How to buy your first pair of inline skates & beginner Rollerblades freestyle in the USA 

My first pair of inlines were the "soft boot" type. I HATED them. I had zero control or support in those skates. I returned them within a day bought myself (over the next several weeks) 4 pairs of hard shell boot skates (Rollerblade Maxxum Edge, Powerslide Next, and Flying Eagle). As a beginner, we *think* we want "comfy," but what we *need* is control and support. After you've developed some strength in your ankles and some basic skills, you could easily transition to a soft boot for just cruising around. But I've come to the conclusion that a soft boot that feels like an athletic shoe is the absolute worst thing one could recommend for a complete beginner.

I recommend hard boots for every beginner.. and i think its best for pro's too.. hard shell gives you stability on the ankle which is soooo impotant It depends on the "pro" category tho.. but for beginners: i recommend FR skates: frx, fr3 fr2 or fr1's.. The powerslide zoom or next skates are also good boots only the 45 degree straps are a bit fragile.. i would buy FR3's if i would begin now! That is not a bad recommendation i promise :)

Interesting, informative and well narrated clip! Well done.

I tried several soft boot rollerblade and K2 skates. I almost went for the zetrablades, but ended up trying and buying a pair of hard-shell RB cruisers. They felt more like a ski boot, which gave me more confidence.

Really appreciate how quickly you got your point across, thanks.

My man! AWESOME video. Extremely helpful. Thank you for your advice, knowledge and hard work throwing this video together.

This was very informative, I wish more channels were this helpful and well organized. Thanks, man!

Hey! Well done! This is a great introductory video for a new skater. Very thorough!

Thank you for addressing the relevant questions for a first-time buyer. Much appreciated!

I love this honest look at the components and details for inline skates. You really know your stuff! Thank you for this video!

I'm really impressed with your content. I'm personally thinking of purchasing some inline skates of my own soon so this guide was super helpful!

Haven’t used skates in years. Thank you for the video, time to lace back up

Such a well-made video! thank you for the help

Thank you. I am looking to learn inline skating and will go this weekend to purchase my first skates, so I'm so glad to have found your video!

Thank you for the video! It helped me to not buy the wrong type of skates for my needs

Your production quality is great! I don't comment much, but I wanted to commend your work and knowledge. Keep it up, the video was very informative and you seem very natural :)

This was a GREAT video. Seriously, one of the best intro videos I’ve ever seen for a hobby. A friend asked me to skate with her and didn’t know were to start. Looks like I’m going to pick up a pair of soft boot K2’s with a metal frame. Thanks again!

Thank you, very informative and concise for beginners. Subscribed

For how you explained every component was on point as I am a longboarder so I can relate with the wheels and bearings, you have got a new subscriber today . Good luck

Wow this is just what I needed. Very helpful. Thumbs up 👍

Thankyou for answering all my questions in one video rather than 10. Well done sir 👏

Best guide for beginners I watched so far. Your are drilling down into details that others failed to covers.

Great video, thanks for the tips. Will go for the soft boot and start my way from there :)

This is completely a very nice & informative video for beginners in inline skates. 👍👍👍

Very useful information! Thank you!

Great info and thanks for all of the editing you had to complete in order to summarize quickly

This was an amazing edit! Very insightful and accurate if I do say so myself

great video for a total beginner. thank you!

You deserve more subscribers....!! Awesome work on the video. In-depth research. thank you

Good video. Thanks for plugging in the websites. I was able to check them out.

great info. thansk for sharing!

Great recommendations! Just ordered my son K2 FIT Alu as his 1st pair. Hopefully he likes em!

thank you so much for including recommendations for Europe

Hands down, this is the best introduction to inline skates. Every part is so well explained! Thanks a ton, mate. This channel deserves a lot of subscribers. cheers

Great job first video I’ve found being well rounded for the beginner. Especially where to buy. I tried Amazon ....no help due to a nearly non existent skates for size 15. My wife found some her size in minutes....me not so much...So thank you your info was great on where to go and now I know at least what I want to try! 😊

Excellent!!! Thanks!!! 🌟🙌🏼

You nailed it man,😮 ama recommended this video to many people even if am from Kenya

Great video, I did learn alot.

