She also likes the dependable roller helmets from Triple Eight.
Shove recommends the S1 Lifer Helmet if you need more room to accommodate dreadlocks, box braids, or an Afro. Also take note of the material inside the helmet: Terry cloth or another sweat-absorbing material is more comfortable than a Styrofoam lining. As you shop for helmets, Shove says, keep an eye on anything labeled as high-impact and multiple-impact. Falling backward on skates is pretty common, and a roller helmet is specifically designed to protect the back of your head.
#Roller skat plus#
Thompson and Epstine, roller dancers themselves, often skate with Sure-Grip All American Plus or Powell RollerBones Elite wheels. (“You will fly,” Shove warns.) But if you’re interested in dancing or jamming with your skates, you’ll appreciate the fluidity they give you. Indoor skating: Wheels with ratings in the 90s and 100s are ideal for indoor and skate-park skating.Shove says that hybrid wheels are also a great choice for people who are trying out skate parks for the first time: You won’t go as fast as you would on a set of hard wheels, so you’ll have the control you need to get used to your new terrain. This means you’ll move faster and have more agility to make sharper turns. A hybrid wheel is harder than an outdoor wheel and a bit smaller as well, both of which allow it to transition from outdoors to indoors easily. Indoor-outdoor skating: If you know you’re mostly going to be cruising on beach paths and around your neighborhood, but you don’t want to close yourself off to indoor options, a hybrid wheel with an 84A rating is a good choice.These grippy wheels are great for beginners because they offer more stability and control. If your wheels are too hard, Epstine warns, one small rock can easily take you down. “The urethane is almost soft to the touch, and they’re usually a little bit bulkier because they can roll over almost anything.” That’s important for outdoor skaters managing cracks in the sidewalk, errant pebbles, and uneven pavement. “If you’re going to skate outside, I always recommend a gummy wheel because it’s going to be bouncier,” Shove says. Outdoor skating: Shove, Epstine, and Thompson all agree that a softer wheel is better for outdoor skating.
And with their advice, we hope you’ll be rolling off into the sunset in no time. To help you navigate the surprisingly complicated (and expensive) world of roller skating, we pulled together a first-time skate-buying guide after chatting with Shove and with Philadelphia-based skaters Cohen Thompson (video) and Robert Epstine, two co-founders of the nonprofit organization Skate University. “You find strength you never knew you had, both physically and mentally.” “As you fall and get back up while skating, that mentality starts to bleed through to other aspects of your life,” she says. Skater Courtney Shove, manager of Moxi Roller Skates, an online skate shop based in California, says the sport has even helped her become more resilient. “Unlike other low-impact exercises such as swimming or biking, roller skating is a weight-bearing exercise, so it can be better for bone health,” he says, though he adds that because roller skating requires good balance, it may be challenging for people with chronic knee injuries. According to Brett Toresdahl, MD, an assistant attending physician at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery and research director for the HSS Primary Care Sports Medicine Service, roller skating is considered a lower-impact form of exercise that folks with hip, knee, or ankle conditions might find more tolerable. The American Heart Association categorizes skating as a vigorous exercise (PDF) that, when done consistently, can promote cardiovascular health. And you may have even imagined yourself cruising right along with them.įrequent roller skating is more than just a fun way to pass the time on a warm summer afternoon. If you’ve spent some time over the past year on TikTok or Instagram, you’ve likely come across mesmerizing videos of roller skaters gliding along breezy beach paths-the wind blowing through their hair as they spin and turn, the sun warming their shoulders as they roll in and out of frame on chunky skates.