Section 2: Equipment
2.1 Skates
Rule 224, paragraph 2.a defines a skate as "a passive mechanical extension of the leg, meant to facilitate the gliding technique," consisting of a blade and a shoe connected by a construction that may allow translation and rotation of the shoe relative to the blade (the clap-skate mechanism). The rule expressly prohibits any element that would let energy, matter, or heat reach the blade from an external source: "it is not permitted to heat the blades of the skates from any external source or by means of any artificial mechanisms." All energy propelling the skate must originate from the skater's own metabolic work during the race.
2.2 Racing Suit
Rule 224, paragraph 1.a requires that "racing suits shall conform to the natural shape of the body of the Skater," and bars insertion or attachment of forms or devices that create a different shape. The only permitted attachments are permanently fixed stripes, capped at a maximum height of 0.5 cm and a maximum width of 2.5 cm. Competitors may additionally be equipped with shin guards and padded knee protection worn inside the racing suit for injury protection, but these are optional, not mandatory.
Rule 224, paragraph 1.b requires that skaters of the same national team (i.e., entered by the same ISU Member) wear racing uniforms of identical design displaying the country name or its official ISU abbreviation, in characters no smaller than 7 cm high on the external part of both lower legs, at ISU Championships and ISU Events. Rule 224, paragraph 1.c extends the same country-identification requirement to warm-up suits.
2.3 Protective Equipment
Rule 224, paragraph 1.a states that competitors "may wear a helmet, neck protection, gloves or mitts (predominantly white) outside the racing suit" — these items are permitted, not mandated, for individual and team races. For ISU Events, any helmet that is worn must be one approved by the ISU approval commission and meeting the technical safety specifications in the latest ISU Communication.
Mass Start races are the exception: Rule 257, paragraph 5 requires that "Skaters must wear special safety equipment (see also Rule 224 and 279), helmet covers, armbands or bibs, as well as devices to support the timekeeping." A competitor who does not comply is disqualified or denied the start. Because a helmet cover can only be worn over a helmet, this provision makes helmet-wearing effectively required in Mass Start competition.
Rule 224, paragraph 3 disqualifies any competitor who does not comply with the suit, skate, or equipment rules above.