Inlines & Roller Skates

There are different types of roller skates, both inline skates with four wheels in a row, and classic roller skates with four wheels in two pairs. Here are three of the most common inline models:

• Fitness inlines. They have four wheels in a row and a heel brake for easy stopping. They’re suitable for both shorter and longer fitness sessions. The longer the distance, the bigger the wheels.
• Inline speed skates. These are fast, with large wheels (some only have three even bigger wheels) and no heel brake. Mainly used for competitions.
• Aggressive inlines. These are the inline skates most often used in skate parks and on ramps; they have small wheels and are easy to manoeuvre.

Loco Skates has a good guide with a video explaining the difference between different types of roller skates.

There are two main factors that you need to consider when it comes to the wheels: their hardness and their size.

• Large wheels roll faster, while smaller wheel require more effort.
• Hardness also affects which surface they are suitable for – very hard wheels get really slippery on floor-like surfaces, while softer wheels get a better grip, but are less suitable for tarmac surfaces.