What do men wear under figure skates?

[surfdabbler]

I have been skating in hockey skates, happily wearing sports socks.  I'm looking to buy some figure skates, and the shop guy said that girls don't wear socks - just tights.  As my wardrobe doesn't include any tights, I'm wondering whether I should be wearing thin socks, or no socks, or just keep going with the sports socks.  As I'm looking to buy new skates, what I wear under them will influence the size skates that I buy.

[Loops]

The guys (and most girls) at my rink wear trouser socks.  I think if you search the forums here, you'll find some of the guys discussing their sock solutions.  My personal opinion is thinner = better.   I wear knee-high nylons for fitting reasons as well (funny feet).  I'm guessing that's not someplace you want to go! Some skate barefoot, but that's blisterville for others, nylons again are a happy medium solution.

When you visit the skate shop for your fitting, you can also have this discussion with the fitter.  I'm sure the guys here will chime in as well!

Welcome to the forums, and the sport!

[Horseandpony]

Yuck, you shouldn't skate in sport socks, even in hockey skates! They bunch horribly and soak up sweat like crazy. I skated in thin cotton socks and got blisters and swollen toes. The problem went away when I started wearing trouser/nylon socks.

Anyone can wear trouser socks. I get four pairs in a pack for $5 (Australian) and they last me forever! A pair of skating tights sell for $40(!!) at my rink.

Trouser socks are very thin, so it's a lot more comfortable and easier to skate in.

Personally I'd much rather trouser socks than skating tights. Those things are expensive and you have to match them to your skin tone.

[Matsumoto]

I wear thin men's dress socks with no patterns - just plain black (the thinner the better).  They aren't quite as thin as trouser socks but they work great.

[SkatEn]

A guy, beginner - so I don't know how reliable it is, said that soccer [football for some of you] socks are great for skating. Any opinion on that? It's the thinner variant.

[surfdabbler]

I don't think I'm quite ready for trouser socks (which seem to be ladies knee-length stockings).  I will size-up my figure skates to go with men's dress socks - and probably continue to wear my terrible sweat-soaking, bunching up sports socks with my hockey boots.    Never had a problem with them on either count, so it's all good.  My feet don't sweat a lot, and I do the boots nice and tight, so bunching has never happened.  I might give the dress socks a go sometime in the hockey boots, just to see, but I think the boots might get too loose without the extra padding of the socks.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies and recommendations.

[FigureSpins]

Figure skaters always go outside their comfort zone, which is not for everyone. 

Prediction: wearing dress socks instead of hockey socks under your current hockey skates will make the fit too loose.  That's a silly test that's doomed to fail - try wearing the dress socks with the rental figure skates instead.

SkateEN - wearing bulky socks that can wrinkle and absorb sweat can lead to blisters and hot spots with figure skates.  Ditto for "two pairs of socks." That doesn't keep your feet warm, it actually can cut off circulation and make your feet even more cold, once you get the feeling back in them. 

Side note: I can't imagine letting a pair of socks (that no one will see, but everyone has suggested) be an obstacle to the sport, lol. 

[surfdabbler]

Figure skaters always go outside their comfort zone, which is not for everyone. 

Side note: I can't imagine letting a pair of socks (that no one will see, but everyone has suggested) be an obstacle, lol.  Maybe you should hold off on buying a pair of figure skates until the Wizard gives you some courage. ;-)

Ahem, yes, point taken, thank you.   

[lutefisk]

Female skaters are much better served in the sockage dept. than their male counterparts.  Trouser socks are what I wear.  I started off stealing from my wife (she was good with it as long as I didn't "graduate" to her other underpinnings!) but I soon started buying my own to avoid fighting over socks.  As Loops said:  thinner is better for figure skating.  With thick socks you never get the socks compressed down to the point of getting all the slop out of the boots for good blade feel--or if you do manage that, the laces are so tight that your feet go to sleep and then are cold, which is not optimal.  You don't have to wander around in the ladies lingerie dept. of a clothing store.  Trouser socks can be found in the over the counter drug parts of most grocery stores and/or chain pharmacies/ and even some quicky marts at gas stations--at least here in the states.

[FigureSpins]

I already removed that bit about courage because it was a little harsh on-screen. It was funny when I said it in my head, ROFLOL!

I am an equal-opportunity mocker, however.  If you told me you were thinking of switching to hockey but you didn't want to wear the over-the-knee stockings, I'd take you to task for that as well.

