Not all ice is created equal. Indoor and outdoor rinks offer fundamentally different experiences — for players and parents.
Indoor Rinks
The standard. Most youth hockey happens in indoor rinks. The ice is climate-controlled, games happen rain or shine, and there's usually a snack bar.
Pros: - Consistent ice quality year-round - Protected from weather - Seating (even if it's cold metal bleachers) - Zamboni-maintained ice - Locker rooms and facilities - Games are never cancelled for weather
Cons: - Can be very cold (the whole point of this site) - Often expensive to rent ice time - Artificial lighting - Can feel claustrophobic in older buildings - "The smell" (hockey gear + enclosed space)
Temperature range: 40-65°F depending on the building
Outdoor Rinks
The original. Hockey started outdoors, and there's nothing quite like playing under an open sky. Many cities maintain outdoor rinks in parks during winter.
Pros: - Fresh air - Natural light - Often free or very cheap - The "pond hockey" nostalgia - Kids can play longer without ice time limits - No booking required (most public outdoor rinks)
Cons: - Weather dependent — rain, snow, and warm spells end sessions - Ice quality varies dramatically (bumpy, soft, snowy) - No facilities (no locker rooms, bathrooms may be portable) - Season limited to winter months - No zamboni at most public rinks - You're exposed to wind on top of cold
Temperature range: Whatever it is outside. Could be -20°F.
Refrigerated Outdoor Rinks
Some cities have refrigerated outdoor rinks — they have cooling pipes under the surface like indoor rinks, but no roof. These maintain better ice quality and can operate in slightly warmer conditions than natural ice.
Examples: Many Canadian community rinks, some US city parks.
Which is Colder for Spectators?
Outdoor rinks are colder in absolute temperature (you're outside), but indoor rinks can FEEL colder because: - You expect it to be warmer (you're "inside") - You sit still longer (outdoor hockey is more informal — you can walk around) - The humidity is different — indoor rinks have damp, cold air that penetrates layers
A well-insulated indoor rink at 58°F is more comfortable than an outdoor rink at 58°F because there's no wind.
An uninsulated indoor barn at 40°F might actually feel worse than being outside at 40°F because the metal bleachers and concrete conduct cold more aggressively than standing on snow.
What BarnTemp Rates
BarnTemp focuses on indoor rinks — the ones where you're sitting in the stands watching your kid play organized hockey. We rate how cold the stands are, not the ice. Because the ice is always cold. That's the point. It's you we're worried about.