What do guys wear for practice? I usually wear sweats (the baggy kind) but I want to get something a little less ugly.

Aside from tights for speedskating, I've never bought stretchy stuff before so I have no idea about sizing. I want something in-between sweats and tights. Guess I should check-out a sporting goods store, because neither the pro-shop nor regular clothing stores are any good for this.

I currently wear three different black men's semi-dress slacks to skate in, and one dark blue pair. The brands include Claiborne, Hagger, and Dockers available at a local department store for about $25-30/pair.

The Haggers are fairly comfortable because they have a stretch waist to accomodate movement, but have a low crotch (for me at least). Verdict - grandpa pants.

The Dockers and the Claiborns are both 100% cotton, but I've found that the edges of the pockets tend to lighten on the Dockers after repeated washings.

The Claibornes are my favorites (although the fit is a little more snug than the others) especially because the pocket lining is black. On most dress trousers the pockets are made of a white material that shows when you're bent at the waist or your legs are elevated, but the black pockets of the Claibornes blends in. I hate to be skating and think I'm about to lose my handkerchief when it's nothing more me catching a glimpse of the pocket interior.

A skating friend once bought a stretchy fabric athletic outfit (trousers, plus a turtleneck top) for me to wear to the rink, but I felt a little self conscious in the thin, clingy fabric. The trousers weren't tights, but were fairly close fitting. Besides they had no pockets on the side for my always-needed handkerchief. The pocket was located on the rear, but I don't like to put anything there because I'll eventually fall on it.

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Bill Schneider

I forgot to mention that I don't like my blue pair of Dockers much because I look like a Maytag appliance repairman on the ice.

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Bill Schneider

Hi
I got a pant jacket set from REI that's full of stretch, cut like regular mens slackes, made for outdoor wet (or puddles on ice), quick dry,breathable, sharp contemporary cut, and zip pockets so I don't drop my stuff on the ice. Perfect
It's slightly lighter the ski wear so it's wearable all year round

Lee

When its cold, I prefer the polartec skating pants. These are so called unisex but are usually listed in women's sizes - just get a size larger. One thing I like about them is they have a high crotch - I hate being hobbled by baggies. Occaisionally they are on sale at dancefactoryoutlet.com

When its warmer, I like to wear pants by otomix. These are light weight karate pants with lots of crazy colors. Their only problem is that they are baggies so I wear them high on my waist.

I'm also a big fan of wearing a dance jock aka dance belt for support. Much better than anything else I've tried.

For tops, I like a skin layer of a Walmart elcheapo compression shirt. Everything else just slides over it very nicely.

I also like to use a neoprene waist wrap (sold for "spot weight loss") around my lower back - this really helps with the back achies.

Lyle

I wear old competition pants from BlueSkys (that I bought when the US dollar was strong against the Canadian dollar--not the case anymore!):
http://www.blueskys.com/Catalogue/pr...catidx=1&cat=5

I believe I have the 4010C. I also have the 4010CV, but I've only worn them once ( ) since I've been using my pair outfit for my singles program as well.

Some other skating wear for men:
http://www.mondor.com/en/md_GlaceCol...&sStyleKey=747

http://www.gk-elitesportswear.com/CG...12763G+DEV+ENG

http://www.onwardonline.com/Merchant...Category_Code=

I like all these pants because they are stretchy, not baggy, and have a stirrup.

A while back, I had Nike running pants, and they were good until they ripped by the zip ankles.

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Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

I sometimes wear sweat pants or running pants, but I don't like the windbreaker material because it is too noisy when doing crossovers. LOL So it has to be a cotton/nylon sorta blend.

But usually I either wear my Capezio cotton stretchy pants, or these black nylon stretchy pants that I found in the women's section at Target. OK, ok, har har har. But you get to a point where you just don't care anymore and you want what will work. I got so sick of buying pants that hung too low in the crotch on the mediums, and were high-waters on the smalls.

So, walking by the women's section I see these pants and I say to my wife "Now why can't they make that for men?" So she says 'Just get them then'. And you'll be happy to know I'm a ladies' medium and they are still my favorite skating pants.

Oh yeah, I like the stretchiness for comfort, but you need to wear a shirt that hangs a little low ... if you get my drift. ;-)

For shirts it is usually just a tee shirt with a sweat shirt over it. Once I warm up I am fine in the tee shirt, and even a sleeveless shirt in the summer. I have even wore shorts skating in the summer.

Tim

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People dream of flying, birds dream of skating.

Track pants and tights I gave up on sweatpants because whenever I wear them, I would get my toe picks stuck within the bulk and it would cause me to trip over So careful when wearing sweats

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Tim David's Website

I wear a t-shirt and a pair of training pants. I guess that's what you would call them.

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The spotted bird flies
Rising through winds of turmoil
I am not regret.

Shinn! You're still here! How is your skating coming?

