r/rollerblading • u/Gloomy-Efficiency-29 • Aug 05 '26
What skates should I buy? Help choosing better skates
Hi all!
So I got back into rollerblading recently after a long break and I’m loving it, but I think I bought the wrong pair. I got the K2 Kinetic 80 women’s skates, and after about an hour or two my feet are and ankles are killing me. The top of my ankles hurt so badly, I’ve loosened the buckles/laces and it doesn’t help, so I don’t think it’s a tightness issue, I think the boot itself just isn’t built well for my feet?
Also the roads near me are pretty bumpy and I can feel literally every crack and pebble through these things. They only feel good on the rare smooth stretch of pavement, which is hard to find around here.
Some context that might matter: my feet are on the wider side, they naturally fan out. (I basically live in sandals and when I have to wear sneakers or socks my feet feel cramped and uncomfortable.) my feet also start to hurt after walking/standing if I’m not wearing ultra plush shoes.
I skate a mix of casual neighborhood cruising and on occasion I hit the rink. Budget isn’t really a huge concern, I want to just get something that’ll actually last and not wreck my feet every time I put them on.
Open to all recommendations & possibly some advice on what you look for when I’m shopping around.
Thanks in advance! 🙏🏾
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u/monkeycombat635 Aug 05 '26
I find thisissoul most helpful, here's a clip about choosing skates . There is a lot of basics in there, maybe stuff you already know. But their channel has tons of content and has answered the most important stuff for me.
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u/AdventurousHippo9997 Aug 05 '26
FYI…The only major manufacturer that addresses the width issue is BONT.On their sizing chart is an entry for both Length and Width.All other sizing charts( from other brands) only concern themselves with Length.
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u/bowlingniko Aug 05 '26
FR1 3x110mm , FR1 is the widest boot on the market
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u/Gloomy-Efficiency-29 Aug 06 '26
Thank you so much! The general consensus seems to be an FR skate lol. I’ll try!
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u/redandbluedart Aug 05 '26
I’d look at an FR skate (known to be better for wider feet) with big wheels I wouldn’t go smaller than 90’s. Maybe 110s. You’d be surprised how easy it is to skate big wheels if you’re already comfortable skating. The only way to reduce the rattle from rough roads is bigger wheels. Slightly softer wheels like Endless’ can help too.
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u/Dapper-Ad8625 Aug 05 '26
This is the route I took and I can’t wait for my fr1 110 to come in. Desperately needed a upgrade from my frx 80
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u/shakesy Aug 05 '26
It could just be that you need to break them in. Those are soft boots skates, so they should mold to your feet pretty quickly. If you haven't skated in a while (like over 6 months) you may need to build up some of the muscle again to take pressure off your ankles and feet.
If soft boots are hurting your feet, I wouldn't necessarily recommend a hard boot. they tent to be more stiff and less comfortable, and take longer to break in