Shopping Guide for roller skates or quad skates

Tips and advise on how to select the right roller skates or quad skates, types and features

In recent years, roller skates or quad skates have had a revival. Although inline skates are still more popular, roller skates do have a certain charm which many skaters prefer. In this guide we are going to explain the main characteristics of roller skates or quad skates so that you can choose the appropriate roller skates or quad skates for your needs.

Types of roller skates or quad skates

Figure roller skates or quad skates

These are skates specially designed for pirouettes and acrobatics. They are very characteristic skates with a high boot and a heel, which provides better support and a forward moved centre of gravity for more stability. They are usually equipped with hard, flat profile wheels, as they are mainly used on very smooth rinks. With this type of wheel, optimal friction with the floor can be obtained so that the skates react very well to short movements. They also have a very hard boot, compared to other roller skates or quad skates, in order to give ankle support when performing pirouettes. Therefore these skates are not ideal for city strolls.

Roller derby roller skates or quad skates

Roller derby is a spectacular type of skating which combines speed and contact. For roller derby, dynamic and tough skates are needed. The boot is usually very low to allow maximum freedom of movement. The toe of the skate is well protected given the intensive use and to protect the toes from impact. It is nevertheless standard to get a toe protector called Toe Caps or Toe Guards. Hard wheels come as standard features as they are meant for use in very smooth rinks and to reach high velocity combined with sudden stops and precise skids. There are also many models with soft wheels, for the occasional city stroll or for training on rougher outside rinks. Roller derby skate toe-stops are usually adjustable.

Roller dance roller skates or quad skates

Roller discos and roller jams that capture the 1980s skate dance spirit are again more popular. The roller skates or quad skates used for this type of skating are of no particular type and every skater uses the roller skates that adapt best to their style. There are, however, brands that offer roller skates specially for roller dance and with those you can roller dance until your feet hurt!
It is generally recommended to look for a boot that offers maximum freedom of movement without forgetting safety. Roller dance skates are usually equipped with soft and rounded wheels to allow fluid movements in all directions. With this skating style it is quite normal to see more experienced skaters to use skates without toe-stops, so that the skate does not rub against the floor during forward movements. However, this is not essential, and in fact it is always recommended to have a toe-stop.

Hockey roller skates or quad skates

Roller skate or quad skate hockey has a long tradition in our country. Roller hockey skates have a very hard toe. The rest of the boot is also very hard, but with a bit more freedom for the ankle to improve mobility. The wheels are quite hard as they are designed for rink use only. There are many models from the most basic to very professionals; the latter are also more expensive.

Recreational roller skates or quad skates

It is a unique feeling to skate through the city on roller skates. Having a comfortable boot and soft wheels, which mitigate the effects of irregular terrain, is the most important thing with this type of skates. It is very important to invest in the wheels, as they will absolutely determine your experience on skates while skating in the city. There are different boot types: those with a classic high top boot and a heel, or those that are ankle high with a flat sole. All options are good, the choice simply depends on the skater’s taste.

Skatepark or ramp roller skates or quad skates

Skateparks are again full with roller skaters and quad skaters. Tricks similar as to the ones with inline skates are possible and some are even exclusive to these types of roller skates. Therefore a boot reinforced against scratching, a resistant axle and hard or semi-hard, small wheels are needed. Occasionally wider axles are installed to achieve more stability. Additionally, there are many models that come already with build-in grind blocks, a methacrylate or composite piece of hardware to slide over rails, curbs and copings.

Kids’ roller skates or quad skates

Many parents choose roller skates or quad skates when their kids start to skate, as they consider them to be more stable. There are numerous models, not only for different skating types but also in terms of their built. Some are identical to their adult roller skate version, but smaller in size. Others, however, are exclusive to beginners and can be extendable (the skate can be adjusted to various sizes).

