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Buyers Guide: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Aggressive Inline Skates
Updated on Feb 12, 2023, 4:49 PM EST
The Buyers Guide section of bigwheelblading.com, provides everything you need to make informed purchases online.
Many aggressive inline skate options are available online, but researching and finding the ones that meet your needs can be overwhelming. To save you time and frustration, I have curated a list of the best aggressive skates available. These are high-quality skates from the top brands within the industry that give back by supporting professional riders and events.
This guide is a living article and will be continuously updated and modified. Some of the skates in this guide are staples that have been around for years and will always be available. The pro models and collaborations are limited and generally only manufactured once. If you like a skate, I recommend getting it when it’s still available because once sold out, you most likely won’t be able to get them again.
I have been working in the inline skating industry for 27 years and currently run bigwheelblading.com and host the Then and Now YouTube Channel. Having skated many of the aggressive inline skates in this guide, I’m familiar with what’s out there. I want to share my knowledge of the best skates and gear available for adults and kids.
We have compiled a list of this year’s Best Aggressive Inline Skates below, but if you’re in a time crunch and want to skim through the list and compare prices, here they are!
Still with us? Great! Let’s review our list of the best aggressive inline skates.
The Rollerblade Blank is a reimagined iteration of the classic Rollerblade Solo aggressive inline skates. Although the skates look similar, they couldn’t be more different. The modernized soulplate, designed by Kyle Sola, is more streamlined, lighter, and robust. The frame is mounted directly to the shell so the soulplate can be removed for big wheel UFS setups. A benefit of this soulplate is that the recessed areas allow bigger wheel UFS frames, like Oysius, to be used without making modifications.
The cuff has been redesigned, given a standard buckle, and has exceptional buckle protectors built into the mold to protect them when missing tricks or falling. The strap is now mounted with three screws, allowing you to tighten the skate more efficiently. The Blank Liners are comfortable, have strategic padding, and stretch neoprene toebox. An included footboard sizer adjusts the size, and the Performance-Plus Insoles use a rubber outsole and a silicone strip to stay in place. The Rollerblade Blank aggressive inline skates come with Blank Frames, Hydrogen 60mm wheels, and Twinxam ILQ-9 Bearings.
The Rollerblade Blank Team aggressive inline skates come complete with the new Blank V2 Liner with memory foam, 60mm 92a Hydrogen Blank Wheels, 42mm plastic anti-rocker wheels, and Twincam ILQ-9 Classic Plus Bearings. The V2 Liner is lighter, slimmer, and has a better lacing system.
Not true to size. Use foot measurement to determine the size (add .5cm for room at the toe).
Iqon was founded in 2021 and is part of the Disroyal distribution family.
The Iqon AG 20 Boots are made with glass fiber reinforced plastic to be lightweight and flexible yet remain very durable. They are a stiffer version of the USD Carbon Free shell with a higher cuff position. The cuff works well with the Myfit Prime liner, offering excellent stability while reducing the scope of forward-backward flex. The heat-moldable and lightweight MyFit Prime Liners feel great right out of the box. These are one of the most comfortable skates I skated last year!
The 45-degree Velcro strap is mounted firmly with screws, and an aluminum buckle is protected against damage thanks to the shape of the cuff. The sole plate is the same plate found on the USD VII, slides incredibly well, and has plenty of space for doing both soul and negative grinds. My biggest issue with these skates is that the sole plate does not line up well with the boot, so it does not look aesthetically pleasing when looking down at them. Comfort-wise, these were one of my favorite boots that I skated in 2022.
Them Skates has had an immense impact inside and outside the industry through product innovation, collaborations, and its close association with streetwear culture. Them is the brainchild of Jon Julio, who, together with Kyle Sola, designed their flagship Them 909. The Them 909 aggressive inline skates come complete with the Them UFS street skating frame, 58 mm 90a Wheels, ABEC 5 bearings, and either Them V4 Liners or Intuition Liners depending on the model.
