If you are looking to get roller skating this year (or have been skating for 30 years like me), then getting the best roller skates you can afford is important to you. Whether you are wanting to roller skate for the health benefits of roller skating or just for fun today’s article has you covered.
So, if you are in need of a new pair of the best rollerskates, keep reading. I am going to break down 18 of the top roller skates available today and answer some of the questions I get most frequently from skaters here on my blog and podcast.
And, there is just nothing like that new skate smell! This page represents a section of my site all about quad roller skates. I have tried my best to break down this section into a series of skate reviews by category to help you find what you are looking for.
So, this page encompasses just a couple of my top picks from each of the categories below. You can find a whole lot more information on each of the individual category pages, so be sure to check them out after looking at the full list below:
- Best Roller Skates for Beginners
- Best Roller Skates for Women
- Best Roller Skates for Men
- Best Roller Skates for Kids
- Best Outdoor Roller Skates
- Best Roller Derby Skates
- Best Roller Skates for Wide Feet
Or, if you are more into inline skates, then please check out my Best Rollerblades page. This page is exclusively for quad skates.
In a Hurry? Here’s My Top Pick for Best Overall Roller Skates
If you are a beginner or just a skater looking for a great pair of skates, then one of my top picks are the Sure-Grip Boardwalk roller skates. They come in men’s sizes 4-13 and come with soft outdoor wheels that are great for both indoor and outdoor skating.
The Sure-Grip Boardwalks come in 7 different colors which gives you a color for every taste and style. This skate comes with a Rock nylon plate, adjustable rubber toe stoppers, and ABEC-3 skate bearings.
The Sure-Grip’s Boardwalk wheels are one of my favorite gummy outdoor wheels for rough terrain. These wheels are 78A in durometer and are 65mm in diameter – perfect for indoor and outdoor terrain.
In today’s article, I’m going to first give you a list of the top 18 roller skates out today. Most of the skates in my list are budget conscious and geared towards the beginner or intermediate skater. However, I do have many higher priced skates in the list below, too, that are geared towards the more advanced skater.
Then, after my list, I provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that I get from roller skaters on my blog and podcast.
But, Why Trust My Advice on Skates?
My name is Jeff Stone. I have over 40 years of skating experience. I was an artistic roller skater (yes, that exists) and spent several years competing at a national level – even winning a national championship as a teen. That’s me over there to the right with a lot more hair and smugness. 🙂
But, more importantly, I’m a parent of two wonderful young women who both are excellent skaters. I taught both of them how to skate as little kids. I also have helped 1000s of other kids learn to skate while working and teaching skate lessons at my local roller rink as a teenager.
I also just know skates. My hobby / fun thing to do while couch surfing is to research quad skate and inline skate products and write about them on this blog. I have bought and actually tested dozens of skates from leading skate manufacturers. I guess you could call me a bit of a skate nerd.
These days, I skate every week for fitness, mental health and just plain old fun. I love to skate. It’s in my bones. For more, read About Roller Skate Dad.
My Top 18 Best Roller Skates for Roller Skating
Detailed Reviews of the Best Roller Skates
1. Sure-Grip Boardwalk – Best Roller Skates for Beginners
My top pick for the best overall roller skates are the Sure-Grip Boardwalk. These are solid outdoor skates and also work well skating on a slippery rink floor, too.
This skate is also my top pick for the best roller skates for beginners because it has a comfortable high top boot. This style of boot gives you more stability than a shorter, low cut boot. They also provide more ankle support. The outdoor wheels are also sticky giving the beginner more stability on slippery indoor surfaces, too.
Also, I don’t just recommend these just to beginners. If you browse my site enough, you’ll also notice that these roller skates are on almost every single list article on my website. I own a pair myself and they are good street skates.
Want 14 more of my top picks for beginners? Check out my Best Roller Skates for Beginners page.
