In-line skating - 1999 Men's Fitness Gear Guide - Buyers Guide - Abstract

You see aggressive in-line skaters launching off half-pipes on ESPN2. You watch downhillers bomb impossibly steep grades in colorful, aerodynamic speed suits. You wonder why the hell people think off-road skating, a recent in-line fad, is a good idea. Then you think to yourself, What about me? There are all sorts of trends and innovations happening in the in-line subcultures, but is anything brewing for the regular guy who simply likes to cruise around on four wheels and get a hearty workout?

Absolutely. Fitness skates, the kind of wheels you can spin around the park, commute in or wear for a feisty roller-hockey game, are still a priority for manufacturers - they've tweaked their new models and introduced some fine innovations. Here are our three favorites, plus a couple of great accessories.

Rossignol Junction Rock

With NO SKATES ALLOWED signs popping up everywhere, urban in-line commuters find themselves forced to swap skates for shoes half a dozen times on the way to work. The Rossignol Junction Rock ends that drill: Twist a thumb-lock open, drop a lever and presto - the chassis pops off, wheels and all, leaving you with a respectable pair of walkable boots that look for all the world like classy hiking shoes. Reattaching the chassis takes a bit more dexterity but becomes second nature once you get the hang of it (the Junction system uses two retaining hooks plus the lock, unlike a ski binding or clipless pedal's single hook).

Despite its casual appearance, the boot provides good support, with full-length laces and a cam-action support cuff. On the move, 76mm 78A wheels serve up an acceptably smooth ride even over pockmarked urban landscapes, while the shortish, maneuverable wheelbase lets you dodge wayward pedestrians and unexpected dog droppings with ease ($260).

K2 Power X 5.0

The Power X 5.0 delivers a ride to rival top-of-the-line skates, for far less cash. Thanks to its 76mm double-density Spinal Tap wheels, ABEC-5 bearings and shock-absorbing Isolator midsole, this high-cut soft boot tackles most surfaces jitter-free. And the Exotech support cuff, which hinges around the ankle to allow for deeper knee bends and, therefore, more powerful strokes, offers excellent side-to-side stability.

This lace-up model also offers supreme comfort. But that's to be expected from a soft boot, especially one from soft-boot pioneer K2. Only one complaint: Despite ventilation holes in the toe area and on the bottom of the boot, the air flow isn't as great as that found in some other skates on the market.

Other details, though, are taken care of. There's a rope handle to ease foot entry, three adjustable buckles around the ankle for customized support and a small, effective brake. It all adds up to make the Power X 5.0 a top in-line choice ($299).

Accessories

While comfort shouldn't be your first worry when it comes to safety equipment, we understand the importance of not feeling like you're wearing body armor while you're skating. That's why we like Rollerblade's Urban Gear line - particularly the extremely sturdy and well-ventilated wrist guards. They've got a comfy neoprene lining and three gaping air vents on the back side, and they're symmetrical, so you don't have to think about which guard fits which hand ($22).

The Kryptonics Formula One Axle System is the perfect kit for any skater who hates cleaning all the gunk out of the bearings every few months. Once you install these hollowed-out axles, all you have to do is squirt in some solution whenever your wheels feel slow and crusty. The cleaning formula will eat away the built-up junk and, at the same time, give your bearings a lube job ($32).

Rollerblade ePro

Never has a high-cut, hard-shell skate felt so comfortable. From the moment we slipped our feet inside (via three custom-fitting buckles that easily pop into place) until we finished our workout 10 miles later, we experienced no pain or numbness. And the metallic mesh liner and multiple vents in the toe area (along each side and on the bottom of the boots) provided serious air flow during the ride.

What really makes the ePro special, though, are the Energized Stride (EST) and TriForce technologies. The EST, essentially a flexible cuff, allows you to lean far forward when you stride. The result: longer strokes and more power. The TriForce technology reinforces the critical "energy zone" - a Y-shaped area that runs down the cuff of the boot and then splits and continues to the toes and the heel - with a stronger type of polyurethane than the rest of the boot. This helps stabilize you laterally while allowing flexibility in other areas. The ePro also comes with Rollerblade's ABT2 braking system ($399).

COPYRIGHT 1998 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group