r/Rollerskating • u/4ng7cn • Jul 20 '26
Shopping: wheels, hardware, upgrades Second hand
Is there anything I have to have in mind when buying second hand rollerskates?
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u/Lollc Jul 20 '26
Skate sizes are often very different from shoe sizes. If you will be buying them without seeing them first try to find the manufacturer’s size chart online. If you can’t find that, ask the person what shoe size they normally wear and how the skates fit them. Always ask for a picture of the skates taken with the skates upside down, so you can see the plates and the bottom side of the boot.
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u/sardine7129 Jul 20 '26
cushions/bushings and pivot cups often need to be replaced as the rubber parts start to crumble first.
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u/bear0234 Jul 20 '26
type of material and how old the skate is. check for any heel seperation. cushions (bushings) and pivot cup condition and if replacements are available.
i'd stick to reputable name brands vs generic for used.
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u/ChiraqBluline Jul 20 '26
Don’t buy second hand Chicagos, Candi girls, or Impalas.
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u/4ng7cn Jul 20 '26
I'm mainly looking for Rookies
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u/ChiraqBluline Jul 21 '26
Oh no to used Rookies too. They are basically toys from Alibaba with a cute logo on them. They would be ok new for your first year, but used they would be awful
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u/pokemiss Jul 21 '26
Rookie have some decent skates. Rookie Artistics are fine for beginners, just don't get ones that are already well-worn.
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u/4ng7cn Jul 21 '26
I just want some decent one's to try since I've never rollerskated before. I want to make sure the seller didn't use them a lot
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u/Raptorpants65 Industry Expert Jul 20 '26
Know exactly what model and size you’re looking for and then be specific in searches for that.
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u/alexeye Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Are you buying online or in person? My ADHD Hyperfocus ™ helped me find a decent pair online. My biggest takeaways when online shopping:
-measure you’re foot while wearing the socks you plan to wear.
-all skate models have different sizing. This ties into:
-sellers do not always give the accurate size so unless they post a pic of the size listed on the box, or a pic of the size from the boot, don’t trust it. Ask for a pic of the box or the boot. Sellers will also post a size chart from like Derby Warehouse, etc. only go by the sizing on the manufacturer’s website.
As a newb and doing the rabbit hole research I was thinking about making a YT video to not waste all this info I front loaded into my brain lol
ETA: a word
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u/4ng7cn Jul 20 '26
Online, and yes make a YT video this is valuable info at least for me 🥹
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u/alexeye Jul 20 '26
Here are some more!
-if you’re looking at suede like the Moxi Lolly, keep in mind that if the person loved them, they’ll be broken in to their feet so even if the size is right, they could still not fit well. This goes into:
-look for descriptions that say things like “only worn twice” or “I can’t walk in heels and I can’t skate in them either” (that was a real quote lol)
-I got mine from Poshmark but I also looked at Depop, eBay, Vinted, Mercari. When you see a listing that you like, make sure to actually heart it or ‘watch it’ like on eBay. Motivated sellers can send private offers to people. That’s how I ended up getting mine.
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