The recent increase in the popularity of synthetic ice has caught the attention of many hockey players of all skill levels. Is it a good solution for training?
While synthetic ice might sound like a far stretch for many people, there are many reviews and testimonials to back the validity and usefulness of this product. As we will discover, the ability to train all year round at your house is not something a lot of hockey players have been able to take advantage of in the past.
After many hours of research, I have compiled 10 things you should know before buying synthetic ice. It is not a cheap purchase!
Is All Synthetic Ice the Same?
For the normal hockey skater, all synthetic ice will feel the same. It is all made out of polymer-based plastics. There are better quality products that will last longer than others, but to skaters, it will feel the same.
When it comes to synthetic ice, there are two main types that you will find on the market- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Do not be confused by the scientific terms, these plastics are what make up most of the plastic items we use every day. Both products are good for synthetic ice.
When creating a rink experience with heavy exposure to foot traffic, you will want to buy the strongest synthetic ice you can find. Spend the money to get the nicer panels; you do not want to replace cheap panels constantly.
Synthetic ice has come a long way over the years, getting its start in the 1960s. How have we seen an increase of players coming out of the southern parts of the U.S.? Synthetic ice. It is not real ice, but it is a close second place. It has come so far as to allow players to work on footwork and basic drills to improve their fundamentals.
Synthetic Ice is Expensive
Many factors go into buying the correct synthetic ice package for you. Many websites you visit will have forms you can fill out to get quotes. They will talk through exactly what synthetic ice package fits your needs. Will you the ice of skate drills, recreational use, or shooting drills? Are you a goalie? How big is your space? All these questions will help guide you to the right answer.
In general, the higher you pay, the better product you should get. Synthetic ice is between $8 and $28 a square foot. The higher you pay per square foot, the more durable and closer feeling to real ice you should get. Higher prices get you thicker (more dense) panels. Expect to pay in the low hundreds for a small set of panels and into the tens of thousands for a complete rink.
Once you pick a brand, I would contact them directly and get a precise quote for what you need to ensure it is the right product for you. Commercial skating, goalie drills, shooting drills, and skating drills affect synthetic ice differently. For example, if you are only doing shooting drills, you do not need a very thick sheet of ice. If you are doing mostly skating drills, you will want thicker synthetic ice.
Your Skates will get Dull
You can use hockey and ice skates on synthetic ice. Brands might tell you your skates will not get dull, but no matter the product you use, your skates will get duller than skating on regular ice. Make sure you have hard steel on your skates so that your blades will last longer on the synthetic ice. The blades that come with your skates are not the best choice for the synthetic surface.
The better your synthetic ice, the longer your skate blades will last. Most hockey players get a cheaper pair of practice skates to use on synthetic ice. Like most markets, the better the product, the longer everything will last. Get a few quotes from 2 or 3 manufacturers, and let them fight it out for your business.
Installation
After ordering, the shipment should take 2 weeks to get to your delivery address assuming it is the United States or Canada. It does not take a long time to install- for a 2,000 sq. ft rink, expect to spend a half-day assembling it together. Most panels are put together in some kind of locking system (similar to putting a puzzle together).
Pick the right place for your rink is important before making your purchase. The most popular place to put a synthetic rink is in your garage. Can you park your car on it? The simple answer is yes, but take care of your ice by putting a sturdy covering between the ice and your car. Do not worry about the durability of the sheets, they will be fine. Do worry about dirt, oil, or other debris getting on the synthetic ice.
The other item to think through on setting up your rink is if you will need boards or not. Most setups will need some type of board, whether you buy them from the manufacturer or a third party. If you are only doing stickhandling drills or working on your shot, you may not need boards; put something behind the goal to stop pucks.
One great thing about synthetic ice is you can move it. Unlike normal ice rinks, the time to break down the plastic and move to another location is relatively short. You don’t need to melt anything!
Maintenance on the Ice
Most synthetic ice is maintained the same, but all orders will come with specific instructions on how to keep the ice clean. Relative to real ice, cleaning synthetic ice is easy. At the end of the day, synthetic ice is plastic, so normal activities to keep a floor clean is sufficient to take care of your rink.
When you see discoloration in the panels or dirt start to build up, it is time to clean off your rink. There are many different glide enhancers on the market that help clean the surface, but I would go with the one your synthetic ice manufacturer suggests. A simple wipe with a damp mop should do the trick. This will clear off any debris and not damage the panels.
What about snow? Snow does not affect the panels any differently than other weather. All you need to do is remove the snow, and you are ready to skate. Do not worry about scratches on the ice. The panels handle hundreds of pounds of weight at a time; a little scratch is not going to bother it!
Training
Whether using the ice to train at home in the offseason or creating a public place for people to skate, synthetic ice is a good option. The big difference you will feel is the friction between the skate and the plastic. When skating on ice, there is little friction. When skating on synthetic ice, you will feel much more friction.
Be careful in selecting the product you buy. The cheaply made synthetic ice will have an unbearable amount of friction. The better products will feel only slightly more friction than normal ice. Expect 10-15% more friction on synthetic ice. With more friction, comes more exercise. One way to view the extra friction is the harder you have to work, the stronger you will become on real ice.
Use it Anywhere, Anytime
One of the positives about this type of ice is the location you can place it. You can build the rink inside or outside. The only requirements are a flat surface that is even. Be aware of normal wear and tear that weather will have on anything that is left outside. Covering the synthetic ice with a tarp or a tent to keep it out of the sun and rain will help it last longer. Even leaves will stain the surface if they are wet.
