can always tape the whole sole in brown tape, like electrical tape, or tape your boots (skate tape).

Best thing to do is to do nothing.

I'm not sure about taping the OP's soles - they're molded PVC with lines etched into them. It would definitely change the look and since the surface isn't even, it might let moisture/mold build up in the grooves unless you could get it to mold completely.

I know it's popular, I've even used it on my leather soles, but I don't think it's a good tool for this situation. Just mho.

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Oh sorry, I forgot that PVC soles aren't flat-surfaced...

Don't let the scruffs bother you! I know it's tough to actually do that though!

Trace the current blade mount positions. Demount the blades. Sand smooth. Remount blades in the original positions. Oops, you sanded the marks away! Oh, well.

Now I've an even better idea.

Use very rough sandpaper. Make many big scuffs.

Soon you won't notice the little ones.

Problem fixed.

Wonder if you could melt the PVC surface...

( Please don't take these suggestions seriously. All in fun. )

P.S. If the scuffs are on the edge of the sole, it shows you have nice deep edges. If on the very bottom, no one else will know unless you are in the air and they are below you. In which case they have other things to worry about!

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Mitch Grunes ModifyingBoots FallingGently HomePage

They're on the edges, but as I've only seen them in the past couple days I know it's from some variation of the "clink of death" on my back crossovers. Nice deep edges, me? I wish!!

Click of Death or Backspin wounds are badges of honour, wear them with pride

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

I wouldn't worry about it either. Dd's first pair of skates were like yours. Hers were Riedell Blue Ribbon(121) skates. I know she got some brown scuffs on her boots and some nicks in her soles, but nothing too horrible. I worried more about her soles when she went into skates with leather soles. And then, it wasn't so much how they looked but how to protect them!

Anyway, I agree, the scrapes are battle wounds to be proud of. I've owned my skates for about a yr and a 1/2 and they still look great. They have some marks on them, but to be honest those marks are more from our sharpener then from me! I have some scrapes on mine from me, but not too many YET! I hope to scuff them up some in the next few months tho! I'm going to start lessons again. YAY! We'l see if this old lady(I am 37) can learn some new tricks!

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skating mom to 3 angels on earth and 1 in heaven

I knew I was a real figure skater again after a break of 20+ years, when I got bloodstains on the top part of the boot!

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

Yeah, baby! Or bloodstains on your laces because they've cut your hands!

LOL this happened to my daughter in January! It was actually quite comical! I went to find her after her improv and I was helping her take her skates off when I noticed blood on her skates and laces. I asked her if she cut herself and her reply was: "No." When I showed her the blood she insisted it was not from her! It was so funny because I had to convince her that it was indeed HER blood. Sure enough, she cut her thumb. She reached up to do a catch spiral during her improv and cut her thumb while doing it! We still laugh about her not being aware that she'd even cut herself.

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skating mom to 3 angels on earth and 1 in heaven