“GET
(+34) 93 486 92 56CONTACT
0item(s)

You have no items in your shopping cart.

Product was successfully added to your shopping cart



Shopping Guide for kids’ skates

Does your kid like to skate but you don’t know what kind of kids skates you should buy? You don’t know whether roller skates/ quad skates or inline skates would be better? Are there differences between skates for boys and skates for girls?
Don’t worry! In the following article we are going to answer all your questions and you will be able to buy the perfect skates for your kid.

What’s the recommended age for a child to get skates?

This is a very common question. If we talk about conventional inline skates or roller skates, the ideal age for a child, to start skating, would be 4 years old.
It is, however, possible for a 3-year old to be introduced to skating with very stable, no tilting, roller skates like the ones shown below:

Skates for 3-year old toddlers

Skates for 3-year old toddlers

This type of skate for toddlers is somewhat limited and does not roll too fast, but could be perfect for a toddler to start skating around.

From age of 4 onward, kids can already start with conventional inline skates or roller skates, which helps them to skate more fluently and faster.

Skates for 4-year old kids and older

Being 4-years old and older your child can start using conventional quad skates or inline skates. There is a multitude of kids’ skates on the market and depending on their size, kids can even use adult skates, as there are brands that produce adult skates as small as size 34.
It is however, as explained below, always convenient to buy kids’ skates for your son or daughter, as the most of them are extensible and therefore can grow in size with your child.

Are there differences between skates for girls and for boys?

With adult skates there are certain models that are different for women and men, not only in design but also in sizing. But with kids’ skates the differences are usually purely aesthetic. Nowadays, however, skating girls do not always choose colours traditionally assigned to girls, and can even prefer the more sober colours usually associated with boys’ skates. The same happens with boys who could prefer colours or designs that, in the past, where associated with girls’ skates.

What skate size should you buy your kid?

Kids grow and that can cause dismay to some parents when they see that their kids’ shoe size changes a few times in one year. One of the solution parents chose in the past was to buy skates 2 or 3 sizes too big for their kid and fill the gap with various layers of socks. This is, without any doubt, a bad idea, as it neither helps them learn how to skate correctly, nor is it good for their health, as it increases the risk of injuries.
Luckily the majority of modern kids’ skates are extensible. That means that the same skate can be converted to various sizes thanks to a simply mechanism that modifies the boot’s length.
Size extensible skates are more frequent with inline skates than with roller skates.
Considering the above, if for example your kid has shoe size 32 and the skates you are looking for come in two different sizings, 27 to 32 and 33 to 36, then you should always choose the larger sizing to assure that the skates will last longer.

Click HERE for our skate sizing guide


What type of skates are better for kids? Inline skates or roller skates/quad skates?

As explained above, kids 4 years and older can use inline skates as well as roller skates. The choice is somewhat personal and there is no single factor on the basis of which one can decide between inline skates and roller skates for your kid.
In principle, inline skates are faster and more stable and work better on paved or rougher areas. On the other hand, more pirouettes at lower speed are possible with roller skates and it is easier to start, thanks to the toe-stop.
Considering the above, if you want your kids to skate on the streets and to join you on your routes, it is better to choose inline skates.
If your kid, however, enjoys pirouettes and you have a smooth surface to practise on, it is better to buy roller skates.
But on the other hand, the majority of inline skates are extensible, which is a huge advantage. There are also extensible roller skates for kids, but not as many models and this could force you into buying new skates every season.

Shopping guide for kids’ inline skates – basic concepts to keep in mind

When you begin to look for inline skates for your kid, you will find a lot of information which might sound gibberish to you.
We will sum up the most basic concepts for you:

Shopping guide for kids’ inline skates – basic concepts to keep in mind

Boot: The boot, where you put your foot in, is the main part of the skate. It can be made completely out of plastic (hard boot) or just partially (soft boot). It is the boot’s job to support the foot properly, so it won’t move around. A boot that is only made of plastic, also known as hard boot, will always be more rigid.

Liner: For plastic or hard boots, it is usual to have a padded liner inside that provides comfort when skating. The advantage of the removable liner is that it can be machine washed separately.

Frame: It can be made of plastic or metal and it attaches the wheels to the boot.
With metal frames the wheels can roll more smoothly, whereas the plastic frames absorb vibrations better.

