Purchasing Roller Derby Skates

Preparing for the "minimum skills" assessment? Or perhaps you simply need your inaugural pair of roller derby skates? You must consider the size carefully and select wheels based on the context; type of flooring and user weight. Peruse this guide to understand what to evaluate when obtaining new derby skates.

Roller derby is both a contact sport and a social team sport typically played indoors. Selecting appropriate skates is critical to your ability to manoeuvre with agility and significantly impacts your performance. As you acquire more expertise, you will gradually develop personal preferences.

Derby Wheels - Surface Type, Hardness, and Player

For roller derby, indoor wheels are a must since the game is played indoors. Naturally, for outdoor games, adapt your wheels accordingly. Good quality wheels are vital for performance, striking the balance between the flooring, wheels, and you, the player.

  • On slippery surfaces, we suggest a wheel hardness of 88-92A. Softer wheels will provide more surface grip, preventing slips.
  • On more adhesive surfaces, wheels of 93-99A are recommended. Generally, in sports arenas, wheels of 92-95A are used as they offer a versatile hardness level.

Regarding the player's weight:

  • The heavier the player, the harder the wheels should be.
  • The lighter the player, the softer the wheels should be.

If uncertain about which wheels to select, borrowing wheels from a teammate could be beneficial.

Bearings

In derby, bearings are not a vital consideration in decision-making, and additionally, they have an extended lifespan since the game is played indoors.

Bearings influence the wheel's rotation ease. The more precise the bearing, the smoother the wheel rolls, consequently enhancing speed. Different scales are used to indicate precision levels. At SkatePro, we typically refer to the ABEC scale with a number, such as ABEC 7; a higher number means greater precision. Nonetheless, it's advisable to purchase from a reputable brand rather than only focusing on the ABEC rating because, for instance, an ABEC 7 bearing might be faster than an ABEC 9. Furthermore, ABEC does not indicate the durability of a bearing.

For additional detail, consult our bearing guide.

Derby Skate Plates - Nylon vs. Aluminium

Choices include nylon and aluminium plates. Although aluminium is favoured by the majority of derby players, beginners desiring cost-effective plates might opt for nylon, which can suffice in fulfilling the required task. However, nylon plates are lightweight, possessing a shorter lifespan and not supporting as much weight as aluminium plates.

In the long term, selecting aluminium plates proves beneficial due to their durability and responsiveness compared to nylon. These factors are crucial in a contact sport like derby where plates undergo significant impacts and a pair of skates that respond to your agile movements is essential.

Truck Angle and Cushions for Agile Derby Skates

The truck angle plays a significant role in determining the agility of your roller derby quad skates. Typically, the truck angle ranges from 10-45 degrees, though they are available in various angles.

  • A lower degree angle provides skates with more directional stability.
  • A higher degree angle leads to more agile and lively skates.

Additionally, the cushions on your trucks affect skate agility. Typically, manufacturers supply trucks with hard cushions, which provide more directional stability but less manoeuvrability. Should you wish for more lively skates, exchanging these for softer cushions is simple, resulting in skates that respond better to your movements and enabling easier sharp turns.

Cushion Configuration

There are two types of cushions: cone and barrel. Cones offer the advantage of making the skates more lively. The cushion selection for your setup depends on your derby skates’ compatibility.

The skate features four cushions - two barrels on top and two of your choice at the bottom - a mix of barrels and cones is possible. The bottom cushion arrangement impacts the skate performance in varying ways:

  • For a lively skate with better turning abilities and a stabilised rear, place a cone at the front and a barrel at the rear.
  • To achieve even livelier skates, place cones at both the front and rear.

Toe Stops for Derby Roller Skates

To halt on derby quad skates, either the toe stop located at the front is used or specific braking methods, as opposed to a conventional brake pad at the rear like inline skates.

Opt for a non-marking toe stop to prevent any floor markings.

Short vs. Long Stem

Toe stops are available with either a long or short stem, affecting how much you need to raise your foot while on your toes. Adjustment is possible and the choice of length depends on your personal preference. Generally:

  • Bigger wheels are paired with long stems.
  • Smaller wheels are coupled with short stems.

Tip: To determine an appropriate size for your toe stop, lift the back of the skate with the toe stop facing downward, ensuring three fingers can fit between the rear wheel and the surface.

Derby Boots

A snug fit is crucial when selecting suitable boots, guaranteeing optimal control for effortless movement. Derby boots are typically low-cut, but high-cut variants exist. High-cut boots offer additional ankle support, while low-cut boots provide greater manoeuvrability, simplifying sharp turns - a frequent necessity in derby. Certain models even allow for heat-molding to tailor the boot further to your foot shape.

Sizing of Derby Skates

  • The general rule is to choose the same size as your shoe size or opt for half a size larger.
  • Ensure to review the specific product's size chart available on the website.

Skates should closely fit your feet without causing discomfort. A proper fit grants superior control over your skates, hence minimising injury risk when adjusting your foot angle for different moves during a roller derby match.

Skate Protection

Given roller derby's contact nature, high-quality skate protection is vital—this means durable gear that offers comprehensive coverage. Remember, in derby, protection is needed for WHEN you fall, not IF as in fitness skating.

Protecting your knees is crucial due to frequent impact exposure. Additionally, wrist guards and helmets are recommended, serving as mandatory gear akin to mouth guards—never neglect to safeguard your smile!

Explore our range of roller derby skates

If any uncertainties remain, feel free to contact us.

SkatePro