Best roller skates
Buying roller skates is about more than picking a fun colour, selecting your size and hitting order. Which quad skates suit you best depends on where you skate, how you skate and what your body needs. Below you'll find the main options at a glance, so you can roll onto the track, the rink or the street with confidence.
What will you use your roller skates for?
Recreational roller skates
Do you mostly skate on the street, along the quay or through the park? Then comfort matters most. Softer outdoor wheels dampen vibrations and grip rough asphalt. Pick a well-padded boot for longer rides. Brands like Moxi, Chaya and Impala are popular choices here.
Roller derby skates
Derby calls for agility, explosiveness and stability in the corners. That's why we recommend low boots. They leave your ankle free to move. Combine them with sturdy, responsive plates and harder indoor wheels. The best-known roller derby brands are Riedell, Antik and Bont.
Skate park skates
In a bowl or on a ramp, you and your gear take quite a few hits. Go for a higher boot with extra ankle support and a robust plate with a solid toe stop that can handle grinds and landings. Smaller, harder wheels keep your speed up on smooth concrete. Make sure your slide blocks and wide trucks match.
Dance skates
Dance and rhythm skaters need freedom of movement and feel in their feet. Depending on your style, you choose a higher or lower boot, stiff or flexible. Jam skaters often wear low boots with a free ankle, while artistic skaters rely on the stability and support of stiffer boots.
The best roller skates: out of the box or custom setup?
The best roller skates give you what you need at the price you're willing to pay. New quad skates are ideal if you're just starting out or ready to roll right away. Everything is matched, so you're off in no time.
Fancy something more? Then go for a custom setup. Combine all the parts yourself into your own unique roller skates.
- Roller skate boots: high or low, comfy or snug, leather or vegan? A boot that matches your foot shape prevents pressure points and blisters.
- Roller skate plates: choose the material, the wheelbase, the king pin angle, the toe stop connection... Nylon is light and affordable; aluminium or magnesium is stiffer and more responsive.
- Roller skate wheels: indoor or outdoor wheels, high or low hardness, wide or narrow? Soft wheels (78A–85A) dampen and grip on asphalt. Hard wheels (88A and up) glide smoothly on indoor floors.
- Roller skate bearings: determine how smoothly your wheels (and you) roll. Especially important if you cover longer distances.
- Roller skate toe stops: your brakes sit under your toes and may or may not be adjustable. From small and discreet to big and grippy.
Plenty of skaters enjoy fine-tuning their quads. Not that handy, building your first setup, or just short on patience? Behind Sucker Punch Skate Shop are skaters with more than ten years of experience. We match your gear to your discipline, your level and your feet. That saves you doubt and expensive mistakes. In our store in Ghent we assemble your skates on the spot.
The best roller skates are worthless without the best protection
It doesn't matter whether you're putting on your kids' roller skates for the first time or have been skating for decades. You will fall. That's why quality skate protection is at least as important as your quads themselves.
A skate helmet isn't optional but a must, in every discipline and at every level. Just starting out? Then we recommend a complete protection set with wrist, elbow and knee protection. That way you're fully equipped in one go, no puzzling required.
Experienced roller derby skaters will find all the roller derby protection they need. Think knee pads that absorb heavy impact, wrist guards for your wrists, elbow protection and even mouthguards from the well-known brand SISU Guard.
Ready to choose the best quad skates?
Still unsure about your ideal roller skates? Drop by our store on the Reep in Ghent or send us a message. We're happy to think along with you. In the meantime, discover the full range in our webshop.
