best aggressive inline skates

The ultimate guide to the best aggressive inline skates describes in detail the best ones on the market and their pros and cons.

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Last Updated: 07/08/2024


The Ultimate Aggressive Inline Skate Buyers Guide


Seeing so many former skaters and new fans embracing the sport I love over the past few years has been incredible. To help everyone navigate the current skate options, I’ve created a guide on the best aggressive inline skates available. Many returning skaters are unfamiliar with all new models and feel overwhelmed by the many choices. Luckily, classic skates like the Razors Cult and Roces Majestic 12 are still available, now with upgraded liners and frames. Additionally, many of the newer models have significantly improved designs and components from the skates of the ’90s.

To make your choice easier, I’ve compiled a list of best-quality skates from brands that give back to the community by supporting professional riders and events. This guide will be regularly updated with classic models and special limited edition skates. If you see a skate you like, it’s best to buy it quickly, as it may not be available again once sold out.

Why Trust Big Wheel Blading?

I’ve been active in aggressive inline skating industry since 1995, witnessing its development from its early days. I’ve contributed to and worked for several skating magazines, such as Scum Magazine and Daily Bread, and worked with brands like 4×4 Urethane, Vicious Bearings, and Nimh Skates. Currently, I run Dream Urethane, bigwheelblading.com and host the Then and Now YouTube Channel. Over the years, I’ve tested numerous aggressive skates, gaining a deep understanding of their features, strengths, and weaknesses. With my background and expert knowledge, I’m excited to share insights in this buyer’s guide on the latest aggressive inline skates for adults and kids.

– Jan Welch

Our Top Aggressive Inline Skate Picks for 2024

We have compiled a list of this year’s Best Aggressive Inline Skates sorted by brand below, but if you’re in a time crunch and want to skim through some of our top picks, here they are!

Sizing Tip: To find your perfect skate size, measure your foot using the Mondopoint method, which is the most accurate. Learn how to measure your Mondo size here.

FR UFR

The FR UFR aggressive inline skates are an affordable plastic skate with UFR soulpates. The soulplates are compatible with any UFS mount frames. The boot provides excellent support and response, while the FR Liners are comfortable with memory foam around the ankles and lock your heels. All UFR Street models have a plastic top buckle and 45-degree strap. A beautiful thing about the FR UFR skates is that you can remove the soulplates and attach UFS frames directly to the boot to give it a more streamlined profile when skating big wheel frames or Wizard setups.

FR Skates UFR Diako Diaby Street
FR Skates UFR Diako Diaby Street

The FR UFR Street Diako Diaby Skates have the Oysi x FR collaboration 4x60mm UFS Frames. Based on the traditional Oysi design, these frames allow for a flat riding setup with a large groove and a significant center wheel split (115mm) right from the start. This design ensures a low and stable ride height in a compact and sleek form. The skates also have 60mm 88A FR Wheels and FR Twincam MW9 bearings for smooth performance.

Related: Best Pads for Inline Skating

Gawds

Gawds represents a collaboration between longtime professional inline skater Franky Morales and Powerslide, a leading manufacturer in the industry. This partnership combines Morales’ street-skating background with Powerslide’s technical expertise, bringing innovative products and influence to the rollerblading community.

GAWDS Michael Prado II
Gawds Michael Prado II Aggressive Inline Skates

The GAWDS Michael Prado II Skates are designed for intense skaters, with a hand-lasted hybrid composite boot that offers exceptional performance. These skates feature a comfortable upper material with leather details and built-in microfiber liners, providing control and comfort. The skates also come with wide soulplates, Kizer Fluid IV UFS Frames, anti-rocker wheel configuration, and durable 60mm wheels, making them ideal for grinds and tricks while matching Michael Prado’s style.

Related: The Best Aggressive UFS Frames

IQON

Iqon was founded in 2021 and is part of the Disroyal distribution family.

