priekaparki

I recently came into some old (not horrible, just a little dirty and used) ice skates. Any tips or tricks to clean them up to look better or make them function better? How do I tell if the blades are sharp enough? Thanks in advance.

To clean the leather sides up, use some leather conditioner on a damp cloth. It’ll take the dirt and even scuff marks right off. It will condition the leather and leave it shiny and soft at the same time. If they’re not leather, this will still clean them up.

Remove the laces and soak them in a bowl with warm water and dish detergent. Scrub them with a brush to get the grime off. Then rinse and dry. They will make your skates look so much better even if this is all you do!

Then, I would have the blades touched up at your local rink, or at a professional blade sharpener, if there is one near you. That way, this’ll take any rust off and clean up any burrs or nicks on the blade edge as well as fix any bad sharpening job it had before you got to them. Not to mention give it a sharpening in case they were also dull too!

I bought bladerunner solstice ice skates, and apparently i think it is recreational ice skates. Whats the difference between recreational ice skates and figure skates? They look pretty much the same, white, toe pick, and yeah. Thanks!~

The terms "ice skates" and "figure skates" are pretty much the same. Figure skates are more specific in that they’re not hockey skates or speed skates. The difference is recreational skates versus skates for more advanced skating…..it’s about what you plan to do in the skates.

Recreational skates usually have less support in the ankles, are typically made of plastic or vinyl and the blades have small toe picks and are of lesser quality metal. Recreational skates are for anyone who just wants to skate in circles on a pond or public session or for starting out with basic skills (forward skating, backward skating, one-foot glides, etc.). Figure skates do also have various levels in "quality," for lack of a better term, again, depending on their intended use. As you advance in your levels, you’ll probably want to get a better quality skate that is more supportive and has a better quality blade. As a skater’s skill increases, there is a need for more ankle support for jumping/spinning (or dancing, etc.)….same with blades. Another thing to note is in the more advanced types of skates, the boot and blade are sold separately, allowing a skater to choose which brands, models, sizes, customizations, etc. work best for them. A lot of more recreational or beginner skates come in a boot/blade set. One of the previous answer-ers was correct by saying recreational skates are usually made more of plastic, but in an more advanced boot, the heel/sole is made of compressed leather, not wood (the upper is also leather). It looks like wood, but it’s just more leather. You can check out boot makers websites (harlick.com, spteri.com, riedell.com) and some have pictures of the inner construction of boots. They’re pretty heavy if you compare them to a recreational skate, but many companies are coming out with light-weight designs. The more support a boot has, the more difficult it is to break them in, whereas a recreational skate may quickly crease in the ankle area, making it a little more difficult for the skater to stay over the blade. For example, a skater just starting out in the first few sets of lessons, wouldn’t want the stiffest boot they can buy. They don’t need the support yet and because of the kind of skating they’re doing, it would take them a very long time to break the skate in, possibly causing physical damage. Most sites also give a description as to what levels/abilities they recommend each boot/blade for. So there are many considerations for fitting a skater with a boot….age (is their foot still growing), weight, skill level, amount of time they skate. And as with anything, as the level of boot/blade increase, so does the price, making our sport so crazy expensive!

Best of luck with the lessons!!

I bought those double-blades that strap on to the child’s boots, but they don’t look like they can ever be strapped on properly. More like she would be harmed than helped on them.

Any suggestions? What are your kids learning on? Should I find some small single-blade skates and get her right on those?

I suggest you buy whatever your rink’s pro shop has in stock for beginner skates in your child’s size. They will be just fine for a 3-year old, and will be flexible enough for a beginner.

The clerk at the pro shop will know how to fit the skates and what brand will work. But there is usually just one or two brands for that small of a size and are affordable too.

No need to worry about brand name skates just yet.

Have fun skating!

*edit* Buy what’s at the pro shop meaning in single bladed beginner skates. I’ve never seen the double bladed ones in a pro shop yet. Those are silly.

I’ve been noticing lately that every time I take my skates off after practice, a lovely smelly foot odor follows close behind. Is there a way I can get rid of that smell? It’s not very pleasant, and kind of embarrassing.

1) You can get Sneaker Balls with air freshener that have TX-3 odor blocker. They have a little crack to let the chemical out. They’re at drug stores.

