Best Roller Skates

While roller skates, or quad skates as they are technically known today, may seem like a thing of the past or for children, they have actually made a surprising comeback thanks to new and innovative ways of using them for competitive purposes. Of course, most skates are still designed and marketed for younger consumers.
Regardless of who is using the skates, what separates the best roller skates from a bad pair remains fairly the same. That said, there are a number of qualities about skates that determine how the ride will feel and control that is not so simple as “better” or “worse”.

What is the Best Roller Skates in 2019?

Figuring out what skates are good and for whom can be difficult. That is why we have put together a list of the top 5 best roller skates and highlighted what each one is best for. Then we provide a helpful buyer’s guide, so you can find the pair of roller skates that are right for you.

1. Roller Derby Firestar – Best Roller Skates for Beginners

Roller Derby is a well-known and respected brand in the roller skate market. Having been founded in 1936, the company was making roller skates before the modern form of roller derby sport was even a thing. Through that time, the company has expanded to produce roller skates for every age and skill level with most of their lineup extending well beyond the professional or competitive play.

Stability

Control

That being said, the ability to control these skates is not merely benefited by a smaller than normal wheel size. The Firestar skates also use Roller Derby’s patented torsion design plate. While the plate may only be made out of plastic, the torsion design will allow the skater to shift their weight, bend and flex with them. This means that when your child is skating, even if they are not applying proper balance across the skate, the plate will flex with them to help them remain upright.

Alignment

This is further cemented by a wheel and toe stop design that almost forces the skater to maintain a proper form with the weight evenly distributed across the skates. Though, this can actually be both a good and a bad thing.

Outer

For one, the outer is made from vinyl, which is a durable, yet supple form of plastic. This will mostly prevent water from getting into the skates. Still, there are two mesh strips on either side of both skates that serve to provide some breathability, so that the skates are more comfortable in warm weather. In terms of stability, the sports shoe boot design keeps the feet flat while the child is skating to further facilitate proper form.

2. Chicago Skates – Best Roller Skates for Adults

While roller skates may be seen more in the purview of children, plenty of adults still take enjoyment from making laps around a roller rink. That is where the Chicago Skates’ Classic roller skates come into play. Having been founded in 1905 by the Ware Brothers in, you guessed it, Chicago, these are the same style and design of skates that have proven for more than a century to provide an excellent skating experience.

Durability

Outer

Aside from the durability leather provides, the Chicago Classic is also made of vinyl if you prefer a lighter material that is waterproof and molds much quicker to the shape of your foot. Just keep in mind, leather is also waterproof and will last longer. Other benefits of the Chicago Classic outer is its high-top boot design. In fact, this is the only pair of skates on our list to feature the high-top boot design. This style of boot provides the most secure fit while also offering the most ankle support to help prevent injuries if you do happen to fall.

Customization

For instance, the trucks at the base of the plate where the wheel axle sit are adjustable by up to ⅝”.

3. Roller Derby Trac Star – Best Roller Skates for Kids

If you have children who are already familiar with the basics of how to skate and are looking to progress their skills, the Roller Derby Trac Stars are a step in the right direction.

Boot

Stability

Much like other Roller Derby brand skates designed for use by children, the Trac Stars features exceptionally small wheels. The 54mm wheels will provide a better sense of stability than taller wheels and will also ensure that they cannot reach quite as a fast of speeds that could prove more dangerous if they were to fall down while skating.

With the rear wheels placed at a sharper angle than others, children can skate harder without having to remain upright or else risk falling down.

Control

Aside from the additional stability that the patented torsion plate provides the Trac Star skates, it also offers your child more control in general. As an intermediate child’s skate, the Trac Star needs to balance allowing your child to skate with more proficiency while still preventing them from going overboard and hurting their self.

