What is the difference between inline and inline hockey skates?

and which should i buy for my 8 year old - who is just learning ice hockey

What is the difference between inline and inline hockey skates?
Inline skates are like regular roller blades..and they dont have an ice hockey skate boot..and im pretty sure they have breaks to stop. Inline hockey skates have the ice hockey skate boot..and they have no break.
Reply:inline are just 4 wheels and inline hockey are like blades for the ice get th inline hockey but if hes just learning get the other so he can practice first
Reply:The boot, bearings, and wheels, and no brakes are the difference. Or everything.





Wheel sizes vary depending on the skating style:





* 48-60 mm for aggressive skating.


* 68-72 mm for artistic inline skating.


* 72-80 mm for general recreational skating.


* 59-80 mm for roller hockey skating and slalom.


* 80-110 mm for speed skating.





In general the bigger the wheel, the faster the skate. However, large wheels take more energy to start rolling. Smaller wheels allow faster acceleration, maneuverability, and a lower center of gravity. Wheel hardness is measured on the A scale and usually ranges between 78A-93A (higher numbers are harder). Harder wheels are faster and more durable, but soft wheels may have better grip (grip is determined by many factors, and wheel manufacture is arguably more important than durometer) and less affected by road bumps. Wheel profiles and thicknesses again vary by application. Elliptic profiles minimise friction for a faster ride; more rounded profiles have better grip and are more stable.





The boot





For most skating a high boot is used, which provides more ankle support and is easier to skate in, particularly for beginners. Speed skaters often use lower boots allowing more ankle flexion.





For recreational skating a soft boot is used for greater comfort, but many other disciplines prefer a harder boot, either to protect the foot against impact or for better control of the skate. The boot may also contain shock absorbent padding for comfort.





Most aggressive skates use a hard boot or a hard/soft boot for increased support.





The frame and wheels of an inline skate.





Typical recreational skates use frames built out of high-grade polyurethane (plastic). Low-end department or toy store skate frames may be composed of other types of plastic. Speed skate frames are usually built out of carbon fibre or extruded aluminum (more expensive but more solid), magnesium, or even pressed aluminum, which is then folded into a frame (cheaper but less sturdy).





Carbon fibre frames are expensive but more flexible, making for a smoother ride at the expense of worse power transfer between the leg and the wheels. In general, carbon fibre frames weigh about 160-180 grams. Aluminum can weigh from 170 to 220 grams. Frame length ranges from around 230 mm for short-framed four wheel skates (used for example in inline hockey), up to about 325 mm for a five wheel racing frame.





Axles, bearings and spacers.





Ball bearings allow the wheels to rotate freely and smoothly. Bearings are usually rated on the ABEC scale, a measure of the manufactured precision tolerance, ranging from 1 (worst) to 9 (best) in odd numbers. The ABEC standards were originally intended for high-speed machinery, not skating applications. While higher rated bearings are generally better in overall quality, whether they automatically translate to more speed is still questionable. The quality of the steel used is also very important, but is not rated by the ABEC scale. In any case, the general opinion is that if one has the money or inclination, higher ABECs certainly can't hurt. ILQ Scale, is another measure scale, which tries to solve the material issue by considering precision tolerance, design feature, lubrication and materials quality. But beginners should, if possible, use the lower scale bearings. The lower ABEC scale bearings exchange speed for better control and a smoother ride. Note that bearings alone won't make up for poor technique or lack of fitness.





The vast majority of skate bearings on the market are produced in China, and tend to be of much lower quality and durability than bearings produced in Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, or the USA. Newer bearings on the market now use ceramic ball bearings instead of steel. The merits of ceramic versus steel are probably still to be determined as well.





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sunburn