Rolling: Speed skates or Artictic skates
October 8, 2015 7:14 AM Subscribe
I have been going to a roller rink weekly to get some exercise and renting skates. I'm ready to commit and buy my own skates, but I can't decide between speed style skates and artistic style skates. Advise please?
It seems like people advise that it depends on what you want to do, but I can't match up what I want to do with either type of skate definitively. I started roller skating after ice skating for 4 years, just to give myself more times to choose from for my exercise. For both roller and ice skating, I have no aspirations of competing or doing team sports, it's purely a recreational thing. I'm not into gyms and this is the exercise I stick with because it's what I enjoy. It's like my yoga or zumba. I learned to skate on hockey skates, mostly because I remembered getting tripped up by the toe picks on figure skates as a kid, but once I got the basics down, I found myself more interested in working on a nice form than speed and aggression. I still use hockey skates, but plan on purchasing figure skates soon.
I'm leaning towards artistic style skates, but I'm just not sure. I notice most of the regulars at the rink use speed style skates, whether they are doing shuffle skating, dancing in the middle, or just doing laps. My budget for these skates is around $300 so unless one type of skate is vastly better quality in that price range, I don't think my budget is of concern when selecting between the 2 types. Any pointers would be appreciated!
It seems like people advise that it depends on what you want to do, but I can't match up what I want to do with either type of skate definitively. I started roller skating after ice skating for 4 years, just to give myself more times to choose from for my exercise. For both roller and ice skating, I have no aspirations of competing or doing team sports, it's purely a recreational thing. I'm not into gyms and this is the exercise I stick with because it's what I enjoy. It's like my yoga or zumba. I learned to skate on hockey skates, mostly because I remembered getting tripped up by the toe picks on figure skates as a kid, but once I got the basics down, I found myself more interested in working on a nice form than speed and aggression. I still use hockey skates, but plan on purchasing figure skates soon.
I'm leaning towards artistic style skates, but I'm just not sure. I notice most of the regulars at the rink use speed style skates, whether they are doing shuffle skating, dancing in the middle, or just doing laps. My budget for these skates is around $300 so unless one type of skate is vastly better quality in that price range, I don't think my budget is of concern when selecting between the 2 types. Any pointers would be appreciated!
The major difference between speed/aggressive or figure style skates is in the heel height. Figure skates put the weight in the ball of your foot, while speed skates are better at encouraging to get your weight in your heels.
I grew up skating in figure style skates, and for the past 10 years I've been skating derby in speed skates. I'm at the point now where I can do fancy stuff in the speed skates, so one kind or another won't necessarily limit you. It's the practice, not the equipment necessarily.
For several years, I skated in the Riedell 695 boot, which is about the highest heel you can get on a speed skate. The boot alone is about your whole budget though, and you'll want a decent plate.
That's a tough price point though. $300 is about where good skate boots are, without wheels or plates. So I think my best advice would be the 122 boot like here but maybe spend a couple bucks to upgrade the plate from nylon to alumninum.
Overall, the most important thing is how the boot fits your foot, so if you can go somewhere and try them on, I highly recommend it.
posted by pixiecrinkle at 9:48 AM on October 8, 2015
I grew up skating in figure style skates, and for the past 10 years I've been skating derby in speed skates. I'm at the point now where I can do fancy stuff in the speed skates, so one kind or another won't necessarily limit you. It's the practice, not the equipment necessarily.
For several years, I skated in the Riedell 695 boot, which is about the highest heel you can get on a speed skate. The boot alone is about your whole budget though, and you'll want a decent plate.
That's a tough price point though. $300 is about where good skate boots are, without wheels or plates. So I think my best advice would be the 122 boot like here but maybe spend a couple bucks to upgrade the plate from nylon to alumninum.
Overall, the most important thing is how the boot fits your foot, so if you can go somewhere and try them on, I highly recommend it.
posted by pixiecrinkle at 9:48 AM on October 8, 2015
I agree with pixiecrinkle about fit. I found my skates by trying on every pair of boots at a derby event several years ago. If the skates aren't comfortable, you won't want to wear them no matter what style they are :)
posted by theRussian at 1:13 AM on October 11, 2015
posted by theRussian at 1:13 AM on October 11, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
I hear good things about Moxi skates from my derby friends who have them for rec skating, but honestly my best recommendation would really be to find a skate shop that has a decent range of brands and just try stuff on til you find something that feels good with your foot shape.
posted by corvine at 8:01 AM on October 8, 2015