Should roller skates be a size bigger? Correctly fitting roller skates should be a snug fit. They should be neither too tight nor too loose to provide enough comfort when roller skating.
Wearing correctly fitting roller skates go a long way since you can roller skate for long and cover longer distances stress-free. You don’t have to stress about blisters, ankle pain, heel pain, or shin pains.
You can also perform tricks hassle-free or play roller derby stress-free. Overall, correctly fitting roller skates improve your productivity.
But here’s the kicker! Sizing roller skates can be daunting, especially when doing it for the first time.
You’re likely to get ill-fitting skates if you do it blindly without professional assistance. Don’t sweat it! I’ve put together this guide to point you in the right direction!
So, let’s get to it!
Should Roller Skates be a Size Bigger?
Should roller skates be a size bigger? Roller skates should be a size bigger and snuggly fitting for comfort while roller skating. The best-fitting roller skates should be about 1-1.5 size bigger than your usual street shoes.
Roller skates are true to shoe size. But since you use roller skates for roller skating, it’s best if they’re snuggly fitting. This is why you should buy roller skates that are a size bigger.
This means if you’re a man and you wear US/UK shoe size 7, the best roller skates for you should be size 7 or size 8. The same sizing technique applies to women.
Benefits of Wearing Properly Fitting Roller Skates
Wearing correctly fitting roller skates has many benefits. So, you should wear correctly fitting roller skates for the following reasons!
- Comfort: Roller skating for the first time can make the body sore. Wearing comfortable roller skates is recommended to prevent soreness after roller skating.
- Avoid foot and ankle injuries: ill-fitting roller skates strain the feet and are associated with shin pain, ankle pain, heel pain (plantar fasciitis), and blisters. While the pain should go away after some time, sometimes it’s persistent and may require medical attention. You can prevent that by wearing correctly fitting roller skates.
- Leave room for socks: socks are essential wear for roller skating since they provide comfort while skating. Too much rubbing between your feet and the roller skates can cause blisters and muscle soreness. Socks are excellent since they prevent excessive rubbing. But, you should wear snuggly fitting roller skates to allow room for socks.
How to Choose the Right Roller Skates Size
While choosing th right roller skate size can be a hassle, it doesn’t need to be. That’s why I show you, below, what to consider when choosing the right roller skate.
1. Know your Shoe Size
It’s not uncommon to hear of people who don’t know what shoe size they wear. As strange as it is, it happens all the time. Often, they find themselves ordering ill-fitting shoes, especially when shopping online.
You don’t want to be in the same predicament if you want an exciting roller skating experience. The easiest way to know the right roller skate size for you is to size them 1-1.5 size bigger.
It’s pretty impossible to do this when you don’t know your shoe size. There’s no doubting it! The problem is that you’ll likely mess up when shopping online since you can’t try the roller skates out.
So. how do you know your shoe size? You can check your shoe soles. Alternatively, some shoes have shoe sizes labeled inside the shoes. Please check the shoe tongue, shoe walls, or insoles.
The last option is to measure using a tape measure or ruler. You can ask around for the equipment if you don’t have them. You can also consider buying them from your local store if you have a budget.
Below is how to measure your feet the easy way;
- Tape a piece of white paper on the floor
- Place your bare feet on the paper with your heels touching the floor
- Have someone else mark the spot where your longest toe touches
- Record your feet’s length and choose your size using the roller skates sizing chart.
2. Use Roller Skates Manufacturers Sizing Guide
Roller skate brand manufacturers size roller skates differently. No doubt, Moxi roller skates of the same size as Impala would not fit the same person.
This is why it’s crucial to consider specific roller skate brands when sizing roller skates. The good thing is that they have sizing charts to guide customers in making an informed decision.
Many of these brands have sizing charts on the website; you can easily reference them. But, if you can’t see one, feel free to ask the dealer.
3. Shop at Your Nearest Physical Roller Skates Store
Shopping online can be tricky since you can mess up when you don’t know your shoe size. It worsens when you don’t have a favorable return policy from the eCommerce store.
This can affect you badly if you don’t have the cash to buy new roller skates. The sure way to deal with this is to shop at your nearest physical roller skates store.
This way, you can try out many roller skates to find what fits you correctly. This is one advantage you don’t have when shopping on eCommerce stores like Amazon.
How Do You Know the Correct Roller Skates Size?
How do you know the correct roller skates size? The best way to know the correct roller skates size is to try it out.
This way, you’ll feel how they fit on your feet. The right skate size should snuggly fit, so if you feel they’re too tight, you have the wrong size.
There should be some space between your toes and the skates. The same should apply to your heels. More importantly, you shouldn’t feel ankle or shin pains when on the roller skates.
Lastly, you shouldn’t struggle to wear them with socks. It’s recommended to wear moderately thick socks when roller skating to prevent excessive rubbing and foot soreness.
So, wearing roller skates without socks is not a good idea. You have the wrong roller skates if you feel uncomfortable wearing socks.
Other Things to Consider when Buying Roller Skates
Buying the right roller skates is the best thing to ever happen to you. So, besides going for correctly fitting roller skates, you have other factors to consider.
Below is a quick rundown!
Wheels
There are two primary roller skate wheel types–soft and hard wheel. Soft wheels are recommended for outdoor use, while hard wheels are recommended for indoor use.
Depending on where you primarily roller skate–indoors or outdoors–you can get either roller skates with soft or hard wheels.
Alternatively, you can buy wheels separately and swap them when going to roller skate indoors or outdoors.
Bearings
Bearings are found between roller skate wheels and are responsible for the rolling effect. There are at least three bearing types–ceramic, ABEC, and swiss bearings.
ABEC bearings are recommended for beginner roller skaters, while Ceramic and Swiss bearings are recommended for more experienced skaters.
Below is a comprehensive guide about roller skate bearings I did with you in mind.
What Are Roller Skate Bearings?
Hard or soft boots
Some roller skates have a soft shell, while others have a hard shell. Roller skates with soft shells are known as soft boots, while those with hard shell are known as hard boots.
Soft boots are best for beginners starting to roller skate. On the other hand, hard boots are recommended for slightly experienced and advanced roller skaters.
Toe Stop for Braking
The Toe stop pad is excellent for braking or slowing down when skating. Therefore, beginners are advised to use roller skates with toe stops for safety.
While some roller skates have the inbuilt toe stop, others don’t. So, you should always check this when buying roller skates.
Trucks/Plates
Trucks and plates determine roller skate. Light roller skates have plastic plates and aluminum trucks. They’re the best for roller skate control. The best part is that they’re also durable.
Break in Time
Some roller skates only require a short time to break in. So, you should break them in after one or two sessions.
Unfortunately, some roller skates take forever and may feel uncomfortable for a while. Ask the seller how long the break-in time is to prepare psychologically.
Gender
While some roller skates are unisex and can be worn by both males and females, others are gender specific. This means their sizing is according to the particular gender’s foot morphology.
You should inquire about your gender-specific roller skates when shopping online or in person at your local store.
Should Roller Skates be a Size Bigger | Final thoughts
Should roller skates be a size bigger? No doubt, roller skates should be bigger, between 1 and 1.5, than your street shoes.
Roller skates should fit snuggly for comfort, so it’s not a good idea to go for ones that fit you exactly. That’s it! I believe you found this guide helpful!
