Skating has existed for many decades, with its popularity growing hugely in the 1940s. The original rollers provided an alternative to ice skating, and they made it possible to enjoy the sport outdoors in any weather. The initial skates were designed to resemble car wheels, with two rollers at the front and two at the rear side. These paved way for inline skates, which entail two to five wheels arranged in a line along the boot length. Most outdoor skaters prefer skating on inline skates.
Skating outdoors means that you will encounter different surfaces. Inline skates are designed to hold out against these outdoor terrains – their softer wheels grip uneven landscapes. Besides, they permit for higher speeds; thus, skaters can go faster outdoors.
The 5 Best Inline Skates for Outdoors
Selecting the best inline skates for outdoor depends on your skating expertise, the intended purpose, and the budget. There are a variety of inline skates to select from, and this article discusses some of the best out there to help you narrow down your options and select the proper inline skates for your needs. Below are five of the best inline skates available in the market:
- Atom Pro Fitness 4×110 Outdoor Inline Skate Package
- TKO Light Speed Adjustable Inline Skate
- XinoSports Kids Inline Skates for Girls & Boys – Adjustable Roller Blades with LED Illuminating Light Up Wheels
- Bladerunner Pro XT Men’s Inline Skate
1. Atom Pro Fitness 4×110 Outdoor Inline Skate Package
The Atom Pro Fitness inline skate was designed for skaters interested in speed skating, skating marathons, and those whose intention is to maintain fitness and cardio levels though skating outside. View these skates on Amazon here. The boot consists of a carbon fiber shell, and the cuff is hinged to allow for an enhanced range of motion. A little push on these skates gives speed, comfort, and power. They were built by world-class speed skaters and are made to last long.
Features:
- Ratchet buckles on cuffs
- Bionic ABEC 7 bearings
- 86A hardness wheels
- Carbon fiber shell
- High-density padding
- Striker Mark II frame
- Atom pro fitness boot
Pros:
- Smooth rides on rough terrain
- High-speed maneuverability
- Great ventilation
Cons:
- Only suits experienced skaters
2. TKO Light Speed Adjustable Inline Skate
The TKO Racing Light Speed Inline Skate (Devaskation Link) is basically an adjustable skate designed for beginners and intermediate skaters. It has adjustable sizing, thus, suits growing kids. This skate was designed to introduce beginners to inline skating. It, however, has sufficient technology to suit skaters who wish to dive into speed skating.
It comes with a hard boot with a replaceable liner and glass fiber reinforced nylon shell, making it comfortable for skaters who like to jump, bend, or roll. This skate features a strap and a buckle for adequate fitting comfort, a durable and lightweight TKO Redline 6000 series extruded aluminum frame, and 90mm TKO Racing X-firm wheels.
Features:
- Glass fiber reinforced nylon shell
- Hard-shell boot with removable liner
- 1 micro-adjustable lift lock buckle
- Velcro full contact power strap
- TKO Redline 6000 series extruded aluminum, CNC machined frame
Pros:
- Solid construction
- Sturdy
- Adjustable sizing – suits growing kids
- Exceptional ankle support
Cons:
- Not intended for low speeds
3. XinoSports Kids Inline Skates for Girls & Boys – Adjustable Roller Blades with LED Illuminating Light Up Wheels
These skates’ front wheels light up, making it safer for your kid to skate at night. View these skates on Amazon here.
Features:
- High-performance ABEC 7 bearings
- Soft foam inner lining
- Made from premium quality materials
- Reinforced aluminum frame
- Secure stay-put wheel construction
- Double thick threading
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Very quick bearings
- Safety feature – blinking wheels
- Great ankle support
- Adjustable – kids can use them for many years
- Comfortable and durable
Cons:
- Bearings might be intimidating for a kid
4. Bladerunner Pro XT Men’s Inline Skate
If you are in need of a smooth ride, you can grab this pair of men’s rollerblade and glide on the streets with lots of fun. These skates from Rollerblade is a good value-driven product that is designed for beginners. Check out these skates on Amazon here.
These skates ensure that the balance of beginners is maintained at all times. They feature 80mm wheels and ABEC 7 bearings, which permit moderate rolling speed on any landscape type.
The Bladerunner offers the skater a low center of gravity and the optimum speed, support, and traction for novices. You will experience shock absorption, stability, and smooth control riding on these skates.
Often referred to as recreational inline skates, these skates blend control, comfort, quality, and great value for your money. The liner offers ample rolling comfort. Besides, the supportive design and closure system permits a smooth and secure movement of your feet. The closure system features a flexible lacing system, buckles for ankle support, and customized Velcro straps for heel retention.
Features:
- 80mm wheels
- ABEC 7 bearings
- Pros:
- Smooth control
- Comfortable liner
- All-purpose
- Exclusive closure system
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Lack ventilation
A guide to Choosing the Best Inline Skates for Outdoors
Your skating experience is reliant on your skates’ quality, which is dictated by the various components that make up the skates.
Wheels
Today, most wheels are made using polyurethane instead of the plastic wheels of the old days. This makes them more durable and makes the ride smoother.
Wheels are designed based on the specific types of use: speed, rapid acceleration, stabilization, etc. The performance of wheels is dictated by size, shape, and hardness.
