Skate soakers are soft, absorbent fabric covers that slip over the blades of figure skates to soak up moisture and protect the edges between sessions. Unlike hard plastic guards — which are rigid covers you wear to walk off the ice — soakers are made of towelling or terry-lined fabric and are meant for storage: you put them on after you've wiped your blades dry, and they wick away the leftover moisture inside your skating bag so the steel doesn't rust. Most skaters own both. Hard guards get you safely from the changing room to the ice; soakers keep your blades dry and protected the rest of the time. Getting the two jobs straight is the single most important thing a new skater (or skating parent) can learn about caring for a pair of blades.
What are skate soakers?
Skate soakers (sometimes just called "soakers," or "blade soakers") are the soft covers that go over your blades when your skates are off your feet and packed away. They're usually made from a towelling or terry-style fabric on the inside — the kind that absorbs water — often with a more decorative fabric on the outside. A weighted or beaded cord typically runs between the two covers so they stay paired and don't disappear to the bottom of your bag.
Their one job is moisture. Every time you skate, your blades pick up a thin film of water and condensation from the ice. If you pack damp blades into a bag with nothing on them — or worse, seal them inside hard plastic guards — that water sits against the steel and causes rust. Rust dulls your edges, and dull edges mean a blade that won't grip the ice properly, which a skater feels immediately. Soakers absorb that leftover moisture and let the blades finish drying safely.
That's it. Soakers aren't for walking, they're not armour, and they won't protect your blades from a hard knock. They're a drying-and-storage tool — and a surprisingly important one for how long your (expensive) blades last.
Soakers vs. hard guards: the difference that protects your blades
This is the distinction that trips up almost every beginner, so here it is plainly:
Hard guards (also called blade guards or walking guards) are rigid plastic covers. Their job is to protect your blades — and your feet — when you walk off the ice: across rubber matting, concrete, the changing-room floor, anywhere the bare steel would otherwise get nicked or dulled by hard surfaces. You put them on the moment you step off the ice and take them off the moment before you step back on.
Soakers are soft, absorbent fabric covers. Their job is to dry and protect blades in storage. You put them on once your blades are wiped down, and they live on the blades inside your bag between sessions.
The critical rule that ties them together: never store your skates in hard guards. Hard plastic traps moisture against the steel with nowhere for it to go, which is exactly how blades rust. Hard guards are for walking, soakers are for storing — and the most common blade-care mistake is leaving skates in their walking guards inside a bag overnight.
| Soakers | Hard guards | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Soft, absorbent fabric (towelling/terry) | Rigid plastic |
| Job | Dry and protect blades in storage | Protect blades while walking off-ice |
| When you use them | Skates packed away, between sessions | Walking from changing room to rink and back |
| Safe for long-term storage? | Yes — they wick moisture away | No — they trap moisture and cause rust |
| Worn on the feet while walking? | No | Yes |
Why figure skaters use soakers
Figure skaters use soakers for one reason above all others: blades are expensive and rust is the enemy. A quality figure-skating blade is a real investment, and the edges are precision-ground — that's what lets a skater hold a clean curve, dig in for a jump, and control a spin. Rust, pitting, and corrosion eat away at those edges and at the life of the blade.
Soakers solve the part of blade care that's easiest to neglect: the moisture you can't see. You can wipe a blade down with a towel and it'll still hold a fine film of condensation, especially in the warm air outside a cold rink. Slide on a pair of absorbent soakers and that last bit of moisture gets wicked away instead of sitting against the steel for hours in a closed bag.
There's a second reason, and it's a very figure-skating one: soakers are part of how skaters look after their gear with pride. A young skater learning to care for their own blades — wipe, soaker, pack — is building a habit that protects their equipment for years. The prettier, more personal designs (the kind B&M is known for) make that habit something a kid actually wants to do.
How to use soakers (and when to use guards instead)
The full off-ice routine, in order:
- Step off the ice and put your hard guards on right away (if you have them) — before you walk anywhere. This protects the edges from the floor.
- When you get to the bench, take the skates off and remove the hard guards.
- Wipe the blades dry with a soft towel — the whole blade, including the underside of the boot where water collects.
- Slip the soakers on over the dry blades.
- Pack the skates in your bag with the soakers on. The soakers finish absorbing any moisture you missed.
- At home, take the skates out of the bag and ideally let them air with the soakers off for a while before storing — don't leave them sealed in a hot car or a damp bag for days.
The short version of the whole thing: guards for walking, soakers for storing, and always dry the blade in between. Do that and your edges stay sharp and rust-free far longer.
How to choose skate soakers
A few things to look for:
- Genuinely absorbent fabric. The inside lining is what does the work — it should be a real towelling or terry-type material, not a thin decorative fabric that just looks the part. Moisture absorption is the whole point.
