Inline skating is a healthy, fun activity, but if you buy inline skates for you, or someone else, that aren’t comfortable, then the skater won’t find any long term enjoyment with inline skating. This is true whether you are buying skates for the first time or upgrading to new in line skates.
When choosing the perfect inline skates, whether for recreation, speed, roller hockey, or aggressive sport, it is important to first have a general idea of what you want to buy. You should already have a visual picture of the style of skate you want to purchase, and your desired price range.
Unless you are set on a particular boot type and/or inline skate manufacturer, the best way to know which type is best for you is to try on the different boot types, from different manufacturers, before you buy inline skates. This is especially true when you are making your first purchase of a pair of inline skates.
Things To Look While Buying Inline Skates
Comfort & Good Fit Are First Priority
As an inline skater, your first choice should be comfort and fit. You may find that a hard boot from one manufacturer feels better on your feet than a soft boot of a comparable style of a different manufacturer.
If you can, head into a couple of sports or retail stores selling inline skates, and spend some time trying on different inline skate boots. When you’re trying on skates:
- Be sure to be wearing the proper socks
- Do up all the buckles, ties, etc for a snug fit
- Stand up and see how the boots feel
- If possible, take a little roll around the store, or at least up and down the skate isle
You want the inline skates to feel like a well-fitting glove around your foot.
When The Inline Skates Are The Wrong Ones For You
Things to be watch for that will just get worse if you were to buy inline skates that aren’t just right, and you take the inline skates for a long ride:
- Pinching anywhere on your foot
- Ankle bones rubbing anywhere in the boot
- Inability to make the boot snug around your ankle
My Recreational Inline Skates
My first purchase of recreational inline skates two years ago was a K2 soft boot inline skate with 78mm fitness wheels. I had already tried on about five different pairs of inline skates, hard and soft boot, when I came to the skates I ended up buying. As soon as I put them on and laced them up, I knew they were the ones.
They fit so well, that I just wanted to skate. They’ve taken me many miles over gravelly roads and beautifully paved paths, and I’ve enjoyed the ride. My focus is on the scenery and chatting with whomever I’m blading with, and never on sore feet!
Final Words
Final advice on buying inline skates — take your time before purchasing your inline skates. You will enjoy the sport so much more when you aren’t bothered by poor fitting skates.
