For many years, thousands or millions of people has greatly enjoyed gliding, speeding and jumping with their roller skates around the world. Yeah, roller skating has been a popular recreational and sports activity for more than 100 years – and you can guess that many things have changed during this time, for better.
In fact, although for beginners this activity may look intimidating at first glance due to the risk of falls, modern roller skating is safer than you might think.
So, if you’re thinking about buying a new pair of roller skates for the first time, as long as you follow the right recommendations – from experts – you’ll be able to glide on streets and jump over platforms in less than what a rooster crows.
Of course, the first thing you need to do, is buying the best roller skates for beginners you can find in the market, and we’re here to give you the ultimate guide on this topic, along with some other helpful tips we’ve learned over years of experience.
Let’s roll!
Riedell Skates R3 – Quad Roller Skate
The most popular and widely used quad roller skates for men who are starting in the path of roller skating. In other words, a classic.
The Riedell R3 is a versatile model that can be used both indoors and outdoors, for roller derby and speed skating, for casual or competitive purposes.
The low-profile style boot is made of high-resistance vinyl, comes with traditional laces, and a cuff strap to add extra security for your feet.
With this classic model, you can be sure that you’ll gain in stability and maneuverability while skating. This is due to the flexible but highly-resistant nylon plate that connects the boot to the wheels, that can give the skater an incredible amount of gliding sessions.
And speaking about the wheels, the R3 comes with four Sonar Cayman – maybe the weaker feature here – that include ABEC-5 bearings to add extra stability, and the material is suited for all your terrain needs. The good part of this story is that you can change the wheels according to your needs.
We’re not exaggerating when we say that this model is like a trailblazer; you will see a lot of variations from this same model for different brands, but not all these brands have the experience that Ridell has – we’re speaking here of more than 70 years, and that can tell you something.
Model: Riedell Skates R3 – Quad Roller Skate for Indoor/Outdoor
Main features: Versatility. Can use them indoors and outdoors.
Materials: vinyl, nylon.
Bearings: ABEC-5
PROS:
- Super versatile, multi-purpose model
- Highly-resistant materials
CONS:
- As the wheels are all-terrain, you may need to change them depending on your specific needs as skater
Sure Grip Stardust Glitter Roller Skate
When you look around here and there on the web reading reviews about these roller skates, you can find tons of very positive testimonials from satisfied skater-girls that simply LOVE this model!
Well, just see the great fashioned style these rollers skates can give with that glitter all over the high/mid profile boots – that will also protect your ankles. These boots are made of very resistant vinyl that will last for years with the proper care.
The powerful but flexible nylon plate combined with the wood sole, make a very good combination to give enough comfort to the user, and that’s good for beginners.
The wheels are the another aspect that people usually love about these roller skates, and with reasons.
These wheels not only combine perfectly with the overall style – great glitter here – but their design also allows to use the skates indoors and outdoors, passing from one to another terrain type in an stylish and smoothly manner – the ABEC-3 bearings also help on this.
According to many very satisfied users and in our own team’s experience, these roller skates feel really, really good during the most intensive gliding sessions!
Did I mention they have glitter???
Model: Sure Grip Stardust Glitter Roller Skate
Main features: Glitter! For indoors and outdoors.
Materials: vinyl, wood, nylon.
Price: $139.00 – $199.99
Bearings: ABEC-3
Moxi Skates – Beach Bunny – Fashionable Women Roller Skates
Another great option for women, this time from Moxi, another great company creating high-quality roller skates since 2008. These roller skates are more focused to be used outdoors, and this can be noted at a first glance. First, the high-profile boots that come in brilliant and clear colors, also offer additional ankle padding for more security and comfort.
The high-quality vinyl boots, combined with the wood sole, also ad points in the comforting experience. The another additional relevant feature this model offers is the moisture-wicking Dri-Lex liner in front of the boots. One of our team members made a special test for this feature, and she found that it works pretty well in preventing the feet from absorbing moisture under certain circumstances.
The aluminum plate is another great feature here because this adds durability and stability, and combined with the soft urethane wheels (ABEC-5 bearings) and the adjustable toe stoppers, give the user absolute control while gliding trough parks and beaches.
These models also comes in a great variety of colors specially suited for outdoors like Periwinkle, Sunset, Blue Sky, and Peach Blanket. And of course, when you want to change to another level, you can do it by changing the bearings, plates, and wheels with ease.
Model: Moxi Skates – Beach Bunny – Fashionable Women Roller Skates
Main features: Moisture-wicking Dri-Lex liner. Very resistant. For outdoors.
Materials: vinyl, wood, aluminum, other.
Bearings: ABEC-5
PROS:
- Very comfortable due the additional ankle padding
- Highly-resistant materials
- The moisture-wicking Dri-Lex liner really works
CONS:
- Mainly for outdoors use
- Is the least lightweight model of all
Chaya Melrose Black and Pink Quad Roller Skates
If comfort is what worries you the most when you think about what roller skate is the best for you, then the Chaya Melrose Black and Pink is the model you need.
First, the boot is made of PU-leather, a very lightweight material that also gives the boot an old-fashioned style.
Second, the interior of the boot includes a high-quality padding that makes the boot feel super comfortable. This, combined with the adjustable lace-up style, makes the boot feel just like a pair of sneakers – you could pass hours using them, and you won’t notice any discomfort.
On the other hand, the fiberglass reinforced plastic plate with PU-cushions, adds even more points to the equation thanks to the lightweight material.
The wheels have ABEC-7 bearings, and this also gives high stability when using the skates. With all the mentioned features combined, when you use this model, you’ll feel almost like you’re roller-skating without roller skates!
