Which is better: Rollerblades or Rollerskates?

[Dead2009]

Hey everyone, between rollerblades and rollerskates which do you prefer and which do you think is better for general use, and why?

 

[jtopp]

Not sure about general use, but I prefer rollerblades. I feel it is more like ice skating then roller skates.

 

[Kitty 34]

I loved roller skating and went a lot as a teenager.

 

[starry_solo]

Depends. Do you balance well on a single blade? I prefer skates

 

[clori]

My kids are figure skaters - they do well with roller blades and struggle with roller skates. I don't really get it.

 

[WarEagleFan]

My kids are figure skaters - they do well with roller blades and struggle with roller skates. I don't really get it.

Same for my youngest daughter - the 1st time I took her to the skating rink when she was in elementary school she was struggling with the roller skates so I let her try the inline skates - she caught on with those almost immediately.

Roller skating was big in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s when I was a kid. I always used roller skates, but I prefer inline skates now - except I still struggle trying to use that brake on the back of the skate - just have to coast to a stop - ha

 

[neverlandsky]

Depends. Straightaway like beach skating, roller blades. Roller rink, roller skates.

 

[NotUrsula]

Same for my youngest daughter - the 1st time I took her to the skating rink when she was in elementary school she was struggling with the roller skates so I let her try the inline skates - she caught on with those almost immediately.

Roller skating was big in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s when I was a kid. I always used roller skates, but I prefer inline skates now - except I still struggle trying to use that brake on the back of the skate - just have to coast to a stop - ha

There is now a 3rd option; inline figure skates, which have a toe stop on the front, and are shaped with a rocker curve. They are mostly used as off-ice training skates by ice skaters, and they are sold like competitive-level figure skates, wheel chassis and boots are separate purchases. A lot of figure skaters love them. The most popular brands are PicSkate, Linea, Golden Horse, and Snow White.

Interestingly, most artistic roller skaters (the roller equivalent of figure skating) still use quad wheels. It takes mad skillz to do an axel on those things without killing yourself, not least because of how much they weigh.

PS: I should mention that inline figure skates use more traditional laced leather boots with a 1.5" heel, not the hard molded plastic boots that typical roller blades are mounted on. I have also noticed that the boots for quad-wheel roller skates seem to often be shorter now, and can even look and feel very like a mid-top sneaker.

 

[WarEagleFan]

Interesting - I had no idea about the inline figure skates.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I was able to do rollerblades in my younger days (like the '90s)... Rollerskates were more of a challenge for me. Maybe because that was the first thing I tried to learn on and I never practiced that much using those because I quickly moved to inline because that was all the rage.

 

[fly girl]

Skates!! My junior high Friday nights were primarily at Skateland. Depends on the week if I was couple skating during the slow song or if I was at the snack bar getting a giant pickle.

Elementary school skates ... I remember these bad boys, loved my pair!

 

[AppleDumpling]

IMO, inline skates, aka rollerblades, are easier, at least for beginners, for a number of reasons.

I’m old; I started roller skating as a young kid outdoors with the old-style metal skates that you strapped on over your shoes and tightened with a key. I loved skating and was good at it. When I got older, junior high age, the local roller rink was the place to hang out and meet your friends. I never owned them, but rented quad skates like the ones @flygirl posted above, that at the time, we called “shoe skates”. Again I was a good skater, but I’d say those have more of a learning curve. (Harder to stand/walk in and maintain balance, harder to stop, easy to fall backwards as well as forwards.)

As an adult I got into rollerblading when they became popular. Since I also was an experienced ice skater, I adapted quickly. To me, they feel more comfortable than traditional quad roller skates and the hard plastic boots offer better ankle support.

 

[WarEagleFan]

Skates!! My junior high Friday nights were primarily at Skateland. Depends on the week if I was couple skating during the slow song or if I was at the snack bar getting a giant pickle.

Elementary school skates ... I remember these bad boys, loved my pair!
View attachment 903453

My local skating rink was Skate Haven. I remember skating on skates like these. Then tennis shoe skates started becoming popular and my older brother who owned an athletic store got me these Nike roller skates - I thought they were so cool! I still have them

 

[frenchfryseagull]

I prefer rollerblades. I like the extra ankle support, makes it much easier for me!

 

[JLTraveling]

I grew up roller skating. Learned to rollerblade at 17 or 18, one drunken night. To this day, I'm great on roller skates, but can only rollerblade after a couple of drinks.

 

[georgina]

I learned on roller skates, my kids and I took a rollerblading class in the late 90's. Since then I have preferred rollerblades. Like a previous poster, the extra ankle support is helpful.

I also enjoy ice skating, but used to always rent hockey skates. Last winter at the DC Sculpture garden rink they only had figure skates, and the toe pick kept throwing me off on the turns. Took one spectacular fall until I adjusted.