roller skates are the most popular self-powered skateboard brand for kids and teens. Inline skates are the only brand that offers a skateboard that can be used without a helmet. For a brief moment this summer I decided to test both skates for myself and I can honestly say that I would have preferred one over the other. Roller skates have a huge grip on the skateboard, while inline skates have a much shorter, thinner grip area.
You can find roller skates with a grip area of between 1.6 and 3.95 inches, and inline skates between 1.0 and 3.5 inches. I’ve seen online comparisons that have roller skates that are anywhere between 1.1 to 1.5 inches, and inline skates that are anywhere between 1.5 to 2.8 inches.
Roller skates are by far the stronger of the two. Roller skates are designed to be held in both hands and pulled up, and they have a much more pronounced grip area. Roller skates have a much shorter overall length, so they’re wider and more stable. You can also hold a roller skate sideways by putting one foot on the edge of the board and sliding your other foot underneath. In contrast, inline skates are much narrower and much more stable.
Roller skates have a great advantage in terms of speed. You can get a lot of speed off the skateboard with a pair of wheels with very little effort, but inline skates are much more stable.
The problem is that inline skates are a lot more expensive. Roller skates are a lot more affordable and a lot more readily available.
Roller skates are very popular in winter sports, so getting a pair of inline skates might be a good idea if you’re going to be skiing, or maybe just at a fun park. Roller skates are also great for kids, and they’re so fun to use.
Roller skates are also better for your back. The problem is that you can’t really lift the skateboard up with your feet. You have to push it forward, and then back down once you get on it. With inline skates, you can get the skateboard up with your feet and just push it back down.
Roller skates are much easier to get on and off because you can lift the front of the skate with your feet. But inline skates are a lot more “weight-bearing” so if you’re trying to lift up your skates you’re probably going to end up with your arms dragging behind you.
Roller skates are more fun to ride. They also feel better. The downside to inline skates is that when you’re on them the wheels turn in the front so you’re always pushing the skateboard forward and you end up with a bit of a drag. Roller skates are also a lot harder to get off of and you have to push them back down.
Roller skates are definitely more fun to ride but they are definitely not the best skates for beginner and intermediate skaters. If you get off of the ice, the wheels turn in the front and you have to push them forward to keep your speed up.
