Drying up skates

[SolarWind 23]

I just got curious why does it seem to be so common to hang skates upside-down for drying purposes (all pro locker rooms alwas showcase such setup)?

Purely from the physics point of view wouldn’t the moisture while evaporating get trapped in the skate rather then rising up when the skate is in regular position?

[sebseb 0]

maybe because they try to get all the moisture to one extremity of the skate that is best ventilated, in this case I guess it's the tendon guard, from where the mositure can evaporate much easier. for something to evaporate you need good venting, not only heat

[DarkStar50 680]

Water has weight. Gravity pulls it down, not up. Therefore, hang your skates upside down.

[Too Old 1]

I toss the jersey, socks, skull cap, and undergarments into the wash on gentle cycle using Woolite. Helmet gets a rinse under the shower head and then toweled off. Rest of the stuff including skates is given a spritz of Febreze anti-bacterial and then spread out with a fan blowing on it for 8 hours or so; until totally dry with no doubt. Then maybe a little light hit with Febreze again and once dry back into the bag. Works like a charm.

[JR Boucicaut 3815]

I just put it on a rack in my sauna aka garage

[fatwabbit 93]

Done the same as JR, with the fan blowing overnight. By morning the gear is normally dry.

Going to do the same tonight after hockey with the goalie gear... going to give it a good rinse first.

Edit... my equipment is placed on one of those multi layered clothes airers.

Top level - Clean Jerseys and spare gear

Middle level - gloves, elbows and knee braces, helmet

bottom level - skates with tongues out and insoles removed but stuck straight down into the boot, and shin pads.

Girdle and padded shirt are hung on clothes hangers on the side

That way, when I pack my gear, there shouldnt be anything left on the middle or bottom layer.

[phunky_monkey 6]

Put it on a rack on the balcony, seems to do the trick :)

[tamtamg 12]

2 reasons i think. 1. its really easy to hang them upside down from the holders. 2. water can accumulate in the holders, if they are upside down, the water can exit between the holders and the boot.

[SolarWind 23]

well - lots of different opinions, but no consensus

so far it looks like nobody knows for sure :)

[JR Boucicaut 3815]

Actually in pro locker rooms skates are dried on their sides, not upside down. That way if they run space fans airflow gets into the boot when the tongues are pulled out.

They are displayed upside down on stalls when they are dry.

[pg-1000 0]

It could also be to do with the fact that heat rises. If the skate is right way up, any rising hot air would not really go into the skate, whereas it would rise into an upside down skate.

Or I might be talking a lot of hot air.

[eric42434224 1]

I just put it on a rack in my sauna aka garage

Too true for us Florida folk.....especially lately with these 100+ degree days. Feels good to be at the nice chilly rink.

[Cams 7]

How about preventing any rust/oxidation from forming where the holder and blade meet..... I was told that despite having stainless blades, you can still get some "rust" in this area.

[forbs02 20]

You aren't going to hang skates right side up, gravity pulls them upside down :P

[shotty 7]

i live in a loft with radiant floors and 16 foot ceilings... so by morning, the entire house smells like my gear.

i always notice that my skates are the last to fully dry... maybe i will try the upside down trick. i figured the pros did that so they wouldn't hit their heads on the sharp part!

[epstud74 24]

Speaking of hot days, its been in the high 90s here in the Twin Cities. Getting to the rink is a relief...

As for skate/gear storage, I just lay the stuff out on the deck and let the heat do the work