Do these inline skates fit my feet?

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This can be quite an art to get right. We all have individually shaped feet so one pair does not fit all. Take your time here, it’s a real pain in the ankle to get a pair of skates that just don’t fit.

First of all take a nice long brisk walk to the skate shop. Jog the last bit if you can. You want to get those footsies all hot and bothered. Feet swell during exercise so test drive those new skates with your feet the size they are going to be when you are actually skating.

Go to a proper skate shop like ‘Slick Willies’ on Gloucester Road or ‘Club Blue Room’ at Marble Arch. Don’t go you a all in one sports suppliers, they just wont know about the product. Tell the skate shop assistant that you are a beginner skater and want to try a good quality recreational skate with a heel brake. That way you will not be sold a style of skate unsuitable for you. (Speed skates and aggressive skates may look cool or be on special offer but steer well clear just at the moment).

When you try on a pair of skates, try your own shoe size (and not the size bigger, as some skate shop assistants may suggest). Wear a thin pair of socks and put both skates on, tying up the laces and/or clasps reasonably tight without being too tight. You should just about be able to insert a finger down the back of the skate when done up. Top rachet straps should to be tight enough for you to bend your knees and then feel supported by the strap. If they’re too tight the straps will stop you bending your knees and cut off blood to your foot. (Ouch!). Too loose, and your knees will never make contact with the strap when you bend them. Now lift up the skates with your feet and bang the back wheels hard into the floor to get your heels into the back of the boot as much as you can.

Stand up with both feet parallel, hip width apart (Ready Position), and bend your knees so when you look down your knees are just over the boots. In this position, your shin bone is supported by the front of the boot. Now wiggle your toes. Do they scrape against the toe box? If so try on slightly larger skates. Do the wiggle in a lot of space? If so try on a slightly smaller pair of skates.

Flex your knees and move your ankles in as much circular movements as you can and focus on your feet and how they feel. Dont rush! Keep them on for twenty minutes and be absolutely sure they don’t pinch or rub. Mild ‘pins and needles’ may be normal after a little while. Remember your feet are not used to wearing skates yet. However if your circulation gets cut off quickly you may need a larger size.

Skates with a lot of padding may seem more comfortable in the shop but a lack of structural support will cause your feet to collapse into the padding when you are skating and cause aching much quicker that a skate which has good support and will hold you foot in a good upright position.

A skate may seem more comfortable if it is too big. However when you move your feet you want the movement to translate into the boot. You do not want your foot to be sloshing around in a lot of airspace. If skates are too big you can experience pain around the inner arch of the foot and around the ankles.

Take your time and try on different brands to gauge a feel of things. At SkatesCool we recommend trying these first. They are a very popular brand offering high quality, good padding and good support. Lots of the very best skaters wear them too. Many people buy incorrect fitting skates and the result is aching feet, which means you wont enjoy skating as much. You will get similar design features from different brands at the same price, so focus on comfort.
Some skate designs can be heat moulded to help fit. Ask the shop assistant about this. It takes a while but may just be worth it.
Expect to pay about £80 for a good pair of skates that will last you years and about another £12 on protective padding. Consider a helmet too especially for children.

Wear your lovely shiny skates on the sofa while you are watching Eastenders for a few weeks. About 20-30minutes a day. This will help your circulation and get your feet used to being in skates.

It hurts Doctor!

When you first start skating you may experience a bit of pain usually pins and needles or muscle cramps even if your skates are the right size. Usually it’s simply because you’re using muscles that you have never used before and thay are getting tired quickly. The best remedy for this is simply to take those skates off for a few minutes and give those toes a good rub. In a short time your muscles will strengthen and the pain will lessen.

Stress and tension, (let’s face it you’re pretty stressed with wheels bolted to your feet aren’t you?) can also cause muscle cramps. Try to relax as best you can, bend your knees and breathe. Skating is not just about using the right muscles, it’s also about turning off the wrong ones. Don’t persevere through the pain. Take your skates off for a while.

Bad skating technique will pull and squeeze all the wrong muscles not only in your feet but in your back, neck and shoulers too. A big part of my job is spent looking at posture, balance and technique to make things come together.

Custom moulded insoles are an effective, if expensive way of supporting a high arch. They can be fitted for about £30 in Snow & Rock, Covent Garden. Mercer Street. Allow a good half hour.

What’s the difference between different kinds of skates?

Inline skates fall into 4 main categories, Recreational, Speed, Aggressive and Hockey skates.

Recreational skates are for all purpose park skating, street skating and fitness skating. They have 4 wheels, a heel brake on one skate and many different styles and models. This is probably the type of skate you want if you are a beginner and not yet specialising in any of the following forms of skating.

Speed Skates have 5 wheels (or a longer than usual 4 wheel frame), larger wheels and no heel brake. They can have lower cuffs for lightness and increased flexibility.

Aggressive skates are very heavy with a short wheel and tiny thick wheels base to be very stable in jumps and tricks. They have a ‘grind plate’ for sliding and performing tricks. They have no heel brake and are not designed for any speed.

Hockey skates have a short wheel base for maneuverability and no heel brake. They have a harder boot with little padding to withstand impacts.

Here’s some advice on the best sort of inline skates to buy.