Which Inline Skates to buy?

I would like to start some inline skating, I am a beginner. Seeing the large range available skates is there somehting I should look out for? What would be the best brand for me to buy?

Which Inline Skates to buy?
There is no general best brand, as the major brands (like Rollerblade, K2, Solomon, and Nike, Rocces, Rollerderby, Bauer, CCM, and Mission) all make good skates, and each skate fits differently for different feet, so your foot may not fit well for some companies compared to others. Your inline skating needs (later on) may also push you toward different companies when you decide to "specialize".





There are two things you'll want to look for in a new pair of skates.





1%26gt; The most important is the fit and comfort. Even if you've mastered all of the inline skating skills, if you have skates that do not fit you properly and your foot moves around too much, you will get hot spots and blisters after skating, which will be very uncomfortable (and not worth skating). Make sure your heel sits well into the back of the skate and it doesn't move around much. This may mean having some sort of a power strap of some sort that runs from ankle to your instep. Also make sure the rest of your foot and your toes don't slide around, since it will give an unstable base when you're skating. With a lot of skates these days, it may be a good idea to get a skate that fits more snuggly (but still allows for blood flow!), since the padding will wear thin over time, and can cause blisters in the future when your foot has more room to move around. (My 6-year-old inline skates currently do that now, which is making me want to buy a new pair!) Be aware of any pressure points, which should be ABSENT, that can arise from the design of the boot. The Solomon brand was the one I could choose that was available, since I had incredibly uncomfortable pressure points with K2 and Rollerblade skates. You may or may not have similar problems, so keep your mind open for different companies, since each company is different.





2%26gt; Reliability and features: As mentioned above, you'll generally want to go with the well-known companies like Rollerblade, K2, Solomon, and Nike, Rocces, Rollerderby, and UltraTec (sp?) (also Bauer, CCM, and Mission for hockey skates, but you may want to stay away from those for now) since they are pretty well-known and highly regarded. However, for a skater your level, you don't have to go all-out for a pair of inline skates, unless you definitely know you want to commit to the sport. Generally, you'll be spending about $75+ retail for a low-end skate. Nothing too fancy other than making sure you have that powerstrap that can secure your heel in the boot. No fancy braking mechanisms needed. About ABEC bearings, it's more of a selling gimmick rather than an actual contribution to performance (dirt in the bearings and skating surface contribute much more). IMO, ABEC 3s are good enough, and are probably the lowest end you'll get. ABEC 5s are on mid-range skates. There's no need to shell out for the incredibly expensive ABEC 7s and 9s. Actually, for a skater your skill, I would have recommended the lowest end Wal*mart skates, since their bearings, with a little bit of extra lubrication, would be great for your skill level, since the bearings (non-ABEC, generally) have more resistance to spinning when you hit an incline. However, the boots in the el cheapo skates are incredibly uncomfortable, thus they are never recommended. You'll generally want to go with a soft boot skate, since they're much more comfortable and flexible for when you move around. As for the wheel frame (what the wheels mount on), you'll probably be stuck with plastic, the cheapest kind, though aluminum/magnesium metal frames are more sturdy. Go with a light skate if you can. Finally, the wheel diameter won't matter much at your level, but it'd be best if you can get skates that can accommodate 80mm wheels. 80mm wheels let you go a little faster vs 76mm wheels, and you can always downsize if you want to. There may be 100mm skate frames out there (as they seem to be the new rage these days), but they are generally reserved for racing skates. You may also want to look for skates that have loops at the top of the skate, which will make the skates easier to tote around. Finally, the look. Go with what you think is a pair of skates you'd want to be caught skating in ;-) Generally, all of the features, aside from the look of the skate, are the same across all companies. However, it wouldn't hurt to give the skates a spin in the store to see how they handle and how they are balanced to your personal balance on the skate.





3%26gt; After you get your inline skates, immediately invest in a helmet and a full set of pads (wrist, knee, elbow). Make sure they fit well and don't skimp on these, since you will most definitely fall when you learn, and you won't have to worry about taking a nasty fall when you have these on. Actually, you'll learn to skate faster because you'll be able to experiment a little more boldly without having to worry about whether you can get back up after taking a fall. And don't copy those other guys who don't have helmets and pads. It'll save you a trip to the ER and having your arm in a cast--I broke my left wrist from an inline skating fall a few years back. A decent helmet will cost about $15-$20 retail (don't substitute a bike helmet here, since you need a different kind of helmet), and a decent set of pads will cost about $30-40 retail.





Good luck on shopping for your new inline skates! It's well-worth investing in if you're willing to learn it!
Reply:Don't buy cheap skates! They'll be uncomfortable and they won't last. Stick to brands like Rollerblade, K2, Salomon, Nike, etc. From there, it's just a matter of what look you like and what is comfortable on your feet.





Starting out, you'll want skates with 4 wheels, not the racing skates with 5 and be sure that whatever you get has at least an ABEC 5 bearing. ABEC is the speed rating, how fast the bearings will spin. 5 is a pretty good rating...when you get up to 7 or 9, they may be too fast and you might find yourself falling a bit more.





I'd also recommend that you pick up a pair of knee pads and wrist guards at least. Whether you fall forward or back, you'll find that your instinct is to put your hands out. Many broken wrists have resulted from inline skating.





Once you've got all your gear find a smooth, flat surface and get rolling.





Good luck and happy skating!
Reply:Dont buy inline go for quads first, they are much easier to learn on!



flower