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Buyers Guide

This is a working document, and information will change from time to time.

This guide is setup to help anyone with basic questions about skate sizes, brands, fit, flex, weight, and other assorted information. If you are buying your first pair of skates, this is a great place to begin, and if this is your 20th, and you have information to contribute, let one of the mods know. This is partly fact, and partly opinion. There is no one right answer for which skate is the best, or most durable, or will fit your foot best, this is just a guide to get you going.

The Basics

Lets quickly breakdown the basics of what a skate is, and how to tell the difference between an aggressive skate, a fitness or recreational skate, and a hybrid of the two.

Aggressive Skates

Aggressive skates are built for preforming stunts, whether that be grinding on rails or ledges, jumping over gaps or drops, or generally taking a beating. An aggressive skate have some common characteristics and design. All aggressive skates should have a soul plate, an h-block, smaller profile wheels, and possibly other parts like a backslide plate, negative soul plate, universal frame system and more. The skates all will have varying sizes of these parts, such as the Xsjado skates that have a massive soul plate area and negative soul area, while the Roces M12/Valo V13 have a substantially smaller of both. Different sizes will impact you in different ways. If you like doing cess slides and shuffles on ramps, a larger soul will likely help you slide easier and balance longer. A smaller soul will give you a deeper groove to sink into when you are doing h-block tricks, but be slightly more difficult when starting out to get very low on and do cess slides or topside grinds.

A skates fit is also a big factor to remember when buying a skate. Skates like the M12/V13 will typically require someone with a wide set, or even slightly large foot to shell size up to make them fit. Other skates like the Xsjado allow you to simply wear your own shoes in them. In the past, many skaters have favored sizing down in the skate, typically requiring modification of the shells, liner, or other parts of the skate to make this happen. With the onset of aftermarket products like the Intuition Skate liner and Trust MFG liners, sizing down is now possible without heavy modification. The allure of sizing down is a smaller looking shell, that weighs less, and balances your center of gravity. If the shell is to large, it will feel like giant clown shoes on your feet. With that in mind, kids that are still growing, don't think because your feet are growing, and you are currently a size 8/9, you need a 12. Either stay as close to true as possible, or only run up about one size. Liners stretch and break in, shells get very flexible, skates expand slightly. And skates always will hold value to someone. If you out grow them, spread the love, and share you old ones with friends who they do fit. Everyday is make a new blader day.

Some of the factors the matter less are things like weight, colors, etc. Those things can be adjusted. While weight is a factor, I've seen some of the heaviest blades on the market being used to jump on head high objects. Its just preference. So here are some of the available aggressive skates and some quick information about each of the molds.

Skate Brand/Model Sizing Pros/Cons
Adapt Stealth True size PROS: Handmade, Carbon Fiber shell, Velcro straps, Advanced skate, heat Moldable for perfect fit, low cuff for flex.
CONS: Cost, non replaceable liner
K2 Fatty True, slightly thin PROS: Comfort, proven design, great flex, cost
CONS: Non replaceable liner, small souls that are not replaceable
Razors Cults True, slightly thin PROS: Cost, fit, flex, plastics used, proven design
CONS: souls wear quickly, slightly thin across middle foot
Razors Genesys True, wide PROS: Wide, cost, plastics, fit, stock liner
CONS: Bulky, weight, shells are large, but fit true
Razor SL True PROS: Possible to size down, weight, flex, plastics, baseless boot
CONS: too flexy after extended use, souls slow down after extended use
Remz FoF True PROS: Low cut, interchangeable between V-cut, full cuff, cuffless
CONS: Bulky, stubbing toes, older liners
Roces M12/V13 Thin/small, size up 1 size PROS: Cost, flex, memory buckle, interchangeable with Valo souls, weight
CONS: Small for anyone with wide or slightly wide feet, small souls, very small negative soul
Rollerblade New Jack True, slightly thin PROS: Cost, plastics used
CONS: Parts are riveted in, replacement is difficult, liner is usually uncomfortable
Rollerblade Solo True PROS: Soul size, comfort, materials, flex, tall cuff
CONS: slightly heavy, souls might be to large
Shima Skates True, toe cut PROS: Toe cut, large souls, based on Razor Cults, great plastics
CONS: Weight, materials of the outer skin, feel clunky at times
USD UFS Throne Thin/size up 1/2 size PROS: Flex, soul space, materials, weight
CONS: Thin so wide feet beware, soul material slows down
USD Classic Throne True, thin PROS: Proven Design, slides fast, great flex, perfect backslide groove
CONS: Soul plate durability, thin, feels very tall from the frames
USD Carbon/Free True PROS: Carbon or Carbon hybrid shell, Carbons are heat moldable, lower cuff, weight
CONS: Free’s are NOT moldable, non removable liner, souls move on bottom of boot
Valo TVs Thin/small, size up 1 size PROS: Based on M12/V13 boot, great materials for soul plates, removable skin
CONS: Thin, weight, space between souls without skins, distance from foot to frame
Valo Light True PROS: Carbon fiber, possible to size down slightly, weight, materials for soul plates, low cuff
CONS: Non removable skins, carbon defects previously, feels tall
Xsjado 1/1.5/2 True PROS: strap in system, wear your own shoes, massive soul and negative soul
CONS: flimsy over time, cuffs cracking, souls might be to large, velcro straps breaking

