Buy Roller Skates from Rollerskates.com because they all all the types of indoor and outdoor quad roller skates, ice skates and inline skates, from Riedell, Sure Grip, Roller Derby, Pacer, Tour, Chicago, Luigino, Bont, Vanilla, Infinity Sports, Dominion and American Athletic. We have a great selection of kids roller skates, kids inline skates, kids ice skates, rhythm skates, jam skates, track skates, quad speed skates and inline speed skates.
We carry a complete line of roller skate parts, including boots, plates, wheels, and bearings.
Some of the manufacturers they carry Riedell, Sure Grip, Quadline, Pacer, Labeda, Hyper Wheels, Bones Wheels and Bearings, Kwik, Lynx, Dominion, Chicago, Roll-Line, Atlas and Powerdyne
Rollerskates.com is an Authorized Dealer for Riedell Roller Skates and Riedell Ice Skates.
Some basic skate terms we are asked about are “durometer” and “ABEC.”
Durometer refers to the hardness of a skate wheel. Typically, a soft wheel is grippy but slow, and a firm wheel is fast but slick. A low durometer represents a softer wheel, and a high durometer represents a firmer one. When skating outdoors, you should always try to use a wheel with a durometer of 88A or less. Most recreational, indoor wheels have a durometer of 95A which gives them good roll, but they have less traction in tight turns. An indoor wheel with a durometer of 94A or less is considered to have “grip.” An indoor wheel of 95A or higher is considered to be “firm.”
The term “ABEC” stands for the Annular Bearing Engineers’ Committee, and this committee determines standards for the Anti-Friction Bearing Manufacturers Association. Most bearings are given an ABEC rating to determine their heat tolerance, rotating accuracy, and other measurements. Basically, the higher the number, the better the bearing should be, but this is not a universal truth. Some companies, like Powell-Bones, sell bearings that are not rated. Yet, Powell-Bones, manufactures some of the highest quality bearings available. Using the ABEC system when determining which bearing to purchase is a good starting point, but you should always be willing to talk to a sales associate about which bearing is the best for you.
When comparing the different skates pictured in this catalog be sure to look at the individual components. The boots, chassis, wheels, and bearings all work together in the performance of a pair of skates.
Boots: First determine whether you want a high-top or a low-cut boot. This should be the easiest decision. Then determine what type of material you would like. Traditionally, leather has been the best material you could use to manufacture boots, but some of them are now made with a micro-fiber material which may be more durable than leather. If you are still growing, you may wish to go with a less expensive material, for you’ll probably grow out of your skates before you wear them out.
Chassis: The chassis or plates are what make you skates work. They are typically made with aluminum or some form of plastic or nylon. One material is not necessarily better than the other. They are both very strong, and some of the high-end aluminum plates are actually lighter than their plastic counterparts. You should determine whether the type of skating you do works best with a single-action or double-action truck. Single-action means that the truck, the part of the skate that holds the wheels has only one cushion, and that they are at a 45 degree angle. They allow you to be closer to the floor and give you a feeling of stability when cornering at high speeds. Double-action means that each truck has two cushions and they are at a 10 degree angle. Double-action trucks allow for quicker turns, and make your skates feel much responsive. Double-action trucks are the most common.
Wheels: When choosing a wheel you should first determine whether you a want speed-type wheel, wide profile, or an artistic-type wheel, narrow profile, Speed wheels give you more stability and traction when cornering at high speeds, and artistic wheels allow you to make more responsive turns, Also, determine what durometer, or hardness, you desire in your wheels.
Bearings: On ABEC rated bearings, the higher the number the better the bearing, Keep in mind that in company’s ABEC-5 is not always the same as another company’s ABEC-5. Also, there are some companies that don’t use ABEC rating on any of their bearings. If you want a good bearing, buy an ABEC-3 or higher, and if you want the best bearing, buy Bones Swiss.
