Inline Skating FAQ

Measure your foot in millimeters (Mondopoint), not your shoe size. Stand on a piece of paper against a wall, mark the longest toe and the heel, then measure the distance. Use each brand's specific size chart — do not rely on your street shoe size as skate sizing varies between brands.

Key tips:

• Skates should fit snugger than regular shoes — your feet don't bend inside them
• New liners compress by up to one full size over 10-20 hours of skating
• Measure both feet — most people have one foot slightly larger. Size for the bigger foot
• When standing in a skate stance (knees bent), your toes should have a few mm of space at the front

For beginners, choose a fitness or urban skate with 80mm wheels and a heel brake. These provide the best balance of stability, control, and comfort for learning. Avoid wheels larger than 84mm as a beginner — larger wheels raise your center of gravity and are harder to control.

Look for:

• Hard boot for better ankle support while learning (despite the name, the interior is padded and comfortable)
• 80mm wheels — the universal safe size for new skaters
• Heel brake included — learning without a brake is like learning to drive without brakes
• Budget SGD 100-200 — avoid cheap big-box skates under $80 as they make learning harder

Popular beginner skates include the Flying Eagle F5S, FR FRX, and Rollerblade Zetrablade.

Hard boot skates have a rigid plastic shell with a removable liner inside, offering superior ankle support and durability. Soft boot skates are padded fabric construction (like a running shoe), lighter and more breathable but with less support.

Hard boot is recommended for most adults because:

• Better ankle support helps beginners learn proper technique
• More durable — lasts significantly longer
• Better power transfer from leg to frame
• Liners are replaceable and upgradeable

Soft boot is fine for light, casual fitness skating on smooth paths by lighter skaters who prioritize comfort over performance.

Rollerblade and Flying Eagle are the most recommended brands for wide feet. These brands are known for having wider toe boxes and more accommodating fits across their range.

Brands that tend to run narrower: Seba (narrower fit), K2 (tends narrower), and some FR models.

If the length is right but width is tight, try sizing up one size for a bigger shell, or remove the stock insole to gain volume during break-in. Heat molding can also help for borderline cases.

80mm wheels offer better stability and control, ideal for beginners and urban skating. 100mm wheels are faster with better roll-over for bumps, suited for fitness and commuting.

• 80mm: Lower center of gravity, quicker acceleration, easier to stop and maneuver. Best for beginners, urban, slalom, and freestyle
• 90mm: Versatile middle ground. Handles bumpy roads, good speed, still maneuverable
• 100mm: First "big wheel" size. Best compromise between speed and control for intermediate skaters
• 110mm: Popular tri-skate size. Excellent speed but requires more ankle strength. Not for beginners

Rule of thumb: if you're unsure, start with 80mm. You can always swap to larger wheels later as your skills improve.

4-wheel setups (4x80mm or 4x90mm) are more stable and better for beginners. 3-wheel setups (3x100mm or 3x110mm) are faster with a shorter frame but sit higher off the ground.

3-wheel (triskate) advantages: faster top speed, better roll-over rough surfaces, shorter frame means more agile turns. 4-wheel advantages: more contact points with the ground means better stability, lower center of gravity, more forgiving for learning.

Start with 4 wheels if you're a beginner. Consider 3 wheels once you're comfortable with skating and want more speed.

Rotate your wheels every 10-15 hours of skating, or when you notice uneven wear. Most skaters push harder on the inside edge, causing the inner side of each wheel to wear faster. Rotation evens out the wear and extends wheel life.

Basic rotation pattern: swap wheels 1↔3 and 2↔4, flipping each wheel so the worn side faces out. This ensures even wear across all wheels and both sides.

The heel brake is the safest and most effective stopping method for beginners. To use it: scissor your braking foot forward, bend your knees, and gradually press down on the heel brake. Keep your weight over your support leg.

Other stopping methods for intermediate skaters:

• T-stop: Drag one foot perpendicular behind you (wears wheels unevenly)
• Plow stop: Push both feet outward in a V-shape (like snowplow skiing)
• Powerslide: Advanced technique — turn sideways and slide all wheels (requires practice)

Always practice stopping on flat ground before skating on hills or in traffic.

Yes — inline skating burns 400-600 calories per hour, comparable to running but with 50% less impact on your joints. It's an excellent full-body workout that targets your legs, glutes, core, and improves cardiovascular fitness.

Studies show inline skating provides similar aerobic benefits to running while being significantly easier on knees and ankles. It also improves balance, coordination, and leg strength. Many fitness skaters use 90-100mm wheels for longer, smoother rides.

Inline skates should fit snug — tighter than your regular shoes. Your toes should lightly touch the front when standing straight, and have a few mm of space when in skating position (knees bent).

New skates feel tight because the liner padding hasn't compressed yet. After 10-20 hours of skating, the liner molds to your foot and the fit loosens. If your skates feel comfortable out of the box like sneakers, they're probably too big and will become sloppy after break-in.

If the fit is too tight on the sides (width), try removing the stock insole to gain volume, or consider a brand known for wider fits like FR Skates or Flying Eagle.

Yes — Inlinex ships worldwide from Singapore. We offer free shipping across Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines) and competitive international shipping to Australia, USA, UK, Europe, Mexico, and more via FedEx and DHL.

Most international orders arrive within 3-7 business days. All orders are fully insured and include tracking.

Yes — if you find the same product cheaper at any authorized retailer, we'll match the price. Contact us with a link to the lower price and we'll adjust your order. This applies to all brands we carry including Powerslide, FR Skates, Rollerblade, Seba, Flying Eagle, K2, and more.