Blade Guards and Boot Covers

[DressageChica]

Hi again everyone! I saw in a previous post that some people were mentioning hard blade guards...and from what I read it sounded like the hard blade guards are bad for your skates? Can someone tell me what type of blade guards should be used?

Also, I was wondering if many people use boot covers for practice? The beginner(freestyle 1) adults at my rink use boot covers. I will be getting a new pair of skates soon, and I was wondering if this is something that I would need. I never used boot covers as a child (unless I was at a competition and they were part of my costume). Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

p.s. I'm sorry to ask you so many basic questions about skating, but you have all provided wonderful information! I hope to be as good as everyone else one day so that I can join in on some of the more technical/advanced posts!

[CanAmSk8ter]

Hard blade guards are absolutely necessary for your skates! Any time you're walking around in the skates off the ice you need to have them on. They need to be cleaned occasionally (throw them in the dishwasher- really!) but they are a necessity. The dirt and grit on the floor, even the rubber flooring in the rink, will dull your blades if you walk around without guards.

However, it's crucial that you never put the hard guards on for more than a few minutes when the blades are wet. You need to have a pair of soft soakers as well as the hard guards. After you skate, wipe your blades off with the towel you should have in your bag, let them air out for at least a few minutes, then put the soakers on them. Leave your bag unzipped so that more air can get in and dry your soles and blades the rest of the way.

I don't know anyone who wears boot covers on a regular basis except a couple of coaches who have those puffy thermal ones. Or are you talking about over-the-boot tights worn with a skating dress? I know a few girls who wear those to practice, mainly ice dancers who do it to protect their boots from scuffs from their partner's boots. They're expensive and they rip easily, and they're really not necessary, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[dbny]

Blade guards (hard, plastic) are good for your blades, but only when you are wearing your skates off ice. After skating, you should dry your blades and boots with a soft cloth (terry, chamois, etc.) and put soakers (soft covers, usually terry) on your blades. Never store your skates with the guards on, as the blades can rust.

Nylon boot covers are a matter of fashion and don't do a lot to protect your boots. There are several different brands of boot covers that help keep your feet warm and, incidentally, also help protect your boots. Rainbo Sports (http://rainbosports.com) carry some of them, if you are interested.

[sue123]

everything CanAm said about the hard guards. They're basically for walking around when you're not on the ice, but shouldnt be on for a long time. Leave the soakers on when you're done skating.

i know some people wear over the boot tights or boot covers if they're doing a lot of lunges and don't want to scuff the skates. Also once, when i skated at an outdoor rink, they sold these things called "boot gloves" and they were basically gloves for your boots, meant to keep your feet warm. Maybe that's what those people are wearing if your rink is exceptionally cold?

[DressageChica]

The other skaters are not wearing over the boot tights or the big thick warm covers. They are the nylon/spandex whatever they are covers. And everyone has white ones. I guess they want their skates to still look normal yet they want to protect them? What gets me is that they aren't doing heavy duty jumps or moves...interesting, eh? I suppose they just want to keep their skates looking as nice as possible. But I think I'll pass over the boot covers as I don't want anyone to think that I'm crazy!!!

[Melzorina]

I wear white boot covers with my skirt all the time. I want my skates to look bright white, and it does protect them from the odd scuff. I'm not really too keen on having *naked* skates.

[Debbie S]

But I think I'll pass over the boot covers as I don't want anyone to think that I'm crazy!!!

Well, up until a few weeks ago, I wore boot covers on my skates and I think I'm perfectly sane. :)

When I got my current skates, I wanted (actually, needed) them to last for 2 years b/c I was starting b-school soon and would not have money to spend on new skates until I finished and got a real job. I'm not high-level - Pre-Bronze - but I tend to scuff my boots on a lot of things, especially loops and flips, and backspins, and even field moves just b/c it's not unusual to move your feet the wrong way when you first learn something. The left boot of my old skates looked like someone's art project from all the gashes and scratches and other marks from when I learned the forward scratch spin. I just didn't want my new, and expensive, skates to wear out prematurely. Another thing the boot covers do is protect your skates from getting wet (usually) while you are skating.

