When I told a friend that I paid $500 for my Wilson Pattern 99 blades, he wanted to know what else the blades did besides be attached to the boot and allow me to skate. Why do blades cost so much, from $100 to an astounding $600!?!
Here's a short primer on why I believe the cost is what it is. If you examine your blade, it looks like one piece of metal, but in fact, it is three separate parts melded together: the toe plate, the heel plate, and the blade part that actually touches the ice. These pieces are punched out on large presses. The blades are cut out of long strips of steel which vary in carbon content depending on the quality of the blade that is being made. So a Pattern 99 blade will be cut from a different grade of steel than blades that come attached to skating boots that you'll find at a sporting goods store. The better grade the steel, the better it can keep its edge. As a skater becomes more advanced, these factors become important in performing more difficult moves.
There are also modifications found on the more expensive blades which make the manufacturing process more laborious, such as having extra toe picks on the side for supposedly better control on jumps.
And unfortunately, there is a psychological aspect to having expensive blades. I started out with Wilson Coronation Ace (about $100 back then) and changed to Wilson Pattern 99 (about $400) within a year. The main reason was that my coach at the time skated in Pattern 99s, and when you're starting out, you tend to want to emulate your coach as close as possible. Now 15 years later, can I skate just as well in Coronation Ace blades? Probably, but once I need new blades, it'll be another set of Pattern 99s.
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