Ice skates come in different styles and are used for different purposes. There are ice skates that are used for figure skating and those that are worn for playing hockey. Figure skating ice skates are slimmer and usually are made of leather with a single blade attached to the bottom of the skate. To the contrary, ice hockey skates are often made of a combination of leather and plastic and are generally more rigid than figure skates. Furthermore, ice skates that are used for hockey offer more support at the ankle and the stainless steel blade is attached at the boot in two places, different than the ice skates worn by figure skaters. The top names in hockey ice skates are Reebok, Bauer, Glider and CCM. These are the best names when it comes to ice skates and equipment used for hockey. The boots are much more padded than the ice skates worn by figure skaters. Ice skates can be purchased online in venues where you can get a discounted price on name brand ice skates. Often, these ice skates can be sold at wholesale prices online and are much less expensive than those that you would get in a sporting goods shop. In addition, you can have a wider variety of styles from which to choose. If you are planning on buying ice skates for hockey, you will need other hockey equipment as well. This includes hockey sticks, bags, braces, helmets and pads. You will also need knee pads and a padded shirt if you are planning on playing this sport, considered to be one of the roughest sports played professionally. If you are planning on purchasing a pair of ice skates for fun on the ice, you can choose from leather booted ice skates made for figure skating. These come with a single blade, although you can get some beginner ice skates that come with a double blade. Ice skating requires ankle strength and it is often difficult for those who are on the ice for the first time to keep their ankles straight. There is a tendency to fold the ankles in that can result in injury if on the ice. Even if you are planning on taking your ice skates to an indoor ice arena, be prepared to dress warmly. You are better off to layer your clothing when using ice skates indoors as a bulky coat or jacket can cause you to lose balance on the ice. You should also be sure to wear gloves when you use ice skates, even when indoors. Ice skates need to have the blade sharpened periodically to keep them smooth on the ice. Skating with dull blades on your ice skates can cause you to trip and possibly fall when skating. You can have your ice skates sharpened at a pro shop or you can purchase your own sharpener for your ice skates.
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