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Aggressive Inline Skates Buying Guide
Aggressive skating is all about artistic expression and being inventive. Your choice of aggressive skates will be decisive for your blading experience. Here, we have gathered a lot of useful tips and guidelines for anyone shopping for new aggressive inline skates.
Overview
Overview
How to Size Aggressive Inline Skates?
When sizing aggressive skates, it’s important to know that you shouldn’t just pick a model with the same size as your shoes. You need to get out your tape measure and find the exact length of your longest foot.
Once you have an accurate measurement of your foot length, it will be easy to find the right size. Each specific model of aggressive skates on our homepage has a size guide that enables you to find the right size based on your foot length. The size guides use millimeters, following the Mondopoint-system to enable easy conversion between sizes.
How to measure your foot
- Find a firm, level surface to stand on.
- Put on the socks you will wear while skating.
- Position a piece of paper flat against the wall.
- Stand so your heel touches the wall and your foot is flat on the paper.
- Mark where your longest toe reaches on the paper.
- Measure the length from the wall or the edge of the paper to your mark.
- Repeat for both feet and use the larger measurement to choose your skate size.
How Should Aggressive Skates Fit?
Aggressive skates should fit snugly around your foot for maximum control during stunts. Extra room inside your trick skates can cause your feet to move around inside the boot, leading to blisters and reduced control. Larger skates are heavier, making tricks more difficult.
In short: You need a snug fit without cramping your foot and toes for optimal performance.
How Do You Break-In Aggressive Skates?
New aggressive skates may require a break-in period before they become comfortable. Remember, they should fit snugly, and the liner will adapt to your individual foot shape over time.
Here are some tips for breaking in aggressive skates:
- Use thick socks to reduce friction and prevent blisters.
- Wear the skates while doing other activities to get used to the feel.
- Start with shorter sessions and gradually increase their length.
- Ensure laces and buckles are properly tightened for a comfortable fit.
One of the benefits of aggressive skates is that when the liners are worn, they can be replaced with new ones.
Aggressive Skates Anatomy – What Are Aggressive Skates?
- Boot: Aggressive skates have hard boots or shells.
- Frame: Rigid frames to endure grinding and hard landings.
- Wheels: Small wheels for stability and control.
- Soul plate: To enhance the palette of possible grinds.
- H-block: H-blocks for grinding.
Aggressive skates are specifically designed for tricks, grinds, and jumps in streets and skateparks, making all kinds of obstacles into features for new tricks and adventures. Aggressive skates are without a doubt the best skates for grinding – in fact, no other type of skate is designed for grinding.
Aggressive skates feature smaller wheels than other inline skates, which lowers the center of gravity and makes them much easier to control. The small wheels also make aggressive skates highly agile and maneuverable, allowing for a wide variety of tricks. While these features are great for tricks, if you're looking to commute, skate longer distances, engage in fast-paced urban skating, or focus on fitness-oriented skating, you’ll need skates with larger wheels.
How to Choose Aggressive Skate Wheels?
Key aspects of aggressive wheels include wheel diameter, wheel hardness, and wheel profile. These factors significantly affect your skating experience.
Each of these elements can be fine-tuned to match your specific style and the terrain that you encounter most frequently. This will allow you to get the best out of your aggressive skates.
Diameter of Aggressive Skate Wheels
The typical diameter for aggressive skate wheels is between 56-60 mm, though they can vary from 54 to 80 mm.
- Bigger wheels (60-80 mm): Faster but less stable, making technical tricks more challenging.
- Smaller wheels (56-58 mm): More stable but slower.
If you are looking for aggressive skates with standard-sized wheels, opt for a model with 58 or 60 mm wheels.
Profile of Aggressive Skate Wheels
Aggressive inline wheels usually have a flat profile but some have more rounded or pointy profiles.
- Flat profile: More stable and easier to control for landing tricks.
- Rounded profile: Offers more agility with less grip, reducing the chance of wheels biting the rail.
- Pointy profile: Faster, and easier to turn due to reduced friction (not very common in aggressive skating).
For aggressive skating with lots of tricks, flat profile wheels are generally recommended, and if you want a bit of extra agility and speed, you could consider a more rounded profile.
