Cheap Synthetic Ice: Is Low Cost Artificial Ice Worth It?

Young girl on Glice synthetic ice

More and more synthetic ice brands are popping up in the market, with many of them offering budget-friendly low-cost prices for their plastic ice. As you may know, if you put cheap plastic sheets on the floor you can create a surface to skate on. But is it realistic? Is it fun?

No, ice-skating on budget plastic sheets isn’t fun.

Synthetic ice technology matters. Regular white plastic has exactly the same look and feel as high-grade synthetic ice, which makes people think that getting a similar-looking product for half the price is a great deal.

Let’s keep it simple. If you want synthetic ice that really works—meaning, you can ice-skate on it and have a realistic gliding feel with an optimal glide and grip ratio—you have to pay a higher price. Plastic ice is like that: you get what you pay for.

High Quality vs. Budget Synthetic Ice Sheets: How to Choose?

High quality Swiss Engineered Glice PanelsThere are several factors separating high-quality synthetic ice sheets from their more cost-effective counterparts, most notably their price, durability, and overall performance.

Typically made from a higher grade of plastic material, premium synthetic ice sheets offer a smoother and more realistic skating experience. Designed with durability in mind, they’re also able to withstand heavy use. Conversely, low-cost synthetic ice sheets are usually made from lower-standard plastic materials. The skating experience isn’t as smooth, and the material is more easily scratched and damaged as well.

How do you decide which one to go with? Let’s answer this question by analyzing two different scenarios.

Further reading: Why choose high-quality Glice?

You Want to Run Your Artificial Ice Rink as a Business

First, you need to analyze how many customers will repeatedly come and skate on your synthetic ice rink. You’ll need to consider things like how positively they talk about your synthetic ice and, more importantly,  how many friends they bring with them to skate on your artificial ice rink.

Glice Hockey Training Center in Davos, Switzerland

Over a period of several years, this could amount to a significant number. As you well know, the amount of paying customers you have can make or break your business. Opting for budget synthetic ice also means you’ll be sharpening skates five times more often.

Having to sharpen skates so often is a significant cost for your business. As are the cleanup expenses you’ll incur from continuously sweeping up the synthetic ice flakes and shavings because cheap artificial ice rink produces ten times more peel-offs. These types of operational costs can have huge implications on a small business.

Further reading: Is synthetic ice bad for skates?

Realistic Performance (and Fun) Are Important to You

There are a number of reasons to purchase a synthetic ice pad. As a parent, you might want your child to have access to the best training conditions possible to become a professional ice hockey star. Or, perhaps you want to give them the opportunity to advance faster without the need for additional coaching.

As a coach, you’ll want your players to improve their game and have more fun while they’re doing it.

If you’re an avid figure skater, you might want the freedom to enjoy the ice year-round from the comfort of your backyard.

Figure skaters practicing on synthetic ice

The Real Cost of Synthetic Ice

There’s no doubt that in both these scenarios, the budget option simply won’t cut it. Calculating the cost of a synthetic ice product is about more than just the ticket price. You need to factor in the overall implications of using a low-cost plastic ice product. What you save upfront can cost you in the long run.

We know this calculation is very complex and requires a lot of consideration. That’s where we come in. The Glice® team is very happy to assist you in analyzing your specific synthetic ice needs as well as the quality implications for your particular situation.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We’re here to assist you with everything you need to know to ensure your synthetic ice business will be a success. Have a read of our Synthetic Ice Buyer’s Guide, then get in touch for more information and quotes.