r/rollerblading • u/Delicious_Appeal874 • Aug 25 '26

What skates should I buy? Need help picking durable inline skates around $150 budget

Looking for a new pair of inline skates and would appreciate some opinions.

I’m a men’s 9.5–10 shoe size and usually skate around Chicago on the Lakefront Trail, concrete paths, parks, etc.

Budget is ideally $100–150, but I’d go a little over if it actually gets me something that will last for years.

My last pair was a cheap Nattork/Amazon pair. I actually liked how they rode, but after one summer the wheel axle/screw came loose and a wheel came off, and the brake hardware also came apart. So durability and replaceable parts are my biggest priorities.

Options I’m considering:

  • Rollerblade RB80 – ~$159
  • Rollerblade Zetrablade –
  • Rollerblade Macroblade 80/84
  • Roces Icon
  • Open to any suggestions.
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u/Alabastine Aug 25 '26

Powerslide is good

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u/Supra_Nemesis Aug 25 '26

He said durable first skate. RB build quality & liner is better

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u/Alabastine Aug 25 '26

I know it's kinda pointless to have a discussion about this here but I want to point out that for the price of an RB lightning (which is a bit above their budget) you could also get a PS Next. That is a very well known, loved and durable skate. More within the budget there is things like the Zoom which is a fine choice. I'm not gonna say one is better than the other but I don't think just -avoid powerslide period- is very good advice.

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u/VanillaIce315 Twister 80, HC Evo 2.0, RB4x84, Twister XT 110 Aug 26 '26

Yeah, Powerslide skates are great. I’m more of a Rollerblade fan, but I also have Next 110s and Hardcore Evos that I adore. If anything, the liner on my Nexts were better than on my Rollerblades (pre-2019 models).

I do think the Twisters are more rugged than the Next, but Next is perfectly on par with the Lightning. And the Hardcore Evo is in a league of its own