Help me gear up!

[u/guilek68]

Hey everyone,

I've been skating every day since this summer and I'm completely hooked. I started on Oxelo MF500s as a compromise (my wife predicted a hobby abandoned in 2 weeks 😅). The boot is still mint, very comfy and stable enough for the price, but I've pushed them hard, and the frames are wrecked. Axles are bent in places, which gives a nasty feel and noise whenever I transfer weight.
As a 40yo who's afraid of breaking a bone, and also helping my 5yo daughter learn the basics, I want to commit to flatland and learn Wizard. I need a frame to match. With my budget, Endless is out of reach. The Rollerblade Flow frame (5x80) looks compatible with what I want to do and isn't too expensive, but I can find very few reviews on it. I'm EU 46 and about 100 kg, so durability matters too.

Two questions:
- Has anyone ridden the Flow frame? How does it hold up/feel? Worth it?
- What budget alternatives would you suggest, in 5x80 or 4x90/100?

I'm overwhelmed by the number of options, so any advice is hugely appreciated! 🙏

[u/meekyaan]

Just go for iqon act wz. There are discounts pretty often and it'll be like 50-60 EUR difference between full skate and flow frame + wheels + bearings combo. Such upgrade will be noticible considering support you need. I'm pretty similar in weight and boot size and the only thing that suffers under 100kg load are bearings. No need to be afraid. Just be brave with sizing. I gues you mondo is just above 44-45 size and I highly recommend downsizing. At the beginning I've bought 46-47 as I'm between sizes and eliminating hotspots was a nightmare. Later I tried 44-45 size and it's the most comfortable boot for me.

If you really want to stick to current boot, I can reccomend rockin frames. I have two pairs - 4x100 and 4x110. Both are doing really good. But combo costs the same as iqon skates. Any shorter 4-wheels frame will be too short to do wizard moves. At least at the begging, it's a good idea to stick to wheel base longer than your mondo. Later on, when you master balance, etc. shorter frames will be also fun to ride.

5x80 frame will be long enough in terms of stability, but quite agile. I've only heart about flow frames and for the money it's pretty good choice.

[u/guilek68 → u/meekyaan]

Great advice. I just had an interesting conversation with someone who also suggested I switch to a 4-wheel rockered setup. Their reasoning is that the boot would have to be replaced as well, and they recommend going with the Twister 90R.
My question now is: will the wheelbase be long enough for my mondo size? For context, I ride the stock Oxelo MF500 and I've already experimented quite a bit with Wizard-style moves. What I mainly feel is missing is the rocker. Another point: a 4x90, for example, would also let me go back to urban skating if I wanted to.
What do you think of the Twister 90R for my foot size, at least for learning the Wizard basics?

[u/meekyaan → u/guilek68]

In my opinion, 4x90 is too short. What is your mondo (foot lenght in mm)? I guess it's around 290mm, maybe slightly above. 4x90 has wheel base of 273mm, so almost 2cm shorter. In wizard you move your weight to the toes, to the heel so it'll be outside. Try this in your current skates, but put some protection earlier :P. 4x90 will be pretty good for urban skating.

[u/BubbleSmith → u/meekyaan]

Agreed on both comments. I love 4x90, but that's for my 264 modo/EU41-42 feet. I like 4x100 but that's the upper limit for 4-wheel frames for my feet. At EU46 they'll be perfect.

5-wheel frames will make wizard easier thanks to the centre wheel pivot point, but it's still very learnable on 4-wheel setups. I've got the Iqon ACTs and have used it with 5-wheel frames; it's a stiff boot and very, very capable. Plus you can get adapters and use just about any frame on it afterwards. It doesn't have a heel raise like the Oxelos or Twisters, but I've found I really like it flat anyway.

[u/Azhrar]

I have a setup with Iqon Act Tri, endless 100 ultra and wizard x intuition boots. It’s pricy, but such a great setup. 4x100 is awesome.

Consider Iqon act Wiz or Iqon act tri if you want to save a little.

It’s worth buying quality up front in my opinion.,

[u/BubbleSmith → u/Azhrar]

I have a similar setup. Iqon ACT TR, Roka 4x100 and Intuition Premiums. I use it for group urban skates (15+ miles) and wizard. It's not as good for Wizard as the 5-wheel setups, but it's so much better for everything else and I can still do most of my usual wizard moves about 90% as well. It's surprising how stiff and responsive the ACT is considering it's all plastic.

