The best replacement indoor hockey wheels for you depend on your body weight, budget and personal preference. There are a variety of sizes available to choose from, as well as various hardness levels -- measured by the durometer scale -- that will play a role in the type of wheel you pick.
Wheel Quality
You can determine the overall quality of an indoor hockey wheel by discussing it with other hockey players online via active hockey forums, and by checking the price of the wheel -- it's generally directly related to its quality. It's tough to find unbiased reviews online, but you can request a review of a particular hockey wheel by the hockey experts at HockeyUS.com. Some of the best indoor hockey wheels can cost over $10 per wheel. The best quality roller hockey wheels are made using dual-pour -- up to quad-pour -- technique that improves overall balance, durability and speed of the wheel.
Hardness
The hardness of an indoor hockey wheel is measured using a durometer score. Scores that fall on the lower end of this scale are softer, while higher scores denote a harder wheel. A softer wheel measuring between 74A and 78A will provide increased grip on indoor surfaces, but is not recommended for outdoor use because it will wear out rapidly. The ideal hardness of the wheel also depends upon your body weight and personal preference. Heavier people may benefit from a slightly higher hardness -- 78A or 80A -- for indoor play, and some people may just prefer the overall feel of a harder wheel on sport court or other indoor surfaces.
Sizing
Always replace your old wheels with ones of the same size. There are several different chassis setups, such as the Hi-Lo and One-up configuration, and each is designed to be used with a specific wheel size. The wheel size you need will be printed on the side of your old wheels; most hockey wheel configurations feature larger wheels in the back and smaller wheels in the front, so be aware of this when choosing your new wheels. Also, be sure to choose a wheel that will fit your bearings; the two types are standard 608 -- most common -- and the mini 688 bearings.
Top Picks
Some of the best and most reputable indoor hockey wheels, according to HockeyGiant.com, are manufactured by Labeda, Rink Rat, Red Star, Hyper and Kuzak. The highest-quality wheels can get expensive, but you can often find them slightly cheaper when sold as a four- or eight-pack. As of 2010, a few of the best indoor hockey wheels include the Labeda Addiction, Eschelon Apocalypse, Labeda Fuzion and the Rink Rat Crossbar for goalies.
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