The Best Skating Gear to Buy!
The ultimate question:
what are the best roller skates and accessories?
I’ve created this extensive list of all the gear I consider ‘the best’ for roller skating! If you have any questions, please comment below or check out my Discord! My discord is an inclusive, positive, and fun place to talk about everything from roller skating to our favorite recipes to what books we just finished reading. Everyone is welcome! Myself or any of the amazing skaters on there will be able to help answer your questions too! I hope to see you there!
Why should you trust me? Well, I’m a 4-time world champion artistic roller skater. I’ve been skating since i could walk, and I’ve committed my life to educating, coaching, and choreographing roller skating. Continue reading to find out all of the best gear to have with you while enjoying my favorite sport!
The Best Complete Roller Skates
There are five main parts to a roller skate: The Boot, the plate, the wheels, the bearings, and the toe stop. They don’t always come as one complete package, but These skates come assembled with everything you need to roll right away!
BEST Overall
- Great Quality
- edea/roll line setup
- $479.00
Runner Up
- Lightweight
- Memory Foam Ankle Padding
- $229.00
BEST DRESSED
- Vibrant Color
- Great for Indoor Or Outdoor
- $349.00
The BEST BUDGET ROLLER SKATES
Best Overall
- Great Starter Skate
- Very LightWeight
- $199.95
Runner Up
- Hight-Top, Flexible Boot
- Comes With Radar Energy Wheels
- $279.00
Best Dressed
- Rose Gold Everything
- Vegan
- $119.95
The BEST ROLLER DERBY SKATES
I am not a derby skater, but i do know a few people who are! My friend Christina [Fritzy of Fritzy’s Roller Skate Shop!] has a few great recommendations. Fun fact, roller derby skates are sometimes called ‘speed skates’. So, if you aren’t finding exactly what you’re looking for, try searching that instead!
Best Overall
- Good Value
- heel holds it’s shape even broken in
- $199.00
Runner Up
- No break-in necessary
- A legacy company
- $149.95
Best Entry-Level
- Fits like a structured tennis shoe
- Allen key toe stop
- $189.00
The Best Roller Skate Parts
As I mentioned earlier, there are five main parts of a roller skate. In this section, I highlight all of the best options for building your own complete pair of roller skates! This is the best way for you to create, not only a custom skate, but the perfect skate for your needs! Currently, my setup is: a harlick boot, Roll-Line Dance plate, Atom Pulse wheels, Bones Reds bearings, and the Roll-Line toe stop.
BOOTS
You want support, style, and comfort while rollin’ around. Here are my top 3 boot recommendations. Harlick’s are my tried and true best skate boot. I have been skating with Harlick since 2007, and I have yet to wear a boot that I’ve loved more! They’re family owned and run, and they were kind enough to make a discount code for you to use!
use code: NICOLE for $50 off
Harlick is my absolute favorite boot. My fist pair of harlick boots lasted more than 10 years! Talk about quality!
Edea is a very popular boot in Artistic Skating. Personally, I like a softer boot. the edea boots that i have tried are a bit too stiff for my liking.
fun fact: I won my first world championships in an SP-Teri boot. The boot was a hand-me-down that my parents thought i would grow into. i did not, and the boot stayed about 2 sizes too big.
PLATEs / Frames
The plate or frame is what connects your wheels and boots. If you are familiar with a skateboard, it is essentially the roller skate equivalent to a truck. It actually holds your trucks/axel. There are a couple commonly used materials that plates/frames are made out of: Aluminum, titanium, and Nylon. Each of these has their own benefits, but here are a couple key features of each: Aluminum is sturdy, durable, and moderately priced. Titanium is super light, crazy durable, and quite pricy. Nylon is lightweight, and the most affordable of the three. I prefer aluminum most for it’s affordability. for most general skating and dancing I don’t think the other options are as necessary.
This plate changed my life. I know that sounds dramatic, but it honestly did! It is extremely responsive.
This plate is typically used for the artistic roller skating discipline, Freestyle. If you will be jumping or spinning, I highly recommend this plate.
WHEELs
Wheels are what I get the most questions about. I’m typically too lazy to switch my wheels from indoor to outdoor. i wear my atom pulse wheels pretty much everywhere i go, unless i know i will be inside a skating rink. There are so many options for wheels, and a lot of different hardnesses too. I have broken wheels into two sections: indoor (the harder/less sticky option) and outdoor (the softer/more sticky option). It is important to take what you will be doing into consideration as well as where you will be doing it. If you will be skating inside or practicing spins, i suggest a more slippery wheel. Planning to skate outside or on rough terrain? Use a bigger/softer wheel that will absorb the shock. Wheels are sometimes sold in packs of 4, which is only enough wheels for one skate! Make sure you buy enough for two skates: 8 wheels!
Indoor
The 92A is my favorite indoor wheel because i love how grippy it is while still allowing me to slide when i need to. If you prefer a harder wheel, I recommend the 95A or the 97A.
I do not recommend wearing these wheels outside. they have a difficult time rolling over pebbles and debris. However, They are perfect for sliding turns and spinning on a smooth surface!
