Copyright (c) 2010 Tim OldfieldHow come prices vary so drastically when it comes to synthetic ice
? The simple answer is that the material used and the machining cost of panels is what drives the price.Some generic "off the shelf" sheet material can work quite well depending on how strong the skater is. What we have found is that even the worst product out there can be skated on - but only by a very accomplished skater. If you are a figure skating or hockey parent thinking that you can make little junior a stronger skater by giving him or her a low end synthetic product then you might be disappointed.If the product is really cheap and low end then poor performance, followed by disappointment and then lack of use will inevitably follow. That said if you don't care about skating performance and only want to take shots with skates on or perform spins then by all means go low end and buy the cheapest cutting board material available. Just don't expect to skate well on it, because you will get what you pay for!To the consumer's defense, almost all companies have done a really bad job of educating consumers on product differences. In their ignorance they tell customers that the product they sell is the fastest and that one style fits all and frankly they seem unable to clearly differentiate in any way that can be meaningful. As a consumer you simply need to be aware that there are huge differences in materials used and in machining quality and consistency of panels.Common sense should tell you that an $8 per square foot product should not be as good as a $25 per square foot product - right. We can tell you very plainly that an $8 per square foot product will be a poor skating product - but might be fine for shooting pucks. Don't expect to purchase a low end product and then be able to glide on the product very well. For home use a very decent product can be purchased for $12 - 14 per square foot. This is likely a product that you will be happy with for a long time.The best and most educated sellers will explain fully all the different characteristics in a manner that consumers can relate to and believe. You will spend a good chunk of change even on the worst products, so isn't it worth it to understand what you are buying?