When buying inline skates, getting the proper style of skate should be your first consideration. Putting a beginner in brake-free speed skates is a recipe for disaster, as would be trying to pull aggressive skating tricks like grinds in everyday recreational skates. Getting the right size and fit of skate is your next biggest consideration. Even the best-designed skate of the right type will give a sloppy, dangerous ride--at best--if it fits poorly. A well-fitted skate should fit snugly, like a natural extension of your legs.
Step 1
Put on the socks you intend to wear while inline skating before you try the skates on. Start trying on skates that are within a half-size of your street shoe size, but keep in mind that skate sizes won’t necessarily correspond exactly to street shoe sizes. This is just a place to start.
Step 2
Sit down to put the skates on. Knock the rear wheel of each skate against the ground to make sure your heel is all the way back before you tighten the skate’s fasteners until they’re firmly fastened. Inline skates may have twist-fasteners, hook-and-loop fasteners, ratchet buckles, laces or any combination thereof, depending on which make and model you’re trying out.
Step 3
Stand up, holding onto something sturdy for support if necessary. Squat slightly, then stand up again. Wiggle your toes. Your toes should barely contact the front of the boot when your legs are straight, but shouldn’t touch the front of the boot when your knees are bent.
Step 4
Take a few practice steps around the store, holding onto someone or something sturdy for support if need be. If your heel slips around or moves up and down inside the boot, the skate is too large or shaped wrong for your foot. If your ankles wobble inside the boot upper, you may be able to tighten the boot. If your ankles continue to feel wobbly, you’ve selected a model that’s too large or has too little ankle support for your current level of strength and skill.
Step 5
Repeat Steps 2 through 4, as necessary, until you find a pair of inline skates that fits snugly and feels comfortably on your feet. Keep these skates on for at least 15 minutes before you commit to buying them. You may need to retighten the closures as the boot liner adapts to the shape of your foot. This extended wear session will help reveal any potential problems, including pinch points or hot spots where the skate rubs against your foot, that may not have come to light during the first brief trying on.
Tips and Warnings
- Leave plenty of time to try on inline skates before you buy. If you purchase skates that don’t fit well because of time pressure, you’ll feel the ill effects for a long time to come. Your feet swell slightly throughout the course of the day, so try skates on in the afternoon or evening. This helps ensure that your skates will still fit properly at the end of a long outing. If the skates you’re considering have removable liners, pull the liner out and try it on first. If your foot fits securely and comfortably inside the liner, put the liner back in the boot and try the whole skate on.
Member Comments