The Complete Handbook of Skate Blade Guards

Finally, a reference that treats blade guards like engineered parts instead of cheap accessories. I run a pro shop and I've already used the chapter on types and specs to explain to three customers why their soft guards were wrecking their edges. The fitting framework in chapter three is exactly what I needed to stop guessing. I've bookmarked the maintenance section too, since rust is a constant issue at my rink. Worth every penny.

The content is solid and clearly written by someone who understands ice rinks, but I was hoping for more coverage of the newest composite materials that are showing up on the market. The future trends chapter touches on them but doesn't go deep enough for someone like me who is considering switching to a new supplier. Also, some of the business advice in chapter six feels like common sense to anyone already running a shop. Fine as a starting point, but I wanted more edge.

I'm a figure skating coach and I picked this up to make better recommendations to my skaters' parents. It delivers on that completely. The breakdown of how channel width relates to blade holder type was genuinely illuminating, and the FAQ section alone saved me from passing along bad advice I'd heard from another coach. The writing is dry, but that's what I wanted. My only real gripe is that there are a few places where example photos would have made things clearer, especially in the maintenance chapter.

It's fine. I've been playing hockey for fifteen years and most of the first two chapters were things I already knew from experience, like not walking in hard guards on rubber floors. The chapter on choosing the right guard had some useful specifics, particularly the step about checking if the guard covers the full heel. But I never got the feeling of urgency about guard choice that the back cover seems to promise. It reads more like a textbook than a practical problem-solver.

As a rental manager at a public skating rink, the maintenance chapter was worth the price alone. We go through about 300 pairs a year and the section on drying methods and preventing rust inside the channel has already changed our after-hours procedure. I also appreciated the breakdown of rental-grade vs consumer guards in chapter two—our old supplier was definitely selling us the wrong thing. A bit dense in places, but I take that as a sign of rigor, not a failure. Definitely recommend for anyone in facility management.