Inline Skates: Reviews

Most budget inline skates are slow, less than comfortable, and handle poorly. However reviewers say the Rollerblade Bladerunner Pro 78, available in both men's and women's versions, stands out as a good skate despite the… expandlow price. Reviewers recommend the Pro 78 inline skates as good for a beginner on a budget. These skates also receive a noteworthy number of positive reviews from users. collapse

According to reviewers, the K2 Mach 90 inline skates provide a comfortable, fast, smooth and responsive ride. Reviewers also comment that these skates have excellent wheels and bearings, provide great support while being… expandflexible, and are performance driven. However, these inline skates might be too much for beginners since they could have difficulty controlling the skates, especially at high speeds. There's no reason why women can't wear these unisex skates (they come in men's sizes 5 through 14), but ladies having a hard time getting a good fit can look to women's skates like the K2 T:Nine Celena. collapse

Because these inline skates are fast (with 90mm wheels), experts say they probably aren't the best for beginners, who may find themselves outside their comfort zone. Rather, the K2 T:Nine Celena is meant mainly for… expandexperienced skaters who want a speedy, comfortable, well-balanced skate. Reviews say balance and shock-absorption are good, with an easy lacing system that's easy to tighten on the fly (but harder to loosen). The Celena skates are available in women's sizes 4 through 11. From the same brand, the K2 T:Nine Alexis (Est. $160) is an able runner-up, with excellent features at a reasonable price, and a comfortable, agile, but easier-to-control ride. collapse

If you're interested in more than just straight skating -- for example stunts and tricks, you'll want to check out so-called aggressive inline skate. In this class, users repeatedly cited the Xsjado Avant 2011's excellent… expandperformance, comfort and customizable fit. The wide soul plates make it easier to perform tricks, particularly negatives. The footwraps are of particular interest; they double as a low-profile shoe when the skate isn't in use. While other skates garner positive reviews, the Xsjado Avant is the only skate that ranks positively on multiple sites, receiving both user and owner recommendations. collapse

In a niche of the inline skating world where custom builds are the norm rather than the exception, these stock skates stand out. The Vanilla Blackmail skates aren't the highest-performance speed skates you can purchase,… expandbut users appreciate their comfort, durability and light weight at a relatively low price. In fact, price may play a major role in this skate's popularity; the nearest stock competition, Bont Jet speed skates, regularly retail for at least twice as much as the Blackmail. collapse

It's particularly hard to discern a standout option in the field of roller hockey skates. Both the Mission Axiom T.6 and the Bauer Vapor RX:60 receive extremely positive expert reviews and a smattering of positive user… expandcomments for their agility, speed, stiffness and overall high performance. The Axiom T.6 has a higher number of positive user reviews than the Bauer RX:60, perhaps because of its accessible price; it costs less than half as much. collapse