Skating is the perfect activity for all ages. For parents, it is a great opportunity to bond with their children or have them start a new hobby that gets them out of the house and off the screen. Of course, we want the safest, most comfortable, and affordable pair of skates we can give our children. For those that don’t know what those are here’s your guide to buying children roller skates.
Skate Size
Typically skates for children are made in smaller sizes. These vary depending which brand and manufacturer you go with. You’ll likely want to get at about a half size bigger for your child otherwise they will inevitably and sometimes very quickly outgrow the skates.
However, buying too big of a skate size can lead to some problems. The main issues with bigger skates is they will likely be more loose. Loose skates cause lots of foot movement within the boot and skate and cause blisters. For children growing into a skate it is advisable to wear proper socks and to be sure that laces and closures are all tightly secured.
One growing trend is that many entry level skates are adjustable up to a few sizes. This is great for recreational users as it provides good value for those not wanting to purchase skates every year or every time the child foot grows.
Questions to ask during the buying process:
- What sizes should I order?
- What are the corresponding sizes for small, medium, and large?
- Can the wheels be adjusted to change the speed of skating?
- Are these for indoor or outdoor?
- How long is shipping?
- How many breaks are there? Most skates only have a break on one skate.
- Is the break removable?
- Are these inline skates for indoor or outdoor use? Most of the inline skates will be for both.
- Where can I get replacement parts?
- Is there a warranty included in the purchase? If so, what does it include?
The Best Rollerblades Skates for Kids
1. Adjustable Inline Skates for Kids by Xinosports
The Adjustable Inline Skates for Kids by Xinosports is a great for children who already have experience skating. These skates are easy to adjust in size. Comfort is found in the adjustable ankles support. With ABEC-7 bearings these are truly high-performance skates! Children get most excited about the unique wheels that illuminate that make skating around the roller rink even more fun!
PROS:
- 60-Day Money Back Guarantee
- Illuminating wheels is a unique feature
- Easily adjustable ankle support
- High performance ABEC-7 Bearings
- Durable aluminum frame
- Good for both indoor and outdoor use
- Easy to adjust size
CONS:
- Complaints about the buckles and latches breaking
- Some experienced faulty front wheel
2. Chicago Blazer Junior Boys Adjustable Inline Roller Skate
The Chicago Blaze Jr. Boys Adjustable Inline Skate are great for the independent child. These skates provide good quality straps and a quick release buckle that makes it easy for boys to put on and take off by themselves. The ABEC-3 bearings provide security so beginners of the skating sport can learn basic skills before going faster.
PROS:
- Good quality fasteners especially compared to other brands
- Adjustable size,
- Easy to put on and take off
- Good for outdoor and street use
CONS:
- Straps has broken for some users
- Tongue occasionally slips outside of boot
3. Mongoose Boy’s Inline Skates
The Mongoose Boy’s Inline Skates are perfect for those being introduced to inline skating. Like many youth skates these are adjustable inline skates suitable for growing children. Start early and get the full life of the 4 size adjustable skate. The Mongoose Inline Skates give a great feel for the first time skaters and are considered entry level designed for recreational skating.
PROS:
- Great value
- Secure boots
- Safe
- Easy to adjust
CONS:
- Some complaints with straps snapping off
- Tight wheels and bearings
- Not suitable for rough play or aggressive users, front wheels has come off for some users
4. K2 Skate Boy’s Raider
For new skaters K2 Skate Boy’s Raider Inline Skates provides high quality without the high price! After putting these comfortable skates on, growing boys will have the option to use them for the next couple years (as they are fully adjustable up to 5 sizes) or until they upgrade to more technical skates! The multiple-size concept that the Raider Skates bring has got both parents and children excited. The soft boot, 70mm wheels, and ABEC 3 bearings provide a solid option for those just being introduced to the sport of skating or have already had some experience.