FWIW, I also wear women's (duh) trouser socks, which are made of tights material, but are only knee-high.  They're a little thinner than a man's dress sock and they don't have the cable-knit patterns.  I skate with a lot of adult men and they wear the same thing (usually in black.)  I've bought multi-packs that come with beige, black and dark brown in one package, so they definitely make them in darker colors.  The male figure skaters I know usually buy them at the pro shop, which is more expensive so I'm not sure if they're available in department stores/mens sock departments.

One of my DDs used to wear Gold Toe cotton knee-high socks with her skates.  (Ice dancing, Moves) Those are smooth, very thin and come in colors, so that might be a solution for you if you're leery of the tights material.  My husband wears Gold Toe Fluffies (which are his everyday socks) but his skates were sized wearing those socks. He only skates once or twice a year and just goes in circles so it's not really a comparison.

Most figure skaters wear socks that come up above the top of the boot, hence all the "knee high" suggestions.  The skills require pressing against the tongue and top edges of the boot, so ankle-length socks provide no protection against rubbing.  On crossovers, for example, the calf presses into the boot with each stroke and cross.  For some reason, anklets tend to slip and wrinkle, which can be painful inside the skate because it causes pressure points.

Another reason people recommend thin (other than better control and less friction) is because figure skates tend to "loosen up" as they're worn. You probably won't outgrow your skates, so they'll be with you until you outskate them and need a step-up boot/blade.  If you start with a thin sock and the skate gets a little loose-fitting, you can always wear a slightly thicker sock (ie: trouser=>dress) to make the skate last longer.

[Loops]

I don't think I'm quite ready for trouser socks (which seem to be ladies knee-length stockings).  I will size-up my figure skates to go with men's dress socks....

This is true in that what my husband buys as socks at his men's clothing store isn't much different from the trouser socks I get in the Women's section of whatever shop I'm in.  Next time you're at the mall, have a gander and see what there is.  Once you're actually looking for something like this you might be surprised!  Or not [shrug].

FigureSpins: you crack me up!

[rd350]

Sometimes we have to go with what serves us well.

Not a guy but here's my 2 cents.

I detest stockings but when I got my new skates custom fitted and they told me I had to decide then and there what I will wear I went with the stocking socks because I thought it was what I should do.

5 months later with all sorts of boot problems and subsequently break in problems, I sent the skates back.  They made them 1/2 size bigger and I now wear hockey socks!  I am a "cushioning around my feet" kind of girl.  Point blank!

Not sure what I will do when I test.... how to hide the hockey socks but I'll deal with that another day.

I do think hockey socks are better for the moisture factor than regular sports socks but in the end you have to do what makes you (and your feet) happy.

[Neverdull44]

My son buys the orange sock liners for his hockey skates.   Those would work for figure skates.  They are like a trouser sock, but without ridges.    Honestly, I think the regular hockey socks (even the cut proof) would work fine too.  While they are a little thicker, they have alot of compression in them that could help your feet tendons & muscles.  But, us figure skaters torture ourselves in very snug fitting skates.

Us women do wear knee high/trouser socks, as the others said.   Some have tough enough feet to "go bear."   I can't.  I don't like blisters or cutting open my skin at the top of the boot.

[icedancer]

I have not found anklets to be a problem - I do wear a gel sleeve on one ankle so maybe that helps but I have never had them slip down at all - ever.

I like bamboo socks.  They are cushy.

I also find that whatever is lining your skates might make a difference in what type of socks to wear.  I find that with my newer SP Teri with their "Clarino" lining that my feet slip around in the boot a bit if I wear footed tights.  This was not the case when I wore the boots with the real leather.  Footed tights were just fine-

I have known guys at my rinks to wear all kinds of sock options - it just depends on the skate and the skater - soft wool socks (the thin kind) are pretty comfortable - I borrowed a pair from a man when I forgot my socks one time and they were really nice and comfy.

And have seen very high level skaters wear basically white socks - of course these guys also were hockey skaters... or former hockey skaters so this is what they were used to.

I think the most important thing is that the socks are smooth - any ridges will bug you.

And rd350 - if you want to test just wear your socks that you like and put on a pair of footless tights (or over-the boot tights - but this is a look I personally loathe) on and just put the bottom of the tights over the top part of the boot or maybe they will just go down around your ankles and voila - you will not see those socks sticking up above the boot!

[dlbritton]

I wear black Mondor knee highs that the rink sells. My wife said they definitely look more durable than standard women's trouser socks. I can tell the Mondors are much thinner than the Gold Toe socks I wear to work because my shoes practically fall off my feet with the Mondors.

