“Which are the best skates for me?” is a question we get asked every day. The answer is obvious: it all depends on what you want to do.
Here is an overview of brands, shops and skates, and, above all, the things you need to bear in mind when buying skates.
First and foremost, a few good brands:
- Seba (I haven’t come across a bad one yet, but the latest collection has a lot of bells and whistles)
- Rollerblade (watch out for old stock and knock-offs like ‘Rollerskate’ etc. The brand itself is perfectly fine)
- Fila (watch out for old stock and cheap models, including those with non-interchangeable frames. The brand does, however, also have some top-of-the-range models)
- K2 (often has styles suitable for wider feet too)
- Powerslide (there are cheaper, comfortable models that can wear out quickly, but there are also high-quality options. Powerslide also produced a copy of the Seba Urban which you can find at Decathlon, featuring a Trinity chassis)
Newcomers:
- FR skates (a continuation of the classic Seba Urban, read more here)
- Oxello MF500 (I know Oxello skates as ones that bend easily, the MF500 is the first one I haven’t heard any complaints about. It looks similar to the Seba Urban and similar models, but the price is remarkably low.
It’s also worth checking whether replacement parts are available. Is it a skateboard with a standard frame? If so, you could buy a different frame later on, or at the very least, it means you’ll probably find replacement parts more easily.
This is an example of a classic frame (the most common type)
One mounting screw at the front and one at the rear, each secured to a plate on the boat against a plate on the frame; the frame plate is slightly higher at the rear.
A feature unique to Powerslide is the ‘Trinity’ frame, which uses two screws at the front, allowing the toe to remain slightly lower.
A third standard is the UFS frame. This frame originates from the world of ‘aggressive’ skates (for use in the skatepark), and the mounting points at the front and rear are at the same height. You don’t get that heel-strike sensation here, or it’s barely noticeable. These frames were originally only available for small wheels, but recently you’ve also been seeing them with larger wheels.
Recommended shops:
- Sportservice (Michel Segers) in Dessel: It’s best to make an appointment with Michel himself. You can try on skates in the shop and there’s space to have a go on them
- Dims Destelbergen: long-standing supplier to most competitive skaters, but is now holding a clearance sale
- SlidingTiger Gent: I’ve never been there myself, but I know plenty of people who’ve bought good brands there.
- Online: if you can return items for free (Zalando), that’s an option, but you can’t rely on any customer service.
- Decathlon: good warranty service, but I’m afraid you’re unlikely to receive much personal assistance.
Finally, I should mention that I’ve limited myself to recreational inline skates. If you have ambitions in competitive skating, you might also want to consider speed skates (also known as ‘skeelers’ in Flemish):
These skates do not provide ankle support. This makes skating technically more challenging, but these ‘race cars’ are a must-have for competitive skaters.
You won’t find quad skates on the list either. ‘Quad’ is the name given to the traditional ‘roller skate’ style of skating (as opposed to ‘in-line’) that still has its place today. Not ideal for the road, but perfect for tricks.