Iqon AG15 Montre Pro
Iqon AG15 Montre Pro Aggressive Inline Skates

The Iqon AG15 Montre Pro Livingston Pro Skates feature heat-moldable boots reinforced with carbon composite, kevlar, and EVA foam liners. These skates are part of a double-pro-skate release, equipped with Montre’s pro Create Originals frames and his signature Win wheels. They have a 45-degree lace lock, durable Kizer Supreme Buckles, and a flat wheel configuration of 4x58mm with ABEC9 bearings, ensuring a durable and smooth performance ideal for grinding.

IQON AG20
The Iqon AG20 Plastic Aggressive Inline Boots

The Iqon AG 20 Boots are made with glass fiber reinforced plastic to be lightweight and flexible yet remain very durable. They are a stiffer version of the USD Carbon Free shell with a higher cuff position. The cuff works well with the Myfit Prime liner, offering excellent stability while reducing the scope of forward-backward flex. The heat-moldable and lightweight MyFit Prime Liners feel great right out of the box. These are one of the most comfortable skates I skated last year!

The 45-degree Velcro strap is mounted firmly with screws, and an aluminum buckle is protected against damage thanks to the shape of the cuff. The sole plate is the same plate found on the USD VII, slides incredibly well, and has plenty of space for doing both soul and negative grinds. My biggest issue with these skates is that the sole plate does not line up well with the boot, so it does not look aesthetically pleasing when looking down at them. Comfort-wise, these were one of my favorite boots that I skated in 2022.

Recommendations: Since the AG20 is a boot only release, you must add frames, wheels, and bearings. Don’t worry, though; we’ve got you covered! I recommend pairing these boots with TNEC Frames, Dream 58mm Wheels, and Wicked ILQ-9 Bearings. This frame, wheel, and bearing combination is the setup I use on my AG20 skates, and I absolutely love it.

Related: The Best Big Wheel UFS Frames for Enjoying the Streets

Razors Cult

The Razors Cult is a great skate for any skater, from beginner to advanced, at an excellent price. The Cult is one of the most iconic aggressive inline skates, having been on the market for over 20 years. They are the only skate with a replaceable backslide plate and come with Ground Control Featherlite 3 Frames (FLT3) with Ground Control Lite 57mm 92A Wheels and ABEC5 bearings.

Razors Cult Black
Razors Cult Black aggressive inline skates

The Razors Cult Black aggressive inline skates come with Ground Control Featherlite 3 Frames (FLT3), Ground Control Lite 57mm 92A Wheels, anti-rocker wheels, and ABEC 5 Bearings.

Razors Cult Navy
Razors Cult Navy aggressive inline skates

The Razors Cult Navy aggressive inline skates come with Ground Control Featherlite 3 Frames (FLT3), Ground Control Lite 57mm 92A Wheels, anti-rocker wheels, and ABEC 5 Bearings.

Related: Dream Urethane Launches First Line of Wheels

Razors Shift

The Razors Shift is a unique aggressive inline skate that features the Instant Frame Change System with push-button removal of the replaceable slider plate, allowing you to quickly change from an aggressive setup to an urban setup in seconds. The frame mounts to a part of the soulplate, which clicks underneath the boot. You can make the bond more secure using one screw, but it is not required. To swap out frames, you must buy an additional set of click-on soulplate parts, attach another set of frames with wheels, and throw them into a backpack. Now you can switch between these two setups whenever you want.

Razors Shift Andrew Broom Pro
Razors Shift Andrew Broom Pro

The Andrew Broom pro shift skate features a gray boot with a white cuff, soul plate, and purple highlights that looks incredible! They come mounted with purple Ground Control Featherlite 4 Frames with 60mm/99A Ground Control Wheels. Inside the v-cut glass-fiber reinforced plastic boot, you will find a Reign V3 Liner to provide that comfort you want when skating. They feature durable aluminum cuff buckles and lacing for comfortable and secure closure.

Related: Andrew Broom Razors Shift Pro Skate Released

Check out all the available Razors Shift models.

Related: The 15 Best Helmets for Inline Skating

Razors SL

The Razors SL is an excellent skate for all skill levels right out of the box. It has a lower center of gravity to help you feel balanced and in control. The Razor SL is lightweight, pleasingly shaped, and has ample room. The SL heel pads absorb shock and vibrations. The boots are also fully customizable with replaceable cuffs, aluminum buckles, soul frames, backslide plates, wheels, and Featherlite frames. It also comes with a comfortable, streamlined Razors liner, allowing more precise fit options with half sizes.

