Toe Guards 101
What are toe guards and how do you install them onto your roller skates?
That's a great question and one that we get a lot in the shop.
Toe guards are a replaceable piece of material that are designed to protect the front of your roller skate boot from scratches, scuffs and rips so that your skates stay nicer for longer.
Sometimes you will drag the toe of your skate across the floor either by mistake (falling) or by doing a sick manoeuvre (like a knee tap for roller derby).
Without a toe guard this can lead to scuffing, wear and eventually a hole in the skate.
That's why many skaters choose to use toe guards.
On Guard
There are lots of different types of toe guards - straps, snouts, caps etc and they can be made from different materials like leather, suede or vegan material.
Toe guards are attached to your skates by sitting underneath your toe stops and through your laces.
They can come in a strip of material that protects the toe or more of a cap or snout that protects the toe and the sides of the toe area.
Head on over here to take a quick look at all the options.
Which is Which?
Not all toe guards will fit your skates.
The fit will depend on the size of your skates and where your laces start.
Some laces start at the very toe of the boot while other start midway up the boot.
Sometimes the size will also dictate which toe guards will fit your skates so check the product for any instructions.
Installation
To install your toe guards you will need the right tool.
If your skates have bolt on toe stops, simply undo the bolt with a tool (usually a screwdriver or allen key), put the toe guards underneath the bolt on toe stops and tighten them back up.
If you skates have an adjustable toe stop, undo the allen key or lock nut with the appropriate tool (either an allen key or a wrench).
Remove the toe stop.
Insert the toe guard onto the toe stop stem.
If your plate has a lock nut and washer that holds the toe stop on, you will now screw the washer and lock nut back onto the toe stop stem.
Then insert the toe stop stem into your skate plate. (The washer should sit above the lock nut and be closest to the plate itself.)
Next, tighten the lock nut and washer to the plate.
Make sure it's nice and tight.
We recommend you put the toe guard between the toe stop and lock nut and use your lacing to tighten them to the boot.
Do: Put your toe guard between the toestop "meat" and lock nut
Don't: Put your toe guard between the lock nut and plate because it can't tighten properly.
Now undo your laces and lace your toe guards onto your roller skate.
That's it.
Don't forget that your guards will eventually wear out and once you've worn thru your toe guards you will replace them with new ones.
Check out how to fit toe guards by watching our Instagram reel here.