Roller Blade Gear Feature Article:

How to Buy Roller Blades

Have you ever wondered how to buy roller blades? What should you look for? Rollerblading, sometimes called inline skating, is one of the most popular recreational activities today. It’s excellent exercise, as well as a great and speedy way to have fun. Follow the below advice on how to buy roller blades that will work best for you.

Before You Buy
Before you go out to buy roller blades, make sure that you enjoy the sport. That means don’t go out and buy roller blades just because you’d like to try rollerblading. There are many places where you can rent roller blades, or you might be able to borrow a pair from a friend or buy a used pair to try out before you invest the money to buy your own new pair.
A good pair of roller blades will cost between $100 and $150; you probably don’t want to spend that kind of money until you know you will use roller blades regularly.

There are four main types of roller blades available on the market:

• Recreational skates are the general skates for the average consumer who wants to skate around the park for fitness.
• Speed roller blades are sleeker and made for racing.
• Hockey roller blades are suited for playing roller hockey.
• Aggressive or stunt blades are for those who want to show off on their skates, doing tricks similar to the moves of a skateboarder.

The most widely available roller blades are the recreational type, and that’s what most people want. To find the other kinds of roller blades, you’ll probably need to go to a specialized skating store rather than a sporting goods store.

Parts of a Roller Blade

You don’t have to be a roller blade expert to understand how to buy roller blades, but it helps to have a little knowledge about how a roller blade goes together when you’re shopping.

• Fastenings: clips are usually used to keep the skate secure, but you can still sometimes find laces, which can be fastened more tightly and evenly, good for speed and aggressive rollerbladers.
• Wheel frame: the wheels sit on a frame that connects the wheels to the boot. This frame is usually made of polycarbonate or reinforced nylon. It needs to be stiff and lightweight for best performance. Most recreational users don’t need to worry about this.
• Wheels: Probably the most important part of the roller blade is the wheels, which are almost universally made of plastic in different hardnesses, known as durometer. The higher the number, the harder the wheel. A popular duometer measurement is 78A. Wheels also have different diameters; between 70 and 78 millimeters are the most common measurements.
• Bearings: Most roller blade shoppers only need to know that loud bearings should be avoided. Good bearings are quiet.
• Footbed: Look for a skate that is built like a shoe. If the footbed is cardboard or a similar cheap material, pass.

How to Buy Roller Blades

Once you’ve figured out what kind of roller blades you want, it’s time to go shopping. Be sure to wear socks like you would be wearing while rollerblading, and be prepared to try on both skates and go for a little spin around the store. It’s the only way you’ll know if the blades are comfortable.

1. When trying different pairs of roller blades on, follow the same routine you would with buying a pair of shoes or sneakers. Roller blades should provide good support and there should be some room in the toe area.
2. Talk to the salesperson in the sporting goods or rollerblading shop you’re in about popular brands, makes and models. Also be sure to inquire about upcoming sales and sales that may be currently happening. It always pays to save a little money if you can.
3. If in doubt about any of the parts of the roller blade discussed above, ask the salesperson what is best for you based on your needs.
4. Spin the wheels while the roller blade is not on your foot. If you can hear the bearings inside the wheel, choose another shoe.
5. Never mail-order a pair of roller blades without first trying them on. If you find a good deal on a pair of roller blades from an online retailer, try to find that specific pair at a store near you to try on, then go and buy them online.
6. Remember that your expenses will not end once you buy your rollerblades—you will also need to spend money on a helmet and knee and elbow pads for added safety!