Children Skates can range from plastic skates that will fit over a childs shoe to regular skates that lace up. When purchasing a pair of skates for a young child it is important to consider the childs skill level. These types of skates, by their very nature, do not go fast and they will help a young child make the transition from movements needed for walking to movements needed for skating. Most of these skates will have adjustable wheels that will be able to tighten or loosen, helping the child go slower or faster, depending on his/her ability.
Childrens skates usually range in price from $30 to $65. Childrens skates should be bought one size larger than shoe size to allow for growth. If your child takes off and quickly becomes a great skater, call us toll free 877-265-9099, we have ways to make the kids skate a bit faster.
Roller skating has always been an activity that is loved by children, and we believe that a child’s first experience on roller skates is an important one. Not every child needs a pair of leather, high-performance skates, so Southeastern Skate Supply believes so strongly in offering affordable skates that will allow younger skaters to enjoy their early skating experience.
Recreational skates are roller skates with the least specific role. In many ways they can think of as the original roller skates because these are the type of skates that most roller rinks rent. At the very least recreational roller skates can be thought of as multi purpose skates.
The pricing of recreational skates very greatly because it is just as easy to find cheaper, new recreational skates as it is to find skates that were made this year. This makes it difficult to estimate just how much a person can expect to spend, but it can range anywhere from $50 - $300. Most all recreational skates are high tops because it is important for these skates to have better ankle support.
If a person buying recreational roller skates intends to skate both indoors and outdoors and does not wish to have to constantly change from hard to soft wheels, then the recommend wheel would be somewhere in the 85a to 90A rangeRecreational and artistic skates make up what most people consider “traditional” roller skates. These can be skates that children use in their “tiny tots” classes to skates that world-class competitive skaters use.
When comparing these skates, be sure to notice what material the boots are made of, and also what type of bearings they use. A leather boot will last longer than most synthetic boots, and a good quality bearing truly determines how well a skate will roll.
Take your time, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and remember your budget. Also, if you’re buying skates for a growing child, your child will probably outgrow the skates before they wear them out, so the best possible skate is not always the best choice.
Many people interested in roller skating as a fun hobby may not be aware of the competitive sport of freestyle roller skating and figure skating. Though not as popular to the general public as figure skating on ice has become, the roller skating version is still a thriving industry. It is important for freestyle skates to be light with small wheels and an ABEC-3 rated bearing (this will be explained in the bearing section). Artistic skates should be built with difficult maneuvers in mind, and therefore should have an adjustable stopper, and a leather boot for flexibility, a plate that is made of light weight titanium, or aluminum. The boot of an Artistic Roller Skate is identical to a figure skating ice skate. A dance skate needs a special wheel approx 62mm and 101A to 103 A, but for other artistic style skating any good gripping, light wheel should be fine. To find the wheel that is best for you, ask the other skaters in your rink. They will know what hardness works best on that floorThe sport of Roller Derby began in the 1930’s and has gone through several reincarnations throughout the years. As most skaters know, the sport is experiencing another boom throughout the country, and this has increased the demand for skates that can hold up to the abuse experienced in the sport.
Derby skaters require more than durability though; they also require a skate that can get up to speed quickly and hold through tight turns. The skates pictured here are ones that lend themselves well to the sport.
The main difference between recreational skates, and skates solely intended for outdoor use is the wheels that are used. Any skate can be adapted for outside use by simply changing to a softer wheel. There are, however, boot specifications that may be desirable if a person intends to do most of his/her skating outdoors.
Outdoor skates can be either high top or low top, and it is best if the boot is suede because this will make it easier to brush off the dirt that outdoor skating inevitably causes. Recommended wheels for outdoor skating are 62mm to 65mm. These wheels will make indoor rink skating very difficult and should only be used if the majority skating is done outside.
Ever since the invention of the wheel, people have been using it to make things go fast, and roller skates are no exception. Boots, plates, wheels, and bearings have been modified and improved over the years to help them go faster.
However, speed isn’t always enough. Going round ‘n’ round as fast as you can sometimes gets boring for people, so some skaters like to add a little style to their speed.
