If there’s one thing that many avid skaters decry, it’s a lack of roller rinks in most parts of the world. Roller rinks, simply put, are few and far between. Unfortunately, most roller skates and rollerblades come standard with indoor wheels, making outdoor skating a risk people have to take. But, should you take that risk? Is it even safe to skate outside with indoor wheels?
This is an issue that has come up repeatedly in online forums, often leading to hotly contested debates. We decided to find out the truth about the safety of using indoor wheels outdoors, so that this debate can finally be put to rest.
Can You Skate Outside With Indoor Wheels?
Technically, you can, but you really shouldn’t do it. Indoor wheels are made out of a harder material than outdoor wheels. This means that the cushioning you get from outdoor wheels won’t be there. That, in turn, will make running over rocks and rolling over small pits more dangerous.
Though plenty of people skate outdoors with indoor wheels without getting hurt, it’s not a good idea. It still can open you up to injury. Moreover, it can also damage the wheels that you’re using.
Roller Skate Wheels: Outdoor vs. Indoor
In order to understand what’s going on with your skates, it’s important to grasp the difference between indoor and outdoor roller skating wheels. Here’s what you need to know about each type:
- Outdoor roller skate wheels are softer than indoor wheels. Indoor wheels are meant for the hard surfaces of a skating rink. Outdoor wheels are meant to make rolling over rocks and pavement easier.
- Indoor roller skates are lighter than outdoor ones. This means you need to put more effort to propel yourself with outdoor skates. This is done as a safety measure, but some people tend to use it to their advantage as a training tool. Skating indoors with outdoor skates can help strengthen legs, due to their extra bulk.
- Outdoor skates are more difficult to maneuver in. Because of their extra bulk and cushioned wheels, it’s a lot harder to turn and twist quickly. This can make them difficult to practice artistic roller skating in.
- Indoor skates don’t bounce the way outdoor skates do. Outdoor skate wheels’ softness means they have a trait called “rebound.” This allows your skates to bounce off rocks while having your skates glide relatively smoothly over them. Indoor skates won’t have rebound, which means that you will feel every little rock.
- In many cases, indoor skates are more fragile. Though this is not always the issue, indoor skates are more prone to breaking because they are stiffer and can be made out of more brittle material.
How Dangerous Is Skating Outside With Indoor Wheels?
Honestly, it’s a lot more dangerous than skating inside with outdoor wheels. Indoor wheels are meant to effortlessly glide on smooth surfaces, which means that speed can be an issue. They are also more prone to snag on wheels or get tripped on gaps.
When you combine that high speed with indoor wheels’ propensity to get caught on gaps and rocks, it’s easy to see why some people have gone flying in the past. If you do choose to go outside with indoor skates, use protective gear and make a point of looking for terrain that will go easy on your skates.
Will Skating Outdoors With Indoor Wheels Hurt Your Wheels?
It all depends on how rough the terrain is. Outdoor terrain, like typical street pavements, tend to be somewhat smooth. So, there’s a chance that you might not hurt your wheels. However, you still might run into a jagged rock that could cause a nick in your wheels.
Will Skating Indoors With Outdoor Wheels Hurt Your Wheels?
While skating outside with indoor wheels can be very damaging to your roller skates, doing it the other way around isn’t. This is because outdoor wheels are made to be more rugged, they are capable of taking a wider ranges of terrain.
The smooth terrain found in skating rinks is not going to have any effect on outdoor wheels. The only issue that you might have, of course, is that you will have to put in a little extra leg work to go as fast.
Are There Such Things As All-Terrain Skates?
It’s common to hear people ask about the possibility of finding roller skates that work with all terrains. The truth is that this is technically possible, but not in the same sense as what you might think. The closest thing you’ll come to all-terrain skates is a pair of outdoor skates.
Though outdoor skates will not have the same speed and agility that indoor skates are known to have, they will be able to handle both types of terrain without putting you at risk of injury. They’re also more rugged than a typical skate pair will be—at least when it comes to handling the damage that comes with different terrains.
Which Type Of Skates Do Most People Get By Default?
If you just took a trip to a roller skating shop, then chancees are you probably bought some indoor skates. Switching them to a pair of outdoor skates is pretty easy. Just switch out the wheels to something labeled for outdoor use.
How To Make Outdoor Skates Feel More Like Indoor Skates
Though there won’t always be a way to get outdoor roller skates to feel entirely like indoor ones, there are ways to make them feel a little more like indoor models. Here’s how you can make the most of your outdoor skates:
- Lightly loosen your skates’ axle nuts. This can help your indoor skates get more speed. Be careful not to loosen them too much, since this can actually cause the skates to become dangerous.
- Choose outdoor roller skates with a high hardness rating. This is the easiest way to get a more blended experience when it comes to your skating. Different skate wheels will have a different hardness rating. Getting a harder set of wheels will give you a more indoor-like slickness.
- Be open to getting a different type of skate. If you use dance skates indoors, you may want to look for some specialty dance skates for outdoor practice. They will be able to keep you (and your ankles) safer while you work out your routines.
- Maintain and watch your roller skate wheels. Well-maintained wheels that are kept clean are going to work better than roller skate wheels that are left uncleaned. If you have the time, go over your wheels with a wet cloth and clean out axles after an outdoor session
Should You Always Switch Your Roller Skates When Going From Indoor Skating To Outdoor Skating?
In an ideal world, roller skaters will always make a point of having at least one set of indoor wheels and one set of outdoor wheels. And, yes, they would make a point of also switching their roller skate wheels based on whether they’re going inside or outside.
The truth is that switching out your wheels to match the terrain is just good form, and also ensures that you’ll be able to use your wheels for a longer period of time. If you think about this simple switch as an investment in your skates’ long-term use, then you’ll have an easier time making the switch.
Can You Always Use Hard Outdoor Skates On All Outdoor Terrain?
Here’s a major caveat most new skaters need to be aware of, but aren’t. If you want to get harder wheels for your outdoor fun, then you need to be aware of the limits of harder skating wheels.
Harder skating wheels don’t have as much rebound as softer skates, which means they can’t bounce off rocks or difficult asphalt terrain. This can lead to a bumpier ride as well as a slightly higher risk of injury. In some cases, hard outdoor skating wheels can become more prone to breaking as a result of difficult terrain.
Unless you are going to be skating on exclusively “gentle” outdoor terrain like blacktops or well-maintained sidewalks, you should have at least some level of rebound built into your skating wheels.
Conclusion
Though you could possibly skate outside using indoor skating wheels, the truth is that it’s a bad idea for both you and your skates. Due to the fast, agile build of indoor skate wheels, skaters who choose to use them outside ten to find themselves at a greater risk of accidents and falls. Besides, using indoor skate wheels outdoors can also put your skates at risk of breaking.
So while no one will stop you from using indoor skates outside, it’s really not a good idea. If you need to choose between skating exclusively with outdoor or indoor wheels, it’s smarter to choose the outdoor option. That being said, the best way to get the most out of your skates is to have both an indoor and outdoor set of wheels.
