Skates Guide - Beginner's Guide to Skates
Back in the day skates were nothing more than an iceskate with wheels instead of blades, a lot has changed since and with a long list of different types, it can become quite the mouthful for any newcomers. However, don't fret just yet, because rolling on a pair of skates is too much fun and such an all around sport to not want to give it a go.Roller skating is the perfect summer sport to those who want to skate when no snow's around. Your age and gender doesn't matter, skates are for everyone. Of course, certain types of skates goes better with the type of roller skating you want to do.
That's why the first thing you should decide, when buying skates, is what skate fits best for you and your plans with them. Since some skates are better for tricks and stunts on ramps, others for fast placed racing and manuevering, while a third pair of skates works best for nice short trips, dancing and regular excersizing, outside or indoor and much more. All of these informations will be gone through down below.
Selection of roller skates and ice skates
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Story Elite Quad SkatesAs low as €89.95 Regular Price €269.95 Save €180.00 -
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Story Glacier Quad SkatesSpecial Price €109.95 Regular Price €164.95 -
Story Glacier Quad SkatesSpecial Price €109.95 Regular Price €164.95
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Story Space Inline SkatesSpecial Price €129.95 Regular Price €259.95 -
Story Epic FitGo Inline SkatesSpecial Price €144.95 Regular Price €309.00 -
Story Aggressive Inline SkatesAs low as €114.95 Regular Price €349.00 Save €234.05 -
Story Aggressive Inline SkatesSpecial Price €124.95 Regular Price €349.00 - Story Aggressive Inline SkatesSpecial Price €129.95 Regular Price €349.00
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Story Aggressive Inline SkatesSpecial Price €114.95 Regular Price €349.00 -
Story Compact Mission Roller Hockey SkatesSpecial Price €89.95 Regular Price €204.95 -
Story Compact Mission Roller Hockey SkatesSpecial Price €84.95 Regular Price €204.95
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Story Rocket Adjustable Ice SkatesSpecial Price €49.95 Regular Price €114.95 -
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- Story Active Ice SkatesAs low as €45.95 Regular Price €64.95 Save €19.00
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- Story Verso Ice SkatesAs low as €54.95 Regular Price €94.95 Save €40.00
- Story Misty Ice SkatesAs low as €54.95 Regular Price €104.95 Save €50.00
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Different types of Skates - Which type goes best for what and whom?
Some roller skates are best suited for tricks and stunts on ramps, others for speeding and manoeuvring, others for leisurely walks, dancing or general fun exercise, outdoors or indoors and more.Generally skates are catgorised between inliners and side-by-side. Inliners is skates where the wheels are lined, while side-by-side skates got two wheels at the front and on the rear.
Skates for children/kids
The best skates for children has a tall boot, to grant a greater stability around the angle and the lower part of the leg. This helps children keep the proper poses and in doing so, easier gain control of the skates.When skates for children should last longer than one season, it benifits the skates to have buckles on both the back of the foot and on the shin. With that the skates should be able to fit children and give joy for as long as possible.
This is why adjustable skates are perfect for children, since they can be adjusted to fit the growing and different sizes of feet, with help from a rail located under the skates' shoe.
Fitness Inliners
Fitness inliners skates are comfortable and accessible for everyone. There exist models for adults and children, both girls and boys. They can be used for nice trips outside alone, with family or friends, as well as fun exercises. It's skates for every current skill level, beginners and experienced skaters.Fitness inliners skates is designed with soft wheels so you can roll over uneven surfaces on the asphalt. Bearings with a high ABEC-rate gives a much better rolling velocity.
Fitness inliners skates often has a closing system, which uses both buckles and laces. There is also other forms of closing systems. One other is where the buckles can be turned in order to close the buckles and laces automatically. Whichever closing system the skates got, it doesn't truly matter all too much, beside which one you would rather have
Most fitness inliners skates have a break installed. The break can be removed and typically you can decide for yourself which foot you want it placed on. It's always reccomended to buy a few extra breaks, since the break can be worn out in time and sometimes it has been seen that when certain models aren't being made anymore, the same applies for the breaks. However, this rarely happens to the most known brands.