Be mindful of the heat, from a sun and light perspective. Be aware the panels will expand as they get hot, so you will need to leave some room between the panel and sideboard, or whatever the panel is against. When buying synthetic ice, make sure the panels were made with a UV inhibitor. This will allow your panels to last longer from sun exposure.
It’s Durable
Many consumers question the durability of products they buy. People question if products are made to break or wear down over time, forcing the consumer to comes back and buy more.
How long will synthetic ice last? This product will last 7-10 years if used for recreational purposes. If you are creating a commercial rink for customers to use, expect 5-7 years. Some companies sell dual-sided panels, giving you twice the years per panel.
A common concern with synthetic ice is: will doing a ‘hockey stop’ tear up the plastic? Actually, that does not affect the surface as much as you think. While doing a bunch of stops might create small debris for you to clean off later, it does not affect the longevity of the ice.
Where to Buy
I selected 7 dealers of synthetic ice and wrote notes on each. The mutual data points consist of the thickness of the synthetic ice, the material makeup of the ice, reviews of the brand, and the average price per tile (prices vary depending on thickness, tile measurements), and return policy. Price was documented at the time of writing this article. Check the website for the most current pricing.
Hockey Shot
Hockey Shot is a great brand and known for their training products. Since 2000, they have hyper-focused their efforts by equipping hockey players to train at any location- home, at the rink, or on the road. You can find their synthetic ice on their website. I have linked to it here.
- Ice Thickness- 3/8,” 1/2,” and 3/4.”
- Materials- Very High Molecular Weight Polyethylene.
- Reviews- 4.6 Stars. Find Current Reviews Here.
- Price- $14 Per Tile.
- Returns- 120 days.
Summary- Hockey shot has the largest selection of training products among the competition that I have seen. Passing, stick handling, skating, accuracy training, and synthetic ice- they’ve got it all. You can find out more on their website here.
PolyGlide Ice
PolyGlide Ice was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank. Although none of the sharks took the pitch from Jim, the CEO, the show helped the marketing efforts of PolyGlide. You can check out their website here to see the full report from Shark Tank. Their team has over 75 years of combined experience in the plastics and construction industries.
- Ice Thickness- 1/4″ and 1/2.”
- Materials- High-Density Polyethylene or Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene.
- Reviews- 4.2 Stars. Found on Their Amazon Page.
- Price- $9 per Sq. Foot.
- Returns- Within 7 Days of Delivery.
Summary- With the Shark Tank stamp, PolyGlide is a popular choice. With great marketing (I have already been targeted with ads) and good examples on their website, they have a solid offering. You can even by a curling rink online!
SmartRink
SmartRink reports thousands of customers and customer service being the difference between them and the rest of the brands on the market. With 40 years in the business and unlimited warranty, Smart Rink is very confident in their product. A link to their website can be found here.
- Ice Thickness- 5/16.”
- Materials- Not Provided.
- Reviews- Not Provided.
- Price- $8- $28 per Sq. Foot.
- Returns- “Forever Warranty.” Home Trial Offered Here.
Summary- The SmartRink offering is a good middle of the road package. You can tell they believe in their product because of the home trial that is offered and forever warranty guarantee.
D1
D1 Backyard Ice Rinks targets the teenager wanting more out of their time at home. With many pictures posted on their website of customer rinks in backyards, the D1 team has done a great job helping kids and parents visualize what could be at their home.
- Ice Thickness- 3/8″ and 1/2″
- Materials- Not Provided.
- Reviews- 4.6 Stars. Find Reviews on Their Facebook Page.
- Price- 21″ x 45″ Tile is $59.50
- Returns- 1 Year Warranty. No Returns Accepted.
Summary- The D1 Backyard Ice Rink offers three products- synthetic ice, hockey boards, and individual tiles for shooting drills.
Glice
Glice is a synthetic ice company out of Switzerland. Although they have many quotes on their website from users, and over 11,000 likes on Facebook, there is not much information on their website. Most information given ends the website pushing you to a contact form. Not a bad strategy, but there is not much information on their website.
- Ice Thickness- Not Provided.
- Materials- Ultra Glide-Enhanced Molecular Structure
- Reviews- Not Provided.
- Price- Not Provided.
- Returns- Not Provided.
Summary- Reputations from Swiss-made products is very strong in North America. Although there is not much information provided online, they do put an emphasis on the technology they make the ice with to make it durable and maximize user experience.
Equipment Needed
Skating Equipment
You will not need near the equipment needed for normal practice. Synthetic ice was created to be used year-round, so dress accordingly. A stick, puck, gloves, and goal is all you need! If you are playing a game, be smart about the pads you wear, but there is no special equipment required for synthetic ice rinks.
Installation Equipment
All rinks will come with all the installation equipment you will need. If you spend enough money with some of the producers, they will send an installer out to you to assist with the assembly. Some platforms will be easy as putting puzzle pieces together, others will require light tools to put everything together. Most fall on the lighter side installation. Another positive for synthetic ice!
Is Synthetic Ice the Future?
You could argue synthetic ice is already here. No matter the sport, the occasion, or location, venues can advertise ice skating to draw consumers. Hockey and ice skating is growing in popularity across the United States, and synthetic ice is a catalyst to help this growth.
Climate has affected ice as well. Warmer temperatures are staying around longer; ponds are thawing much quicker than they used too. With these recent changes, synthetic ice has become increasingly more popular even in the north.
Synthetic ice makes hockey training cheaper and more accessible. Many critiques of the sport are the high barrier to entry when it comes to purchasing gear. Without having to find a rink or pay for ice time, people can start simple with synthetic ice. Also, pull up some YouTube videos while on your synthetic ice, and you have yourself a cheap one on one training session. Not to mention, the training can be at your pace and time of the day!