2) You can also buy Dr. Scholl’s foot spray at drug stores, but some of those sprays smell as strong as your foot odor, just prettier. Maybe that’s still better!

3) Try wiping out the insides with a wet cloth and a little mild detergent, and sit them out side in the sun unlaced and the tongues pulled out as far as you can. Air them out!

4) After skating, I would put those little silica gel packets in my skates to absorb moisture which is the cause of bacteria propagation, and therefore odor. Just save those little packets that are packaged with shoe boxes, purse zipper pouches, some food containers and electronic equipment. I have a whole container full of them I’ve saved.

5) Also, remember to air them out each and everytime after you skate. Leave them open under the coffee table at home all day before you put them back in your skate bag and never leave them in your skate bag in your car trunk. So many people do this, but ewww!

Iv had trouble with getting ice skates that fit me as I have very narrow feet and ankles and often find that the skates are unstable on the ice as they wobble a bit.

Are there any ice skates (Make and model) that could fit me assuming Ill buy them in standard width (D) as I cant find any in a narrow width?

I’d try Mission skates. They make them very narrow, and you can also get them heat molded so that they will fit like a glove!! They also aren’t too expensive (as far as skates go).
Good luck!

I don’t play hockey or take lessons. I have a pair of hockey skates and I know how to skate backwards but how do you do it fast? I see hockey players skate backwards soooooo fast. When some people(mostly hockey players) skate they start like they are jumping side to side it’s hard to explain. HOw do you do that also? Any other tips?

This has everything you need, how to do stuff for hockey. http://www.monkeysee.com/video/subcategory/12?subcategory=163

I’m looking into new skates and I’m wondering what the most popular skates are in the NHL.

Bauer Vapors are one of the most popular skates out there. If you’re going to buy skates though, don’t buy based on what someone else wears. Each skate will fit your foot differently. Go to a hockey shop, try on a few different pairs, walk around in them a little bit, and most importantly, get them baked when you buy them. This will help them hold to the formation of your foot resulting in quicker break-in period with hopefully fewer blisters.

I’m looking into new skates and I’m wondering what the most popular skates are in the NHL.

Bauer Vapors are one of the most popular skates out there. If you’re going to buy skates though, don’t buy based on what someone else wears. Each skate will fit your foot differently. Go to a hockey shop, try on a few different pairs, walk around in them a little bit, and most importantly, get them baked when you buy them. This will help them hold to the formation of your foot resulting in quicker break-in period with hopefully fewer blisters.

I would like to learn how to ice skate. A while back I did do rollerblading with a little bit of success.
Would it be best to get a pair of figure or hockey skates?

Hockey skates are supposedly more comfortable. Since you’ll probably just be going around in circles at a public skate, it’s really your choice. Try a low freestyle pair of Reidells. The brand you choose really depends on your own foot; for example, I can’t wear Jacksons because they don’t fit well to my foot, nor Riedells. It’s up to your foot. Some people even have to take a tracing of their foot and have custom-made skates! Don’t forget, you will also have to be sized for each individual brand; there’s no set scale (ex. an 8 1/2 shoe size doesn’t always mean a 6 in a skate size. It varies by brand.)

I also hear that Softecs are comfortable. I believe they’re by Riedell, but don’t quote me on that. They’re supposed to be a mix of a figure skate and a hockey skate, made especially for recreational skaters like you.

Good luck!

I would like to learn how to ice skate. A while back I did do rollerblading with a little bit of success.
Would it be best to get a pair of figure or hockey skates?

Hockey skates are supposedly more comfortable. Since you’ll probably just be going around in circles at a public skate, it’s really your choice. Try a low freestyle pair of Reidells. The brand you choose really depends on your own foot; for example, I can’t wear Jacksons because they don’t fit well to my foot, nor Riedells. It’s up to your foot. Some people even have to take a tracing of their foot and have custom-made skates! Don’t forget, you will also have to be sized for each individual brand; there’s no set scale (ex. an 8 1/2 shoe size doesn’t always mean a 6 in a skate size. It varies by brand.)

I also hear that Softecs are comfortable. I believe they’re by Riedell, but don’t quote me on that. They’re supposed to be a mix of a figure skate and a hockey skate, made especially for recreational skaters like you.

Good luck!