Razors SL Sky
Razors SL Sky aggressive inline skates

The Razors SL Sky features a low center of gravity, is lightweight, has a comfortable fit, and is adorned with white and silver highlights. These skates include Ground Control Featherlite 3 frames, GC 57mm 92A race wheels, and ABEC5 bearings, and offer sizing options from US6.0 to 13.0, making them one of Razors’ best-selling mid-range options.

Discover more Razors SL models.

Roces Fifth Element

The Roces Fifth Element is the perfect skate for beginners and people getting back into aggressive skating. Unlike the Roces M12, which is very compact and slim, the Fifth Element is one of the widest aggressive inline skates on the market, yet it works well for any foot size. The Fifth Elements are much easier to learn tricks with than the M12s due to their wider two-piece souls, which slide incredibly well.

The low cuff offers a lot of maneuverability, and the dual-injection boots are more flexible around the lacing and thicker in areas that require more durability—allowing for a better fit when lacing up your skates without compromise. They offer a Memory Foam Liner that is very comfortable out of the box. The UFS Frames are mounted with four 60mm / 92A wheels with ABEC 5 bearings. They are very good at picking colors and seem like one of the only brands that own a Pantone Color Matching book.

Roces has joined the corporate trend of manufacturing sustainable products. The boots are made with 47% cornstarch-based plastic and high-grade polyurethane, come in 100% plastic-free packaging and have recycled liners with recycled lining and padding.

Roces Fifth Element Nils Jansons Saule Pro
Roces Fifth Element Nils Jansons Saule Pro Aggressive Inline Skates

The Roces Fifth Element Nils Jansons Saule Pro aggressive inline skates feature an exceptional color scheme with gold details, including gold eyelets and aluminum memory buckles. The skates come with a Roces UFS Frame, 60mm 92A Wheels with 92A Wheels, and ABEC 5 Bearings.

Explore all the available Roces Fifth Element models.

Roces M12

The Roces Majestic 12 were the first proper street skate and my favorite aggressive inline skates of the 1990s. A few years ago Roces redesigned and updated the Majestic 12 as the Roces M12, which is functional, light, and simplistic. They are available in two versions, the classic Roces M12 and the Roces M12 Lo. The M12 Lo models have a slightly lower cut cuff to allow for more range of motion attached to the classic M12 boot.

All models of the M12 boots are eco-friendly, made from 47% cornstarch-based PU, and the packaging is 99% plastic-free. The liner uses recycled padding and recycled lining. The M12 Boots come with memory foam liners, Roces UFS frames, 58mm 88A Wheels or 60mm 92a Wheels (anti-rocker setup), and ABEC 5 bearings.

Roces M12
The all black Roces M12 aggressive inline skate

The Roces M12 is the beloved classic Roces Majestic 12 aggressive inline skates of the late 90s with a modern look, updated soulplates, and UFS frames.

Roces M12 Lo Savosin Heat
Roces M12 Lo Savosin Heat Aggressive Inline Skates

The Roces M12 Lo Savosin Heat Skates come in a stylish red and mint design, offering a mix of classic and vibrant aesthetics.

Roces M12 Lo Team Juno
Roces M12 Lo Team Juno

While these skates might seem otherworldly, they’re not a Boba Fett Pro-model skate. The Roces M12 Lo Team Juno Skates sport a lower-cut cuff (Lo) and showcase a sleek spacey grey and salmon color scheme. Equipped with aluminum memory cuff buckles and regular lacing, these team skates boast superior liners compared to the standard M12, elevating their quality.

Roces M12 Lo Goto Namikaze
Roces M12 Lo Goto Namikaze

The Roces M12 Lo Goto Namikaze skates come with aluminum memory buckles for easy, no-adjustment fits. Their glass-fiber reinforced polyamide UFS frames are ideally shaped for grinds, enhanced by 60mm 93A wheels and anti-rockers wheels in the middle for extra support.