I loved this it was very informative and felt like a really interesting commercial 😂

I am glad i came to your channel and i am very happy with details and information that you given out on this vid. I have a question, where i am kinda on a heavy weight side with a 120kg and i wanted to start skating back that i have left it out for almost several years. I have been searching for skates and i am not sure if there are skates that would also determine the weight of the person or not? I am looking into the POWERSLIDE - Phuzion Radon 80 to start back. Do let me know if this is the go to choice or i would need to look for a different type of skate. I am trying to get back into shape and to be fit again. So looking into normal skating not into anything heavy for now.

Got some 80£ oxelo mf500 freeride from decathlon and they are spot on , took a bit of breaking in but for the money and fully adjustable/upgradable they are great 👍

Awesome video

I bought the K2 80mm with the boa because I only have one hand and I cannot tie the laces I wish more companies did that.

Grew up on 5 wheel inline and quad speeds and I'm currently waiting on my new boots to be made before they ship! Not my first pair at ALL. Custom built Lunas direct from Bont with 3x125 frames and jesa black bearings. Will make for some fun endurance training in FL. Skate safe, everyone!

I grew up on the Rollerblade brand, I just got back into it recently and just purchased the RB Cruisers for general skating. I plan on putting an Endless 80 frame on it for more aggressive skating eventually.

Great video! I actually got the basic 99 dollar Zetrablade ones before watching this, and while alright, I've been searching for a pair that's less flimsy and plasticy

Great video! I was wondering how one should determine their skill level? What constitutes a beginner vs intermediate vs pro? How do you know where you are starting and when you progress from one level to the next?

Nice one bro. thanks you :)

I’ve been doing distance on some very basic skates- the rollerblade blade runner. Found it at Academy when I was unsure if I was going to really take off with the sport after not skating for a good two decades. I’m just now realizing that they might not hold steadfast for too much longer based on this videos recommendation, as I like to put 10+miles on them at a time. So I’m thinking to upgrade, maybe a k2 3wheel fitness type because there’s so much debris on the trails sometimes where I go. I think that’s an advantage of the tri-wheels right? I’m throwing pebbles and getting leaves stuck😄

This vid is just amazing

Please upload more!!!

Thanks for the video! I was victimized by the Roller Derby Inline skates you showed in the video for about 10 years and I'm finally realizing, "Hey maybe it's the skates that suck and not me." I've been fighting these things since they came out the box and realized it's flat out because they're not properly aligned. I'm so unsure if I should drop back to beginner level or get intermediate skates now. I'm experienced like a baseball player that's been using a lead pipe the whole time. I know how to hit a home run but can I do it with a bat? Lmao

I recently.bought my first pair of rollerskates Derby 1 quanity for $45 good deal I'm not much of a skater yet; I can't wait to practice! need it to get around in the city of Calgary. I'm super excited! 🤩.Any kind of skates are easier to ride then buying a car; much saver. 🤟💯

Thanks, man.

Grest video! I'm surprised there aren't more views.

I bought the powerline phuzion krypton voltage triskate 100. Retail 189...but 94 dollars on sale. I have really old Rollerblades but they dont fit anymore and its been years. Im excited hopefully the learning curve aint too bad....but i can switch the frame froma triskate to a 4×80/90 in the future so thts exciting

very helpful

I know this is an old video but hoping for some help, def one of the best videos ive found! I made the mistake of spending 70 bucks on some trash skates and the wheels basically crumbled off in 2 days. I would be using them outside around the park and sidewalk, its rough in a lot of spots so im thinking the tri-skate would be best, im a chubby guy at 245lbs as well so the harder wheels will probs be better I think? do you have any advice ?

