If you have visited a park this summer, perhaps you have come across skaters gliding past. Skating became popular in the 1970s thanks to the disco era and is an enticing sport to partake in. Irrespective of the style, it is a simple to do activity for kids and adults alike.
You do not need a lot of equipment to enjoy smooth gliding, be it for fitness or competition purposes. Before you set out skating though, you need to keep in mind that successful skating is a product of a proper skate selection. The right skate is one that fits your feet well, not too tight, and not too loose. If you have wide flat feet, this article has you covered.
The Top 5 Roller Skates for Wide Flat Feet
Whether one is a beginner or an experienced skater, skating on a well-fitting pair of skates is what everyone desires. If your feet are wide and flat, you may have, at some point, thought that it could be difficult for you to find skates that will suit you. Well, that is not true at all. Take a look at the below list, and for sure you will have a reason to smile.
- Sure-Grip Rasta Mid Top Roller Skates
- Roller Derby Str Seven
- Chicago Ladies Bullet Speed Skate
- Roller Derby Zinger Boy’s Roller Skate
- Roller Derby Trac Star Youth Girl’s Adjustable Roller Skate
1. Sure-Grip Rasta Mid Top Roller Skates
The Sure-Grip Rasta Mid Top Roller Skates (Amazon Link) is a cheap option among comfortable roller skates out there. This skate has an eye-catching upper that is made of a blend of suede, leather, and canvas. The wheels have a width of 37mm which enhances the boot’s stability hence is suitable for beginners.
Features:
- ABEC 3 bearings
- Double padded tongue
- Pure aluminium trucks
- Tough rock nylon plate
- 62mm 85A wheels
- Includes two pairs of laces
- Rubber bullseye stoppers
Pros:
- No foot fatigues
- Pretty comfy
Cons:
- Lack a Velcro strap
2. Roller Derby Str Seven
Whether you are new to skating, or you are planning to get back to skating, the superb STR Seven from Roller Derby Skates (Link to Target) will do the trick for you. They are designed to be safe and smooth while assisting you to grasp skating concepts quickly.
Features:
- PU foamed speed profile boot
- Traditional yet modern classic-style boot for the rink and indoor skating
- Am Pro Frame chassis
- Quick-dry comfort lining provides breathability for sustained wear
- Rubber compound fixed toe stops
- Strong urethane wheels – 58mm*40mm
- Silver-5 rated chrome speed bearings
- Synthetic faux-leather upper
- Velcro power strap and laces
Pros:
- Stable and strong
- Superb breathability
- Durable
Cons:
3. Chicago Ladies Bullet Speed Skate
This skate features a low-cut boot that ensures improved movement freedom. It also comes with top-quality laces for safety; thus, it is comfortable and secure. This skate is designed for racing but can be used for other activities as well. They are made from durable vinyl, and the easy lace closure system allows you to make proper adjustments easily while skating.
The Chicago skate (Amazon Link) features 62mm wheels alongside precision bearings and fixed axels for enhanced stability and control. They also come with superb aluminium trucks and top-speed urethane wheels. They offer a sleek look and guaranteed top performance. The low-cut design offers a smooth ride. The skate combines durable leather upper and lace-up and hook and loop closure make the skate comfortable, secure, and durable.
Features:
- High speed 62mm urethane wheels
- Padded collar with heel pull loop, and a power strap
- Precision ABEC 1 speed bearings
- Large front brake
- Premium fixed axels
- Adjustable aluminium trucks
Pros:
- Quickstarts and sudden stops
- Reliable
- High quality
- Easy lace closure system
Cons:
- Pricey
4. Roller Derby Zinger Boy’s Roller Skate
The Roller Derby Zinger Boy’s Roller Skate (Target link) is a proven classic quality that will make your outdoor and indoor skating an enjoyable experience. The skate features a canvas-style sneaker, lightweight, rigid chassis, top-quality polyurethane wheels, front brake, quick-dry lining, and classic laces. Roller Derby Skate Corp has been the leading skate products producer for more than 8 decades. They are an American company, and their skates are meant to perform as good as they look.
Features:
- Athletic boot with quick-dry lining and lace closure
- Cushioned insole
- Torsion beam chassis
- Built-in ankle support
- Polyurethane wheels
- G-Force (608ZB) bearings
- Padded boot shaft
Pros:
- Super comfortable
- Secure
- Suits both indoor and outdoor skating
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- True to size
Cons:
- Not very colourful
5. Roller Derby Trac Star Youth Girl’s Adjustable Roller Skate
The Trac Star (Target Link) offers ideal comfort and performance accompanied by adjustable sizing to put up with growing feet, hence is perfect for growing kids. It features top-quality components as well as lightweight technology, making it easy to use both indoors and outdoors.
Features:
- 54mm 90A urethane wheels
- Polypropylene frame
- Adjustable size
- Padded tongue
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Perfect grip
Cons:
- No Velcro straps
How to Choose the Best Roller Skates for Wide Feet
Size Your Roller Skates Correctly
The sizing for skates is sometimes different from the sizing of your regular shoes. It is always advisable that you visit a skates’ store so that you try them on before buying. At the store, have the boot on, and shift your foot forward inside the boot. Next, insert your finger to check if it fits. If there is more space after you have inserted your finger, the skates are too big for you. The best thing about visiting the store in-person is that the store personnel will assist you in selecting the correct fit.
