I never believed I’ll be leaving a review on inline skates. I’m still shocked I was willing to consider giving them a try after dreading them for so long.
My fellow skaters who are obsessed with Quads, I’m glad to announce that the inline skates are not as bad as I thought after all.
However, the first you should know about the inline skating is that it is dangerous (I cannot stress this enough) in some situations you can get yourself injured severely while skating. This is why protective gear is highly recommended especially if you’re just starting inline skating.
If you’re going to skate without protective gear, do this at your own risk, but you should know you’ll be saving yourself from injuries if you use the proper protective gear.
Honestly, inline skating isn’t the easiest skating to learn. I nearly gave up because I kept falling and it was really frustrating. I’m currently in the amateur stage and I’ll say it kinda sucks that these inline skates don’t come with toe-stops (too bad)
In this review, we’ll be comparing the Rollerblade twister and the powerslide Next skates. They’re both incredible skates and have so much in common it’s almost difficult to choose between the two.
But, for me, I’ll definitely choose the powerslide next. Here’s why: there are so many amazing features in the powerslide next that the rollerblade twister doesn’t come with.
Although I started out using the rollerblade twisters, I do wish that it has some of those amazing features in the powerslide.
In this blog post, I’ll run you guys through everything I enjoyed in the Rollerblade twisters and the powerslide next. Ready? Let’s go!
Powerslide Next skates: explained
Now, I must confess that these skates are really beautiful. Extremely cool fits for both the male and female skaters.
But, have in mind that they are not really the cheapest skates on the block especially for beginners. Considering the features it comes with, it’s really worth the shot though.
Let’s start with the boots. Unlike the quads which usually come in vinyl or leather or probably some other kind of materials, the powerslide next has a very strong boot. Almost looks like it’s built for aggressive skating. It comes with a 45 degrees strap which I must confess is a really cool feature. I also like the fact that it saves your buckles from being scraped on the floor when you go extra low.
Because of this reason, your buckles come with a buckle protector to protect your buckles from scratches. Also, a super chill feature that I like. You’ll be glad to know that they’re also replaceable just in case they get damaged after a period of skating.
Unlike most inline skates I know, the powerslide next does have good laces (not really sure if they are waxed though). However, I still opted for better laces. I felt they’d do justice to the lace buckles. I also didn’t like the color they came in that’s why I had them changed.
The tongues of the powerslide next really made me happy. I must confess, I’ve not used a skate that gave me much comfort as the powerslide next tongues. I really love the way it was designed. It comes with extra lace buckles for extra support. I for one took advantage of this because it gives me so much closure and satisfaction when the tongues of my skates are in a very firm but comfortable position and the powerslide next did justice to that for me.
Coming down to the toe box, it is quite comfortable and flexible enough for your toes to spread widely. It doesn’t really grip your toes so bad that you’re not comfortable. I had the pads changed though. They were not so comfortable and really thin so I opted for better ones.
Before I forget to mention this very amazing feature, the Powerslide next comes with torque features which is one of the key reasons for its durability and it helps it last longer.
The wheels are super great and complement the boots. The ones that came initially with the skates were white but I got them changed to black just because I thought they looked better and they did- for me.
Rollerblade Twister: Explained
I must say, the first thing I noticed about the Rollerblade twister is it is lightweight. One of the reasons I preferred them to the powerslide next.
Don’t get me wrong, they are both lightweight, but the rollerblade twister has a different feel that cannot really be explained. It feels like you’re wearing a shoe considering that it actually looks heavy. It grips your legs perfectly and still feels super comfortable.
The rollerblade twist is the perfect pick if you are a versatile skater. You’ll really enjoy these babies
Now, the bearings are super great, I loved them because they were just the right speed and endurance for me. You may have a different opinion though depending on how much of a fast skater you are. It comes with an ILQ Z bearings and a regular axle which if you asked me, they’re kind of great.
