Aren't All Inline Skates the Same?

Aren't all inline skates the same? If you asked this question to a skate shop owner or an experienced blader, the answer would be an emphatic “No!” There are a number of differences between inline skates—all of which will determine your skating performance in the activity in which you plan to engage.

Let's say, for instance, that you plan to purchase skates for “aggressive skating” (a term used for more casual skating). You wont want to purchase inline skates that were intended for roller hockey or speed skating. More specifically, you will want to find inline skates that have a durable shell, more than likely made out of polyurethane, and match them up with the right bearings and wheels. For aggressive skating, you wont need bearings that have a high precision rating; so you may instead go with a pair that have a precision rating between 50 and 65. This is the lowest level.

Conversely, let's say you plan to begin a new career in speed skating. For some reason, you have determined that you will be good at speed skating if only you purchase the correct skates and begin practicing. In this case, you will want to purchase the absolute highest precision bearings (in the 85-105 range) and also consider higher-grade gear. For instance, you may want to consider purchasing a carbon, rather than plastic, shoe for your skates. Whether or not you would be better off with carbon is not quite a simple choice (and has to do with power transfer), but it is one you will want to at least look at if you are purchasing skates for professional use. Additionally, you will have to look at the quality of the bearings you purchase. In recent years, manufacturers have begun to create ceramic bearings and contend that they are superior to the traditional steel. Again, if you plan to purchase skates for professional use, you may want to go all out and purchase ceramic bearings, too.

No matter what your skating need, you must remember that not all skates are the same. For this reason, you should customize the inline skates you purchase, rather than settling for the first pair you find.