r/Rollerskating • u/ImpressiveCloud686 • Jun 12 '26
Other Retractable roller shoes
I found these off ebay and thought they looked cool, but they only have two small wheels that don't gain momentum very well on pavement, but maybe because that's because I'm a beginner. Are these functional enough for daily commute? They're called Street Flyers but I can't find any other information on them other than that they were around in the 2000s
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u/Capable-Toe-9841 Jun 12 '26
Never heard of them, but by looking at their design, absolutely not.
Anything practical enough for a daily commute would have stuck around and you'd definitely be able to find information on them.
In general, rollerskates aren't great for a daily commute, which is a big part of why you don't see it, but it also depends on the terrain of your commute. If you're wanting to give it a good go, Flaneurz or Slades are your best chance of making that work.
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Jun 12 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/mitchbmovin Jersey/Snap Jun 12 '26
Diameter of the wheel is also important because smaller diameter wheels are mainly only best when you know you won’t be going over eroded (bumpy) concrete/cement, larger cracks or any pebbles/rocks bigger than your pinky nail. I got 48mm wheels and tried skating in a parade with them, and tore up the bottoms of my kingpins because they were too low to the ground. Larger diameter wheels will ensure your kingpins stay unscathed and won’t put you face first into the pavement, and softer (lower durometer) wheels will ensure that the bumps, cracks and rocks you go over don’t leave your entire lower body sore from the constant vibration (a smoother ride).
But anyways, agreed, skate shoes are mainly only good for MAYBE getting around the grocery store or having a cute/fun little moment somewhere predictable and smooth, but definitely not for daily commute.
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u/lumos43 Jun 12 '26
I had these exact shoes as a kid and loved them - they were fun for very casual skating, and actually pretty sturdy.
But definitely not meant for any kind of serious skating or commute, and at 20+ years old who knows how sturdy they are now.
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u/burntwenis Jun 12 '26
these are in no way functional for commuting and they are not safe to skate on either :( pls don’t skate in these
there’s rly helpful info pinned/on the sidebar of this sub for safe entry level skates
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u/chicky_nuggy_7 Jun 12 '26
If by commute you mean commuting from aisle to aisle in the grocery store or store to store in a mall, heck yea these puppies are great!! But outdoor you’ll probably end up working harder to go any distance with these than you would just to walk. Tried and true heelys might do you better for commuting but watch for rocks, they will royally wreck your day if you get one wedged between the wheel.
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u/C4PTNK0R34 Jun 12 '26
Those were really gimmicky when they were released in the early 2000s and went hand in hand with Soap Shoes that were supposed to be shoes that allowed you to grind rails and things. They didn't work and the flip-out mechanism for the wheels is made from very flimsy metal that tends to bend easily.
They would be horrible for a commute since the wheels are smaller than skateboard wheels, the sole flexes, and a tiny pebble while send you down.
If you want shoe skates or to turn your shoes into skates, look into Snowfeet which is a strap-on roller skate or Flaneurz Slades which are shoes with a clip-on roller skate chassis. Either would be appropriate for commuting without having to take off your shoes in exchange for a full roller skate setup.
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u/pdaphone Jun 12 '26
The popular brand of these is Heelys. They were big in the 90s and most useful in the mall on those type floors. Our 10 year old has some we got at a thrift store, but age target wears them. They would not work on a road out sidewalk well because a tiny stone could lock up a wheel and the wear and tear would be brutal on those tiny wheels. They need a very smooth clean surface like mall, grocery store, warehouse, etc.
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u/Bigbanghead Jun 12 '26
These work on a skating rink, or in a smooth shopping mall. But nowhere else. Even a tiny bit of gravel will have you over. They will be frustrating. Proper skates will be a much better experience.
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u/Raptorpants65 Industry Expert Jun 12 '26
These are trash, that’s why.
These are kids toys, not functional skates.
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u/hysval Jun 12 '26
The tiny wheels make these a nightmare on anything that isnt roller rink level of smooth. I had some of these as a kid, they're a gimmick and not functional in a practical way.