When it comes to roller skating, the type of skate or skating boot that you wear has a great influence in the way you skate. Generally, there are skates that work better on certain surfaces or are better suited for certain skating surfaces like rinks, asphalt, street, etc than others. There are also some that are better suited to certain individuals, based on level expertise and experience.
Roller skates are differentiated by their boot linings, paddings, insoles, midsoles, and type of material. These features affect the performance the skate.
That brings us to the topic of discussion. High top vs. low top roller skates, what are the differences? Let’s find out what these two roller skates mean.
What Is a High Top Roller Skate?
High top roller skates are skating boots that have higher cut than other shoes. This type of skate extends above the ankle and is loved by most new skaters because it offers more stability and additional protection to the ankle. The extra padding also add to the stability of the skate and additionally protect the ankle.
Thanks to the higher cut, you are sure of keeping your feet warm during winter or cold weather. However, this can be disadvantageous if you want to roller skate in warmer periods.
What Is a Low Top Roller Skate?
Low top roller skate doesn’t extend above the ankle level. This type of skate are low cut and is loved by experienced skaters who want to have fun while skating. They offer more speed and is lightweight, due to the loss of extra padding around the ankle area.
And yes, low top roller skate are known for speed. Hence, are called speed boots. They are popular because they allow the ankle to move about more freely.
Also, they offer more breathability than high top roller skate because they are low cut. This means that the boot won’t be so hot on your foot after all.
Types of High Top Roller Skates
Artistic and Recreational Skates
Artistic skates are high top roller skates that are used in many skating surfaces. Artistic skates are made of leather boots, with very strong sole plate that provides additional support and protection to the foot.
Like most high top roller skates, this type sits above the ankle to provide more support and stability, and also help you to land properly.
Rhythm Skates
This is another type of high top roller skate. Just like the name suggests, this type of skate is designed for both dancing and skating. Call it a dance – skate boot and you won’t be so wrong.
Rhythm skate is a few inches above the ankle, just like artistic skates. In fact, rhythm skates are similar in design to an artistic skate. They both provide ankle support, more stability, and temperature control, especially in a cold weather.
The only difference between the two probably lies in the brake. The toe brakes in rhythm skates are not traditionally designed like most skates. Instead, it has a dance plug kind of brake, similar to the one that you can find in jam skates.
If you want a high cut skate that would give you the freedom to dance to the rhythm of beats, rhythm skates are what you should go for.
Types of Low Top Roller Skates
Jam Skates
The design of jam skates is probably the selling point of the low cut boot. It is uniquely cut from top to bottom. Surprisingly, jam skate lacks brakes, which means that you are in fully control of the skate. You can choose to do whatever you want in style with this type of skate.
Before now, jam skates used to be high top skates, and looked very similar to artistic skates. However, the manufacturer had other ideas and decided to blend in their style by uniquely designing it and transforming it from a high top boot to a low top one.
Over the years, jam skates have evolved from being a simple, disco dance boots of the early 1970s to modern dance and groundbreaking moves. This is why the manufacturers decided to transform it to a low top skate – to allow more freedom around the ankles and allow the skater to express themselves while dancing and skating.
There is a dance plug in front of the skate, around the toe region instead of the regular toe stop or brake. As with most low top skates, jam skates are lightweight and have light frames to guarantee fast movement to suit the skating style of the skater.
Jam skates are majorly used for regular skating, but you can use them for other purposes such as dancing and gymnastics.
Derby Skates
Derby skate is another example of low top roller skates. Roller derby, which is a sport where derby skates are used mostly is a renowned sport that is played around the globe. This contact sport demands that you are strong, which is why derby skates came to limelight.
Derby skates are uniquely designed for Roller Derby because of what it provides to the skater. It’s a low cut boot with laces and velcro strap for a more snug fit. The design of the boot isn’t so exceptional, but the features are. Unlike most low top skates, derby skates have more paddings to withstand hitting and rough handling that is associated with the sport.
Speed Skates
Against what many people might generally believe in, speed skates aren’t just inline skates alone. They are available in both quad forms or inline skates. Inline speed skates might be more popular, but that doesn’t mean a handful of people are unaware of the existence of quad speed skates.
The main objective of a speed skate is speed, and that’s why a handful of people buy it. If you want to hit top gear in your skating escapade, they should go for speed skates. It’s designed to be lightweight and with less padding to maximize its speed.
