On a Roll

American Fitness, May, 2000 by Chad Neuman

As inline skating grows in popularity, it's important to remember safety, equipment and procedure protocols.

Inline skating is one of the fastest-growing recreational activities in the world. Routine inline skating produces nearly the same increase in aerobic fitness that running does. Inline skating creates high muscular activity levels for hips, thighs and shins. It also works the leg muscles for longer periods of time than running and produces less than half the impact shock to joints that running does. With the growing popularity of the sport, there are many choices of skates, bearings, brakes and spacers to consider.

EQUIPMENT

Let's begin with hardware. You want a skate that feels comfortable. It should fit snugly, but not so tightly that the blood flow to your leg is cut off. You should be able to wiggle your toes inside the skate. Also, there should not be areas where there is extra pressure. Make sure the skates you try on are not rubbing against your ankles, as this will create blisters. Try tightening the laces and/or buckles if this occurs.

Inline skates come with laces and/or buckles that snap on. Laces provide a better fit and distribute pressure on the foot more evenly. However, some people prefer buckles because they are easier to fasten quickly and can tighten or loosen in specific areas (e.g., the ankle, foot or toe areas). The choice of laces or buckles usually depends on personal preference.

Because of the extra padding inside the skate boot, sizing usually increases one-half or one regular shoe size.

For example, if a person wears a size 10, then they would probably wear a 10 1/2 or 11 in skates.

In my opinion, the best recreational skate available is the Salomon line and K2 softboot line. The Rollerblade line with the softboot comes in a close second. Other companies, such as Bauer, Oxygen and Ultra Wheels, all provide good quality skates, but they are not as performance-minded as the Salomon and K2 line.

For years, inline skates were made with hard plastic shells. K2 invented the softboot, which revolutionized the recreational inline skating market. The softboot skates feel more like a hiking boot than a roller skate. The softboot line runs around $150 to $300, depending on the year it was made and the store where it is sold. The Salomon runs higher in price (around $200 to $350), but the quality makes it well worth it.

Salomon invested millions in research before creating their product. The result is a top-of-the-line skate. The laces tighten and hold automatically like a ski boot, and the ABEC-5 wheels in the TR and FT models spin longer than in any other skates I have used. The Salomon and K2 both have shock absorbers within the frame of their skate.

ACCESSORIES

The accessories of an inline skate are about as significant as the skate itself. Wheels, for example, are very important. They vary in size and durometer (the hardness rating of the wheel material, polyurethane). The harder the wheel, the longer it will last. Hard wheels also produce a slightly smoother ride. Size and durometer ratings are usually labeled on the side of the wheel.

Durometer is an industry hardness rating for polyurethane, which is the primary wheel material. Ratings such as 76A, 78A or 85A are usually seen on wheels. The higher the rating, the harder the wheel. Aggressive skaters usually want smaller and harder wheels, but the recreational wheels run a little bigger and usually lower in durometer. The most well-known brand of wheels is Kryptonics. The most common wheels for skates are 76 mm/82A. When replacing the wheels, choose the same size and durometer if you are satisfied with your last wheels' ride and durability. Choose a slightly larger wheel if you want to go faster or want them to last longer. Also, make sure the new wheels you buy fit your skates.

Another aspect of inline skates is bearing choices. Each skate has two bearings in each wheel, regulating the speed at which the wheels spin. Bearings are measured by the Annular Bearing Engineer Council (ABEC) scale. The higher the ABEC, the higher the ABEC-stated precision level. From slowest to quickest, they are rated as ABEC-1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Beyond the ABEC scale are Swiss bearings, the quickest on the market. For beginning skaters, ABEC-1 or ABEC-3 bearings are usually preferable. Intermediate skaters should buy skates with ABEC-3 or ABEC-5 bearings, and advanced skaters usually prefer ABEC-5 through ABEC-11 or Swiss bearings. Bearings can also be bought separately, usually where inline skates are sold. The most well-known company that makes bearings is Kryptonics. However, I would personally recommend the BOSS Swiss Bearings as the fastest bearings available.

Spacers connect the bearings inside the wheel. Most skates come with plastic spacers, but some prefer aluminum spacers for greater durability.

Inline skate brakes are usually company-specific. In other words, the brake will only fit the skate it was made for. Rollerblade developed the ABT-brake, which is activated by moving the skate forward instead of having to raise the front part of the skate. The part of the skate covering the back ankle is its own component and pushes the brake down automatically.