Roller Skate Anatomy

Skate Boots are Not Street Shoes

Skate boots need to fit very snug and this can feel weird, especially if you love Flip Flops. Most skates are sized on a men’s last, so women will need to go at least one size smaller than their shoe size but this doesn’t always work. The best way to find your skate size is to measure your feet. When trying on a skate, push back into the heel before doing up the laces. When you put your weight on your foot with the laces done up your toe should just barely brush the end of the boot. If you have space between the end of your toe and the end of the boot, you will slide into that space when you go up on your toe stops. When the skate is laced up, grasp the back wheels and try to lift your foot out of the skate. If your heel moves up and down, the skate is either too big or too wide. If your toes are curled inside the boot or they are pushing against the end, then the skate is too small. When you try on skates, don’t be afraid to stand around for a while and feel it out. You should not be feeling pain or pressure in your feet.

Leather vs Vinyl Boots

Most inexpensive starter skates have padded vinyl boots. While this makes them comfortable at first, with wear and tear the padding breaks down. Leather boots have the ability to give and stretch over time. New leather boots will require a break-in period, but once they have worked in to the shape of your foot they will be comfortable and longer lasting. Note that leather boots don’t magically change size during the break in process; if the boots don’t fit now, they won’t fit after breaking in. Some skates also have heat molding capabilities.

Plates

The plate is the part under the boot that has the trucks and toe stops. A nylon or plastic plate, This makes them inexpensive and lightweight, but also means they are not as stiff and durable. Metal plates perform better and last longer. 

Most skate plates come with a 45 degree angle or 10 degree angle. There are a few other angles, but these are the most common. 

10 degree plates tend to give a more stable feeling, because the kingpin and cushions are located more vertically under the skater, putting your motion in the centre of your skates. 45 degree plates the cushions are positioned almost horizontally, putting your motion either in your toes or your heels, this makes the skate more responsive to direction changes. which have become very popular particularly with roller derby skaters. 

Trucks: the part of the skate that has the axle and the pivot pin. Axles are commonly available in two sizes. 7mm (9/32) or 8mm (5/16). Most current skates are manufactured with an 8mm axle because 8mm bearings and locknuts are more common and readily available. Most older/vintage skates will have a 7mm axle. Contact us if you're unsure!

Kingpins: are the bolt that goes from the plate through the truck,

Cushions: are the rubbery donut shaped parts that go on the kingpin on either side of the truck.

Adjusting trucks and cushions is something that you will want to get familiar with right away. Many skates come out of the box with very stiff cushions, and with the trucks tightened right down. This means it’s hard for the trucks to compress the cushions when you lean to one side to turn, making it a struggle to change direction and keep grip in the corners. Trucks are too tight if the cushions are bulging, or you can’t move them with your hands. Trucks are too loose if they rattle when you shake the skate around, or if you feel them wobbling when you coast on a straight line. Choose a hardness of cushion based on your weight and skating style; a softer cushion will compress more easily and a harder cushion will offer more resistance to a forceful push.

Toe Stops & Jam plugs

Toe stops screw in to the plates and are held either by a nut, or a set screw. If your toe stops have a nut, make sure you check it every time you skate to make sure it is tight. Most toe stops come in a standard and a short version. If you like to screw the stops all the way in to the plate, choose a short stem. Always ensure that you have at least 1cm of thread in to the plate, or you risk breaking the stop right out of the plate.

Some practice spaces demand non marking toe stops. If your league requires this, choose stops that are made of natural (non dyed) rubber, or that are labelled “non marking”.