How to Choose Inline Skates: The Ultimate Guide

Choosing the right inline skates can feel overwhelming with so many options on the market. Whether you want to cruise along the Vltava river, boost your fitness level, or try tricks in a skatepark, your experience depends entirely on getting the right pair.

At Inlinespecial, we have been helping skaters for over 20 years. We’ve put together this straightforward guide based on real expert experience to help you avoid the most common mistakes and find your perfect ride.

1. The Biggest Myth: "Buy One Size Larger"

One of the most widespread errors is buying skates that are one size larger than your normal shoes to achieve immediate comfort. This is a mistake.

Skates need to fit tightly. Recreational soft-boot models are highly padded and will break in significantly after the first few rides. If a skate is too loose from the start, your heel will lift, your ankles might collapse inwards, you’ll lose control, and you will end up with painful blisters.

How a correct skate should feel when trying it on:

• Your toes should slightly touch the front end of the boot when standing straight.
• When you get into the skating position (knees bent, shins pushing forward), your toes should pull back slightly, and your heel must stay firmly locked in place without lifting.
• The boot must wrap tightly around your foot without creating painful pressure points.

2. How to Measure Your Foot (Mondopoint)

To find the exact size across different brands, you need to know your Mondopoint value – the precise length of your foot from the heel to your longest toe. Don't measure the insoles of your other shoes, as this is highly inaccurate.

3 Simple Steps to Measure Your Foot:

1. Place a piece of A4 paper on the floor flat against a straight wall or piece of furniture.
2. Put on the socks you plan to skate in, step on the paper, and press your heel firmly against the wall.
3. Stand relaxed, hold a pencil completely upright (perpendicular to the paper), and draw a line at your longest toe. Measure the distance from the edge of the paper to the line in millimeters.

3. Choose the Right Boot Skeleton

How the skate is built determines how much support and comfort you will get:

• Soft boots (Měkké brusle): Typical for classic fitness skates. They offer maximum comfort, excellent ventilation, and thick inner padding. Perfect for recreational skaters and beginners.
• Hard boots / Plastic skeleton: Provide far superior ankle support, durability, and energy transfer. Excellent for urban freeskating, beginners who need extra ankle stability, or heavier skaters.
• Hybrid & Carbon boots: Advanced skates with minimal padding designed for high performance, speed skating, or aggressive use where maximum response is required.

4. Wheels and Frames Matter

The combination of frame material and wheel hardness changes how the skate handles different surfaces:

• Frames: Cheap models use plastic composite frames which flex and lose energy. High-quality aluminum or magnesium frames provide better power transfer and a much smoother ride (except for specific children's or aggressive models where composite works fine).
• Soft wheels (e.g., 82A, 83A): Grip the surface better, absorb vibrations from rough asphalt, and offer a comfortable ride. However, they wear down faster on rough trails.
• Hard wheels (e.g., 85A and above): Are faster, slide easier, and last longer, but you will feel more vibrations from uneven ground.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid