The 11 best roller skates - 2023 Update

Table of Contents

1. 11 Best Roller Skates
2. Roller Skate Sizing
3. Upgrades for your roller skates
1. Roller Skate Bearings
2. Roller Skate Wheels
4. FAQs
5. The bottom line on roller skates

The best roller skates offer a great fun way to get around and have come back in style, after a boom period in the 1970s. They're portable, fun, and, like skateboarding, if you live in a warm climate, you can roller skate around all year.

As a newcomer, we know it gets overwhelming when looking at the sheer number of options out there. Who should you trust? What features do you need? How much should you spend? Fear not, as our 15+ years in the action sports industry have prepped us for these very questions.

Here are 11 of the best roller skates out there 🛼

11 Best Roller Skates

Below, we go a little more in-depth on each skate. Here's how we rated each:

Build Quality 🔨

How good are the parts on the board. 1-5 hammers. 🔨

Fun Factor 😺

How much fun you'll have on the board? 1-5 excited cats. 😺

Cost 💲

How much money is this thing going to cost me? 1-5 dollar signs. 💲

Overall ⭐

Overall rating? 1-5 stars. ⭐

1. Moxi Lolly Roller Skates

🎉 BEST OVERALL

SHOP AT AMAZON

These are the best of the best and made in the USA. But they don't come cheap. These high-quality suede Moxi Skates are perfect for beginner or experienced skaters who want a top-of-the-line product. The boot hits just right - it's soft, but not too soft and still offers fantastic ankle support. The wheels are soft and absorb shocks better than most others out there, providing a super smooth ride.

The only downside we found was the toe stop came loose. Just make sure to tighten properly using the included tool.

2. Impala Quad Skates

💲 BEST ON A BUDGET

These roller skates are a great option for beginner or intermediate skaters. They have a durable construction and comfortable padding, making them ideal for those just starting out. The wheels are also designed for stability and easy maneuvering. Impala Skates has been around since 2017 and offer solid entry level product. If you're not wanting to throw down a lot of cash, we definitely recommend these.

3. Sure-Grip Boardwalk Outdoor Skates

🤩 STAFF FAVORITE

Another top-of-the-line roller skate, perfect for experienced skaters who want the best of the best but don't wanna pay a fortune. Like the Moxi's, they are made in the USA with a suede leather upper and a stitched sole. The Boardwalks come in some sick colors (which aren't too flashy) and is just generally a well made product.

4. Moxi Rainbow Rider Skates

The Moxi Skates Rainbow Rider is a fantastic roller skate that is sure to turn heads. The bright and vibrant rainbow pattern is a unique touch that makes these skates stand out from the crowd.

The vinyl boot is comfortable and durable, and the soft lining kept our feet comfy and cozy during long skating sessions. The high-impact Marvel aluminum plate and Kwik Abec 5 bearings provide a smooth ride, and the Moxi Gummy wheels are perfect for cruising around the park or skating on the street.

Overall, these are a great entry level skate for those looking to rep the Moxi brand. The size runs a little small - in particular the toe box seems to be a little on the narrow side so bear this in mind.

5. Chicago Skates Men's Classic Roller Skates

An excellent choice for anyone who is looking for a classic and timeless design - seriously, these are subtle AF.

These premium skates feature a comfortable and supportive high-top design that is perfect for long skating sessions. The aluminum base plate and adjustable trucks provide stability and control, while the precision bearings and durable wheels ensure a smooth and effortless ride.

We also appreciated the secure lace-up closure and the reliable toe stop, which provide excellent safety and stopping power. Our only gripe: the wheels are way too soft for high speed indoor skating, and the bearings kinda suck. Thankfully, these are two of the easiest upgrades you can make. Overall, a solid investment for anyone getting started with indoor skating.

6. Sure Grip Malibu

The Sure Grip Malibu roller skates are a great choice for anyone looking for both style and comfort in their skates. The durable vinyl boot offers excellent ankle support, and the soft lining ensures that our feet stay comfortable even during long skating sessions.

With an aluminum plate and ABEC-3 bearings, we enjoy a smooth and effortless ride, although we'd recommend upgrading to Rollerbones or Dragon Bearings for better performance.

We appreciate the secure lace-up closure and adjustable trucks, which provide stability and control, and the reliable toe stop that allows for quick stops (even though its not adjustable it performs great for beginners). Overall, the Sure Grip Malibu roller skates are an excellent option for anyone seeking high-quality, fashionable, and reliable skates that can withstand the test of time.

7. Sure-Grip Rock GT-50

A great choice for anyone who wants a durable, high-performance skate. The GT-50 comes with a low-top leather boot that is supportive, comfortable and allows a full range of movement.

As we've mentioned in pretty much every skate in our list, the stock bearings just aren't great and we recommend this be the first upgrade you make. Don't get us wrong, they are fine while you learn, but they won't last much longer than that.

We dig the sleek and simple low-top design of these skates. It's perfect for skaters who want a more subtle alterantive to some of the loud skates out there.

8. Moxi Beach Bunny Skates

We absolutely love the Moxi Beach Bunny roller skates and highly recommend them to anyone who wants a high-quality and stylish pair of skates.

At half the cost of the Moxi Lolly (our #1 pic), the Beach Bunny naturally has a few cheaper components in the form of a vinyl boot (vs leather) and Aluminum Plates (vs Nylon plates), but otherwise are a great all-round outdoor skate for beginner skaters.

The boots are durable and comfortable, come in a bunch of rad colorways, and come with high-impact Moxi Dri-Lex lining and Moxi's signature Moxi Beach Bunny outdoor wheels.

9. Riedell Orbit Quad Skates

Bright, vibrant and stylish high-top skates by Riedell.

10. Riedell Dart

If you are looking for skates to play roller derby in, look no further. Probably one of the best quality skates on the market right now. Possibly the most expensive pair of skates on the market, too, but worth every penny.

The premium leather boots are some of the comfiest we've tested. That makes sense when you have 75 years of R & D behind you!

11. VNLA Parfait

Probably our favorite design of all 11 skates - these come in 3 different colors that 'll get you noticed, with a rad funky padding pattern. Stylish, yet subtle.

These are very well made and perform from the get go. The boot is a little stiff to start, but that soon softened up. The size is pretty spot on with your regular shoes too which is always nice!

Specs:

Size options: US Women's 5-11

Boot: Micro Fiber (Wider platform)

Plates: Lightweight Aluminum Plate

Bearings: VNLA ABEC 7 (Upgrade to Rollerbones)

Roller Skate Sizing

Most roller skates will fit as the same size your sneakers would. This means you can just buy your normal size, you don’t have to go up or down a size, as some sports footwear requires.

HOWEVER...

As with buying shoes, what size you need will depend on the brand (and even the model) you choose. In general, skates only come in full sizes (no half sizes), so with that said, if you are usually a halfie, size up. Same if you have wide feet.

Another thing to note - Depending on the brand, the sizing listed can either be men's or women's sizing. To make it even more confusing, sizing even differs between models within a particular brand. Eg. Moxi Skates are made both internationally (most of their vinyl/synthetic leather boots) and in the US (Suede soft boots) which means the sizing is slightly different between models.

Not very helpful, we know, but at least you know to keep a close eye on the size charts and buying advice from the brand you are purchasing when selecting your skates.

Upgrades for your roller skates

There are two upgrades we would make to our roller skates out the box, and that would be the bearings and the wheels.

Roller Skate Bearings

Unless you are spending top money, most of the skates on the list above would be vastly improved by a new set of bearings. New bearings dont have to cost a lot, but will make skating much faster and smoother. We have a whole article dedicated to the best skate bearings, but if you don't wish to read, here's our top 3:

Roller Skate Wheels

The other thing we would upgrade is the wheels. This is less of an immediate upgrade as you will probably want to get familiar with the wheels on the skates you purchase first so you know which direction to go in terms of durometer and size.

As a quick reference durometer runs from 0 - 100, with 100 being the hardest. Harder wheels are generally faster and slipperier, wheras softer wheels are grippier. A lot of casual skaters like to upgrade to light-up or glittery hybrid wheels to customise their skates. Check out the top rated on Amazon.com

FAQs

What Are Roller Skates?

Roller skates, or quad skates, are 4 wheels attached to a skate in a 2x2 pattern. If it helps, think of a combination of a shoe and a skateboard. 👟+🛹=🛼

Inline skates are 3 or 4 wheels in a single line.

Roller skating originated in the performing arts in the 18th century, gainging more widespread popularity dating way back to the 1880s. Over the years skating has seen explosions in growth, particularly in the United States from the 1930s to the 1950s, again in the 1970s with the birth of Disco Music, and again in the 1990s, with the rise of inline roller skating. In the past few years we have seen another uptick in popularity, largely due to COVID, as people were stuck at home with limited ability to persue other hobbies.

Roller skating can be broken down into several forms, the most popular of which are:

Dancing

Quite literally dancing on your roller skates. This is mostly performed on Quad Skates.

Inline skating

Usually more distance focused skating with inline skates.

Aggressive inline

HA freestyle, trick-based type of skating. The equivalent of street skating on a skateboard.

Speed Skating

The aim here is to skate as fast as possible, usually around a track.

What Skates Are Best For Beginners?

Any skate that is affordable, as well as well crafted, will work perfectly for beginners. You don’t need an expensive model, or anything too fancy - just learn on a solid and reliable skate so you can figure out what you like/dislike and the style of skating you wish to do. We would recommend some of the Sure-Grip skates mentioned above for a balance of price to quality.

Are Roller Skates Worth Buying?

Yes, absolutely, if you are looking to get into skating. You can also rent skates from a local shop and get a feel for them before purchasing a pair.

Does Roller Skating Help You Lose Weight?

Yes, roller skating can absolutely help you lose weight. You just need to include it as a regular form of exercise, along with a healthy eating plan.

[Check out the best skate board park.]

How Do Roller Skates Work?

Roller skates work with a pretty simple system. The wheels turn and give you motion, and are attached to the skate itself.

This skate is on your foot like a shoe, so that part should instantly feel familiar. The trick after this, is just finding your balance, and making sure to stay upright. This will become more natural as you spend more time on the skates.

Are Roller Skates Good For Kids?

Yes, roller skates are great for kids. In fact, they are a fun, low impact way to exercise - plus they can be worn with friends.

What Is The Best Brand Of Skate For Beginners?

Essentially, any brand of skate will work for beginners. However, our advice is to not spend too much right away, as beginners won’t need insanely advanced features.

Instead, opt for cheap (but reliable) skates. Once you get the hang of just wearing roller skates, then you can advance to more expert models of skates.

[Learn these easy skateboard tricks.]

 

What Are Some Good Places To Skate?

There are many good places to skate, including skate parks, roller rinks, and even right down the sidewalk. If you live in a place like Miami Beach or southern California, you can even skate on the boardwalk. You can usually just google your location and 'skate spots'.

Always make sure you skate safely, meaning wearing full pads, as well as a helmet, even if you are advanced skaters.

What Are The Benefits Of Roller Skating?

There are a number of benefits to roller skating. For one, it’s exercise, so you will burn calories, feel good, and be out in the sunshine.

Secondly, you’ll strengthen your leg muscles, and also be active in exercise that is low impact - meaning it won’t hurt you over time, like running can do. It’s also good for your mental health, as well as your heart health.

[Learn everything there is to know, about a longboard.]

What Are The Best Skates For Speed?

There are a number of great skates, that will allow you to go super fast. Most (if not all) of the skates on our list should be able to let you go very fast, unless they are skates for children.

Good bearings, good wheels, and a solid skate will allow you to hit top speeds, no matter what the brand or model. However, be sure to always wear proper safety gear - which means a proper helmet, along with full pads.

[One of our favorite board brands - Landyachtz.]

The Bottom Line On The Best Roller Skates

No matter what pair of roller skates you go with, whether it’s some with LED lights, suede, Moxi’s Lolly skates, or another pair - we’ve got you covered. 🛼 If you’re an established ice skater, roller skates and ice skates will have some similarities, but just because you’re good in the skating rink, doesn’t mean you’ll be good at the skate park.

Roller skaters - like any other pursuit - need to practice for a very long time, to get really good. We hope this answered all your questions about the best roller skates, and if you liked this guide, be sure to check out some of our other in-depth articles.

[See these rad longboard wheels from Orangatang.]