well i've decided that white boot covers look kind of stupid... so i'm probably going to get leopard print. however i'm having some doubts now... will they look stupid??? too showy? I'm level 6 skate uk (passed test ) and am doing 3 turns and spins (hence my siggy )anyway... go for it or wait until I'm a bit better? I do need covers though, as my boots are already getting scratches etc..

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or zebra print? the stripes are vertical though

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Would the leopard-print boot covers make you happy? Would you smile when you see them and enjoy skating in them? If so, you should wear them!

I am a 44-year old woman, and have just started skating. I've had a total of five lessons. (Yes, AOSS claims another victim!) After the first lesson, I bought a pair of skates. After the second lesson, I made a knee-length skating dress with matching boot covers out of pin-striped stretch cotton velvet (black and grey). After the fourth lesson, I made a matching helmet cover with a fluffy black fur band.

Now I'm at work on a second skating dress, which will have matching boot covers and helmet cover. I am at the ISI pre-alpha level of skating (one-foot glides), and have heard only encouraging, admiring, or amused comments from my fellow adult skaters and coaches about my skating ensemble. Your rink's atmosphere may be different, but really, unless someone else is paying your bills, you should wear what makes YOU happy!

(I wave hello to everyone, having been lurking for a couple of weeks.)

Besides, I skate with more joy than grace, but at least I can amuse or divert people by my snappy outfits, even if I can't dazzle them with "mad skating skilz."

You get an A+ for creative writing and design, too. LOL

Welcome to skatingforums.com!

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Buy whichever boot covers you will enjoy most, but the best way to protect your skates is with skate tape. Electrical tape will work also, BTW. The only problem with taping your boots is that you have remove it and reapply it once a month to avoid staining the leather. Before taping, use a cream polish, let it dry, but don't buff it. I've seen some very clever designs done in tape.

Welcome, bootcovers! I admire you spirit. You must ask Mrs. Redboots how she chose her forum name .

I bought yellow, black and red flame boot covers to wear when I teach kids learn to skate, and they love them. I also have a fleece hat that ties under the chin and has animal ears on top. The kids absolutely love it, and I've had some amused comments from adults.

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if u like elaopard print i say go for it. In my opinion the patterned boot covers look really cute and if ur feet tend to get cold u can also get these special insulated boot covers that look even cuter and warm ur feet up.


patters look betetr than solid colors anyways when it comes to boot covers lol

I've always worn boot covers from the day I decided I was going to take this sport seriously! I decided that I'd far rather, until the regulars at the rink knew my name, they thought of me as "The woman with the red bootcovers" than as "That fat woman who can't skate!"

These days I have a rainbow of them, and am still in the market for orange, bottle green and deep rose, if anybody has any they don't want!

And I do find they protect my skates, but not from the nicks that ice-dancers are prone to...

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Mine are bright orange, and I've only just passed level 4 . I had this kid come up to me the other day, and go 'wow, you have pinky boot covers!'. I think if you're going to be embarrased about skating in leopard print then don't, but if you're not, go for it!

I now have a one inch cut in one of my Ice Lights neoprene boot covers. Anyone know if superglue will work on it? Otherwise I can probably stitch it up, but that will show for sure. Don't know how it happened, except that it was probably one of the kids in my classes.

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lol well I don't think I'll be the most outrageous skater at my rink in leopard print boot covers... one woman is planning on dyeing her boots in pink leopard print (not sure how one would dye a skate in a pattern...but still) I would LOVE to see her skates after the dye. Anyway, I shall probably buy the boot covers tonight... thanks for all the answers and welcome, bootcovers

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At least one manufacturer makes leopard-print skates; I've seen 'em! Very splendid. And gold and silver ones, too - I asked what was the point of silver ones, as who would ever want to admit they were only second?!

Of course, you could always buy beige skates and paint burberry-pattern stripes on them for the truly chav look!

