Buying Inline Skates for Kids (Part 2) – Brand/Model Comparison

Here is Part 2 of our guide on buying kids skates (go back to Part 1 here), with a chart of the brands/models we carry, so you can make the best choice for your child.

We will go through all the strange numbers and terminology. Scroll down and take a peep at the table below (to get an idea of what's going to be discussed) and then come back up here!

Wheels

Durometer — what does 80 A mean? That's the durometer rating, meaning the hardness of the wheel. The harder (higher number), the more durable.

Configuration — you will notice that some skates feature two wheel sizes, like 72+76mm. This combination means that the two front wheels are smaller, giving increased stability (low centre of gravity) and manoeuvrability. The two larger back wheels enable more speed. It's known as the hi-lo configuration — a good idea for young skaters who will become a bit more advanced. Most kids skates come stocked with one size, in a flat configuration, which is good for beginners.

Maximum wheel size — indicates the largest wheels the frame can accommodate, offering an option of flexibility. You will be able to change to hi-lo or other combinations. Useful because most skaters will desire a bit more speed as they progress.

Frames

Here we have two main types, carbon plastic and aluminium. The frame is where most of the power is generated in skating, and its stiffness will affect energy efficiency.
Carbon Plastic — a composite which makes plastic harder and more durable.
Aluminium — light, stiff and durable.

Bearings

Bearings are rated 1–9. The higher ABEC classes provide better precision, efficiency, and greater speed capabilities, but do not necessarily make the components spin faster. The ABEC rating does not specify many other critical factors, such as smoothness of the rolling contact surfaces, ball precision or quality/type of steel used. SG is Rollerblade's bearing brand, with its own parallel rating system.

*Not all our kids skates are listed (like fitness and aggressive), since this is an introduction to buying kids skates — and we assume your child is firstly going to be skating for recreation purposes (instead of skating on rough terrain or pulling stunts).

We hope this guide has been useful to you, but it's not a replacement for sussing skates out first-hand. Do come down to our stores for a fitting, so that our passionate and knowledgeable staff can help you make the ideal purchase!