Sure-Grip Boardwalk At a Glance
| Boots | Men’s sizes 4-13 with a suede leather boot. See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | Black, Tan, Lavender (Purple), Sea Breeze (Blue), Key Lime (Green), Merlot (Red) and Teaberry (Pink) |
| Plates | Rock Nylon Plates |
| Wheels | 65mm diameter, 78A durometer |
| Bearings | ABEC-3 |
| Toe Stop | Adjustable toe stops with lock nut |
2. Sure-Grip GT-50 – Best Beginner Skates (Runner-Up)
One of the best roller skates out for the money right now are the GT-50 from Sure-Grip. These are also one of my top roller skates for beginners because they have outdoor wheels that are perfect for street skating. Sure-Grip is one of the oldest skate producers on the market today and they make good quality roller skates.
The GT-50 roller skates have a durable vinyl boot that has a low cut profile. This makes it ideal for skaters who have a little more balance and want more range of motion in their ankles.
This skate also comes with three different wheel types. The Motion setup has 78A outdoor wheels that are perfect for a smooth roll outdoors on rough terrain like asphalt.. The Zen model has 85A hybrid wheels that are good for both indoor and outdoor skating. Finally, the Sparkle Sonic come with a sparkly boot and 84A hybrid wheels.
Want 14 more of my top picks for beginners? Check out my Best Roller Skates for Beginners page.
Sure-Grip Rock GT-50 At a Glance
| Boots | Men’s Sizes 1-13 See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | Black boot. The Sparkle Sonic version has a sparkly black boot. |
| Plates | Rock Nylon Plates |
| Wheels | Motion: 62mm diameter x 33mm width, 78A durometer Sonic: 62mm diameter x 32mm width, 84A durometer Zen: 62mm diameter x 32mm width, 85A durometer |
| Bearings | ABEC-5 |
| Toe Stop | Adjustable toe stops with lock nut |
3. Bont Prostar – Best Beginner Skates (Bronze)
For all you beginners out there looking for a great pair of skates, check out the Bont Prostar. These skates are great for recreational skating, roller derby or speed skating. They come in 2 different styles – a black vinyl or 1 of 5 different suede colors including black, teal, blue, purple or pink.
The Prostar boot comes in unisex size 3-12.5. Bont has a special sizing to their boots, so be sure to check out their skate sizing chart before you order so you get the perfect fit. These boots have a lot of extra memory padding to make them super comfy. The boots are also heat moldable using a hair dryer so you can get a perfect fit.
The Bont Prostar comes with a light weight Prodigy skate plate that is fiberglass reinforced making it strong. It also has 20 degree action for that perfect balance between agility and stability.
Finally, the wheels on this skate package depend on where you order it. If you order on Amazon, you get the Bont Glow LED wheels. These light up as you roll and are an 83A hybrid durometer making them good for both indoor or outdoor skating.
If you order from the Bont website, then you have your choice of 8 different wheels and 4 different sets of bearings. On Amazon, you will get ABEC-5 bearings installed in your skates.
Want 14 more of my top picks for beginners? Check out my Best Roller Skates for Beginners page.
Bont Prostar At a Glance
| Boots | Unisex Sizes 3-12.5. See skate sizing chart to get a perfect fit. |
| Colors / Patterns | Suede Skates: Purple, Teal, Pink, Blue, Black or Black Vinyl |
| Plates | Fiberglass reinforced, light weight 20 degree action Prodigy plate |
| Wheels | Amazon: Bont Glow LED Wheels Bont: Your choice of 8 wheels |
| Bearings | ABEC-5. You can upgrade to ABEC-7, JESA Black or JESA Ceramic on the Bont site. |
| Toe Stop | Adjustable toe stops with cinch screw |
4. Moxi Lolly – Best Women’s Roller Skates for Outdoor Skating
Next on my list are the best roller skates for women, the Lolly, from Moxi Skates. These are more expensive rollar skates than the first two pairs of skates on this list because the skates are 100% leather. Leather roller skating boots are more comfortable and will fit more like an everyday shoe after an initial break-in period.
