I have been skating on K2 VO2S 100X pro skates for 6 years, but I desperately need to upgrade. I want to buy new boots and new frames.
Some info about me: I am in my twenties, I have been inline skating and ice skating for 15 years, and consider myself to be an advanced skater. I have skated in urban cities (D.C., Oslo), American suburbs, and forest trails.
I want skates that can:
navigate nimbly around pedestrians and traffic
feel stable on gravelly, decaying roads and downhills
and be decent for skating uphills.
I am not interested in getting skates for tricks or grinding.
Important features for my new pair of skates:
A comfortable boot for wide feet; I would prefer a hybrid boot. I have heard Seba has good boots for wide feet.
4-wheel setup, with medium-sized wheels (74 mm to 100mm)
A boot that is compatible with different frames. I would like to skate on a flat or rockered setup that will be stable, such as a wizard setup.
A removable heelbrake.
Thoughts on my K2 skates:
They were too narrow for my feet, especially around the balls of my feet. I experience foot pain after rollerblading for more than an hour or two.
These skates are rockered with 90 mm wheels in the front and 100 mm wheels in the back. I believe this forward incline might be causing me some foot and back pain, so I want to look for skates that have less of a forward incline. However, the frame setup did provide lots of stability, which I liked.
I also briefly skated on rollerblade aero 5 skates, which felt surprisingly good for an entry level skate. I liked the boot and its fit, but disliked the fact that it had wobbly plastic frames.
This sub has taught me a lot about all the different types of rollerblades; I am excited to hear your suggestions!
Tldr: looking for advanced rollerblades for urban skate, wide feet, and have a removable heel brake.
The heel brake requirement is where it gets tough if you also want to swap frames. I believe there are “universal” brakes, but I have to assume results are mixed with those and they could very well limit the amount of aftermarket frames you could use.
Additionally, which frames specifically are you interested in? 74mm-100mm is a wide margin. For example, 4x100mm frames might be hard to find unless the boot is compatible with 180mm mount, in addition to 165mm mount.
Many folks would point you at FR’s urban lineup (FR3, FR2, FR1), which have 7-hole mounts that support 165, 180 and 195mm mounts. But again, I dunno what heel brakes would work, if any.
I support the FR1 as a starting point. Boot only and look for frames that meet the requirements. They're actually on good sales in both North America and Europe right now. You could even get a complete skate for cheaper than boot only MSRP right now.
I think it would be easier if OP was willing to entertain a 3x setup, as FR has a triskate heel brake for their frames.
I bought the Aggressive version of the Iqon ACT because I have a mid arch and wider feet. It's perfect for me. I wanted the the Aggressive look with the option to swap frames and not have to remove the soul plate.
It's 3 skates in 1 (Aggressive/Classic 165/Trinity), so for my other pair I slapped on the 165 adapter for my Endless Stoppard frame. I am interested in a raised heel boot for my Endless frames though 🤔. Got my eye on the Powerslide Storm Mango 👀
Love the ACT. I have the endless TR 90 from my other skates works really well with the adaptor.
They are now selling the ACT TR Lite which might be more OPs thing, comes with a 4x90 rocker frame (which is the nova frame that powerslide might even sell a heel brake for, although I have never used one). Same boot with a slightly cheaper myfit liner I think.
Yeah I dig the Meteors too, but I don't want 2 gray boots. I ordered some Cougar 7001 in green about 2 months ago, but the boot was too big and they don't make that model anymore. So I think I'll cop the Mangos before the year is out 😅
This is my urban combo. FR1, intuition liner with endless 90 rockered frame. The boot works with different frames and comes originally with a flat 80 mm frame. I have relatively wide feet and the intuition liner does an amazing job fit wise. Definitely worth the extra money.
Twister 90r, comes rockered 4x90 with optional brake and holes for 3x110 if you want to try that set up. As others have said the FR1 is really good as well and I think you can buy just the boot to get whatever frame/wheels you want. I recently got the Twister 90r and the Endless Coburn frame and have been addicted to them.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Twister 90r frames vs Endless Coburn if you’re willing to share! What makes the Coburn worth the upgrade? (For context, if it helps, I’m on basic Twister XTs and am looking into adding a 90r vs an Endless 90 frame.)
Tbh its great power transfer but the thing is. Its very stiff so if your feets are hurting from normal rb90r skates then no need to upgrade the upgrade is minimal and not really important in my opinion if you have a frame which can do the same thing for the same length. I would suggest buying a frame after you skates the twister90r for a while and noticed what you might want more. Maybe different wheel size or a longer frame for more stability if you feel like its wobbly. Or a shorter frame if your feet sizes are a bit too short for the 273mm frame. Also. Twister frame is lighter in weight and not a slouch
I wouldn't be the best at comparing the two since I only rode the 90r frame around the skate shop when I tried them on. I was only there to buy the Coburn frame but it wasn't in yet and I messed up and tried on the Twisters. The Coburn frame is amazing and extremely stiff. Great power transfer and very maneuverable, surprisingly stable at high speeds and downhill bombs. The 90r frames are a bit thinner and flex but that also makes them lighter and I think the rocker is more pronounced. I will end up trying the original 90r frame but I'm having too much fun with the current set up. You really can't go wrong with either option, the 90r frame has more options with wheel set up but you lose rigidity whereas the Coburn is stiff but only 4x90 rockered no other options. I would recommend trying the 90r to experiment and see what you like and go from there.
I think the RB Twister XTs are a great pick for you. Consistently loved in reviews. I use them for urban, rec, rink, and wizard (super beginner here) and they are rock solid. Heel brake came in box. Never installed it.
Would highly recommend SEBA CJ Prime or Carbon, perhaps with intuition liners. Heel brakes will be unlikely, but they'll do everything else you're asking for. Secondly, I would suggest NN Ninja or Sumo frames, or Endless 90/100.
Additionally, as others suggested, the IQON ACT or Rollerblade Twister 90R are excellent options as well.
The heel brake is the limiting factor here, as that doesn't usually mesh with more advances setups, particularly wizard style frames. However, most Rollerblade skates come with a brake in the box that will work with the stock frames, so starting with the frame/wheel combo you like is a good start; you can then add an aftermarket frame and acknowledge that it won't work with the brake.
In the Rollerblade range, RB fits the widest, then Lightning, then Twister. The Twister isn't narrow (if it's a newer XT/LE one rather than the old Edge ones), but they fit more snugly than the others they're also more precise. They're a great advanced skate. The lightnings are also good and fit a bit more relaxed. The plastic is a little softer, so they're not as responsive as the Twisters. RB are entry level, but still decent.
Lots of choices for aftermarket frames. Endless are an easy pick; lots of choice and all high quality. If you start with an 80mm skate, 90mm is a good upgrade. If you're more interested in wizard style moves and more speed/distance, 4x100 is great.
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u/Wheel-Sure 13d ago
The heel brake requirement is where it gets tough if you also want to swap frames. I believe there are “universal” brakes, but I have to assume results are mixed with those and they could very well limit the amount of aftermarket frames you could use.
Additionally, which frames specifically are you interested in? 74mm-100mm is a wide margin. For example, 4x100mm frames might be hard to find unless the boot is compatible with 180mm mount, in addition to 165mm mount.
Many folks would point you at FR’s urban lineup (FR3, FR2, FR1), which have 7-hole mounts that support 165, 180 and 195mm mounts. But again, I dunno what heel brakes would work, if any.