Thank you for the great video. Do you recommend Bauer RS for beginners?

Thank you for the informative video. I’m looking to buy my first pair of inline and been doing research. We don’t have a lot of skate shops here so it’s been super hard to get more information, or try any in my size for that matter. I understand that you recommend the soft boot for a novice beginner, but I’ve been told by several skates shops online to purchase the FR Skates - what are your thoughts on that? Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Great video. I haven't skated in 20 years. I was thinking about buying a OneWheel but was not feeling so great on dropping 2 grand on something I've never tried. F that noise, why not just spend 2 hundie on a brand new pair of rollerblades instead!

I bought SFX 80 skates for £70 and with £10 separate gel insoles they were ok. Unfortunately, i bought a size too big so sold them second hand. However, from what I've seen , £130+ and you should get some comfortable quality skates. I've got K2 and they fit snuggly. You might be lucky and get something on market place or elsewhere if lucky as he says. Nice video pal

subscribed.. thank you sir

I used to skate as a kid, I wasn't great but could get to where I needed, stop and do some basic maneuvering. I had hard boots though and they cut into my ankles and legs... Which ultimately made me stop. I want to start up again but now my problem is my feet never grew out of youth sizes (I wear a size 3y-4.5y) and now can't find not plastic skates... It'd be nice if there were more places to try on with child sizes in all styles.

You’re Awesome Dominey drew

Very well done and enjoyed it. Love the straightforward advice. Sounded like it was coming from a family member. My main problem is I have wide and flat feet. I heard FR skates and rollerblade RB line area good place to start. How should someone like me approach choosing a skate?

Hey, thanks for all of the information! I'm a beginner looking for my first inline skates. I would like to hear your thoughts about the K2 FIT 80 BOA for a beginner. Thanks!

I bought a rollerblade yesterday but sadly I didn’t watch this video so I bought a hard shell boot its not bad but since i am a beginner but its hurting my feet and kind of hard to use I can’t refund them so i have to practice a lot to get used to them.

Great easy to understand video! i have a size 46EU freestyle skate with 243mm 4x80 frame, i find easy to trip on the front or back sometimes. Should i go for 276mm 4x90 or even a longer 4x100 with a 300mm-ish frames?

Hey not to be pedantic but ABEC is only used because it's a real thing that sounds good. It's an engineering standard and realistically means very little for skating. Provided you're using a trusted brand ABEC will likely not matter, and a lot of real brands just don't use ABEC in favor of using some "skate rated" standard of their own making. Just choose bearings from a company you trust and don't break the bank and you'll be plenty happy. Bones Reds, Sure Grip QUBE bearings, yellow jackets, and zealous bearings have all done well for me for fairly low cost ($25-40/16 bearings) TLDR: Buy whatever bearings as long as you trust the brand, it'll be fine Also great video dude. Also PS: Amazon is in fact bad for skates my guy is right

I got a pair of K2. Kinetic 80M skates from a sports store for 84.99. Do you think that’s a good price for them, as well as they’re a starter pair. For me. I’m on my 5th day learning to skate..

Looking at the K2 f.I.t. How to decide from the BOA. ALU or? Primary indoor roller disco wooden rink or later roller hockey Sport Court. Later, leisure trail skating on Park Trail.

I ice skate; specifically free style ice skating with hockey skates (not to be confused with figure skating) and ocasionally hockey. I'm intermediate at free style and novice at hockey. I'm considering buying two pairs of skates with which I would like to accomplish: - playing hockey (easy pick up games, nothing crazy), doing cool free style tricks AND actually skating from my home to the park (1/2 mile away) where I'd like to practice free style tricks. How can I accomplish all three with just two pairs of skates instead of three? In other words, without buying skates specifically made for hockey, which two skates would allow me to do all 3 pretty well?