Moxi skates are very popular with women who like street skating or roller skating at a skate park. They come with solid wheels that have a 78A durometer that are perfect for outdoor surfaces.
These are some of the best beginner roller skates that you can buy right now. However, more advanced skaters who like to skate in bowls and at skate parks love them, too. Many professional roller skaters recommend these skates to ladies who want a solid skate that looks great.
Or, if you want an even more high-end boot, you can check out Moxi Skates most expensive roller skates – the Jack Boot Skates. These are not full skates but instead just the roller skate boot. Then, you have to pick out the plate, wheels and bearings to go with it. The Moxi Jack boot alone is $500 and the price will go up as you add the other components. You have to order these straight from Moxi, though, as they are 100% custom. Amazon and Roller Skate Nation do not offer them.
Want 9 more of my top picks for outdoor skating? Check out my Best Outdoor Roller Skates page.
Moxi Lolly At a Glance
| Boots | Men’s sizes 4-10 See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | Red, Orange, Yellow, Teal, Green, Light Purple, Purple & Black |
| Plates | Lightweight Powerdyne Nylon Plate |
| Wheels | 65mm diameter x 35mm width – 78A durometer |
| Bearings | ABEC-5 |
| Toe Stop | Adjustable toe stop with lock nut |
5. Bont ParkStar – Best Roller Skates for Outdoor Skating
If you want some top of the line skates for outdoor skating or skating in bowls, then check out the Bont ParkStar. These skates come with a suede high-top boot that are comfortable. The boot is heat moldable and comes in size 3-13 in 6 different colors.
The Tracer Derby skate plate on these skates is made of 6061 aircraft aluminum. This makes the plate super strong and amazingly light weight, too. It has a 20 degree action for added agility and stability.
If you order this skate on Amazon, you will get ABEC-5 bearings and 89A Street Flow wheels. If you decide to order on Bont.com instead, you get your choice of 8 different wheels and 4 different sets of bearings. Either way, you get a truly high-end outdoor skate that looks great and performs well.
Want 9 more of my top picks for outdoor skating? Check out my Best Outdoor Roller Skates page.
Bont ParkStar At a Glance
| Boots | Unisex sizes 3-13. See roller skate sizing chart to get a perfect fit. |
| Colors / Patterns | Plain Pink, Plain Teal, Striped Pink, Striped Teal, Blue, Red, Purple or Black |
| Plates | 6061 Aircraft Aluminium Tracer Derby Plate |
| Wheels | Amazon: 89A Street Flow Bont: Your choice of 8 different wheels |
| Bearings | ABEC-5 |
| Toe Stop | Adjustable toe stop with cinch screw |
6. Sure-Grip Fame Outdoor – Best Outdoor Skates for Men
Next up on my best roller skates list are the Sure-Grip Fame Outdoor. If you are looking for a comfortable, durable boot that provides great ankle support and is good for street skating, then this skate is for you.
The Sure-Grip Fame skate is one of the most popular beginner skates on the market today. It’s recommended because the boot is comfortable and the price is right at under $200.
There are two versions of this skate. The one on Amazon has 78A Sure-Grip Motion wheels that are great if you skate on rough asphalt like we have here in Texas. The Zen 85A version on Roller Skate Nation are better if you want a skate that are good for both indoors and outdoors. They are also a little cheaper, too.
Want 9 more of my top picks for outdoor skating? Check out my Best Outdoor Roller Skates page.
Sure-Grip Fame Outdoor At a Glance
| Boots | Men’s sizes 5-12 See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | Black |
| Plates | Sure-Grip Rock Nylon Plate |
| Wheels | Sure-Grip Motion – 62mm x 32mm – 78A durometer – Amazon Sonar Zen – 62mm x 32mm – 85A durometer – Roller Skate Nation |
| Bearings | ABEC-7 |
| Toe Stop | Adjustable toe stop with lock nut |
7. Riedell Dart – Best Indoor Roller Skates on a Budget
Next up we have some of the best roller skates for rink skating, the Dart, by Riedell Skates. These skates are good for indoor skating only because they come with much harder 93A durometer wheels. These harder wheels are made for rink floors and other indoor surfaces.
