Inline skate selection and choice is often times over looked. As inline skating grows and more and more inline skates are readily available this selection becomes more important than ever. There are several types of inline skates and styles to fit different types of inline skaters. Inlineskates.net offers a lot of information within the site from sizing guides, buying guides and countless inline skate videos but who are the customers? Here we will go through a few role play scenarios with different types of inline skate customers and the type of inline skates that fit them best. Hopefully you can form a connection with one of the customers to better help in deciding which inline skate to buy. We will start with a few recreational and fitness inline skaters and get into urban, and racing inline skaters further into the post.
Fitness and Recreational Inline Skates
Who is Tom? Tom is a 45 year old art teacher who is looking to pick up inline skating 1 to 2 times a week. Mainly Tom will be using the inline skates to walk his dog in a more efficient manner and to skate with his 13 year old daughter. Tom looks to inline skate more during the summer when he has more free time but will mostly be skating on the weekends. What inline skates does Tom get? Tom tried on the K2 Moto 84 and the Rollerblade Spark 84 inline skates. Both fit very well and offered him great support mixed with comfort which is what he’s looking for. Although both inline skates fit very well Tom liked the color scheme on the Spark 84 so he went with that as his selection.
Who is Linda? Linda is a 26 year old single woman finishing school and working full time. Linda is trying to have a social life mixed with her responsibilities and was invited to an inline skating party. Linda has not skated in many years but was happy to jump at the chance to get out and have some fun outside of her work and school books. Linda may skate occasionally after the party but mainly is looking for inline skates for the party. She does not want to spend a lot of money but wants the skates to be comfortable and not hurt her feet. What inline skates did Linda get? Linda tried on the Bladerunner Pro 78 and the K2 Athena inline skates. The Bladerunner had the smaller price tag but after trying the K2 Athena Linda was hooked on the soft boot comfort and enhanced look of the Athena, Linda bought the Athena and has been inline skating every other weekend since the party.
Who is Steve? Steve is a 34 year old father of 2 who stays very active. Steve likes to ski all winter long which includes some beer league racing with friends. Steve wants to buy inline skates to keep in shape in the summer months and maintain the fitness regiment he sets up in the winter while skiing. He is not looking to do marathons with inline skates but would like to be able to comfortably skate longer distances. He has a park near his house with an 8 mile track he would like to skate 1-2 times weekly. What inline skates did Steve get? Although outside of his initial price range Steve ends up falling in love with the Rollerblade Tempest 90 inline skates. He feels they offer similar support to his ski boots and the higher up design makes him feel more comfortable. With the 90mm wheels he can skate longer distances and maintain decent speed while staying under control, way to go Steve!
Who is Sarah? Sarah is a competitive skier at the college level. Just turning 22 Sarah is looking to add something to her training in the off season, enter inline skating. She is looking to get out and skate 2-3 times a week on her campus and on a 10 mile track near campus. Does not want the stiffness of a real race boot but could go for the speed and smoothness that comes with speed skates. What inline skates did Sarah get? Sarah tried on the Rollerblade Speedmachine RX100 and the K2 Radical 100 inline skates and she really like the feel of each. Both skates fit very well but the K2 seemed like it offered more support and it was purple, Sarah loves purple. Sarah bought the K2 Radical 100 and has loved the skating she’s been able to do with them.
Who is Jen? Jen is a 19 year old college freshman living in the dorms. She is looking to buy inline skates to use as transportation to and from class. She will be skating at least 4 times a week to and from class while also using the skates to get around doing errands. Jen is a snowboarder and understands the importance of a quality boot; she wears K2 snowboard boots and loves the fit and support she gets out of them. What inline skates did Jen get? Jen tried on a few K2 models as she is kind of brand loyal and thoroughly enjoyed the fit of the K2 Electra. It offered great support in a more recreational design versus some of the more race inspired boots. Jen has loved her K2 Electra’s and has put many miles on them all while never being late to class! Go Jen go!
Rick: Who is Rick? Rick is a 25 year old who recently moved to Chicago for work. Dealing with traffic and cabs is not his style so Rick is looking for an alternative. As a previous aggressive skater Rick knew he could handle the mean streets on a pair of inline skates but his aggressive skating days are behind him for the most part. Hearing about the new urban inline skate genre Rick was intrigued to try some of these types of skates on. What inline skates did Rick get? Rick tried on the Rollerblade RB10 and Rollerblade Twister 80 urban inline skates. Both skates fit very well and offered Rick great support but he felt the Twister 80 offered him more maneuverability. With a smaller wheel set up and shorter length frame he felt more at home with this design so he went with the Rollerblade Twister 80. He is now known as the shy town skate king! 
Who is Sean? Sean is a 26 year old Marathon Runner who runs daily but is looking to add inline skating to his hobbies. Sean wants to do some marathons on skates and is interested solely in distance and speed when it comes to skating. What inline skates did Sean get? Sean purchased the Vanilla Attitude 195 as he understood the importance of getting a great pair of inline skates. The Vanilla offers him the stiff performance boot with a lightweight chassis and larger wheels. Sean has been skating hard since getting the skates and has already done 3 marathons, careful Sean you may just never want to run again!
Who is Mary? Mary is a 5 year old girl who will be inline skating around the neighborhood with her Dad. They are looking to skate around their subdivision a few times a week. A big fan of the color pink Mary set out to get some inline skates. What inline skates did Mary get? Mary tried on the Bladerunner Phaser and the K2 Annika inline skates as they both were made for recreational skating and could be used for the purpose Mary was looking for. Both skates were adjustable and available in a size that would work well for Mary; both skates fit well so it came down to design and color. Mary chose the Bladerunner Phaser simply because the color and design made her happier, good for you Mary!
