Isabella Raine

This post may contain affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site (at no additional cost to you).

Like many others, I started rollerskating in late 2020.

It all started on TikTok. Watching the bliss others were having cruising down open streets with such ease. Seeing these videos when I was at a low point, mid-pandemic with almost no hobbies, it clicked. Roller Skating was meant to find me. I turned to skaters to find out what I needed and how to start. There seems to be an endless supply of options and decisions to make when starting, so in this blog, I'll include everything you need to start roller skating.

Roller skates were pretty much sold out worldwide when I started, as it was in the midst of the pandemic and the peak of roller skating. Anything of real quality was on a huge waitlist, but I was desperate to start, and as soon as possible. I searched everywhere, and I finally found a pair of introductory skates that weren’t sold out on Amazon. With my introductory pair, I bought some quality outdoor wheels, since my plan was street skating. 

Buying an affordable pair of introductory skates, and quality wheels enabled me to spend minimal money while I learned how much I liked the sport. I wore those skates until I felt ready to commit to more. By the time I was ready, roller skates were back in stock and I found my perfect setup. 

When it came to buying everything I needed to start skating, I looked to other skaters, and my bank account…

I’ve compiled a list based on what I’ve seen, heard and learned these past two years while acknowledging cost barriers. 

Don’t be down on yourself if you can't afford what the pros are using. I know I definitely didn’t start by buying what the pros are using, and there’s no shame in that. I still don't have the huge name brands, but hope to try them out someday. Buy what works for your life and budget.

I’ve included some amazon links, but encourage you to also look at the Fivestride website as an alternative.

You can start safely anywhere from $90 to $800… This number ranges mainly based on the skate boot you choose. If you’re just starting out, I recommend buying introductory skates. There's lots on Amazon, The Five Stride Skate Shop, or you can choose to support your local skate shops as an incredible alternative. 

After choosing your skates, I recommend replacing the wheels with ones fit for where and how you will be using them. Most else is merely cosmetic, as customizing your setup can be a fun way to express yourself.

I’m guilty of skating without safety gear, but the more I do it, the more I realize I need to stop. I learned piece by piece that you’re better safe than sorry. 

On day one, I broke my wrist. I was impatient, and when my skates arrived, I didn't want to wait any longer for my safety gear. As a consequence of not wearing wrist guards, I had to pay medical bills and wear a cast. This prolonged the start of this new hobby months, when I would’ve only needed to wait a couple more days. My wrist has not been the same since. 

If you fall, you are probably falling onto your knees. This is completely normal and to be expected, as falling is part of the gig. There are a few advantages to knee pads. One, is of course avoiding injury, but the other is that it makes falling less scary, knowing it won't hurt as much as it would without. A fear of falling can make skating a lot harder and hold you back, so the more you’re okay with falling, the easier it gets to push yourself further.

My elbow incident was arguably the worst. I went street skating downhill with no elbow pads, and I ended up flying onto the asphalt-- completely wrecking the skin off of my arms. Had I worn elbow pads, or even an extra layer of clothing, I wouldn’t have been screaming in pain later that night scraping the pieces of road out of my arms. 

I believe every incident of these massive injuries could’ve been prevented had I worn the appropriate gear. Not wearing my gear cost me hundreds, if not over a thousand in medical bills, and a lot of pain. I have yet to injure my head, but that’s a chance I’m not willing to take; Even if we are socially conditioned to feel silly wearing a helmet. 

Although there’s cheaper safety gear, as someone who's sustained many injuries, I recommend going with safety gear you trust to be sufficient or good quality, and then actually and consistently wearing it…

Try Not to Feel Discouraged
As you begin to skate, you may also be watching a lot of skaters online. Don’t let their ease and skill dissuade you from your own journey. You may find skaters who document learning every day from day one, and find you’re not learning nearly as quickly. This is okay. It’s not about how many moves you know, or how easy it looks, it’s about getting out there and moving your body doing something that you find fun. 

If that’s just knowing how to go forward, downhill, uphill, turn, maybe jump, and how to stop or fall— that’s amazing. That’s all I did for my first two years. You don’t need anything fancier if you’re happy with what you’re doing. 

It’s Worth the Blood, Sweat and Tears
Although I’ve clearly taken several large hits from roller skating, you’ll notice I still skate. I could go on about the way roller skating makes me feel and what it’s done for my life; From the rush, to the bliss, it’s all around my favorite activity in life. 

Roller Skating has changed my life and I will continue recommending it to most everyone I come in contact with.