Roller skating is a wonderful activity for the whole family. During the ride, 90% of the body's muscles are engaged, and the cardiovascular and respiratory systems are also trained. Roller skates help increase endurance and develop coordination. Accordingly, roller skating comprehensively improves your health: it provides a good mood and positive emotions, increases physical activity, coordination, and strengthens the vestibular apparatus. Overall, when we skate outside, we breathe and move a lot, which is definitely good for us! Roller skating is not only an interesting way to spend free time, but also a helper on the way to a healthy body and a long active life. At the prof.lv store, you can find a variety of roller skate models and choose the most suitable one for you. Our wide range includes roller skates for adults and roller skates for children in various colors and from different manufacturers. For extreme riding, there are specially designed trick roller skates, but beginners can start with fitness-type roller skates. Choose the roller skates that are right for you at the prof.lv online store!
Training in the gym can become boring and monotonous. For people who have decided to engage in sports, it is recommended to buy roller skates and engage in roller skating: this type of physical activity is beneficial for the whole body. To get the most enjoyment and benefit from the process, it is very important to choose the most suitable roller skates. Properly chosen roller skates play a big role in mastering skating techniques, as comfortable and supportive roller skates allow beginners to focus on movements. These criteria will help you choose the right roller skates:
Roller skate construction
Practically all roller skate models consist of three main parts: the boot, the frame, and the wheels.
Boot
Roller skate boots are made from materials that secure the foot, provide support from the sides, and ensure ventilation.
Hard boot is made of plastic and has a soft, removable boot inside. Hard boots provide good ankle support, reliable foot fixation, including lace adjustment, impact protection, and additional plastic elements on the outer side of the boot.
Soft boot is made of durable synthetic breathable materials (polyester, nylon) and is placed on a frame made of sturdier materials that secure the foot. Inner elements and plastic cuffs provide ankle support. This type of boot is relatively lightweight, thanks to special technologies such as Softwear - seamless boot construction. They provide increased comfort, including the absence of a hard plastic shell, excellent ventilation due to the use of breathable materials, and special technologies that ensure constant airflow to the feet. Fitness roller skates are most often equipped with soft boots. Firstly, they have special comfort requirements, and secondly, the risk of injury while skating is lower.
Roller skates with adjustable boots allow you to increase or decrease the skate size by three sizes. These are most often children's roller skates, but roller skates for adults with this type of boot allow you to adjust the size to the characteristics of the foot.
Frame
The frame is one of the most important parts of roller skates. Each roller skate model has its own frame design, which should be taken into account when choosing roller skates.
The standard frame length (250-280 mm, 4 wheels) provides maneuverability, the ability to perform tricks, and quick turns while skating.
The short frame (242-243 mm) is more durable and maneuverable, can withstand aggressive skating styles, and provides good skate control, suitable for fitness skating.
The performance of roller skates also depends on the frame material. The most commonly used materials are composite materials and aluminum, including extruded aluminum.
Composite frames are made from polymer materials, including the use of fiberglass. These roller skates provide comfort and a smooth ride, reduce vibration when skating on uneven surfaces. They are suitable for beginners and fitness skating.
Aluminum frames are durable, lighter than composite materials, and have high rigidity and durability. They are most commonly used for fitness skating, freeskating, and slalom.
Extruded aluminum frames are made using a special method - aluminum extrusion casting, which provides even greater resistance to corrosion and hardness. Roller skates with lightweight frames made of extruded high-strength aluminum are suitable for heavy loads.
Wheels
A roller skate wheel consists of two detachable parts - the hub and the outer polyurethane layer that comes into contact with the road. The hub is the rigid "core" of the wheel and contains bearings. The hub material is much more durable and harder than the outer polyurethane shell - the wheel should not deform under load while skating.
The wheel profile can be V-shaped (sharp), O-shaped (rounded), or U-shaped (flat). In the first case, there is the best acceleration, in the second case - stability. Accordingly, conical wheels are usually used for racing and fitness roller skates, and roller skates with flat wheels are suitable for more aggressive skating. Other options are intermediate variants, for example, roller skates for children are usually equipped with wheels with a rounded profile.
The main parameters of the wheels are diameter and hardness. The diameter is indicated in millimeters and determines the speed and maneuverability.
High-speed roller skates are equipped with large wheels that allow for faster speed development, better balance, and reduced vibration.
For better maneuverability, roller skates should have wheels with a smaller diameter. The standard range is 76-82 mm.
Hardness is indicated by numbers from 72 to 95 and the letter A. The universal range is 78A-85A. Hard wheels have better wear resistance and, due to less surface contact, allow for higher speed. Roller skates with softer wheels provide better grip and reduce vibrations while skating.
