7 Best Hockey Skate Laces (2022) + how to choose

Laces may seem insignificant, but they have a big impact on your most important tool: your skates and your capacity to skate and turn fast.
Below I am helping you find the best hockey skates laces for your need.
The article lists my selection of ice hockey laces, criteria to consider, tips to care for your laces, tips to find your perfect lacing.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you (learn more).

Best Hockey Skate Laces

Complete truth

The best hockey skate laces cannot truly be listed. It depends on the skater:

• How the player laces
• How the player's hands are
• How the player skates
• What the player feels when lacing
• ...

It is a personal choice (you will read reviews at 1 stars and at 5 stars for every single product).
So you need to try several to find the best one for you.
However the variety is so big, that you may not know where to start.
So I have narrowed down your choice to some quality laces for you to start. Criteria and reviews come later in the article.

Best Waxed Hockey Laces

Let's start with the best waxed laces - it helps with the grip for tightening your lacing.

Best Cloth / Non-Waxed Hockey Laces

Next are the cloth laces, that give you more flexibility in adapting your lacing.

Detailed reviews come after the criteria explanations and tips to care for them.
Colorful laces can be a great fun gift for hockey players and hockey kid players.

Criteria to choose your ice hockey laces

Length - What size hockey skate laces do I need?

Hockey laces are available in different sizes.
Size charts can vary a little from one to the other, and exact lengths can vary - this is just for reference.

Why is size important? It is because: You typically want

• enough lace to get through the top sets of eyelets and have lace left over for a double bow tie
• But not too much that you don't know what to do with what is left once the knot is made

It also depends on which type of lacing you are doing.

Under Youth 8, hockey moms and dads will probably use the laces coming with the skate and the kid will not skate enough to damage them.
There is often an overlap, when your hockey size is at the limit.

If you want to calculate the right size, the formula should be:

Measure = (distance between the bottom two eyelets) x (number of eyelets on one side) x 2
Length = Measure + 18" (for buffer)

And something else to consider about size:

If you have new skates, keep in mind that as you break them in, you'll be able to tighten the laces more, so you'll progressively have more lace length at the end.

Waxed or Cloth Laces - what is the difference between waxed and unwaxed laces?

The next big question that everyone is asking is - should I use waxed or non-waxed laces.
The truth is: you should try both and see what you prefer.
They both have pros and cons. And everyone has different opinions. Although, at the moment waxed laces are more popular.

The only clear case is for young skaters starting to learn to tie their skates themselves - they should start with waxed laces.

Waxed Laces - 

They have a thin layer of wax along the length, which gives them a sticky feel.  
It has been added so that at each set of eyelets, the wax will grip and lock, allowing you to continue lacing without losing tightness below. 

Cloth Laces (non-waxed) - 

Standard rope laces, similar to shoelaces but thicker to withstand the abuse from the skates.

Thickness

Next, you can have a look at the thickness or width.
Most expert brands have a correct width, but sometimes you can be tempted by other brands because of cool colors or designs.
But be careful, you don't want very wide laces. Because they won't go through the eyelets properly and won't stay tied properly.

Tip style

You should also check out the style of the tip of the laces.
You absolutely want molded ones. But more than that, check out the reviews to make sure the mold is tight and efficient. That it does not loosen up after only a few uses. 
Because when it does, it becomes a nightmare to go through the eyelets and tie your skates.

Design

When all of the first criteria are ok, you can have a look at colors and designs to express your personality. Maybe even with the right skate in one color and the left in another.

Brands - what are the best hockey laces brands?

Many brands offer laces for hockey skates.
However, some are more well-known as expert in laces for the specific case hockey skates. They are:

• A&R sports
• Elite Hockey
• Howies
• Zechy
• Bauer
• ProGuard
• Silfrae

The hockey skate manufacturers also have their own laces, but their expertise is best on the skate part.
Personally, I have always been a fan of the A&R laces.

What laces do NHL players use?

All brands are used by NHL players. Each player has his/her favorite laces.
Even at pro levels, some use waxed laces and others non-waxed laces. There is no right answer.

And this should not be a criterion for your choice. It should depend on how comfortable you are lacing your skates with what you have chosen.

6 tips about ice hockey laces

#1 - Always dry out your skates and laces

I hope you already know that for your skates, but it is worth repeating.
Once at home, take your skates out of your bag, open them wide and let them dry out.
Make sure the laces are not balled up, so that they dry as well.

#2 - Do a monthly check-up (or more frequently if you are skating a lot)

Every week, you should check out the state of your laces.
Make sure they are not damaged anywhere (and not at risk of snapping) and that the tips are still molded.
This way you have time at home to change the lace and don't have to lose any practice time.

#3 - Always have spare laces in your bag

This is such a classic. Right at the worst time, you have a lace that snap...
Always, always carry a pack of spare laces in your bag. You never know when one can break down.

#4 - Keep the box of your last laces

You often will throw away the box as you change the laces.
And when comes the time to buy new ones, you would love the same because they feel great, but you can't remember the brand or type.
So keep the box or at least take a picture and place it in your favorites.
However, if you are purchasing online, you can always go back in your purchase history.

