What Are Roller Skates?

Roller skates, also known as quad skates, are often regarded as the original skates. Featuring four wheels - two at the front and two at the back - they are renowned for their stability both while skating and standing still. Perfect for beginners, roller skates are versatile, playful, excellent for dancing, and offer a unique riding sensation compared to inline skates.

The market offers a vast variety of skates. There are designs for both indoor and outdoor skating, and they can come with either a hard or a soft boot.

What Type of Roller Skates Should I Get?

There are numerous styles of roller skates tailored to the various disciplines of roller skating. Selecting the right roller skate depends on the type of skating you plan to do, whether it is disco, jamming, or outdoor workouts. Many boots are suitable for skaters of all levels.

What distinguishes roller skates from other types of skates is the variety of designs and styles available. Some people prefer the retro look of roller skates that channel the 1970s disco vibe, while some adult roller skates feature a lower boot, providing more flexibility and freedom of movement.

Roller skate wheels come in a range of different sizes to suit your skating styles. Wheels for indoor roller skating are typically smaller than those for outdoor use.

How Should Roller Skates Fit?

Roller skates should fit snugly while still allowing your feet some movement and the ability to wiggle your toes. To maximize comfort, the boot should not cause any pain or discomfort. Keep in mind that all boots will have a break-in period and will fit differently depending on the brand, so be sure to check the individual skate's size chart.

For more information, check out our guide on Buying Roller Skates.