A speed skate is designed like a boot and is similar to the design of a shoe. You will find some speed skate sit around the ankle bone, but they aren’t classified as high top boots. That’s because it has very little padding, lightweight, and the cut of the boot is lower than that of high top skates.
Like all low top skates, speed skates are designed with maneuverability, flexibility, and liberty of movement in mind. Speed skates are used in various skating competitions such as lap skating, sprints, replays, and long distance races. Due to its possession of lightweight plates, speed skates reduce fatigue tremendously if you are skating long distance races. Speed skates also have a toe stop or brake.
High Top Vs. Low Top Roller Skates (11 Differences to Know Before Buying)
Comfort
One of the few reasons why skaters prefer high top skates to low top skates is the comfort they provide. The boot come with extra padding as against low top skates. Once you know your right size, high top skate will fit it comfortably on your foot, while ensuring that your performance isn’t affected.
Maneuverability
This is where low top skates are winners. Low top skates give you total control and guide over how you should go about skating. You can perfect power spins, try new tricks, and perform a variety techniques because it’s low cut. You can’t say such of high top skates.
Ankle Support
In addition to being comfortable on the foot, high top skates provide support to the ankles. This is particularly important for skaters that have weak ankles. High top skates ensure that the ankle gets minimal hit during skating due to the design of the high top skate. Low top skates do not provide enough support to the ankles and is unsuitable for beginners or skaters who have weak ankles.
Speed
When it comes to speed, low top skates have the yah. Low top roller skates like speed skates symbolizes speed. If you want to increase your skating speed, low top roller skates are the way to go.
This is what you can’t get from high top roller skates. They are heavy and extra padded. This is why high top roller skate isn’t designed for speed.
Stability
Stability and balance are two things that people love about high top roller skate. The wheels on high top skates are thick and wide. New skaters or beginners prefer this design of skate because of the balance and stability that it offers them. They can’t get these in low top roller skates.
Temperature Control
Wearing high top skates is helpful during winter periods. Skating in this weather with a low top skate is difficult and will surely affect your skating performance. A low top roller skate will allow air into your foot. However high top skates will provide warmth to your feet and ensure that you glide comfortably.
Style
These days, skates have evolved from the normal skating activity it was once used to, to other complex activities. If you love to pull the plugs and dance to beats and rhythm, and If speed and track events are your things, you should consider low top skates. Low top skates provide more movement than high top roller skate.
You should consider high top skates if you want to skate for recreational purposes.
Design
High top roller skates are designed to reach or go beyond the ankle level. They have thicker wheels and the plates beneath the skates provides more balance and stability to the feet.
Low top skates do not go beyond the ankle level. They are primarily designed to aid better movement with their thin wheels. They are also lightweight and come with less padding compared to high top roller skates that are heavy and well padded.
Freedom of Movement
Due to the fact that low toproller skates are lightweight and less padded, movement around the ankles are easier and faster. High top roller skates are heavier and more padded and that is the reason why they are not suitable for speedy skaters.
Lightweight
In terms of how lightweight a skate boot is on the feet, low top skates are the winners here. Being lightweight translates to the speedy nature and amazing feel of the boot. High top skates are heavier in this regard.
Cost
The stability, ankle support, and temperature control that a high top roller skate provide tend to make them more expensive than low top skates. In essence, the cost of buying an artistic or rhythm skate is higher than that of jam skates or other types of low top roller skate.
High Top Vs. Low Top Roller Skates: Which One Is the Best?
One thing you must know is finding the right type of skate will maximize your comfort, give you the right fit, and immensely impact your roller skating experience. So irrespective of your choice of boot, make sure that you choose the right one that would suit your preference and absolutely satisfy your style.
If you love jam skating, speed skating, roller derby sport, and a lover of retro styles, you would probably choose low top roller skate over a high top one. But if you crave comfort, grip, balance, and more ankle support, high top skates should be your choice.
Conclusion
Unless you are really experienced with roller skating boots, you might look confused when asked to choose a suitable type of roller skate. High top skates and low top skates usually pop up and even confuses the skater the more. Both types have tremendous benefits and downsides as well.
Thanks to this article, we have clarified your confusion and explained what a high top skate and a low skate is, their differences, and types of each of them. It’s important that you choose the right type of skate to suit your style and preference. Remember, skating with a suitable skate promotes comfort and maximizes your skating performance.
