Should You Ice Skate Barefoot?
Skaters Wear Socks, Tights, or Nothing in Ice Skating Boots
When you first begin taking skating lessons, discuss with your coach what kind of socks or tights - if any - you should use.
He or she will likely give you a vague answer based on a number of factors.
Tights
Many skaters wear tights or use trouser socks that are thin enough not to impede the feel of the ice through the boot. Stocking users like that the material helps preserve the inside of the boot by wicking up sweat and odors. They also believe the thin cloth acts like a barrier against the harsh inner leather and prevents blisters or chaffing.
Footless tights are available from dancewear catalogs and allow the versatility of covering the toes or leaving them bare. Footless tights can usually be converted to full tights, toeless tights, or ankle tights. If you have needs that must be customized differently for each leg, convertible footless tights might be helpful. (Some coaches also believe tights help protect muscles against fatigue and sprain-type injuries.)
Socks
Some skaters like cushioned athletic socks, but these are not usually recommended for disciplines in figure skating where the skater does a lot of precise technical maneuvering. Thicker socks, some people believe, impedes a skater’s ability to use the whole blade by blocking some of the sensations that would normally be felt inside the boot.
Nevertheless, parents of beginning skaters often buy boots that have growing room and then give their kids thicker socks to compensate. This is not a good practice for skaters who are seriously trying to learn their sport, but it’s absolutely fine for people who are on the ice to have fun. In fact, wearing thicker socks with a slightly bigger boot might make the entire experience more enjoyable by staving off the muscle fatigue on the sides and over the top of the foot.
Barefoot
Many elite figure and speed skaters prefer wearing no socks or tights at all. Barefoot in boots, toes can spread out to help improve balance. The boot and blade is the only thing between the skater and the ice, so maneuverability it thought to be improved. There are no variances between socks types to worry about, no unexplainable bumps from material causing calluses. The boot fits snuggly around the rest of the foot so that there is no slipping around at the heel or ball. A skater can literally feel his or her position over the blade and get a better grip on the ice through the precise and strategic use of each edge.
If you prefer going barefoot but your toes get cold, try using a boot cover or toe socks. Boot covers are available in most pro shops and have an added bonus of keeping skating boots competition-clean. Toe socks are available in dancewear shops and in some general clothing stores. They cover only the toes and the balls of your feet. If you can’t find toe socks but think this is the right choice for you, consider sacrificing an older pair of socks and cut them down to whatever size you want. (You can also do this to prevent skate bite – just use the leg portion of a sock. Slip it on before your boot.)
When deciding weather or not to wear stockings or socks in ice skating boots, it really comes down to personal choice and training objectives. If you want to go barefoot, have no abnormal foot odor problems, and your coach consents, by all means, dare to go bare. If your boots are a little big, or your skin is sensitive and requires cushioning for warmth or comfort, try out a few types of tights or athletic socks and then stick with one brand so that differing thicknesses don’t hinder your progress by introducing other variables into your training.