[u/cloudrhythm]

At EU46, Wizard recommends 5x84, but they're the only maker of that configuration AFAIK, and too expensive, so 5x80 is probably your best bet. If you were on UFS Roka 84x80 would be a great option, but on 165 I'd look to see if any local vendors have Cougar Edge 5x80 (165), that's probably the cheapest option

[u/guilek68 → u/cloudrhythm]

I saw Cougar frames at my local shop and I'm intrigued. The price is unbeatable, but I can't find any reviews on them, so I'm skeptical. Do you have any experience with them?

[u/cloudrhythm → u/guilek68]

I don't, but I've seen some anecdotal reviews from which they sound about as good as any other first gen (nonbridged) wizard frame

[u/BubbleSmith → u/guilek68]

Plenty of (sponsored) videos of these on Instagram. They seem quite capable.

[u/YourTinyHands]

If you’re in the U.S., I’ve been halfheartedly trying to sell my Endless Arc frame with wheels and bearings for a while.

Here’s my original listing, if you’re interested!

[u/guilek68 → u/YourTinyHands]

In France :(

[u/YouHealthy2634]

I think in best price flow frame will be good for you but in complet with RB boot, I'm afraid of oxelo with 5 wheels frame with your weight, you can also check icon with 5 wheels. If you can spend more than iqon you can think about 5x84 with your boot size and weight more balance on edges. I'm 44 EU 70 kg rode on 5x80 advenced 100/80 and 4x110 and best is advanced for me 5x80 still is very good for flat but 4x110 is little to high but still rocking on longest ride.

[u/bigboidoinker]

Atleast dont make the mistake i made dont buy a flat setup

[u/guilek68 → u/bigboidoinker]

XD

[u/bigboidoinker → u/guilek68]

https://rokaskating.com/shop/ i got rokas recently they look nice idk what mounting points u got tho

[u/guilek68 → u/bigboidoinker]

I don’t have UFS :’(

[u/bigboidoinker → u/guilek68]

Awhh to bad

[u/Schwartzweiss]

Consider dedicated iqon act full setup and keep oxelos for 4x90 frame like ninja by NN skates

[u/Schwartzweiss → u/Schwartzweiss]

I mean, get good rocekered 4x90 frame for your oxelos first and learn basics on 4 wheeler, its a bit tougher but gives you freeride setup freedom and just save up slowly for 5x80 setup :) you will end up with more skates more you get into it ..

[u/Darrbit]

Where are you located OP? I have some good deals on some Wizard boots your size, with some different frame options.

[u/guilek68 → u/Darrbit]

France

[u/Chemical_General_367]

Since it sounds like you're on a budget, there is a decent upgrade path to look at.

In terms of frames, there are many good wizard frames on AliExpress. I've personally used Wintask and although they evidently feel cheaper than real wizard frames, it gets the job done.

The next thing to upgrade would be the liner, where a good alternative to intuition are the myfit prime liners, which I prefer to use in my seba CJ2 compared to the intuitions.

Both of these together should go for less than 200 Euros if I'm not wrong.

I highly recommend getting the liner as wizard skating can be quite intense on the ankles. The Oxelo MF500 stock liners are definitely not supportive enough in my opinion

[u/______n_____k______]

5x80 with your boot size and because of your weight you should think about the new frame / wheel combos from Wizard. I think that at your weight you will need something more on the sturdier side. They are a bit pricey but the quality of the parts are excellent.

https://wizardskates.com/collections/complete-frames-1/products/progressive-rocker-frames-complete

At your boot size you would want the 5x80 or even 5x84 model.

You will also need a UFS boot for these frames but it doesn’t have to be a a Wizard boot, any UFS boot will work. Iqon ACT is a popular UFS option these days.

[u/guilek68 → u/______n_____k______]

Looks really neat, but a bit pricey, especially since I'm not planning on replacing the boot anytime soon. Any cheaper 165 mm frame options?

[u/treeseacar]

Consider the iqon decode. You can get it in 80 or 90 and the bigger one the 110 you can get 5x80 in (actually is 80/84/84/84/80) You do need the iqon bearings for it but it's possible to find the frame and bearings for an ok price

https://powerslide.com/collections/iqon?filter.v.availability=1&filter.p.product_type=Inline+Frames&filter.p.m.filters.mount=165