Ice Skate Lacing Guide: Tips for Safety and Performance

While the fit and quality of your skates matter, how you lace them plays an equally important role. When you lace up ice skates correctly, you support your foot and ankle. This gives you the stability and flexibility needed to skate with confidence. On the other hand, incorrectly lacing your boots can cause discomfort and increase the risk of injury.

How to Lace Up Ice Skates

Having properly laced figure skates is vital for maximizing performance and preventing injuries. When your boots are incorrectly laced, you are risking injury and poor performance. 

With proper lacing, you’ll be able to advance your skills and technique more quickly and safely. This will provide sufficient support around your ankles, helping you avoid foot injuries. 

Here is a breakdown of how to properly lace up your figure skating boots:

1. Start out by loosening the laces to prepare them for your feet. 
2. Once in place, make sure your feet are comfortably snug in the boot.
3. Start tightening the laces from the toe up. The herringbone pattern (or crisscrossed) is the most common way to lace. Then pull the laces tight, but not too tight.
4. Once you get to the bend in your ankle, begin to tighten your laces a little more. We recommend using a couple of cross twists in your laces at the top of the eyelets before lacing the hooks. This keeps your foot’s heel firmly in place while allowing maximum flexibility at the ankle joint.
5. Next, you’ll lace around the hooks. You can either lace them over and under or under and over, whichever you prefer.
6. Finish with a secure bow. Laces that are too long create a tripping hazard, so make sure that you have the correct length of laces with our lace chart.

When you are finished skating, unlace your boots from the hooks and loosen up the eyelets all the way down. This releases tension on the boot and helps it dry properly before your next ice session. 

Expert Tip: Lacing up your boots correctly also prevents premature breakdown of your boots and extends their life. 

Extra Tips for Safety’s Sake 

Here are a few extra tips we recommend when lacing up your boots:

• Make sure they aren’t too tight or too loose. The lacing pattern of the entire boot should be uniform.
• The tongue of the skate should be straight and not slip too low. 
• Make sure you have the right-fitting boots. If you don’t, properly lacing up your skates won’t prevent discomfort or potential injury. 
• Avoid socks that are too thick or too small, but just the right size to prevent blisters and achieve a comfortable fit. 
• If your skates feel loose or insecure after being laced up, redo your lacing. 

Common Lacing Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the best figure skates, common lacing mistakes can compromise comfort, support, and performance. 

• One of the most frequent errors is lacing too loosely near the toes, which allows the foot to slide and reduces control. 
• On the other hand, overtightening around the ankles can restrict movement and cause discomfort or even lace bite. 
• Wrapping laces around the ankle instead of using the hooks can damage the tongue and reduce flexibility. 
• Skipping eyelets or using uneven tension across the boot are also issues that lead to poor fit. 

Taking time to lace skates correctly helps prevent these avoidable problems.

Tips for Lacing Kids’ Skates

For young skaters, proper lacing often starts as a team effort, you’ll want to follow the above steps closely. Parents should also double-check laces to ensure the boot is snug but not too tight, especially around the ankles. 

Teach Them to Lace

Furthermore, proper lacing habits early on help kids stay safe and focus on learning skills instead of battling uncomfortable boots. As your child gains experience, encouraging them to lace up on their own can be great for their skating independence. And tools like lace pullers or brightly colored laces can also make the process easier and more fun for little hands. 

Find Local Help

If you’re unsure about proper technique or fit, don’t hesitate to ask your coach or visit a local skate shop. Many rinks also offer workshops or beginner clinics that cover equipment basics like lacing.

Watch for Changing Fit as They Grow

Children’s feet grow quickly, and that can affect how well their skates fit, even if they were perfect just a few months ago. If your child complains of discomfort or seems unstable on the ice, it may be a sign. Their skates may be too small or no longer provide proper support. 

Regularly checking boot fit and lace tension can also help prevent blisters, pressure points, and frustration on the ice.

Custom Fit Figure Skates From Riedell 

Lacing up your boots is important, but it can only go so far. Without the right skates, proper lacing alone won’t prevent discomfort or protect skaters. The right custom figure skates can prevent injury, blisters, and improve overall performance.

At Riedell Skates, we offer custom figure skate boots tailored to meet each skater’s unique needs, ensuring the perfect fit, comfort, and performance. Our custom boots also accommodate specific foot requirements like orthotics, arch support, or heel spurs. 

For those wanting smaller adjustments, we provide Premium and Special-built boots with one to three custom modifications. 

You can start the customization process through our authorized dealers. We’re here to help you skate your best with boots made just for you.