Short track skaters wear a variety of protective equipment, including a skin-tight suit, helmets, gloves, eyewear, skates and more, all of which are regulated in size, shape, material, etc. by the International Skating Union.

Short track skates are modified to maintain high speed and control in turns. The blades are extremely sharp and bent in an arc that mirrors the direction of the turn. They also are placed off-center to the left so the boot does not touch the ice when the skater leans into a turn.

In addition, short track boots are designed to stabilize the foot and ankle as the skater rounds sharp corners. They lace higher up the ankle than traditional skates and are constructed from fiberglass, graphite and Kevlar, using customized foot molds which prevent slippage within the boot. Skaters rarely wear socks, both because the custom mold leaves little room for them and to ensure the skater can feel the ice completely, allowing them to make subtle changes in their strides as they skate.

Short track skaters wear suits made of a synthetic material which perfectly conform to the skater’s body shape. 

Because of the tight quarters and fast speeds in which short track skaters race, competitions often feature dramatic collisions and falls.

As a result, skaters are required to wear cut-resistant gloves, shin guards and neck guards to protect against other skaters’ blades (the gloves also have hard plastic balls on the fingertips, as skaters are allowed to touch the ice with their hands for stability as they round turns). Additionally, skaters must wear a helmet made of hard plastic, which fastens under the chin, and padded or hard-shell knee pads to prevent potential injuries resulting from crashes with competitors, ice or sidewalls.

Skaters also must use protective eyewear, and their suits must be long-sleeved and long-legged.

Because speed skaters race along longer ovals and at higher speeds than short track skaters, some of the equipment they use differs in order to maximize power and aerodynamics.

The suits that speed skaters and short track skaters wear almost are identical, as both are meant to be skin tight and conform to the natural shape of the skater’s body without any external attachments or devices which alter the shape of the suit. The main difference between the two is that speed skating suits are equipped with hoods and thumb loops, which help speed skaters remain more aerodynamic.

Additionally, as opposed to the slightly curved blades short track skates have, the blades on speed skates are straighter to allow the skater to take longer strides. Both types of skates, however, are sharpened at a 90-degree angle, allowing for maximum power and efficiency as the skater pushes forward.

For the same reason, speed skaters use clap skates. Unlike conventional skates, the heel of the blade on a clap skate is not attached to the boot, and the toe of the blade is affixed to the boot with a hinged apparatus. This allows the blade to briefly remain on the ice as the skater’s stride ends so as to increase pushing power. Short track skaters use a more traditional skate in which the blade remains fixed to the boot at all times.