What is Inline Skating?
Inline skating is a great way to get around on wheels, whether for fitness, socialising or just plain fun. Inline Skates are usually used for travelling at speed on smooth ground. They are designed with 4 wheels located directly behind each other in 1 line, hence the name “inline skates”. This allows for a faster, smoother ride requiring less effort. Fitness/Speed Inline Skates come with larger wheels and higher quality bearings for increased speed. These are designed with the more serious skater in mind who want the very best performance out of their inline skates.
How Do I Know What Inline Skate To Buy?
There are different factors to take into consideration when chosing which skate is the right one for you.
Money - Of course you don’t want to spend more money than is neccessary. However, you’ll find that the quality of many skates is reflected by the price. Generally, the higher the cost, the better quality skate you are likely to get.
Age - If the skates are for a child it may be worth taking a look at the adjustable skates that we have to offer. Adjustable skates can allow for a few years growth which in the long run will could save you money. As a child’s foot grows the skates size can be adjusted to fit.
Skill Level - On individual skates product pages we state what level of skater they are most suitable for. It is important to pick the skate which is at the right level for you to ride comfortably, especially if you are a beginner.
With or Without a Stopper/Brake - Most inline skates come with a brake at the heel. Some skates however don’t and it’s worth taking into consideration, especially if you are new to the sport. The brake makes slowing down and stopping easier. However without one when it comes to stopping you will need to do a T-Stop which involes dragging your back foot at a 90 degree angle to your front foot. This takes more effort and control. Repeated T-Stopping will eventually wear the wheels down on the back foot.
NOTE: A number of inline skates manufacturers provide skates with only 1 stopper on them. This is an intentional safety feature from the manufacturer to stop kids stopping incorrectly and enabling them to avoid falls.
Fitting and Sizing, What should I get?
Inline Skates sizing varies slightly from brand to brand. Below is our general recommendations for the skating brands we retail below:
Roces Skates - When purchasing generally go for your normal UK measured shoe size, unless otherwise stated on the specific product page.
K2 Skates - Purchase the same size from your normal UK measured shoe size.
Stateside Skates - When purchasing generally go for your normal UK measured shoe size, unless otherwise stated on the specific product page.
We would also recommend buying insoles when:
- You decide to purchase Skates that are bigger than the recommended sizing advice given above.
- You have Narrow feet.
The most important part of selecting a skate is the fit so make sure you get it right.
Main features of an Inline Skate as compared to other types of Skates:
* Designed for either leisurely rides in the park or around the neighborhood.
* Can be used as a fitness activity.
* Comfort and durability are priorities built into the design.
* Typically equipped with 4 wheels with a wheel diameter size of 70-80 mm.
Skate Construction & Key Features to look for
Wheels
* Inline skates usually come with 70-76 mm wheels providing a low, stable centre of gravity.
* Fitness Inline skates come with larger diameter wheels (up to 80 mm) to allow for faster skating.
* In-line skating wheels are usually made of polyurethane, a molded compound that allows for different levels of durability and grip.
Hardness of Wheels
* Wheel hardness is measured in durometers. Lower numbers indicate a softer wheel and higher numbers indicate a harder wheel.
* Durometer is denoted by the suffix “A” (example - 80A).
* The typical recreational in-line skate wheel is 78A or 82A.
* Softer wheels are good for winter and provide a softer ride.
* Harder wheels are better in the summer when the pavement is hot and the wheels tend to soften.
Frames
* Frames hold skate components in place.
* Most recreational frames are made of aluminum alloy or nylon and fiberglass composites.
* Make sure the frames you select are designed for the type of skating you plan to do.
* Metal frames are stiffer, faster, and lighter, but typically cost more.
Materials
* Recreational skate uppers are usually made from synthetic materials that offer durability, comfort and breathability.
* Hockey skates are usually made of leather composites
Liners
* Many boots contain a cushioning liner usually made of a foam material
* Sometimes reinforced along the toe and sides for protection (in hockey skates) for increased stability.
Hard Shell
* Constructed of molded plastic and similar to a ski boot
* The lower half covers and protects the foot
* The upper half wraps around and supports the ankle
* The two halves are connected with a hinge system that allows the ankle and boot to flex forward naturally
Soft Boot
* Made with an external (and sometimes internal) plastic cuff to provide support, like a hiking boot
* Provide a good fit and performance
* Very breathable and lightweight
* Generally secured by laces
Bearings
* Bearings are the seven or eight balls at the center of each wheel
* Each bearing has an ABEC rating that indicates the precision of their manufacturing
* The higher the rating, the more precise the manufacture and the better the performance and speed
* The general ABEC range is ABEC-1, ABEC-3, ABEC-5 although bearings are not always measured in ABEC’s.
* Bearings are either serviceable or non-serviceable
* Serviceable bearings have a metal shield with a removable “C” ring, or a plastic/rubber type removable shield. These may be taken apart to be cleaned, lubricated or replaced.
* Non-serviceable bearings have a metal shield that protects them. These only need to be wiped off with a clean cloth.
* Bearings don’t need to be cleaned after every use, but if they become wet, they should be cleaned and dried
* Never lubricate the outside of a bearing because that will attract dirt and contaminants.
Brakes
* Most manufacturers offer different braking systems
* The most common form of braking system is a pad or cylinder on the rear wheel that stops movement by applying pressure on the heel
* Hockey skates and speed skates normally do not include braking systems
* Most brake pads have a “wear line” that indicates how much performance is left in the brake. The brake pad should be replaced before this wear line is reached.
* Some manufacturers do offer mechanical braking systems that make stopping easier to learn.
Closures: There are two primary forms of closure systems on in-line skates.
Buckles
* Found mostly on recreational skates
* Skates with buckle closures are the quickest to put on and take off
* The number of buckles varies from 2 to 5
Laces
* Similar to regular shoe laces
* Less expensive than buckle closures, and offer a uniform closing
* Allows for more adjustment variations
