Buying Your First Roller Skates? What Beginners Need to Know

If you've started searching for the best roller skates for beginners, you've probably realised there are a LOT more options than you expected.

Heeled or flat? Soft or hard wheels? Stiff or flexible boots? Fixed or adjustable toe stops?

And then there's the big question: how much should you actually spend on your first pair of roller skates?

Before you start comparing brands or choosing the cutest pair you can find, there's one question I always ask:

What do you actually want to do on your roller skates?

Because there isn't one pair of roller skates that's going to be right for every beginner.

Here's what I'd look for when buying your first roller skates — without getting lost in all the technical stuff.

What Should You Look for in Beginner Roller Skates?

If you want the quick version, check these things before buying:

• What type of roller skating you want to do

• Whether a heeled or flat skate suits that style

• The support and comfort of the boot

• The correct size and fit

• Whether the wheels suit where you'll be skating

• Fixed vs adjustable toe stops

• The overall quality of the skate

• Whether the skate suits your budget and current level

You don't need to understand every part of a roller skate before you buy your first pair.

You just need to understand enough to avoid buying something that makes learning to roller skate harder than it needs to be.

Start With the Type of Roller Skating You Want to Do

Before asking “What roller skates should I buy?”, start with what you actually want to do on them.

Maybe you want to:

• Learn recreational roller skating

• Skate outdoors or along paths

• Learn artistic roller skating

• Try dance or rhythm skating

• Skate for fitness

• Learn tricks

• Try park skating or roller derby

• Or just learn to skate and have some fun!

You don't need to know exactly where skating will take you.

But different types of skating can lead you towards different types of skates.

If you're brand new and thinking, “I have absolutely no idea, I just want to learn how to skate,” that's fine too.

For now, you're looking for a good-quality beginner roller skate that's comfortable, supportive and suitable for where you'll practise.

Heeled vs Flat Roller Skates

One of the first differences you'll notice when shopping for roller skates is the shape of the boot.

Some have a raised heel, while others are much flatter.

A heeled skate changes your stance and shifts your weight slightly forward, while flat skates give you a different skating position and are commonly used for styles such as roller derby.

I come from an artistic roller skating background, so I personally prefer a heeled skate for the type of recreational, artistic and skill-based skating I teach.

But that doesn't make flat skates wrong.

It comes back to what you want to do on them.

Choose a Supportive, Comfortable Roller Skate Boot

Here's something that's difficult to judge when you're looking at photos online:

Not all roller skate boots feel the same.

Some are really firm and supportive. Others are much softer and more flexible.

For a complete beginner, I generally recommend having some support around the ankle. You're already getting used to balancing and controlling wheels underneath you — you don't necessarily want the boot feeling completely floppy as well.

But supportive doesn't mean uncomfortable.

A new skate boot might need a little breaking in, particularly if it's firmer, but it shouldn't feel painfully wrong for your foot.

How Should Roller Skates Fit?

Don't automatically order your normal shoe size.

This is one of the easiest mistakes to make when buying roller skates online.

Roller skate sizing can vary considerably between brands, so always:

• Measure your feet

• Check the specific brand's size chart

• Consider the width of your foot

• Aim for snug and secure, rather than roomy

• Ask the skate shop or brand for advice if you're between sizes

You don't want loads of room at the front of your skate because your foot can start moving around inside the boot.

But you also don't want your toes crushed against the end.

Think snug, secure and comfortable.

And if you've got a proper roller skate shop nearby, go in and try some on if you can. It can make choosing the right size so much easier.

Indoor vs Outdoor Roller Skate Wheels

Your skates might come with wheels, but that doesn't automatically mean those wheels are ideal for where you want to skate.

As a general guide:

• Softer roller skate wheels are generally better suited to outdoor skating

• Harder roller skate wheels are generally better suited to smooth indoor surfaces

• Hybrid roller skate wheels can give you a little bit of both

This is something I see with students quite a lot.

Someone might be practising indoor skills on really soft, grippy outdoor wheels and wondering why certain movements feel harder than expected.

Or they take hard indoor wheels outside and suddenly feel every tiny bump underneath them.

You don't need to understand every wheel specification just yet.

Start by checking whether your wheels are designed for indoor skating, outdoor skating or a combination of both.

And remember, wheels can be changed later.

Fixed vs Adjustable Toe Stops

While you're comparing skates, have a quick look at the toe stops too.

You'll generally see either fixed toe stops or adjustable ones.

A fixed toe stop can be completely fine for learning your basic roller skating skills.

If your budget allows, however, I personally prefer an adjustable toe stop because you can change the height to suit you and it gives you more flexibility as your skating progresses.

It's not necessarily a deal-breaker for your first pair, but it's worth knowing the difference before you buy.

How Much Should You Spend on Your First Roller Skates?

You do not need to buy the most expensive roller skates you can find.

At the same time, I'd be cautious about choosing the absolute cheapest pair purely because you don't know whether you'll stick with skating yet.

Very cheap, toy-like skates can sometimes make learning more difficult than it needs to be.

Instead, look for a reputable roller skate brand, check the reviews and make sure the skate is designed for actual recreational skating.

If you're just getting started, an entry-level skate might be all you need.

If you already know you're going to skate regularly, you might decide it's worth investing a little more from the beginning.

And don't assume:

More expensive = better for a beginner.

Once you get into higher-performance roller skates, you're often paying for a more specialised setup designed for a particular type or level of skating.

The goal isn't to buy the most expensive skate.

It's to buy one that's right for you right now.

What I'd Avoid When Buying Your First Roller Skates

There are a few things I'd be cautious of when you're shopping:

• Buying purely because the skates look cute

• Choosing the cheapest pair you can find without checking the quality

• Buying from an unknown brand without doing any research

• Guessing your skate size

• Ignoring what type of wheels are included

• Assuming an expensive skate must be better

• Buying someone else's favourite skate without considering your own goals

And yes, you can absolutely want your roller skates to look good!

Just make sure what's underneath the pretty colour works for you too.

Your First Roller Skates Don't Have to Be Your Forever Skates

This is probably the biggest thing I want you to take away from this.

Don't put pressure on yourself to find the perfect pair of roller skates.

When you're brand new to skating, you don't actually know what you like in a skate yet.

And how could you?

As you learn, you might discover you love a firmer boot. You might get into artistic skating or dance skating. You might realise you want to spend most of your time outdoors.

Sometimes you won't even need another pair of skates — changing your wheels might be enough.

And if you do eventually upgrade, you can keep your first pair as a different setup or sell them and put the money towards your next skates.

Before you know it, you might have a little skate collection!

Your first pair has a much simpler job:

Get you skating comfortably, help you learn and let you discover what you actually enjoy.

Watch Before You Buy Your First Roller Skates

If you're currently scrolling through roller skates wondering which pair to choose, this is one of those topics that's much easier when you can actually see the differences.

In my YouTube video, Buying Your First Roller Skates? What You NEED to Know!, I show you different skates from my own collection and talk you through what I'd look for — including boot styles, fit, wheels, toe stops, different price points and what I'd avoid.

→ WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE: Buying Your First Roller Skates? What You NEED to Know!

If you're about to buy your first pair, give it a watch before you hit add to cart.

You don't need to know everything about roller skates before you start.

You just need a pair that suits you, where you want to skate and what you want to learn.

And then you can get to the best part, actually skating!