Roller skate or quad skate parts

Roller skates or quad skates comprise various parts that can vary from one skate to the other. The main parts are:

Roller skate or quad skate boots

Usually the boots are made of synthetic fibre or leather. It could even be a plastic shell as for inline skates, but this is not very common. As explained before, every skating type has its own type of boot.

Roller skate or quad skate plate

The roller skate or quad skate plate holds the boot and the wheels together. It can be made out of aluminum, steel or nylon, depending on the skating type or on the skate’s quality/price. Roller skate plates made of plastic are lighter and they absorb vibrations better but they are also less precise and slower reacting than the ones made of metal. The aluminum ones are lighter than ones made of steel.
In the majority of cases the plate is attached to the boot with screws or rivets, drilled through the boot. Therefore it requires tools and some experience if you want to buy roller skate boots and plates separately and assemble them yourself.
The brand Chaya, however, has created an attachment system between boot and plate with a very simple type of assembly that does not need specialized tools. All you need is a Torx key or sometimes an Allen key.

Roller skate or quad skate trucks

The trucks hold the wheels and give the skate direction. There are may types made of different materials but they are typically made of nylon or aluminum. The ones made of nylon are lighter but much less precise than those made of aluminum. They also come in different lengths. A longer truck provides more stability but is less manoeuvrable. On the other hand shorter trucks are more manoeuvrable but at higher speeds the skate becomes somewhat “twitchy”.
In most cases the trucks hold the wheels through nuts at their ends. But there are also some models that have a clip axle system that allows for taking the wheel off and putting them on very fast and without the need for tools.

Roller skate or quad skate bushings or cushions

Roller skate or quad skate bushings, cushions or suspensions are rubber cylinders located at the base of the axles. They give the skate mobility and direction. You can choose between many types that differ in hardness. With softer bushings the skate turns and reacts faster. With harder bushings the skate becomes less manoeuvrable with limited sideways movements but it gains stability.

Roller skate or quad skate wheels

Roller skate or quad skate wheels are classified mainly by diameter, hardness, and design and material of the core. The diameter size of the roller or quad skate wheel depends on what you do with your skates, what type of skating you prefer, and your personal taste.
The Hardness of a roller or quad skate wheel is defined by a number following the letter “A”. The higher the number, the harder the wheel. Generally speaking, a soft wheel is slower and wears out faster but makes skating smoother. A hard wheel slides better, lasts longer, and is more precise. The core also influences the wheel’s performance. If the core of a wheel is bigger, the wheel itself has less rubber and is therefore more precise but also harder, even if the wheel itself is soft.

Roller skate or quad skate bearings

Roller skate or quad skate bearings are housed within the wheel and they help the wheel turn. There are mainly two different types of bearings, an 8mm axle and a 7mm axle. Nowadays most are 8mm ones but especially with some figure roller skates the 7mm ones can still be found.
In very broad terms, the quality of the bearings is defined by a number that follows the acronym ABEC, ILQ or SG. The higher the number, the less the rolling friction and therefore the faster the wheel.
The material of the bearings, differently treated steel or even ceramic, also influences their performance.

Roller skate or quad skate spacers

A spacer is a cylindrical piece inside the wheels that maintains the distance between the bearings.
This piece has a 7mm or 8mm inner diameter, depending on the axle, and it is made of metal or plastic. The performance of a metal spacer is always better but plastic spacers also have adequate performance.

Roller skate or quad skate toe-stops

With roller skates or quad skates the toe-stop is used for accelerating when starting and also for stopping when needed. They come in different designs and lengths. It is important to know whether there are official or compatible spares available before buying roller skates or quad skates.

How to choose the correct size for your roller skates or quad skates

One of the most common questions, especially when online shopping, is how to choose the correct size when buying roller skates online. Obviously it best to try them on, not only to see whether the size is correct, but also to see if they are comfortable.

In any case we have prepared a tutorial to help you choose the correct size for your roller skates or quad skates. Click HERE  for more information.