4. Riedell Skates Dart – Best Speed Roller Skate

At some point in time, many skaters outgrow the equipment they use to effortlessly glide across the rink and seek to upgrade their roller skates to a product that could conceivably compete in either professional or competitive arenas. While Riedell may not have as storied a history as some of the other brands on our list, their founding in 1945, as well as their numerous patented components, still gives them plenty of prestige to enter the speed skating market.

Wheels

Plate

The Riedell is the only set of roller skates on our list to use nylon as the material for their base plates. This is important because nylon is the primary material used for professional roller skates with magnesium and aluminum alloy a close second. The use of nylon allows the PowerDyne Thrust plate to remain durable, flexible, and lighter than almost any other material used for a base plate.

Toe Stops

Just as important to speed skates, the ability to skate fast needs to be complemented by the ability to stop on a dime without throwing the skater to the ground. The Riedell Darts have considered this as well and alleviate those concerns by providing Midi Gripper toe stops.

5. Razor Jetts Heel – Best Heely Roller Skates

Razor is by far a company that is more well-known for its scooters than for its roller skates. In fact, since the massive success of the Razor scooter, the brand has put out a wide array of unique products that continuously change the game and challenge competitors to keep up with their innovative designs. With the Razor Jetts, that trend only looks to continue, as these are not at all traditional roller skates.

Convenience

Control

The fact that the Razor Jett requires the user to engage the rolling action by leaning back a bit can be tricky. In fact, this product is not recommended for younger children or people who do not have a reasonable amount of gross motor coordination. Even for those that do balance well, this type of skate can take a bit of getting used to. That said, the inclusion of 50mm wheels, the smallest on our list, combined with the ability to step down with your toe, do help prevent any awkward falls when mastering the technique.

Limitations

For one, the small wheels combined with the unique riding technique will inherently limit your speed which can be dangerous in a skating rink. On top of that, these skates are the only ones to use sealed bearings, which means you cannot lubricate them and will limit their lifespan though you can replace them if desired.

6. Pacer – Mach5 GTX500 Quad Roller Skates

Skating Made Easier

The Pacer Mach-5 are roller skates that look like the ones you may have seen in old movies. Or maybe you were once young and would like to relearn how to skate again.

It’s not going to be an easy task (always use caution when skating), but once you get the hang of it, rolling around in the park will not only feel wonderful and keep you out of the automobile but generate lots of leg strength and weight loss.

Durable Ball Bearings

The wheel dimensions are what’s key here: they are built to accommodate anyone of any particular experience with skating.

The bearings, or the little interior parts inside the wheels that keep them rolling smoothly, should stay in good shape for a long time without needing replacement parts. Just keep the blade out of deep water to prevent rusting.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve got questions; we’ve got answers. Read along to find comprehensive answers to the most commonly asked questions about roller skates.

Who Invented Roller Skates?

Roller skates date back to the early 1700s. In fact, the first recorded use of roller skates was in 1743 in London, England. While the inventor of this one-time early stage prop is unknown, a man by the name of John Joseph Merlin is known to have created the first inline skate in 1760.

John Joseph Merlin was a clockmaker, musical instrument builder, and a productive inventor. He was born in Liège, Belgium, in 1735. After moving to London in 1760, Merlin opened a self-named mechanical museum. His clever mechanical inventions, including the inline roller skate, soon lead his peers to refer to him as “The Ingenious Mechanic.”

According to Thomas Busby’s Concert Hall and Orchestra Anecdotes, Merlin once made an attempt to display his violins and roller skates to a crowd at a local entertainment venue known as the Carlisle House. The report suggests that Merlin, with no control over his speed, collided with and shattered a mirror, crushed his violin, and injured himself.

With that said, it was a man by the name of Monsieur Petitbled who patented the first roller skate. He did so in 1819 in Paris, France. The roller skate that Petitbled patented was reminiscent of modern-day inline skates. It had a wooden sole, leather foot straps, and three wheels. The wheels were made from wood, metal, and ivory. Despite its clunky build, this early skate was known for its smooth maneuverability.

