How to Tape Around Your Skate for Comfort (2026)

Summary: The comfort of your hockey skate is influenced by more than just fit – how the laces are tied, how the lace knot is secured, and how the shin guard transition is managed all play a role. This guide will walk you through how to use shin guard tape and skate laces to reduce discomfort, prevent laces from coming undone, and create a consistent feel in your skates from warm-up to the final buzzer.

It's a problem that arises in the locker room more often than it's discussed. The player has laced their skate correctly, the lacing feels as usual, but after a period, one of the laces starts to tickle their ankle. A loose lace end flaps against the boot, creating pressure with every stride. The shin guard is in place, but its lower part rubs against the top edge of the boot during quick movements.

None of these things will decide the game, but they all affect focus – and they are easy to avoid with the right taping and choice of laces.

There's a reason experienced players often have a more thought-out routine for lacing and securing their skates than they do for, say, blade taping. Blade tape is visible and actively checked. Lacing and its closure are taken for granted and rarely addressed until something starts to bother them. Preventing such disturbances is simple, inexpensive, and yields noticeable results in terms of better concentration and a more consistent feel during the game.

Laces coming undone – why it happens and how to fix it

Hockey laces come undone for various reasons: sharp skating movements, checking forces, and the repeated flexion in the boot during crossovers and stops. Unwaxed laces have a smoother surface and can slip out of the eyelets more easily during intense play. Waxed laces grip the eyelets more firmly and stay more stable, reducing the need for tape fixation.

Waxed Skate Laces are designed to stay securely in the eyelets along the lacing zone of the boot. The wax provides a surface that grips the eyelets under lateral force, preventing the laces from slipping out during quick movements. Use waxed skate laces if you regularly notice your laces shifting during games or practice – it's often the easiest way to reduce the need for taping over the lacing.

Unwaxed Skate Laces offer a softer feel when lacing and are suitable for players who prefer to tighten their laces more gradually. They don't grip the eyelets as tightly, making them more common among players who either tape their laces regularly or who lace them very tightly initially and then let the laces settle.

Regardless of lace type: always tape the end of the lacing. Use Shin Guard Tape to apply a layer over the top lace loops and against the boot – the tape adheres to the lacing and prevents the top wrap from coming loose. It's a quick step that takes 20 seconds and prevents a lace from coming undone in the middle of a game.

Taping the lace knot correctly – a technique for stable results

There's a common mistake when taping the lace knot: the player loosely places the tape over the top of the lace loops without pressing them against the boot. This gives the visual impression that the lacing is secure, but the tape adheres to the air under the loops rather than to the lace loops and the boot together. The first time the boot is flexed properly, the tape lifts.

Shin Guard Tape PRO is the stronger variant and is suitable for game situations where the taping along the lace knot needs to hold throughout the entire game without coming loose. Use Shin Guard Tape PRO to secure the lace knot: pull the laces tight, lay the ends against the boot, and wrap a layer of Shin Guard Tape PRO around them with firm pressure against the lace loops. The tape adheres to the lacing and holds it against the boot throughout the movements of the game.

Standard Shin Guard Tape works for practice and for players with lighter lacing. In game situations with intense play, the PRO version provides better durability for the lace knot.

A technical detail that makes a difference: tape the lace knot from bottom to top – start under the lace loops and wrap upwards over them. This provides better coverage and more consistent pressure against the laces compared to wrapping only around the top. Apply with even pressure along the entire upper part of the lacing zone, not just a quick pull around the very top wrap.

The role of skate laces in comfort – waxed or unwaxed and what it provides

The choice between waxed and unwaxed laces not only affects how securely they stay in the eyelets – it also impacts the feel of the boot's pressure against the foot and overall comfort during a game.

Waxed Skate Laces exert firmer pressure against the foot under the lacing zone when tightened. This provides a more precise and controlled feel of the boot's contact and is the natural choice for players who want a tight and controlled grip around their foot. Their stiffer surface also means they hold their position better – they don't shift along the foot during play and rarely require re-lacing.

Unwaxed Skate Laces offer a softer feel against the foot and are more flexible when lacing. Players who prefer to tighten gradually and adjust pressure along the lacing zone often choose unwaxed laces. They require more attention to the lace knot as they don't grip the eyelets as tightly – always tape the knot with Shin Guard Tape PRO during games if you use unwaxed laces.

A concrete difference often noticed: players who have switched from unwaxed to waxed laces report needing to tape the lace knot less often, and that the lacing doesn't "wander" along the foot during the game in the same way. It's not a dramatic change, but it's a nuisance that disappears.

A complete routine for skate comfort

Setting up a skate comfort routine doesn't take much time. It involves three steps, all done in the locker room before a game or practice.

Start by lacing your skate properly with Waxed Skate Laces or Unwaxed Skate Laces depending on preference. Tighten along the lacing zone with even force and finish with a secure knot. Place the loops against the boot.

