My son likes to skate at the local indoor rink and those rental skates are the same ones that were there when I was his age 30 years ago. So, I'd like to get him some decent skates without breaking the bank. Since the Fiero owners' world knows no limits, someone here must have experience with entry level skates. What do y'all suggest?
Thanks!

Rental skates are safer then many types...
The boot is to save sprained/broken ankles.
Wheel are a balance of fun factor vs speed limit for the venue.

How big of area?
How often he skates?
If still growing then don't buy them.

Just a good boot does cost.
A cheap boot can hurt the skater itself and allot less safe if you crash.
Low top boots used a few times a month can be a problem too.
Very easy to trash an ankle when a stake hits anything. You have skate weight and leverage against you. A well made high boot protect against skate's physics.

Skate wheels matter allot...
Fast wheels use in a small space can suck.
Soft wheels use indoors or Hard wheels use outdoors can suck.

Many retail skates have rivets to mount truck to boot...
If possible, remove insole and check the rivets. Bad rivets w/ sharp edges will quickly eat thru insole and into he's foot.
Edit... Should be 4 rivets/bolts... check near toe area for shape edges.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 11-17-2013).]

I didn't think that kids (or anyone for that matter) these days would use "roller skates"... which to me implies four wheels mounted individually on each corner of the boot.

Aren't "roller blades", with their four or five in-line wheels, the more modern type skate?

quote Originally posted by Patrick: I didn't think that kids (or anyone for that matter) these days would use "roller skates"... which to me implies four wheels mounted individually on each corner of the boot. Aren't "roller blades", with their four or five in-line wheels, the more modern type skate?

At least as modern as the '90s... I may have a set from years back that never really got used. Maybe I can find them and send them your way if they're the right (or a larger) size.

quote Originally posted by skuzzbomer: At least as modern as the '90s... I may have a set from years back that never really got used. Maybe I can find them and send them your way if they're the right (or a larger) size.

That would be great! He wears between an 8~9, depending on the shoe/boot. Whatever we get will need to be high-top boots because I know how easily it is to screw up an ankle with the lower top skates. The reason I want to have some of our own is because the rental skates are in terrible shape- none of the laces are 'right'. Most are broken and short so that you can only lace up the boots about 3/4 of the way up and that is just asking for a gimpy ankle. The wheels and bearings are worn so badly that it is impossible to skate in a straight line without putting some muscle into staying in line. Usually, one skate rolls freely and the other drags. Seriously, they don't look like they have had anything done to them since they were new in the mid 1970's. The entire building is like stepping back in time and has had no modernization to its appearance. I guess in our area, hanging out at the skating rink is a rite of passage and it won't be long before he is getting dropped off for the Saturday night late skate

I bought my Carrera Sport skates online. Here is one place that sells them. http://www.skates.com/Roller-Skates-s/25.htm
They sell from entry level to pro and also sell complete packages.

You can buy these from Acme & Co,
Click to show

quote Originally posted by cliffw: You can buy these from Acme & Co, Click to show

I was going to say "Doesn't the coyote get his skates from Acme?"

His stuff was always top of the line no matter what he bought from them.

Don't forget to get the rocket propelled ones, 200 MPH and no brakes.

Steve

------------------
Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't



Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 11-17-2013).]

First off, let him decide. If he gets a boot that is not to his liking, then forget it. Throw them in the trash.

I roller skated. A lot. He needs to find a skate that fits his style of skating. Talk with your Son about it. The rink can also assist you on what type of skate to look for.

I speed skated. I had wide, soft tires and aluminum wheels. I wore a low cut boot. My trucks and frame where plastic resin. Completely different than just tooling around on the hardwood in a rental skate.

I bought my first (and last) skates in the early 70's. Last time I put them on was about 4 years ago- the very same skates. The wheels and toe-stops have been replaced countless times. I bet at times I skated 100 hours a week. This is a topic I know a little about

My boots are Riedell. I think they pretty much own the skate boot market. There are a lot of styles, mine are speed which have a slightly lower cut, more of a mid-high as opposed to full high top. Ankle support is only relatively important with quad skates. Not only did/do I run the mid height boots, but I keep my trucks so loose they basically just flop around. It allows me to cut and corner like nobody's business.

Chicago and Sure Grip have been around for a long time. They were pretty much the plates of choice for as long as I could remember. The big difference between the plates is the angle of the trucks, typically 10 or 45 degrees. The latter are generally preferred as they have a much tighter turning radius.

I also far prefer adjustable toe stops. These have the toe stops mounted to a threaded shaft that screws into the plate and locks in place with an allen screw. I like them better as you can set the height of the toe stop- when I was a kid the "thing to do" was to have the stop as absolutely close to the ground as you could get it, the closer the better, unfortunately they often stripped out as it never left very many threads engaged in the mount. I don't know if they still do that or not, but I keep mine at a more sensible height these days.

Wheels are a whole different thing. Soft wheels grip better, but of course have more drag. Stiffer wheels aren't quite as grippy, but roll easier. there's also the subject of bearings. Loose ball bearings were the choice for us racers for a LONG time, but then guys started moving towards sealed bearings. I've moved back and forth between loose and sealed bearings. I think right now I have the sealed bearings. Loose bearings are "cool" but require a lot more maintenance. I cleaned and lubed mine probably twice a month when I was really heavy into it.

Hit this site for more info on the plates and hardware- www.skates.com

And the Riedell website- www.roller.riedellskates.com/

[This message has been edited by Taijiguy (edited 11-17-2013).]

quote Originally posted by skuzzbomer: At least as modern as the '90s...

If you meant the 1790's, you'd only be off by about 30 years.

Yes, I was surprised to learn HERE that inline skates were the first skates to be invented back in 1760.

I like the idea of these "pedaled" skates dating back to 1910...

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Aren't "roller blades", with their four or five in-line wheels, the more modern type skate?

Not really... Roller Blades about = to Ice skates. Hockey skates for most part.
Most blades have hard plastic boots.

Many places still won't allow roller blades for many reasons...
Small venue
You have small kids and nubes on rentals
Rink Insurance

quote Originally posted by Tony Kania: The rink can also assist you on what type of skate to look for.

He says rink can't be bothered to maintain the rentals... Trust them for buying? I would not.