RinkSmart: A Parent-Invented Solution for Safer, Warmer Skating

I’m a father of two who has been making a backyard rink every winter since my kids were little.

Some of our best family memories were built outside in the cold—skating, laughing, chasing pucks, and enjoying the magic of Minnesota winters.

But there was always one thing that bothered me: keeping my kids warm and safe at the same time.

When they were younger, they wore helmets every time they stepped on the ice.

And every time, the same problems showed up:

• Their ears were freezing.

• Hoods didn’t fit over helmets functionally.

• Adjustments were frustrating.

• And once they got older and weren’t using helmets for casual pond skating, there was no product designed to keep them warm and add a little extra protection.

I couldn’t find anything like that on the market.

So — like any parent who worries, tinkers, and wants the best for their kids — I decided to make it myself.

That’s how RinkSmart was born.

A warm, comfortable beanie with discreet impact-assist padding placed where real falls happen.

Not a helmet.

Just a smarter winter hat that gives kids (and adults) the warmth they need to have fun on the rink — and gives parents a little extra peace of mind.

This is a product built from real backyard experience, tested on real Minnesota ice, and designed by a dad who wanted something better for his own kids.

Born on the pond. Built for the ice.

From my family to yours — enjoy the rink.