UrbanSkaters – Inline Skating Blog

So you’ve decided to buy your first pair of inline skates, that’s cool. 

First decide what type of skating you’d like to get into.  Most people like to start off with recreational skating, while others might want to go straight into aggressive skating or speed skating.  I’d recommend recreational skates for first timers, learn the basics and then progress to something more tailored for your style of skating. 

Budget: You get what you pay for in this game.  Cheap skates are simply nasty bits of plastic and metal, designed for the type of person who uses them once then throws them in the back of the cupboard with all the other junk! Set yourself a budget of about £80.

Comfort beats style:  How many people have you heard give this advice, “Buy skates that are one size smaller/larger than your shoe size”.  I used to follow this advice, but it never helped.  Simply try different sizes until you find a fit that feels comfortable (start with your normal shoe size, then move up or down a size).  The skates should feel snug, but not ‘tight’.  You should be able to wiggle your toes while standing up in the skates.   

Other Kit: If this is your first time on skates you’ll want to consider buying a helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads and knee pads.  Buy a decent backpack to carry your shoes in as well, something you can attach your skates to at the end of the day.  Or you could just strap your shoes to your trouser belt, yeah, that’s soooo cool!!

Where to buy from:  I recommend buying from Club Blue Room and Slick Willies in London, as I’ve had experience with these shops myself and they know their stuff.

Have fun shopping for your skates.