Hi guys, always a pleasure to have you read my blog (literally gives me joy when I get feedback and comments from you guys)
So, today we’ll be talking about breaking in your roller hockey skates after it’s been newly acquired.
The first thing you should know about breaking in skates is that it is unavoidable. Whether it is quad skates or inline skates, there’s always a period of breaking them in.
If this is your first time hearing about breaking in skates, I’ll be happy to throw more light on it for you.
Do you remember when I told you guys how I constantly fell while trying skating for the first time in elementary school? Well, one of the reasons why I quit then was because I kept getting blisters on my feet every time I tried skating.
Of course, then I was a rookie without proper guidance and I had no idea I was supposed to break in my skates. I was uncomfortable in my skates plus the fact that I kept falling off the skates (a super embarrassing moment for me) so I quit.
Fast-forward to today where I can proudly call myself a pro in roller skating and an amateur in inline skating, I felt it will be wrong if I didn’t tell you guys about breaking in your skates.
In this blog post, we’ll be using the Roller hockey skates for emphasis. Whatever we discuss here is not only applicable to the roller hockey skates and can also be applied to other skates you may have
Beforehand, I’ll like to say that if you’re experiencing any form of discomfort while skating for the first time, please do not be in such a hurry to quit skating. Proper breaking of your skates will make you enjoy skating more. With that being said, let’s get into today’s blog.
What is the difference between rollerblades and roller hockey skates?
From my personal experience, I’ll always choose quad skates over inline skates. As much as I’ve grown to love inline skates too, the Quads come first.
Before I go into the details about breaking in your roller hockey skates, let’s talk about the difference between the rollerblades and the roller hockey skates.
The major difference between the rollerblades and the roller hockey skates is the wheels. You can tell that the rollerblades are inline skates and the roller hockey skates are not.
Also, if you’re looking to do more recreational skating than really serious skating, I’ll recommend the roller hockey skates. It’s really great for Instagram and TikTok videos mostly because it has more balance than the inline skates.
They would be a better pick if you’re looking for more speed and endurance. I noticed this when I transitioned into inline skating. The wheels are much faster so you’ll want to go a bit slower if you’re just starting out for the first time. The reason for this is the bearings that come in the wheels. The rollerblades have bearings with longer endurance than the roller hockey skates.
The roller hockey skates come with toe stops. This is a major feature in the quads and I’m sure you know about them by now (I literally never stop talking about toe-stops). On the other hand, the rollerblades come with only one brake. You can get a second one from any rollerblade retail shop and if you feel you are past using brakes and comfortable without the brake, you are free to take them off your skates.
Another difference I noticed is in the un-boxing of the two skates. With rollerblades, it usually comes without you having to change most things. You can easily take it out of the box and begin skating immediately. But the roller hockey skates may need a little adjustment on the wheel to make movement much easier.
When it comes down to the cost and pricing of these skates, they are quite almost the same prices. You can get really cheap rollerblades as well as roller hockey skates. There are also expensive ones available in the market. So it really depends on you and how much you’re willing to spend to get good skates.
Do roller hockey skates need to be broken in?
Yes yes yes, I really cannot stress this point enough. In other not to get blisters on your ankles or even get severely injured you need to have your roller hockey skates broken in.
To explain this in a simpler term; breaking in your skates is like getting used to a new shoe expandable shoe. The first time you try to wear them, it might hurt really bad and probably give you blisters on your ankles. But after wearing it a few times, they get relaxed and eventually expand on your feet.
This is what breaking in your skates mean.
The first thing you need to know about breaking in your skates is that it comes naturally. Forcing it will only end up creating more blisters on your legs and ankles. With time, you’ll begin to realize that they no longer feel weird or uncomfortable on your feet. That is when the breaking in happens. You won’t realize when you stop calling them new roller skates.
How should roller hockey skates fit?
Now, I’m sure the first answer that came to your mind on seeing this question is “like my shoes”
No, your skates should not fit like your shoes. Roller skates and shoes are completely different things that serve different functions. And if your roller hockey skates fit like your shoes, something is definitely off somewhere.
Although the roller skates are lightweight, they are not as light as your shoes. This means that, while skating if there’s still a space gap in front of your toes or at the back of your ankles, you are more likely to get blisters because of the back and forth movement of your feet inside the skates.