The lacing system for the rollerblade sits just right. It comes on the top of the boots and has metal lace hoops which are a lot and also enough. The only inconvenience with the lacing system is that you may likely need to take them off before bringing out your liners. I wish I could just bring out my liners without having to remove the laces, but oh well.
It also comes with a 45 degrees buckle system in the powerslide next, although there isn’t any cranking system. The top buckles are basic plastic which I wish were metals. They are also replaceable and adjustable like the ones in the powerslide next.
It comes with a great slide shell that does a good job of protecting the boot from getting scratches while in motion. However, it doesn’t mean that your boots are totally protected, just for the records
The frame is super nice with an aluminum block which is great for shock absorption other than most boots I’ve seen that come with a plastic frame. It works great for people who are into aggressive skating. Another great thing about the frame is that it has air vents that allow air to pass through your feet (nobody likes hot sweaty feet after skating)
The liners are really comfortable, the material it is made of I couldn’t really place my hands on what exactly it was but it feels better than the foamy liners most brands use to make them. You can tell that the liners will last a long while just by looking at them and touching them
The wheels are so far the best wheels I have used in a while. They are really great and long-lasting as well.
Rollerblade twister pros and cons
There’s just so much I love about the rollerblade. Buttttt! It does come with some aspects I don’t like either which I will throw some light on in this section.
Pros of the rollerblade twister
- Extremely light weight
- It fits and grips your legs like a glove (a very nice feature)
- Great for versatile skaters
- Comes with supper nice liners
- Amazing warranty
I kind of forgot to add the warranty of the rollerblade twister. They have the most amazing warranty guys, one of the things I love about them.
Here’s a short story, so one time while I was skating, I brushed my skate boots on a very hard surface and it damaged the boots. I was pretty sad about it until I learned that they came with a warranty. I took them to the rollerblade shop and viola! I got a new set of skates.
I’m saying this because you may not know about their warranty benefits and end up spending extra cash on buying new skates.
Cons of the rollerblade twister
There are not really many cons to the rollerblade twister but I’ll have them listed anyways.
- Top buckles are plastic
- Crappy laces (didn’t really like the ones that came with it)
- It is on the expensive side
- Very narrow boots
- Not very comfortable if you have a wide foot
Powerslide next pros and cons
Just to set the record straight, they don’t exactly have so many bad sides and I think I did justice in explaining all its good features just in case I miss any in the pros.
Pros of the powerslide next
- Incredible look on the feet.
- The liners are great and come with heat moldable features
- Trinity mount system
- The skates are extremely lightweight
- Super comfortable
- It comes with lots of slide protection
- Removable and adjustable cuffs
Cons of the powerslide next
- Comes with thin straps which I don’t really like
- Has a short frame
- Although it has a great wheel, they are kind of sketchy
Who are the powerslide next and roller blade twister skates for?
The powerslide next is really great skates for the intermediate and advanced skaters. Don’t get me wrong, if you’re a beginner you’re free to make use of them as well alongside your protective gear. However, I believe they’re not the cheapest skates out there and beginners can go for cheaper ones just in case they don’t like skating at the end of the day.
The same goes for the rollerblade twister skates. If you’re an advanced or intermediate skater, you’ll appreciate these skates for sure. All skill level can use them. And also, if you’re crazy about versatility you can also make use of these skates.
However, if you’re an aggressive skater, a trainer or a speed skater, they may not be an ideal pick for you. But you’re free to buy them and have some things changed and customized for you.
Final words
I am really glad I got to overcome my fear of inline skating and I can comfortably call myself an intermediate inline skater. If you were ever scared like me, I assure you they’re not that bad at all and you’ll be glad you took that leap of faith.
Please guys, always make use of a protective gear no matter how much of an expert you think you are. Do not overlook the protective gears.
I really hope I did justice to this review and that you enjoyed every bit of it. Let me know which skates you settled for in the long run.
Until next time friends, byeee.