The latest skates feature aluminum buckles with an engraved logo and V3 soulplates with a larger heel area. The interior walls of the soulplates are thicker and longer-lasting, yet the skate still feels lightweight. The soulplate is mounted to the boot with eight screws, making the skates more solid and stable. The H-block of the frame is lower, preventing wheel bite. The redesigned liners have an excellent heel lock and position your foot more forward. There are several models of the 909 skates currently available.
The Them 909 Black aggressive inline skates look super clean, and it is hard to go wrong in all black.
The Them 909 x WKND Skateboards Collaboration aggressive inline skates are their most unexpected and coolest collaboration yet. Inline skaters and skateboarders have not always seen eye to eye, but these two brands have put that all aside for this project. The bottom of the soulplates feature illustrations of inline skaters and boarders. There is another illustration on the back of the cuff of a droopy dog on skates holding a skateboard.
The Them 909 x Clarks Originals Collaboration aggressive inline skates are an instant classic with their blue and beige color scheme that looks like suede inspired by a Clark boot.
The Them 909 Grey Intuition aggressive inline skates feature high-end Intuition Liners with the Them logo on the back. They fit incredibly with a neoprene toe and high-density Genuine Intuition Foam, which molds to your foot naturally without needing heat molding, although they are heat-moldable. The liners have plenty of ventilation holes and an anti-microbial lining to keep your feet dry and comfortable. They lace all the way up and can fasten to the shell if wanted, and a reinforced tongue gives you more control.
Runs Small; It is recommended to size them up.
The USD Aeon aggressive inline skates are an excellent lightweight unibody skate for beginners (and experts) overwhelmed with all the boot and frame options, making them the perfect flat setup out of the box. They combine the shell, soulplate, and frame into one single mold and offer a large wheel split with an impressive groove for easy grinds. Due to their wide and generous design, you don’t have to worry about wheel bite. The flat option is also great for people getting into skating because it allows for a smooth ride and helps your style while just skating between obstacles.
They have lowered the center of gravity to give considerably better control over the skate. The divergence from the UFS system allows for larger wheels up to 72 mm that sit as “low” as standard aggressive frames. The cuffs of the Aeon are available in two versions – soft and hard and can be set in two height positions to adjust flex. Include wicked bearings and great liners.
One of the most significant aspects of the USD Aeon skates is they introduced a 36-38 shell for adults and juniors with small feet. This 36-38 shell is by far the best option for children. All the other kid’s aggressive skates are a 2-piece size adjustable shell that is not as durable or long-lasting.
The USD Aeon 60 Aaron Feinberg Pro aggressive inline skates are part of USD’s 25th Anniversary Collection to show appreciation for legendary pros from USD’s past. The Feinberg model comes with heat-moldable MYFIT 2nd Skin dual-fit liners, 61mm 90A wheels, and Wicked ABEC 9 bearings.
The USD Aeon 60 EQT aggressive inline skates come in all pink with white highlights and looks terrific. All sales support the female skaters on their team through a royalty program. The EQT I’m excited that this skate is available in all sizes, so anyone can skate them while supporting the team. The EQT model comes with heat-moldable MYFIT 2nd Skin liners, 61mm 90A wheels, and Wicked ABEC 7 bearings.
The USD Aeon 68 Takeshi Pro aggressive inline skates are part of USD’s 25th Anniversary Collection to show appreciation for legendary pros from USD’s past. The Takeshi model comes with heat-moldable MyFit Recall Dual Fit Liners, 68mm 90A wheels, and Wicked Abec 9 Bearings. The frame fits up to 72mm wheels.
The USD Sway aggressive inline skates have experienced several changes and advancements in the past few years. They’ve transformed from an affordable beginner skate into high-quality precision skates for all skill levels with a universal fit that can accommodate nearly every type of foot.
Some newer Sway models come fitted with a brand new soulplate designed jointly with Chris Farmer. The new soulplate is more aesthetically pleasing, compact, and fits better to the shell. Chris ensured the contact area was wider on both sides, making negative tricks more effortless.
The basic models still come with the previous soulplate. The newer models also feature a 45-degree strap and heat-moldable MyFit Crown liners with memory foam, while the basic models feature the non-heat-moldable USD basic liner. All models of the Sawy come with the Kizer Fluid 5 Frames.