Discover all the models of the Roces M12 currently available.

Rollerblade Blank

The Rollerblade Blank is a reimagined iteration of the classic Rollerblade Solo aggressive inline skates. Although the skates look similar, they couldn’t be more different. The modernized soulplate, designed by Kyle Sola, is more streamlined, lighter, and robust. The frame is mounted directly to the shell so the soulplate can be removed for big wheel UFS setups. A benefit of this soulplate is that the recessed areas allow bigger wheel UFS frames, like Oysius, to be used without making modifications.

The cuff has been redesigned, given a standard buckle, and has exceptional buckle protectors built into the mold to protect them when missing tricks or falling. The strap is now mounted with three screws, allowing you to tighten the skate more efficiently. The Blank Liners are comfortable, have strategic padding, and stretch neoprene toebox. An included footboard sizer adjusts the size, and the Performance-Plus Insoles use a rubber outsole and a silicone strip to stay in place. The Rollerblade Blank aggressive inline skates come with Blank Frames, Hydrogen 60mm wheels, and Twinxam ILQ-9 Bearings.

Rollerblade Blank Team
The Rollerblade Blank Team Aggressive Inline Skate with Blank UFS Frame and Hydrogen Wheels

The Rollerblade Blank Team aggressive inline skates come complete with the new Blank V2 Liner with memory foam, 60mm 92a Hydrogen Blank Wheels, 42mm plastic anti-rocker wheels, and Twincam ILQ-9 Classic Plus Bearings. The V2 Liner is lighter, slimmer, and has a better lacing system.

Standard Omni

The Standard Omni skate boot has been designed with both comfort and style in mind, aiming to cater to a wide range of skaters. Its shell offers a spacious fit, with a custom-tailored Comfort liner for an enhanced wearing experience, and is available without unnecessary extras for those preferring personal customization. Aesthetically, the Omni blends classic design with modern flair, featuring a unique painted base that allows for personal style expression without bulking up the boot. The skate not only looks good but is built for performance, especially in grinding, thanks to extensive research and development. This performance is paired with the ability for skaters to create a personalized look through a custom app. Additionally, the Omni promotes community innovation by sharing its base design with developers, encouraging the creation of customized soul plates, reflecting a commitment to both individual expression and collaborative development in the skating community.

Standard Omni
Standard Omni Aggressive Inline Skates

The Standard Omni aggressive inline skates blend classic design elements with features suited for today’s skating. They’re made using eight new molds and many distinct parts, creating a unique yet familiar skate. Outfitted with 58mm wheels and ABEC 9 Bearings, these skates are an excellent pick for modern skaters. Available in black or white.

Them 909

Them Skates has had an immense impact inside and outside the industry through product innovation, collaborations, and its close association with streetwear culture. Them is the brainchild of Jon Julio, who, together with Kyle Sola, designed their flagship Them 909. The Them 909 aggressive inline skates come complete with the Them UFS street skating frame, 58 mm 90a Wheels, ABEC 5 bearings, and either Them V4 Liners or Intuition Liners depending on the model.

The latest skates feature aluminum buckles with an engraved logo and V3 soulplates with a larger heel area. The interior walls of the soulplates are thicker and longer-lasting, yet the skate still feels lightweight. The soulplate is mounted to the boot with eight screws, making the skates more solid and stable. The H-block of the frame is lower, preventing wheel bite. The redesigned liners have an excellent heel lock and position your foot more forward. There are several models of the 909 skates currently available.

Them 909 Black
Them 909 Black aggressive inline skates with Them frames and wheels.

The Them 909 Black aggressive inline skates look super clean, and it is hard to go wrong in all black.

Them 909 x Bacemint “Them 909 BACETHEM”
Them 909 BACETHEM aggressive inline skates

The Them 909 Bacethem skates are the long-awaited pro model for the Kelso brothers, featuring custom graphics, new shell sizes, and thoughtful details like custom cuff bolts and buckles. They offer improved fit with in-between sizes and pre-molded Intuition Liners.

