Skate Laces

Ask any skater what the cheapest performance upgrade is, and the answer is almost always the same: better laces. Boots get all the attention, but the laces are what turn a stiff boot into a responsive one. The right pair of skate laces holds your heel locked through jumps and crossovers, survives a whole season of cold rinks, and unties in ten seconds when you finally get off the ice.

Every lace on this page was laced, skated, and re-laced by our editors before it earned a spot. No sponsored placements — here is exactly how we test.

Waxed vs. Unwaxed Skate Laces

This is the single biggest decision, and it comes down to grip:

• Waxed laces are coated with a thin layer of wax that creates friction against itself. Knots stay tied through a two-hour practice, the lace barely stretches, and you get a locked-in feel that most figure skaters and serious hockey players prefer. The trade-off: slightly less give, and they cost a dollar or two more.
• Unwaxed (polyester or nylon) laces stretch a little more, which some skaters like for comfort across the instep. They are cheaper and easier to find in team colors, but they loosen faster — expect to re-tie at least once per session.

Our rule of thumb: if you compete, jump, or skate more than twice a week, go waxed. Casual skaters and young kids are usually fine with quality unwaxed laces.

Flat vs. Round Laces

Flat laces distribute pressure more evenly across the boot and stay put in the eyelets — that is why nearly every modern figure skate and hockey skate ships with them. Round laces (common on old-school hockey skates) slide through the eyelets faster, which makes tightening quick, but they slip loose more easily and can dig into the top of the foot. Unless your boot specifically calls for round laces, stick with flat.

What Length Do You Need?

Lace length depends on the number of eyelet pairs and how high you lace — a senior figure boot and a senior hockey boot with the same eyelet count can need different lengths. As a quick anchor: most junior figure skates take 72 to 84 inch laces, while senior figure and hockey boots run from 96 up to 130 inches.

Do not guess — measuring takes two minutes. Our skate lace length guide has the full chart by boot type and eyelet count, plus how to measure your old laces.

Colors: Tradition vs. Team Spirit

White is the standard for figure skaters, and for good reason — competitions and most synchronized skating dresses are built around a clean white boot line. Hockey players have far more freedom: black, navy, red, and team-color laces are all fair game, and colored waxed laces have become a quiet way to personalize a stock boot. One warning for competitors: check your discipline rulebook before lacing up anything flashy at a judged event.

Keeping Laces Tight (Without Wrecking Your Hands)

Waxed laces are stiff, and pulling 108 inches of them tight by hand before a 6 a.m. practice is a great way to start the day with sore fingers. A skate lace tightener pulls far more tension than fingers can, sets a consistent lock across every eyelet pair, and pays for itself the first week. Pair it with a proper lace lock at the top eyelets and most skaters can go a full session without re-tying.

How Often Should You Replace Skate Laces?

Inspect your laces once a month. Replace them when you notice:

• The wax coating wearing smooth (laces start to slip)
• Fraying or a broken core strand near the eyelets or the toe area
• Permanent stretching — the lace no longer holds tension even when pulled hard

For a skater on the ice four or more times a week, one season per pair of waxed laces is normal. Casual skaters can go a year or more.

How We Picked These Laces

Our Gear Editor, a former competitive synchronized skater, laced and skated every product here across figure and hockey boots, through full practices, in cold-rink conditions. We check knot security after simulated sessions, cold flexibility, and real-world durability. Read the full testing methodology — and if a lace stops earning its place, it comes off this page.