SKATES – what’s the difference?

Buying skates can be an expensive mistake if you haven’t examined a pair of skates before.

There are four types of inline skates, each designed for a specific use – having the right skate for the right discipline will make a distinct difference to your enjoyment.

1.    RECREATIONAL SKATES

These are either a hard shell or a soft boot/trainer style skate with a high supporting cuff, a quick-lace system and fitted with an interchangeable brake on one skate. Each skate has four wheels, one behind the other (in a line). It is recommended you have rubber (not hard plastic) wheels and a decent specification bearing (minimum ABEC 1* – up to ABEC 5*).  This will make your skating significantly safer and smoother.  The wheels have an oval profile.

2. STREET (‘EXTREME’/’AGGRESSIVE’) SKATES

These are generally constructed of a strong, moulded plastic boot and have small, flat-edged shape wheels.  They are designed for jumping and grinding (sliding on rails, kerbs etc) and for use in skateparks.  They do not turn very well due to the wheel shape and the frame can only take the small wheels, so they are not very fast.  They do not have a brake or a facility to fit one.

3.  HOCKEY SKATES

These are generally close-fitting lace–ups with an aluminium chassis.  The wheels are very closely spaced allowing for fast turns.  They do not have a brake.

4. SPEED SKATES

These skates stand apart from the rest as they have five wheels on each skate, no brake and a low ankle cuff.  They are designed solely for speed racing.  Log onto www.inlinespeed.co.uk for more information.

 * Annular Bearing Engineering Council, or ABEC. This is an Internationally recognised scale of bearing quality. In other words the higher the number the smoother/faster the bearing or the quicker you reach the ground, whichever way you want to look at it!