Selecting Right Roller-skates

by Paperclip, Nov 26, 2006

Roller-skating can be fun but it can turn into a nightmare fairly easy if one buys the wrong kind. A basic understanding of the different styles available can make your experience more enjoyable.

Roller-skating is a fun sport as well as an entertaining hobby. It is also a means for a change of pace from the ordinary walk/run most people do for a workout. Just as is it important to find the right type of walking shoes, the right type of skates can make a difference in your experience.

Looks

Many beginners are attracted to a specific skate model based only on their looks. Females tend to go for the ones with light colors and simpler lines while males usually go for the bolder styles. Judging a skate by the color can be a great mistake.

The lighter colors are usually designed for women, but certain designs desired by women only come in male colors. One example is the aggressive skates, or “fatties” which are usually mostly black with dark colors and a few bold color accents.

Design

Skates are designed with a specific purpose. The hardest part is that they are often not labeled as such on the box, but rather left to the consumer to figure out if they are designed for their intended use.

I have noticed that there is only a handful of general purpose skated out there. For the most part they are divided into the following:

Aggressive – Usually fatter than the “normal” skate we are used to seeing. They come with small hard wheels, and are only made by a few of the top manufacturers.
Speed – These usually have a streamlined look and have larger, softer wheels. They often have a large rear brake, but that is not always the case, as many have a five wheel blade rather than the regular four.
Hockey – Closely resemble Ice Skates, and they come with no brakes. The boot is usually made of leather and is designed to be flexible. This allows players to use their ankles rather than to protect them.
General Purpose – Very similar to the speed skates but normally have “slower” bearings. They normally have a rear brake and have wheels slightly smaller than the speed skates. This design can usually be found in both his and hers models with just a difference in color.