Hypno Ice Blades review

For some time I tried in vain to purchase the ice blades direct from Hypno, but they would not respond to my e-mails regarding agents or suppliers.  Eventually my local Route 1 guy very helpfully came up with a supplier, so I bought mine for about £45 just a year ago from.

Stateside Skates Ltd. Stateside House, Raans Road
1 Corinium Ind. Est. Amersham Bucks HP6 6YJ
Tel 0194 726426 or e-mail roycof@aol.com

I found Stateside a really helpful outfit and service was first class.

The first thing that you need to do is get them ground by the local rink pro. (£6 to £8)

The second thing I found was to buy blade protectors, the Hypno ones are very flimsy and most unsuitable especially if you decide to walk with the skates attached. Perhaps that is why they are flimsy, Hypno expect you to unlock them to walk !

As for skating there is of course no serious comparison with purpose built integral ice skates but I am at a modest level and find them really good and so far have had no problems at all. Just for the fun I roller bladed from the Serpentine up to Marble Arch and then switched to ice blades for the tiny rink that they had there last Christmas time. Normally I find Guilford, Bracknell or Slough rinks easier and quicker than say Queens or Streatham and no parking problems. I did hear one adverse comment from a hockey guy, if you try to do a "power stop" the edge of the boot can sometimes touch the ice before the blade but you would have to be leaning at quite an angle to do that. I am really pleased with my combination, great fun.