Related: The 90s Inspired Them Bacethem 909 Skates

TNEC 58

The New Everything Company (TNEC) is a skater-owned frame company that has now become a boot company with the release of their TNEC 58 entry-level aggressive skate.

TNEC 58
TNEC 58 aggressive inline skates

The TNEC 58 Skates are an affordable entry-level option for those new to aggressive skating. These skates feature a single-piece, riveted soul plate and frame design, making them lightweight and low maintenance. They offer a comfortable, roomy toe box and soft liners with neoprene toes. The skates have a flat 58mm 88A wheel setup with ABEC-7 bearings.

Related: The 36 Best Inline Skates and Rollerblades

USD Aeon

The USD Aeon aggressive inline skates are an excellent lightweight unibody skate for beginners (and experts) overwhelmed with all the boot and frame options, making them the perfect flat setup out of the box. They combine the shell, soulplate, and frame into one single mold and offer a large wheel split with an impressive groove for easy grinds. Due to their wide and generous design, you don’t have to worry about wheel bite. The flat option is also great for people getting into skating because it allows for a smooth ride and helps your style while just skating between obstacles.

They have lowered the center of gravity to give considerably better control over the skate. The divergence from the UFS system allows for larger wheels up to 72 mm that sit as “low” as standard aggressive frames. The cuffs of the Aeon are available in two versions – soft and hard and can be set in two height positions to adjust flex. Include wicked bearings and great liners.

One of the most significant aspects of the USD Aeon skates is they introduced a 36-38 shell for adults and juniors with small feet. This 36-38 shell is by far the best option for children. All the other kid’s aggressive skates are a 2-piece size adjustable shell that is not as durable or long-lasting.

USD Aeon 60 Team

The USD Aeon 60 Team Skates offer simplicity and cleanliness in a sleek white design. Their flat setup features USD Team 60mm 90A Big Core Wheels paired with speedy Wicked ABEC7 bearings. The interior features cozy USD Basic Dual Fit Liners with a 4-way stretchable toe for added comfort.

USD Aeon 60 Mery Munoz II
USD Aeon 60 Mery Munoz II Pro aggressive inline skates

The USD Aeon 60 Mery Munoz II inline skates feature MYFIT 2nd Skin dual-fit liners for comfort, adjustable straps for a secure fit, and 4x60mm wheels with Wicked ABEC9 Bearings for smooth riding.

USD Aeon 60 Richie Eisler
USD Aeon 60 Aaron Richie Eisler Pro Aggressive Inline Skates

The USD Aeon 60 Richie Eisler skates feature a white skinned reflective upper, Eisler’s 60mm 88A UnderCover Wheels with Wicked ABEC 9 bearings ensure smooth, durable performance.

Want to see more? Check out all the available USD Aeon models.

Related: The Absolute Best Socks for Inline Skating

USD Sway

The USD Sway aggressive inline skates have experienced several changes and advancements in the past few years. They’ve transformed from an affordable beginner skate into high-quality precision skates for all skill levels with a universal fit that can accommodate nearly every type of foot.

Some newer Sway models come fitted with a brand new soulplate designed jointly with Chris Farmer. The new soulplate is more aesthetically pleasing, compact, and fits better to the shell. Chris ensured the contact area was wider on both sides, making negative tricks more effortless.

The basic models still come with the previous soulplate. The newer models also feature a 45-degree strap and heat-moldable MyFit Crown liners with memory foam, while the basic models feature the non-heat-moldable USD basic liner.

USD Sway 58 XXIV
USD Sway 58 XXIV Aggressive Inline Skates

The USD Sway 58 XXIV Skates feature a stylish grey design with unique white Kizer Fluid IV frames, known for their rarity. These skates offer a comfortable fit with USD Basic Dual Fit Liners and come equipped with 58mm wheels, anti-rockered frames, and ABEC7 carbon pro steel Wicked bearings, providing excellent value for skaters.

USD Sway Team 60
USD Sway Team 60 Aggressive Inline Skates

The USD Sway Team 60 Skates have a stylish design in grey and black and are breathable, with roomy soulplates, removable USD Basic Liners, 60mm 90A USD Team Wheels, and Kizer UFS Fluid V Frames. The skates feature standard lacing, an extra hook, and a new low-profile metal Kizer Supreme Buckle with protection.

