Get Started Ice Skating With This Essential Gear

Skating is a great way to enjoy the ice, whether it’s around a rink or across a frozen pond, lake or river. With the right gear and preparation, you can glide safely and smartly.

Always skate within your ability. Ask someone to teach you if you’ve never skated before. If you haven’t skated in a while, take it slow and easy. You can wear protective gear — a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist protectors — to help prevent injuries.

Indoor skating centers are great places to start because the ice is well maintained and smooth. Natural ice could have small cracks or rough textures that can make you fall. When you skate outdoors, check the ice’s surface and thickness. It should be at least 4 inches thick uniformly. Natural ice can vary in thickness. Pay attention to changes in ice color or texture, which can indicate thickness changes. If it’s too thin, you could break through the ice.

As ice warms up from solar radiation, it weakens from within. To determine if it’s still safe, cut out a chunk of ice and drop it or hammer it. If it shatters easily, don’t go out on the ice.

ICE SKATING SAFETY GEAR

Safety is a top priority. Dress for the weather, and have adult supervision on-site. Don’t try complex tricks or skate too fast. Be aware of your surroundings and other people on the ice.

For skating outdoors, it’s a good idea to wear full protective gear, which includes a helmet, soft-shell elbow and knee pads, and wrist protectors. These items help reduce the risk of an injury in case you fall. Your helmet should be certified for winter sports.

Bring a dry bag with warm clothes and a drink to stay hydrated. Even if it’s cold, you can still work up a sweat.

Carry a whistle so you can alert others if someone breaks through the ice. Having a pair of ice awls with you can help you get out of the water if you fall through the ice.

We like the NRS Pick-of-Life Ice Awls ($27.50, nrs.com), which dig into the ice and are brightly colored so you can easily find them in low light.

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT SKATES

“Ice skating is so fun! Speed, spins, g-force — it’s all there,” said Luc Mehl, an outdoor educator from Anchorage, Alaska, who teaches ice safety and rescue through his company Triple Point Training. “You might look like Bambi when you first get on the ice, but even after just a few hours, you’ll get the hang of it.”

The three most common types of skates are: figure skates, hockey skates and Nordic skates.

Get started by checking local sporting goods stores for deals. You can find used figure and hockey skates for around $50 to $100. Used Nordic skate blades start at around $120, but you also need bindings and ski boots. Nordic skates are most efficient for long days on the ice, and they’re the warmest. Hockey and figure skates are more playful.

FIGURE SKATES

Figure skates are built for jumps and spins. They have long, curved blades with toe picks and high leather boots for support. Riedell’s Horizon Skates ($109, ice.riedellskates.com) are great entry-level skates with comfortable synthetic leather upper boots.

HOCKEY SKATES

Hockey skates are designed for speed, quick turns and aggressive stops. They feature shorter, more curved blades attached to lower, rigid plastic composite boots. Consider CCM’s Next Player Skates (starting at $59.99, us.ccmhockey.com), which are shaped to fit well and feel comfortable.

NORDIC SKATES

Nordic skates are for long-distance skating on natural ice. They have long, nearly flat blades mounted to a cross-country ski binding, with a cross-country skate ski boot that clicks into the binding. You can find Nordic skate blades for as low as $135. Add a Nordic skate binding and a skate ski boot with ankle support, and you’re good to go. One binding we recommend is Rottefella’s NNN Performance Skate Binding ($75, rottefella.com).

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SKATES

Inspect your skates before you use them, checking that every part is in good working order and the blades are sharp. When you carry your skates or walk in them off the ice, put on the blade guards to protect the blades.

After you’re done skating, loosen the laces or straps so your foot can easily come out. Tugging off a leather boot can stretch it out of shape. Thoroughly dry both boots and blades with a towel. This will prevent the blades from rusting and the boots from deteriorating.

Remove the blade guards before storing your skates to prevent blemishes from forming. Store your skates in a bag so the blades don’t hit each other.

SURVIVE FALLING THROUGH ICE

If you fall through the ice on a lake, pond or river, stay as calm as possible. Falling into freezing water triggers an involuntary gasp. Don’t climb out immediately. Focus on your breathing.

“Have confidence things will get better,” Mehl says.

You have about 10 minutes before you lose function of your hands, feet, arms and legs as your blood moves to your core to protect vital organs. Exit the water in the direction you came from — where you know the ice was solid. Reach for the unbroken solid ice (this is where ice awls help) and flutter-kick to push yourself horizontal with the surface. Scoot forward gently to avoid breaking the ice’s edge.

Pull yourself out and slide onto the ice. Stay flat and roll or crawl away from the hole before standing. After you’re off the ice, get out of your wet clothes and change into dry ones to prevent hypothermia. Get indoors or to a source of heat, drink warm and sugary drinks, and wrap yourself with a blanket.