Impala vs Rookie Roller Skates

During the Quarantine period, almost everybody got bored at some point. I for one decided I’d learn a new hobby. After trying out a couple of things, skating grew on me. Truly it’s indeed an interesting activity, especially since I was able to maintain a safe distance from my friends while doing it. 

After I learned how to skate, I got approached with a lot of questions which prompted me to create this blog post. The major difference between the impala and the rookie roller skates is that impala roller skates are known for their eye-catchy candy-colored skates and the rookies are not.  While both of them are incredible roller skates, preferences will always be given. 

On the other hand, the rookie roller skates are a bit more fashionable and known for their retro designs.  Both are categorized under the Quad roller skates and have toe stoppers as well. They are indeed both great picks for beginners as well as experts in skating. 

However, just for the record, I started off using the impala roller skate and I must confess, I wouldn’t have chosen better skates for me to learn skating in such a short record time.

Now, without wasting further time, let’s get into the blog post!

What Are Rookie Skates?

If you’ve been skating for a while like me, you’ll know that the rookie roller stakes have been in the game for a long time. Impressively, they never fail to produce awesome fits. The brand has made a name in the skating niche for its beautiful and retro designs. 

They do a great job in creating wonderful roller skates that are not only super comfortable, but you can also find tons that fit your fashionable outfit. In other words, they have excellent taste in fashion and you most definitely will find one that suits your fashion sense perfectly. 

After I used the impala roller skates and a few more brands, I decided to try out the rookie roller skates. And shockingly, although they’ve been in business since 1978, I must confess they are super amazing and comfortable on just about many skating surfaces. It’s an ideal pick for amateurs if you asked me. 

What are Impala skates?

Unlike the rookie roller skates, the impala isn’t one of the pioneer roller skates. Records tell us that it was launched in 2017 and has been creating memories for thousands of people around the world since then.

Although they are known for their candy color appearance, there are other designs created by this brand such as metallic and block color roller skates.  Not only do they make you look stunning and appear confident, but they are also super confident I can assure you. 

It was easy for me to learn skating with the impala roller skates mostly because it’s a quad and also has the toe stopper attached to it. 

If you’re looking to pick up skating as a new hobby, I’ll greatly recommend getting impala roller skates for your new skating adventure.

Why Should You Buy Rookie Skates or Impala Skates?

The first time I ever tried skating was back in elementary school. I was super scared; I failed at every attempt and gave up. I mean, it didn’t seem interesting at that point anyway- why go through all that stress of falling? 

Fast-forward to now, I am almost a pro (I like to tell myself this) skating has become one of my favorite things to do. To the extent that I now have skating shoes for different occasions. 

Rookie and impala skates will always be my top pick and I’ll love to give you reasons why. 

1. Super great for beginners

After comparing quads and other kinds of rollers, I have come to a conclusion that quads are easier to learn with. Rookie and impala roller skates are classified under the quads. By quads we mean that there’s a pair of rollers at the front-end and a pair of the roller at the Back-end, making it four. With this, you will get to learn staking faster than normal. 

2. Adjustable toe-stops

I literally cringe anytime I see a roller skate without a toe-stop (screams quietly) it’s almost like I’d have an accident if I wear them. Don’t get me wrong though, we all have our preferences. 

However, if you’re like me and are a sucker for toe-stops, you’ll be glad to know that rookie and impala roller skates both have toe-stop. This allows each user to adjust it according to their skill level. Also, if you’re not crazy about toe-stops, you can all detach them and still use the roller skates successfully. 

3. Great wheels

There’s just something about the wheels. Comes in different sizes and is super comfortable as well. For the sake of saying, I like the impala wheels better because it’s small. 

1. Extremely comfortable

I honestly cannot stress this point enough. These roller skates are really comfortable. 

Here’s a short story: I came across this drop-dead gorgeous pair of roller skates and I couldn’t help but purchase it at first sight. I got home, tested it, and was really disappointed at the outcome. The ankles were my major concern; how am I supposed to skate in such pain and discomfort? 

Long story short- I returned them and got my money back. I have not come across a more comfortable pair of rollers like the rookie and impala. The material used in making them is firm, comfortable and makes skating enjoyable. 

Rookie Skates vs Impala Skates Differences

There’s really not much difference between the two roller skates but I’ll state the few I know;

1. Price and affordability

When it comes down to price and affordability between the two, impala will always come out cheaper. Sometimes it’s amazing how affordable it is, especially since it’s a really nice pair of roller skates. With a budget of $70, you can afford to get a pair of impala roller skates for yourself. On the other hand, while rookie roller skates are also a great pick, it is pretty expensive. There are still a few affordable ones though. 

2. Wheels

Wheels have a major impact on mastering the art of skating. Narrow wheels are much more suitable for maneuvering which makes it easier for beginners and amateurs to use. This is one of the reasons impala roller skates are sometimes chosen over the rookies. 

