How to tape your skates for the best fit

Summary: You tape your skates by securing the shin guards and socks with 2–3 turns just below the knee and 2–3 turns at the bottom by the skate. If you want, you can add a light turn around the top of the skate. The tape should hold everything in place without pinching or preventing the ankle from bending forward. Just as important for the fit are the correct lacing and the right length of the laces. In this guide, we go through the technique step by step, which tape is right, and how to tape figure skates.

Introduction

You have probably seen it in the locker room: a player pulling at their sock, adjusting a shin guard that has twisted, or re-tying a lace that has come undone. They are small things, but every time they take focus away from the game. A skate that fits correctly, together with a shin guard that stays still, feels like part of the body. You don't think about it, and that is exactly how it should be.

The secret is not expensive equipment, but the right technique. A few turns of tape in the right places, thoughtful lacing, and laces of the right length go a long way. This applies whether you are a parent of a child who has just started, play senior hockey, or skate figure skating. Come along, and we will go through everything from the first turn to the last knot.

Why do you tape your skates?

When hockey players talk about taping their skates, they usually mean the entire area from the knee down to the skate. The shin guard sits against the leg, the sock is pulled over it, and the tape locks them together so that everything moves as a unit. At the bottom, the shin guard meets the top of the skate, and that is where extra help is usually needed. If the guard slides down or twists, it ends up in the wrong position against the skate. Then it can chafe, press, and draw attention in the middle of a shift.

With the right taping, you get three things:

Guards that stay still. The shin guard stays where it should, even after tackles, falls, and hard stops.
Less chafing and irritation. When the sock and guard do not rub against the skate, you avoid both chafing and torn socks.
The same feel every session. You get a consistent routine that makes the equipment feel the same at every practice and game.

Taping is especially valuable for young players. Equipment is often bought with a little room to grow, so the guards do not always fit perfectly. With tape, you can adjust the fit and keep the guard in place during the season, instead of replacing equipment prematurely.

One thing is worth saying clearly: the tape should hold the equipment in place, not stabilize the joint. It is the skate and good lacing that provide support around the ankle. The tape ensures that everything around it stays in place.

How to tape your skates step by step

What tape should you use?

For shin guards and skates, you need a thin, stretchy tape that can withstand sweat, ice, and cold. Regular cloth tape belongs on the stick, not on your legs.

Shin Guard Tape PRO is our first choice for you who play a lot. It is made of 0.18 mm PVC film with a rubber-based adhesive and is 24 mm wide and 20 m long. It withstands everything from −10 °C to 80 °C and stays on even in a cold ice rink and through hard matches.
Shin Guard Tape is the classic version for hockey and bandy. It is well-suited for practice and for those who tape often and want to keep costs down.
Advance AT7 Shin Guard Tape is hand-tearable and available in ten colors. It is suitable when the tape needs to match the team's socks.

Step by step

Get dressed in the right order. Put on the shin guards and tighten the Velcro straps just enough. Pull the sock smoothly over the guard, and then put on and lace up the skates. The tape comes last, so you do not need to take it off if something needs to be adjusted.
Apply the top turn. Bend your knee slightly and wrap 2–3 turns just below the knee, around the sock and guard. When you bend your knee, the tape will not tighten when you go into a skating stance.
Lock the bottom of the guard. Wrap 2–3 turns just above the skate, where the shin guard ends. This is where the guard most often wants to twist, so this turn does the most good.
Optional: one turn around the top of the skate. Many players add a light turn around the top of the skate, over the tongue and the top holes. It keeps the lacing in place and prevents the sock from sliding. Apply it loosely, so that the ankle can still bend forward.
Test the mobility. Squat down, bend your knees, and make a few cuts. If something feels tight, cut open that turn and re-tape it more loosely.

The entire technique for the shin guards, with more tips and frequently asked questions, is in the guide on taping shin guards.

Common mistakes

Too tight. Tape that cuts off blood flow makes the legs heavy and can cause cramps. The rule of thumb is that a finger should fit under the tape.
Directly against the skin. Always tape around the sock and guard. Against the skin, the tape adheres worse and hurts to remove.
Too much tape. 2–3 turns per spot is enough. More turns do not provide better adhesion.
Wrong tape. Electrical tape and regular household tape lose their grip in cold and moisture.
Tearing off the tape afterward. Cut it open instead, so the socks last longer.

The right fit starts with the lacing

The tape holds everything in place, but the fit in the skate itself comes from the lacing. A well-laced skate fits tightly around the heel and ankle, without pinching the toes or pressing on the front of the ankle. The heel should not lift when you bend your knee forward.

Lace in three zones:

Bottom holes, over the toes: moderately tight. Too tight makes the toes cold and numb.
Middle holes, over the ankle: this is where you tighten the most. It is the ankle that provides support and power in the cuts.
Top holes: slightly looser, so that the ankle can bend forward in a skating stance. Many leave the top hole unlaced.

The laces also play a role. Waxed Skate Laces hold the tension where you tighten and do not slide up during the game. Unwaxed Skate Laces in cotton are softer and easier to adjust, which many younger players appreciate. The length determines if you can reach all the way up and get a knot that stays. In the guide Skate Laces – Right Length, Waxed or Unwaxed, you will find the size guide and more about lacing.