- A snug fit over the blade. Soakers should cover the full length of the blade and stay put, not slip off in the bag. Most are one-size and stretch to fit adult and youth blades alike.
- A cord that keeps the pair together. A weighted or beaded cord between the two covers stops one soaker vanishing to the bottom of your bag — a small thing that saves real frustration.
- A design the skater actually likes. This matters more than it sounds, especially for young skaters: gear they're proud of is gear they'll actually use and look after. B&M's soakers come in the prints and colours the brand is known for, so the daily wipe-and-pack habit becomes something a kid wants to do, not a chore.
Storing your skates between sessions
Storing skates well comes down to one principle: keep the steel dry. After every session, wipe the blades down and put your soft soakers on to wick away the rest of the moisture — then make sure the skates aren't left sealed in a damp bag or a hot car for days at a time. Let them breathe at home with the soakers off when you can. And the rule worth repeating one more time: never store skates in hard guards, because the plastic traps water against the blade and that's what causes rust.
A bag that breathes helps everything dry out between sessions, which is why a proper skating bag — one built for boots and blades rather than a backpack that wasn't — works hand in hand with a good pair of soakers. The two together are the simplest blade-care system there is.
Soakers are a small piece of kit that protect a big investment. If you're building out a young skater's gear — or replacing a tired pair that's stopped absorbing — our skate soakers are made in the prints B&M skaters love. Pair them with a proper skating bag and you've got the whole blade-care routine covered.
Skate Soakers FAQs
What are skate soakers?
Skate soakers are soft, absorbent fabric covers that slip over figure-skate blades to soak up moisture and protect the edges while your skates are packed away. They're made from a towelling or terry-style material that wicks water off the steel so it doesn't rust between sessions. You put them on after wiping your blades dry, and they live on the blades inside your bag. Their only job is drying and storage — they aren't for walking on.
What's the difference between soakers and hard guards?
Soakers are soft, absorbent covers for storing skates; hard guards are rigid plastic covers for walking off the ice. Hard guards protect your blades from hard floors as you walk from the changing room to the rink, then come off before you skate. Soakers go on once your blades are dry and stay on in your bag to wick away moisture. The key rule: never store skates in hard guards, because the plastic traps water against the steel and causes rust.
Why do figure skaters use soakers?
Figure skaters use soakers to keep their blades dry and rust-free between sessions. Blades pick up a film of water and condensation every time you skate, and if that moisture sits against the steel in a closed bag it causes rust, which dulls the precision-ground edges a skater relies on. Soft soakers absorb that leftover moisture so the edges stay sharp and the blades last longer. They're one of the cheapest ways to protect an expensive pair of blades.
How do you use skate soakers?
Put soakers on right after you've stepped off the ice, removed your hard guards, and wiped the blades dry with a towel. Slide the soft soakers over the clean, dry blades, then pack the skates in your bag with the soakers on so they finish absorbing any leftover moisture. At home, let the skates air with the soakers off when you can. The simple rule is: guards for walking, soakers for storing, and always dry the blade in between.
Can you walk in skate soakers?
No — soakers are not made for walking and won't protect your blades from hard floors. They're soft fabric meant only for drying and storing skates between sessions. For walking off the ice across matting or concrete, you need rigid hard guards (also called walking guards). Trying to walk in soakers will damage both the soakers and the blade edges.
Do soakers prevent rust on skate blades?
Yes, that's exactly what they're for. Soakers are lined with absorbent fabric that wicks the leftover moisture off your blades after you've wiped them, so water isn't left sitting against the steel inside a closed bag. That's the main cause of rust on skate blades. For best results, always dry the blades with a towel first, then put the soakers on — the towel does the heavy lifting and the soakers finish the job.
How should I store my figure skates between sessions?
Keep the blades dry. After each session, wipe the blades down, slip on a pair of soft soakers to absorb the remaining moisture, and avoid leaving the skates sealed in a damp bag or a hot car for days. Let them air at home with the soakers off when you can. Never store skates in hard guards long-term — the plastic traps water against the steel and causes rust. A breathable skating bag helps everything dry out between sessions.
Are skate soakers the same as blade covers?
"Blade covers" is a general term that can mean either soakers or hard guards, which is where a lot of confusion starts. Soft blade covers are soakers — absorbent fabric for drying and storage. Hard blade covers are guards — rigid plastic for walking off the ice. If someone says "blade covers," it's worth checking which type they mean, because the two do opposite jobs and aren't interchangeable.
What should I look for when buying skate soakers?
Look for genuinely absorbent fabric on the inside (towelling or terry, not just a thin decorative layer), a snug fit that covers the full blade and stays put in your bag, and ideally a cord between the pair so you don't lose one. For young skaters, a design they like genuinely matters — gear they're proud of is gear they'll actually use and look after. Our skate soakers come in the prints and colours B&M is known for, in an absorbent everyday design.