Outdoor
I CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF THESE WHEELS! They are quite big, sticky, and will go over cracks/small pebbles with ease. They are a great wheel for street skating and dancing!
This wheel comes in multiple cute colors. I got 2 different colors and “checkerboard” them because i couldn’t pick just one! These are much smaller than the Atom Pulse wheels, but feel just as sticky!
BEARINGS
Bearings are the unsung hero of anything with wheels! As you can imagine, bearings get overlooked all the time. The best bearings around are by a company named ‘Bones’. There are many different brands and different kinds of bearings to go with, but the tried and true are Bones! Fun fact: the bearings used in roller skates are the same that are used in skateboards! When you buy bearings, make sure to get 2 packs! Every pair of skates requires 16 bearings. (2 per wheel). Pro-Tip: check to see what size axel you have, and order the appropriate size for your setup. The most common sizes of axels on roller skates are 7mm and 8mm. Most American plates will be 8 mm and most European plates will be 7 mm.
TOE STOPs
Toe stops are not just for stopping. We can use toe stops to push, jump, dance, and so much more! Taylor, my husband, says I really know how to ‘work it’ on ‘em. Ha! There are quite a few options for toe stops. If you’re looking for a more stylish option or looking for the tried and true stopper, I’ve got you covered here! Personally, i love skating with toe stops in. I use them for transitions from street to sidewalk, over large cracks, and stairs! Horror story: I took my toe stops out for a video I was filming. I forgot I had taken them out. I stepped over my camera tripod, and stepped down on my "toe stop”. Long story short, I knocked my camera over and broke my lens… So, always check to see whether you have those toe stops in or out! Pro Tip: If you prefer to skate without toe stops, some skating rinks won’t allow you in without toe plugs or dance plugs. So, keep a pair of these handy when you’re visiting your local roller rink!
This is my favorite toe stop! I love the natural brown color with my tan skates. It is soft, bouncy, and doesn’t wear down too quickly! It is offered in metric and us threading.
A lot of jumps use the toe stop to launch you into the air. If you want a bouncy toe stop for extra height, this is the one! however, this toe stop is only offered in metric threading.
These are a crowd favorite, and they last quite a long time! They are offered in short and long stems, and are great for any surface.
The Best Roller Skating Accessories
TOE CAPS / Guards
Avoid scuffing up your boots, AND ADD SOME DECORATION AT THE SAME TIME! I have never personally worn toe caps, but a lot of my friends do. Here are some good options for toe caps and toe guards from Class and discord Members!
There are a lot of great options on etsy! A few favorites: Strawberries and Scream, PrimaSkateBoutique, and ShopYogarolla.
Helmets
Protect your noodle! I absolutely recommend you wear a helmet if you are skating outside. I especially recommend it if you are new to skating. I know they feel silly sometimes, but safety and a functional brain is a little bit more important than style!
Other SAFETY GEAR
Same thing with the helmet… Please protect yourself and be as safe as possible while skating! While most of this gear doesn’t look stylish or fashionable, it will keep you safe! Nobody wants a trip to the hospital!
I have heard great things about these less-invasive wrist guards. They have a little less material, so your wrists won’t get so sweaty!
FIlming Accessories
I cannot say that I’m a master photographer or videographer… This is where my husband, Taylor, comes in. Here is a list of the must-have gear for you to be able to film yourself while roller skating!
This camera is waterproof, 360 camera. I recommend buying this selfie stick to use with it!
Get 20% off with code: nicolefiore20
This camera will hold your phone and follow you when you skate! It doesn’t need an app, so you can use it for live streams!
I try to have this tripod with me at all times. It is small, lightweight, and easy to carry.
Skate Leashes
when you don’t want to pack your skates into a bag, a skate leash is a must! JUST LOOP THE LEASH AROUND EACH FRONT TRUCK, AND YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY.
Etsy - orange sunburst
The Best Clothing For Roller Skating
I’m very grateful for the community for always suggesting really unique and fun outfit ideas. I love sequins and glitter, but this list is more ‘everyday’ attire. Plus, What’s a ‘best of’ post without a shameless plug for my own apparel that I’m immensely proud of?!
My Apparel
I have always been on the hunt for the perfect socks to wear with skates and sneakers alike: Thick enough to prevent blisters, and thin enough to be comfortable.
Well, I made them, and they have my name on them!
This shirt is light-weight and cute with everything! It even has a disco ball on it!
Shorts
I love this length of short to skate in, because they aren’t too short! They don’t ride up either. They may be “Volleyball shorts”, but they’re my favorite workout shorts.
These are the shorts that i wear all the time! They aren’t too tight around the leg, ehich makes skating easy! Plus, they’re cute for every-day wear.
Rompers, Bras, and Bags
A few different skaters told me about this romper, and i was pleasantly surprised by the quality!
As a larger chested woman, i am so grateful for this brand. Their bras and shirts are amazing! This shirt doesn’t have straps. It slides directly onto your bra. So amazing!
This is one of my favorite bag companies! Not only is the owner amazing, but they are grat to wear while skating. They are versatile, durable, and very stylish!
I’m always looking for the best of everything. So, If you have any great suggestions for the community, comment below or let us know on Discord! Thank you so much for reading!!
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