It is not very difficult for skaters to find the proper fit with most standard-sized roller skates. However, if your feet are a bit wider and flat, you will need to choose a skate that has clearly stipulated width.
Roller Skate Boot Design
The best foot for you is dependent on what you intend to use it for. The types of roller skates include:
- Rhythm skates
- Artistic skates
- Derby skates
- Speed skates
- Jam skates
The differences between these skates are discussed below.
Rhythm skates: Rhythm skate boots are a hybrid of jam and artistic skate boots. They are built in a high-cut design; hence they provide adequate ankle protection and support. They also give skaters a lot of freedom, making it perfect for slides and dance skating. This boot features a replaceable toe plug in place of a toe stop brake.
Artistic skates: Artistic roller skates bear a resemblance to ice skates for figure skating. They feature leather boots that stand upon remarkably strong sole plates. Beneath the soles is a pair of jump bars for sole reinforcement. Similar to rhythm skates, these skates are a high-cut design; the boot stretches above the ankle; thus, enhancing stability and ankle support.
The heels in these skates are higher than the heels on the other skates. This implies that most of the skater’s weight lies at the front of the skate; thus, giving the skater much agility and control that they need to perform immensely complicated jumps and spins. This is the reason these boots are popular with solo dance skaters, precision skaters, free skaters, and synchronized dancing skaters.
Derby skates: Roller derby is a globally-recognized sport that involves contact between players and requires 3 essential aspects: strategy, strength, and focus. As you might pre-empt, derby skates are built with a lot of padding alongside specialized accessories to reduce injury instances.
Speed skates: As the name suggests, speed skates are intended to give you just that; speed. Similar to derby and jam skates, these skates have a low-cut design to permit freedom and maneuverability. They are designed to provide a superb snug fit, and like the jam skates, they are a lightweight affair.
A high-boot is typically accompanied by a lightweight plate to make the skates pretty light. They are preferred for springs, lap skating, and marathon. They make the perfect choice for long-distance skating. These skates come with a toe stop.
Jam skates: Jam skates, similar to speed and derby skates, come with a low-cut boot design and are used for jam skating. They are a lightweight option and are built to permit the most flexibility and range. Jam skates resemble speed skates in a number of ways; the difference between is that jam skates do not come with a toe stop but a replaceable toe plug instead.
The Important Components to Look Out for
When shopping around for the perfect roller skates for wide flat feet, below are the components that you should keep an eye on:
Plate
Plastic plates are sufficient for beginners. However, with the growth of the skater’s skills, an upgrade to better plates such as aluminium is essential. Needless to say, aluminium plates are perfect for every skater, beginner or advanced.
Boot
Boots come in two forms; rigid and flexible. Flexible boots are lighter and offer higher maneuverability; hence are recommended for skaters who partake in demanding skating activities.
The material used to make the boots can either be vinyl or leather. Vinyl boots are usually heavily padded, stretch less, and are cheaper compared to leather boots. They are the right choice for recreational and beginner skaters.
Leather boots work well with advanced skaters since they permit top performances. Since leather is a long-lasting commodity, these boots are more durable than vinyl boots.
Another characteristic of boots is the cut. Boots can be low-cut or high-cut. Higher boots stretch up past the ankle; thus, they provide better ankle support than the low-cut counterparts. However, if you are interested in higher speeds and agility, then low-cut boots are your choice. Low-cut boots permit longer striding and have better range of motion.
Wheel
Every skater requires two sets of wheels; a harder set for skating indoors or at the rink, and a softer set for skating at the streets, sidewalk, or jumping off curbs. The hardness or softness of wheels is determined by the durometer scale which runs from 0 to 100A.
For indoor skating purposes, wheels with hardness 97A are recommended, while for outdoor skating purposes, the hardness of 78 to 85A would do the trick. Softer wheels are better when it comes to gliding past obstacles such as twigs, bumps, or small rocks. Soft wheels also do better on cracked surfaces. In summary, soft wheels are designed to hold out against outdoor skating rigours.
Gliding on slippery surfaces requires wheels of hardness 95A; for super-slippery surfaces, the harness of 92A works well. In a nutshell, the more slippery the skating surface is, the softer your skating wheels should be.
For speed skating, the hardness of 95A to 98A is most suitable. If you intend to do artistic skating, a hardness of 97A to 103A is what you need.
Wheel diameter also has a significant effect. If you are thinking of getting into artistic, dancing, aggressive, or roller hockey, all you need is small wheels. Small wheels permit more excellent maneuverability. Speed and fitness skating require larger wheels, as they are faster and offer a smoother ride.
The most suitable wheels for skating indoors have a diameter of 62mm and a width of 35-44mm. For artistic skating, diameters of between 55-65mm and 30-31mm width are recommended, while for speed skating, 62mm diameter and 40mm width work best. If you intend to skate outdoors, wheels of diameter between 60-70mm and width 32-42mm will do the trick; they will give you a balance between stability and speed while riding over uneven terrains.
The Bottom Line
The fact that your feet are wide and flat should not, and has never been a hindrance to partaking in your favourite hobby; skating. This article discusses the things that you need to look out for while shopping for your new pair of skates. It also captures some of the best skates available in the market for people with wide and flat feet. The type of skating you want to get into will dictate your buying decision. For a beginner, select something that you find most interesting. If you are an advanced skater, pick something that suits your skills, while allowing you to improve. Always keep in mind that comfort and safety are crucial. This guide should help you with getting a new pair of roller skates that will make you happy for a long time.
