A Brief Overview of Inline Skates

While the photo to the right may be of a recreational skate, the boot, wheels, and frame are essential traits of any skate, regardless of its type. The brake pictured on this skate is optional, meaning that it can be removed if desired. Brakes are typically only found on recreational and fitness skates. It is uncommon to find a brake on a roller hockey or aggressive skate. You may already know the skate type that is correct for you, but if you do not, the first question you must ask yourself to determine the skate type that is best for you is: What kind of inline skating will I be doing most? To help you answer this question, review the following sections that describe each of the inline skate types. Once you have done so, you should be able to determine the most appropriate skate type for you. 

Is It Easier to Roller Skate or Inline Skate?

Many potential inline or roller skaters want to know whether inline skating (sometimes called rollerblading) or quad roller skating is easier to master. Surprisingly, many people – young and old – become mobile on inline skates much faster than on traditional quad roller skates. That is because most well-made recreational inline skates offer a lot of rigid support for feet and ankles if they are the right size, buckled and laced up properly. The wheels extend much further to the front and rear which helps balance a skater's forward and backward momentum. The long wheelbase with bigger, thinner wheels is also less sensitive to slight surface irregularities and cracks for outdoor activities. As long as the goal is simple local transportation, individual or group fun, low impact fitness, or scenic outdoor skating activities, inlines may be easier to use and a lot more practical.  

The History of Skating from 1760 till Today

Dutch Hans Brickner would have been the first to create skates in fixing wooden wheels under his shoes at the beginning of the 18th C. We lack archives and documents to determine for sure who the inventor of roller skates was. A few references to the practice of skating, dating back from 1743 in London (GB), can be found but unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any trace left of the inventor. Sam Nieswizski explained during an interview that nobody knew exactly if the wheels of those skates were inline or not. English documents mention a pair of inline skates with metal wheels. The first inline skates were inspired in large part by ice skates.