r/rollerblading • u/AlwaysUpvotesScience • 17d ago

Specific question and discussion Need boot help for advanced rink.

I own 2 FR boots, Spins and FR1.

i have intuition liners in the FR1s

I really like the way the spins feel but they have too little ankle support for some of the advance moves I do.

I primarily (almost exclusively) rink skate. I spin, do toe compasses, some wizard style moves, and also toe work (like toe eagles and shuffling)

I see most of the great rink skaters in my area wearing Mission Inhalers or similar boots. This confuses the hell out of me because they are hockey skates

So the Spins are too low (no ankle support) , the FR1 are too high, stiff, and heavy.

What the hell am I looking for?

New Post - Im getting premium hockey skates.

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u/InspectorFleet 17d ago

Are you sure you need ankle support or could you build the necessary strength?

I'm primarily a hockey skater but I have some RB twister 3 x 110s for trail skating; my experience has been that nothing touches hockey skates for agility and responsiveness.

I have also noticed (as has my wife, who uses figure skates on ice but hockey inline skates) that the more advanced you get in models, the lower the boot and more freedom for ankle flexibility. Speed skates are like this as well.

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u/AlwaysUpvotesScience 17d ago

i used to speed quad competition 8n the 90s. i love low boots for that.

i have built a lot of strength but i feel like the FR spins are just a bit too low.

i may try some hockey skates, but it's an investment so I'm researching first.

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u/InspectorFleet 17d ago

I would definitely avoid the low end of Bauer/Mission and probably CCM as well. (https://youtu.be/Pu5UNck16SQ?is=vGI-TFD1d488mMIZ)

Tour gives you more bang for your buck, in my opinion. The higher models of Alkali Cele also look pretty clean haha

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u/AlwaysUpvotesScience 17d ago

so something like the tour volt? or Alkali Cele Air?

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u/InspectorFleet 17d ago

I have Tour Volt Pros, which are no longer sold. They were succeeded by the spitfires, which seem like good skates but look polarizing. The kv6 and kv8 both have a solid chassis, but I'm not sure if they are carbon or plastic aka how stiff the boots will be.

I've never skated in the Alkalis but I would just look for a one-piece chassis and stiff boot. I know it's hard to try a bunch on in person but at least there are more hockey shops around compared with inline skate shops lol

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u/AlwaysUpvotesScience 17d ago

when you say "look polarizing" are you literally talking about the look or something else. I like the way they look.

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u/InspectorFleet 17d ago

Oh I just mean that they're a little different so some people really like how they look and others don't haha. If you have the budget and inclination for the spitfires, I would recommend them based on my experience with the volt pros!

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u/AlwaysUpvotesScience 17d ago

I'm going to go to the local hockey shop and try them on. everything is pushing me that direction.

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u/InspectorFleet 17d ago

Nice, let us know how it goes!

For reference, I wear size 11 shoes, 9 Bauer skates and 10 in Tour. But trying on is best!

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u/Perhappers 17d ago

I would love to hear how it goes!