Download Article
Download Article
Finding a snug, comfortable skate is one of the most important parts of your rollerblading experience, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned veteran. Still, with all the different brands out there, sizing and purchasing the perfect pair of rollerblades may seem a little daunting at first. Don’t worry! We’re here to answer all your frequently asked questions, so you find a comfortable skate that meets your needs.
Steps
Question 1 of 8:
How are rollerblades supposed to fit?
-
Your toes should slightly touch the front liner of the skate. The liner is the material along the inner toe of your skate. Ideally, your toes should lightly touch or graze this material without feeling cramped and stuffed. If your toes don’t have a lot of wiggle room, try going a size up. If you can’t feel the liner at all, grab a smaller pair of skates instead. [1] X Research source
-
Your heels should be firmly planted in the back of the boot. Point your foot at an upward angle and tap the backmost wheel on the ground a couple of times to anchor your heel into place. Then, check that your skates are completely laced and strapped up. [2] X Research source Get on your feet and raise each skate off the ground—if your heels are rising up or jiggling around, switch to a smaller size. [3] X Research sourceAdvertisement
-
Your feet should feel comfortable when you bend into a squat. You’ll spend a lot of time squatting into your knees as you skate around. As a final test, lower your center of gravity so your knees are in line with your toes. Ideally, you should feel secure, steady, and comfortable in this position. [4] X Research source
- If your skates feel loose or wobbly, try a lower size.
- It might help to keep your rollerblades on for 10-15 minutes when you first try them on. This way, you can make sure that they don’t hurt your feet. [5] X Research source
Advertisement
Question 2 of 8:
Should I size up or down for rollerblades?
-
Be careful whenever you size up your rollerblades. Rollerblades are like an extension of your feet, so balance and security are key. Your feet should feel really comfortable and snug in the skate without jiggling around. [6] X Research source
- Some people suggest buying rollerblades that are 1 size larger than your normal shoe size. [7] X Research source You can definitely try this, but make sure that the skates still feel snug, comfortable, and not too loose.
- If you’re in-between shoe sizes, pick a pair of skates that feels most comfortable and snug on your feet.
-
Size down if you’d like a snug fit. Some skaters will go down half a shoe size to make sure their skates fit really securely. You don’t have to do this, though! At the end of the day, focus on finding a skate that matches your exact foot size. [8] X Research source
- Experienced skaters looking for really high-performance skates might prefer sizing down by a half size. [9] X Research source
Advertisement
Question 4 of 8:
How can I measure my foot length?
-
Place your bare foot on a large, blank sheet of paper. Make sure that your foot is flat and steady on the page, and that there’s enough space to trace around the edge.
-
Trace around your foot with a pencil. Kneel down so you can comfortably outline your foot on the paper, or ask a friend or loved one to trace your foot for you. Step off the paper once the outline is complete.
-
Grab a ruler and measure the length of your foot sketch. Line up 1 end of the ruler with the very end of your heel. Then, measure all the way over to the end of the longest toe. Jot down this measurement in centimeters, so you can easily compare it to different sizing charts.
- Rollerblade sizes aren’t universal across different brands, so having a centimeter measurement on hand can be really helpful.
Advertisement
Question 6 of 8:
How do you try on a pair of rollerblades?
-
Slip on a pair of socks that you’d wear for skating. Chances are, you won’t be sliding into your skates barefoot before a ride. Wearing socks gives you a comfortable, accurate read on how well your rollerblades fit. [12] X Research source
-
Lace up the skates and secure all the straps. Pretend that you’re about to hit the streets and go for a skate. Tie up your laces as securely as you can, and make sure that your straps are snug. You won’t get an accurate feel for your skates when they’re super loose. [13] X Research source
- Your skates should feel snug, but they shouldn’t be messing with your circulation at all.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRW31KZMRes&t=0m45s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLBpdFyxjQg&t=1m20s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-LBdjwEXg8&t=0m44s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRW31KZMRes&t=0m48s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hvWCTI6ng0&t=1m43s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgwexaqEU-o&t=0m29s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hvWCTI6ng0&t=1m30s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgwexaqEU-o&t=0m23s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgwexaqEU-o&t=25s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgwexaqEU-o&t=0m10s
- ↑ https://www.sportsrec.com/5440481/how-to-determine-what-size-rollerblades-you-need
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-LBdjwEXg8&T=0m15s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLBpdFyxjQg&t=1m24s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLBpdFyxjQg&t=2m40s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgwexaqEU-o&T=1m7s
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 53,982 times.
Advertisement