Of course, roller skates have come a long way since their early start. While the first roller skate was no more than a modified ice roller skate with wheels, today’s roller skates consist of a four wheels arranged underneath a foot platform or fitted shoe. This four-wheeled creation is inspired by James Plimpton, a Massachusetts inventor who created a rolling apparatus called the rocking skate.

Plimpton’s rocking skates enabled skaters to steer by leaning their foot to the left or right. As such, these skates were far safer and easier to maneuver than Merlin’s earlier creation. In addition to creating the quintessential modern roller skate, Plimpton went on to open some of the first-known roller skating rinks in the United States. In many ways, he paved the way for roller skating’s metamorphosis from a recreational activity to a competitive sport.

Plimpton was also responsible for starting the New York Roller Skating Association. What’s more, he developed a roller skate teaching method and awarded medals for students who achieved precise goals.

Today, there is even a National Museum of Roller Skating. It is located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The museum pays homage to all sorts of roller skating activities, including artistic skating, inline skating, roller hockey, speed skating, and roller derby. It also has a large collection of roller skating memorabilia, including ninetieth century roller skating patents and early roller skate models. If anything, the museum demonstrates that roller skating holds a special place in the heart of many individuals.

Today, the world of roller skating has evolved to include activities such as speed skating, aggressive inline skating, roller hockey, and roller derby. Once just a fad, it is now one of the dominate sporting activities for people of all ages. It’s also an extremely accessible activity that promotes healthy physical movement. While its transition from entertainment to roller discos and competitive sporting arenas has been a rocky one, roller skating has steadily risen in popularity in recent years.

How do you stop on roller skates?

There are three different ways that you can stop your roller skates. Since stopping is a pivotal piece of roller skating safety, it’s important that you understand the basics before hitting the rink. The five most common roller skate stops include the T-stop, knee stop, tow stop, plough stop, and spinout. Read along for step-by-step instructions in how to perform each of these stops.

T-Stop

T-stops are a popular roller skate stop. However, repeated T-stops will wear away at the outside wheels of your roller skate. As such, you should avoid using T-stops as your primary stopping method.

1. Reach your dominant leg forward whiling bending your knees. Meanwhile, keep your noon-dominant leg straight. Push down on the outer edge of your back two wheels. Keep your body straight and face forward as you perform the T-stop.
2. To perform a T-stop, turn the skate on your dominant leg horizontally while allowing the outer two wheels to drag across the ground at a slight angle.
3. Meanwhile, keep your second skate in the vertical position. It should be a few centimeters directly in front of the horizontal skate.

Knee Stop

Newbie roller skaters often resort to taking a knee. With a solid pair of knee pads to buffer the impact, this is actually a perfect way to engage in a safe and effective stop before you are able to master more advanced moves.

1. To engage in a knee stop, slowly bend one of your knees, allowing it to touch the ground.
2. Gently arch your shoulders and arms to create a solid center of gravity around your lowered knee.
3. Clench your fingers together and lift them off the ground. Rise back into a standing position to avoid becoming a hazard to other skaters.

Toe Stop

Toe stops, or plugs, are round rubber stoppers that are attached to the front of roller skates. Alternatively, inline skates have rubber stoppers located in the back. Both stoppers are designed to be used as brakes.

1. Tilt your roller skate forward, allowing the toe stop to rub up against the floor.
2. Keep your toe stop in this position \until you loose momentum and come to a complete stop.

Plough Stop

Plough stops are one of the fastest roller skate stops. They require more advance skating skills but can be mastered with a little practice.

1. Widen your legs until they are in a V-shaped position. Then, point the toes of your skates inward.
2. Engage your thigh and leg muscles. You’ll need enough power to abruptly cease your forward momentum.

Spinout Stop

Spinout stops are just as cool as they sound. However, they do take a bit of skill to master.

1. Plant your dominate foot in a horizontal position. Make an effort to keep it firmly placed on the ground.
2. Allow your other foot to circle around your body.
3. A 360-degree turn will quickly take you from steady motion to a complete stop.

