Lace Basics: Stop Fighting Your Skate Boots
As any hockey player knows, having a properly fitting pair of skates is crucial to your performance on the ice. Tightening your skates is one of the most critical factors in achieving a perfect fit. With today’s skates being stiffer, getting them tight and staying tight can be difficult. Here are some tips on how to do just that.
1. Use waxed laces
Waxed laces are an excellent option for tightening your skates because they grip the eyelets better than regular laces. This makes pulling the laces through the eyelets easier, allowing you to get a tighter fit.
2. Start at the bottom
Start at the bottom and work your way up when lacing up your skates. This will help ensure that the entire skate is tight and secure.
3. Use the “Lock” technique
The “Lock” technique involves crossing the laces over each other and then pulling them tight. This helps create a more secure fit around the ankle, which is essential for support and stability.
4. Use a lace puller
A lace puller is a handy tool that can make tightening your skates much easier. It lets you get a better grip on the laces, making it easier to pull them tight.
5. Use a “Figure Eight” pattern
Using a “Figure Eight” pattern when lacing up your skates can help to create a more secure fit. Start at the bottom and work your way up, crossing the laces over each other in a figure-eight pattern as you go.
6. Tighten the top eyelets last
When you’re lacing up your skates, tightening the top eyelets last is important. This will help to create a more secure fit around the ankle, which is crucial for support and stability.
7. Use your body weight and flex your feet
First, you want your foot back in the skate as far as possible. This can be achieved by tapping the heel of your skate into the ground to lock your foot into the ankle gel and padding. Next, as you pull your laces tight, flex your foot forward/down to get more leverage on the laces. This will help make sure they are snug and secure.
8. Use Panther Teeth lace locks
Panther Teeth lace locks are the perfect solution if you’re experiencing a lace bite (painful pressure on the top of the foot) or struggling with keeping your skates tight through an entire ice session. Adding even one set of Panther Teeth at the intersection of laces can lock in your lace tension, promote more forward flexion, and eliminate lace bite issues.
In conclusion, tightening your hockey skates is integral to achieving a proper fit and ensuring you perform your best on the ice. By following these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to get your skates tight and secure, allowing you to focus on your game and not your equipment.