This skate is great because of it’s wide variety of sizes (all the way up to size 14), price point (under $150) and it comes from one of the leading skate manufacturers in the USA – Riedell. They have been in business for over 75 years and make great skates.
Riedell Dart Hightlights
| Boots | Riedell R3 Dart, Dart Ombre or Dart Pixel vinyl boot in sizes 1-14 See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | Black, Black / Yellow or Black / Orange pixel design |
| Plates | Die-Cast aluminum plates |
| Wheels | Riedell Dart wheels – 62mm, 93A durometer |
| Bearings | ABEC 5 bearings |
| Toe Stops | Adjustable toe stop with lock nut |
8. Moxi Beach Bunny – Best Ladies Roller Skates
If you want a pair of Moxi Skates but can’t afford the Lolly, then check out the Beach Bunny roller skates. The Beach Bunny skates are one of the top picks for the best roller skates for ladies because of the quality and the price (under $200).
The wheels on the Beach Bunny roller skates are ideal for skate parks or rough terrain like asphalt. The wheels have a 78A durometer that makes them good on any surface, including asphalt. The high top boots will give you good stability and they come in a variety of fun colors.
Want 12 more of my top picks for women? Check out my Best Roller Skates for Women page.
Moxi Beach Bunny Skates At a Glance
| Boots | Women’s sizes 1-10 See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | Peach Blanket (orange), Periwinkle Sunset (purple), Sky Blue, Watermelon and Strawberry Lemonade (yellow) |
| Plates | Marvel Aluminum Plates |
| Wheels | 58mm diameter, 78A durometer |
| Bearings | ABEC-5 |
| Toe Stop | Adjustable with lock nut |
9. Moxi Rainbow Rider – Best Skates for Women on a Budget
If you want a pair of Moxi Skates but don’t want to break the bank, then check out the Rainbow Rider. These are some of the best roller skates for ladies on a budget. These roller skates come in three different colors and have soft, outdoor wheels that are great for the park, sidewalk or asphalt. You can even wear them at the rink, too.
They come with a heavier aluminum metal plate, so be aware that they won’t be the lightest roller skates on this list. However, at just around $100, this is a pretty affordable pair of roller skates.
Want 12 more of my top picks for women? Check out my Best Roller Skates for Women page.
Moxi Rainbow Rider At a Glance
| Boots | Women’s sizes 1-10 See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | Black, Pink or Yellow |
| Plates | Aluminum Plates |
| Wheels | 58mm diameter x 40mm width – 78A durometer |
| Bearings | ABEC-5 |
| Toe Stop | Adjustable with lock nut |
10. VNLA Freestyle Pro – Best Skates for Men
Next up are my top pick for the best roller skates for men, the VNLA Freestyle Pro. I have an older pair of these skates for rink skating. I think the Freestyle Pro is a great skate because the boot is comfortable. I’m also a more advanced skater, so I really like the lower cut boot because it gives my ankle a lot more room to maneuver.
This roller skate is good for indoor skating. You can do like I did and buy an extra set of outdoor wheels. Then, you can easily use them indoor or at the park. Also, these are some of the more expensive roller skates on my list. At the time of this writing, they are around $350. However, it’s a really comfortable skate that I think most people will enjoy. I really like my pair.
Want 9 more of my top picks for men? Check out my Best Roller Skates for Men page.
VNLA Freestyle Pro At a Glance
| Boots | VNLA Freestyle Boot in men’s sizes 3-13 See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | Black or White |
| Plates | VNLA Gorilla Nylon Plate & Gorilla Aluminum Trucks |
| Wheels | Backspin Remix Lite – 62mm diameter x 42mm width – 92A durometer |
| Bearings | VNLA Reaction ABEC-9 |
| Toe Stops | Adjustable lock nut |
11. VNLA Junior – Best Men’s Skates (Runner-Up)
Next up on my list of the best roller skates are the VNLA Junior. Like the Freestyle Pro, these quad skates have a comfortable boot and the total skate package is a good overall pair of skates. This roller skate is ideal for indoor skating at the skating rink as the wheels come in at a 95A durometer that is made for indoor surfaces.