Hardness of Aggressive Skate Wheels
Aggressive skate wheel hardness is measured on the durometer scale. Typically, aggressive skate wheels range between 86A and 95A on the durometer scale. A higher durometer number indicates harder wheels.
- Harder wheels: Roll faster on smooth surfaces but provide less absorption of vibrations, making rough surfaces more of a hassle. They facilitate easier slides and have a lower chance of wheel bite during grinds.
- Softer wheels: Offer more stability, better vibration absorption, and increased surface grip.
Consider the pros and cons of harder vs softer wheels on aggressive skates and weigh them against your own preferences and style of skating.
Wheel Setups on Aggressive Skates
Aggressive skates come with either a flat wheel setup or an anti-rocker wheel setup. These terms refer to the line formed by tracing the underside of the wheels when mounted. The wheel setup significantly affects the riding experience, so it is an essential aspect to consider when choosing new aggressive inline skates.
Anti-Rocker Setups
Anti-rocker setups feature larger wheels in the front and back, with smaller wheels in the middle to provide space for grinds. These setups are not as easy to turn as flat setups. The anti-rocker setup forms two points of contact, which increases the difficulty of making turns compared to flat or rocker setups. If the rigidity of an anti-rocker setup is discouraging and you still want to focus on grinds and aggressive skating, you should consider a flat wheel setup.
What Are Anti-Rocker Wheels?
Anti-rocker wheels are the two middle wheels on aggressive inline skates with an anti-rocker setup. They are smaller and often a lot harder than the outer wheels, and they do not touch the ground when you roll. Their role is to avoid interfering with your grinds while helping you lock in to various types of grinds. They are usually made of a hard PU formula that doesn't stick to rails.
Anti-rocker wheels derive their name from their smaller size, which creates an upward groove between the ground and the bottom of the wheels. This contrasts with a rocker setup, where the two outside wheels are slightly smaller than the two middle wheels, facilitating a rocker motion.
Do Anti-Rocker Wheels Need Bearings?
It can be advantageous to have bearings in anti-rocker wheels for things like stairbashing (going down stairs) as they allow the wheels to roll smoothly on the stairs. Anti-rocker wheels are also known as grind wheels. The primary function of grind wheels in aggressive skates is to prevent the wheels from sticking to the rails when you grind on the H-blocks, so bearings aren't necessary in anti-rocker wheels. Some anti-rocker wheels have bearings while others do not.
What Is a Flat Setup on Aggressive Skates?
In flat setups, all four wheels are the same size, which enhances rolling speed and maneuverability compared to anti-rocker setups. A flat setup requires greater precision when doing groove grinds, as there is a higher risk of slamming due to the middle wheels sticking to the rail. It's important to note that not all frames can accommodate flat setups due to space limitations for the middle wheels.
If you're new to inline skating and have decided to pursue aggressive skating, a flat setup is a highly recommended option. Many advanced aggressive skaters also prefer flat setups for the style and challenge they offer, requiring you to be precise when you grind those H-blocks.
Flat Vs. Anti-Rocker
Whether you're a beginner or a pro, choosing between an anti-rocker or a flat setup ultimately comes down to personal preference. Neither of them is inherently better than the other.
Consider the following if you are buying new skates and are unsure which setup to choose:
- Groove Grinds with Anti-Rocker: Smaller anti-rocker wheels are less likely to bite during H-block grinds.
- Groove Grinds with Flat Setups: Groove grinds on flat setups require more accuracy, potentially resulting in more stylish grinds.
- Speed: Flat setups are faster than anti-rocker setups.
- Maneuverability: Turning on a flat setup can be more elegant, and riding bowls and parks is usually smoother.
- Beginners on Inline Skates: Learning to skate is easier on a flat setup.
- Beginners on Aggressive Skates: Learning to grind is easier with an anti-rocker setup. If you already have experience with inline skating, an anti-rocker setup may be preferable for easier grinding.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual skating style and what aspects of skating you prioritize, and of course, it also makes a difference if you are completely new to inline skates or already have a lot of experience and want to convert to aggressive skates.
Aggressive Skate Frames
The frames of aggressive skates have two main tasks: securing the wheels and providing a platform for grinds. Given that grinding is a key aspect of aggressive skating, it's crucial to focus on the frames when selecting the best aggressive rollerblades for you.