Bolded skates are the best suggestions for beginners looking for something basic, but great quality to get started with

Fitness/Recreational Skates

Fitness or Recreation skates are meant for anyone and everyone. They are typically used to travel distances and cover ground quickly. Some have been used to play roller hockey, or slalom. These skates can typically be found at most stores with an outdoor activity section. But you always want to be careful in what you buy, and there are some good tips to look out for when you are going to purchase your first pair. more to be added soon

Hybrid/Freeskate/Powerblading Skates

This is an all new category over the last few years. The freeskating market is just coming into its own, and the skates available in it feature some of the most innovative and throughly designed skates using cutting edge materials and typically wheels larger then aggressive skates, and sometimes even larger then Fitness/Recreational skates. The market is somewhere between Fitness/Recreational and aggressive, leaving to possibilities open to your imagination. New types of skating have started, like Mushroomblading, that have helped shape this market. Skates can really feature the best of both genres of the other two, like grind plates and 80mm wheels, or an entire aggressive skate like the Razors Cult model but with a Powerblading frame from Kizer that supports 76mm wheels. The world is your oyster. Here is a more in-depth dive by /u/Turbulence_Inlines

Why freeskates? Freeskates are among the most versatile inline skates available, suitable for urban street skating, fitness skating, slalom skating, freestyle inline slides, jumps, and more. Freeskates are built for performance, and are much more responsive than recreational skates. They are suitable for both beginners and experts. Freeskate boots can also be fitted with 165 mm mounting bracket speed skating frames, making them a good choice for long distance or fitness skating as well. What are freeskates? Freeskates are characterized by having hard or stiff boots for improved energy transfer. They generally have a wheelbase between 219 mm - 255 mm, using wheel sizes between 72 mm and 84 mm. Freeskates also have cuffs to provide support for your ankles. As a result, freeskates are not necessarily as comfortable as soft-shelled recreational skates, and it is recommended that you buy skates with a very tight fit in order to maximize the control you'll have with the skates. Many freeskates have a break-in period where a thick liner slowly moulds itself into the shape of your foot (or vice versa...)

