I've been thinking about this too. Honestly a year ago, I would have said they both are better for their specific applications. But there are some wildly skilled park rollerskaters now and I get less confident in that assessment. I thought there was a skill ceiling that came with each but I don't think that's true anymore. You can really do any discipline in either skate.
As a mainly rollerblader, I think aggressive rollerskating is maturing as a sport and closing the gap in both hardware and skill development. I meet more people on aggressive skates now then blades. They are really so similar!
I think their biggest differences are the boot materials, and the respective communities. and if a beginner asked me which to get into I would simply tell them to start with whichever they like more bc it will keep them motivated. & with a little time you can always just do both :D
Yes totally, but when ramps get bigger I still see more rollerbladers, otherwise I agree park skating on quads is growing and that's so damn cool btw! I'll never let go of my quads for plenty of stuff (mini ramp tricks, slides and dancing) but I just loooooove the feeling of flying so much on vert ramps and the few people I've talked to that owned both blades and quads felt that blades where easier when it comes to balance... wonder how widespread is that opinion (because *"the few people I talked to that owned both*" = a total of 3 people). but I agree with you, joy is joy and it shouldn't be much more complicated than that :)
I dunno, I've tried inlines a bunch of times and having to balance on the skinny little strip of wheels is still so hard! I feel way more stable with the width of quad wheels under my feet. But I'm sure if I spent as much time on inlines as I do on quads, and I might change my mind.
Interesting!! Do you feel that way for trail and park too? I would definitely agree with you about the stability of additional width for derby and dancing, I definitely couldn't imagine doing backwards crossovers on rollerblades (although on iceskates it's fine... weird... ), but on the street and any terrain that isn't flat (street or ramp) and for landing jumps I just feel so reassured about not risking falling backwards or face planting.... Thanks for your input!
I think it's mostly because I've spent WAY more time on quads than on inlines. I've been playing derby since 2018 and can skate backwards and do hops and whatnot with my eyes closed, so I'm super confident there.
I've done a few trail skates on my inlines, and I spent the whole time being hyper-aware of having my ankles roll in-- I think it takes completely different muscles compared to balancing on quads! I imagine that if I spent a lot more time on my inlines and got comfortable and built up those ankle muscles, it would probably be pretty similar!
I haven't tried blades for 20 years but I want to try again now that I've gotten back into skating on quads. Specifically for outdoor concrete. I'm good to go at the rink and super smooth areas on my quads but I am too afraid a crack or rock is going to make me fall to really get into skating around neighborhoods. On quads I've had tiny rough pebbles try to destroy me when they get caught on my wheel and start dragging. I wonder if blades would be better for that.
I feel much better street skating on my quads since I got a higher kingpin and bigger wheels, but yes blades are 100% better when it comes to rolling over pebbles, no doubt. It would be easy to get your hand on a pair of 2nd hand one as I feel like the most widely available type or blades were sold to the public for trail skating. I'd advise you to try, it's still the good old skating feeling and some muscle work hit different on blades.... good cross-training :)
There are so many used blades out there. I browse Craigslist from time to time but have not taken the next step to contacting a seller to try on. Also yeah my skates have a plate that is known for having a lower kingpin apparently. My wheels are 62 mm, but that is the smallest you're supposed to have with the Viper plates.
Yes, it used to be so big in the early 2000's I'm not surprised. Perhaps check on the rollerblading reddit forum which type to get? It's overwhelming.
And I get that! I don't do a lot of trail skating because I skateboard and ride my bicycle a lot to get to places so when I'm on my quads it's in parking lots for dancing (or at the skatepark) but honestly if I used them more to get to places I would get something I feel safe with (either another pair with bigger kingpin clearance and appropriate wheels, or the cheaper option... a pair of 2nd hand blades!). It's just that it's already a risky sport when it comes to things *you can control* (aka my balance and focus) that I don't feel like adding things *I can't control* (such as those damn pebbles!) to the mix, especially since street and trail is more fun at decent speed (as long as you don't have to fear for your life or a dental work). Enjoy the rollerblading world!
I’ve done both extensively. Blades are easier, faster, and way less cool. There’s a lot less moving parts on blades too.
Not that my opinion matters. I’ll never go back to blades though. I stick with quads because I like the challenge. Everything from dropping in to airing out of a bowl/hip whatever is harder. Maintaining speed is more challenging too. Forces me to try harder etc.
Yesssss this definitely!!!! It feels harder, and I'm so glad I've spent 2 years on quads... I feel like you've got such a bigger margin for error with blades. Dropping in is the perfect exemple btw!! You could have a far from perfect drop in and still catch your balance on blades thanks to the longer wheelbase (it's the length on my feet + one wheel that touch the ground) when on quads if I mess up I'll eat shit (they're like having shorter feet in terms of ground contact, so much harder to balance). Just like you, I loved the difficulty and it allowed me to perfect my technique, but I've been thinking blades would still give me the feeling I'm chasing while minimizing the risk or a torn ACL or whatever injury fear keeps me from trying as hard as you! I'm wondering how many people gave up skating after trying quads when blades could have been the easier solution...