#5 - How often should you change your laces

Well, first when they snap... of course.
Secondly, as I said earlier, you should check monthly the state of your laces.
If you are skating several times a week at high intensity, you may need to change them every 2 to 3 months.
But beginners skating once a week, will normally be able to keep them all season.

#6 - Find your kid

Tip for parents.
Buying your kid colored laces (and maybe doing both feet with different colors) can help you identify your kid on the ice when they are all wearing their protective gear!

Reviews of the Best Waxed Hockey Laces

#1 - Zechy Waxed Laces Review

Specifications:

• Brand - Zechy
• Waxing - Yes
• Tip - Molded
• Size - All classic lengths available up to 130"
• Width - 7/16 inch (1cm)
• Colors - 4 options (red, blue, white, black)

Review:

Great quality laces with wax. Stay tight.
Appreciated for their beautiful and vibrant colors.

Buy it / Read reviews

#2 - A&R Stryker Waxed Laces Review

Specifications:

• Brand - A&R
• Waxing - Yes with 100% Pure Liquid Paraffin
• Tip - Molded
• Size - All classic lengths available up to 130"
• Width - 3/8 inch (0.95cm)
• Colors - 10 options
• Officially Licensed USA Hockey Laces

Review:

A classic product that has satisfied many users over the years. Good value.
Lightly waxed. Good if you don't like your laces with too much wax.

Buy it / See colors / Read reviews

#3 - Elite Hockey Prolace review

Specifications:

• Brand - Elite hockey
• Waxing - Yes 
• Tip - Molded
• Size - All classic lengths available up to 130"
• Width - 3/8 inch (0.95cm)
• Colors - 11 options

#4 - Howie waxed laces review

Specifications:

• Brand - Howie
• Waxing - Yes 
• Tip - Molded
• Size - All classic lengths available up to 120"
• Colors - 6 options
• Made in Canada

Review:

Howie's laces are recognized for their durability.
Lightly waxed. Good if you don't like your laces with too much wax.

Buy it / Read reviews on Amazon
Or Buy / read reviews on Pure Hockey

Reviews of the Best Cloth Hockey Laces

#1 - A&R Stricker Non-Waxed review

Specifications:

• Brand - A&R
• Waxing - No
• Tip - "Extreme" Molded
• Size - All classic lengths available up to 132"
• Colors - 9 options
• Officially Licensed USA Hockey Laces

#2 - Elise Hockey Pro x7 review

#3 - Howie's Cloth Hockey Laces review

Specifications:

• Brand - Howie
• Waxing - No 
• Tip - Molded
• Size - All classic lengths available up to 120"
• Colors - 5 options
• Made in Canada

How to lace your skates

Intro to ice hockey lacing

The objectives are to:

• have a stable foot inside the boot (not moving around)
• feel comfortable 
• not have your feet go numb
• avoid the ‘lace bite’, a sharp pain that moves from the shin across the top of your foot

There are 2 main techniques to lace your hockey skates:

• Under lacing - the most common technique - the one to start with for kids' beginners skates
• Over lacing - can bring a little bit extra tightness but similar to under lacing

And then there are several ways to finish the lacing at the top

• Complete lacing - repeat the same pattern all the way to the top
• Lock Lacing - some feel it reduces foot slippage and anchors your foot down
• Partial Lacing / Leaving Eyelets Unlaced - only for more advanced skaters

Should I lace my hockey skates all the way up and go partial?

Beginners should always start with lacing all the way up. It provides more stability.
However, as you progress, you should start trying to drop eyelets, one level at a time.
The advantage is that you get more ankle mobility. This allows for sharper turn and better gliding.

How to best lace your hockey skates

1. Open your boot wide before slipping in your foot
2. Make sure your foot is well positioned and comfortable before doing any lacing (especially that the sock is well in place)
3. Sit down in a place where you have space to move your arms and tighten
4. Lace with at least the heel of your blade on the ground (with a blade guard)

Under criss cross lacing

• Start with your lace in the first eyelets on each side (balance the length)
• Criss cross all the way up
• In each eyelet, the lace goes from under to on top

Over criss cross lacing

• Start with your lace in the first eyelets on each side (balance the length)
• Criss cross all the way up
• In each eyelet, the lace goes from above to under

Lock lacing

Once at the top 2 eyelets on each side:

• Slide the lace from under into each eyelet
• Slide them back in the eyelet just above (from outside to inside) without crossing the laces

Dropping an eyelet

Once at the top 2 eyelets on each side:

• Leave the Last pairs eyelets on each side open
• Tie the final knot at that level

Hockey skate lace tighteners

What is a skate lace tightener?

It is a tool with a hook that allow you to pull your laces without touching the lace.
With the cold and the harsh friction with the laces, you may have cuts forming and it becomes difficult to lace the skate. This is when the tightener can help.

First, should you use a hockey skate lace tightener?

Pros:

• Protect your hands from the friction with the lace
• Because you don't hurt, you can tighten more

Cons:

• Harder to lace the skate
• You cannot feel the tightness forming and react as fast to create the perfect lacing

Best hockey skate lace tightener

If you have decided that a tightener is a good option for you, know that there are mostly 2 shapes:

• The folding tightener 
• The wire / hook tightener 

I prefer the folding one as it offers more comfort with the handle and, once in the bag, the hook is locked inside and won't damage any of your belongings.

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