A few weeks ago, I stopped wearing them b/c: 1. They got a couple of holes in them and since the pro shop at my rink closed, there was no other shop I could go to in the immediate area to buy new ones, and I didn't feel like spending shipping charges to get them from Rainbo or some other mail-order co., and 2. I figured my 2-year period was almost over and since I'm going to be getting new boots this summer anyway (the boots I have are too stiff and heavy for me), I could save myself time and money by not dealing with boot covers anymore.

It's really your decision if you want to wear boot covers, but I don't think anyone will think you're crazy, especially if others in your rink wear them. But you definitely need plastic skate guards, and don't leave them on too long - I found out at the New Year's comp last year that your blades will definitely rust.

[TashaKat]

As others have said it's all down to personal preference as to whether or not you wear boot covers.

I don't like the look of them myself and am not that bothered about my boots looking pristine anyway. In fact if anything I don't like them looking TOO new, a bit battered shows that you have actually done some work in them ;) I can always clean them up for competition/tests (pigment is a wonderful thing). I did used to wear OTB tights sometimes as, despite looking like Postman Pat close up, they can give a nicer leg line from further away. Anything that helps!

[Mrs Redboots]

And I always wear bootcovers, it's my trade-mark and informs my on-line name. As I think I've said before, when I first bought my own skates and realised I would be going to the rink regularly from now on, I saw the boot-covers in a skate shop in North London, and decided that until people knew my name, I'd rather they thought of me as "The woman wearing the red boot-covers" than as "The fat woman who can't skate!" And I've worn them ever since - these days, largely because I'm a bit paranoid about catching my blade in my laces! Husband can tuck his laces under his trousers, but I often wear a skirt, even for practice. I do wear over-boot tights for competition (my coach grumbles, but accepts them as he does not accept boot-covers, but then, he's seldom there when I compete!), but that's because I prefer the line.

[Casey]

I cut through 4 pairs of laces on the old skates with my blades with an errant step, and put a lot of cuts into the leather on the toe. I think I'm past that point now, but nonetheless have ordered thermal covers for my new skates to protect them, because I want them to look as good as possible. I'm a bit worried they will make my feet too warm though, so we shall see once I get them...

Hard guards are an absolute must, because as others have mentioned the rubber in the rink can be very dirty and blunt your blades. My blades touch nothing but ice and the inside of guards...when I go out I remove one guard and then step that foot onto the ice and skate along the boards a bit, then remove the other guard. Then I stash them in the penalty box, and when I'm done, I do the same in reverse, putting one guard on before I leave the ice, then stepping out onto it and putting the other on. Do wash them out once a week or so...dirt particles can accumulate in there...

Like some others, I learned the hard way the importance of soakers (soft guards) after my first pair of crappy skates rusted up nicely after being left in the hard guards in my car. But you don't want to stick a wet, or worse icy, blade into a soaker, then it will just be wet and will probably rust in that too (yes, I have seen people put an ice-covered blade into a soaker). Carry along a towel or grab some paper towels from the bathroom or napkins from the food cafe if they have one and dry all the metal and underside of the boot as much as possible. After that I generally let them sit a few minutes and warm up because the metal is so cold that more moisture will condense on it...then dry them again, put them in my soakers, and into my bag.

At home I have a radiator heater, and a wire mesh basket suspended a few feet above it. I put the skates in there for a couple hours with the heater on low to dry them out thoroughly. This is probably a bit over the top, but the key is that you don't want to leave them in your car, or even in your skate bag. They need to air out and breath to be happy skates. :) If I have a session right after work that requires me to carry them along, I not only bring in the bag from the car, but take the skates out of the bag and hide them under the desk where they can breath some more...

The heater basket combination is quite convenient - I can toss my dampened gloves and socks in there to dry at the same time, and the heat is low enough to hurt the skates If you've got an air vent on the floor or wall, that would be a fine place for airing them too. But any form of getting them out of the bag and letting them be exposed to the air is helpful...

I love my skates and like to show them every day. ;) :D

[yuffie]

I used protective skate tape on daughter's skates to help prevent nicks, gauges, etc. I only put it on the toe to instep area. I would remove it and polish he skates for tests and competition initially, but evenually I just replaced he tape when it looked ratty.

I understand that boot covers can hinder moves like lunges.....not that I'm doing those regularly anymore. Just thought I'd mention it.

Posted by Yuffie's Mom......