Speed/Jam skates fit both desire to go fast and have a little fun at the same time. The low-cut shoes helps with cornering while going fast, but the also allow skaters to accomplish difficult tricks by allowing the ankles to move more freely. Speed wheels and bearings get skaters up to speed, but they also enable a skater to land jump-type moves and keep them moving along when truckin’.
Speed Skates are meant for exactly what their name implies they are meant for: Speed! They can be used for competitive racing, recreational use, indoors, and outdoors. Like the recreational skates, speed skates are a true multi purpose roller skate with one essential quality that makes them unique, they are intended to go fast. Speed skates are favored by the younger crowed for obvious reasons and if you are intending to purchase a pair of skates for a teenager or young adult, it is a good bet they he/she will be very pleased with a pair of speed skates. Most speed skates have a low cut boot with a Velcro strap that provides extra ankle support. The speed wheels are typically wider (40mm) and taller (62mm) than recreations wheels , 95A to 98A is the typical hardness for speed skating wheels. Certified speed wheels will not tell you the exact hardness, its a secret, they are usually listed as soft (grip) and firm (less grip)
Outdoor Wheels
Wheels serve as the shock absorbers for outdoor skating. A soft wheel will help absorb some of the vibration from the road, and help save skater’s legs, so they can log up more miles. All of the wheels listed here are soft enough to help provide a nice smooth roll for the outdoor skater. The most outdoor wheels are 60mm to 70mm in size and 76A to 82A hardness.
Indoor Wheels
Indoor wheels are intended for smooth surfaces, and sometimes the only wheel permitted, on roller rinks. Indoor wheels grip the floor coating that the majority of rinks use. Indoor wheels are harder, this allows the skater to go faster on indoor surfaces. These wheels should not be used outdoors because they are so hard they will not be able to roll over pebbles, and other terrain surprises. The indoor wheel used outside could stop suddenly causing injury to the skater. Indoor wheels are available for recreational skaters, speed skaters, and artistic skaters.
Roller Derby Wheels
The Roller Derby track is smaller than most skating floors; this means that the corners tend to be tight. When competing in Roller Derby, you need a wheel that gets up to speed quickly and can hold you in the turns. You basically need a good all-around speed wheel.
Speed/Jam Wheels
Speed and Jam wheels usually have a 62mm diameter and a 42mm width. Their diameter and width provide skaters with a fast roll and a wide base for better traction when cornering at high speeds.
Hardness of the Wheels
There are two scales of measurements used to express the "hardness" or urethane - the "A" scale (used in skating with a range from a low of 70A to a high of 103A) and the "D" scale, which, if converted to skate wheels, would turn in lower numbers like 43D to 55D. The "A" scale is centigrade (100 degrees is boiling) - the "D" scale is Fahrenheit. Skate wheel manufacturer�s use the "A" scale since 100+ is nearly the hardness of a porcelain sink by skate wheels standards. There is a dynamic and widely varying "practical" or performing" hardness is any skate wheel.
The hardness of the wheels can be attained by determining the wheels durometer, the durometer for each wheel is specified in the description by a number followed by the letter “A”. A lower number means the wheel will offer better grip in the turns, and a higher number means the wheel will offer a faster roll but will tend to have less traction. Durometers of 94A and lower represent “Grip,” and durometers of 95A and higher represent “Firm.” Factors affecting the practical or performing hardness of these wheels include: Temperature - Performance of a soft (70A) skate wheels on 120-degree asphalt outdoor will be different than on a 76-degree urethane floor coating while indoors.
Profile (or Radius)
The profile of the wheels determines how much of the wheel is actually touching the ground (sometimes called the "footprint") and this effects the wheel's rolling resistance and grip. This gets tricky: A large hub can reduce a footprint on a high-speed turn. The narrow (or higher) the profile, the more it is suited to straight-line higher speed skating without a lot of twists and turns. Also, the narrower the wheel, (offering a thin "footprint" to the floor) the more easily maneuvered at lower speeds.
