Skate Protectors

[robin640 0]

I never, my son does not and my wife has never used skate protectors.

Thanks,

-Ron

[Dangles 0]

I used to until I realized they were a waste of money. The only time I actually might use them is to walk out to my backyard rink in the winter while I put my skates on in the house.

[cobrAA 0]

i only use the cloth one...to remove the water on the blade...

[Petey21 1]

I've always used skate guards. As a matter of fact I bought a new pair (Northland brand, the "millipede model") earlier this week as the old ones (Jofa Step-In) didn't fit my new skates (they weren't long enough).

[jimmy 194]

I'd say only about 1 out of every 100 uses the plastic ones. Most are using the soakers.

[Miike 1]

I have the cloth ones, they like scrunchies. I only put them on when my skates are in my bag so the blade isnt exposed to my cage off my helmet and dull the blade what not.

[Nacho 0]

I always use them ever since I stepped on a little pebble in my dressing room and had to go and get my skates sharpened for the second time in an hour. I find that they have helped a lot to eliminate some of that off-ice wear and tear on the blades.

[2-Keys 1]

i j ust use soakers.

[Chadd 916]

I'd say only about 1 out of every 100 uses the plastic ones. Most are using the soakers.

Around here it's 70% soakers, 20% nylon, 10% plastic/rubber

[jimmy 194]

I always use them ever since I stepped on a little pebble in my dressing room and had to go and get my skates sharpened for the second time in an hour. I find that they have helped a lot to eliminate some of that off-ice wear and tear on the blades.

Nacho, you are doing what everyone SHOULD be doing, but unfortunately most don't want to be "seen" wearing plastic guards, it's not cool. So much edge wear is from off ice abuse. Just because you walk on rubber, it's actually similar to walking on the street.

Best routine is to wear plastics all the way to the bench. Then wear soakers till you get home. Then remove them until next trip to the rink, the plastic goes back on.

[pantherfan 0]

i know i should where guards but i IMO a rubber floor is softer than plastic so wouldn't that protect them more?

[Eazy_b97 1]

I've got some ME guards that are great. Soakers with a Kevlar strip to walk on. Mostly for transporting skates and such, I use them a little to walk, but not generally.

[Miike 1]

Where could i take a look at those guards Eazy? How much were they? I vent heard of them before.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I got'em from my store. I think retail is either $15 or $20 CAD. They are Maximum Edge soakers. I believe they have a site.

[jimmy 194]

i know i should where guards but i IMO a rubber floor is softer than plastic so wouldn't that protect them more?

In theory, rubber is better than plastic, however, it's not the rubber mat that's doing the damage, it's the rocks, sand and dirt that people track in on it that's the killer. Most rinks do NOT do a good job cleaning the rubber. So when you walk on it your walking on a lot of junk. Especially in the winter, so much sand and gravel from road sanders.

[jeffw 1]

I throw 'em on my skates so my blades don't cut up the stuff in my bag. I also wear 'em around the house when breaking in a new pair.

The rink here does a good job of keeping the floors clean so not much worry about tearing up the blades on the way to the ice.

[thunderbirds_are_go 0]

I've got the A&R Tuffterries - soakers with a nylon reinforced base, so you can walk on them. I use them mainly for transporting my skates around, but in some rinks I'll use them walking to the bench too, and they seem to hold up pretty well. They're only $19.95 here in New Zealand, so I'd imagine that they'd be half that in the US or Canada. We've only had them in our shop for about two months, but they've been the biggest selling skate guards we've ever carried - apart from the animal soakers!

[Gongshow11 1]

i used to have a problem wiht my blades always gettign nicked from pebbles, so i bought plastic guards, real cheap ones. anyways i took them off before gettign on the ice and someone ended up stealing them beacuase like a meathead i left them lying around. i never bought another pair.

nowadays i just use old socks when i tie my skates then take them off when we go out