Skate Guards vs. Soakers: What Belongs in Your Bag?

Guards are for moving around off the ice; soakers go on after the blades are dry. Keep both in your bag, and you’ll have the right cover for each stage of the skate routine.

What do hard guards and soakers protect against?

Hard plastic guards protect skate blades from hard-floor contact while you walk between the changing room and the rink; soft soakers absorb moisture when skates are stored after skating.

• Hard plastic guards: Wear them underfoot between the changing room and rink. They cover the blade and help prevent hard floors from scratching or dulling its edges.
• Terry-cloth or microfiber soakers: Put them on for storage after skating. The fabric absorbs moisture left on the blades.

The difference is practical: guards provide structural protection underfoot, while soakers manage moisture in storage. Remove hard guards before storing skates, since they can trap moisture against the blades.

When to use each

Bladetech Hockey’s article “Soakers vs. Hard Guards” is dated February 19, 2025. Its subject points to the useful distinction: hard guards are for walking, and absorbent soakers are for storing skates after skating.

Which option fits each job in your skate bag?

Hard guards are for walking off the ice; soakers are for the trip home and storage after you wipe away visible snow and moisture. Keep both in your skate bag, and use each for its own job.

Walking: hard guards

Put hard guards on before crossing hard floors, then remove them before skating. They protect the blades from contact with the floor; they are not the covers to leave on for storage.

• Winnwell Skate Guards: Goaliemonkey lists these with an original price of $12.99 and a saving of 39%. Check the retailer for current price and availability.
• Elite Ultra Skate Guard: Goaliemonkey also lists this hard-guard option.

Storage: soakers

For the trip home and storage, wipe away visible snow and moisture first, then cover the blades with soakers. The absorbent fabric takes up moisture left behind; hard guards are not a substitute for this step.

• Elite Notorious Pro Ultra Dry Blade Soakers: Goaliemonkey lists this named soaker option for after skating, not as a replacement for hard guards.
• A&R Boot Covers: Goaliemonkey lists these too; check the product listing to confirm they suit the job you need.

How should you switch from guards to soakers?

Switch from hard guards to fabric soakers only after wiping most snow and moisture from the blades; remove the hard guards before storing your skates.

1. At the rink: Wipe the blades with a dry cloth to remove surface snow and moisture, then fit the soakers. Putting fabric over wet blades leaves more moisture enclosed against the steel.
2. Before storage: Take off the hard guards. Moisture trapped inside a rigid guard can encourage rust, so hard guards are for protecting blades on hard floors, not for storing skates in your bag.
3. At home: Remove the skates from their soakers and let the blades dry. Don’t leave the blades enclosed between outings.

Keep both covers together in your skate bag, but use them for different jobs. Hard guards provide structural protection when you walk on a floor; soft soakers absorb remaining moisture during transport and storage. A soaker cannot protect a blade from the impact or abrasion of a hard surface.

When can guards or soakers cause problems?

Guards or soakers can cause problems when they are used as storage covers instead of removing moisture from the blade first: hard guards can trap dampness, while soakers can carry moisture left on the steel.

• Hard guards: Use them to protect blades while walking on hard floors, then remove them before storing your skates. A hard guard left on a damp blade can trap moisture and contribute to rust; it is not a storage cover.
• Soakers: They are for storage, not for walking across hard floors. A soaker cannot shield an edge from floor impacts, and it can hold residual moisture if you put it on before wiping the blade.

Neither cover replaces drying. Wipe moisture from the blade before putting on a soaker or packing your skates away; absorbent fabric does not make a wet blade safe to store.

Check the fit and care instructions

There is no basis here to say that one named model dries faster or protects edges better than another. If you are choosing between products, ask the seller about fit and care instructions, and follow the instructions for the specific cover you buy.

What should you pack for a skating session?

Pack rigid hard guards for the walk between the rink and changing area, and absorbent soakers for covering the blades after skating.

Use the two covers in this order:

1. Before skating: Keep hard guards on while walking over hard floors, then remove them before stepping onto the ice.
2. After skating: Wipe the blades dry, then fit the soakers. Their fabric absorbs moisture left on the blades during storage.

If you only have hard guards

Wipe the blades after skating, but do not leave the skates sitting in hard guards inside your bag. At home, take the skates out of both the guards and the bag so moisture is not trapped against the blades.

• Hard guards: Use for walking off the ice; remove before skating and before storing the skates.
• Soakers: Use on wiped blades for storage, not for walking on hard floors.

Check that each cover fits the skate blade securely, and follow the care instructions supplied with that product.

Frequently asked questions

Key takeaways

• Hard guards protect blades while walking on hard floors.
• Terry-cloth or microfiber soakers absorb residual moisture in storage.
• Remove hard guards before storing skates to avoid trapping moisture.
• Wipe blades before covering them, even when using absorbent soakers.