Looking for the BEST roller skates for beginners? You’ve come to the right place because our in house roller skating pro Lisa Jaspers is here (along with her 35 years of roller skating experience) to give her recommendations and reviews for the best beginner skates for women. Looking for the Best Men’s Roller Skates? Head over HERE to read our in depth reviews for men’s skates.
To quickly summarize our recommendations…we LOVE Moxi Beach Bunny Roller Skate Line. It’s our top pick because it hits every quality metric and we know this brand lasts over the long term (we’ve personally tested them over ten years). These skates can go with you as you transition from beginner to intermediate skater.
We also put Sure Grip’s Boardwalk Skate at the top of our list. This is a high quality boot that breaks in the fastest on our list (due to the suede that will more quickly conform to your foot/ankle). These skates will also take you into intermediate level skating with no problem. I would upgrade the plate when possible.
In 2nd place (falling mid price range) we like the Impala Roller Skate Line. It’s a good skate for the price point but the padding & support isn’t as good as our top pick (the Moxi). This is strictly a beginner skate and you should probably expect to upgrade your skates when you hit the next level.
Our budget pick is the Glam Roller Skate Line. The styling is absolutely fantastic but the lack of padding on the tongue and harder/plastic-y wheels are a definite negative. This is also strictly a beginner skate and you should probably expect to upgrade your skates when you hit the next level.
We hope you’ll stick around to hear in detail all the things you should consider before making a purchase. Our subject matter expert will be answering all your burning questions and help you select the right pair of roller skates for your needs. She’ll also provide you with solid recommendations for roller skates to check out. So let’s hand it over to her…
Should I buy roller blades or roller skates?
Roller stakes (or quads) are best for beginners because you have more stability, balance and support as you are learning to skate. It’s not impossible to learn how to skate on rollerblades…it’s just more difficult. I always tell people to start with quads and move to roller blades (if they choose to) once they are fully comfortable on roller skates.
What should I look for when buying roller skates?
When selecting your first pair roller skates you’ll want to pay special attention to the boots, plates & wheels (in that order). Boots should be firm and supportive with ample padding around the ankles. Plates should be made of metal NOT plastic. Wheels should be gummy and not made of hard plastic. Let’s take a deep dive into all three of these important roller skate components.
It’s helpful at this point to show you an illustration of all the major components we’ve highlighted above (and a few others you’ll want to take note of for the future). We’ll go through the important components one by one so you can know what to look for while your shopping. Note! Roller skates come as a complete set! While we’re going to talk important components and what to look for while shopping…you’ll be buying the whole enchilada at once!
What to look for in a quality roller skate boot…
Chances are you’ve rented a pair of skates at the local skating rink….remember how awful those skates were? Thin, single layer, leather boots with zero ankle support, wheels that barely spin and brakes worn down to a nub? Keep that downright awful skating experience in mine as we discuss boots..
The boot is LITERALLY the most important component of your roller skates and if you don’t have a decent quality boots on your feet, chances are you won’t be skating for very long.
When you’re looking at skate boots, look down at the sole through the top of the boot. Make sure that the ankle area has thick padding and isn’t just a thin, single piece of leather or synthetic material. The tongue should ideally have substantial padding as well. Here is an example of what to look for:
This ankle area of the boot should be firm and stiff when you put the boot on. This area needs to support the most important area of your body while your skating…your ankles. It may seem stiff at first but you will break them in over time to a comfortable level.
As a beginner you may be tempted by some of the low price point options but I can assure you that you get what you pay for…usually lots of blisters, zero support and lots of ankle/leg pain. I want you to be a life long skater (and I think you do too) so spend a little extra to get a boot with good ankle support. You won’t regret it.
What size roller skates (BOOTS) should I buy?
Your roller skates should fit comfortably much like a pair of normal shoes. The absolute worse situation is having skates that are too tight as this can cause blisters and extreme discomfort.
Be sure to try on any skates with thicker socks (or whatever socks you anticipate wearing while skating). Thicker/quality is better when it comes to socks but if you buy decent boots you won’t need crazy thick socks. When the boots are on make sure that you can comfortably wiggle your toes and they aren’t crammed into the toe cap. Your heel shouldn’t pull up out of the heel area when you skate. The boot should be close around your mid-foot but not choking it.
You may want to size up .5 to 1 size for roller skates. I’m a 7.5 in women but I wear a size 8 in skates. Recently I’ve seen strange sizing charts where you need to match up your US or EU shoe size to the manufacturers unique sizing system. Pay close attention to those sizing charts when making your selection.
