Ice Skating Boot Covers
Have you ever wondered what ice skaters are wearing over their boots and why? These often colorful additions to the uniform are ice skate boot covers, and they serve a couple of purposes. Keep reading to find out what these covers are used for as well as some things you may want to consider before purchasing.
Benefits of Boot Covers
Ice skate boot covers are stretchy pieces of fabric that go over ice skates. Clips at the bottom secure around the blade and keep the cover in place. An elastic material like spandex is usually used for the cover itself, while the clips can take the form of a hook and eye closure, velcro, or snap buttons. As far as why ice skaters wear boot covers, there are a few reasons for that.
Boot covers have many benefits. The biggest and most obvious reason that boot covers are worn is to protect the ice skate. It is not uncommon for the blade of the skate to nick the leather of the boot, shortening the lifespan of the ice skates. Wearing a boot cover means adding an additional layer to avoid scratches and cuts on the boot. These covers also keep laces in place so that you’re not at risk of tripping over dangling loops. Finally, boot covers come in just about every color imaginable, allowing skaters to customize their look or match their skates to their clothes.
Things To Consider
When looking for boot covers, you'll want to consider the following:
- What type of boot cover are you looking for?
- How much do you want to spend on boot covers?
- Is there a certain color or brand of boot covers you are looking for?
What are you looking for in ice skating boot covers?
- Waterproof
- Affordability
- Durability
- Insulated
- Easily taken on and off
- Adult-sized
- Youth-sized
Types
When it comes to boot covers, there are two types that you should know about: standard and insulated.
Standard Boot Covers
Standard boot covers protect your boots, keep your laces in place, and come in a ton of colors. They are usually made from really flexible materials like spandex, lycra, or polyester. These materials are relatively durable but can only do so much against the blade of an ice skate.
Insulated Boot Covers
Insulated boot covers have all of the benefits of standard boot covers with one additional perk. Along with protecting the boot and securing laces, insulated boot covers also keep your feet warm. They are thicker than the standard covers but similar to them in the sense that they also protect the boot from moisture and abrasions from the ice.
Brands
Ice skating boot covers are fairly common, and there are a lot of brands to choose from when looking to purchase some. A few of the most popular are Kami-So, Sk8Wraps, and Ice Fire.
Kami-So
Kami-So is best known for its metallic ice skate boot covers. They come in different colors and patterns and are also available in both youth and adult sizes. This brand does not have an insulated option, and these covers don’t have any sort of clips to secure them underneath the boot. Their standard boot covers cost about $15.
Sk8Wraps
As the name implies, this brand sells boot covers that actually wrap around the boot. There are four options on the website, each one with a different color, but all are insulated. The wrap design makes them easy to put on and take off, while the covers claim to keep feet up to 26 degrees Fahrenheit warmer. These models also include pockets for heat packs and are washable. All of these features will cost you about $50.
Ice Fire
Ice Fire Skatewear sells many standard boot covers. What makes them unique is their fun and colorful designs. This brand makes boot covers even more interesting by selling them in really creative patterns. You’re unlikely to pay any more than $20 for an Ice Fire boot cover. However, they don’t sell insulated boot covers.
FAQ
How do you put on ice skating boot covers?
Most boot covers (especially the standard type) generally don’t have any zippers or special features. They are made from very stretchy yet durable materials meant to withstand scratches from the surface of the ice or the blade of ice skates. Boot covers are roughly shaped like ice skates, with the narrow end going around the top of the boot and the wider end fitting around the bottom. To put on the boot cover, you should stretch the wider end over the entire boot until it fits around the bottom as it should and the whole thing is snugly in place.
How do you clean ice skating boot covers?
The best way to determine how to clean your ice skating boot covers is to research the materials it's made from and/or the brand that manufactures it. The brand’s website will likely give you the best information on how to care for your boot covers. In the event that this is not possible, try hand washing your equipment with a mild detergent and letting it air dry. This will prevent any damage from the washer and dryer.
Do Olympic ice skaters use boot covers?
Ice skate boot covers, specifically the colorful and uniquely patterned ones, do not often appear in the world of Olympic ice skaters. Professionals may find them too distracting or more harmful than beneficial since they can disrupt the line of the leg. For this reason, some will wear flesh-colored boot covers to match their tights or covers that are the same color as their boots.