Knowing what to wear when ice skating is imperative to having a good time. You don’t want to be freezing when you are skating, however you also don’t want to be so bundled up you can’t move. Here is a quick list of things to wear and bring with you while ice skating.
CLOTHING
I would suggest wearing layers, this will make sure you have the available options to stay comfortable, whether your too hot or too cold. Start off with a T-shirt or long sleeve shirt. This will be your base attire for after you are warmed up and got your blood pumping. For warm-ups I would suggest wearing a jacket or sweatshirt over your t-shirt or long sleeve shirt. This will keep your body at a good temperature and allow your body to warm up.
In regards to your bottom half, you should wear pants. Remember, you are skating on ice so if or when you fall its going to be a little wet and cold. Sweatpants or leggings are a great option for skating as they keep your whole leg covered and are also stretchy to allow for free-range movements.
Wear thin socks, do not wear extra thick socks which you think will keep your feet warm. Thick socks are meant to keep your feet warmer by insulating them with more material. Thick socks actually do the opposite of what you think they will do because of all their extra materials. Thick socks will make your feet sweat, making the sock moist or “wet”. While skating around, this moisture will freeze and actually make your feet colder than if you had thin socks on. Thin socks will not make you’re your feet sweat and will still provide a layer of warmth. This will keep your feet dry and won’t allow them to freeze since they have much less material to hold moisture.
Gloves are another useful accessory to wear. If you are new to skating you are more likely to fall when skating. This is not a bad thing as everyone needs to fall in order to improve, however, wearing thin gloves allows you to pick yourself up off the cold ice without getting your hands wet and cold on the ice.
PADS
Wearing pads is always optional. I would only suggest these for people who really need it. The first layer of protection you should wear is a helmet. A simple bicycle or ski helmet will suffice. Many ice rinks supply protective helmets for rent if you don’t have one. Elbow guards and knee pads will definitely save you from some bruises if you fall, so these are also a recommended protection.
ICE SKATES
Of course you are going to need ice skates, so don’t leave the house without them. If you do not own ice skates many ice rinks will have rental skates which you can rent for about $5/hour. However, if you plan on skating more than a few times a year I would suggest buying your own pair of ice skates. This makes it so you know exactly what to expect when you put on your skates. For me, too many people with stinky feet use rental skates so it’s worth it just to buy my own.
Ice skates are not as ridiculously expensive like they used to be. Professional skates can range from $600-$1,000, which for a person like me who only skates 10-15 times a year is way too expensive. However, there are skates which sell for $40-$120 which are still very good quality. These are right up my alley. These are the skates which you should be looking at as they are much better quality than rental skates and aren’t ridiculously expensive. Now you will have your own ice skates to skate on for years to come.
WHAT TO BRING
I would bring a water bottle and snacks to the ice skating rink. Ice skating is very tiring, especially if you are new to the sport. Skating for one hour may not seem like a lot, but let me tell you, it is. Having a nearby water bottle is a life saver and having some healthy snacks to go along with it will allow you to focus more while skating and have more energy throughout your hour of skating. Healthy snack suggestions are: bananas, protein bars, apples, peanuts, almonds, etc.
Lastly, I would bring an extra pair of pants and socks to put on after you are finished skating. Sometimes (depending on how many times you fall) your clothes will be wet after skating, so in order to be nice and comfortable (and dry) on your car ride home, I would suggest bringing extra clothes.
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That should be all the things you need to have a great time during your ice skating experience. For more information about ice skating and ice skates please visit our website or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!