[skaternum]

It's all personal preference. I usually wear either over-the-boot tights or lycra boot covers for practice. I have the boot covers in both black & white, to go with whatever I'm wearing. I skate pairs, which tends to do serious damage to your skates, so I like to have mine covered at all times. I also have the heavy neoprene boot covers that are designed for warmth (in both black & white), because our rink gets very cold in the winter, and I'm prone to cold feet anyway.

[Mrs Redboots]

Dance is every bit as bad for your boots - in spite of always wearing boot-covers, I have fearful nicks in my boots!

As for keeping one's feet warm, I have several pairs of hand-knitted boot covers (I don't sew well, but I do knit!), and they are lovely and warm.

We have just taken the flashing lights off our blades, as we usually only have them on over the Christmas period, and then for special occasions during the year. Who else wears them? I know Becca does.....

[samba]

I have noticed that since I went solo my boots have suffered a lot less, I bought a new pair of Gams in September 03 and they still look brand new.

[luna_skater]

I personally cannot STAND the look of boot covers, including over-the-boot tights, but again, it's just a personal preference. I agree with whoever said that having beat-up skates is kind of a badge of honour...makes you look like you're working hard out there! :D

If you want to see a pair of skates get beat up quickly, take a look at a synchro skater's skates. Nothing will beat up your boots like skating next to 38 other blades! My boots have a million nicks and cuts on them, including on the soles and blades. The only place I worry about protecting is my "drag spot" on both boots, and for that I just use beige skate tape (my team has our boots dyed beige---which, incidentally polishes up a lot quicker and nicer than white!). I've seen lots of synchro skaters with a hole right through the leather on their drag spot.

At my rink, the freeskaters also use skate tape to protect their boots, mostly around the toe area. Virtually no one wears boot covers or OTB tights.

[samba]

I have noticed that since I went solo my boots have suffered a lot less, I bought a new pair of Gams in September 03 and they still look brand new, what's more I only wear over the boot tights for competition and never wear covers. Oops look the edit went wrong and repeated sorry.

[LittleBitSk8er]

Most of the time my daughter wears two pairs of tights, one in the boot and the other over. She is short please do not tell her.;) I think she has a feeling because she is the second shortest in her class. A new boy arrived at school at the beginning of the year and he is shorter. She was so happy! :)

I like her to wear the over the boot tights as I "feel" it helps protect her boots. Now keep in mind her coach asks that she wear them at competitions or test to help make her legs look longer. In addition, the thermal covers our former coach did not like, b/c it is harder to tell if she was pointing their toe properly. So we do not even have those anymore....

Thanks for the hint about washing the gaurds inthe dishwasher, never thought of it! 8-)

[TashaKat]

Dance is every bit as bad for your boots - in spite of always wearing boot-covers, I have fearful nicks in my boots!

Oh yes! I had all kinds of dings and dents on my boots when I skating with Will :D Then, of course, there's the black pigment that they kindly transfer to your boots from theirs!

[samba]

Hi again everyone! I saw in a previous post that some people were mentioning hard blade guards...and from what I read it sounded like the hard blade guards are bad for your skates? Can someone tell me what type of blade guards should be used?

In my case it's not just your blades that guards are bad for - after rushing on to the ice this morning because I was late for a lesson, I forgot to remove them, I now have a lovely black eye where I went head first :cry: I dread to think of the jokes that are going to go round at work tomorrow.

[Mrs Redboots]

Oh yes! I had all kinds of dings and dents on my boots when I skating with Will :D Then, of course, there's the black pigment that they kindly transfer to your boots from theirs!Isn't one of the Rules of Ice Dancing that the black marks on your boots are caused by his clumsiness, and the white marks on his boots are because his feet weren't in the right place?

Grace, hope you are okay - you weren't concussed, or anything, I trust?

[samba]

Isn't one of the Rules of Ice Dancing that the black marks on your boots are caused by his clumsiness, and the white marks on his boots are because his feet weren't in the right place?

Grace, hope you are okay - you weren't concussed, or anything, I trust?

My boots are lovely and white which is more than I can say for my eye, perhaps I dont work hard enough!!

Yes I'm fine thanks Annabel, hubby insisted I stay at home to-day though, my coach took me straight to A & E because according to hubby I was a bit incoherent (no change there then), will send you a private message later.
Cheers
Grace