Core- It secures the outer race of the bearings. The larger the hub, less urethane is used to complete the final diameter of the wheel. Hubs these days are made of exotic and durable nylons, zytels, and polycarbonate blends. The larger the hub, the lighter the wheel becomes and, in a dynamic way, the hub affects the point of contact on the floor surface. Larger hubs reduce potential roll-resistance, regardless of the profile.
Wheel History
Most wheels are made from Urethane. Urethane was developed in the 20th century as a replacement for rubber due to shortages during the world wars. Petroleum was readily available and chemicals produced from oil were used to produce several plastics and then urethane. Urethane was first introduced as a wheel for skating via the skateboard wheels in the 60's replacing wooden, hard rubber or clay wheels that would "chunk" or slide out from under even the lightest skateboarder. The first urethane wheels for roller skates were used for outdoor skating and then harder formulas were produced for top end speed skaters and indoor artistic skaters. Today there are several different methods of processing urethane for roller skate wheels and literally thousands of formulas to produce many different varieties or properties. RADAR selects the very best formula for their wheels in each category to offer the greatest value to the skater and their own
skating style.
Size
Wheels are measured in Milimeters & marked with a "MM" notation. The smaller the MM number, the smaller the circumference of the wheel. Smaller wheels (52MM) are used for rhythm skaters and for juvenile skates. Standard wheels (57MM) are used for most
traditional skates and artistic skates.
Tall wheels (62MM) are used for track skating, jamskating and speed skating. Oversized wheels (70MM) are specific to some track skating. Wheel size used is determined category and by skater preference.
Hardness
Wheel hardness is determined by an "A" scale rating, the higher the number, the harder the wheel. Softer wheels are used for outdoor skating (78A or 84A). Outdoor wheels are softer to provide a better rebound for skating on uneven surfaces. Rebound allows for the wheel to "roll" over the uneven surfaces rather then "bouncing" over them like the harder wheels. Hard wheels (90A to 101A) are used for indoor skating with the softer indoor wheels offering a better grip than the harder indoor wheels.
Hubs
Soft wheels below 84A need a hub to reinforce the bearing seat in the wheel. Under normal conditions, an 84A wheel will hold the bearings, but not under extreme conditions. Hubs are used on harder wheels only to lower the weight of larger wheels. Usually nylon or aluminum hubs are much lighter than the urethane they replace. Metal hubs are preferred over nylon hubs to produce a much "stiffer" wheel and provide a better feel to the top end skaters. Nylon hubs tend to "flex" while skating.
Shape
Narrow wheels are standard with Juvenile skates, artistic skates, outdoor skates and most rhythm skates. The narrow shape makes the wheels lighter and much easier to maneuver when skating. Wide track wheels are used for most jam skates, track skates and speed skates because the wider surface provides more grip when cornering, especially at high speeds. RADAR wheels also feature Speed Groove Technology, a groove down the middle of the wide track wheels allowing the wheel to flex at the groove, causing even more grip.
Colors
Wheels are offered in an endless array of color; however, different urethanes will produce different colors or hues due to the original or natural color of the chemicals. Wheels are cast with powdered pigments to change the urethane color. Wheel color helps the skater know what hardness or grip the wheel is and allows the skater to have a different look.
Wheel Categories
Track/Jam/Speed = Wide track and tall (62MM) indoor hardness, 90A to 98A
Art = Narrow width (57MM-Freestyle and 62MM - Dance & Figures) Hard, 96A - 101A.
Rhythm = Narrow width (52MM, 57MM, 62MM) Very Hard, 101A
Outdoor = Narrow & Tall (62MM & 65MM) soft, 78A to 88A
Materials
TDI Technology = Under $100 Skates
This is an inexpensive and easier way to process material compared to MDI Technology. TDI wheels tend to slip and "Bog" down. These wheels tend to wear down faster. Better skaters will use wheels with MDI Technology.
