9 Best ice skating bags in 2021 (figure skating) + how to choose

Figure skates are expensive. Therefore, you want to protect them, in order to keep them in the best condition possible. One of the main risks is during transportation. Having a good ice skating bag is essential to carry them safely with all your other necessary equipment. Below are my tips to help you choose the right bag for you.

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Best ice skating bag - short answer

If you don't want to read the whole article with my criteria to choose the best ice skating bag for you (and my tips to personalize it), below is my top pick for ice skating bag in each category, with some of the popular brands:

Why do you need a bag?

There are a lot of pictures around the Internet with people carrying they skates around their neck or on the shoulder.
This is a really bad idea because:

• The friction of the laces against your training clothes will damage them even faster
• The hooks of the skates will get stuck and damage your clothes
• You can bump your skate against something and damage it
• And if it is like on the picture below, you can cut yourself with the blades!!!! Or damage the blade as well
• After skating, the inside of your skate does not smell good. You don't want that close to your face! 

It is one of the 10 essential pieces of figure skating equipment - see my list and it is also a great figure skating gift idea!

An new bag is a great gift idea for a figure skater (see my list with 50+ ideas).

Criteria to choose your figure skating bag

You need a bag to carry your skate safely.
Here are the different criteria you should consider

1. The shape of the bag

A lot of bags have the shape of a triangle to fit the ice skates. Is it a good idea?
Well, it is not a bad idea, but it is not necessary. You are carrying other things in your bag such as clothes, a water bottle, a towel... So, you want a bit more space than just for your skates.
Think about all you want to transport in your bag and choose one that can hold all.

2. How you will carry the bag - backpack, shoulder bag, wheels

The next question is about transport. Once you have everything inside the bag it can be a little heavy. Carrying it on one shoulder is not good for your back.
You will find backpack options as well as bags with wheels for easier transportation.

3. The framing for protection

Check out how the bag holds itself when empty - is there a good framing, is the material thick enough.
The better it stands on its own, the more it will protect your skates.

The various options - pros and cons

In this section, I am introducing the various options for you to choose from. And I share the pros and cons of each so that you can take an informed decision.

Top choices - Ventilated options

• PROS - Special pockets for the skates + backpack + mesh for aeration + not too big 
• CONS - if you are carrying in the rain, skates can get wet + limited space for other items

Simple skate shaped bags

• PROS - cheaper options
• CONS - you cannot carry much else than your skates + no aeration 

General sport bags

• PROS - you can carry a lot more than your skates + you can use the bag for other activities when needed
• CONS - Finding something can become a treasure hunt + there is no framing to protect the skate on all its height
• Don't pick something too big, you don't want your skates to travel inside the bag.

For competitions Rolling suitcase

• For training it is a bit overkill, however for competition when you have to carry more (e.g. make up) this is a good option
  

How to personalize your ice-skating bag

If you don't want to have the same bag as everyone around you, you could personalize it to your taste.

Easy personalization

The easiest thing to do is to attach personalized elements to parts of the bag.
You can add keychains or luggage tags where you have your name on.

Further personalization

But if you want something truly unique you can paint on your bag. I did it on mine.
For that you need special paint. Make sure you check the material of your bag first in order to choose a paint that will stick to it.
And if you are not the best drawer, you can purchase a stencil to create beautiful designs.

Ice skating essentials to have in the bag

Now let's what you should carry in that ice skating bag!
More tips in my article about the essentials pieces of figure skating equipment to carry in your bag.

To get ready to skate

1. A good pair of ice skates with sharpened blades - it may sound obvious, but you need to choose the right ones for the size and the level of skating
2. A good pair of socks (not too thick) - your feet won't be cold. If the socks are too thick the feet cannot move and feel the movement as well - they should be high enough. Don't wear socks that stop right at the limit of the skate, it will be painful due to friction.
3. Appropriate clothing with gloves

When you skate

1. Blade guards to walk with your skates around the rink - the blades are made for the ice, not for other material. Trust me, you don't want to damage them! Learn more
2. A water bottle full of water to stay hydrated
3. Tissues - with the cold and the air, the nose has a tendency to run...

For after skating or in case

1. An absorbent towel or a leather cloth to dry your blades at the end - this is essential to avoid rust forming of them
2. Blade soakers - to finish drying your blades and protect them inside the bag
3. Spare laces - Laces are being torn and twisted and frictioned all the time. At the end they break, and it is annoying. You should always carry a pair of spare laces in your bag for when that happens

Check out my article on how to take care of your skates