Purchasing Children's Skates

There are two primary options for children's skates: roller blades and roller skates. Most skates designed for children offer adjustable sizing and excellent ankle support, making them particularly fitting for youngsters. Discover how to select the perfect skates for your child with this guide.

Watch this video to receive a brief summary of key points you should understand before purchasing skates for children. The video is presented in English.

Skating with your child provides both a rewarding and enjoyable experience, promoting good exercise and enhancing motor skills such as balance, whilst also enjoying fresh air. If your child is a beginner, skating with them can provide a sense of security.

Which is better: roller blades or roller skates?

Roller blades and roller skates for children share various features, while they differ in certain elements. At SkatePro, both types are equipped with PU rubber (polyurethane) wheels instead of plastic. Rubber wheels are preferable as they ensure superior grip over plastic alternatives.

Moreover, children’s skates offer excellent ankle support, affording more stability and control.

Children's roller blades

Roller blades, or inline skates, allow for easier acceleration and speed retention, attributed to their narrow wheels that reduce surface contact and lower roll resistance.

These skates are often lightweight and, lacking trucks, require less upkeep.

We suggest inline skates if planning longer outings with your child. Additionally, they can be viewed as a summer substitute for ice skates, enabling you to practise ice skating skills during warmer months.

Roller skates for children / quad skates

Roller skates, also referred to as quad skates, feature wheels arranged in pairs, not in a line, built with a broad baseplate ensuring better stability and balance. A toe stop is located at the front, useful for pushing off and braking.

Because quad skates have broader wheels, they offer greater roll resistance, preventing your child from gaining speed unexpectedly.

The presence of trucks under quad skates allows for adjustment of skate hardness. This enables greater manoeuvrability for easy turning or tightened control for enhanced directional stability.

Roller skates are often seen as the original skates, being the first type of skate available on the market; some parents select roller skates due to nostalgic childhood experiences.

Adjustable-size skates for kids

Most skates designed for children offer size-adjustment features, significantly simplifying size selection. These skates accommodate growth of up to about 3-4 sizes. Altering the size is straightforward: the boot is slid back and forth using a button or similar mechanism.

If opting for non-size-adjustable skates, consider these recommendations:

Consult the size guide provided on each product's page.

Generally, one size larger than the usual shoe size is advisable, unless specified otherwise in the guide.

Skate safety gear

To minimise injury risks, we advise using comprehensive skate protection that covers the head, wrists, elbows, and knees.

Always choose equipment with certified safety standards. At SkatePro, all gear meets the EN 1078 certification, with additional testing by skaters for many items.

We recommend opting for a skate helmet for your child as it offers extensive protection to the back of the head, which is particularly crucial in skating, as falls are typically backwards. Some skate helmets feature adjustable sizing. Wrist guards for children normally consist of two plates - one above and one below the hand - providing added hand stability and enhanced breakage protection.

Don’t forget to check the size guide to determine the correct size.