Lace Basics: Do’s and Dont’s
Mastering the art of lacing up your ice skates or shoes can significantly impact your comfort and performance. To ensure you get it right, here are some essential do’s and don’ts to keep in mind:
Do’s
1. Start with the correct tension: Begin by loosely lacing up your skates or shoes from the toe, gradually increasing the tension as you move towards the ankle. Ensure the tension is even to provide a secure fit without sacrificing comfort. Add 1-2 Panther Teeth lace lock devices to lock in your tension for a comfortable, secure fit.
2. Use the appropriate lacing technique for the activity: Different activities require different approaches. Whether it is a loop heel lock, strategically skipping eyelets, or adjusting your tension with Panther Teeth, using the correct technique will ensure comfort and improve performance.
3. Re-adjust when necessary: During physical activity, such as ice skating, it’s normal for your feet to swell slightly and for laces to stretch. Pause to re-adjust the lacing if you feel discomfort or your foot shifts inside the skate or shoe. Adding Panther Teeth to your lacing routine can help you lock in your lace tension, provide lasting comfort, and provide consistent lacing results.
Don’ts
1. Avoid over-tightening: Over-tightening your laces can lead to discomfort, restricted blood flow, and numbness in your feet. It’s essential to find the right balance between support and comfort.
2. Address discomfort: If you feel pain or discomfort while wearing your skates or shoes, don’t ignore it. Addressing fit issues is crucial to prevent blisters, soreness, or injuries.
3. Secure loose ends: You should use the correct lace length for your footwear. However, if you find yourself with too long laces, always tuck in or secure the loose ends of your laces to prevent them from getting caught in the blades or causing a tripping hazard.
4. Don’t Wrap: Wrapping your laces around your ankles used to be popular. This provides no extra stability and can lead to more lace stretch and problems. Instead, purchase laces the correct length or find another way to secure your loose ends.
Following these dos and don’ts ensures that your ice skates or shoes are laced up properly for maximum comfort and performance. Remember that finding the perfect lacing technique may require trial and error, so feel free to adjust until you find what works best for you.