My two daughters have had some version of these quad skates for well over a decade now. We have owned about 4 pairs of these skates – not because they are low quality but because the girls feet grew and they wanted a different color or style. VNLA is well known for making some of the best jam skates for roller dancing on the market today. They also serve as a great beginner speed skate.
Want 9 more of my top picks for men? Check out my Best Roller Skates for Men page.
VNLA Junior At a Glance
| Boots | Men’s sizes 3-13 See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | Blue, Black, Pink, Red, Burgundy, Mint, Black/White |
| Plates | Vanilla Gorilla Nylon Plate with Aluminum Trucks |
| Wheels | Backspin 62mm diameter x 42mm wide with a 95A wheel hardness |
| Bearings | Reaction ABEC-9 |
| Toe Stop | No toe stops. They come with skate plugs. You’ll need to buy the toe stops separately. |
12. Sure-Grip Fame – Best Kid’s Non-Adjustable Skates
If you are looking for a great pair of skates for rink skating for the kids (or for adults), then check out the Sure-Grip Fame. These are some of the best roller skates for indoor skating for under $200.
The high top boot on this roller skate is comfortable and well padded. It also comes in a huge size selection – a toddler 9J all the way up to a men’s 14. It’s the largest array of sizes of any boot on the market. So, a size for everyone in the family.
Want 17 more of my top picks for kids? Check out my Best Roller Skates for Kids page.
Sure-Grip Fame Skate At a Glance
| Boots | 9J – Men’s Size 14. Realize that you may have a hard time finding the toddler version of these skates. Check with Roller Skate Nation or another online skate vendor if you need the 9J-13J skates. Amazon sells these starting at kids size 1. See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | Black or White |
| Plates | Sure-Grip Rock Nylon Plate |
| Wheels | Sure-Grip Fame 57mm, 95A Wheels |
| Bearings | ABEC-5 |
| Toe Stop | Lock nut adjustable |
13. Roller Derby Candi Girl Lucy – Best Girl’s Adjustable Skates
If you are looking for a pair of skates that will grow with your child as their feet grow, then an adjustable skate may be for you. If that’s the case, one of the best roller skates that is adjustable are the Roller Derby Candi Girl Lucy roller skate.
These skates come in 2 adjustable sizes. You just turn the knob on the back of the skate and pull on the frame to make the skate smaller or larger. Each skate can be adjusted up to 4 sizes making it great for growing feet. This skate also comes with smaller wheels that are ideal for the younger kids.
Want 17 more of my top picks for kids? Check out my Best Roller Skates for Kids page.
Roller Derby Candi Girl Lucy At a Glance
| Boots | Small (Sizes 12J – 2), Medium (Sizes 3-6) See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | White with Pineapple |
| Plates | Nylon |
| Wheels | 54mm x 33mm indoor / outdoor wheels |
| Bearings | Silver-5 Speed Rated bearings |
| Toe Stops | Fixed toe stops – not adjustable but is removable |
14. Bont Hybrid Carbon – Best Roller Derby Skates
If you want some of the best derby skates on the market today, then look no further than the Bont Hybrid Carbon. These high end, custom skates have either a durolite or leather outer shell. The leather version of this boot is 100% Australian leather that breaks in well and will give you an amazing, soft and snug fit.
Both skate versions have heat molding and offer 4 different widths: standard, narrow, wide or double wide. This make them a great choice for all of you out there with wide feet.
After you choose your boot, everything else is custom. There are 5 choices for skate plates, 8 different roller skate wheels and 4 different types of bearings to choose from. You can have a lot of fun mixing and matching on their website.
