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by Steve Larios and Bonnie Teal Dalager{This was not written to endorse any brand. If a brand name is mentioned, it is for comparison purposes only.}
It is very easy for skaters to be overwhelmed by the different choices in inline skates. An inline skate is made up of several components and each one of those must fit the skaters needs. Let us explain each of the components and let you decide what is the best for you.
Comfort is key. If a skate is not comfortable in the store, you won’t want to wear it.Fit
* Start with your tennis shoe size, keeping in mind that you may have to adjust depending on the brand of skate. Inline skates are manufactured overseas and size conversions aren’t exact. The width of the skates varies by manufacturer, as well. Generally, Rollerblade brand may better fit a wider foot, K2 is narrow to average width, and Solomon is somewhere in between. Try on as many different brands as you can.
* When you try on the skate make sure your heel is as far back in the boot as it can go and stand up on it. Your foot should fit snugly in the skate. Your toes should lie flat on the footbed near the end of the liner, but not so they are curled under. With wear, the liner will give about 1/4 inch.Boot
* Most quality skates have memory foam. The memory foam is heat activated and will form to your foot after 20-25 hours in your skates. This allows for greater comfort, after the break-in period.
* Some of the more expensive skates come with CoolMax in the lining material to help wick away moisture. Dry feet = happy feet.
* Some skates have a power strap that wraps around the front of your ankle to hold your heel in place while skating. This may help to prevent blistering.
* Every liner should have a footbed either built into it or under it. This is what gives you proper arch support and comfort. Some skates even offer a gel footbed for optimum comfort.
Frame
* Frames come in all lengths and materials. What kind of frame you need depends on what you will be doing in your skates. Speedskaters want light 5 wheel aluminum frames. Hockey players want shorter frames that allow for rockered wheels for more maneuverability. Aggressive skaters prefer heavy-duty detachable frames so if they grind through their grind plate, the frame can be replaced easily. Recreational skaters want a fairly long 4-wheel frame.
* The frame material can greatly influence the cost of the skates. The less expensive skates offer plastic or carbon fiber frames. Then moving up in the pay scale, you might see aluminum, titanium, or magnesium alloys. These metal frames are generally lighter and sturdier.
* Be sure that when you pick out the skate you want to buy, the frame will take the largest size wheel that you will want to use. Some skates won’t take an 80mm wheel. If you anticipate a need for speed, you will want to put 80mm wheels on your skates.
Brake
* Anyone can learn how to stop on a standard brake. Generally, a brake is a brake, but there are a few exceptions. Rollerblade offers Advanced Braking Technology (ABT) which is a kind of automatic brake. These really aren’t necessary and we generally recommend locking it into a fixed position so it functions as a standard brake.
Wheels
* Wheels are measured in diameter and durometer. Diameter of the wheel is how big it is. The larger the wheel, the faster you will go. Most recreational skaters will want somewhere between 74 - 80mm wheels. The durometer of the wheel is the hardness. It is measured on an ascending scale, so it is the number that always has an A after it. When you have a soft wheel, like 78A or less, you will have more surface grip but you will go through wheels quicker. A harder wheel, like 85A, is faster and won’t wear down as much, but you lose surface grip. Hard wheels are not recommended for beginners. Your weight also determines how fast you will go through wheels. The heavier you are, the quicker your wheels are worn.
Bearings
* Most bearings are rated on an ABEC scale from 1 - 7. ABEC 7 is much better than ABEC 1, as you would be able to tell from the price. The ABEC rating simply means that you have a precision bearing. Most people can’t tell a difference between ABEC 3 and ABEC 5. A lot of cheap skates have semi-precision bearings and don’t roll fast or go bad quickly. There are a few bearings out there, like BONES or BSB Swiss, that are not ABEC rated, but are precision bearings. The trick here is to know what you are looking for, ask an intelligent store clerk, or just go with an ABEC rating.Happy Shopping!