I am going to try the Mondor's with my ski boots this winter. I usually ski wearing just polypropylene sock liners. Thin is good. (Plus I will already have my skating socks on when I finish skiing and hit the rink).

[Query]

The most important thing is that the sock is high enough your skin doesn't touch the boot. (Unless you wear no sock - which requires a very good fit, and makes boots stink more.)

People vary a lot in how much their feet sweat, and how easy it is for their skin to form blisters. So naturally, different people like different material and thickness socks. E.g., polypro or silk wicks sweat away pretty well. Cotton holds the water next to your feet, which can be a problem for some. I love thick polyester fleece ski socks.

Play around with different socks until something works for you.

BTW, polypro and silk stink badly if they aren't washed soon after use - and be sure to wash on gentle cycles, and dry on low heat. (Fleece should be washed and dried the same way.)

[rd350]

Thanks @icedaner good idea!

[sk8time]

I wear black Mondor knee highs that the rink sells. My wife said they definitely look more durable than standard women's trouser socks. I can tell the Mondors are much thinner than the Gold Toe socks I wear to work because my shoes practically fall off my feet with the Mondors.

I am going to try the Mondor's with my ski boots this winter. I usually ski wearing just polypropylene sock liners. Thin is good. (Plus I will already have my skating socks on when I finish skiing and hit the rink).

Same for me - they are durable and work well with well-fitted skates.  They also dry out quickly.

[JimStanmore]

What has ended up working the best for me are men's dance tights.  They provide a bit of compression for the muscles, are extremely similar  to high-tech long underwear and keep you warm, the feet are a bit stronger than dress socks but still very thin (men's tights are a bit thicker than women's), and you can get them in black.  I can remember the outcry a few decades ago when men found out NFL football players (Vikings, etc.) were wearing pantyhose to help keep their legs warm and provide a bit of compression.

And, as others have said, thin socks only work with boots fitted for them.  Fluffy socks on hiking or skating boots can cause blisters because they allow slip between the foot and the boot - a lesson many people learn the hard way in military basic training.

[Doubletoe]

I don't think I'm quite ready for trouser socks (which seem to be ladies knee-length stockings).  I will size-up my figure skates to go with men's dress socks

Men's dress socks--if thin enough--should be fine.  FWIW, I am a woman but hate wearing nylon tights inside my boots because they make my feet sweaty and slippery.  I always wear thin cotton socks, and for competition I wear thin cotton anklets so they don't show under my tights (never had a problem with them slipping down. I also wear gel ankle sleeves under them).  I like thin socks so I can feel like my boots fit like a glove, and cotton for breathability.  I have never had a problem with blisters, but I'm sure I would if I skated barefoot.  Isn't it funny how everyone's feet are different?!

[riley876]

FWIW:

40 denier woman's nylon "trouser socks" for my inlines.   Because they help prevent blisters with the heavier skates and more sweaty and powerful skating, and I like the feeling of being close-to-barefoot-but-not-actually-barefoot.

For my ice skates, just boring men's polycotton dress socks.   Because they're warmer.   And these skates are loose enough that it's advantageous to the fit.   I've never had problems with blistering with these skates,  but if I did, I'd be going with the nylons in a shot.

[Query]

Fluffy socks on hiking or skating boots can cause blisters because they allow slip between the foot and the boot - a lesson many people learn the hard way in military basic training.

And yet they work very well for me... which just goes to show how different people can be. For skate boots, I tie and otherwise modify the boots to be very snug, which means there is no slippage, for me.

For hiking boots, which are generally worn somewhat looser, the usual instructions have been to wear thin synthetic socks - polypro or silk, or, if you aren't too picky, nylon or other synthetic next to the foot, then a thick sock outside that. The slippage occurs between the two layers of sock. The theory, and the double sock technique, as quoted in many books on backpacking, is that you actually want such slippage, because it is better in hiking to let the heel pick up off of the back of the boot as you hike. (That usually isn't done in ice skating, because you need finer control, to deal with balance issues.) Maybe the military didn't say those things, because you guys are tough and don't need to baby your feet. 

[Isk8NYC]

new post

* Waves to Jim, our board owner*

[AgnesNitt]

"Trouser socks" are the girl variant for what men wear which are called "dress socks".

If you're a man looking for thin socks, go to the dollar store or the pound shop and pick up a couple of pairs of cheap 'dress socks for men'.

[twokidsskatemom]

My son wears  Gold toe Thin dress socks from Walmart. He skated the past few years in ladies thin black hose like socks but in the gold toes we noticed it smells less. He feet sweat alot and the dress socks are just better.  If he skates 3 sessions a day, he uses 3 pair of socks