Finding the perfect roller skates for beginners involves prioritizing comfort and stability to ensure a pleasant skating experience. To help you sift through the numerous options, we've put together this guide filled with our top recommendations for choosing your first pair of roller skates. This guide contains all the information you'll need.
Overview
How to Choose Roller Skates for Beginners?
- Boot
- plate/truck
- Wheels
- Toe stop
As a beginner, it's important to get a pair of roller skates that are comfortable to avoid losing patience while learning. Consider choosing skates with softer wheels, as they absorb vibrations from the surface, making them easier to control. Additionally, remember that larger wheels can make controlling the roller skates more challenging. Opt for roller skates with high ankle support, foam liners, and soft wheels in a size that fits you perfectly.
With these features, you'll be ready to start quad skating like a pro:
- Ankle Support: A high boot offers better ankle support and stability, which is crucial for beginners.
- Comfortable Liners: Look for roller skates with padded foam liners to ensure comfort during use.
- Wheels: Soft wheels (usually around 78A-85A durometer) provide better grip and a smoother ride, making them ideal for beginners. A wheel diameter between 54 mm to 58 mm will be a great starting point, the smaller the wheels, the easier it is to control them.
- Toe Stop: A robust toe stop is essential for safety and control.
If you want to see our complete selection of roller skates for beginners, you can follow the link below and filter our selection by "skill level":
How to Size Roller Skates for Beginners?
Finding the right size of roller skates isn’t always as simple as making a choice based on your shoe size. Skate sizes can vary from model to model and brand to brand, so it's essential to measure your foot accurately before selecting a size. By doing this, you can compare the precise measurement of your foot with the size chart provided for the specific skate model.
If you are between sizes, choose the bigger size.
Follow these steps to measure your foot accurately:
- Stand on a firm, level surface.
- Place a piece of paper against the wall.
- Stand with your heel against the wall and your foot flat on the paper.
- Mark the tip of your longest toe on the paper.
- Measure the distance from the wall or the edge of the paper to your mark.
- Measure both feet and use the larger measurement when selecting your skate size.
Following these steps will help ensure your skates fit perfectly, making your skating experience comfortable and enjoyable.
How Should Roller Skates Fit?
Roller skates should wrap the foot snugly without causing discomfort. Improperly fitted roller skates can lead to discomfort and potentially cause injuries. Beginners should get skates that support the ankles efficiently and have secure laces that wrap the boot firmly around the ankle.
Consider these factors when trying out your first pair of skates:
- Break-In Period: Usually it will take a bit of time before a new pair of roller skates are broken in. If you get roller skates with foam padded liners, they should be comfortable almost immediately.
- Toe Space: Your toes should be close to the tip of the skate but they should not touch the nose. There should be just enough space to slightly wiggle your toes.
- Ankle Support: The skates should support your ankles to the sides, and you should be able to bend your knees and ankles forward.
- Laces: Lacing patterns is a science in its own right. As a beginner, it's sufficient to know that you should tighten the laces firmly, but not so tightly that they cause discomfort.
What Are Toe Stops on Roller Skates
Toe stops on roller skates are essential components that provide the ability to stop and control speed. Located at the front of each skate, they are used when performing different braking techniques by creating friction with the ground. Toe stops also assist in performing certain maneuvers by offering additional control and stability, similar to the toe picks on figure skates.
They are crucial for safety because they enable skaters to walk on their front foot, so that they can walk up a staircase or on surfaces that aren't great for rolling on. Overall, toe stops are a fundamental feature of roller skates, enhancing both performance and safety for skaters.
We have a large selection here:
How to Brake on Roller Skates
Braking is a significant aspect of beginner quad skating, with various techniques available. When starting out on roller skates, your primary focus should be learning how to brake effectively.
An essential braking technique is the t-stop, where you drag one leg behind you at a 90-degree angle relative to your other skate. It's crucial to execute this technique with the two wheels on the outer edge causing the friction rather than the inner ones. Braking with the outer wheels is much smoother than braking with the inner wheels when doing T-stops.
When you get to the next level, you will learn to stop by rotating yourself 180 degrees to roll backwards and then leaning forwards on your toe stops. Learn this and much more here:
What Protective Gear Do I Need for Roller Skating?
When roller skating, it's essential to wear protective gear to ensure your safety. Here's a list of the protective gear you need before you head out on your new roller skating adventure:
- Helmet: A well-fitting helmet is crucial to protect your head from serious injuries.
- Wrist Guards: These help prevent wrist injuries by providing support and cushioning in case of falls.
- Knee Pads: Knee pads protect your knees from scrapes, bruises, and fractures.
- Elbow Pads: These guard your elbows against impacts and abrasions.
Wearing this protective gear can help minimize the risk of injury and make your roller skating experience safer and more enjoyable. We recommend that all beginners purchase a set of protection pads and a helmet along with their first pair of skates. Wearing protective gear is an essential part of enjoying roller skating safely!