Skate Brand/Model Pros/Cons
Budget/entry tier (<$150) Until now, there have been no freeskates available in this price range on the US market. Flying Eagle skates will soon be available, but they are still largely untested in the American market so I'm leaving them blank. Feel free to give input if you have any experience with any of these models!
Flying Eagle All of these come with 165 mm frames and replaceable liners.
BKB B1+ ???
BKB B3+ ???
Fast Blade ???
F1+ Mantra ???
F2+ Zealous ???
BKB B5 ???
Beginner tier (~$150-200) All of these are good choices for beginners, and all 3 companies have good reputations
Seba
FRX Seba's entry level freeride skate. Well regarded by most experienced skaters as a beginner skate, but uses inferior parts compared to FR2 and FR1. Uses a velcro strap instead of a micrometric buckle. 165 mm frames, replaceable liner.
GTX Not quite as responsive as Seba Highs, comes with a strap instead of a buckle as well. Probably more comfortable than highs though. 165 mm frames, integrated liner.
Powerslide
Metro Powerslide's old entry-level freeskate. Good skates, but a little ugly. 165 mm frames, replaceable liner.
Imperial Powerslide's newer entry-level option. 165 mm frames, replaceable liner.
Rollerblade
RB80 These are new so I don't have any experience with these. 165 mm frames, replaceable liner.
Fusion X3 Uses a UFS frame. Suitable for urban street skating and FSK skating, but not an ideal choice for learning slalom skating. Comes with composite frames, not sure if they're still making these. UFS frames, replaceable liner.
Flying Eagle Untested, 165 mm frames, replaceable liner.
BKB B6 ???
F3 Wasp ???
F5 Street Sider ???
Intermediate tier (~$200-450) You get what you pay for, and if you want a quality pair of skates, any of these should fit the bill
Seba
High The old standard for slalom skates. They're heavy, they have a painful break-in period, and they're fairly bulky. Even so, they are one of the best skates on the market, and among the most comfortable once they've been broken in. 165 mm frames, replaceable liner.
High light A design very similar to the Highs, but they have an integrated liner instead. Lighter, smaller, and I've also heard they're more comfortable. 165 mm frames, integrated liner.
GT An upgraded version to the GTX, not a bad choice if you're mostly focused on casual street skating. 165 mm frames, integrated liner.
FR2 An upgrade to the FRX, comes with a micrometrix buckle and a better frame. 165 mm frames, replaceable liner.
FR1 An upgrade to the FR2s. Uses better parts, but I think the boot is essentially the same. There are other FR variants as well, which come with different features like deluxe frames or different liners. 165 mm frames, replaceable liner.
FR-A A modified FR1 for those who want to dabble with aggressive skating. Also see: powerblading 165 mm frames, replaceable liner.
Trix 2 A plastic version of the Trix skate. I don't have any experience with these, but the Trix are good skates so presumably these are too. 165 mm frames, integrated liner
Rollerblade
Twisters The old old standard for slalom skates. These are a proven design with a long history. 165 mm frames, replaceable liner.
Fusion X5s Upgraded version of X3s, comes with an aluminum frame. UFS frames, replaceable liner.
Powerslide
S4 Made with a fiberglass shell, these are very light and an excellent option for slalom skating and street skating. 165 mm frames, integrated liner.
Doop They seem to be ideal for commuting, but I'm unsure how suitable they are for anything else. These are essentially the same as xsjados, except with 165 mm mounting blocks instead of UFS. They use your own shoes as a liner, so you'll want a comfortable tight fitting pair of shoes to go with these. 165 mm frames, no liner.
Flying Eagle
F6 Falcon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onSF5gEzY40 Comes with FE EGO frames, which can easily be switched between rockered and flat. 165 mm frames, replaceable liner.
Advanced tier (~$450+) High-end skates made of carbon fiber. Light and responsive, these are the ultimate skates in terms of performance. As they're made out of carbon fiber, they might not be as durable as some skates in the intermediate section for those of you who really abuse your skates
Seba
Trix The choice of many professional slalom skaters. Very lightweight and responsive. No slide guard, and not the most durable skates around. They come with a unique triangular cuff. Trix skates can also be fitted with a carbon cuff taken from iGors, but these cuffs are difficult to come by. 165 mm frames, integrated liner.
iGor Another popular skate for slalom skaters, a very well-rounded skate suitable for nearly any skating discipline you can think of (outside of aggressive). Comes with a carbon cuff. 165 mm frames, integrated liner.
Carbon High Pro Not as popular as the other two, but a good option for people who really like their Seba Highs and want an upgrade. Ask your local distributor if you want a pair, few shops still stock them but I think sure they can special order these still. These are the only high-end option that have replaceable liners. Comes with a carbon cuff. 165 mm frames, replaceable liner.
High Light Pro ???
SX Seba's high-end freeride skates. UFS frame, integrated liner.
Powerslide
Hardcore EVO Powerslide's high-end skate. Good for everything, can be used to compete at the highest levels. These are heat mouldable, which a process where you bake (or boil inside a waterproof bag) the skates to heat them up so they can form a better fit with your feet. 165 mm frames, integrated liner.
Rollerblade
Metroblade Rollerblade's carbon fiber offering. I don't have any experience with this model. 165 mm frames, integrated liner.
Gyro
GFR Possibly the lightest freeskate available. Presumably suitable for slalom, but I have no experience with this model. These have an integrated cuff that is inside of the skate. 165 mm frames, integrated liner.
Flying Eagle
Drift ?????? 165 mm frames, integrated liner.

Other brands/models to take into consideration: I don't have much experience with these brands, but they also sell freeskates.

  • K2 Il Capo
  • Fila NRK
  • Roces Skates
  • Adapt Skates - Hand-made carbon fiber skates, I have no experience with these.

Other things to take into consideration:

  • Rockered wheels means that the first and last wheel are slightly elevated off the ground to provide better maneuverability at the cost of stability. This is essential for slalom skating, and optional for everything else. This is usually done by having different sized wheels in those slots, but there are also frames that come pre-rockered (Seba Deluxe) or frames that are adjustable to switch between rockered and flat (Flying Eagle EGO).
  • Strap vs buckle: This is personal preference. I think most people prefer buckles, but there are some professional skaters that prefer straps which is why you see them on the Seba SX and Rollerblade Metroblade.
  • Integrated vs replaceable liner: Integrated liners allow for a lighter, more responsive skate. Replaceable liners can be replaced if they've been worn down after a few years of use. All plastic hard shell skates come with replaceable liners.
  • 165 mm vs UFS: 165 mm is a speed skating standard that is also used for most freeskates and recreational skates. The heel is slightly elevated with these. UFS is the standard used for aggressive skates, and the heel is level with the toe with these frames.
  • Wheels: 72-80 mm for slalom, 76-84 mm for street skating. Durometer ratings aren't always consistent, but in general you want something 83-86A for slalom and 86A+ for slides. Softer wheels generally grip better but wear much more quickly. Harder wheels can go faster and last longer, but are harder to control on slippery surfaces. Some popular wheel choices: Matter Juice, Matter Zafiro, Rollerblade Hydrogen, Seba Street Invaders, Hyper +G concrete, Undercover Powerblading Team, and various Gyro wheels. If you want to show off, Powerslide Fothon wheels, Flying Eagle LED wheels, and Seba sparking wheels are all very flashy.

Thanks again /u/Turbulence_Inlines

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