USD Sway Chris Farmer Pro
USD Sway Chris Farmer Pro Aggressive Inline Skates

The USD Sway Chris Farmer Pro Skates sport a unique and funky giraffe print that extends to the soulplate, enhancing grind smoothness and matching the MyFit Crown Pro liners. These skates offer a secure fit with standard lacing, top liner lacing, a 45-degree velcro strap, and the durable Kizer Supreme Buckle featuring a built-in protector. They also feature Kizer Fluid V flat frames for improved grind control and come with USD Pro wheels in a 4x58mm configuration and ABEC 9 bearings for a smooth ride.

Explore all the USD Sway models currently available.

Related: The 24 Best Scooters for Kids from Toddlers to Teens

Best Kids’ Aggressive Inline Skates

Several great adjustable aggressive inline skate models are available for kids starting out or already enjoying skate parks. These skates, which can adjust to growing feet, would have been a blessing for us as kids instead of having to make do with oversized skates. They are also perfect for women with smaller feet.

Note: While adjustable kid’s skates may not be as rigid or sturdy as adult skates, they are an excellent choice for kids starting aggressive skating. Check out this video on adjusting the size of kid’s adjustable inline skates.

Related: Best Skate Helmets for Kids

Razors Genesys Junior

Razors Genesys Junior Kids adjustable aggressive inline skates

The Razors Genesys Junior is adjustable from sizes 3-6 and does so without compromising sturdiness or performance to handle anything little rippers can dish out. Two boot shells are attached to the soul frame platform allowing it to adjust to the front AND back by removing the front wheel and front frame mounting bolt. This creates a sturdy connection that ensures the balance remains unchanged. The buckle was updated from previous models, and the liners are the same construction as those used in Razors adult skates.

Related: The Best Safety Pads for Kids

USD Transformer

USD Transformer kids aggressive adjustable inline skates

The USD Transformer Kid’s Adjustable Aggressive Inline Skates are perfect for your child to learn how to grind, jump, and skate ramps. They will discover how challenging, intense, and fun aggressive skating is. The USD Transformer has a durable boot with a supportive cuff and comfortable built-in liners to cushion jumps or gaps. These skates grow as your child does and will save you money! The boots are mounted with the Kizer Junior UFS Frames with an anti-rocker set-up using durable 57mm USD wheels on the outside and 100A grind wheels on the inside to give plenty of space for grinds like royales and frontsides while still being fast and stable.

Related: The Best Inline Skates for Kids Ultimate Buyer’s Guide 2024

USD Glitch Adjustable Skates

USD Glitch Adjustable Skates for Kids

Meet the USD Glitch, a vibrant and feature-rich inline skate designed for kids who love aggressive skating. It combines high speed, adjustability for growing feet, and durability, making it the go-to skate for energetic kids. From freestyle to park skating, the Glitch excels with its Kizer Unibody soulframe for easy grinding, low profile for speedy slides, and extra toe strap for control. With 58mm/61mm 90A USD wheels and WICKED Abec 7 bearings, it promises a smooth, fast experience. Perfect for the next generation of skaters, it adjusts to fit growing feet, ensuring lasting, top-quality skating fun.

Related: 40 Awesome Skating Toys Kids Will Love

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Aggressive Inline Skates?

Aggressive skates are for doing tricks on the street or in a skatepark. Compared to recreational skates, they are heavier and use lower frames with a short wheelbase mounted with small wheels between 56 – 62mm. Aggressive skates are used for tricks like jumps, airs, and sliding on concrete ledges and rails. They have no heel brakes and are not an alternative for recreational or distance skates. However, you can purchase various aftermarket UFS mount frames for different big wheel blading disciplines, from urban to wizard skating.

The frames on aggressive inline skates have a noticeable gap between the second and third wheels, allowing for grinds perpendicular to the wheels’ direction. The hard plastic surface of the soulplate allows grinds parallel to the wheels’ direction. The small wheels mounted inside the frames prevent the dreaded “wheel bite,” when your wheels catch onto an obstacle, you are grinding.