The USD Sway 60 XXI aggressive inline skates are fitted with the USD Basic Liner and come set up flat with 60mm 88a wheels with Wicked Abec 7 Bearings on the Kizer Fluid V Frames.
The USD Shadow are unique aggressive inline skates using an open skeleton design that features a removable liner. The skate is a modified version of its predecessor, the Xsjado, which ceased production in 2017. Eugen Enin, who grew up skating on the original Xsjado, was integral in helping revive this skate concept.
USD brought back the classic Xsjado 1.0 Cuff and reduced the amount of hardware used. Velcro riveted to the cuff and liner, along with the heel shock absorber, allows a perfect fit and reduces heel lift. The skate brought back an improved version of the ankle flap used on the Damien Wilson Pro Model in 2009, offering a tighter fit.
They removed all the padding, replacing it with the high-top MyFit Eclipse Liner, with walkable outsoles that are as comfortable as sneakers. Eclipse Liners have super comfy PU-cast tongues with durable and stretchable ripstop black mesh uppers. The skates come with Kizer UFS Fluid V Frames, 60mm 88A Wheels, and Wicked ABEC 9 Bearings.
The USD Shadow Eugen Enin III Pro aggressive inline skates feature the MyFit Eclipse Liners with walkable outsoles, Kizer Fluid V Frames, 60mm 88A UHR Wheels, and Wicked Abec 9 Bearings.
Not true to size. Sizing is for just the liners as the shell is adjustable. Use foot measurement to determine the size (add .5cm for room at the toe).
Mesmer resurrected the Classic USD Throne boot and updated it with modern features, including a raised heel and modified cuff. The boot is lightweight and durable, with significant flex while resisting cold temperatures and retaining its shape, thanks to their use of PEBAX. The nylon-based soul plate is partly made of glass fiber, making it durable and long-lasting.
You can find interchangeable PU shock absorbers, dual-density insoles, and new heat-moldable MyFit Mesmer memory foam liners inside the boot. UFS mounting goes through the soulplate to the boot for a more secure feeling. Kizer Fluid V Frames are attached to the soul plate and include Mesmer 60mm 90a wheels with Wicked ABEC 9 bearings inside them.
On top of making fantastic aggressive inline skates, there are a couple of other things I love about Mesmer. Those are their incredible team and their emphasis on art. The entire pro team shreds, and Mesmer pays some of the highest royalties in the industry. Many artistic details are featured on these skates, from the cuff bolts to pad printed art on the bottom of soul plates, making Mesmer aggressive skates a unique product on the market.
Mesmer’s second pro model is the Mesmer Dominic Bruce aggressive inline skates. I love the look of the faded green boot mounted with cream-colored souls and frames. The Dominic skate includes heat-moldable MyFit Mesmer Slayer memory foam liners, Kizer Fluid V Frames, 60mm 90a Wheels, and Wicked Abec 9 Bearings.
The Gawds Franky Morales pro skates are inspired by the aesthetics of the Air Jordan. The lightweight boot is hand-lasted with a hybrid composite and glass-fiber reinforced plastic making the skate flexible and durable. Dual-density EVA shock soles inside the boots absorb the impact of landings.
The Gawds Franky Morales 4 features a black and white colorway accented with blue and red highlights. The FM4 has a fully integrated liner, wide soulplate, a 45-degree strap, and a unique leather cuff strap. A Kizer Fluid IV frame comes mounted to the boot with Gawds Franky Pro 60mm 88A wheels, 45mm anti-rocker wheels, and Wicked ABEC 9 bearings.
The Roces Majestic 12 were the first proper street skate and my favorite aggressive inline skates of the 1990s. A few years ago Roces redesigned and updated the Majestic 12 as the Roces M12, which is functional, light, and simplistic. They are available in two versions, the classic Roces M12 and the Roces M12 Lo. The M12 Lo models have a slightly lower cut cuff to allow for more range of motion attached to the classic M12 boot.
