How to Choose Your Inline Skates

Popularized in the ’90s, inline skates are still an outstanding way to travel, train and just cruise around. Like bicycles, there are various types of skates: recreational, fitness, urban and aggressive.

The categories are determined based on the skate’s anatomy. To fully understand its construction and what a given skate was made for, we need to take a look at three key elements: the wheels, frame and boot.

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1. Inline Skate Wheels

Made of polymers, wheels play a big part in the skates’ performance.

Smaller wheels

Inline skates with smaller wheels are suitable for beginners and skaters wishing to play hockey or do tricks.

Pros

• Faster acceleration
• More agility
• Lower centre of gravity for better stability: ideal for beginners

Cons

• Require more effort to skate
• They are less suitable for long distances

Larger wheels

Inline skates with larger wheels, 90 mm and more, are used for long outings or for training sessions.

Pros

• Ability to reach higher speeds easily
• Require less effort to maintain speed

Cons

Three or four wheels

Finally, the answer to the famous question: what are the differences between inline skates with three wheels and those with four?

A three-wheeled skate has a boot that can reach the same speeds as if it had four wheels while being easier to turn. However, inline skates with three wheels have a higher centre of gravity and are therefore less stable. The boot is higher up because the blade is shortened. So it’s a matter of agility.

Inline skate wheel hardness index

Second, wheel hardness plays a major role in performance, control and comfort. This wheel characteristic is indicated by a number between 72 and 90 followed by the letter A—90 being maximum hardness. The softer they are, the better grip they have on the surface you are skating on. A softer wheel also offers better shock absorption, which makes the skates more forgiving. A harder wheel allows you to maintain top speeds more easily, but they are more difficult to control.

• 72A-74A wheels: Frequently used on inline skates for hockey, they have an outstanding grip on indoor surfaces. This hardness is also found on inline skates for kids.

• 78A-84A wheels: This is an average hardness level that provides a good grip on pavement for reaching average speeds during recreational skate sessions.

• 84A-88A wheels: This is the hardness desired for fitness skating. Wheels with this hardness create less friction with pavement, which makes for more efficient rolling.

• 88A and + wheels: Wholly designed for more aggressive and advanced skaters who use their skates for training or competitions. They are more difficult to control, but they make maintaining high speeds easier.

Bearings

Finally, the wheels spin thanks to a ball bearing system. Several quality indicators define this wheel component. They are defined by a manufacturing standard; namely, ABEC or ILQ and SG in addition to a number from 1 to 9.

The higher the number, the better the quality of the bearing system. For example, an ILQ-9 system is top quality. In recent years, the ABEC standard has tended to disappear from the market to make way for the ILQ standard.

2. The Inline Skate Frame

This part of the skate plays a critical role: holding the wheels in a straight line. Furthermore, its design influences the energy transfer from your body to the wheels. Most frames are now made of aluminum. You’ll notice that they are either extruded or stamped.

• Extruded frame: perfect for skates designed for racing and speed. The skates are super responsive!

• Stamped frame: more flexible and forgiving, which makes them perfect for beginner and intermediate skates. They provide excellent comfort and manoeuvrability.

3. The Inline Skate Boot

Comfort is critical when choosing a skate type. Several elements of the boot enhance this aspect. Most significantly, the outer shell affects the skate’s rigidity. The stiffer it is, the more it improves support and performance. The more flexible it is, the more forgiving the skate.

Three boot heights are available on the market for various levels of skaters. These heights directly impact performance and energy transfer. The shorter the boot, the more it is oriented toward seasoned skaters. Medium height is the most versatile of the three, while the highest boots provide skaters with maximum support.

Closure system

There are three types of closure systems for inline skates: traditional laces, the speed lacing system and the mechanical BOA® system.

Traditional laces

Pros

• Personalized adjustment possible
• Easy to replace if they break

Cons

• Take longer to tie
• Harder to find your personalized fit for each use

Speed lacing

Pros

• Easy to tighten
• Offers two adjustment areas

Cons

• You need to store the excess laces in a small pocket in the tongue
• Harder to replace when the system breaks

BOA®

Pros

• Depending on the number of BOA® dials, you can get a more precise fit
• Easy to release
• BOA system® warranty and ability to replace

Cons

• More expensive
• If the BOA® cable breaks when you’re skating, you won’t be able to tighten and adjust your skate

In addition to the lacing system, inline skates also come with a Velcro strap and a buckle system to provide solid foot support.   Shop for Inline Skate Pads   Inline skating is such a fun sport to share with family and friends. With Quebec boasting so many beautiful bike paths, why not get back into it this summer? An outstanding activity for strength and cardio, it can even be great way to push your limits. You’ll fall fast for skating!