So, you've jumped on the roller skating craze and decided to get yourself of set of wheels! That's awesome! Rollerskating has really taken off this year, some say it's due to COVID-19, I say it's because it's fun and nostalgic! So let's get down to business so you can get out there and purchase your first (or third) pair of skates!
The first thing you will probably want to know is if you should get a set of inline skates or quads. Personally, I have always skated on quads, I just feel like I have more control and the options are a lot cuter than for inline but, this is really just a personal preference. I don't know a lot about inline skating so, I will just say to try them both out and decide from there. This blog and my subsequent blogs will be on quads.
Who should you purchase your skates from and what brand of skates should you buy? This is going to depend on what you would like to use your skates for and how much you would like to spend. I'm an outdoor skater who likes to street skate and skate on bicycle trails. Therefore, I need a good outdoor skate and some good wheels to go with them. The reason the wheels are so important is because it's going to mean the difference between tripping over a pebble and being able to roll right over it as if nothing happened.
The first pair of skates I bought were the Moxi Beach Bunnies. This skate costs $149 which is great! The boot is pretty stiff and gives great ankle support. The wheels are a hybrid wheel, which means they're good for indoor/outdoor skating. I will say, that the wheels they came with did fine for a while. Eventually, I upgraded to the Radar Energy 65mm and let me tell YOU! It felt as if I had deprived myself of some good skating... seriously, wheels and bearings make all the difference in the world! Really, you could use any set of skates if you are willing to change the wheels to some decent outdoor wheels.
The second pair of skates I bought were the Sure Grip Stardusts... the boot on these are a little stiff, but there isn't any padding around the ankle as the Moxi Beach Bunnies had, so personally, I liked the Beach Bunnies better. These are beautiful skates though and they shine like a dream in the twilight. These cost me $220. They were worth it and they already come with a great outdoor wheels so there won't be any need to change them right away.
From here, I can only go off of what I have read and heard from my many hundreds of skate buddies...
Moxi Lolly- These are the gold standard for outdoor skating/cruising. They run about $300, they're suede, and come in the most adorable colors you could imagine! The wheels are already a 65mm wheel so they are perfect for outdoor skating and cruising trails. They don't require any break in time and guaranteed you will be envied by all while wearing these skates. They don't offer much ankle support and aren't recommended for skate park skating because of that and because they come with a nylon plate which doesn't work well for skate parks.
Sure Grip Boardwalks are similar to the Lolly in style but, they come in fewer colors. However, they're still a great skate and are around $100 cheaper than the Lolly, so, if you aren't dead set on getting the Lolly's, this is a great alternative.
The Jackson Vistas are supposedly a great skate as well, I haven't tried these out nor have I researched them very much but, I will say that I have heard nothing but, good things about these skates in the skating community so, if you like these, I say go for it!
Last... I'm going to talk about Impalas. They don't have the best reputation for quality but, I will say, they're only about $99 and they come in many cute styles and colors. You will probably trash them pretty quick and they are absolutely not for skate parks! Use them to cruise the rinks or change the wheels and use them for outdoor... personally, I would only use these as temporary skates or for occasional use.
Oh, don't forget to buy protective gear! You don't want to break a wrist and ruin your experience! L8er s8ers!
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