Ever since they burst onto the scene in the mid-90s, kids have loved roller skating. The sensation of speed they provide and their classic-cool look mean every new generation enjoys giving roller skates a whirl.
Roller skating is also a great lower body exercise. It’s a fun way to work your calves muscles, quads, and glutes. Roller skating can help you and your kids build core strength and heart function.
Roller skating requires roller skates. These are pairs of boots or metal frames fitted to shoes with four or more small wheels for gliding across a hard surface. This article will guide you to the best roller skates for kids you can buy right now.
Types of Roller Skates for Kids
There are basically two types of roller skates for kids, namely quad skates and inline skates.
Inline skates let kids go much faster, but quad skates are better for overall stability. Both are suitable for beginners, but quads do allow for dancing, spinning and other skills, whereas inlines focus on faster speed and maneuverability. Let’s take a closer look at the two roller skate types:
Quad Skates
The C SEVEN Cute Roller Skates for Kids and Adults is an excellent example of a quad skate. These are classic-style skates typically found at indoor roller rinks. They come with four wheels in a two-by-two configuration for enhanced stability. Although quad skates are highly customizable and suitable for fanciful moves like strutting or spinning, they require little to no training or experience – and little effort is needed to gain speed, turn, or stop, which is why they are a good fit for kids.
Inline Skates
Inline skates are a type of roller skate used for inline skating. The main difference between inline skates and quad skates is that the former typically come with two to five wheels arranged in a single line, hence, “inline" skates. They are the best choice for adventurous kids who care more about speed and agility than about stability and safety.
Inline skates are akin to kid bikes without training wheels. If you’re looking for a suitable roller skate to help a budding kid develop sharper balance and coordination, inline skates such as the 2PM SPORTS Cytia Beginner Roller Skates for Kids may be what you’re looking for.
Protective Gear for Roller Skates
Just like any new skill, learning to roller skate comes with its share of ups and downs. While taking a fall on the hard floor of a skating rink might not feel great, concrete or asphalt will be even more painful. Wearing a helmet, elbow, and knee pads can help safeguard these fragile areas that often take the hardest impacts from a fall.
Additionally, it may not be as simple as just getting any helmet or roller skating gear you can find. It’s important to choose a correctly fitted helmet, paired with high-quality elbow and knee pads. You might even consider throwing in wrist guards for complete peace of mind.
Looking for great roller skating gear? Below are our best recommendations:
JBM Skateboard Helmet
The JBM Skateboard Helmet is an impact-resistant helmet for kids with great ventilation. It can be used for multiple sporting activities including cycling, skateboarding, scooter riding, and roller skating. It comes with a flexible strap that makes them a great fit for both boys and girls. The flexibility of the strap makes it a unisex helmet and would fit well for both boys and girls.
Alternative: The [amazon url="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PLYWQ83″]OUWOER Kids Bike Helmet[/amazon] is another fantastic multi-sport helmet for kids. They come in three sizes, perfect for five-year-olds and up. Plus, you can get them in six different child-friendly colors.
Innovative Soft Kids Knee and Elbow Pads
Innovative creates these [amazon url="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GQLVXN6″]knee and elbow pads[/amazon] that come with bike gloves included. They’re comfortable, flexible, and come packed in a mesh bag. These pads are made using three layers of heavy-duty buffer materials to absorb any impact of falling, without restricting the wearer’s range of motion. The pad sizes are perfect for two to eleven-year-olds, and they can be used for roller skating, skateboarding, cycling, etc.
Alternative: The [amazon url="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HFW1HL5″]KUYOU Kids Protective Gear[/amazon] is also a great set of elbow and knee pads for kids. Plus, it comes with wrist guards thrown in.
Now that we’ve identified the two main types of roller skates and some protective gear to go with them, let’s review ten of the best roller skates for kids.