Wheel’s size determines the skates’ speed. Larger wheels measure around 100mm in diameter and are faster; thus, they are used in racing skates. Small wheels measure around 57mm in diameter and provide an immense latitude in accelerating and decelerating.
Wheels’ hardness, or durometer, determines the wheels’ perseverance to rough surfaces. It also dictates the accelerative ability of the wheel. The durometer is measured by a scale that runs from 0 to 100A. Outdoor skating demands harder wheels – hardness of 82A and above.
Wheels’ are round in shape but come in different profiles characterized by the amount of surface area that comes in contact with the ground; thus, dictating the amount of friction and stability.
Types of wheels:
Recreational wheels: these wheels are usually larger in size. Typically, speed is directly proportional to the wheel size; therefore, recreational skaters should be okay moving faster.
Recreational wheels should have a wide profile, meaning that a more considerable amount of wheel surface touches the ground.
Hockey wheels: these wheels are typically narrow and elongated. They are designed to allow as much contact as possible with the skating ground to permit high mobility levels.
Hockey wheels usually measure between 72mm to 80mm in diameter, and a harness of 72A
Speed skating wheels: usually have a larger diameter and a small width. These wheels are pointed such that they touch the ground at an angle. The limitation to the amount of surface that touches the ground decreases resistance and increases speed. Racing wheels are usually very hard; hardness close to 100A
Aggressive wheels: these are the wheels used for performing tricks and aggressive skating. They feature a square profile meaning that their sides touch the ground perpendicularly. This increases stability. They are hard wheels, with a hardness of above 88A to allow skating in rough surfaces.
Bearings
Bearings dictate the speed of wheels’ rotation. They are placed inside the wheel wells, and they spin around the axes. Each wheel needs two bearings, one on either side.
Bearings are rated based on the ABEC system, a scale that runs from 1 to 9 and denotes the bearings’ rotation speed.
Brakes
There are two types of brakes on inline skates: traditional and advanced braking.
However, not all skates come with brakes. Skates used by serial skaters have no brakes, but it would be risky to use skates with no brakes if you are a beginner.
Skate brakes are usually attached to the rear side of the right skate. You will need to tilt your right foot back to drag the brake on the ground to use the brake.
In most cases, racing skates, hockey skates, and aggressive skates do not have brakes because they might interfere with the skating. A standard method to stop without brakes is to drag your dormant foot behind your lead foot.
Frames
Frames are responsible for holding your wheels in place – they are an intermediary between the body-generated force and the ground.
The force you generate is transmitted to the ground through the frames, making your wheels rotate. Therefore, stiffer frames are recommended to reduce wastage of energy during transfer.
You can also keep an eye on the frame’s material, which determines the durability and weight. The materials that are usually utilized in making frames are aluminium, carbo, and plastic.
Plastic frames: mostly suit beginners. They are cheaper to build and have the least durability and stiffness compared to the other materials. They can twist under pressure causing the skater to lose some of the energy, hence are inefficient. Besides, they are pretty heavy.
Aluminium frames: these frames have better stiffness and are more efficient, sturdy, and light. They are typically on intermediate roller skates.
Carbo frames: make the best type. They are superbly efficient, strong, and lightweight. They are, however, very expensive.
Cuffs
Cuffs endure high pressure from power generation; therefore, it is essential to have high-quality cuffs to permit speed generation and support.
Cuffs come in low, high, or no-cuff variations. High cuffs stretch as high as long socks and are usually found on beginner or intermediate skates since they provide the most support.
The amount of support and flexibility provided by cuffs is inversely proportional to the cuffs. Therefore, speed skates work best with shorter cuffs that permit skaters to take sharper turns.
Gender also has an impact on cuffs; men’s cuffs are typically higher than women’s cuffs.
Cuffs can be made from plastic or carbon. Plastic cuffs are typically cheaper than carbon cuffs.
Liners
Liners are less talked about, but they play a significant role in your skating experience. If they do not fit well, you will have an unpleasant time.
The different types of liners offer varying feels; therefore, it is challenging to state which liners are the best.
Foam liners are the most common type and are made from a foam material that matches up to the skater’s foot and weight. They are most suitable for beginners.
Memory fit liners: These liners utilize memory foam to offer a great fit around the skater’s feet. They form to fit your feet over time. These liners are better than the foam liners, hence more expensive.
Heat molding liners: These liners can be instantly shaped to fit a skater’s feet, and they are perfect for inline skating.
Closure system
Closure systems come in various forms: straps, buckles, and laces. A combination of this excellent grip makes life easier for every skater. The grip is responsible for locking the heel, ankle and ensures a perfect fit with the frame. A functional closure system offers a snug fit, allowing you to transfer power directly, protecting your feet from getting blisters caused by loose heels.
The Bottom Line
You are a skating lover, perhaps the reason you are here looking for the best inline skates for outdoors. Whether you are a beginner or a veteran, selecting the best inline skate for skating outdoors is crucial for your enjoyment. The market has been flooded by manufacturers, all of them striving to offer the best products. Therefore, selecting the best skates can be a challenging task. This article describes the factors to consider when buying outdoor inline skates and also features a list of some of the best inline skates available in the market alongside their features, pros, and cons to guide your decision. Look out for skates that you think will meet your needs and have fun skating.
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