What Size Roller Skates Should You Purchase?

Adult Sizes

It’s important to find properly fitted roller skates. Ill-fitted skates can stand in the way of your skating progress, cause sore ankles, and even lead to painful foot injuries. Read along to learn about basic roller skate sizing considerations.

It may come as a surprise, but roller skates are usually sized in the same way as regular shoes. Of course, like regular shoes, some brands run a little large or a little small. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to try on skates before purchasing them.

Like trying on a new pair of shoes, there are few tips and tricks you can use to ensure that your roller skates fit correctly. First, pay close attention to the position of your toes as well as your heels. Your toes should have a few millimeters of space, A.K.A.. wiggle room.

Don’t just stand in a stationary position. Bend your legs and mimic common roller skating movements. There’s, quite literally, a fine line between too tight and too loose roller skates. Keep in mind that he upper material of roller skates takes a bit of time to break in. This part is typically made from leather, which stretches and softens over time.

Kid Sizes

Roller skating it great for people of all ages. If you’re purchasing roller skates for a child, follow the same rules that you would if you were purchasing them for an adult. For example, if your child wears a size-five shoe, purchase them a size-five roller skate.

Keep in mind that many roller skate manufacturers make adjustable skate sizes for children. Adjustable roller skates grow with your little one’s foot. Most adjustable roller skates can be adjusted between two or more correlating sizes. For example, a medium-sized adjustable youth roller skate may be suited for sizes 12 through two. Meanwhile, a large adjustable youth roller skate will fit sizes three through six.

Adjustable roller skates are great for growing children who are likely to change shoe sizes at a rapid rate. When purchasing this sort of skate, be sure to purchase a pair that your child can grow into.

Children may complain that their skates are uncomfortable. Remind them that it takes time to break in skates. Wear a thick pair of socks and give the skates a go. Over time, the materials will mold around your child’s foot, and the materials will soften up.

How Do You Roller Skate?

1. Start by acquiring basic skating equipment. To start, you’ll need a pair of properly fitted skates, a helmet, knee pads, and wrist guards. Visit a local skating store to get sized before purchasing a pair of skates. As stated above, be sure to try them on before swiping your credit card. While some skaters consider safety equipment to be optional, a few pads go a long way to buffer falls and prevent your bones from shattering.
2. Assume the position. Really, roller skating is a lot like walking, but you’ll need to make a few minor posture adjustments before you get started. First, separate your legs. Next, bend your knees slightly and lean forward. Roller skating requires you to push your legs back behind your body. By shifting your center of gravity, you can boost your aerodynamics while staying comfortably rooted to the floor.
3. Wheels have a tendency to roll, hence you’ll need to fight back against the natural motion of your roller blades in order to remain standing. Shift your weight back and forth, making opposite motions with each foot. This action will enable you to steady yourself. Most people balance themselves unconsciously. Even if this isn’t the case, it shouldn’t take long before you feel comfortable steadying yourself.
4. Take baby steps. Place your heels close together with your toes pointing outward. Take small steps with each skate, consciously resuming the proper posture. When you’re comfortable, increase the distance of your strides. Don’t be afraid to engage your leg muscles. You’re likely to fall quite a few times, but that’s alright. It’s important to learn the right way to fall too.
5. Once you’ve mastered walking in skates, it’s time to get down and dirty. Practice gliding across the surface of a rink while maintaining a steady speed. Most rinks are rounded and, therefore, require a considerable number of twists and turns. Lean your body in the direction of a turn, using your momentum to complete each movement. Meanwhile, center your upper body and lean forward when traveling in a straight line.
6. Practice stops. It’s all good if you can travel around a rink at high speeds, but not so much if you don’t know how stop yourself. Stops will keep you from colliding with stubborn walls, incurring avoidable injuries, and angering other skaters. Refer to the section above for a step-by-step instructions in how to perform a number of popular roller skating stops.
7. Diversify your routine. Once you’ve mastered your stride, stops, and turns, it’s time to spice up your skating. Give the following skating tricks a go.

