Urban skating is a great way to get some exercise and have fun in the concrete jungle just outside your door! If you’re looking for a good pair of urban inline skates to enjoy, you want to know which pairs are the best and how to make the most of them.
Here we’re going to recommend some of the top urban skates available on the market right now. Also, we’ll detail exactly how you should go about choosing your perfect urban skates, from the features you should be looking at to the brands that are making the best product.
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Choose the best urban skates for you and your family and enjoy a fantastic skating experience.
Are you ready to get skating? Here are some of the top skates on the market right now.
Top 5 Urban Skates for the Money
| Number | Model |
|---|---|
| 1 - Best Value | Rollerblade Zetrablade |
| 2 - Womens Inline | K2 Skate Kinetic 78 |
| 3 | Bauer RH X300R Skate SR |
| 4 - Highest Quality | Bauer RH X300R |
| 5 - Kids Urban Skate | Bladerunner Phoenix Adjustable |
1. Rollerblade Zetrablade 80 Skate (Best Value and Top Pick) 
This skate highlights quality features and comes from a brand that has a long track record. Rollerblade was one of the first companies to build inline skates and has lived up to its reputation with these. They are durable, comfortable, and feature a design that centers on stability. The wheels are 80mm and have SG5 bearings for outdoor use.
These skates are available both for men and for women.
Pros:
- Good ankle support
- Comfortable to wear
- Durable for new and pro skaters alike
Cons:
- Wheels are not as durable as the rest of the body. Thus they may need replacement for more aggressive skaters
2. K2 Skate Kinetic 78 (Best Womens Urban Skate) 
If you’re looking for a quality build that fits into your budget, then the K2 Skates are a great choice. Made with K2’s own technology for comfort, these skates are the perfect buy if you’re looking for a pain-free skating experience.
The built-in arch support leads to more stability and balance while skating, but K2 has even gone beyond this. They’ve included their Stability Plus Cuff which offers increased balance for taking off, giving you more power when starting.
These skates are available for men and for women. For more info about womens gear check out our womens skates reviews.
Pros:
- Smooth riding
- Good stability
- Perfect for intermediate skaters
- Antimicrobial footbed and good breathability keeps your feet fresh and dry
Cons:
- Not recommended for advanced skaters due to lack of speed and durability in advanced skating.
3. Roller Derby AERIO Q-60 
If you’re looking for a great urban skate, the Roller Derby AERIO is a good place to start! This beginner’s skate is excellent for building up your skills and getting into the next level of urban skating. It features sleek designs and secure binding mechanisms to keep you stable. Also, memory foam padding inside leads to personalized comfort for the user.
Pros:
- Great for beginners
- Stable and secure
- Moderate speed
- A good amount of ventilation for the feet
Cons:
- Narrow feet may be swimming inside these skates
- Wheels may need alignment
4. Bauer RH X300R Skate SR (Highest Quality) 
These skates are built for speed and performance, making them perfect for advanced skaters. The sleek design of these skates will give you street cred, while their durability and comfort will let you skate for hours without pain!
The heel and ankle lock has been improved on this model, meaning you can take even neater turns. Some of the neat features of these Bauer urban inline skates include an integrated abrasion guard, cell foam pads for optimized comfort, and a chassis designed to give you balance and leave behind resistance.
These skates fit both men’s and women’s feet, although the sizing is listed in men’s sizes.
Pros:
- Good value for cost
- Great for advanced skaters
- Solid ankle support
- Hi-Lo skates, meaning the back wheels are larger than the front wheels. This is good for speed and better performance.
- Built for balance and stability
Cons:
- Some wheel resistance
- Not recommended for beginners
5. Bladerunner Phoenix Adjustable Junior Skate (Best for Kids) 
Want to get your kids in on the action? Then these Bladerunner urban skates will be perfect for them! Built for stability and comfort, these skates will help your kids to learn how to balance and move on skates while keeping their feet safe and comfortable. Best of all, these skates are adjustable to four sizes, meaning you’ll save money even while your kid’s feet are growing!
