When you are looking for the best roller derby Skates or quad speed skates, you will have to think about several factors before you commit to one type of another.
Not only will you need to think about how you will be using the skates, but you should also consider what you need to get out of them.
From the surface you are skating on, to the amount of wear and tear that you will be putting on them, the perfect Roller Derby Skates are out there just waiting for you to slip your feet into them.
Top 10 Roller Derby Skates Of 2019 Reviewed
Brand | Skill Level | Bearings | Rating | Check Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Riedell R3 Skates Editor's Choice | Intermediate/Advanced | ABEC 5 | 100% | |
2. Riedell Dart Ombre High Performance | Intermediate/ Advanced | ABEC 5 | 99% | |
3. Pacer Mach-5 Budget Friendly | Beginners | ABEC 1 | 95% | |
4. VNLA Jam Skates Quad Speed Skates | Advanced | ABEC 9 | 100% | |
5. Moxi Lolly Fashionable | Beginners/ | ABEC 7 | 99% | |
6. Riedell Dart Quad | Beginners | ABEC 5 | 94% | |
7. Candi Girl Sabina | Beginners | ABEC 3 | 92% | |
8. Candi Girl Carlin Fashionable | Beginners/ | ABEC 5 | 95% | |
9. Chicago Skates | Beginner/ | ABEC 3 | 95% | |
10. Moxi Beach Bunny Freestyle & Dancing | Intermediate/ | ABEC 5 | 99% |
Things To Consider When Choosing Roller Derby Skates
Not every roller derby skate is going to have exactly what you need. In order to be both safe and effective in the rink, you will need to take several factors into consideration, including the wheels, the plates, and the bearings. Having the best roller derby skates will help you improve way faster!
Wheels:
When looking at the wheels on a derby skate, you will need to think about the size, the hardness, and your weight.
Size: The size of your wheels depends on your personal preference, choosing between a diameter of 59 and 62 mm. Another size consideration is the width of the wheel, which can be standard or slim. Standard wheels are 38 mm wide and the most popular. Slim wheels are more agile.
Hardness: Skate manufacturers use a durometer scale to rate the hardness of a wheel. The bigger the number, the harder the wheel. On a slippery indoor floor, you will need a softer wheel that can help you grip the floor better. The hardness rating you will be looking for is between an 88 and a 92A. On a grippy floor, you will need wheels that are between a 93 and a 99A. Most commonly, skaters opt for between a 93 and a 95A in sports arenas because they are a great all-around choice.
If you are an outdoor skater, you will also want a softer wheel to grip the outdoor terrain. They do make wheels that work on both, which is more of a 92 rating.
Weight: Your weight also is a major factor when looking at wheels. If you are a lighter person, you will want a softer wheel, whereas a heavier person would need a harder wheel.
Indoor/ Outdoor/ Hybrid
Indoor Wheels: Indoor skaters will need exclusive indoor wheels which are grippy for better control and are more affordable.
Outdoor Wheels: Rough outdoor terrain will require top quality outdoor wheels which are faster and can handle the rough terrain better. Keep in mind that skate parks will need harder wheels than distance skating activities.
Hybrid Wheels: Hybrid wheels can be used for both indoors and outdoors, making them a versatile option for any surface. They are a great set to begin with while you decide which exclusive indoor/ outdoor sets you want. They are a little more on the grippy side and are slow while used indoors, and are slower when compared to outdoor wheels.
Plates - Aluminium vs Fiberglass vs Nylon
The three primary types of roller skate plates to choose from are aluminum, fiberglass, and nylon.
Aluminum: Aluminum plates are more durable, which is optimal for the contact element of the sport. Aluminum plates are also more responsive, following your movements in the rink. Aluminum can endure more weight and will last longer than other materials.
Fiberglass: Fiberglass is lightweight, a little more affordable than aluminum and has more rigidity than nylon does. It is a great beginner choice for skaters who want a little more strength in their plates. Fiberglass is adequate for skaters who weigh less than 300 pounds.
Nylon: Nylon plates are lightweight and inexpensive. They work as a great beginner plate and work for lighter skaters, but they do offer lower performance abilities. Skaters who weigh over 200 pounds should avoid using nylon.
Bearings:
The bearings on your roller derby skates are what allow you to turn the axle of your wheels. While they are small, they are incredibly important for protection and control. Each wheel has two bearings, meaning you will need eight for each skate. Most skates use 8 mm bearings, but some use 7 mm, so pay attention to your specific skate. Otherwise, you need to look at the tolerance of the bearing using the ABEC scale. Also, if you want to get the best quad speed skates, make sure that they have ABEC 7 or ABEC 9 bearings.
ABEC 1: These are the least expensive bearings and least precise for turning, but are still durable.
