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In this zone, your heart rate rises at the mere thought of the next workout. You'll find the best ways to exercise effectively, discover new disciplines, and choose an outfit that suits your needs. We'll also guide you through the clothing care process and advise what to buy for enthusiasts of various sports. Our blog is a guide for everyone who wants to feel motivation 4 times more!
What to wear when ice skating? A brief guide for beginners

Ice skating is a discipline that is often greatly underestimated by winter sports enthusiasts. When winter comes and slopes become snowy, skiing or snowboarding are the most commonly chosen disciplines. Surprisingly, ice skating also has many benefits. First and foremost, open ice rinks can be found in cities, so usually there’s no need to travel to skate. After all, we don't always have the time to do that.
In this article:
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It is recommended to wear layers, allowing you to adapt to changing conditions and intensity of the activity.
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A hat and a buff protect against heat loss and cool weather.
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Wearing gloves is important to keep the hands warm and to protect them should you experience any falls.
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Choose clothes that provide thermal comfort that protect against cold and help avoid overheating.
Short summary:
What are the benefits of ice skating?
You don’t need to break the bank to enjoy this sport. It’s also great for strengthening not only leg muscles, but the whole body, improving cardiorespiratory endurance and motor coordination, and — last but not least — it is a perfect opportunity to meet with friends. As with all sports, especially winter sports, the right attire is key, so it's worth planning your outfit in advance to enjoy all that skating has to offer!
Comfort is paramount!
If you plan to go skating once a month, special clothes probably won’t be necessary. However, if you are about to embark on a more intensive adventure with this winter sport, it is worth purchasing the right skating attire. First and foremost, it is important to remember that skating is a sport that involves quite energetic movement. You'd be much better off leaving a down jacket or a ski suit at home. Dressing too warm can cause notorious overheating, excessive sweating and, as a result, quick discouragement. In addition, several layers of clothing can significantly restrict freedom of movement, which plays a fundamental role while skating. So it's worth going for comfort and opting for a few thinner, properly chosen layers that will:
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wick away moisture
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retain as much body heat as possible
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protect against cold
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protect against wind
First layer: base
Thermal or performance underwear will work best as base layer. The function of the former is to prevent heat loss and to protect the body from external factors. Performance underwear, however, 'does not breathe', meaning that it does not release the heat generated by the body to the outside. As we move, it effectively maintains and even increases body temperature. On the other hand, this may dampen the fabric during more intense exercise. This type of underwear will therefore work well for skaters who do not intend to move intensely and rapidly, but rather to enjoy the sport recreationally. Thermal underwear, on the other hand, is made of special fibres that wick away moisture while providing protection against cold. It has been designed for those who enjoy intense exercise. Both types of underwear should fit the body snugly to provide warmth. What's available? Fitted long- or short-sleeved shirts and leggings that protect the lower body.

Midlayer: warming
After the thermal underwear, the next layer will be the warming layer, whose most important function is to additionally retain the heat generated by the body during exercise. A fleece jacket works best as midlayer. This fabric has excellent thermal insulation properties. An ordinary cotton sweatshirt can also be used instead of a fleece jacket. It provides additional insulation and often has a hood to provide extra protection for the head and neck area.

Top layer
As a third layer of clothing, the following work best: men's outdoor jackets or ladies' outdoor jackets which, apart from providing an additional top layer of insulation, also guarantee breathability and, above all, protection against the wind. In this case, we can opt for a simple softshell jacket or a waterproof membrane one. It is also worth considering wearing trousers made of such a material. It not only provides extra thermal insulation; the material is elastic, which, as we know, significantly affects skating comfort. Women can also opt to wear leggings or loose trousers that do not restrict movement. If you want to skate at a much lower temperature, you should consider wearing a down jacket with synthetic down or Primaloft insulation.

Ice skating equipment — head, neck and hand protection
Other essential attire items for every skater should include a hat, a buff to protect the neck, and gloves. Ice skating is a sport that engages the entire body, so it's hard to imagine skating with your hands in your pockets, your neck wrapped in a thick scarf and with a double hood on your head.

Hat
While head insulation may be unnecessary on warmer days, a winter hat can provide effective protection against the cold when temperature drops or the wind picks up. We can go for a simple woollen hat as well as a hat made of thin quick-drying breathable fabric or a hat with an extra lining to protect against the wind.
Buff
Why choose a buff instead of a scarf? Long and heavy woollen or cotton scarves are cumbersome when skating — the water vapour we exhale as we move settles on it and freezes, forming an icy crust; moreover, a loosely tied scarf may slip and cause a collision on the ice. A convenient alternative to a scarf is a buff worn over the head — this type of neck protection can also be sewn from fleece or performance fabric, which is light and thin, but effectively retains heat near the skin and wicks away moisture.
Gloves
High-quality gloves will prove invaluable not only as protection against low temperatures and wind, but also as a piece of clothing that protects our hands from direct contact with ice. As beginner ice skaters, we need to be ready for falls, which we will undoubtedly experience in the learning process — no surprise there. After all, people learn fastest from their mistakes. Since we tend to intuitively support ourselves with our hands when we tumble, it is worth ensuring that falls are relatively harmless. Here, too, we can choose between thin knitted gloves and more professional accessories. We recommend grabbing a pair of fleece gloves lined with windproof fabric or thicker gloves that may be also used for skiing or snowboarding.
Safety on skates: helmet and protective gear
If we want to take kids ice skating, we're unsure of our skating skills or would prefer to take extra precautions against a potential fall, consider getting yourself a helmet and knee and elbow pads, which, along with your hands, are most likely to touch the ice.

Get dressed up and get on the ice!
With such gear, every skater will be adequately prepared to embark on their skating journey or continue it in an improved way. For many, aesthetic issues will also be crucial at the ice rink, but comfort and ease of skating, as well as safety, should be the factors of primary importance. Now all you need is your will, and you can hone your skills on the ice!
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