Then, tape the lace knot with Shin Guard Tape PRO. Start under the loops and wrap upwards with even pressure. Finish with an extra layer of pressure along the loops. This takes 20 seconds per skate.

Next, apply Shin Guard Tape PRO along the upper and lower edges of the shin guard against the sock. The lower layer – against the skate boot – reduces friction and movement in the area where the shin guard meets the top of the boot with each stride. A correctly taped shin guard edge reduces the wear and chafing that can otherwise occur at the top edge of the boot during quick movements.

Total time for the routine: 3–4 minutes. It's an investment that provides a consistent feel for the skate throughout the game and eliminates disturbances that would otherwise demand attention during play.

FAQ

1. Why do skate laces come undone during a game?

The most common reason is that the lace knot isn't taped, or the tape was applied without pressing the lace loops tightly against the boot. A loop that is loose against the boot will shift with lateral force and gradually loosen. Use Shin Guard Tape PRO to secure the lace knot with firm pressure against the laces – wrap from under the loops and upwards for best coverage. Waxed Skate Laces also reduce the need for taping by gripping the eyelets more firmly on their own. A combination of waxed laces and a taped knot provides the most stable lacing.

2. What is the difference between waxed and unwaxed skate laces?

Waxed Skate Laces have a stiffer, waxed surface that grips the lace eyelets more firmly and provides a more controlled, tight pressure against the foot. They hold their position better and less often require a taped knot. Unwaxed Skate Laces are softer and offer more flexibility when lacing, but they slip more easily in the eyelets and almost always require a taped knot during games. Choose waxed if you want a stable and tight grip with minimal taping. Choose unwaxed if you prefer a softer and more progressive lacing feel – and compensate with Shin Guard Tape PRO along the knot.

3. How do you tape the lace knot correctly?

Pull the laces tight and lay the ends against the boot with the loops held closely together. Take Shin Guard Tape PRO and start taping under the lace loops, wrapping upwards with even pressure, and finish with an extra layer of pressure on top of the loops. Press the tape firmly with your thumb across its entire width. This results in taping where the lace loops are firmly pressed against the boot rather than the tape just lying loosely on top. Immediately after taping, check that the lacing zone doesn't shift when you press and flex the boot up and down.

4. Can you use standard Shin Guard Tape instead of PRO for lace fixation?

Yes, Shin Guard Tape works well for practice and lighter play. In game situations with intense play and high sweat levels, Shin Guard Tape PRO offers better durability because its adhesive is formulated to maintain its stickiness in moisture. If you regularly notice your lace fixation starting to give out towards the end of a game with standard tape – upgrade to the PRO version. It's a difference that's concretely noticeable in how stable the lace knot stays during the third period compared to how it was at the start of the game.

5. Does the order in which you lace your skate matter?

Yes. The lacing order affects how pressure is distributed along the foot and how stably the boot sits around the ankle. Always start from the bottom and tighten progressively upwards – this provides even contact along the entire foot rather than concentrated pressure at the ankle if you pull too hard from the top immediately. Waxed Skate Laces offer better control during progressive tightening because their surface maintains its position at each eyelet. Finish with a secure knot, place it against the boot, and tape with Shin Guard Tape PRO.

6. Does shin guard tape at the bottom edge of the shin guard affect skate comfort?

Yes, indirectly. Shin Guard Tape PRO at the bottom edge of the shin guard against the skate boot holds the shin guard in place against the sock, and when the shin guard is stable, movement is reduced in the area where its lower part meets the top of the boot. Without proper taping at the bottom, the shin guard moves with each stride and creates friction against the top edge of the boot. This is felt as chafing or pressure along the top edge of the boot during intense play. Apply Shin Guard Tape PRO along the bottom edge of the shin guard with an overlap against the skate boot to eliminate that movement.

7. How long does the taping of the lace knot last?

Shin Guard Tape PRO on the lace knot typically lasts an entire game if applied correctly. Sweat and movement gradually stress the tape, and if you notice the knot starting to give way towards the end of the game, it's a sign that either the application was insufficient or you should switch from standard to the PRO version. Remove the tape after each game and re-tape before the next – a layer that has been under sweat for one game has given all it can give. Waxed Skate Laces in combination with PRO tape provide the most stable knot throughout an entire game.

8. What is the most common mistake when taping the lace knot?

The most common mistake is to place the tape on top of the loops without pressing them against the shaft. The tape visually covers the loops but sits against the air beneath them – with the first quick movement, the tape lifts and the loops are as loose as without tape. The solution: pull the lace loops tightly against the shaft before taping, hold them in place with your thumb, and wrap Shin Guard Tape PRO from the bottom up with even pressure. This order ensures that the loops are pressed against the shaft by the tape rather than just covered on top.