I picked these skates out because they had the features I wanted, akin to the rental skates at the rink.
I mean:
- Hard shell / clamshell design. These hold the feet very solidly, helpful for beginners like myself. I note the more advanced, super expensive skates (like $ 300 + ones) are leather & low cut - those are mainly for advanced skaters with lots of built up muscle support in their ankles.
(Maybe I'll be that strong after a couple of years, but for not yet. For now, I just enjoy skating with my kids @ local rink.)
- Simple closure. No laces for me, thank you. These 3 simple, easily adjustable but quickly & easily openable click clamp type closures are perfect. There is a reason the rental skates use them - they work & they're foolproof.
- Larger sizing for 11 - but be aware these run a size small, meaning an 11 in these fits you as if it were a normal 10, my normal show size.
I am hoping the fit will 'break in' - that's a reasonable assumption, as all shoes need break in. The first trip was kinda painful, but not because of any fault in the skates. It's just that my feet & the inner boot (it's removable & washable) need to mold to each other - I'm told by the skate experts that will be 3-5 rink trips before break in occurs & all feels normal.
I also wonder how the wheels will hold up outdoors - we shall see. We don't have much super smooth pavement in our neck of the woods. I am told that wheel hardness is what matters. Indoor wheels need to be a bit softer, outdoor wheels need to be harder to deal with rougher surfaces & be durable.
As an added plus, the runners that hold the wheels are extruded aluminum, making them very sturdy. The wheels are of high quality - and a medium hard / soft material - but will last much longer indoors.
When I showed them to the skate rental counter guy, he was suitably impressed - he pegged them top be $ 110+ skates.
So that suggests very good value @ the $ 66 I paid.
Also, the overall solid construction suggests that I couldn't break or wear these out in probably 100 rink trips - by then if I keep it up I'll be an expert skater - and in need of more expensive skates (assuming I achieve that level of proficiency).
If I just stay totally recreational, it's likely these ProLine 900 skates will be "all the skate I ever need" !
(PS: FYI - We took up skating at the suggestion of a friend who is a competetive Road Cyclist, as am I. Our family was looking for some cross-training to make us better cyclists, and after hearing his testimony as how his inline skating helps his cycling & vice-versa, we decided to give it a go. So far, very good results, although we're only 2 months into the test - but we see benefits already. The winter this year 2013-14 has been quite harsh, and it's nice to skate indoors, when it's inclement outside.)
Hope this helps someone !
| Size | 8 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Roller Derby |
| Wheel Material | Polyurethane |
| Wheel Type | Inline Skate Wheel |
| Sole Material | Nylon |
| Closure Type | Buckle |
| Wheel Size | 76 Millimeters |
| Material | Nylon, Alloy Steel |
| Item Weight | 7 Pounds |
| Pattern | Solid |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 17.6 x 17.4 x 5.1 inches |
| Package Weight | 7.4 Pounds |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 16.3 x 16.3 x 5.8 inches |
| Brand Name | Roller Derby |
| Suggested Users | mens |
| Manufacturer | Roller Derby |
| Part Number | I243-08 |
| Sport Type | Roller Skating/Roller Blading |
| Skill Level | Beginner |