All models of the M12 boots are eco-friendly, made from 47% cornstarch-based PU, and the packaging is 99% plastic-free. The liner uses recycled padding and recycled lining. The M12 Boots come with memory foam liners, Roces UFS frames, 58mm 88A Wheels (anti-rocker setup), and ABEC5 bearings.
The Roces M12 is the beloved classic Roces Majestic 12 aggressive inline skates of the late 90s with a modern look, updated soulplates, and UFS frames.
The Roces M12 Lo Pomegranate aggressive inline skates have a calm and cool look with a marbled effect over the soul groove.
The Roces M12 Lo Team Malva aggressive inline skates will turn heads at the skate park with bright contrasting colors on the tried and true M12 Lo Boots. Be ready to pull off some tricks as everybody will be watching.
Runs small and narrow – It is suggested to order one full size larger than your shoe size.
The Roces Fifth Element is the perfect skate for beginners and people getting back into aggressive skating. Unlike the Roces M12, which is very compact and slim, the Fifth Element is one of the widest aggressive inline skates on the market, yet it works well for any foot size. The Fifth Elements are much easier to learn tricks with than the M12s due to their wider two-piece souls, which slide incredibly well.
The low cuff offers a lot of maneuverability, and the dual-injection boots are more flexible around the lacing and thicker in areas that require more durability—allowing for a better fit when lacing up your skates without compromise. They offer a Memory Foam Liner that is very comfortable out of the box. The UFS Frames are mounted with four 60mm / 92A wheels with ABEC 5 bearings. They are very good at picking colors and seem like one of the only brands that own a Pantone Color Matching book.
Roces has joined the corporate trend of manufacturing sustainable products. The boots are made with 47% cornstarch-based plastic and high-grade polyurethane, come in 100% plastic-free packaging and have recycled liners with recycled lining and padding.
The Roces Fifth Element Nils Jansons Saule Pro aggressive inline skates features an exceptional color scheme with gold details, including gold eyelets and aluminum memory buckles. The skates come with a Roces UFS Frame, 60mm 92A Wheels with 92A Wheels, and ABEC 5 Bearings.
Roces 5th Element models are NOT true to size.
The Razors Cult is a great skate for any skater, from beginner to advanced, at an excellent price. The Cult is one of the most iconic aggressive inline skates, having been on the market for over 20 years. They are the only skate with a replaceable backslide plate and come with Ground Control Featherlite 3 Frames (FLT3) with Ground Control Lite 57mm 92A Wheels and ABEC5 bearings.
The Razors Cult Black aggressive inline skates come with Ground Control Featherlite 3 Frames (FLT3), Ground Control Lite 57mm 92A Wheels, anti-rocker wheels, and ABEC 5 Bearings.
The Razors Cult Navy aggressive inline skates come with Ground Control Featherlite 3 Frames (FLT3), Ground Control Lite 57mm 92A Wheels, anti-rocker wheels, and ABEC 5 Bearings.
Not true to size, add .5 cm to your measurement using the size chart below.
The Razors Shift is a unique aggressive inline skate that features the Instant Frame Change System with push-button removal of the replaceable slider plate, allowing you to quickly change from an aggressive setup to an urban setup in seconds. The frame mounts to a part of the soulplate, which clicks underneath the boot. You can make the bond more secure using one screw, but it is not required. To swap out frames, you must buy an additional set of click-on soulplate parts, attach another set of frames with wheels, and throw them into a backpack. Now you can switch between these two setups whenever you want.
The Razors Shift Jeph Howard 2 aggressive inline skates are a well-deserved pro model skated by some of my favorite skaters, like Jeph and Andrew Broom. The skates are fitted with Reign V3 Liners with “Howard” embroidered across the loop. The Howard Shift shell has an aluminum cuff buckle, and the back is adorned with a circled heptagram and various other symbols to ward off evil spirits. A big plus about buying this skate is that Jeph Howard receives a $30 royalty for each pair sold. The white Ground Control FLT4 Frames have a green h-block mounted with Ground Control Jeph Howard 60mm / 90A glow-in-the-dark wheels!
