TECHNICAL INFO

BOOTS - First determine whether you want a hig-top of low-cut boot. This should be one of the more easy decisions. Next determine what type of material you want. Traditionally, leather has been the industry standard in boot manufacturing, however some of them are now made with a micro-fiber material which may be more durable than leather. If you are still growing, you may wish to go with a less expensive material as you'll probably out grow your skates before you wear them out.

CHASSIS/PLATES - You will sometimes see both terms used interchangably. They both mean the exact same thing. The chassis or plates are what make your skates work. Typcially they are made from aluminum or some form of plastic or nylon. Neither material is superior to the other in terms of strength for your skates. Both materials are very strong, and some of the high-end aluminum plates are actually lighter than their plastic counterparts. You should determine whether the type of skating you do works best with a single-action truck or double-action truck. Single-action trucks means that the truck (the part that holds the wheels) has only one cushion, and they are at a 45 degree angle. They allow you to be closer to the floor and give you a feeling of stability when cornering at high speeds. Double-action trucks means that each truch has two cushions and they are at 10 degree angles. Double-action allow for quicker turns, and make your skates feel much more responsive. Double-action trucks are the most common.

WHEELS - When choosing a wheel, you should first determine whether you want a speed-type wheel with a wide profile or an artistic-type wheel with a narrow profile. Speed wheels give you more stability and traction when cornering at high speeds. Artistic wheels allow you to make more responsive turns. Also, be sure to determine what durometer (hardness) you want in your wheels.

BEARINGS - On ABEC rated bearings, the higher the number, the better the bearing. Keep in mind that this is not always the case. One company may sell an ABEC-5 bearing but it may not necessarily have the same characteristic as another companys ABEC-5 bearing. Also, some companies do not sell their bearings with an ABEC rating. If you want a good bearing with considerable speed and durability, buy an ABEC-3 or higher. If you want the BEST bearings available, but Bones Swiss. Most bearings will fit the same wheel but will not fit the same skate. The Outside Diameter of a bearing (the part that fits inside the wheel) is the same for nearly all bearings, so a 7mm or 8mm bearing will fit inside the same wheel. The Inside Diameter of the bearings is the important number here. This is the part that actually attaches to the axles on the trucks. Most inline skates are 8mm while Quad Skates come in both 7mm and 8mm sizes.

DUROMETER/HARNESS - Durometer refers to the hardness of a skate wheel. Typically, a soft wheel is grippy but slow, and a firm wheel is fast but slick. A low durometer represents a softer wheel while a high durometer represents a firmer wheel. When skating outdoors, you should always opt to use a wheel with a durometer of 88A or less. Most recreational or indoor wheels have a durometer of 95A which gives them a good roll, but they have less traction in tight turns. An indoor wheel with a durometer of 94A or less is considered to have "grip." An indoor wheel of 95A or higher is considered to be "firm."

ABEC RATINGS - The term "ABEC" stands for the Annular Bearing Engineers' Committee and this committee determines standards for the Anti-Friction Bearing Manufacturers Association. Most bearings are given an ABEC rating to determine their heat tolerances, rotating accuracy, and other measurements. Basically, the higher the number, the better the bearing should be, but this is not always the case. Some companies, like Powell-Bones, sell bearings that are not rated, yet Powell-Bones manufactures some of the highest quality bearings available. Using the ABEC system when determining which bearing to use is a good starting point. It is really based on the type of skating you want to do.