Pros:
- Comfortable and easy to wear
- Buckle, strap and lace closure for more support
- Adjustable sizing for longer usage
- Good performance for beginning skaters
Cons:
- Sizes run small. Be sure to double check the sizing chart to get the best value.
Urban Skate Buying Guide
So how exactly do you choose the best urban skate for you? Let’s look at some things to consider and also features that you should be aware of when looking for skates.
Factors to Consider
The Environment
Where will you be doing most of your skating? If you’re a true urban skater, you’ll probably be spending most of your time in the city. Here, control is very important. You’ll be going over different surfaces and making fast turns. Look for a smaller wheel (perhaps around 80mm) and good support for fast maneuvers.
The Frequency
How often will you be skating? If you’re a weekend skater who heads out for a short period of time only, you may opt for comfort rather than long term support. However, if you’re looking to spend a good amount of time each day on your urban skates, then plan for the future with a skate that offers solid support and smooth bearings.
Your Skating Goals
It’s time to judge not only your current level of urban skating but where you’ll go in the future. If you’re just starting out, you may want to buy a beginner’s skate. However, if you’re planning to go from beginner to advanced, it may be worthwhile to invest in a higher-end skate that will last you longer instead of upgrading down the road.
Features to Look for in Urban Skates
- Liners
- Boots
- Wheels
- Closure
- Bearings
Liners
Comfort is a must in any skate, but especially in urban skates. For this reason, it’s important to check out the liners in your boot. While most skates come with standard foam liners, you could upgrade to gel pad liners that fit your foot better and lead to more comfort. Memory foam is also a great resource for comfortable lining. Liners are an important factor in choosing high quality mens hockey skates too.
Boots
The boot of your urban skate will need to be durable and offer good support for urban skating. You’ll be banging these boots around the concrete jungle, so you want to make sure they can withstand the action.
Wheels
Urban skates tend to have smaller wheels, probably around 80mm. This gives you greater speed while maintaining stability. Bigger wheels of around 100mm are also available in urban skates, which mean more speed, but less control. It ultimately depends on your preference.
Closure
There are several types of closure mechanisms available, depending what you prefer. Lacing is standard but lately, has been combined with buckles or straps to maintain better control. Ratchet buckles also give you a nice, tight fit and are normally paired with another system for the most secure closure. These buckles will need to be durable, so they won’t be damaged on impact.
Bearings
Once you know your own skating ability, it will be easier to choose bearings. These are normally rated by your performance, i.e. recreational, performance, or high performance. Choosing the right bearing goes in line with what we mentioned earlier about your skating goals. Investing in a higher quality bearing may be worthwhile if you plan to become an advanced skater.
Brakes
Obviously a very important part of the urban skate, brakes will typically come on the back of the right foot, allowing you to lean backward to stop. As an easier mechanism for beginners, the brand Rollerblade has started to put ABT brakes on their skates, allowing you to slide your foot forward to brake.
Remember, brakes are one feature that is easy to change if you prefer a different style or mechanism.
Top Brands for Urban Skates
Rollerblade
This company started back in 1980 and became a place for skaters who were looking for the latest and best in technology, performance, and comfort. This company is #1 when it comes to inline skates, and has been for many years. They’ve kept up with the trends and have continued to improve their products to fit the modern skater.
K2
This sports company started out with a line of skis but proceeded to build their international portfolio into 40 product categories. They are passionate about sports and have built an empire that spans into urban inline skates, bringing their own technology to improve their product.
Our Final Thoughts
Your best urban skates are out there waiting for you! Take this guide, get to know your own skills and level, and you’ll find the perfect urban skates to match your wishes and dreams!
The post How to Choose the Best Urban Skates 2017 appeared first on Skates HQ.
source http://skateshq.com/best-urban-skates/
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