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Casey Allen Shobe | http://casey.shobe.info
"What matters is not experience per se but 'effortful study'."
"At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable" ~ Christopher Reeve

If the white pocket is a problem, you could just have it sewn closed and then cut out. Anyone who has a sewing machine and can sew a straight seam could do this.. or if you're truly desperate, take it to a tailor or a dry-cleaner and have them do it.

The thought has crossed my mind, but I NEED those pockets for my handkerchief! Further down in my post I mention a pair of stretchy athletic pants that have only a pocket on the rear - where I fall. No lumps there please!

In a rink, I must have a handkerchief for my high-performance nose!

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Bill Schneider

Hey you guys,

Se_ku makes a really cool looking thermal top for men. Pairsman2 has one (I bought it for him at the Dallas, Adult Nationals) Se_ku is an official sponsor of the Adult Pair Skating Website and will have a booth at Adult Nationals in Chicago--so, don't forget to stop by and ask for the men's top--it's soft and it moves and it has a hot looking logo. She directly supports skaters, so let's support her! Thanks guys...it would be nicer if you could look a little "hotter" for us out there!

The Secu shirt is very comfortable and looking good is alway a premium!



BTW, Tim
'But usually I either wear my Capezio cotton stretchy pants, or these black nylon stretchy pants that I found in the women's section at Target. OK, ok, har har har. But you get to a point where you just don't care anymore and you want what will work'



I was in the mall recently and I saw these yound guys wearing jeans with the weirdest cut I'd ever seen, so thin in the leg my arm wouldn't even fit in them and really baggy in the a**, even with super low waist. I was informed by my daughter that guys are now buying womens jeans.....(&*%&^%$^%$^%$

I'd settle for lukewarm at my age.

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Bill Schneider

I "graduated" hubby into the realm of real skating pants, but he occasionally wears these cotton pants with an elastic waist (i.e. baggy grandpa pants-they look horrible!!!). I made him 2 pair of pants out of heavyweight stretch gabardine (one has silver piping down the side-at his request).

He also has pants we bought from Walmart-exercise pants. They were really baggy in the leg (he's a bit portly and that's the way they are made) so I took in the legs to give a leaner line. I stitched the pockets closed so he would not put his keys in them !

None of his pants have stirrips.

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

Running pants or running tights. I have to have something that is fairly tight around the cuff/ankle . I cant stand getting my blade caught in my pants in a spin or jump ! I really ripped up a pair of good nylon running pants so go with the more stretchy type. I bought some Asics running pants that are tighter than most pants but a little looser than tights. They have a zipper on the lower leg that is good in some aspects but the zipper tends to open up at times.

People may not enjoy seeing a dude figure skate around in running tights but too damn bad . They work for me......big butt and all!

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Why are you skating so slowly? Get out of my way!

If you skate faster, it makes everything look better!

The Husband wears a pair of tracky bums with an elasticated cuff at the ankle - he does have a pair of green sweatpants, ditto, but finds them too warm, plus he looks like a leprechaun in them, so almost never wears them. His trackies are nice, though.

For dance club he has a very, very, very old pair of skating trousers that weigh a ton that we bought by mistake in a jumble sale many years ago, and then a few years later found them in an old sack of jumble we'd put away and forgotten about - just in time for him to wear them to compete. Anybody who's seen him compete has seen these trousers, basically!

However, they have always been a little tight, and now he's gone back to free skating, they keep splitting in the wrong place when he does a spiral, so we have just invested in a cheap (and to be honest, not desperately nice) pair of skating trousers from Bunty. We may yet invest in a rather nicer pair, but he needed a pair in a hurry! Not a lot wrong with them, except he finds them cold, and although we ordered the correct size, they are a bit big for him.

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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!

Erm, actually I wear jeans to skate in. I know some people may think negatively of them, but I find them comfy.

On top, a long sleeved merino t-shirt - that fabric is magic!!

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Skate Free

Um, Mrs RB - is there a "right" place to split??

X-C Ski Pants by Sporthill

BillS,

Why settle for luckwarm? Here's a secret (not that anyone should care what I think), but since I'm in the boys locker room right now, I'll share a secret:

Men in their late 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's (and I even know a man/skater in his 70's) who are graying, but in shape and skating are the "hottest/sexiest" men on this planet! Beats the young men skating, or any young man at all.

Nothing like mature men, in shape, and on the ice to raise the temperature in the room!

Why am I always in the boys locker room???

Oh, and there's nothing like a Pairsman, too!

how about us immature but greying lost boys??
Lyle

Team,

When are you and the Mrs. Team going to come aboard the Adult Pair Skating Website? Since you are skating pairs, we'd love to have you on the website!
Email me: acooper19426@earthlink.net

Lovepairs

I think my days of looking "hot" are long past...I'll settle for room temperature ( and a cold beer!).

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Keeping School Figures Alive!!