MDI Technology = Over $100 Skates
MDI wheels grip better, roll faster, last longer and have a much higher resilience rating and tensile strength. These wheels offer a better "feel" to the skater that they expect from better wheel companies. MDI wheels do not pick up dirt like the cheaper material wheels.
Bearings sit in the wheel hubs and are what allow the wheels to roll in the skates. Most bearings are rated using the ABEC rating system. The higher the bearing rating, the better the bearing is. The ABEC rating has nothing to do with bearing quality, it is only a rating system.
What is ABEC?
ABEC stands for Annular Bearing Engineers' Committee. It is NOT a brand of bearing. This committee works to determine the standards for bearings for the Anti-Friction Bearing Manufacturers Association
(AFBMA).
The ABEC scale classifies different accuracy and tolerance ranges for bearings. There are five ratings in the ABEC scale:
ABEC-1
ABEC-3
ABEC-5
ABEC-7
ABEC-9
The ABEC rating of a bearing is determined by the following (for a 608 size bearing):
How close the bore is to 8mm in microns
How close the outer diameter is to 22 in microns
How close the width is to 7mm in microns
The rotating accuracy in microns
Does ABEC affect the speed of your skates?
No. Not unless you are skating at 330 mph. That's based on a 608 bearing limiting speed of 32,000 rpm. Only in extremely high speed applications like ultra high speed motors and precision measuring instruments can bearings above ABEC 1 affect performance. Regardless of how fast you plan to go, speed is affected first and
foremost by the choice of lubricant.
If we're going to talk about tolerances, the fit of your wheels and axles have a much greater effect on performance than ABEC rating. Wheels and axles for inline skates have extremely loose fits that allow you to press the bearings into the wheel by hand. This masks the benefits of a higher precision bearing by allowing it to slip on the axle or in the wheel. Slippage between the mating parts results in energy loss. Lost energy is lost speed.
Remember how fast you go is up to you and your ability. Higher rated bearings will not make you go faster, but you do have more ROLL OUT. Another way to put this is how long it takes for the wheel to stop spinning, higher rated bearings will spin longer after you stop pushing.
The real qualities of the bearings are the components. Bearings consist of Races, Balls, Cages & Shields. Chrome steel races are far superior to cheaper carbon steel races and this is the basic difference between good quality bearings for roller skates and cheap
imitations. The carbon steel bearings will roll freely if there is no pressure on them, but after a few times on the skates, they tend to slow the bearings considerably.
Lubricant …What is it?
The two most common lubricants are grease and oil. Grease is basically oil with a thickener or soap. The thickener acts like a sponge to soak up the oil when not in use.
What does it do?
Keeps metal parts from wearing against one another keeps dirt away from the sensitive inner workings. Grease Oil helps keep dirt out prevents material wear can suspend contaminants requires frequent servicing prevents material wear has low torque requires little servicing does not last as long increases torque lasts a long time. From the above you can see that a greased bearing requires little servicing yet cannot run as fast as an oiled bearing. An oiled bearing is susceptible to dust and contamination so it needs to be serviced more often. As grease is thicker, it acts as a seal against dirt, but at
the same time it can increase torque and slow down the bearing. A bearing lubricant or cleaner is recommended vs. using any household chemicals to lubricate or clean them. Household cleaners may seem like they are doing the job, but in reality, they are slowing the bearings down.
Skate bearings for Roller Skates, inline skates or skateboards. We have the top brands Kwik, Bones, Bevo, BSB, and Lynx. We sell ABEC 5, ABEC 7 and ABEC 9 bearings.
The diameter of all bearings for skates are the same. The 7mm or 8mm size refers to the hole in the middle of the bearing and tells you what size axle the bearings will fit. 7mm bearings fit a 9/32" axle, and 8mm fits a 5/16" axle. Most skates sold in the last 10 years have 5/16 axles and use 8mm bearings. High end plates like Snyder, Roll-Line and Atlas as well as the Sure Grip Power-Trac use 7mm bearings.