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

mmm chav... appealing

anyway, have just bought the leopards off eBay... will hopefully get them soon! shall post a picture here

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One of the coaches at my rink bought leopard print skates, and they were really cool looking. Another died her skates pink and put some stickers on them!

yay i got them and they're really cool!!!

I also saw the woman at our rink with the pink leopard print skates. very nice. she dyed them pink and put some stickers on them too. not as nice as my ones though!

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Pfft what trouble! I go through a pair of boot covers a WEEK. I make mine myself. I even patch them up with pieces of material on top, attached with zigzag stitches. They look like a total mess but protect my boots!
I have like... 8 different pairs, most black cuz that fits with anything, but also purple and white ones and stuff.

BTW, if white looks stupid, try dyeing them in strong tea! Makes em kinda offwhite and prettyer.


Bootcovers are easy enough to make even on a normal sewing machine, you don't need a lock machine. Lycra is available at markets and shops and other materials you'll need are thread and rubber bands (the easyest kind).

Okay, a little off-the wall here, but the other day in freestyle, a girl came on whose black over the boot tights and black legwarmers created for a second (from a distance) the illusion of knee-high black skates (or rather, bootcovers). Then she came closer and I was disappointed when I saw the lines of the legwarmers and the holes in the tights.

Being somewhat gothy/bohemian/off-the wall with my fashion outside of the corporate world, however, I thought-- how cool would it be if I could skate in black knee-high bootcovers? Then, i thought.. hmm... sueded material would be even cooler. Does something like this exist?

(of course, that would just draw more unneeded attention to me but I just looooove the thought of wearing "boots" on the ice!)

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When asked what his "secret" to success was, Wayne Gretsky said: "Skate to where the puck is going and not to where it has been."
Is the figure skating version of this: Skate as if you're doing an axel and not just learning how to hop?

Emberchyld, if you can knit - or have someone who knits for you - I'll send you a pattern for knitted boot covers. You can make these as long as you like - I have a pair that look like black sandals with white knee socks attached!

I've also seen people make "pretend" knee-length skates by attaching (say) the leg part of an old pair of (street) boots to a pair of boot covers. Or make them out of a PVC material.

Or you could go with the black leg-warmers and black boot covers.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

hey, mrs redboots, is the knitting pattern for actual bootcovers or just legwarmers?

if it is for bootcovers, can you please email it to me? (peanutskates@hotmail.com) I knit (sometimes... still have to finish this top I'm making ) but I would LOVE to make my own boot covers. as long as it's not too hard...

thank you

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Thank you... I can barely knit (but can cast out a mean row with a crochet needle), but I'd like to give your pattern a try (cib7088@njit.edu).

I'll look into maybe attaching a stretchy material tube to regular bootcovers and see how that works, too.

(not like everyone at my rinks don't think I'm crazy as is...)

Thanks!

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When asked what his "secret" to success was, Wayne Gretsky said: "Skate to where the puck is going and not to where it has been."
Is the figure skating version of this: Skate as if you're doing an axel and not just learning how to hop?

You two both have mail!

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

how did you know?

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Mrs. Redboots, you are the best!

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When asked what his "secret" to success was, Wayne Gretsky said: "Skate to where the puck is going and not to where it has been."
Is the figure skating version of this: Skate as if you're doing an axel and not just learning how to hop?

I'm sorry for the spam but I did a little page on how to make bootcovers yourself - probably most of you ladies already have a pretty good idea anyway!

But for those who have never tried, take a look:
http://www.geocities.com/sessy_liz/b...ootcovers.html

Skip the parts in Dutch. All it says in Dutch it says in English too.

Mrs Redboots, could I please have your bootcover knitting pattern too?

I have lots and lots of bright coloured wool from making toys, and I rather fancy loudly striped bootcovers

Not sure about the superglue, but on googling...came across this:
http://www.miracleglue.com/howneoprene.htm
which tells me that it should work (the two glues seem to be the same, don't they?)

and I also found this:
http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text....34374302881785

but try the superglue first and see if that works.

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