Karla News

Choosing Roller Derby Skates

Leather Boots

Interested in Roller Derby? The first major decision you’ll have to make is what skates to buy. This article will give a brief overview of the many choices that go into buying your first pair. Derby girls are passionate about their wheels especially and the girls on your team will be the best source for wheel choice and where to buy locally. But if you are rolling into your first practice there are some things you’ll want to know.

Important beginner info; roller skates are sold in men’s sizes. Ladies go down one size from your shoe size. If you wear a woman’s 8, try on a 7 in skates. And like the norm in woman’s clothes, what fits you in one brand may not fit you in another style. One of the reasons I don’t recommend buying sight unseen from a website. Unless of course you have had the chance to try on a fellow derby girls and decided that that size works well for you. When doing this, remember that their skates will be broken in and a new pair will feel different.

When shopping in town, unless you are going to a shop that specializes in derby, (don’t snicker, there is one incredible one near me in Cleveland, Ohio), they may not know what you are talking about. Tell them you want to try on speed skates or jam skates.

Local skating rinks are also a good choice when looking for derby skates. Send out a quick email to the roller derby team site you are planning on joining and ask for recommendations.

See also  Five Fat Burning Exercises for Men

If despite your best efforts you cannot find a local retailer, or because of time constraints, buying online may be your only option. The web offers a plethora of options, and opinions and price ranges. Be sure to compare size charts and look at the feedback to see how the sizes run compared to brands you may have tried, as well as good information from real customers that have tried them.

Check the return policy, it’s better to be inconvienenced and set back the restocking fee than to wear skates that cause pain. Derby is full of enough pain! Wearing the wrong skates while playing roller derby can cause serious damage to your feet.

There is a general rule to follow regarding what to spend. Since skate prices can go off the charts, I stick to the $100 rule. It will give you a decent starter pair and let you participate, while building your skills. Once you’ve been on the rink for a little while and know what would make those hundred dollar skates better for you personally, then you can look for those particular features in a better pair.

Derby is hard on skates, as you can imagine, and your needs will change with your position on the team. Depending if you are a jammer or a blocker or pivot, there is a better choice in skates and wheels for you in particular. The other factor is the kind of rink you are practicing on, is it wood, or concrete?

Don’t hesitate too much, your first pair of skates will make excellent outdoor skates once you upgrade.

See also  Confessions of a Recovering Drug Addict

Aside from the size, brand and price, you will also want to decide between leather or synthetic boots.

Leather boots are durable and will allow your foot to mold it to shape with use. Leather is higher quality, and so more expensive. Cheap leather boots are just that, cheap. The quality definitely goes down with the prices.

Leather boots feel firmer than a synthetic boot. It is entirely a personal choice. I know some girls like their feet to be a little looser in the skate.

When trying on leather skates, remember they will stretch over time….not enough to make up for a poor fit though.

Synthetic skates do not have the break-in period that leather does. What you try on is what you get for the most part. Synthetic are comfier than leather, which is good or bad depending on your tastes. They tend to feel more like a comfy pair of converse.
The main problem with vinyl skates are their durability. You can destroy a pair of synthetic skates in no time.

If you are looking for a vegan alternative to leather, look for a higher quality pair like the ones made by Riedell. Looking around my team, that is the skate of choice.

A cheap boot that fits beautifully can be upgraded easily with good wheels and bearings. On the other hand, an expensive skate that hurts your feet cannot be fixed.

There is the remote chance that someone else’s poorly fitting skate could be your dream ride. Ask around. I got incredibly lucky at my very first practice doing this. A long time skater let me try on her old skates and they were perfect for me. All I had to do was upgrade the wheels and bearings.

See also  Piaget's Object Permanence

But since then, I have done some damage to the skates and they will have to be retired to the outdoor track soon, so my research has been picking up.

If you just happen to be in the Cleveland, Ohio area, check out Skater’s Edge

Good online sources include;

Roller Derby Girl

Via Derby

Sin City Skates

Whatever you end up purchasing, train hard, derby is not for the weak!