Wheels: Inline skates usually have 3 or 4 wheels. A bigger wheel diameter makes for a faster skate that absorbs the vibrations of the ground better, but it can be more difficult to handle, due to the higher centre of gravity.
The wheels however, are also differentiated by their hardness, which ranges typically between 78A and 85A. The smaller the number, the softer the wheel. A soft wheel rolls smoother, but it wears out faster than a hard wheel and it is usually also slower.

Bearings: They are housed within the wheel and help the wheel turn. The acronym ABEC or ILQ followed by a number is used. The higher the number the more precision the bearings have. For Kids’ skates ABEC or ILQ 5 is more than enough.

Straps: They are responsible for tightening the boot so the foot is well secured. There are skates exclusively with straps or combined with laces and velcro straps.
The best option are straps with a buckle, so that your kids can put the skates on themselves.

Break pad: The break pad is usually located at the back part of the right skate and is really a very effective break system.

The best inline skates for kids

Here at Inercia, we have a huge selection of kids’ skates. We are showing you a selection of these that we believe are the best ones for your child.

Fitness skates for kids

Fitness skates for kids: Inline skates with a semi-soft boot that stand out due to their comfort, ventilation, and lightness. They are more suitable for kids of 4 years and older, as the boots are not excessively hard and therefore require some ankle control. Their designs usually comprise multiple colours. The majority of the models have a break pad.

Freeskate skates or hard boot skates for kids

Freeskate skates or hard boot skates for kids: Inline skates with a hard plastic boot which stand out through their stiffness and hardness. They are perfect for very young kids or for kids who like to use the skates a lot for jumping or to do pirouettes. Not all models come with a brake pad but a universal one can be attached.

Aggressive skates or freestyle skates for kids


Aggressive skates or freestyle skates for kids: Inline skates designed for jumps on ramps, acrobatics in skateparks or all types of extreme skating. Kids using this type of skate should already have a good skating skills. None of the models have a break pad and usually break pads are not used on these models at all.

Inline hockey skates for kids

Inline hockey skates for kids: Skates with a leather or imitation-leather boot, exclusively designed to practise inline skate hockey. It is not recommended to use them on the street. None of the models have a break pad and usually break pads are not used on these models at all.

Speed skates for kids

Speed skates for kids: Inline skates with a very low boot and a relatively long frame. Their use is only recommended for kids who train for speed skating. None of the models have a break pad and usually break pads are not used on these models at all.

Slalom skates for kids

Slalom skates for kids: Skates usually with a carbon shell and high quality elements. Their main use is to perform various figures while weaving around cones or even to dance. None of the models have a break pad and usually break pads are not used on these models at all.

 

>> SEE ALL CHILDREN'S INLINE SKATES FOR GIRLS AND BOYS


Shopping guide for kids’ roller skates or quad skates – basic concepts to keep in mind

Roller skates or quad skates also have their complexity. Here are their main parts:

Shopping guide for kids’ roller skates or quad skates

Boot: Usually made of fabric, leather, plastic or a mix of plastic and fabric. The boot lacing is important but not as critical as with inline skates, as not as much ankle support is needed.

Plate: The part that holds the boot. It is usually made of plastic or metal and it lodges the axles and the toe-stop.

Axles: The axles are joined at the plate and they give the skate direction.

Wheels: They are classified by two measurements – the diameter and the hardness. The diameter is measured in millimetres. With a bigger diameter, the skate can get faster but it will be harder to accelerate. The hardness is measured by a number followed by the letter “A”. For example 78A is an intermediate soft wheel. When the wheels are softer, the skate has more traction but is slower and the wheels wear out faster.

Bearings: They help the wheel turn. They are classified by the acronym ABEC or ILQ followed by a number. The higher the number, the better the quality of the bearings. One can usually find bearings ABEC 3,5,7 or even 9 as top of the range.

Bushings: Rubber cylinders located at the base of the axles, which allows them to tilt.

Toe-stop: On quad skates the toe-stop is usually at the front part of the plate. Some models have a fixed toe-stop, while others can be adjusted in height.

The best roller skates or quad skates for kids

Although within roller skates models there is not as much specialization as in inline skates, various roller skate and quad skate types with a certain specialization can be found.

Strap-on roller skates for kids

Strap-on roller skates for kids: these are the most basic roller skates and are exclusively for very young kids and a very casual use. Neither the components nor the support can be compared in quality to a boot quad skate.