Skating tricks

Jumps

There are all sorts of complicated jumps you can perform on roller skates, but it’s best to stick the basics when you’re just getting started. Start by bending your legs and lowering your body into a squat. Then, raise your legs up in an attempt to raise your feet off the ground. While you are doing this, keep your hands out by your sides to steady your balance. At first, you’ll probably only manage to hop around. However, with a bit of practice, you’ll be leaping over cones and curbs.

Heel Toes

Heel toes are a fun way of mixing up standard skating strides. The goal of this trick is to glide along effortlessly while balancing on just the heel of one skate and the toe of the other. Start by leaning back on the heel of your dominant foot. Lift your toes so that only the back wheels are resting on the ground. Then, lean forward on the toe of your non-dominant foot. Allow your rear wheels to lift completely off the ground.

Spread Eagles

A spread eagle is when you spread your legs apart, face your feet the side, and balance on the heels of your skates. Start in the standard roller skating position, with your knees bent slightly. Face your legs out to the sides. Push your toes up and grind your heels into the ground. Then, pull your legs and feet back into the standing position.

Heel Skating

If you mastered the spread eagle, heel skating will come naturally to you. To skate on your heels, lift your front wheels off the ground. Then, use smell circular motion to produce enough momentum to move yourself forward. Remember, you can always lean your toes back onto the ground to regain your center of balance.

Grapevines

Grapevines involve crossing your feet over one another to create a zigzagging motion. First, take your right foot and place it in front of your left foot. Then, pull your left foot to the side of your right foot, making sure to face both toes outward. Next, pull your right foot behind your left foot. Finally, pivot your left toe so that both your feet rotate 90 degrees to the left. Continue repeating these motions to create a fluid grapevine stride.

How do You Roller Skate in Reverse?

Wondering if it’s possible to skate in reverse? Read along for step-by-step instructions for skating backwards.

1. If you’ve reached the point where you’re ready to skate backward, you probably\ already mastered the roller skating basics. Keep in mind that backward skating is the inverse of forward skating. Point your toes together with your heels facing outward. Your skates should form a V” shape.
2. Bend your knees ever so slightly. Then, push your heels apart to broaden the gap between your legs. Like forward strides, the wider you spread your legs apart, the bigger your backward stride will be.
3. Bring your legs back together in yet another “V.” Continue for as long as you like. What’s more, try rotating between forward and backward strides. Backward skating is a great way to highlight your skating skills, but it can be very exhausting. Like any exercise, it takes time to build up your muscle memory and strength.

How Do you Spin on Roller Skates?

Spinning is yet another fun way to embellish your roller skating routine. Start by practicing the two-foot spin.

Two-Foot Spin

• Position yourself in a basic roller skating posture. Place your legs side-by-side at shoulder’s width. Bend your knees and lower your body so that you are in a partial squat.
• Rotate your left foot forward and to the left while you pull your right leg back and to the right. Mimic that motion with your upper body, turning your hands in the direction you wish to turn.
• Outstretch your hands, placing them in an L-shaped position. Your left arm should be facing out toward your side, while your right arm should be pointed straight ahead.

One-Foot Spin

Once you nail the two-foot spin, you can give the one-foot spin a try.

• Start by assuming the starting roller skating posture. Face forward with your legs side-by-side at shoulder’s width. Push your left foot backwards while lifting your right knee up. Carefully lift your right foot off the ground.
• Meanwhile, position your arms in a L-shape. Outstretch your left arm so that it extends past your side.
• You may need to do more than one rotation before you lift up your foot. What’s more, if you notice yourself wobbling, take a minute to regain your posture.

Camel Spin

The camel spin is a figure skating-inspired spin in which one leg is stretched out in the air, while the other leg supports the body and pivots around in circles.