It goes further to make you unbalanced thus making it hard to control your movement properly.
Have in mind that if your skate is too big or too small, you’re only making yourself open to injuries.
The perfect way for your hockey skates to fit is as gripping as possible without feeling loose or painful. You still want a slight room inside your skates to help you wiggle your toes comfortably. If they are new skates, once they get broken in, you’ll feel a lot more comfortable I promise you.
How do you break in roller hockey skates? (The Best Approach)
I’ve seen a lot of hilarious ways people break in their skates. Some of them end up destroying the skates badly. This is what we are trying to avoid. Below are the steps you should follow to break in your roller hockey skates.
Buy the right size
Always make sure you get the right size of skates. Ensure that your go through the size chart as different brands have different sizes. Sadly most of you guys think that your size in shoes is your size in skates. The earlier you know that skates are not shoes, the better for you. If you don’t get the right size you won’t be able to break in your skates properly.
Avoid beginners mistake
This doesn’t really happen with everybody, but as a beginner, you’ll definitely be tensed which is okay. Take a few minutes to calm your nerves down. Being tensed while skating makes your toes stiff from clenching them together whilst trying to move. You’ll only end up creating more problems and fear in you. Stay calm always.
Not so tight lacing
As much as you want a super firm grip on your skates, you don’t want them too tight neither do you want them too loose as well. A really tight lace will only end up making your feet numb which isn’t good for skating. It will affect your movement and slow down your learning process. Your laces are in the right position once you feel comfortable and you’re able to bend your knees without feeling pain down there.
Make use of heat
I hate to give out this recommendation because people don’t exactly know how much heat is too much or too little. Initially, I would have said using the oven to apply heat will be ideal, but not all skates are the same and you could easily get your skates burned or destroyed. We don’t want that. A better method is to make use of a hairdryer to apply heat. Make sure it doesn’t stay for too long. Once you’re done, wear a pair of socks and then your skates. Roll for about five minutes before taking them off. Doing this repeatedly will break in your skate faster.
Conditioning
Please do not make use of hair products on your skates. They could damage your skates and render them useless. Depending on the material your skates come in, especially if it is leather, leaving it conditioned for a few days will soften them.
Be comfortable, be cool
Above all, the best tip in breaking in your skates is to stay comfortable. Pretend like it’s an old skate and wear them for as long as you’ll normally wear your older skates. The longer you wear your roller hockey skates, the more comfortable you get in them and they will eventually break in.
How long does it take to break in roller hockey skates?
Truthfully, I noticed that the amount of time needed to break in a certain pair of skates is different from another pair of skates.
Quite fair if you ask me seeing that different brands make use of different materials to make their skates.
Another factor you need to consider is the technique you use to break in your skates. It could take weeks or months to break in your skates. How often you skate, the intensity, and aggressiveness of your skating also play a major role in breaking in your skates.
If you don’t make use of them often, it could run into three to four months before you break in your skates. Using them more often with the proper method can help you break them in a matter of weeks.
Related questions
1. Can roller hockey skates be used outside?
Yes, roller hockey skates are both outdoor and indoor skates and can easily be transitioned from rock hard surface to wooden surface.
However, for a better experience, I would recommend making use of them for outdoor use just for fun. If you’re a fast or aggressive skater they may not be an ideal pick for you and you should consider checking out other available skates.
2. Can you put brakes on roller hockey skates?
Roller hockey skates do not come with brakes, unfortunately. However, since it’s a quad you can make use of toe-stops to apply the brake while skating. This may not be an ideal pick for you if you’re used to the heel brakes but a beggar has no choice. Unless you have drilling tools to fix brakes ( this isn’t advisable) I see no other way.
Finally
I’m using this medium to urge beginners not to give up on the first try because you are experiencing blisters on your ankles. It may seem like a red flag but it really isn’t.
Ensure that you follow all the steps listed above and even if they don’t work for you, there are other available options to choose from on the internet.
You’re also free to ask your coach or whoever is training you what they used to break in their skates.
I hope this blog post helped break in your roller hockey skates. Let me know which step you used in the comment section below.
Until next time friends!