ABEC 3: This is a great bearing for beginners or budget skates. They do not work well for speed.
ABEC 5: Better for intermediate skaters, these are usually higher quality.
ABEC 7 & 9: ABEC 9 is the highest rating that you can get, but even the ABEC 7s are great quality, offering you a lot of wheel spin and turning. They are also the most expensive bearings you can buy.
1. Riedell R3 Indoor/Outdoor Roller Derby Skates
Editor's Choice
The Editor’s Choice for the best roller derby skates you can get are the Riedell R3s. These are versatile skates that are built with safety in mind. They have a snug, low fit around the ankle in order to keep your foot in the boot when skating.
The R3s wheels come with a hardness rating of 93A, which is exactly what you would need to be able to skate both indoors as well as outdoors. They also come with ABEC 5 bearings, which are a nice middle of the road bearing. Ultimately, they are a good choice whether you skate competitively or are skating more casually. They do have nylon plates so they are not a good choice for heavier skaters.
These skates are a great choice for beginners and intermediate skaters, giving you enough speed to learn more manoeuvres, but not so much that you hurt yourself.
2. Riedell Dart Ombre Quad Speed Skates
High Performance
If you are looking for a higher performance skate, the Riedell Darts are some of the best roller derby skates that you can get. These are made from a vinyl material that is both durable and breathable.
The Darts are made with an aluminum plate, offering you better strength on the rink. Regardless, these skates will work whether you skate competitively or just casually. The 93 A hardness rating means they are soft enough to work on both indoor rinks as well as outdoor. The ABEC 5 bearings that come with them are more of the middle of the road, so you might want to upgrade them if you skate competitively.
Aesthetically, these are fun skates to look at. You will get a lot of colours to choose from, letting you really show off your personality on the rink.
3. Pacer Mach-5 GTX500 Quad Roller Skates
Budget Friendly
For the perfect quad roller derby skates when you are on a budget, the Pacer Mach-5s might be the right ones for you. These are a great set of beginner skates for those who are just starting out. They would also be a nice choice for children or younger skaters who do not need a higher performance competitive skate, especially since the size range on them is broad.
The ABEC rating on the Mach-5s is 1, meaning that they are the lowest rating you can get. They really do not have the quality needed for more advanced skaters who need precision.
The Mach-5 skates also have polymer nylon plates, so they will not work well for heavier skaters, but they are lightweight. The boot of the skate is also lightweight and comfortable, which is important when you are just getting the feel for quad skating. As an added bonus, the skates come in bright and fun colours.
4. VNLA Mint Jam Skates
Best Quad Speed Skates
If you are more in the market for speed skates, the best quad speed skates that you can get are the VNLA Mint Jam Skates. These have a higher hardness rating of 95 A, which means they are better suited for indoor skating rather than outdoor. These are made to be competitive, with all of the features that you need to be fast and efficient in the rink.
With their low profile toe stops, the toe stop will be out of the way when you need to move your feet quickly or if you are doing tricks. It does have a nylon plate, but it has aluminum trucks, which will give them more durability.
The comfort level on these is pretty high, requiring little to no break in time before you can wear them completely comfortably. They are specifically made to be wicked fast, with amazing ABEC 9 bearings, giving you the best spin and torque possible.
5. Moxi Lolly Fashionable Quad Skates
Fashionable Roller Derby Skates
One of the most fun things about skating is that many brands out there make bright and outrageous colours and designs. The best roller derby skates that come in a range of colours are the Moxi Lolly skates. You can get them in red, yellow, purple, blue, and many other colours as well in a suede material.
The Lolly skates have a comfortable fit and are easy to lace, making them easy to adjust as well. The high quality padded tongue will mean sure that you can get the skates on without a struggle, but still be snug enough to give you the right fit.
The Lollys also show you that you do not need to sacrifice quality for fashion. They come with ABEC 7 steel ball bearings that will minimalize friction and leave you with a fast and smooth ride. Because of how fast they are, amateur skaters will need to make sure that they know how to stop before committing to the Lolly skates.
6. Riedell Dart Quad Speed Roller Skates
Riedell is a skate brand known to make great quad skates and the Dart skates are no exception. The Darts are a great beginner pair of roller skates. The ABEC 5 ball bearings are a good middle-of-the-road bearing, making them adequate for beginners and intermediate skaters.
The wheels that come with the skates have a hardness rating of 93 A, making them a versatile pair of skates that can be used either inside or outside. The boot is made out of a softer man-made material that will reduce the amount of time that it takes to break them in.
The Darts are designed for narrower feet so skaters with wide feet will ultimately find these uncomfortable, especially since the material will not have much in the way of stretch. The midi gripper toe stops on the Darts will ensure that you have control over when you would like to stop as well.
