Buying your first pair of inline skates can feel overwhelming. Between the different boot types, frame materials, wheel sizes and skating styles, it is easy to get lost before you even reach the checkout. This guide walks you through everything you need to know — starting with the basic terminology, then breaking down each part of a skate, and finally matching the right specifications to your chosen style of skating — so you can buy with confidence.
Before we start, what is the difference between Roller Skates, Roller Blades, Skate and Inline Skates?
Roller Skates
The term "Roller Skates" usually refers to quad skates — the classic design with two wheels at the front and two at the back. These retro skates are not very common in Singapore, but in the US they remain widely popular.
Roller Blades
"Roller Blade" actually comes from Rollerblade, probably the most successful brand in the history of the sport. The brand became so popular that its name turned into a generic term for inline skating itself.
Inline Skates
"Inline skating" is the correct way to describe what most people call "roller blading". The wheels sit in a single line, one behind the other, which is where the name comes from.
Skate
This term describes skate sports in general, including skateboarding, roller skating, inline skating and longboarding.
Understanding the Parts
When choosing the correct pair of skates, you must first decide how serious you are about the sport. If you are not sure, rent a pair of skates or sign up for some skating lessons before buying. And never buy a cheap pair of skates — the term "cheapskate" was probably coined for good reason. Once you have decided that you want to use inline skating to keep fit and have fun, read on.
Skate Boot
Boots are usually classified into two main types: hard and soft. Both have their pros and cons, so let us take a more in-depth look at each.
Hard Boot Benefits
- Heavier boots keep your centre of gravity low, increasing stability and balance
- Better ankle support helps you stand straighter
- Protects your foot against hard surfaces
- Thick liner cushioning for comfort and increased responsiveness
- Extremely durable
Soft Boot Benefits
- Lighter boots let you go faster and skate longer distances
- Comfortable, like wearing a pair of sneakers
- Breathable, keeping your feet cool
- Works well with laces to give you a snug, compressed fit
Hard Boot Drawbacks
- Heavier boots require more effort from the skater
- Less comfortable due to the hardness of the boot
Soft Boot Drawbacks
- Lighter boots make it harder to balance
- Less ankle support, which may lead to pronation or supination
Use the guide below to choose a boot based on your skating activity:
Soft Boot
- Skating on long, flat roads
- Skating long distances
- Long skating sessions
- Speed skating
Hard Boot
- Urban skating
- Doing tricks and jumps
- Aggressive slides and maneuvers
- Slalom
Skate Frame
The most common frames are plastic, aluminium and extruded aluminium. Here is how to decide which is best for you.
Plastic Frame
- Lightweight
- Plastic flexes more, so it keeps the skater lower to the ground under weight
- Easier to control, since the power transfer is gentler
Aluminium Frame
- More rigid, allowing better power transfer from boot to wheels
- More durable — metal does not bend as easily under pressure and weight
Extruded Aluminium Frame
- A reinforced one-piece frame that adds rigidity for an even more powerful skating experience
- Highly customizable
Use the guide below to decide based on the skater's characteristics:
Plastic
- Beginners
- Kids
- Below 70kg
- Low usage
Extruded Aluminium
- Skaters who want the best
- High-speed skating
- Urban skating
Aluminium
- Above 70kg
- Fitness skating
- Regular usage
Skate Wheels
Inline skate wheels carry two key measurements: diameter in millimetres (mm), and hardness, marked with an "a" rating.
Big vs Small Wheels
Big wheels give you higher speed and a smoother, more comfortable ride. However, they also demand more balance because they keep you higher off the ground, and the longer frame needed to hold them reduces maneuverability.
Small wheels give you better balance and make turning easier, which is helpful when learning new tricks. The trade-off is significantly less speed, so you have to work harder to cover distance.
Hard vs Soft Wheels
Hard wheels are extremely durable and help with speed, and they are well suited to tricks and slides. The downside is more vibration while skating and reduced traction.
Soft wheels are very comfortable to skate on and offer better traction, but the softer rubber wears down more quickly.
Skating Disciplines
Now that you understand the different parts of a skate, let us look at how those parts come together across the various skating disciplines — so you can match a setup to the way you want to skate.
Kids Skates
Skate Boot: Soft
To reduce weight and provide more comfort.
Skate Frame: Plastic
Again, to reduce weight — and since a child is not heavy, metal frames are not necessary.
Wheel Size: 70–76mm (standard skates); 80–90mm (tri-skates)
Smaller wheels help a child stay balanced.
Wheel Hardness: 80–82a
A semi-hard wheel strikes a good balance between traction and durability.
Fitness Skates
Skate Boot: Soft
Soft boots provide more comfort for the longer sessions needed to burn calories.
Skate Frame: Aluminium
An aluminium frame gives better power transfer to cover larger distances.
Wheel Size: 80–90mm (standard skates); 100–110mm (tri-skates)
Larger wheels let you cover distance and reduce vibration from the ground.
Wheel Hardness: 82–85a
Urban Skating
Skate Boot: Hard
A hard boot protects your feet against concrete pavements and kerbs, and supports the ankle when turning sharp street corners.
Skate Frame: Extruded Aluminium
Extruded aluminium is stronger, which is necessary for the small jumps you take out on the streets. Urban routes are full of bumps and obstacles, so the better power transfer also helps with the constant start-stop nature of urban skating.
Wheel Size: 80–84mm (standard skates); 90–110mm (tri-skates)
Mid-size wheels give you the best of both speed and agility.
Wheel Hardness: >85a
Harder wheels are better for slide stops, speed and takeoffs.
Speed Skating
Skate Boot: Soft
Soft boots reduce weight, which is a big deal for speed skating.
Skate Frame: Extruded Aluminium
Extruded aluminium is stronger, which is necessary for maximum power transfer.
Wheel Size: 100–110mm (standard skates); 125mm (tri-skates)
Large wheels deliver maximum speed.
Wheel Hardness: >85a
Harder wheels are better for speed and takeoffs.
Aggressive Skating
Skate Boot: Hard
A hard boot protects your feet against concrete pavements and kerbs, and supports the ankle when turning sharp street corners.
Skate Frame: Extruded Plastic
Extruded plastic is not as strong as aluminium, but it significantly reduces the weight of the skate — which matters a lot for jumps and tricks.
Wheel Size: 55–62mm
Small, fat wheels give the skater the most balance.
Wheel Hardness: >88a
Extremely hard wheels are better for skatepark ground and reinforce the strength of the frame.
Hockey Skates
Skate Boot: Leather
Leather boots are hard and lightweight. They are laced to compress against the skater's foot, but the cushioning is thin, making them the least comfortable option.
Skate Frame: Extruded Aluminium
Extruded aluminium is stronger, which is necessary for high-speed maneuvers and stops, and it helps players accelerate better.
Wheel Size: 72–80mm
Mid-size wheels give you the best of both speed and agility.
Wheel Hardness: 72–78a
Softer wheels give maximum traction, which is important in an inline hockey game.
Still unsure which pair is right for you? Take our Skate Quiz for a personalised recommendation, or browse our full range of inline skates at Inlinex.