Model: Chaya Melrose Black and Pink Quad Indoor/Outdoor Roller Skates. Sports and Outdoors
Main features: High-comfort boot. For indoors and outdoors
Materials: Fiberglass, PU-leather
Bearings: ABEC-7
PROS:
- The most comfortable of all the models
- Super lightweight
- Can be used indoors and outdoors
CONS:
- The materials aren’t so resistant as the other models
Buyer’s Guide
We’ve showed you what we consider the best roller skates for beginners, but it’s important you also consider this before buying any of them:
Where and how are you going to use them?
Indoor skates are designed to be used in gyms, for example, and they’ve hard wheels to glide softly on smooth surfaces, while outdoor skates come with softer wheels to glide faster and minimize impacts on rough surfaces.
On the other hand, we have jam, rhythm, racing and roller derby skating.
The differences in the type of skates for each activity rely on the cut and weight of the boot, and other minor details: while low-cut and light-weight boots are good for a better mobility in a jam, racing, and derby skating, high-cut boots offer more control and ankle stability for the rhythm/artistic modality.
The boots
The material of the boot plays a role in how much comfort you can get. There are designs in leather, suede, vinyl or combinations. This affects the weight and flexibility to adapt to the shape of your feet. Remember that without comfort, there is no fun.
The material can also be determinant in other aspects. For example, a pair of high-cut hard vinyl boots can give you more ankle support and control in artistic skating.
Also, a boot that fits too loosely doesn’t allow you to have enough control, while a tight fit may feel uncomfortable, so try to find a midpoint here.
Most roller skates come in lace-up designs, specially for rhythm models, but low-cut models can also include a cuff strap for extra support.
Wheels and plates
Regarding wheels, the typical size is about 62mm, what provides enough stability for beginners, while larger wheels don’t allow so much control.
Depending on the use, the hardness of wheels can affect your speed. There is a rating: about 70/85 softer is the wheel, but higher is the grip. About 85/100 harder is the wheel, but faster you’ll go on indoor surfaces.
Skate wheels also have bearings inside. This affects the smoothness and speed while riding. Between 1 and 3, you get more speed, between 5 and 7, good for beginners 😉
Bear in mind that usually, it’s possible to change the wheels.
And speaking of plates, the most important thing you need to remember is that there are basically of two types: nylon and aluminum plates. The first type is more lightweight and offers more maneuverability in this sense, while the aluminum type offers more durability and stability.
Our Selection: The Best Roller Skates For Beginners Right Now
Because there are many big listings on the Internet telling you which are the best roller skates for beginners – and usually these guides contains about 20 to 30 models! – we’ve made it easier for you this time:
We’ve tested as many roller skates as we could, and we made a very short list of only four models that we consider that are the best of the best, among all what you can find out there.
FAQs
I’m a beginner, why should I start with roller skates instead of inline skates?
While roller skates (also called quad skates) come with two pair of wheels at both sides of the shoe, inline skates feature a single line of up to five wheels.
Due to this design, inline skates can give you more stability in the front and back of the feet, but not to the sides – this also requires more overall strength in your low members to keep balance. This doesn’t happen with quad roller skates.
How do I determine the best size for me?
The best practice would be to base your selection on the size of your regular shoes. Not too tight, not too loose.
In the case of children, consider that as they’re growing, they’ll need a new pair of skates every so often.
Where can I skate?
You can look on the internet for associations dedicated to roller skating that work in your city. It’s always safer to glide in a controlled area, specially for kids.
Do I require additional gear?
If you’re a beginner, you must use additional gear! Although roller skating is pretty much safe when you do it the right way.
The most important gear you need is the helmet and protectors for your elbows and knees.
What are the benefits of roller skating for my health?
There are quite a lot and very good. First, you get benefits for your overall cardiovascular system. With this you burn calories, reduce cholesterol and gain in legs strength – and yeah, it helps with your bum. But as you need constantly to check your balance, this also improves your overall coordination.
Additional Information
I said that we were going to give you the ultimate advice to help you in buying your new pair of roller skates for beginners, so let’s give you some additional tips to bear in mind.
When you start practicing rolling skating, it’s very important that you don’t forget to always use your protective gear. This includes the helmet and the protectors for the elbows and knees. There are also gloves and some people also use protective glasses, but these are optional and depend on the type of skating you’re practicing.
Another way of improving safety is by using the appropriate clothing, like sports pants and full-sleeved t-shirts to reduce the risk of superficial injuries.
It’s recommended that you start practicing on places with enough space and the appropriate ground surface, just in case you fall. That is the scariest part of this activity, but trust me that these are not so terrible as they look at first glance.
Anyway, you can start with an instructor in case you don’t feel very confident about it, but in general, by taking the right posture, you can greatly avoid falling.
Avoid trying to perform tricks and acrobatics on your first weeks, you will need some more time of practice before you can do that. Advance slow, but secure.
As a general rule, move as if you were slowly jogging and balance your arms and legs in a coordinate manner. By keeping a low posture with your gravity center (your hips) closer to the ground, you can greatly avoid falling – and in case you fall, it won’t hurt that much 😉
Final Words
The type of roller skates you buy depends mainly on two factors: your personality and your physical conditions. For example: If you’re in your mid-age and you just want to practice recreational skating, a basic outdoors model may fit your needs. On the other hand, if you are younger, and you want more action, go for a model focused to derby or speed skating.
Remember that roller skating is not only a recreational and sports activity, it’s also a form of physically, expressing yourself. The selection of roller skates for beginners we’re recommending here for you has enough versatility to let you try some variations in your style; we chose these models for that reason, but also for the overall quality and cool features they offer.
Once you have made your choice, put on your roller skates and..
Let’s roll!
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