Fitness inliners skates are typically equipped with a blade made of aluminium. This makes them more stable and the transfering of force is better than with nylon and compost blades. Unless you want to be fast for racing, then it won't matter which blade you choose, but if so, you should go for aluminium blades.
Side-by-Side
Side-by-side skates are skates for just about everyone, doesn't matter if you're young or old, child or an adult. You can be a beginner as well as an experienced skater on these skates. They can used for exercising, for the short nice trips and the longer travels. Some can even be used to certain types of dancing, such as disco.Side-by-side skates is known for having four wheels, which in pairs are placed next to each other. This is the reason they usually are easier to skate with, since your stability when standing with them improves. Their design is also known for its retro look and reminds the older skaters of roller skates from back when they were younger.
For the side-by-side skates, bearings aren't as important to focus on, since you rarely ever will meet the same velocities as one would with inliners skates.
Side-by-side skates has a truck and plate on the bottom. Oftenly the plates are made of nylon, which makes the skates weigth less. The trucks on the hand are made of aluminium, which of course makes them stronger, but also heavier.
Another thing that has made the side-by-side skates known is the toe-stop, which is used as a break and to start off. It's recommended to replace this before it worns out.
Agressive and Speed skates
Certain skates are specially made for either tricks, crazy stunts and freestyleskating or speed and manuevering.These skates are therefore best suited for the more experienced skaters, who participates in various sorts of competitions and maybe are members of clubs where they race. For these skates, one should be able to handle high velocities, experienced with performing tricks and making sharp turns.
Wheels and Boots
Wheel size
When choosing a wheel size, what matters is the distance you want to skate. On further distances it is best to go with a bigger wheel size, since it will be easier to keep up the speed and the energy you spend drops.On shorter distances the smaller sized wheels is preferable, as you will discover that it'll become easier to execute manuevers and stopping up by incoming turns.
Wheels hardness
When it comes to wheels hardness, measurements with a durometer is done and displayed with an A. The higher the A-number is, the harder the wheels are and vice versa. Meaning, that the softer the wheels are, the lower the A-number is.What the above means is the wheels ability to take hits, grip on the road and the velocity. For softer wheels it goes that the grip on road and the ability to take hits is better, but the durability and the speed is reduced. If instead, the wheels are harder, the durabiliy and speed is improved, but the grip on the road and taking hits lessens.
Hard boots or soft boots
When it comes to whether to pick hard or soft boots, it's a matter of preference. Some enjoys a hard boot, since it gives improved stability and control. While others would rather chose a soft boot, as it is often comfier and grants great ventilation.
Size Guide for skates
When you have to choose between skates, the comfort is one of the most important of factors. Sadly, the manufactorers doesn't always use the same sizes as the one used in Europe.
Therefore, what we recommend is to always pick a larger size than you usually would. As your toes needs room inside the boot to move around. Should your toes touch against the top, then you need a larger size.
It is clever to try them on while inside, should a switch be necessary. Doing so, often gives you a good idea whether they fit or not.
Protection
As with many other sports, protection is a great idea, much better than being injured.
We therefore recommend that you buy the necessary equipment in form of helmets, wrist guards, elbowpads, knee protectors. Furthermore there is gloves specially made for freestyleskating, which gives a better grip and comfort for the hands.
Equipped with all these various means of protection you'll be ready to take on roads with a sweet pair of roller skates.
We only offer the best quality protection and equipment, which you can find on our site down below.
See our full range of protection
Accessories
If you want to try out tricks and fast paced skating, you can find find ramps to practice on and gradually improve your moves.
These ramps are of sizes that makes it easy to travel with, and take along wherever you want to go.
See our full range of roller skates accessories