One of the things I really love about the Bont website is that as you select a different option (boot, plate, wheels), the image on the screen automatically updates to show you exactly what you are ordering. This is a nice touch.
Want 11 more of my top picks for roller derby? Check out my Best Roller Derby Skates page.
Bont Hybrid Carbon Highlights
| Boots | Unisex sizes 3-13.5. Your choice of Durolite or Australian Leather. Also comes in 4 different widths: Standard, Wide, Narrow or Double Wide. See roller skating sizing chart to get a perfect fit. |
| Plates | Your choice of 5 different skate plates. |
| Wheels | Your choice of 8 different skate wheels. |
| Bearings | Your choice of 4 different skate bearings. |
| Toe Stops | Adjustable cinch screw |
15. Bont Quadstar – Best Roller Derby Skates for Beginners
If you are into roller derby, speed or aggressive skating and want some of the best roller skates then check out the Bont Quadstar. This roller skate is one of the better roller derby skates on the market for the price (around $200).
Want 11 more of my top picks for roller derby? Check out my Best Roller Derby Skates page.
Bont Quadstar Highlights
| Boots | 100% Australian leather with heat moldable heels. Check out my roller skate sizing charts for details. |
| Plates | Fiberglass Prodigy plate with 20 degree action |
| Wheels | Bont Ballistic Wheels – 92A durometer, 60mm x 40mm |
| Bearings | ABEC 5 Bearings |
| Toe Stops | Adjustable cinch screw |
16. Sure-Grip Rebel Fugitive – Best for Beginner Roller Derby (Runner-Up)
If you are brand new to roller derby and want some of the best roller skates on a budget, then check out the Rebel Fugitive from Sure-Grip. These beginner roller derby skates come with a well-padded low-cut boot perfect for giving you the maneuverability you need to make quick and sudden turns.
Want 11 more of my top skates for roller derby? Check out my Best Roller Derby Skates page.
Sure-Grip Rebel Fugitive Highlights
| Boots | Sure-Grip Rebel boot in men’s sizes 4-14 See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Plates | Sure-Grip Probe (Nylon – Roller Skate Nation) or Sure-Grip Avanti (Aluminum – Amazon) |
| Wheels | Sure-Grip Fugitive Derby Wheels – 92A durometer, 64mm x 44mm |
| Bearings | ABEC 7 |
| Toe Stops | Adjustable lock nut |
17. Riedell 220 Avanti – Best for Wide Feet
If you are looking for some of the best roller skates out right now, you have wider feet and you have a little more money to spend, then check out the Riedell 220 Avanti. These are some of the more expensive roller skates on this list (around $500), but for good reason.
First, the Riedell 220 high top boot on these skates are really comfortable. Riedell knows how to make an awesome boot. Many of the best artistic skate boots on the planet are made by Riedell. These skates also come with one of the best roller skate plates on the market and some of the best roller skate wheels, too.
Want 14 more of my top skates for wide feet? Check out my Best Roller Skates for Wide Feet page.
Riedell 220 Avanti At a Glance
| Boots | Riedell 220 Leather Boots See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | Black or White |
| Plates | Sure-Grip Avanti Aluminum |
| Wheels | RollerBones Team Series – 62mm diameter & 98A durometer |
| Bearings | Speed Master ABEC 7 |
| Toe Stopper | Cinch screw adjuster |
18. Crazy Skates Evoke – Best for Wide Feet (Runner-Up)
Last on my list are the Crazy Skate Evoke. This is another great pair of skates for wide feet. The boots are made of a handcrafted fake suede leather that will have you roller skating comfortably for hours. Many skaters with wide feet claim these roller skates are good for the larger toe box.
Want 14 more of my top skates for wide feet? Check out my Best Roller Skates for Wide Feet page.