What to look for in roller skate base plates…
Plates (or base plates as they are formally known) can be made of plastic (or nylon), aluminum or magnesium. They adhere the boot to the lower skate components like the trucks and axles.
Obviously plastic is cheaper and lighter weight than metal BUT in some cases it’s just not a good idea to buy skates with plastic plates. Plates hold together many, very important components and when you put a lot stress on a cheap plastic plate (even with very normal, run of the mill use) it can crack.
If you are approaching the weight limit for a pair of skates, plastic plates can break more easily. I’ve seen base plate cracks/breaks happen many times out in the real world. In some cases you can replace a plastic plate with a metal plate down the road.
When I see a plastic base plate, for me it’s an instant sign of lesser quality and it should be the same for you. Most who buy plastic initially will upgrade to metal plates later.
What to look for in roller skate wheels…
Wheels come in a variety of hardness levels. The hardness will affect how your skates feel. One end of the spectrum is grip and the other end is slide. When you’re a beginner you want wheels with grip. In a moment I’ll get into the specifics about hardness but to simplify the discussion- you should look for wheels that are “gummy” or rubbery feeling…these are the wheels that have grip. Wheels that feel like hard, shiny plastic have less grip and more roll/slide…slide is NOT what you want as beginner.
You can pinpoint a wheel’s hardness (durometer) and size (profile) by looking at either the side of the wheel itself or searching in the product description. Look for the durometer number followed by an “a” in the wheel’s graphics or on the product description. Softer tires have a lower durometer and generally provide more grip. Harder tires with higher durometers offer more roll/slide.
Which type of roller skates are best for beginners?
Based on all we’ve deemed important early on in this article we’re going to recommend the best roller skates for beginners. We’ll start with women’s roller skates (or quads) and then we’ll make some recommendations for men.
Roller skates have come a long way in style over the years. Back when I was a kid you had a choice of white….or white roller skates. Wheels came in maybe 3 or 4 colors. Today there are tons of colors and patterns to suit just about every taste out there! Everything we’re recommending meets all the important criteria we laid out above including padded, stiff and supportive boots, metal alloy plates and gummy/grippy wheels right out of the box. These complete roller skates are ready for beginners to start using today.
We’re going to recommend just a few manufacturers that produce good, high quality roller skates. They are Moxi, Sure Grip, Roller Derby Candi Girl, Impala & Crazy Skates. All of these skates and brands can be found on Amazon with easy shipping and return policies if your skates don’t fit like a dream.
IMPORTANT ORDERING NOTE! I’m writing this article in early 2022 but I did witness first hand what the pandemic did to the availability of roller skates in the spring & early summer of 2020 & 2021. During the pandemic ALL outdoor sport equipment pretty much sold out in the spring/early summer. Demand was HUGE for outdoor activities and thanks to the pandemic many overseas factories were shut. Demand completely outstripped supply and that is still the case with some brands. If you’re going to order a pair you may have the best luck ordering early in the off season (cold weather months).
I would not be surprised to see any of our recommendations sell out before spring arrives as we are still dealing with the effects of the pandemic and all the same supply/demand inequities are in place. Sadly, there are many unscrupulous people who are trying to take advantage of this supply/demand imbalance by selling roller skates at 2X or more of retail on sites like Ebay and Facebook marketplace. Do your price research & buy from reputable websites to make sure you’re not overpaying.
Okay, let’s dive into to our recommendations for best roller skates for beginners (for women). We’re going to review three brands we love- Moxi roller skates, Impala roller skates & Glam roller skates.
Head here for >>> The Best Roller Skates for Men
Best roller skates for Beginners – Women
Moxi Beach Bunny Roller Skates
Are Moxi skates worth it? Absolutely! I believe that Moxi offers the best roller skates for beginners! I have Moxi Beach Bunny Skates for my outdoor skates (and I also use them indoors but I change out to set of good indoor wheels). The boots are firm, high quality & well padded around the ankle and on the tongue. The base plates are alloy and the wheels are super gummy/grippy. The Beach Bunnies are on the lower price end of Moxi’s Roller Skate line. The Brushed Suede Moxi Lolly’s are also highly recommended but come in significantly higher price point and are for intermediate skaters.
I’ve had my Moxi Beach Bunnies for just over ten years now and I use them quite often (more than most people I think) indoors and outdoors. I’ve only had to replace the bearings. I still have the original wheels and laces if you can believe it.