PROS:
- Adjustable size
- Comfortable, secure fit
- Good value
- Used for speed hockey as well
- Smooth ride, easily maneuverable
- Trusted brand
CONS:
- Velcro strap not durable
5. Roller Derby Tracer Boy’s Adjustable Inline
The Roller Derby Boy’s Tracer Adjustable Inline Skate is Amazon’s #1 choice for boy’s inline skates for a reason. These inline skates provide great comfort with its soft boot support system and security with the dual level buckets and a push button adjustment system for the closures. At under $40 this is the best value for boy’s inline skates. Additionally, with the push button size adjustment children can use this for not just months but years to come. While out of the box the wheels are a bit tight, these can be loosened to allow for faster skating, or alternatively tightened for slower skating.
PROS:
- Great for both indoor and outdoor
- Good for beginner/entry level skates
- Perfect for learners ages 3 and up
- Great for street hockey, roller derby, concrete casual skating
- Adjustable sizing on straps
- Great for growing children as the skates are adjustable.
- Secure straps, no wiggle room
- Rough play acceptable with this product, very durable
- Adjustable wheels- out of the box their a bit tight, use a wrench to loosen or tighten
- Good ankle support
- Great value
- Adjustable wheels good for beginners, though who have skated for a few moths and wanting to go faster
CONS:
- Long shipping period of 5-8 weeks
- Straps have adjustable lengths but don’t
- Only one stopper-break on the right skate
- Wheels wore out fast
Quad Roller Skates Vs. Inline Skates
There are two types of roller skates for children. Quad skates, or the more “traditional” roller skates are what are typically seen at your local roller rinks. These skates have two front and two rear wheels side-by-side. Inline skates, branded rollerblades, are the more common consumer product. The biggest difference is that inline skates typically have 4 or 5 wheels aligned in a single line.
Quad skates typically give kids and first-time skaters more balance as they are more similar to regular shoes, with 4 wheels in 4 different corners of the skates.
Inline skates tend to not have as much balance and may be more difficult for some children to get used to. Additionally, inline skates tend to need more strength from the user specially with ankles.
The straight line makes it more difficult to stand upright and be stable. This of course simply takes practice but should be taken into consideration, along with personal preference and comfort.
Indoor or Outdoor
It is sometime difficult to find a pair of skates that are good for both indoor and outdoor use. The main factors to take into consideration are wheels, durability, and affordability.
Outdoor skates will have softer wheels as a way of absorbing vibrations from rough, uneven terrain. The softer wheels also allow for better grip on the outdoor surfaces which is good when your child rolls over pebbles, asphalt, rocks, or other rough surfaces.
If your child will be skating indoors and outdoor we recommend spending more on a higher quality pair of indoor skates with a less expensive skate for outdoors.
The wear and tear on outdoor skates will be more heavy especially with all the dirt, mud, and debris that kids like to roll over. If you need to replace the outdoor skates you’ve at least not initially spent a large amount.
How Much Should You Pay For Children’s Inline Skates
Buying inline skates for kids shouldn’t be a difficult process. When searching for skates for your better off with a trust brand versus a generic store brand.
While generic kids skates cost between $30-40 a pair your children will likely run into performance issues. These types of smaller brands perform more like toys rather than like adult skates.
The most common frustrations of these toy-like skates are the plastic wheels can’t be used on surfaces outside of the skating center. The boot closures aren’t secure and continue to pop open.
When looking at entry level brands for youth inline skates you are best to look at the $75-100 range. This will provide you great value for your money. At this range skates will be sturdy enough to use for a couple of years and may even be used as hand-me-downs to your next child.
The wheels will be around 70-80mm wide and durable enough to be used in different outdoor surfaces. The bearings will be at ABEC 3 meaning kids will be able to have enough speed to enjoy the experience but won’t be spinning out of control.
Also, the closures on these types of skates will an upgraded from the generic brands you may have considered. The boots are high enough on these inline skates so the children have enough ankle support.
If you believe your children aren’t ready for full-on skates there are alternatives at lower prices.
What age should my children start skating?
This is a very common questions amongst parents. Many children can skate as soon as they are able to walk. Remember when skating, at any age and experience level, proper protective and safety gear should be worn.