If the skates are new and feel stiff, they can often be heat-molded. The skate is heated so that it shapes itself to the foot, which is done in a sports store that has the equipment for it. Do it before you spend time fine-tuning the lacing and taping, because the fit changes afterward.

Taping figure skates

Figure skaters tape too, but for different reasons than hockey players. There are no shin guards to hold in place. The focus is instead on the lacing and the skate itself.

This is how the lacing holds throughout the session. Figure skates are laced high and tight around the ankle, and a lace that comes undone in the middle of a jump or pirouette is both irritating and risky. Many therefore wrap one turn of tape around the top part of the skate, over the knot and the top hooks. Then the knot stays in place and the laces cannot catch on each other or on the other skate. A thin, flexible tape like Shin Guard Tape PRO works well, because it withstands cold and stays on in moisture. Wrap it loosely enough so that you can bend the ankle forward fully.

This is how you tape to protect the skate. Some skaters tape over the front and sides of the skate to protect the leather and lacquer from scratches from the other skate and from wear during landings. This is common among skaters who jump a lot.

Keep this in mind:

Always tape on a clean and dry skate, otherwise the tape will come off.
Do not cover the hooks so that you cannot reach them to adjust the lacing.
Remove the tape after the session so that the skate can dry properly.

If you are going to buy new laces for the figure skates, use the same logic as in hockey: the right length gives a knot that stays without long ends that flap around.

Frequently asked questions about taping skates

1. How do you tape skates and shin guards?

Start by getting dressed in the right order: shin guards, socks, skates, and finally tape. Apply 2–3 turns around the sock and guard just below the knee, with the knee slightly bent so that the tape does not tighten in a skating stance. Then apply 2–3 turns just above the skate, where the shin guard ends and most often wants to twist. This is the most important turn. Many also add a light turn around the top of the skate, over the tongue and the top holes, to keep the lacing in place and prevent the sock from sliding. Finish by squatting down and making a few cuts. If something feels tight, cut open that turn and re-tape it more loosely. Use a thin, stretchy tape that withstands cold and sweat. Shin Guard Tape PRO is made for exactly this and stays on throughout the game. If you want even more detailed help with the shin guards, the entire technique is in our guide on taping shin guards. Once you have done it a few times, the entire taping takes just a couple of minutes, and it becomes a natural part of the game routine.

2. How tight should you tape?

Moderately tight, and rather loose than too tight. The tape should hold the sock and guard in place, not compress the leg. If you pull too tight, the blood flow in the calf is restricted. The leg then feels heavy and stiff, and you can get cramps as early as the first period. This lowers both speed and endurance. A simple rule of thumb is that you should be able to stick a finger under the tape when you are finished. Bend the knee before applying the top turn, so that the tape does not tighten when you go into a skating stance. The turn around the top of the skate should be extra loose, because the ankle needs to be able to bend forward so that you get power in the cuts. If the feet get cold or numb, it is more often the lacing than the tape that is too tight, especially over the toes. Always test the mobility after taping: squat down, bend your knees, and take a few cuts. If something feels wrong, it is better to re-tape immediately than to play a whole session in discomfort. A flexible tape like Shin Guard Tape PRO makes it easier to get the right tension, because it follows the leg's movements instead of locking them.

3. What tape should you use for the skates?

Use a thin, stretchy shin guard tape that withstands sweat, cold, and ice. It follows the leg's shape and stays on without cracking when you move. Shin Guard Tape PRO is our first choice for active players. It is made of 0.18 mm PVC film with a rubber-based adhesive and is 24 mm wide and 20 m long. It withstands everything from −10 °C to 80 °C and holds even through hard matches. The classic Shin Guard Tape is perfectly suited for practice and for you who tape often and want to keep costs down. If you want the tape to match the team's socks, Advance AT7 Shin Guard Tape is a good choice. It is available in ten colors and is hand-tearable, which makes taping quick. Avoid cloth tape on the legs. It is made for the stick, does not stretch at all, and absorbs moisture, so it cracks or pinches when the leg works, and it sucks up moisture. A real shin guard tape is thin, stretchy, and water-repellent. It follows the leg's movements and stays on through sweat and ice. Shin Guard Tape PRO withstands everything from −10 °C to 80 °C and is made just to keep the guard and sock in place. If you only need a simple and affordable tape for practice, the classic Shin Guard Tape is enough. The difference in price compared to electrical tape is small, but the difference on the ice is noticeable already in the first period.

8. How much tape do you need, and how do you avoid running out?

More than most people think. An active player tapes up before every practice and game, and with two legs and several wraps per area, that uses up a meter or two of tape each time. A roll therefore only lasts a few sessions, and over a full season, you'll go through many rolls. The most common problem isn't the price, but running out of tape just before a game. The easiest way to avoid this is with a subscription. With Shin guard tape PRO (3-pack) you'll receive three rolls delivered to your home every other week, every month, or every three months, depending on how much you play. If you prefer the classic tape, Shin guard tape (3-pack) is available with the same subscription options. If you want everything for your skates in one place, the skate kit includes shin guard tape PRO, waxed skate laces, and a protective cover for spare blades. For teams and clubs, shin guard tape PRO (10-pack) is a better option, so there's always tape in the equipment room.