I’m lazy. I need exercise. I hate to exercise. The other day, I recalled that, as a kid, I loved to skate out-of-doors. (Ahem…I confess: it was so long ago, the skates were the steel kind that attached to the soles of the shoes and you had to use a skate key to tighten them. :rolleyes: ) Upon recalling this childhood pastime, I thought, Aha, fun exercise! So now I need street skates. I realize they’ve come a long way since my childhood skates, and I’ve browsed online, but I haven’t a clue as to what kind I should get, so I’m asking you for a recommendation and advice for a first-time user. I’d be skating on neighborhood streets (very little traffic), and a comfortable boot is very important; hopefully a boot with some “give” – I have bunions, so maybe a sneaker boot?
Aren’t Rollerblades the most popular way to go these days. I am not an expert at all but I know most people Rollerblade for that purpose.
You can still find 4-wheel (axle) skates - with the poly wheels, if you look for them. But rollerblades (in-line) skates are the way to go. I don’t know if you also ice-skated when you were young, but even if not, I would still recommend in-line skates.
There are a number of makers of in-line skates - a number of them are crossover from ski boot manufacturers. And this is a good thing - they’ve incoporated the hard-outer-shell-soft-inner-boot technology to in-line skates. They are much more comfortable (and roomier) than the original rollerblades. They have also gotten lighter with newer materials.
You can go with Rollerblade brand skates, or try some of the other makers (Roces, etc.). Expect to pay at least $80 for a decent pair, maybe more depending on where you go.
They do take a little getting used to - particularly stopping. So start out slow, and practice slowing yourself with the brake. But once you get the hang of it, I think you’ll really enjoy them.
I’d definitely look into inline skates instead of “quads”.
I’d have to imagine that sporting goods stores in Florida carry a good selection.
With inlines, they make some now for marathoning and racing. You’ll pay more, but if you’re planning on racing, you’ll want something along these lines. These are usually lower cut, and have big wheels (like 100mm).
They make some that are tricks and stunts, like sliding on rails, and jumping. Typically called “aggressive skates”.
Then, they make some that are for all around fitness. Usually 80mm wheels. These seem to be the bulk of the product line.
That sort of makes it sound like you’re entering a confusing world of a crazy array of skates. It’s not that complicated. At web sites, there’s usually a header for “rec and fitness skates”. That’s probably what you’re looking for.
If they’re $500, you’re probably looking at racing skates.
Don’t need anything fancy; I’m not interested in racing or doing tricks. The inline skates would be more of a challenge and I’d guess more exercise, too. I have done some ice skating – inlines have to be easier! Thanks.
Inlines are actually easier than the 4-wheel skates for me, and I think they will be for you, too. Get the safety gear- helmet, knee, elbow and wrist
Ooooh…this is getting expensive. But more fun and less expensive than a treadmill, right? 
But the challenge with the inlines is the same as with ice skates - you have to lace up nice and tight and have strong ankles or they’ll buckle.
Get some knee and elbow pads too. Road burn sucks.
I’m still ambivalent; at my age (don’t ask), I’m not sure I want to take on the inlines; I’m leaning toward the quads. I just want a fun way to get some exercise – I’d rather skate around the neighborhood than walk.
I’m a big fan of inline skating, though I’m not much more than a novice I find it to the the single most satisfying form of exercise in existence. I feel like I’m just floating along over the surface of the world.
The only knowledge I can really think of to share is that depending on the surface you’re skating on, you’ll need wheels of different density. When I skated at the park on the smooth blacktop 3-mile loop they’ve got, I just used the wheels that came with the skates without thinking twice about it. Later I tried to skate around campus – concrete sidewalks – and nearly killed myself. Turns out the big issue was wheel density. They make different wheels for different kinds of surfaces.
Also, for inlines – don’t be afraid of horizontal cracks in the road, but do be afraid of vertical cracks. And make sure you spend a lot of time learning how to stop (start with the heel-brake.) Early on in the game I was clotheslined while speeding downhill by a clueless little girl’s dog leash, which would have been a lot uglier if I wasn’t in full padded gear. I also strongly recommend, if you’re nervous about such things, you spend a lot of time throwing yourself to the ground so that you get over the fear of falling. If you are fully padded you will discover that it’s not very painful at all.
Thanks – I appreciate the info. I’m still trying to make up my mind, and others’ experiences are helpful.
I’m also entering the In-line skating world this year, so keep the advice coming. Any links to specific skates you use/recommend?
Does a bike helmet suffice or is there a skate-specific helmet?
I’m not much of a skater, at all, but I’ve found the inline skates to be MUCH easier, and easier on my body, than the flat skates–mostly because you can turn your feet and ankles naturally, leaning into turns, rather than having to always ride flat-footed. After skating with flat skates I find my knees and lower back ache like hell.
A friend of mine got inline skates that attached to his regular footwear. It’s the same prinicple as the skates you used as a kid, but the bindings are a bit more secure. You can also get some nice ones that look and feel like running shoes. Skates.com has TONS of different styles of skates including quads and inline skates. They may have a buyer’s guide too.
And wrist guards are a godsend.