Aggressive skate frames are constructed from durable materials such as aluminum, fiberglass, or composite materials to withstand the rigors of aggressive skating. Almost all aggressive frames adhere to the Universal Frame System (UFS), ensuring compatibility with any brand of aggressive boots.
Some aggressive frames are designed for a specific wheel setup, while others can accommodate multiple setups. If you purchase skates with a flat wheel setup, you can convert them to an anti-rocker setup by installing smaller wheels in the middle to enhance your grinding capabilities.
Not all frames are compatible with a flat setup, so converting from an anti-rocker setup to a flat setup requires careful consideration. You can measure the space with a caliper to see if it's feasible, but it might be easier to check the manufacturer's specifications. Ensure the frames are specified as compatible with a flat setup, then check the maximum wheel diameter and find a set of eight wheels that are equal to or smaller than the maximum wheel diameter of your frame.
What Is Universal Frame System?
All UFS frames can be replaced with any other UFS frame, regardless of brand and size.
Thanks to the (nearly universal) adherence to the Universal Frame System (UFS), worn-out frames can easily be replaced, maintaining the longevity and performance of your skates.
The Universal Frame System (UFS) is the standard system for mounting frames and boots on aggressive skates. With UFS, you can mix and match boots and frames to your liking, creating your very own custom aggressive skate setup. Changing frames on a UFS boot is straightforward, as aggressive skate manufacturers have agreed to this standard.
Universal Frame System (UFS) Specifications
- Distance Between Mounting Holes: 167mm
- UFS Mounting Hole Diameter: 20mm
- UFS Mounting Hole Depth: 3mm
- UFS Frame Width: 41mm
- Mounting: The frames are mounted with two bolts tightened into the mounting holes
The length of the bolts used for UFS varies from frame to frame. While the distance between the mounting holes remains the same for all models, the length of the frames themselves is not defined by the UFS.
What Are Soulplates?
Soul plates are a defining feature of aggressive skates, specifically designed for grinding and protecting the skates from wear. The soul plates are mounted between the frames and the boots of aggressive skates, and they are made of durable plastic materials.
They are crucial to the skate's functionality, allowing for smooth grinds on various surfaces. The soul grind, one of the first grinds beginners learn, involves the foot closest to the rail grinding on the soul plate, while the opposite leg extends forward and grinds on the H-block. One of the initial challenges for an aggressive skater is getting the soul plate to lock onto the curb or rail.
Bearings for Aggressive Skates
Bearings inside the wheels of aggressive skates are vital for ensuring smooth rotation. Given the intense impacts in aggressive skating, bearings need regular replacement to maintain optimal performance for executing stunts effectively. Fresh bearings ensure a smooth roll, crucial for achieving peak performance in tricks. Bearings are readily available as spare parts for easy replacement.
At SkatePro, we categorize bearings based on the ABEC scale, which ranges from 1 to 9 and assesses bearing precision. Generally, a higher ABEC rating means a smoother rolling experience.
It's important to note that the ABEC rating does not indicate the durability of a bearing. Therefore, we recommend choosing bearings from reputable brands rather than solely focusing on the ABEC rating.
Are Aggressive Skates a Good Option for Beginners on Inline Skates?
Aggressive skates can be a good option for someone with no prior experience on inline skates, but only if you plan on getting into aggressive skating. If your interests lie in fitness, freeride, marathons, or other inline disciplines, you should consider a different type of skates. However, if you want to get into aggressive blading, your first pair of inlines should be aggressive skates. Here are a few things to consider:
- Stability: Due to their smaller wheels, aggressive skates feel more stable, which is beneficial for beginners. This stability makes learning the basics of inline skating easier.
- Terrain: Aggressive skates are not ideal for rough or uneven surfaces because of their smaller wheels and heavier build. This is a downside and a key reason why aggressive skates are primarily recommended if you intend to focus on aggressive skating.
- Flat Setup: With no prior experience on inline skates, you should choose aggressive skates with a flat wheel setup, meaning all eight wheels have the same diameter. This setup makes it easier to learn strides and enjoy a smooth rolling experience.
If you are not completely sure if aggressive inline skates are for you, you could try reading more about all the different types of inline skates and roller skates:
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