Kids’ recreational or beginners skates

Kids’ recreational or beginners skates: Most of the kids’ skates on the market are recreational roller skates or quad skates. There are mainly two types: one with a hard plastic boot and one with a soft leather or fabric boot. The first type is usually extensible to various sizes and, although a little stiffer, holds the foot well and is very shock resistant. The soft boot type usually isn’t extensible, but a lot lighter and better ventilated than the stiff plastic boot. For kids 4-years old and younger, roller skates with a stiff plastic boot might be more recommend.
This type of skate is meant for all uses, as it is usually equipped with quite soft wheels.

Kids’ figure skates

Kids’ figure skates: Roller skates designed specially for figure skating, that is pirouettes and dance. Because they are mainly used on very smooth rinks, they are equipped with harder wheels, which makes them less suitable for skating on the streets.

Kids’ hockey skates

Kids’ hockey skates: Hockey quad skates are for playing roller hockey. They are, like figure skates, used on very smooth rinks, and therefore skating on the streets is also not advisable. 

Kids’ roller derby skates

Kids’ roller derby skates: Roller derby is a more and more popular sport. Kids’ roller skates, specialized to play this exciting sport, are also available. It is usually, but not always, played on smooth rinks, and therefore roller derby players often change their wheels. These roller skates are not the best for skating on the street but can be used there when one changes the wheels.

Kids’ ramp or skatepark skates

Kids’ ramp or skatepark skates: Every day there are more and more skaters with roller skates or quad skates in skateparks and on ramps. Because of this, various brands produce specialized skatepark skates for this discipline. Although it is not common to find kids’ skatepark skates, there are brands that manufacture skates from size 34 and up. Therefore kids age 6 and older, with good demand of their skates, can choose this type of skate.


>> SEE ALL KIDS’ ROLLER SKATES AND QUAD SKATES


Accessories and add-ons for kids’ skates

In Inercia we have hundreds of accessories and add-ons for roller skates and quad skates, so that your child can enjoy skating to the fullest. The most important ones are:

Kids’ skating protective gear

Kids’ skating protective gear

 

Without doubt, protective gear is the most important, even essential, accessory for skating. This is true not only for kids but also for adults.
Therefore it is strongly advised to get protective gear, namely helmet, wrist guards/gloves, knee pads, and elbow pads. This way your child can not only avoid injuries but can also get up after a fall without becoming scared.

Bags and backpacks 

It is very typical to buy kids’ skates, protective gear, and other accessories just to find everything thrown into a corner of the house after skating. To have a good skate bag or backpack is an excellent way to keep everything organized and to have the kids take care of carrying everything themselves. There are mainly two types of these bags: triangular shaped bags and skates travel backpacks. In the triangle bags the skates are stored inside. These bags are usually not very breathable, but it very easy to put the skates inside. On the other hand, the backpacks are very comfortable to carry and they have the skates on the outside, which allows them to be well aired.  However, to secure the skates takes some adjusting of straps or clips, which also requires some time.

Other kids’ skate accessories

Other accessories, to help the kids enjoy skating to the fullest, are:

Cones: They take up very little space, they are inexpensive, and they help motivate your child to improve their skills.

Skate socks: Any type of sock can be used for skating. But it is even better if you can use socks specialized for skating, as they are reinforced at all the places where your feet are most vulnerable.

Skate covers: Specially for roller skates and quad skates.

Anti-odour: Specially with teenagers or preteens smelly feet after a skate session can be somewhat hard to stomach. Also, if the skates do not have removable liners, the smell can linger for a long time. Therefore it is advisable to buy a good disinfectant anti-odour product.

Lights and reflective gear: Although it is not common to skate with your children at night, in wintertime it gets dark early and getting home can be dangerous if not seen by other road users. Using skate lights and reflective gear is always a good option which is also relatively inexpensive.

Lights and reflective gear

 

Light wheels: In relation to the above, it is always a good investment to buy a set of wheels with lights for kids’ skates. On the one hand, they make it unnecessary bringing a light when it gets dark, and on the other hand kids love when their skate wheels shine.

Are there still any unanswered questions about which type of skates to buy for your kid?

At Inercia we are specially proud of the good advice we provide for our customers. So please contact us with any questions you may have.