There are really only two types of footwear skaters use: socks and tights. However, it’s important to choose the right type of footwear in order to maximize your skating experience.
Skating Socks
While some skaters prefer to skate in their bare feet, many choose to wear socks. These socks should be thin so that the skater can feel the ice as well as the pressure against the boot when changing edges. Although you can purchase skating socks specifically, women’s trouser socks (basically the sock version of pantyhose) are essentially the same and much less expensive. If you or your skater find you need thick socks for your boot to fit snugly enough, then your boots are too big.
Skating Tights
A skater should wear skating tights any time they wear a skating dress. These tights come in several styles, thicknesses, and colors. The two primary styles of tights are footed and over the boot. Footed tights are basically the full leg version of skating socks while over the boot tights go over the skate and fasten under the sole of the boot. The style you choose, as with thickness and color, is a matter of personal preference. Some skaters even wear both for a little extra warmth!
You can easily find skating tights online with a quick internet search. Alternatively, you can purchase them from a skating shop. Two popular brands of skating tights are Mondor and Chloe Noel.
Note that while you can use pantyhose in a pinch, we don’t recommend it. Pantyhose are much thinner than skating tights, so they don’t provide any warmth, and they are much more delicate and thereby more susceptible to holes and runs.