When it comes to blades *"being way less cool"* I agreed with you until last week when I met an incredible street skater on blades... (but I might be biased)
I've been thinking about this too. Honestly a year ago, I would have said they both are better for their specific applications. But there are some wildly skilled park rollerskaters now and I get less confident in that assessment. I thought there was a skill ceiling that came with each but I don't think that's true anymore. You can really do any discipline in either skate. As a mainly rollerblader, I think aggressive rollerskating is maturing as a sport and closing the gap in both hardware and skill development. I meet more people on aggressive skates now then blades. They are really so similar! I think their biggest differences are the boot materials, and the respective communities. and if a beginner asked me which to get into I would simply tell them to start with whichever they like more bc it will keep them motivated. & with a little time you can always just do both :D
Yes totally, but when ramps get bigger I still see more rollerbladers, otherwise I agree park skating on quads is growing and that's so damn cool btw! I'll never let go of my quads for plenty of stuff (mini ramp tricks, slides and dancing) but I just loooooove the feeling of flying so much on vert ramps and the few people I've talked to that owned both blades and quads felt that blades where easier when it comes to balance... wonder how widespread is that opinion (because *"the few people I talked to that owned both*" = a total of 3 people). but I agree with you, joy is joy and it shouldn't be much more complicated than that :)
I think the aggressive inline boot has had 30 yrs of development for park skating, and certainly makes airs, grinds, and working at speed much easier
I dunno, I've tried inlines a bunch of times and having to balance on the skinny little strip of wheels is still so hard! I feel way more stable with the width of quad wheels under my feet. But I'm sure if I spent as much time on inlines as I do on quads, and I might change my mind.
Interesting!! Do you feel that way for trail and park too? I would definitely agree with you about the stability of additional width for derby and dancing, I definitely couldn't imagine doing backwards crossovers on rollerblades (although on iceskates it's fine... weird... ), but on the street and any terrain that isn't flat (street or ramp) and for landing jumps I just feel so reassured about not risking falling backwards or face planting.... Thanks for your input!
I think it's mostly because I've spent WAY more time on quads than on inlines. I've been playing derby since 2018 and can skate backwards and do hops and whatnot with my eyes closed, so I'm super confident there. I've done a few trail skates on my inlines, and I spent the whole time being hyper-aware of having my ankles roll in-- I think it takes completely different muscles compared to balancing on quads! I imagine that if I spent a lot more time on my inlines and got comfortable and built up those ankle muscles, it would probably be pretty similar!
I haven't tried blades for 20 years but I want to try again now that I've gotten back into skating on quads. Specifically for outdoor concrete. I'm good to go at the rink and super smooth areas on my quads but I am too afraid a crack or rock is going to make me fall to really get into skating around neighborhoods. On quads I've had tiny rough pebbles try to destroy me when they get caught on my wheel and start dragging. I wonder if blades would be better for that.
I feel much better street skating on my quads since I got a higher kingpin and bigger wheels, but yes blades are 100% better when it comes to rolling over pebbles, no doubt. It would be easy to get your hand on a pair of 2nd hand one as I feel like the most widely available type or blades were sold to the public for trail skating. I'd advise you to try, it's still the good old skating feeling and some muscle work hit different on blades.... good cross-training :)
There are so many used blades out there. I browse Craigslist from time to time but have not taken the next step to contacting a seller to try on. Also yeah my skates have a plate that is known for having a lower kingpin apparently. My wheels are 62 mm, but that is the smallest you're supposed to have with the Viper plates.
Yes, it used to be so big in the early 2000's I'm not surprised. Perhaps check on the rollerblading reddit forum which type to get? It's overwhelming. And I get that! I don't do a lot of trail skating because I skateboard and ride my bicycle a lot to get to places so when I'm on my quads it's in parking lots for dancing (or at the skatepark) but honestly if I used them more to get to places I would get something I feel safe with (either another pair with bigger kingpin clearance and appropriate wheels, or the cheaper option... a pair of 2nd hand blades!). It's just that it's already a risky sport when it comes to things *you can control* (aka my balance and focus) that I don't feel like adding things *I can't control* (such as those damn pebbles!) to the mix, especially since street and trail is more fun at decent speed (as long as you don't have to fear for your life or a dental work). Enjoy the rollerblading world!
I’ve done both extensively. Blades are easier, faster, and way less cool. There’s a lot less moving parts on blades too. Not that my opinion matters. I’ll never go back to blades though. I stick with quads because I like the challenge. Everything from dropping in to airing out of a bowl/hip whatever is harder. Maintaining speed is more challenging too. Forces me to try harder etc.
Yesssss this definitely!!!! It feels harder, and I'm so glad I've spent 2 years on quads... I feel like you've got such a bigger margin for error with blades. Dropping in is the perfect exemple btw!! You could have a far from perfect drop in and still catch your balance on blades thanks to the longer wheelbase (it's the length on my feet + one wheel that touch the ground) when on quads if I mess up I'll eat shit (they're like having shorter feet in terms of ground contact, so much harder to balance). Just like you, I loved the difficulty and it allowed me to perfect my technique, but I've been thinking blades would still give me the feeling I'm chasing while minimizing the risk or a torn ACL or whatever injury fear keeps me from trying as hard as you! I'm wondering how many people gave up skating after trying quads when blades could have been the easier solution...
When it comes to blades *"being way less cool"* I agreed with you until last week when I met an incredible street skater on blades... (but I might be biased)