How to Tie Ice Skates

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Tying ice skates correctly is important for being able to support the ankle in the skates as well as making sure the energy and motion your body puts into skating is directed toward the blade and the ice and not lost within the boot. Take the time to tie your skates correctly to improve your performance and keep your ankles snug.

How to Lace Ice Skates

Put your foot in the skate and start tightening the already laced portion, pulling at the loose ends of the laces as you go to take out the slack. Tighten the skate to your ankle by threading the laces through the extra holes or hooks, then pull tight and knot it.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Tightening Your Laces

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a9\/Tie-Ice-Skates-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Tie-Ice-Skates-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a9\/Tie-Ice-Skates-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/aid906928-v4-728px-Tie-Ice-Skates-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Seated in a chair, with your skate on a mat, press your foot firmly into a loosened skate. Take hold of both laces, one in each hand, and extend your leg enough so that you can rest your weight on the heel of the boot with your toes pointed slightly upward.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Ice Skates
    Loop your first two fingers through the lace at next to the hole one either side. Grab the laces firmly. Push down with the ball of your foot while pulling up on the laces.
    • Start with the laces closest to the toe of the boot.
    • You should be able to fit your finger between the lace and the boot once it is tightened.
    Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Ice Skates
    Once you reach the middle of the boot, the slack in the lace may start pulling the loose ends of the laces out of the holes in the top of the boot. Move to the top laced hole of the boot and pull the laces through from there to keep the top of the laces from being pulled out of the holes.
    • Once you have taken up the slack, return to tightening the boot until your reach the top.
    4. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Lacing the Ankle

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Ice Skates
    The top few holes of the boot are likely not laced at this point. Once you have tightened the laces up to this section, follow the same pattern as the rest of the laces to complete lacing the boot to the top. Cross one lace over the other and through the hole on the other side.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/17\/Tie-Ice-Skates-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Tie-Ice-Skates-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/17\/Tie-Ice-Skates-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid906928-v4-728px-Tie-Ice-Skates-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Some skates have hooks at the top. Cross the laces as you would if you were lacing through holes, then draw the laces either from the top of the hooks down, or the bottom of the hooks up. Either direction will work. From there, draw the laces together in front of the skate to begin your knot.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Ice Skates
    If you do not have hooks at the top of your skates and would like to make the ankle even more snug, try this trick. Instead of crossing your laces to the top holes, take the laces directly up to the next hole on the same side. Feed the lace from the outside in through the top hole, creating a loop on each side. Now cross the laces and put them through the loops you just created on the opposite sides and pull to tighten. The space and leverage created by the loops will allow you to pull the laces tighter. [1]
    4. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Tying the Knot

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Ice Skates
    Just like you would tie a shoe, cross one lace over the other and wrap it under and back out to the side. This time, though, repeat that process a second time before pulling the laces to the side tighten the knot.
    • Crossing the laces twice will lock the knot in place and keep it from sliding even if the bow comes undone.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Ice Skates
    Pull up on the laces while rocking the toes of your skate forward. This will create a space between your crossed laces and the top of the skate. Pull the laces firmly to the side to get rid of the space, so the crossed lace are lying directly across the top of the skate.
    • Repeat this move several times until you cannot create the space under the crossed laces.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Tie-Ice-Skates-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Tie-Ice-Skates-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Tie-Ice-Skates-Step-9.jpg\/aid906928-v4-728px-Tie-Ice-Skates-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You don't want to have any laces touching the ice or loops in your bow which are too big. These could cause the lace to end up between the skate and the ice and cause a tripping hazard. Wrap the remainder of the laces around the boot. Take the laces around the back of the top of the boot and pull them back to the front. Do this as many times as necessary until you are left with only enough length to tie a double knot and bow in the laces. [2]
    • If you don't have too much excess lace, you can also tie a double bow to take care of the extra lace.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Ice Skates
    Like tying a shoe, make a loop in one lace, then loop the other under and over the loop. This time, repeat this looping process to create a double loop for your knot. Finish the bow by pulling that lace through the two loops to create the other loop of the bow. [3]
    5. Advertisement


Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What if I don't have microfiber socks because I don't normally skate so I don't buy them? Will thicker cotton socks work fine?
    Community Answer
    Although your feet may be warmer to begin, cotton socks will tend to absorb moisture more and will rapidly make your feet cold, which could cause discomfort while skating. However, if this is all you have it is better than going without socks, which is not recommended.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 19
  • Question
    How do I know if my skates are tight enough?
    Community Answer
    You can understand this while skating. If you feel that your feet are able to move independently from your skates, it means that they need to be tightened. Your skates must become one with your legs, like a part of your body. Only then, you'll be able to feel the ice correctly.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 34
  • Question
    Why not just purchase correct size laces?
    Community Answer
    Ice skate laces are different than normal shoelaces, and generally come in fewer sizes. You also don't have any such option if you're renting your skates, so it's best to know how to fix up the excess - just in case.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 21
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Read Video Transcript

      Tips

      • When tying skates, make sure they are very snug. You don't want your feet to be pinched and in pain, but you want excellent ankle support.
        Thanks
        Helpful 32 Not Helpful 5
      • If you would like, hook the loops of your double bow over the top eyelets, and then tuck in the other part of the bow into your skate. This makes your skates look tidier.
        Thanks
        Helpful 18 Not Helpful 5
      • Tie your skates before taking your hard guards off, this will ensure that your blades are not worn down until you are on the ice.
        Thanks
        Helpful 21 Not Helpful 7
      Show More Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • If your heel can move around in your skates after tying them, get a smaller size.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Be careful whilst on the ice that your lace does not come untied. If it does, skate to the nearest edge, hold onto the side, and tuck in your lace. Then skate to the nearest exit and come off the ice to tie your skate.
        Thanks
        Helpful 23 Not Helpful 4
      • Do not pull your laces too hard. They can snap.
        Thanks
        Helpful 22 Not Helpful 12
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Ice Skate
      How to
      Ice Skate Backwards
      How to
      Learn Ice Skating by Yourself
      How to
      Sharpen Skates
      How to
      Break in Your Figure Skates
      How to
      Try Ice Skating for the First Time
      Practice Skating Off the Ice: 13 Proven Exercises to Improve Your Skating Stride
      How to
      Wash Skates
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEDw1I4XwQI
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtrsO-nJoWc
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtrsO-nJoWc
      4. Videos provided by ActiveCambridge

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      It’s important to tie the laces on your ice skates securely to avoid accidents on the ice. To tie a bow in your laces, cross the ends of the laces over each other just like you would with an ordinary shoe. Then, cross one lace over the other a second time. This will help make your laces more secure. After crossing the laces, pull on the ends to tighten them. If you have a lot of extra length to your lace, wrap it around the top of your skate a few times until there’s just enough left to tie a bow. Finish off with a double-knotted bow. Read on for tips on how to tighten your laces correctly!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 156,163 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement