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Buying the Best Inline Skates for Beginners
When shopping for the perfect inline skates for beginners, it's essential to find a pair that offers comfort and stability, ensuring a positive skating experience. To help you navigate the vast array of options when choosing your first inline skates, we've compiled some of our best advice in this guide. Here, you'll find everything you need to know to select the perfect pair of beginner inline skates.
In our collection of inline skates, you'll discover a variety of excellent options tailored for beginners. Beginner-friendly skates often fall under the categories of recreational or fitness inline skates. These terms typically signify that the skates are designed for versatile, all-around use rather than specialized activities like speed skating or aggressive skating. Ideal for transportation, exercise, and casual fun, they offer the perfect blend of performance and comfort.
Overview
What Are the Best Inline Skates for Beginners?
When choosing beginner inline skates, consider the following features for optimal performance and comfort:
- High cuffs for lateral support: Provides stability and support to your ankles.
- Breathable liners with foam: Ensures comfort and ventilation during use.
- Lacing options: Traditional laces, speed lacing, or BOA systems for a secure fit.
- Powerstrap and buckle: Keeps your foot firmly in place.
- Small wheels (no bigger than 90 mm in diameter): Ideal for beginners for better control and maneuverability.
- Heel brake: To control your speed and brake safely.
In our selection of inline skates, you'll find that beginner-friendly models are available for all ages and preferences. When you enter into one of our categories of inline skates, we recommend filtering the results by skill level.
How to Size Inline Skates for Beginners
Getting the right size skates is crucial when embarking on your new adventure on wheels. When shopping for skates online, follow the size guide for the specific model you're considering and choose your skates based on an accurate measurement of your foot.
To measure your foot accurately, start by placing your heel against a wall. Then, measure the distance from the wall to the tip of your longest toe, ensuring the measurement is taken at a 90-degree angle from the wall.
how to accurately measure your feet
- Use a hard, flat surface: Stand with your back against the wall on a hard, flat surface to ensure accurate measurements.
- Wear the socks you'll skate in: Wear the type of socks you plan to use with your skates while measuring your feet.
- Place a piece of paper against a wall: Lay a piece of paper on the floor with one edge flush against the wall.
- Stand straight: Stand straight with your heel against the wall and your foot flat on the paper.
- Mark the toe tip: Make a mark on the paper at the tip of your longest toe.
- Measure both feet: Measure both feet, as one foot is often slightly larger than the other. Use the larger measurement when selecting your skate size.
Now find your ruler and measure the length of your foot on the paper. Now you have found your mondopoint size, which you'll be using when reading the size charts for inline skates.
How Should Inline Skates Fit?
Inline skates should be snug but they should not be uncomfortable. It can impede the energy transfer from your legs to the skates if they aren’t tight. Consider the following factors when trying out your first pair of skates:
- Break-In Period: Skates often have a break-in period. They might feel stiffer initially but should become more comfortable after a few uses.
- Heel Lock: Your heel should fit firmly in the heel cup with minimal lift when you skate. A good heel lock helps with control and reduces the risk of blisters.
- Toe Space: Your toes should be close to the tip of the inline skates, but never crammed. There should be just enough space to wiggle your toes slightly.
- Ankle Support: The ankle area should feel secure and supported, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation. You should be able to bend your knees comfortably without excessive pressure on your ankles.
- Closure Systems: Adjust the laces, buckles, and straps to achieve a secure fit. The inline skate should be tight enough to support your foot but comfortable enough to allow for good blood flow.
Inline Skates Break-In Period
As a beginner, your feet are completely new to being wrapped in a pair of skates. Even skates that fit perfectly will have a break-in period, and for beginners, the skin on feet, ankles, and shin needs to build up resistance.
Here are some tips to ease the break-in period:
- Take Your Time: Breaking in your skates can take up to a month of skating. Start with shorter skating sessions and gradually increase the duration. Expect some discomfort initially as your feet and ankles adjust to the new activity.
- Relax Your Feet: Focus on relaxing your feet while skating and avoid overtightening your laces or straps.
- Blister Prevention: Try different socks to see if some are more comfortable for skating than others. Insoles are a good idea, and also trying out different socks to see if some are better than others. Footies can also drastically decrease blisters, especially around heels and ankles.
If you experience persistent pain or discomfort, consult a medical professional. Enjoy the journey as your skates become like one with your feet and skating style.
Get more advice in our article about insoles, footies, and breaking in new skates:
How to Brake on Beginner Inline Skates?
Beginner inline skates feature brakes located at the back, typically in the form of a heel brake. This design offers beginners an advantage as the braking technique with a heel brake is more intuitive for those who are still mastering control of their skates. In other words, a traditional heel brake provides a safer and simpler option for braking, and this is definitely an advantage for beginners.
What Protective Gear Do Beginners Need for Inline Skating?
When inline skating, it's essential to wear protective gear to ensure your safety. Here's a list of the protective gear you should have as a beginner on inline skates:
- Helmet: A well-fitting helmet is crucial to protect your head from serious injuries.
- Wrist Guards: These help prevent wrist injuries by providing support and cushioning in case of falls.
- Knee Pads: Knee pads protect your knees from scrapes, bruises, and fractures.
- Elbow Pads: Use elbow pads to guard your elbows against impacts and abrasions.
Wearing this protective gear can help minimize the risk of injury and make your inline skating experience safer and more enjoyable.
Wearing protective gear is an essential part of enjoying inline skating safely. We recommend that all beginners purchase protective gear for inline skating.