Crazy Skates Evoke At a Glance
| Boots | Handcrafted Faux suede leather boots. Men’s sizes 4-9 or ladies sizes 5-10. See my roller skating size chart for sizing help. |
| Colors / Patterns | Black, Teal or Purple |
| Plates | Galaxy Nylon |
| Wheels | Wheel Candy – 78A durometer / 65mm diameter |
| Bearings | ABEC-7 |
| Toe Stop | Adjustable |
Frequently Asked Questions
What roller skates are best for roads?
Any outdoor skate that comes with soft 78A outdoor wheels are perfect for asphalt and concrete. These softer wheels help to keep your legs from jiggling as you skate on rough surfaces. Many of my top picks above have these softer outdoor wheels on them because they are good for beginners just learning to skate.
Which is the best skates brand?
Some of the best skate brands out there include Riedell, Sure-Grip, Moxi, VNLA and Roller Derby. Riedell, Sure-Grip and Roller Derby have been around for decades whereas VNLA and Moxi are newer kids on the block.
Are quad roller skates good?
Yes! Quad roller skates are awesome! Quad roller skates more evenly spread your weight across your wheels then rollerblades or inline skates where all of your wheels are in a row. Quad roller skates also come in a lot more fun colors and have a lot of personality. While rollerblades and inline skates have become more popular the past couple of decades, quad roller skates are still really cool and fun to skate on.
If you want to learn more about the different types of skates, check out my article Rollerblades vs Roller Skates vs Inline Skates.
What should I look for when buying roller skates?
Comfort, quality and cost. First, you want to look for comfort. If your skates hurt, then they suck and you will not want to skate. And that is sad. Look for a comfortable boot from a reliable skate manufacturer. All of the skate makers I have listed here have comfortable boot options. See my How to Size Roller Skates article for tips and roller skating size charts.
Quality is also important. You want a pair of roller skates that are going to last at least a couple of years. Some of the high quality skates that I have bought last decades (I just have to change out the wheels and bearing every couple of years).
A few of the brands that I and many pro roller skaters recommend for quality, comfort and cost are Riedell, Sure-Grip, Bont, VNLA and Moxi Skates. Price is also an important factor. Check out my how much are roller skates article for more information on pricing of the top skate brands.
Which roller skates are best for beginners?
My favorite are the Sure-Grip Boardwalk. The high-top boot provides more ankle support than a low cut boot. Plus, the soft and wide outdoor wheels make you go slower and more smoothly over a hard and skinny wheel. The softer wider wheel provides more stability. As you can imagine, balance and stability are the most important things a new skater needs to learn, and these skates check those boxes.
Check out my Best Roller Skates for Beginners article for all of the skates I recommend for those just starting out.
What tips do you have for beginner roller skaters?
Always practice wearing your skates on surfaces where you can’t roll. Carpet and grass are some of the best places to practice just walking in skates. Or, another trick is to tighten your wheels so they won’t roll. Just walking in skates (without rolling) will help greatly in getting you used to the extra weight on your feet.
Next, wear protective gear when you are roller skating. As my wife says, “it’s all fun and games until someone has to go to the ER.”
Roller skate pads (Knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards) and a roller skate helmet are necessary especially if you are an adult skater who has never skated before or has been away from the sport for a long time. Kids should wear pads, too, to keep them safe, but their bones are a bit more springy then us older folks.
Check out my How to Roller Skate or How to Rollerblade pages for more tips.
What is the real difference between indoor and outdoor skates?
The wheels are the main difference between indoor and outdoor skates. Most roller skates can be used on both indoor and outdoor terrain. Street skates have gummy outdoor wheels (soft), whereas indoor skates have harder wheels. For beginners, go for a soft, wide wheel for extra stability. Smaller wheels provide more agility but less stability. As a beginner, you want stability first.
With all that said, you can wear outdoor skates indoors and that is what I recommend if you are a beginner skater. Just realize you will go slower in soft wheels. If you are street skating, softer wheels provide a smooth ride. Harder wheels will be bumpy and less forgiving on surfaces such as asphalt.
Learn More Roller Skating from the Roller Skate Dad Newsletter!
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