Advantages and Disadvantages Of Waxed & Pain Unwaxed Ice Hockey & Skating LacesAdvantages and Disadvantages Of Waxed & Pain Unwaxed Ice Hockey & Skating Laces

by ChrisK on Feb.14, 2012, under Ice Hockey Tips, Skating Tips

A lot of people switch between waxed and unwaxed . I personally prefer unwaxed. Waxed laces (waxed everywhere) are definitely easier to tie. However after using them for a month or so they begin to feel horrible and greasy, they also can be hard to get a good grip when tying them. Some people find Unwaxed laces harder to tie tightly without having to re-tie the laces after 20-30mins on the ice, this is mostly down to personal preference as both have advantages over each other. On a number of occasions I’ve had my waxed laces snap on me, unwaxed have not. However the ends blow out on the unwaxed laces and are very hard to get through the lace holes (eyelets) on your skates, while waxed laces are not as bad. If you are having trouble keeping your skates tight I’d definitely try out the waxed laces and see if they make a difference.

Waxed laces have are meant to have one big advantage over regular laces, they are designed to stay tight without having to tie them over and over. They are also meant to give the skater the ability to have specific areas of the skate loose and others tight (but doesn’t seem to work for long periods of time).

Advantages of waxed laces

Stay tight after being tied
Easier to put through skate eyelets
Meant to last longer
Allow you to control how tight specific areas of your skate are (i.e. lose mid portion and tight top)
Waxed tips are easier to grip and tie
Does not stretch (as they are stretched before the wax is applied, then they harden)
Some feature fused tips (no more plastics ends that come off while putting through your skates eyelets)
Water tight (last longer)

Disadvantage of waxed laces

Hard to untie
Waxed wears off and feels horrible
Rough on the hands – Not everyone likes the feeling of waxed on their hands when tying skates
Can sometimes snap unexpectedly

Advantages of unwaxed laces

Cheap
Easy to get hold of
Lots of colours (if you think thats cool)
Soft on the hands

Disadvantage of unwaxed laces

Not as easy to get tight without having to re-tie them
Look horrible when worn out
They get thinner and thinner as you use them
Cant have different portions of your skate tie separately (unless you use more than one lace per skate)
Not as easy to grip without the wax
Aglet (the little plastic end of the lace) do not last as long (depending on brand)
Don’t last as long
Not easy to lace as they always slide
Stretches when tying
Don’t have fused tips
Water soaks in (won’t last very long)

The major brands you’ll find on the market are A&R laces and Pro Guard.

Pro Guard laces are pretty fluffy and thick.
Elite Hockey Prolaces (high quality)
A&R laces are generally pretty tightly woven and not at all fluffy.

The brand of laces will definitely control the life time and speed the break down, there isn’t anything more annoying than the aglets breaking and not being able to get the lace through the eyelets on yours skates, spend the extra and go for a premium brand that will do its job properly.

12 Comments for this entry

Logie
February 15th, 2012 on 9:27 am
Trouble with the Elite wax laces are too waxy. After one or two skates, sometimes they fold? and loose there shape and get a deformed shape (mainly around eyelet areas). They get thin and get annoying.

Best i have found are the Reebok wax laces, not as much wax, but they don’t deform/fold etc

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ChrisK
February 15th, 2012 on 12:57 pm
That is defiantly a big problem, to much wax results in problems with life line and also issues with the laces shape. I’ve always preferred unwashed laces, never had a problem with tightness, but when the ends blow out its super annoying.

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Logie
February 15th, 2012 on 1:46 pm
Yea had that the other day, tried hockey tape around the end but no joy. Good job i always keep a spare set in my little box of tricks ;p

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Fred
February 15th, 2012 on 6:24 pm
I’d say waxed, though lately i skated on unwaxed (new skates, used stock laces till now), but i just got a pair of Gorilla Wax Laces from a parent that lives in the US, gonna try them and let you know how they handle the work!

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Jedifarce
February 15th, 2012 on 6:40 pm
I always change out the stock laces with waxed. Unwaxed laces never seem to hold and you’re constantly having to retighten them. Waxed laces do the same but at a much lesser degree.

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IgorRamone
February 17th, 2012 on 5:24 am
I’m a big fan of the Elite oval laces. They seem to avoid some of the issues like waxed laces folding over and becoming deformed. I’ve been using them for about 6-7 months of twice a week games and they haven’t snapped or had the wax start to come off.

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Logie
February 20th, 2012 on 2:34 pm
Nice, will try the Elite Oval. I find i have to do my laces twice till they are right.

I,m always at hockey early, so i walk on my skates for 20 mins then re do just before going on the ice.

The folding etc of the normal elite wax piss me off, although i never have to retighen!

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Logie
February 28th, 2012 on 10:44 am
Just got my elite ovals, will give them a try tomorrow. Hopefully my ankle is ok and i will be doing 1hr 30 mins in the morning the hockey training in the night so a decent test

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blade1
March 2nd, 2012 on 8:09 pm
This video helps a lot, just started looking into getting a new pair of laces. I was also wondering has skate attacks shop closed down?

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blade1
March 2nd, 2012 on 8:38 pm
where could i buy a pair of elite yellow unwaxed laces from?

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ChrisK
March 4th, 2012 on 4:36 pm
Skate attack have moved, details are on their website blade1 you can get these laces from ebay and a number of UK stores

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blade1
March 9th, 2012 on 11:01 am
Good i was getting worried cause they sharpen my skates. Are the elite laces thinner then the ones you get with your original skates?

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