• Start by doing a few backward turns using both skates. This will help you build up enough momentum to enable a few full-circle rotations.
• Use your dominant foot to push off of the floor. Meanwhile, lift your non-dominant foot off of the ground. Slowly and steadily bring it into the air until it is nearly parallel with the floor.
• Level your shoulders and lean your upper body forward, using your head as an anchor.
• Reach your hands behind you and rest them along your sides. This will help to evenly distribute your weight and provide you with a more reliable center of balance.
• The amount of power you push off with will determine the speed at which you spin. With good momentum, you can commit to four or five full revolutions.
• As your momentum slows, lower your non-dominant leg to the floor. Finish with a side stretch. This is a difficult move to master. However, you can easily master it with some basic skating skills and a little bit of practice.

Best Roller Skates – Buyer’s Guide

Wheels

The wheels of roller skates will play an important role in how they feel while skating. However, this is not a one-size-fits-all consideration as the differences in the wheel lend themselves more to one aspect of the ride as opposed to the other. At its base, this dichotomy can be broken down into control vs. speed. As the wheels get larger, they allow the skater to skate faster, but they also reduce the amount of control a skater can exert.

Less than 59mm

Any wheel under 59mm will heavily reduce the maximum speed of the skater.

This can also allow smaller wheels to be a good choice for senior skaters who may have lost some mobility but still want to relive the glory days of their youth spent in a skating rink.

59mm-62mm

This is the most common size range for skate wheels and provides a solid balance between speed and control.

62mm wheels are also one of the more common sized wheels for professional skaters or for roller derby competitors.

More than 62mm

There are not too terribly many pairs of skates that come stock with wheels larger than 62mm. Any wheel that is larger than 62mm is strictly for speed skating and should only be used by advanced skaters.

Plate

The plate of a roller skate is the hard surface on which both the wheels and the boot attached. This component is important for stability as well as control.

The different materials used for the plate will generally correspond to the skater’s skill level while the truck will either provide a static control or offer some custom flexibility.

Aluminum

This is the classic material used for skate plates and is still seen as one of the better options. This is because aluminum alloys offer an excellent balance between strength and weight.

Still, for trick skates that involve grinding rails, you will want the strength and durability of aluminum.

Nylon

Nylon is one of the primary materials that professional and competitive skates have begun to use with their plates. This is primarily for two reasons: first, nylon is significantly lighter than aluminum that provides that additional bit of speed for competition purposes. Second, while nylon may not be as durable as aluminum, it is far more flexible, which provides the kind of durability skaters often need. That said, nylon plates are not meant for grinding.

Plastic

If a skate’s plate is made of plastic, a consumer grade skate should not be used for competition purposes.

In fact, most of the skates that use plastic plates are designed for children who are simply incapable of pushing the plastic beyond its thresholds.

Truck

On the base of the plater sits a component known as the truck. The truck is where the axle for the wheel connects to the plate of the skate. Most of the time the truck is fairly standard and unimportant. Still, professiona

l or competitive skates will often use trucks that allow adjustment to either tighten or loosen control. Tightening the control will allow you to turn faster but increase the minimum turn angle. Conversely, loosening the truck will allow you to turn at a sharper angle but slow you down a bit while doing so.

Bearings

Just a quick word on bearings: unless you plan to use your skates for highly competitive purposes, the different types and grades of bearings are more or less the same.

In fact, even highly competitive skaters are only getting such a minimal boost to performance that it can best be understood as a placebo effect. The ratings of bearings are meant to indicate the quality of the bearing for industrial purposes that involve thousands of revolutions a second not skating.

Conclusion:

When it comes right down to it, the best roller skates will mean different things to different people. The roller skates that work best for adults will not be the same roller skates that are best suited for children. Likewise, professional or competitive skaters have altogether different standards.

For the average skaters, the Roller Derby Firestars are best for children while the classic Chicago Skates are best for adults.

If you are looking for a pair of skates to take you to the next level the Riedell Dart is an excellent quality skate that is built for speed in a skating rink. With the largest wheels on our list combined with a low-top boot and nylon plate, these skates will have you flying past your opponents.