All the skates in this guide use the Universal Frame System (UFS) except for the USD Aeon, which is a unibody design. Many brands make aftermarket UFS frames for aggressive skating and big wheel blading. The UFS standard allows any UFS frame to fit any UFS-compatible boot allowing for more setup options.

How to Decide Between a Flat or Anti-Rocker Setup?

The aggressive inline skates featured in this guide come in two different wheel configurations, flat and anti-rocker. For a beginner skater, figuring out which option is best can be confusing. I will discuss the pros and cons of the two configurations to help you make a more informed decision.

What is Anti-Rocker?

An anti-rocker setup is when you have softer, larger outer wheels and small hard inner wheels so that only the outer wheels touch a flat surface. Typically most anti-rocker configurations have 58-62mm wheels on the outside and 52-46mm 100-101a n the inside. The anti-rocker option has been prevalent throughout aggressive skating’s history because it makes grinding rails and ledges easier. Another benefit of anti-rocker setups is that it makes your skates lighter. However, riding anti-rocker significantly decreases mobility, speed, and control over your skates. Riding anti-rocker will not be much fun if you are skating in areas with poor surface conditions.

All the aggressive inline skates offering anti-rocker setups in this guide use hard plastic wheels. These stock plastic wheels are a favorite of skate brands because they are cheap to produce, however they don’t spin, and they wear unevenly. I prefer a urethane anti-rocker wheel with a bearing. Urethane anti-rocker wheels wear better, spin, and last longer. I recommend the Eulugy 47mm 101a Urethane Anti-Rocker Wheels if you want to upgrade.

What is a Flat Setup?

A flat setup is when all four wheels in a frame are the same size and all touch the ground when on a flat surface. The benefits of a flat setup are excellent mobility, increased speed, stable landings, and more control. Riding a flat setup is the way to go if you are brand new to skating, as you’ll have much more fun just rolling around and will have better maneuverability.

Riding flat is equally beneficial for intermediate and expert skaters looking for a different feeling, wanting more speed, and potentially having trouble landing tricks on rough surfaces. The major disadvantage of riding flat is it can be more challenging to do h-block tricks like royales because the bigger wheels in the middle can stick on a ledge or rail, causing wheel bite. Wheel bite can result in you unexpectedly falling while attempting a grind.

How do I Prevent Wheel Bite When Riding Flat?

If you desire the agility and smooth ride of a flat setup and want to prevent wheel bite, there is an excellent way around it. The solution is to put harder 92-95a wheels in the middle of your skate while using softer 88-90a wheels on the outside. Having the harder wheels in the middle will prevent the wheel from sticking to a ledge or rail and causing the dreaded wheel bite, which can cause you to fall unexpectedly.

How do you Measure Your Mondo Foot Size?

To choose the correct size for inline skates, it’s essential to measure your foot in centimeters using the Mondo system, which accurately reflects your foot’s exact length. This standardized measurement helps ensure consistency across different footwear types. Even slight differences in measurement can significantly affect fit. To measure, wear your skating socks and use the wall method: place your heel against a wall on a piece of paper, mark the longest point of your toe, and measure the distance.

Consult specific skate model size charts and compare your measurements, adjusting them as recommended since sizing may vary among brands. Please avoid using your regular shoe size as a guide, as it can be inaccurate for skates. Instead, refer to customer reviews for insights on whether the skates tend to run true to size, small or large.

Logan Harlan soul to topsoul in Austin, Texas

Author

  • Jan Welch

    Jan Welch began inline skating in 1989 in Austin, Texas. He founded Scum Magazine in 1995, which won Best Sports Website at the 1999 SXSW Interactive Media Festival. That year, Jan moved to San Diego to join Daily Bread Magazine and later co-founded Rat Tail Distribution, behind 4x4 Urethane, Vicious Bearings, and Nimh Skates. In 2017, he started Big Wheel Blading to promote the sport, and in 2024, he launched Dream Urethane. Jan's extensive experience has made him a leading expert in the inline skating industry.

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