First time in 20 years that I'm going to try skating again but I really don't like how the soft boot with the brake looks So I'm going to try the hard shell ones without the brake and attempt to learn to brake on my own. Hopefully brake, not break

I failed already and bought a pair from Target. I wanted a pair soooo bad. I was worried that I would buy a pair I couldn't really afford and then not stick with it. Then if I stick with it, buy a better pair. I hope I don't regret it.

Can you get a pair of roller blades with light up wheels or can you buy the wheels separate and switch them out I love luminescent Wheels

surprisingly good tutorial, i recomend ebay for people with a very small budget looking for some potentially good skates, i just saved £280.

Hey are you in Long Beach? I was watching like wait a second I know that bike path.. 🤙🏼

What do you recommend for ice skaters/figure skaters? (Not hockey skaters) is there certain brands to look out for for that?

I used to be so good! At inline but I haven’t skated in 3 yrs

For me, the learning curve took awhile. I went through a few pairs of Zetra blades and a lot of wheels before I became a jr.Wizard cadet 1st class.

Long Beach area hope to see you 😂

I've seen people rave about the k2 boa line of skates. they offer different wheel sizes though-- 80 84 or 90 --but I don't know which one I would like. Any advice?

Wish they had those green wheels still

Can you believe Loco Skates is in my home town but they're not allowing anyone in the shop atm. Online orders only!

Would you recommend the K2 FIT 80 BOA maybe for someone just getting back into Inline skating? I am looking to get into both indoor and outdoor skating, so I guess I would just have to change the wheels for that?

If you're just a little bit prone to rolling your ankle, should you go with a hard boot? Or find another activity

I just got the Roselle Inline Skate Pro 4 Wheels 76mm Cityaun 231mm skates. It’s a hardshe’ll boot. I used to skate a lot growing up. I haven’t gotten to really try them out. I wanted to switch them to bigger wheels for longer rides but that’s too expensive. I’m thinking about buying another pair or returning these and getting the bigger wheel ones to handle rougher areas and make it easier to go farther. What do you think?

Nice video 👍🏻 Don’t know why the views aren’t greater

I purchased a pair of Firefly inline skates a few years ago. Just got back into them after a few years off. They are soft boot and the wheels are 85A. But the first two wheels are 76mm and the back two are 80mm. Is that odd or for a purpose?

Great video. What s that "Boa" designation I see everywhere?

What about a small-wheel, low profile-boot skate just for indoor roller rink skating? Is there a jam inline skate?

I'm a longtime skater who recently bought a pair for my GF, a capable skater who has some experience skating in a 90's era pair. I splurged for the 90 mm wheels because that is my preference (K2 Alexis 90 mm), thus breaking the $200 barrier. Do you think the added cost of getting the 90 mm was unwarranted?

I found some called 5th element panther XT on inline skates for 99.99 are they any good ?

The first purchase i had for inline skates were a power slide brand and they were 99.99 for a week and the original price was 109.99, are those still go a good enough price for beginner and would they be really good quality?

Im looking to get into roller blades skates im also and ice skater and do have hockey skates so would it be better for me to get into a hockey boot roller blades

Hello, my foot size is 36 ( this is my shoe size), when I went to the store to pick up inline skates, the size 36 was too big for me, even the 35 was loose. Do you recommend me to buy kids skates :( Im 37 years but i have a hard time finding the right size for my feet. Thank you

hi newbie here so i saw this before I bought a pair because i obv didnt know how important this stuff is but i got the BASIC zetra ones for 150(thats with the tax) and from dicks sporting goods so im not sure how good they are because im having trouble with my feet being angled outward so i have a wide stance and it feels weird for me to ajdust my ankles to make them straight. just wondering if my choice was a good one or not.

ty!

Hay dude, I know it’s not super relevant, but I just don’t know who to ask. I want to get into in-line skating, but my dominant leg has a long term knee injury (we can’t work out specifically what is wrong with it). So my question is now much torsion does your knee need to put up with? As twisting my leg is the worst thing for it.