How to choose videos

Which videos are right for you

Rollers are one of the fastest and most agile ways to move around the city. The choice of model depends on the riding style: will you only occasionally ride in the nearest park and embankment, or are you more attracted by tricks, or do you want speed?

For beginners

If you are a complete beginner, then you should opt for fitness models.

Such rollers are produced with a soft boot, they are necessarily equipped with a standard brake, which in the future, with the improvement of skills, can be removed. The frame is elongated, which reduces maneuverability, but increases stability - this is especially important for those who are just starting to ride. In addition, these rollers are usually lower in price compared to other models.

Beginners shouldn't neglect protection. Otherwise, the very first encounter with asphalt can forever discourage (in every sense) the desire to improve further.

Even if you do not plan to skate a lot and for a long time, it is better to buy fitness rollers in specialized stores, and not in the nearest supermarket. Leading manufacturers are K2, Rollerblade, Powerslide, Fila and Bladerunner.

Rollerblade Macroblade 100 W 2015 /

For experienced skaters

Rollers who are tired of walking in familiar parks and who want to go out into the city should take a closer look at freeskate models. Those who already ride confidently and know how to stop without the help of a regular brake can cope with such rollers (stops with the help of poles and fences do not count).

These models are designed for tricks and interesting slides. Visually, they differ from fitness rollers in a very close arrangement of wheels, lack of a brake and a short frame.

Even if you do not plan to jump on them and roll around the cones, freeskate rollers outperform fitness models in terms of maneuverability, which is especially important for comfortable movement around the city.

If you are more interested in riding around the city, and not tricks, take the freeskate rollers with a removable inner liner of the boot (it is also sometimes called "felt boot"). In such models, the leg will be softer, and you will be able to ventilate the "felt boot" between rides.

Freeskate roller makers are Rollerblade, K2 and Seba, and Powerslide and Head have separate models.

For tricks

If it's hard to figure out on your own whether you like the tricks, go for a ride in the rollerdrome with an instructor or find like-minded people on social networks.

For sliding and rolling around the cones, the same freeskate rollers are intended. But in this case, the choice should fall on hard boots with a non-removable inner part, which will allow you to better feel the skate when riding. Producers - Seba and Rollerblade.

Aggressive skating involves honing tricks in a skate park, using handrails and sloping surfaces, so a special notch is made on the frame of such rollers. Target manufacturers USD, Razors, Valo, Remz, Xsjado, SSM, K2, Rollerblade and Seba.

It is possible to ride in such rollers around the city, for this they are quite maneuverable, but it will not be entirely comfortable because of the rather stiff boot.

For high-speed skiing and long distances

For high-speed skiing, special models of rollers with a non-standard frame for enlarged wheels are produced. If you can put four wheels of 80–84 mm in size on all previous models, then 3-4 wheels with a diameter of 125 mm are installed on high-speed rollers. These rollers are the best to overcome uneven surfaces and keep the speed.

Suitable for those who already ride confidently, plan to use rollers to move around the city, where the asphalt surface leaves much to be desired. More information about speed skating can be found on the official website of the Speed Skating League.

What to look for when trying on

When you have decided on the direction of skiing, it's time to go to the store. And even if you are more attracted by prices in online stores, when buying videos, like shoes, you cannot do without preliminary fitting. But no one forbids trying on and finding a suitable model in the store, and then buying it online.

Rollers are divided into male and female, this division is especially noticeable in fitness models. And this is not some kind of another marketing ploy - it's about the peculiarities of the anatomy. In women, the calf muscles are larger, so the notch in the upper part of the boot will be deeper and lower than in the men's models.

The rollers should sit comfortably, securely fix the leg, but not pinch it.

When trying on, place your foot on the heel and only then tighten the laces and straps - this will help you not to make a mistake with the size and fix the skate correctly. Do not hesitate in the store to walk around and ride in the model you like for 20 minutes, so you will make sure that it suits you.

Remember: the shorter the frame and the closer the wheels are, the more comfortable it will be for you to maneuver on these rollers. The longer the frame, the more stable you will be when riding in a straight line.

Pay attention to the bearings, all models will show ABEC classification.

The higher the ABEC number, the higher the precision of the bearing.

ABEC 3 is found in inexpensive rollers and children's models, such bearings should not be taken. It is better if you have bearings of the ABEC level 5 or 7 - they have higher machining accuracy of the balls. But ABEC 9 is needed only for those who ride on large wheels (more than standard 84 mm): on the usual difference between ABEC 7 and 9 you will not feel.

You can also buy hand-held videos. In thematic groups on social networks, there are a lot of offers for the sale of such skates: either the previous owners realized that they did not like this type of recreation, or experienced skaters went broke for a more interesting model and sell the old one.

When buying used rollers, find out in advance if the model you like has thermoforming.

If there is one, you should not take such rollers: the boot has already adjusted to the features of the previous owner's foot. The wheels will most likely have to be replaced with new ones and the bearings washed. Thus, the final price will be slightly higher than what you will see in the ad.

An important point: do not spare the money for special socks.

Outwardly, they resemble knee-highs, the toe and heel are compacted, and the part under the foot is made of pleasant terry cloth. These socks will protect you from chafing in the place where the foot touches the upper hard part of the boot, they perfectly absorb sweat and help to fix the foot in the skate even better.

What kind of roller skates do you ride? How do you like or dislike the chosen model?