If you’ve ever watched someone weave through a line of cones like a knife through butter, you already know why slalom cone skating is one of the most addictive disciplines in inline skating. I picked up my first pair of freestyle slalom skates three years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. The sport demands … Read more
If you have moved past beginner wobbly strides and you now want a hardboot that can handle city skating, sliding, and long urban commutes, the FR2 line from FR Skates is where most intermediate freeriders land. We have been skating on FR setups for years, and the FR2 platform keeps showing up in local meet-ups … Read more
Picking the best inline skates for downhill skating changed the way I ride hilly terrain. I grew up skating flat bike paths, then moved to a neighborhood with a 12% grade hill, and my first pair of 80mm fitness skates nearly buckled me off my feet halfway down. Downhill inline skating is a specific discipline … Read more
No, 50 is not too old to rollerblade. I started skating again at 51 after a 25-year break, and within a month I was cruising the local bike path with the same grin I had as a teenager. Whether you skated in the 90s or never strapped on a pair, getting back into skating at … Read more
Choosing your first pair of inline skates can feel overwhelming. There are dozens of brands, endless specs, and a maze of features that don’t mean anything until you’re standing in a parking lot trying not to fall over. I remember being exactly there, lace ends in my mouth, dragging one foot so I could grip … Read more
Carving and pumping generate speed on roller skates through rhythmic weight shifts and body rotation, without ever needing to push off or stride. By compressing your body as you move through turns and extending through the straightaways, you create and maintain momentum using nothing but body mechanics. It feels completely strange at first. Most skaters … Read more
I learned to grind on a pair of beat-up second-hand aggressive skates, and I still remember how a clean rail lock felt when it finally clicked. If you are hunting for the best aggressive skates for grinding rails, you already know the answer is not the same as buying a fitness or freeskate. Aggressive inline … Read more
After testing more than a dozen inline skates over the past four years, I’ve learned one truth the hard way: the liner matters more than the frame, the wheels, or the bearings. A great shell with a poor liner ruins every session, while a properly heat-molded liner turns a stock skate into a custom fit … Read more
I have been skating to work for over six years, and I can tell you that the right pair of urban inline skates changes everything about your daily commute. When I first started, I grabbed a cheap recreational pair and learned the hard way that city streets punish underbuilt skates. Cracked sidewalks, sudden stops, cobblestones, … Read more
When I first laced up a pair of 110mm urban inline skates for a 12-mile loop around my city, the difference compared to my old 80mm fitness skates was instant. I covered the same distance in roughly 22% less time and used noticeably less energy once I hit cruising speed. That is the promise of … Read more