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Skate Buying Guide
Choosing the right skate
 
We are the authority on roller skates and because of that we have a wide selection of skates. Many customers want to know how to determine which skate is right from them from the wide variety that we offer on our site. The best way to start is to determine what type of skater you want to be. To make it easy, below are the two most popular forms of roller skating.

Roller rink skater: Thousands of people each week head to the rink to roller skate, exercise, listen to music, and socialize with their friends. If you are primarily going to be a rink skater, we recommend you buy a "Speed Skate" or "Indoor Skate".

Outdoor fitness/fun skater: Children and adults alike really enjoy skating outdoors. Also, roller skating is a great way to get into shape and stay into shape. If you are going to skate outdoors we recommend you purchase either an "Outdoor (Quad) Skate" or "Inline Skate".

Quad vs Inline:
Quad simply means that the skate has 4 wheels, 1 in each corner of the bottom of the skate. Quad skates have always been considered the "traditional" skate and this is what most skaters rent when they go to their local skating rink. Quad Skates are great for those wanting to learn to skate, fitness skate, perform skating tricks, jam (dancing on skates), play roller derby, skate outside, artistic skate (type of dancing on skates), or just those wanting an all-around rink skate.
Inline Skates are very popular skates for those wanting to skate outdoors as well as those wanting to speed skate. Inline Skates feature wheels that are, well, "in line" with each other. Inline Skates have anywhere from 3 to 5 wheels per pair of skate.

Outdoor vs Indoor Quad Skate:
The difference between an outdoor quad skate and an indoor quad skate are the wheels. The outdoor quad skates feature wheels that are soft which allows for a smoother roll on the non-smooth surfaces such as sidewalks & streets. The indoor quad skates feature wheels which are typically harder than outdoor wheels. A harder wheel will give you a smoother roll on very smooth surfaces like those at skating rinks.
Types of skates
 

To help make your skate selection easier, below is a short description of each type of skate that we offer.

Need help? Chat with us (at the bottom right), Call us at 888-987-5283, or Email us at email@rollerskatenation.com.

There are 6 main types of skates: Speed/Jam, Outdoor, Indoor, Roller Derby, Kids, and Inline Skates 

Speed & Jam Skates
These skates are meant to go fast and because of their design they are very popular skates. Speed skates feature low cut shoes (boot) that fits just like tennis shoes. The low cut design helps with going around corners. These skates are very popular because of the freedom of movement that they provide in the ankles thus being popular for jam (dance) skating and, of course, speed skating. These skates also feature speed style wheels and bearings (part that makes your wheel spin) that enables skaters to skate faster and longer.
Outdoor Skates
These skates are simply meant for the outdoors. Outdoor skates come in either low top or high top boots and the wheels are specifically designed to skate outdoors where the ground is not as smooth. For the most part, the only difference between an indoor skate and an outdoor skate are the wheels. Outdoor wheels are softer and more absorbent which allow for a smoother ride over "not so smooth" surfaces.
Indoor Skates
Indoor skates (sometimes referred to as Artistic Skates, Recreational Skates, or Traditional Skates). These are traditional style skates that are for those wanting to skate in a skating rink, artistically dance (kind of like ice skating but instead of a blade they have wheels), and those that want to rhythm skate. These skates feature high boots that allow for good control while performing spins or jumps. The wheels are more narrow which allow for easy turning and maneuverability.
Roller Derby Skates
The sport of Roller Derby dates back to the 1930s and is quickly gaining in popularity. These skates are designed to take the abuse that is experienced by participating in the sport. Roller Derby Skates require durability but also a skate that can get up to fast levels very quickly as well as hold through tight turns.
Kids skates are skates that are designed for the young skaters. They look cool but at the same time they designed so that they will not go as fast as other skates. Plus, these skates are designed for the wear and tear that kids put on their skates!

There are 3 main types of Inline Skates: Recreational, Racing, and Roller Hockey.

Recreational Skates
Also known as fitness skates, these skates are designed for the skater who wants a good pair of skates to exercise in, usually outdoors. The shoes (boots) are high top which offers excellent foot and ankle support. These skates are also very comfortable so that the skater can skate for longer periods of time.
Racing Skates
Racing skates are skates that were designed to go fast, simply put. The shoe (boot) is designed so that it fits as close to your foot as possible allowing you the least amount of wind resistance. The wheels of these skates are easily interchangeable to allow the skater to skate indoors or outdoors.
Roller Hockey Skates
These are skates that are made for those playing the sport of roller hockey. Roller hockey is a very popular sport, especially among youth and young adults. These skates were designed to hold up to the abuse due to the nature of the sport.

Need help? Chat with us (at the bottom right), Call us at 888-987-5283, or Email us at email@rollerskatenation.com.
Parts of the skate
 
Below is a general definition of the parts of a skate. For more detailed information, please visit our "Parts of the Skate" section in our Knowledge Base.

Boot-This is what attaches to the plates or frames and wheels of your skate that your foot goes in. Sometimes referred to as a shoe.
 
Plate-This is attached to the bottom of your QUAD skate and holds the wheels. Sometimes referred to as the chassis.
 
Frame-This is attached to the bottom of your INLINE skate and holds the wheels.
 
Trucks-The trucks attach to the plate and hold the wheels on a QUAD skate.
 
Wheels-Each skater requires different types of wheels depending on what the skater is doing. Outdoor skaters will need a "softer" wheel to allow for the non-smooth surfaces and an indoor skater will need a harder wheel. (See wheel section in our Knowledge Base for more info).
 
Bearings-The bearings help the wheels move freely on the skate. Generally, the higher "rated" the bearing the better the bearing. (See bearing section in our Knowledge Base for more info).
 
Toe Stop-Helps with stopping, usually when backwards skating. Usually in the front on quad skates and in the back on inline skates.
 
For more detailed information on the parts of a skate and to find other information about skates please visit our Knowledge Base.
Skate Knowledge Base
 
Our Knowledge Base is packed full of useful skating information. Click here to search our Knowledge Base!