Rookie wheels are a tad bit wider than impala wheels. Regardless, they’re still a great pick for both beginners and experts in the game. 

3. Design

When it comes to choosing between the two designs, it comes down to the type of taste you have in fashion and lifestyle. Regardless of how beautiful they both may seem, if it doesn’t click- it doesn’t. There are no two ways about it. 

Impala boots are currently known for their candy-colored look while on the other hand, rookie rollers are deemed more fashionable. 

4. Adjustable toe-stops

This is one of the things I like to look out for when purchasing new pair of skates. 

Now, both have toe-stops, but a majority of the impala roller skates do not come with adjustable toes stop. You can easily find this in the rookies instead. 

Rookie Skates vs Impala Skates Pros

I for one always go on the hunt for pros and cons of literally anything I’m buying which is why I added it to this blog post. You want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth at the end of the day- I do too. 

With that being said, here are a few pros of buying the rookie and impala roller skates. 

Impala roller skate Pros

  • Strong agility for flexibility 
  • Lightweight for easy control
  • Great wheels used for withstanding friction
  • Comes in different eye-catchy designs
  • Available in quads and inlines
  • Wonderful pick and suitable for beginners 
  • Gives the best user experience ever
  • Price friendly

Rookie roller skate Pros

  • Relatively cheap ( not as cheap as impala though)
  • Has replaceable features
  • Easily skates on any smooth surface
  • Easy to maintain
  • Last long (three- four years guarantee)
  • Available in all sizes

Rookie Skates vs Impala Skates Cons

I like to tell people that everything does have its bad side, no matter how good it seems. This goes for the impala and rookie roller skates as well. 

You’ll want to keep them in mind if you’re going to purchase this type of roller. now, let’s get to the cons!

Impala roller skate cons

  • Design and fits look girly and may not be suitable for guys
  • The impala inline rollers may not be suitable for beginners
  • Not available in half size

Rookies roller skate cons

  • Not as cheap as the impala roller skates
  • Wears off easily

Thankfully, they don’t have a lot of cons. 

Best Rookie Roller Skates

In my opinion, I’ll say choosing the best rookie skate was a bit tasking. I own quite a lot and I went through careful considerations before picking them out. 

Bear in mind that you may choose differently based on your preferences. In a list, the best rookie roller skates are

  1. Rookie Bubblegum Skates, Women, womens (Amazon)
  2. Rookie Rollerskates Artistic Unisex Adult Skates (Amazon)
  3. Rookie Women Rookie Rollerskate Rosa (Amazon)
  4. Rookie Forever Rainbow V2 Skates with 4 Wheels (Amazon)
  5. Rookie Skates Legacy Complete Quad Roller Skates, Tie Dye (SkatePro)

Best Impala Roller Skates

I put in a great deal of work to choose the best out of the rest for you guys. If you’re looking for the best impala roller skates to start your journey or just for a replacement of an older one, I made a list for you.

Remember that you may disagree with my opinion and it’s totally fine, but these fits are super comfortable and a great pick. 

  1. Impala Women’s Quad Skate-improller1 (Amazon)
  2. Impala Rollerskates Girl’s Impala Quad Skate (Big Kid/Adult) Marawa Rose Gold 10 (Amazon)
  3. Impala Rollerskates Impala Quad Skate (Big Kid/Adult) Black 10 (Amazon)
  4. Impala Unisex’s Quad Skate-IMPROLLER1, Pink Tartan, 7 (Amazon)
  5. Impala Rollerskates Impala Quad Skate Skates, Women (Amazon)

How to Make Your Decision?

At the beginning of my journey, it wasn’t really easy picking out the right rollers. I made a couple of mistakes which I’d hate you to make as well. 

With that, here’s how you decide on which rollers you’re going to buy. 

Budget

We all know this is the ultimate point in picking out rollers. At the end of the day, you’re the one who gets to spend money. Ensure that you pick pocket-friendly rollers.

Wheels

I started with hard wheels because I thought they would be more comfortable and balanced. But in the long run, I switched to softer wheels because it has better shock absorption although it doesn’t last as long as hard wheels. So, it’s up to you to decide. 

Bearing

I’ll say that this is the last thing you need to look out for. But, you have to make sure you maintain your bearing properly in other for your skates to last longer for you. One way to do this is to keep moisture and water away from your skates. 

Size

Always make sure you go through the sizes of each skate before buying. You could hurt yourself if you go for smaller or bigger sizes than your actual size. 

Toe stops

I recommend getting a roller skate that comes with toe-stops. Not only is it a distinguishable feature in the quads set, but it also serves as a brake. 

Conclusion

Skating is an exciting experience, and if you’re still yet to give it a try, this is a sign that you should. I guarantee you a day well spent if skating is in your schedule. 

The impala roller skates vs the rookie roller skates, which do you prefer?

Until next time friends.