5 Expert Tips For Selecting the Best Outdoor Roller Skates

Are you looking for a low-impact exercise that can help you burn calories and keep your heart going strong? Roller skating fits the bill in every single way.

Before you can hit the park, you’ll need to choose the best outdoor roller skates. Every little part of the skate’s design matters.

Certain wheel types are more beginner-friendly than others. You also want a pair that’s going to support your ankle so you won’t hurt yourself.

These are only a few things that you’ve got to keep in mind while you’re shopping around. Check out this guide to learn what you should be on the lookout for.

Why Roller Skate? 

Before we get into how to buy roller skates, we’re going to talk about why you should do it.

It’s a low-impact exercise that can keep your heart healthy. You’ll burn tons of calories doing it and build muscles. It lets you work on your mental well-being too!

i) Burn Calories

You’ve downed a fast food meal and now the guilt is starting to kick in. To combat the calories that you added on, pick up a pair of roller skates.

It’s an exercise that will allow you to burn over ten calories in a matter of minutes! That may not seem like a lot, but it adds up after a while at the rink.

ii) Heart Health

Every minute you spend skating, you strengthen your muscles. We’re not only talking about your calves and thighs here.

Skating gets the blood circulating through your body, which does wonders for your heart health.

iii) Low-Impact Exercise

Are your bones and joints not what they used to be? You’ll be happy to know that skating is a low-impact exercise.

It puts way less stress on your body than running or climbing a rock wall at the gym.

iv) Build Muscles

Roller skating is a great exercise for every part of your lower body. It works your calves, glutes, and quads.

Skating will also force you to exercise your core muscles. It will help you maintain flexibility and balance as you age.

You don’t have to fit your arms into your skating routine, but if you want to, you can.

v) Mental Health 

If you’re stressed after a tough day at the office, it might be time for you to hit the roller rink. Any form of exercise releases feel-good endorphins in your brain.

Skating might be a low-impact exercise, but it can still tucker you out. After a few hours on your skates, you’ll be ready to hit the bed.

Not only will you fall asleep fast, but you’ll stay asleep and wake up rested. That will do wonders for your anxiety levels.

1. Pick Your Type

Now that you know why you should go to the rink, it’s time for you to go shopping for the best roller skates.

The first thing you should consider is the type you want. You can choose between quad and incline skates. They both have different pros and cons to bring to the table.

Quad 

Quad skates have two wheels toward the back of the skate and two wheels toward the front. These wheels are arranged side by side in pairs. It’s sort of like a car.

If you see people who dance on skates, they’re most likely wearing quad ones. They’re also a good option for rink skating and roller derbies. When you need to stop yourself, you’ll find the brake at the front of the boot.

Incline

Incline skates also have four wheels. The difference is that they’re arranged in a single line.

They’re great for outdoor skating because they’re easy to maneuver yourself in. If someone were to ask you to skate between traffic cones, incline skates would help you get the job done.

People wear incline skates when playing hockey. They provide a similar experience to ice skating.

2. Wheels 

We’re not done looking at wheels quite yet. After you decide between incline or quad skates, you’ll need to choose the hardness of your wheels.

Hardness is measured on a scale between 0-100A. The closer you get to 100, the harder the wheels get.

Since you’re going to be skating outside, you want to shoot for lower numbers. Hard wheels are durable but they don’t offer a lot in terms of shock absorption and grip.

If you roll over a pebble in hard wheels, it’s going to be difficult for them to handle it. They work on the smooth surfaces that come from skating indoors.

If you don’t know what kind of terrain you want to skate on yet, shoot for about 78A. It will give you the best of both worlds.

3. Hard Boots and Soft Boots 

All roller skates are available as soft or hard boots. Since you’re going to be outdoors, hard boots are the better choice in this regard.

They provide plenty of support for the ankle. You’ll be able to enjoy stability as you cruise along.

On the other hand, if you’re going to be dancing in your skates, soft boots will give you the flexibility you need for that. Soft boots are also super breathable and lightweight.

4. Boot Style

The boot style you choose is mostly about aesthetics. Low-top boots resemble sneakers more than they do actual boots.  Many people wear them during derbies where speed is the name of the game.

This being said, you can still win a derby while wearing high-tops. They also provide that ionic look that you visualize when you think of skates.

5. Size Instructions 

No matter what kind of skates you choose, if you buy the wrong size, you could get hurt.

It’s pretty much safe to buy skates that are the same size as your sneakers. You may find that going a little bigger is more comfortable.

If you’re worried about it, most companies have sizing charts that you can use as a reference.

Best Roller Skates 

Choosing a pair of skates that meet all the criteria that we’ve gone over can be a struggle. These are the best roller skates in 2022 that come close to meeting the mark.

a) Sure-Grip Boardwalk

If you’re looking for a pair of skates that you can use outside or in an indoor rink, the Sure-Grip Boardwalks have you covered. The wheels have a hardness of 78, making them a solid choice for almost any surface.

The sturdy high-top boot provides the ankle stability that’s important for all beginners. The toe stops are adjustable, and when they start to wear out, it’s not hard to replace them.

These quad boots come in a wide range of colors and sizes for both men and women.

b) Sure-Grip GT-50

Next up on the list is another pair of Sure-Grips. They don’t come in as many colors as the Boardwalks, but they have other things to bring to the table.

They have three different wheel types to choose from. The 78As are perfect for both indoor and outdoor skating. This is especially true if you find yourself on smooth surfaces like asphalt.

The 84A and 85A wheels are better for indoor skating.

Unlike the Boardwalks, the GT-50s have a low-cut boot that resembles a sneaker. It makes them a decent option for people who already have some skating experience under their belt. You’ll have the chance to get more use out of your ankles.

c) Bont Prostar

Do you tend to skate for a few hours at a time? If so, you’ll want to grab a pair of Bont Prostars. They include memory padding that makes them some of the most comfortable skates that you’ll ever wear.

They provide the stability and balance that newbies need to get the hang of skating. They have 8 different types of wheels that you can choose from.

The toe stop is adjustable, and they’re durable enough to handle almost everything you throw at them.

Something to note is that the company has special sizes. If you shop according to your shoe size instead of using the chart on the site, you may end up having to send your skates back.

Choose the Best Outdoor Roller Skates for Your Needs 

Skating is great for your heart and your mind. It’s a low-impact exercise that almost everyone can do.

Before you get started, you’ll need to pick out the best outdoor roller skates. As you can see, there’s a lot that you’ve got to think about while you’re out shopping. If you pick the wrong boot style or wheel for your needs, it could end in disaster.

For more tips that will help you get the hang of skating, feel free to explore the rest of our blog.