# Rollerskates vs. Rollerblades **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 23, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691 "2005-04-23T00:00:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/1 "2005-04-23T00:00:02Z")
Sort of an odd question that I’m not sure where to begin with. Basically, I’m thinking of purchasing some rollerskates as opposed to rollerblades, since I don’t really know how to rollerblade and I don’t think I have much time to learn. The thing is you never see people rollerskating; only rollerblading. So my question amounts to why people don’t rollerskate? Is it simply because inline blades are just “cooler” and, maybe you can do more tricks with them? I don’t really care about doing tricks or anything fancy. I don’t care how goofy I look on rollerskates; I’m doing this as sort of an intentional look I’m going for. I’m just wondering if there is some sort of “fundamental” reason that its all inline these days, other than for style. Oh, and does anyone know where I can buy a pair of rollerskates? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/2 "2005-04-23T00:05:15Z")
I had a lot of difficulty maintaining my balance with rollerblades, so I went back to good old rollerskates. Old-fashioned outdoor rollerskates of decent quality are not impossible to find, but some of 'em are awfully pricey. There are some reasonably-priced skates [here](http://store.yahoo.com/conniesskateplace/quad-outdoor-outfits.html). ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/3 "2005-04-23T01:14:24Z")
I can’t do the old-fashioned kind because you can’t tilt your ankles, and I just automatically tend to when trying to go around a corner. I could always do better on ice skates than roller skates and rollerblades behave more like ice skates. Not that I look anything like smooth or competent on any of the above, mind you. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/4 "2005-04-23T10:04:03Z")
Think about it like the difference between a car and a motorcycle. A car has a suspension, and a skate has “trucks”. Motorcycles _lean_ as do blades. Essentially on roller skates you also lean, but assuming all four wheels of each skate are on the ground, you’re relying on the “suspension” to do your turning. The ability to tilt your axis is an advantage in cutting sharp turns, and I think it’s just more natural, once you “unlearn” skates. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/5 "2005-04-23T10:05:16Z")
p.s. just give me my toestop back 😉 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/6 "2005-04-23T11:41:41Z")
I think this one more properly belongs in IMHO. So I’ve moved it from GQ. ---
**Author:** ![purplepeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@purplepeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplepeach)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/7 "2005-04-23T12:39:19Z")
Rollerblades. I’m a bit biased here 'cause i love my blades but there is a reason. Blades are a lot lighter than the skates so you don’t get tired as quickly. Also the movement is smoother in them which also makes skating easier. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/8 "2005-04-23T14:58:54Z")
I can’t skate worth a damn on roller skates. I can hold my own on blades, but I can’t ice skate at all. It’s all about ankle support. Most “Play it Again Sports” shops have cheap roller skates and blades. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/9 "2005-04-23T15:06:41Z")
Hmmm. Lots of people saying they find rollerskates more difficult to use. That is interesting, since part of the purpose of my buying rollerskates was because I figured they’d be easier to get around on and would have a much shorter learning curve. (I really don’t have the time or a place to spend looking like an idiot as I attempt to learn to rollerblade). If I can find a cheap pair of skates I think I’ll still give them a try. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/10 "2005-04-23T15:25:14Z")
Thought I would mention that [Rollerblade](http://www.rollerblade.com/about/index_trade.php?m=3)® is a registered trademark. The generic term is in-line skates. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/11 "2005-04-23T15:25:31Z")
[hijack]I wonder if Rollerblade lost their trademark yet. I’d be surprised if they haven’t.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/12 "2005-04-23T15:26:43Z")
blast you Walloon ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/13 "2005-04-23T16:08:38Z")
I don’t have a horse in this race, I just want to add that whichever you go with ride with pads (Wrist, elbow, knee) and a helmut. When I was in physical threapy, about 10 years ago, there was a beautiful yuppie/soccer mom type also in for therapy for **TWO** broken wrists. Seems she gave her son a set of blades and decided to give them a try. Went ten feet, and fell forward breaking both wrists. She was in two casts above her elbows for 6 weeks. I did not ask about how she took care of business in the bathroom during that time. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/14 "2005-04-23T16:13:28Z")
helmut = helmet :smack: Either that or you could put a German on your head. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/15 "2005-04-23T16:22:17Z")
If **Trigonal Planner** doesn’t mind a mini-hijack, I have a question: if I can ice skate, will that help my learning curve when it comes to in-line skates? I did a _lot_ of roller skating back in the day (as did many people my age … Skateland, baby!), and I was always reasonably competent at it. The handful of times I’ve gone ice skating I’ve been able to get myself around the rink without holding on to anything (or anyone), but I haven’t done it enough to be as comfortable with it as I am with roller skating. If I decide to try in-line skating, will I have any kind of “advantage” over someone who has never gone ice skating? Are the principles of ice and in-line skating similar enough to slightly reduce my risk of bruising my butt, or would Wayne Gretzky and Jeff Gordon face the same learning curve the first time they laced up a pair of in-line skates? ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/16 "2005-04-23T18:06:40Z")
> [@Trigonal Planar](#): > > If I can find a cheap pair of skates I think I’ll still give them a try. If the site to which I linked didn’t have anything cheap enough, it would help to know the price you hope to find. Will you consider used skates? If so, what size? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/17 "2005-04-23T19:32:09Z")
They’re calling rollerskates “quad skates”? Even though Rollerblades® _is_ a trademark, I have heard very few people who didn’t use the term to refer to inline (which I’ve never seen spelled with a hyphen) skates. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/18 "2005-04-23T22:49:41Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > If the site to which I linked didn’t have anything cheap enough, it would help to know the price you hope to find. Will you consider used skates? If so, what size? Those prices were reasonable. I’d just like to take a look around some of the local athletic shops before I buy anything. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/19 "2005-04-23T22:51:07Z")
Crap, if I didn’t have to leave right now, I’d right up this huge long post on how quads are different from inlines. Quad skaters are in the minority for sure, but it is slowly coming back into style thanks to some good spots in music videos and commercials. I am part of a pro traveling team sponsored by Riedell Skates. The idea is to help promote quad sales and generally get more people interested in quad skating again by combining skating with some more modern dance and breakdance styles. If you are interested in seeing what we do, go here and download some of the vids. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rollerskates-vs-rollerblades/300691/20 "2005-04-23T22:59:56Z")
I’d still like to hear more about what the learning curve is like. Again, my immediate goal (obviously!) is not to go zooming around performing the stuff seen ^^above. How quickly could I strap on a pair and at least be competent in my ability to stand and get around? I actually used to rollerblade™ when I was much younger; a good 10 years ago. I wasn’t super at it but I could get around. Balance-wise I’m not too worried about being on the skates.