The smoothness and speed of roller skating depend on the quality of the wheel bearings. Standard bearings are marked with "608" and contain 8 balls. Roller skates for beginners and children are usually equipped with ABEC3 and ABEC5 class bearings. ABEC7 and ABEC9 are intended for people with experience in roller skating.
ABEC is the American standard name for bearing precision. An odd number from 1 to 11 indicates the class of precision. The higher the number, the less friction and the higher the speed.
Brake
The brake is a plastic pad attached to the back of the frame. Sometimes the brake is a monolithic part of the frame. To brake, you need to press the pad back. Beginner and children's roller skates are usually equipped with brakes. Most experienced skaters do not use the brake. However, for beginners, the presence of a brake is very important because learning braking techniques without standard brakes is a long and difficult process.
Women's Roller Skates
Men's and women's roller skates differ not only in design but also in construction: women's roller skates are designed taking into account the structure of women's feet (narrower foot and increased heel lift). Women also have larger calf muscles than men, so the cutout in the upper part of the boot will be deeper and lower than in men's models.
Children's Roller Skates
The optimal age for children to start learning to skate is 4-5 years old. At this age, children's feet are not fully developed, they grow very quickly, so when manufacturers produce children's roller skates, they take these and other factors into account. For quick and easy putting on of roller skates, children's roller skates are equipped with simple fastening systems - for example, with two clips, laces, and definitely with a brake.
When buying roller skates for children, you should also purchase protection for the child (helmet, knee pads, elbow pads).
Manufacturer
The prof.lv store offers roller skates from well-known and globally recognized manufacturers:
Rollerblade roller skates
K2 roller skates
Fila roller skates
Tempish roller skates
Action roller skates
Bauer roller skates
Styles of Roller Skating
Leisure roller skates. For those who are just starting out or use roller skates occasionally and only for fun, skating at a slow pace, comfort and lightness of roller skates are important. In this case, you should choose roller skates with small diameter soft wheels. Attention should also be paid to the roller skate boot models: the wheels of such models move and adjust to the desired shoe width. Many roller skates shine while skating, which children especially enjoy.
Fitness or active recreation. This skating style requires acceleration and comfort. These roller skates are lightweight and durable (aluminum frames), have easy boots and a quick lacing system, high-speed bearings, and a large wheel diameter (up to 90 mm). Like for leisure skating, fitness roller skates should be comfortable for long periods of skating. Usually, fitness roller skates are equipped with orthopedic boots and ankle supports.
Freestyle (freeskate). This skating style involves fast skating and performing various jumps and slides, so the choice should be made for a model with a hard boot, medium diameter wheels (up to 80 mm), a short frame, vibration reduction system, and ankle support. Freestyle roller skates are also reinforced with plastic elements on the outside of the boot for better foot protection.
Slalom. This style requires highly maneuverable roller skates with a sturdy construction and a short rigid frame that provides good ankle support.
Speed skating. High-speed skating involves roller skates with a stiff and lightweight frame, 4 or 5 large wheels, and high-speed bearings (ABEC 9).
Aggressive skating. Trick roller skates have maximum impact resistance, a rigid and durable construction, hard boots, and small wheels.
All-terrain roller skates. Roller skate wheels designed for off-road skating reach a diameter of 15 cm and are usually made of rubber and inflated with air.
Roller Skate Maintenance
Even high-quality roller skates wear out the wheels and bearings after prolonged and frequent use, as they experience the greatest load. With proper use, regular maintenance, and timely replacement of components with high-quality new ones (if necessary), roller skates will not lose their speed and maneuverability.
From time to time, the inner soft boot should be cleaned with a nylon brush or a soft cloth with warm water and soap. To prevent roller skates from getting damaged when not in use, they should be carried in a special bag. This same bag is usually used for storage and protects roller skates from moisture and dust.
Tips
Roller skates should fit comfortably on the foot and be securely fastened, but should not be too tight.
Remember: the shorter the frame, the closer the wheels are placed, the easier it will be for you to maneuver with roller skates. The longer the frame, the more stable it will be to skate calmly.
It is highly recommended for beginners to also purchase protective gear. Otherwise, the very first encounter with asphalt can permanently discourage the desire to improve roller skating skills.
Important point: when buying roller skates, do not skimp on special socks. These are specially designed long socks with tighter toe and heel areas, and the part under the foot is made of pleasant terry cloth. These socks protect your feet from friction in the area where the foot touches the upper hard part of the boot, they absorb sweat well, and help to better secure the foot in the roller skates.
Even if you do not plan to skate a lot and for a long time, it is better to buy fitness roller skates in specialized stores rather than in the nearest supermarket, precisely because at prof.lv store you will find roller skates with the best quality at the most affordable price.