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I chose the 90 mm wheel on the tempest. I hope I did right! I am a competitive athlete at the age of 58 ad won my age group at IM Louisville last year and at Cozumel the year before. I have lots of problems with my feet and needed an alternative to running during the off season (winter here is off season) it is good weather and no snow and we have a 5 k track to practice/play on in South Austin called the veloway. it has one really nice short hill that is about 5% grade. I plan to ride the blades about twice a week and possibly commute to my office (only 4 miles from home) if I can fit it in my schedule.
my sport used to be skiing when I lived in new Mexico and I would roller blade during summer for that sport in the past. My current roller-blades (80 or 84 mm old roller blades,) fell apart on me today after about 8 miles! I have Austin marathon in February and don’t want to only run for training… need to use different muscle groups.
These are all good, but nowhere near "60-year-old and 280 pound guy wants to get back to skating after many years away to have better joints and balance". Most especially I wonder about skating on pebbly asphalt as a big guy. I have 50 pounds to lose, at least, before I even think of being fast, but I also would love to regularly skate to walk the dog, run errands and generally just get out and go on a regular basis. So what kind of skates, wheel diameter and hardness will work for me?
Darryl,
You will want a skate with a larger diameter wheel as this will allow to more comfortably skate over pebbly asphalt and cracks in the sidewalks and such. A larger wheel is going to be smoother and will roll much easier over any debris or obstructions in the pavement. I would suggest a skate with a 100mm wheel; this is going to give you a very adequate size wheel to go over any pebbly asphalt and the boots on these skates are going to be very supportive and comfortable to give you the confidence you will need at the beginning. I would suggest taking a look at the K2 Mach 100 or the Rollerblade Crossfire 100. Both of these skates offer a 100mm wheel configuration with smooth bearings and great boots. These skates will work great as a beginner and will offer you some room for growth as your skill progresses. Check out the links below and please let me know if you have any further comments or questions.
Please note that inline skates are going to fit very close to the same size of your standard athletic shoe size. If you wear a size 11, get a size 11 in the skates. Inline skates will require some break in to fit the way they are meant to fit. This typically takes no more than 4-6 times out skating in them and will mold around your foots shape with the natural body heat your feet produce.
Thanks,
Chris
The 90mm wheel setup will work much better for what you are trying to accomplish. You want to make sure the wheel durometer is in the right range as well. You are going to want something around 80-84 as I see you are skating on a track as well as possibly skating to work.
Hi,
I want to buy a pair of skate for my 11 year old doaughter. she’s rollerbladed before and she pretty advanced in figure skating. It has come down between two models. One is the Rollerblade Spitfire LX, which I found for a good price. The other is the 2012 Rollerblade Spitfire Alu. The LX is a 2010 model and cheaper. The Alu is a new model and is touted as ultralight. Suggestions?
Thanks,
Penelope
Hello,
Of the two, I would lean more towards the Spitfire Alu. It has a bit of a larger wheel that what is traditionally found on a childrens skate at 76mm. This combined with her ability as a figure skater will give her a skate that is better suited to her abilities. Also with the aluminum frame this skate is super lightweight so it will be more comfortable to skate in.
Thanks,
Lisa
I need to purchase new inline skates for my daughter whos 11. She has been skating for years and it pretty comfortable but we do all of our skating indoors at the rink. I want something that has a softer wheel that will grip the floor better when taking turns at a decent speed. Pebbles and cracks are not a concern since she will likely not use them outside. I had purchased some skates at a garage sale but she is complaining that the wheels are too slippery. I think the wheels were too hard. I don’t want to spend too much since she’s still growing. Do you have any suggestions?
Hello,
The wheels may either be too hard or be made out of a hard plastic that does not give her grip rather than the urethane wheels that most of our skates have. One great option for a kid that is still growing is our adjustable skates. If you are looking for one that has a grippy wheel that doesn’t break your wallet, check out the Bladerunner Phaser Adjustable Girls Skates (http://www.inlineskates.net/kids-skates/c1000005974/bladerunner-phaser-adjustable-girls-inline-skates-2012-p251548.html). These skates are made by Rollerblade and so you have their quality behind these skates at a more affordable price point and the adjustable sizing makes them well worth it.
Lisa
I am a 57 year old woman who is fairly fit. I have had my inline skates for over 10 years and they are starting to show the wear-and-tear. I have changed the wheels on them at least twice after wearing the old ones down. I am getting some new skates and am thinking to buy a recreational skate. My weight fluctuates between 125 and 130 and I am 5’3". I skate about 4-8 miles on a given day and since I live in Michigan, only in the warmer months. I ski on a bike path and am not confident enough to skate without a brake, so I want a skate with a brake. I also need some new pads since I have gone through 2 sets of the cheap kind. I have trouble fitting pads because when I have bought them in the past, I did not find ones made specifically for women. I welcome any suggestions any of you may have.
Hi Teresa,
For what you’re describing, I think the Rollerblade Activa 90 would be a great choice for you, especially because you’ll be skating longer distances. In addition to the stable frame and high quality SG 9 bearings, the skate fits very well and has excellent support. The Activa True Wrap, which is essentially a semi-soft exoskeleton that provides structure and snugness through the top of the foot, gives you better efficiency and energy transfer with each stride, as well as offering heightened maneuverability. I also like the 90 mm wheels because they give the skate a lot of versatility – they’ll roll quickly and smoothly at speed for longer skates but they’ll also feel great on more recreational skates. All in all, they’re an awesome, fun skate! For the pads, I highly recommend the Rollerblade Lux Activa 3 Pack. They’ve got a women’s specific fit and their shock absorbing gel inserts allow them to be a bit more streamlined without sacrificing protection. I hope this helps!
Best,
Kate