WHY LACING IS SO IMPORTANT
- It improves control by holding your foot in the correct position.
- It increases comfort by minimizing internal movement.
- It increases movement range by combining with the tongue.
- It increases durability by working with the shell to provide support.
Lacing is done into two parts, first across the instep and then around the hooks.
Edea skates are designed to support the foot and not for flex like traditional boots. This innovation means you need to lace the Edea way. Out-in lacing is far superior giving better hold and control than in-out lacing. The difference may seem small but the impact is huge.
LACING THE EDEA WAY
- Start at the toe, insert the lace from the outside to the inside.
- Tighten by pulling the laces outwards and downwards.
- This will feel different but will become second nature.
WHY?
- Direct pressure is reduced across the instep.
- Laces self-lock at each intersection, making it more secure.
- Laces are less likely to loosen under pressure.
- Lacing wraps the foot uniformly, increasing control and comfort.
FLAT WITHOUT TWISTS
When lacing, make sure the laces stay flat and do not twist. Twisting causes slipping and stretching and wears the laces out more quickly.
Lace Tabs
Feet are asymmetrical, so the tongue slips to the outside. The lace tab, combined with correct lacing, holds the tongue in the optimal position.
The Ice Fly and Piano models have a second, lower tab to stop the tongue from rubbing against the toes during skating.
LACING THE HOOKS
There are two main ways to lace the hooks. Edea recommends the 360° wrap. To complement the Edea out-in lacing is the 360° wrap, when you loop your lace over the hook first for better hold, control and movement range.
Why EDEA Recommends the 360° wrap (Over first)
As this technique wraps around the hook, it pulls the boot together making it more secure, which takes pressure off the hooks giving better support. The “V” pattern allows for even deeper pushes and knee bends, and it increases the longevity of the boots.
HOW TO LACE THE HOOKS
Once the instep is laced:
- Pull both laces up in front of the tongue.
- Wrap the laces from the top around the hooks.
- Cross and pull tight.
- Repeat for next hooks
Why you shouldn't lace under first
Lacing the top hooks under first reduces your performance because:
- It reduces movement range
- It creates uneven pressure on the leg
- It reduces the hold of the laces
- it puts more strain on the hooks.
EDEA recommends always lacing the hooks with the 360° wrap method!
HOW TIGHT SHOULD I LACE MY BOOTS?
Lacing should keep the heel in its pocket, minimizing movement. To do this, it is important to lace the last eyelets and the first hook more tightly. This creates an hourglass lacing effect.
- SOFT across the top two hooks to keep movement range. You should be able to put two fingers between the tongue and the front of your leg.
- TIGHT across the top three eyelets and first hook.
- SOFT across the toes to allow for the minimal movement required.
Once laced, check the tension by passing a finger across the lacing intersections. The laces should not move.
Pulling the laces tight enough with your fingers is hard. The lace puller makes it easier, quicker and gives the perfect tightness.
UNLACING THE BOOT
Lacing holds the foot in place with tension which needs to be released off the ice. Your boots need to relax, too!
Unlace the boot completely before removing the foot, otherwise you damage the boots and risk injury. Leaving the boots laced causes them to deform and narrow at the tip. Failing to unlace properly doesn’t save time, it just harms your boots!
A Lace Puller makes undoing the boot easier, no broken nails and no
damaged boots.
Loose laces mean the boots keep their shape, the tongue its flexibility and they dry more effectively.
Now your boots are ready for the next session!
How often should laces be replaced?
It depends on how much you are using your boots:
- Moderate skaters change laces every other sharpening.
- High Level competitive or professional skaters change laces every time they sharpen their skates.
Replace your laces sooner than this schedule if you notice wear, fraying and/or stretching of your laces. If you notice your laces loosening during skating and/or you are needing to retie, this is also an indication of worn laces. ONLY use EDEA Laces in your EDEA Boots.