The Razors Shift Camo aggressive inline skates come with the new Reign Camo V3 Liners, aluminum buckles, black/moss-colored hockey-style laces, and Ground Control Army Green Featherlite 4 (FLT4) Frames with a black H-Block. The frames are mounted flat with Ground Control CM 60mm 90A Bullet Profile Wheels and ABEC 9 Bearings.
Order a size up if you are near the cusp of the next size.
The Razors SL is an excellent skate for all skill levels right out of the box. It has a lower center of gravity to help you feel balanced and in control. The Razor SL is lightweight, pleasingly shaped, and has ample room. The SL heel pads absorb shock and vibrations. The boots are also fully customizable with replaceable cuffs, aluminum buckles, soul frames, backslide plates, wheels, and Featherlite frames. It also comes with a comfortable, streamlined Razors liner, allowing more precise fit options with half sizes.
The Razors SL Pro Nico Auroux aggressive inline skates come with Ground Control Featherlite 3 Frames (FLT3), Ground Control CM 64mm 90A, and ABEC 9 Bearings.
SL models are true to size. Order a size up if near the cusp or have wide feet.
The FR UFR aggressive inline skates are an affordable plastic skate with UFR soulpates and a flat 4x65mm setup. The soulplates are compatible with any UFS mount frames. The boot provides excellent support and response, while the FR Liners are comfortable with memory foam around the ankles and lock your heels. All UFR Street models have a plastic top buckle and 45-degree strap. A beautiful thing about the FR UFR skates is that you can remove the soulplates and attach UFS frames directly to the boot to give it a more streamlined profile when skating big wheel frames or Wizard setups.
The FR UFR Antony Pottier Pro aggressive inline skates come with FLAT Aluminum UFS Frames, FR Street Antony Pottier 65mm 88A Wheels, and FR TwinCam MW9 Bearings. The Pottier boots have a large velcro power strap to keep the heel in position.
Not true to size. Account for break-in when trying on for fit. Use foot measurement to determine size.
The Faction Tactical V1 is a lightweight heat moldable carbon fiber boot with a nubuck leather upper. The boot boasts the strength and responsiveness of carbon with the style and comfort of a soft boot. Available in half and full sizes with a fully removable liner to get the best fit. Injection molded glass-filled nylon soleplates with a full-figure shape provide ample space for positive and negative grinds. Faction is a skater-owned boot company founded by Clark Kirkman.
The Razors Genesys Junior is adjustable from sizes 3-6 and does so without compromising sturdiness or performance to handle anything little rippers can dish out. Two boot shells are attached to the soul frame platform allowing it to adjust to the front AND back by removing the front wheel and front frame mounting bolt. This creates a sturdy connection that ensures the balance remains unchanged. The buckle was updated from previous models, and the liners are the same construction as those used in Razors adult skates.
The USD Transformer Kid’s Adjustable Aggressive Inline Skates are perfect for your child to learn how to grind, jump, and skate ramps. They will discover how challenging, intense, and fun aggressive skating is. The USD Transformer has a durable boot with a supportive cuff and comfortable built-in liners to cushion jumps or gaps. These skates grow as your child does and will save you money! The boots are mounted with the Kizer Junior UFS Frames with an anti-rocker set-up using durable 57mm USD wheels on the outside and 100A grind wheels on the inside to give plenty of space for grinds like royales and frontsides while still being fast and stable.
If your child is on the cusp of sizing, go up one size.
The S1 Lifer Helmet is a professional-grade helmet using a high-impact EPS Foam Liner for maximum protection against big falls and multiple collisions.
The Ennui Elite Helmet with Peak is an accumulation of years of testing and development to create a low-volume helmet that looks and functions great. Honeycomb technology reduces the wall thickness and weight for a sleek, lightweight, revolutionary fit. Available in black or white.
The Ennui All Around Wrist Brace is the ultimate wrist protection, based on medical arm brace technology, that keeps your wrist in an optimal position to prevent injuries and recover more quickly from the ones you can’t avoid. Mesh on the side of the guard helps with airflow, and the multi-strap design alleviates pressure points caused by traditional straps. The large slide plate on the palm of the guard is backed with foam to offer ample protection and comfort.
