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Roller Skates 101

All About Boots: Boots 101

All About Boots: Boots 101

    Everything You Need to Know about Roller Skating Boots

    Parts of a boot

    Roller skating boots will have the following components: Insoles, midsoles, outsoles, uppers (main boot body), boot lining, padding, tongues and tongue linings. All skates have skate boots and they are the part that is most important as far as comfort, making you have the right fit and size for you will greatly impact your roller skating experience.

    High Top vs Low Top skates

    Which one is the best? That is totally a matter of personal preference and usually impacted by your style of skating. 

    LOW-TOP

    Low-top roller skate boots allow for more freedom of movement in the ankle, which is ideal for activities that require a greater range of motion, such as jam skating and derby/speed skating. Skaters can perform intricate footwork and maneuvers more easily in a low-top boot. Low-top boots tend to be lighter than high-top boots due to their reduced material and construction. This can lead to less fatigue during longer skating sessions or intricate tricks. Low-top boots offer better ventilation and breathability, which can be advantageous in warm weather or during intense physical exertion. 

    HIGH-TOP
    High top skates bring the nostalgic classic feel that many crave. The increased height of the boot contributes to overall stability and support in the ankle. This is why many beginner skaters and those who are still developing their balance and stability on skates prefer skates with high-top boots. Most skate park skaters also prefer high-top boots when performing high-impact moves. 

    Whether low-top boots or high-top boots are right for you mostly boils down to preference, and which style of skating you intend on doing. If you are simply looking to skate laps and learn basic moves rather than skate aggressively, perform tricks or intricate dance moves, it boils down to which look you prefer. 

    Materials

    Boots are typically made of a synthetic material (vinyl, microfiber, etc), leather or suede. Some will be a combination of materials.

    If quality of material is important for you, you will want to go with leather or suede. Make sure you read the full product description and technical specs to know what material a skate boot is made from. There are several types of leather boots are made from that range in quality. 

    Genuine leather refers to leather that has been made from the lower layers of the hide, specifically the layers that remain after the top-grain portion has been separated for higher-quality leather. These lower layers are often processed and treated to make them suitable for various applications. Contrary to what the name might imply, "genuine leather" is not an indication of highest quality. In fact, it is a lower quality grade of leather compared to full-grain or top-grain leather.

    1. Full-Grain Leather:
      • Full-grain leather is considered the highest quality and most durable type of leather.
      • It is made from the top layer of the animal hide, retaining its natural texture, marks, and imperfections.
      • Full-grain leather ages well and develops a patina over time.
      • It is breathable and generally more resistant to moisture and wear.
      • Often used for high-end products
    2. Top-Grain Leather:
      • Top-grain leather is also of high quality but has had its natural texture sanded away, making it smoother than full-grain leather.
      • It is slightly thinner and more flexible than full-grain leather.
    3. Split Leather:
      • Split leather is derived from the lower layers of the hide after the top-grain portion has been removed.
      • It is less durable and often used for suede and suede-like materials.

    Heels

    High-top boots feature a raised heel, which makes the boot level and provides an arch. Without a heel, skaters would fall backwards. 

    Low-top boots have an almost completely flat sole (like a sneaker). Again, this is a matter of personal preference and style of skating.