Why Your Skates Are Rusting: 4 Common Causes (and How to Prevent Them)
If you’ve ever pulled your skates out of your hockey bag only to find orange or brown spots on the blades, you’re not alone. Rust is a common (and frustrating) issue for hockey players — and it can seriously impact your performance on the ice. Understanding why your skates are rusting is the first step to protecting your gear. Here are four reasons this might be happening to you:
After a game or practice, your blades are wet — not just from the ice, but from sweat and condensation inside your skate holders. If you’re not drying them off thoroughly, that water sits on the steel and causes rust to form.
What you should do:
Always wipe down your blades immediately after you get off the ice using a clean, dry cloth or towel. Don’t forget to get into the nooks near the holders — moisture loves to hide there. It takes less than a minute and can save your blades from long-term damage.
Hard plastic or rubber skate guards are great for walking around the rink, but if you’re storing your skates in them — especially when they’re still wet — you’re trapping moisture right against the blade.
What you should do:
Use soft cloth blade covers (soakers) when storing your skates. They’re designed to absorb leftover moisture and allow airflow. Save the hard guards for walking only — never for long-term storage.
If your hockey bag doesn’t have proper ventilation, your skates sit in a warm, damp environment for hours — maybe even days. That trapped moisture accelerates the rusting process, especially if your blades weren’t dried properly in the first place.
What you should do:
Make sure you store your skates in a well-ventilated bag or take them out as soon as you get home. Let them air dry in an open space. Some players even remove the insoles and open the tongues to allow better airflow through the boot and holder area.
Small nicks or damage in the blade coating can expose the steel underneath. If you haven’t had a sharpening in a while or you skate on rough ice, these imperfections can turn into rust magnets.
What you should do:
Get your skates sharpened regularly — not just to keep your edge, but to help clean and smooth the blade surface. If your sharpener spots any rust or pitting, they can remove it before it worsens. Between sharpenings, inspect your blades and wipe them down after each use.
In Summary
Rusty blades don’t just look bad — they affect your glide, grip, and overall performance on the ice. By drying your skates after every use, using the right covers, allowing for ventilation, and keeping up with maintenance, you can keep your blades sharp and rust-free. Take care of your gear, and it’ll take care of you.