The Ennui Street Wrist Guard features a large slider plate on the palm and an ultra-stiff splint on the back to give top-notch support. The liner features a mixture of neoprene and CoolMax fabric to increase comfort, while three velcro straps keep everything in place.
The Ennui Shock Sleeve Knee Gasket slides on and fits snugly around the knee, wrapping it in a spiderweb of ‘super foam’ that cushions impacts and saves your skin from nasty road rash. Skaters who shy away from the heavyweight protection offered by the much bulkier knee pads on the market will love these gaskets and their lack of restriction. The gasket is mostly polyester, with elastane strips inside at the top and bottom to help lock the pad in place and prevent slippage. Ennui uses MyFit SPC foam coated in thermoplastic rubber (TPR) to provide impact protection. Since this is not a genuine hard plastic cap, higher-impact skating disciplines may seek higher protection levels.
The G-Form Pro-Rugged Knee-Shin Guards are my pad of choice! I’ve been skating different versions of these for the past eight years, and I love their durability, comfort, protection, and fit. The pads are made with SmartFlex™ — body-mapped, impact-absorbing pads that offer form-fitting and lightweight protection for your knees and shins that is flexible as you ride and hardens on impact. I’ve taken some really hard falls on these and am positive that I would have cracked my knee and split my shin open on multiple occasions without these.
The G-Form Pro-X3 Shin Guards feature SmartFlex™ protection that is flexible as you skate yet hardens on impact in the event of a crash. And SmartFlex pads are fully waterproof, so machine wash them as needed.
Our G-Form Pro-X3 Elbow Guards offer SmartFlex™ protection that is flexible as you skate yet hardens on impact in the event of a crash. And SmartFlex pads are fully waterproof, so machine wash them as needed.
The G-Form Pro-X3 Knee Guards offer SmartFlex™ protection that is flexible as you skate yet hardens on impact in the event of a crash. And SmartFlex pads are fully waterproof, so machine wash them as needed.
With Superfeet™ Blue Insoles in your skates, your feet feel balanced and supported. The fit of your skates will be more precise, making them more responsive and allowing you to skate your best. Superfeet™ offers a 60-day satisfaction guarantee or your money back! Select the size according to your US shoe size and then trim the length for the perfect fit. Go up one size for wider feet.
The Intuition Skate Premium Liners were developed with partner brands and redesigned for inline skaters to have a very personalized fit. They are available in 10 individual sizes and are designed to fit any skate that comes with removable liners. They do not need to be heat molded with their high-density Genuine Intuition Foam that naturally molds to your feet after you use them.
There are plenty of little ventilation holes along the entire top of the foot area. Below are silicone grip areas along the bottom and heel of the liners. They lace all the way up with a removable cuff and j-bars on the back to support your ankle bones and joints. The tongue is placed high and reinforced to be very durable and has great energy transfer.
The Athalon Everything Boot Bag is the perfect backpack to keep your skates, safety gear, tools, and accessories organized. This bag is ideal for traveling and has many excellent features. I love this bag so much for my inline skates that I bought a second one for my ski boots.
At some point, every skater will have to do skate maintenance. The best tool for the job is the Sonic Pro Inline Skate Tool, which offers excellent leverage to change wheels, extract bearings, tighten screws, and more. The ergonomic handle of the Pro Tool is comfortable for shop technicians to use all day but compact enough to take on a roll. This latest variant features Hex and Torx bits to fit most brands of skates, as well as a bearing extractor, bearing pusher, and floating spacer aligner.
Aggressive skates are for doing tricks on the street or in a skatepark. Compared to recreational skates, they are heavier and use lower frames with a short wheelbase mounted with small wheels between 56 – 62mm. Aggressive skates are used for tricks like jumps, airs, and sliding on concrete ledges and rails. They have no heel brakes and are not an alternative for recreational or distance skates. However, you can purchase various aftermarket UFS mount frames for different big wheel blading disciplines, from urban to wizard skating.