These skates are high quality, comfortable and long lasting for beginner to experienced leisure skaters. The boots definitely have a break in period but I wouldn’t call it out of the norm. They hold their shape over time for those of us who need that extra ankle support.
What I love about Moxi skates (besides the quality and comfort) is the styling. The colors are bright and bold and just cheer you up every time you see them.
Moxi Beach Bunny Skates will transition with your to intermediate level skating…no need to upgrade when the time comes.
Sure Grip Boardwalk Roller Skates
Sure Grip’s Boardwalk Skate is also at the very top of our list. This is a high quality boot that breaks in quickly (the fastest on our list) due to the suede upper that will conform to your foot/ankle like a glove.
The wheels on this skate are 100% geared towards outdoor skating. It’s easy to transition them to indoor/rink skating with a set of good indoor wheels. If you only skate outdoors then they’re ready to go.
The ankle support is excellent but this skate would be best suited to someone who already has some skating experience under their belt because the boot isn’t quite as stiff as the Moxi…especially after break in.
What I love about Sure Grip’s Boardwalk Skate is that they will take you to the next level (intermediate level skating) without having to purchase another pair of skates. You can upgrade the components (like that plastic plate) and take your skating to the next level.
Impala Roller Skates
The Impala roller skate line comes in next on our list for best roller skates for beginners. This line falls right in the middle of our price range. These skates tick all the boxes (padded boots, alloy plates & gummy wheels) but the padding around the ankles and on the tongue is just not as good as the Moxi Skate Line previously discussed.
The padding compresses more and won’t provide as much comfortable support long term. The hologram version of these boots are pretty stiff and we suspect a longer break in period. The wheels are sticky/gummy and will work both indoors and outdoors.
That said…for this price point….these skates are jam packed with cute styling! The color options are eye catching and the hologram style boots in silver and pink are unmatched on the market. This one will turn heads wherever you go.
These skates are strictly for beginners or normal, recreational skating use. By this I mean skating backwards and forwards on the boardwalk or at the rink. Simple turns and spins but no jumps or skate park use. If you feel like you want to take your skating to the next level after purchasing these you’d need to upgrade to a higher quality skate.
Crazy Skates “Glam” Roller Skates
The Crazy Skates “Glam” line comes in on the budget end of the price spectrum. Crazy Skates are relatively new as a brand and I’ve only found them on Amazon so far. The reviews have actually been really good for their short life in the marketplace. I recently tested a pair and I was impressed with the quality level of the boot/hardware for this lower price point. There was great padding around the ankles and the boots were firm. The glitter was awesome and they really do sparkle like crazy in the sun!
Some cons to ponder: The tongue lacked sufficient padding and moved around too much for my liking. This could be remedied somewhat by purchasing thick adhesive shoe insoles and trimming them to fit the tongue (extra adhesive may be required for long lasting use).
The wheels were also a bit too tight from the factory and needed to be loosened but that is a simple fix. The wheels themselves were not as grippy as I would have liked for both indoor or outdoor beginner use. I would say that they are too hard for outdoor use and should only be used indoors. You could purchase grippy/softer wheels like these Moxi outdoor wheels or hybrids but that will bring up your overall costs above our top recommendation (which works well indoors and outdoors….so why not get the Moxi?).
The boot was quite firm…and I suspect a longer breaking in period than roller skates in the mid to high price range. Overall, for the price, the Glam Crazy Skates were a decent pair of skates (and a pretty good pair of skates if you only plan on skating indoors).
These skates are strictly for beginners or normal, recreational skating use. By this I mean skating backwards and forwards on the boardwalk or at the rink. Simple turns and spins but no jumps or skate park use. If you feel like you want to take your skating to the next level after purchasing these you’d need to upgrade to a higher quality skate.
To summarize our recommendations…
We love Moxi Roller Skates | Sure Grip’s Boardwalk Skates and it’s our top pick by far. We know this brand lasts over the long term (we’ve personally tested them) and you won’t be disappointed with the quality. Both of these skates can go with you to the next level in your skating.
In 2nd place we like the Impala Roller Skate Line. It’s definitely a good buy for the price but the padding just isn’t as good as the Moxi or Sure Grip’s Boardwalk Skate. Our budget pick is the Glam Roller Skate Line. The styling is fantastic but the lack of padding on the tongue and cheap wheels are a definite negative.
