The weight of inline skates has decreased since they first became mainstream in the early 1990s. The types of materials used to build the skates are now lighter than ever while still offering support and rigidity needed for skating. Several factors influence the overall weight of inline skates, including the boots/outer shell material, chassis components and wheels.
Recreational Skates
Recreational skates are the most common and popular type of inline skate on the market. They are used for indoor/outdoor recreational skating or for fitness purposes. They are built for comfort and support; the top-of-the-line models are also built for speed, such as the Rollerblade Speedmachine SX 90. Recreational and fitness skates are some of the heaviest types of inline skates. A pair of size nine SX 90's, for instance, weighs just over 6.5 lbs. combined.
Aggressive Inline Skates
Freestyle street and ramp skaters use aggressive inline skates specially designed for rail slides, grinds and jumps. So, it's no surprise that these skates need to be as light as possible while still remaining rigid enough to protect your feet. Aggressive skate manufacturer Universal Skate Design makes the Deshi Carbon 09 skate, which is the first aggressive skate to feature a lightweight carbon fiber boot. A size 9 Deshi Carbon skate weighs in at just over 1 1/2 lbs.
Roller Hockey Skates
It's important for inline hockey skates to be lightweight because it allows the player to be quicker on the playing surface. Roller hockey skates are lighter than most recreational skates but heavier than many aggressive inline skates. For instance, the popular 2010 Bauer RX-20 inline hockey skates weigh 2.84 lbs. a piece in size nine. Top-of-the-line hockey skates weigh less, such as the Bauer RX-60s, which weigh in at 2.68 lbs., but cost more than three times more than the RX-20s, based on 2011 pricing.
Speed Skates
Inline speed skates are the lightest type of inline skate on the market and for good reason. They need to be light for the skater to generate maximum speed on the track. Most high-end speed skate models are custom built based on your preference of boot, chassis and wheels. The Bont Vaypor speed skate uses a carbon fiber boot and magnesium chassis for a feather light feel. Each skate weighs under one lb., which is quite common for high-end speed skates.
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