The frames on aggressive inline skates have a noticeable gap between the second and third wheels, allowing for grinds perpendicular to the wheels’ direction. The hard plastic surface of the soulplate allows grinds parallel to the wheels’ direction. The small wheels mounted inside the frames prevent the dreaded “wheel bite,” when your wheels catch onto an obstacle, you are grinding.
All the skates in this guide use the Universal Frame System (UFS) except for the USD Aeon, which is a unibody design. Many brands make aftermarket UFS frames for aggressive skating and big wheel blading. The UFS standard allows any UFS frame to fit any UFS-compatible boot allowing for more setup options.
The aggressive inline skates featured in this guide come in two different wheel configurations, flat and anti-rocker. For a beginner skater, figuring out which option is best can be confusing. I will discuss the pros and cons of the two configurations to help you make a more informed decision.
An anti-rocker setup is when you have softer, larger outer wheels and small hard inner wheels so that only the outer wheels touch a flat surface. Typically most anti-rocker configurations have 58-62mm wheels on the outside and 52-46mm 100-101a n the inside. The anti-rocker option has been prevalent throughout aggressive skating’s history because it makes grinding rails and ledges easier. Another benefit of anti-rocker setups is that it makes your skates lighter. However, riding anti-rocker significantly decreases mobility, speed, and control over your skates. Riding anti-rocker will not be much fun if you are skating in areas with poor surface conditions.
All the aggressive inline skates offering anti-rocker setups in this guide use hard plastic wheels. These stock plastic wheels are a favorite of skate brands because they are cheap to produce, however they don’t spin, and they wear unevenly. I prefer a urethane anti-rocker wheel with a bearing. Urethane anti-rocker wheels wear better, spin, and last longer. I recommend the Eulugy 47mm 101a Urethane Anti-Rocker Wheels if you want to upgrade.
A flat setup is when all four wheels in a frame are the same size and all touch the ground when on a flat surface. The benefits of a flat setup are excellent mobility, increased speed, stable landings, and more control. Riding a flat setup is the way to go if you are brand new to skating, as you’ll have much more fun just rolling around and will have better maneuverability.
Riding flat is equally beneficial for intermediate and expert skaters looking for a different feeling, wanting more speed, and potentially having trouble landing tricks on rough surfaces. The major disadvantage of riding flat is it can be more challenging to do h-block tricks like royales because the bigger wheels in the middle can stick on a ledge or rail, causing wheel bite. Wheel bite can result in you unexpectedly falling while attempting a grind.
If you desire the agility and smooth ride of a flat setup and want to prevent wheel bite, there is an excellent way around it. The solution is to put harder 92-95a wheels in the middle of your skate while using softer 88-90a wheels on the outside. Having the harder wheels in the middle will prevent the wheel from sticking to a ledge or rail and causing the dreaded wheel bite, which can cause you to fall unexpectedly.
For a more precise measurement, measure the length of both feet from the heel to the end of your longest toe. You can do this by standing on a piece of paper with your heel against the wall and with your socks on, marking with a pencil your heel and toe. Measure the distance of both feet and correspond your longest measurement to the sizing chart below. For information on how to measure feet click here.
Most skaters select their shoe size when buying skates. However, measuring your feet is a good idea to get an accurate measure. Stand on a hard surface and place the heels against a wall for a more accurate measurement. Measure both feet and refer to the longer heel-to-toe measurement.
Your toes should not be pressed against the front of the skate or feel cramped. They can slightly brush against the front of the skate because the heels will settle back in the skating position to make more room for the toes.
Inline skates offer a similar fit to shoes, and you should expect some break-in time for the skates to adjust to the shape of your foot. During the break-in period, your may experience pressure points, but these will go away after skating a few times.
Skating is a healthy activity for people of all ages that can improve balance, agility, strength, and endurance, all while having fun doing it. It is a perfect low-impact exercise for individuals and families who want to stay healthy and active. Medical research shows that skating ranks third among physical fitness activities. Its benefits include stamina, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, balance, weight control, muscle definition, digestion, and sleep.
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