There are four main types of inline skates: recreational/fitness, aggressive, hockey and speed skates. While each design might be slightly different, they all feature the same basic parts. When you need to replace any part of your inline skates, it's important to ensure that the new part is the same size as the manufacturer's equipment and/or is compatible with your original skate.
Boot
The boot of an inline skate varies depending on the type of skate. Recreational and fitness skate boots are similar in that they are both comfortable and well-padded and might feature a locking-strap and laces; the outer boot is typically made of plastic. Hockey skates are a bit more form-fitting and feature harder outer shells that are similar to ice hockey boots. Aggressive skates have hard exteriors for added protection during rail slides, grinds and other street tricks. Speed skate boots are made from leather or composite materials and have little or no padding.
Frame/Chassis
The frame or chassis is the part of the skate that connects your boots to your wheels. It varies in length, style and type of material. For instance, inline hockey skates often use a hi-lo chassis, meaning it houses two different sized wheels, which is made from lightweight metal for improved maneuverability. Speed skate chassis' are drastically different from other skates. They are much longer and fit much larger wheels than other skates; this increases the skate's speed potential. Frames are replaceable on many skates, especially aggressive, speed and hockey skates.
Wheels
Wheel replacement is probably the most common part you'll need to replace because wheels wear out much quicker than any other part of an inline skate. They come in various sizes and hardness, known as durometer. A wheel with a durometer of 74A is a very soft wheel and an 84A wheel is much harder. Harder wheels provide increased durability but tend to provide less grip. Speed skates use larger diameter wheels, from 100 mm to 110 mm, due to their higher top-speed potential.
Bearings
Bearings are graded on a scale from ABEC 1 to ABEC 9. ABEC 1 bearings are manufactured using wider tolerances than ABEC 9 bearings, which are made using more precise tolerances. This makes ABEC 9 the better overall choice, but also more expensive. There are two primary types of bearings: standard 608 and micro 688. Be sure to replace your bearings with the right size.
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