Buying Kid's Skates

There are two types of kid's skates to choose from - roller blades and roller skates. Many children's skates are size adjustable and offer good ankle support, making them highly suitable for kids. Discover how to choose the right skate for your child in this buying guide.

Watch this video for a quick overview of what you need to know before purchasing a pair of children's skates. The video is in English.

Skating with your child is a rewarding and enjoyable experience that not only provides good exercise but also enhances the child’s motor skills such as balance, all while getting fresh air. If your child is new to skating, it can be beneficial to skate with them to give them a sense of safety.

Should you choose roller blades or roller skates?

Roller blades and roller skates for kids share several characteristics while differing in other aspects. At SkatePro, all the wheels on both types of skates are made of PU rubber (polyurethane) as opposed to plastic. Rubber wheels are a better choice since they provide better surface grip compared to plastic wheels.

Additionally, kid’s skates offer good ankle support, providing your child with better stability and control.

Kid's roller blades

With roller blades or inline skates, it is easier to build up and maintain speed. This is due to narrow wheels that have less surface contact and thereby less roll resistance.

They are generally designed to be lightweight and, since they do not have trucks, they require less maintenance.

We recommend inline skates if you plan to take your child on longer trips. Moreover, they can be seen as a summer alternative to ice skates, allowing you to practice your ice skating skills in the summertime.

Roller skates for kids / quad skates

Roller skates (also known as quad skates) have wheels that come in pairs rather than in a line, and they are designed with a wide baseplate that provides more stability and balance. There is a toe stop in the front that is used for setting off and can also be used as a brake.

There is more roll resistance with quad skates due to the broader wheels. This means that your kid won’t suddenly gain too much speed and take off.

Quad skates have trucks underneath, allowing you to adjust the hardness of the skates. This way, you can make the skate more maneuverable for easier turns or tighter for more directional stability.

Roller skates are typically known as the original skates since they were the first on the market, and some parents choose roller skates because they had a pair in their childhood.

Size-adjustable children’s skates

Most children’s skates are size-adjustable, making choosing the size much easier. Size-adjustable skates allow your child to grow with them up to about 3-4 sizes. Adjusting the size is quite easy; you simply slide the boot back and forth by pressing a button or another mechanism.

If you choose a pair of skates that are not size-adjustable, remember the following advice:

Always read the size guide presented on each product page.

The rule of thumb is to choose one size bigger than the normal shoe size - unless stated otherwise in the size guide.

Skate protection

To prevent any injuries, we always recommend wearing a full set of skate protection covering the head, wrists, elbows, and knees.

You should always choose certified safety equipment. That is why at SkatePro, you only find equipment that has been certified according to the EN 1078 norms. Moreover, most of our gear has been tested further by skaters.

We recommend that your child uses a skate helmet since it covers the back of the head well. This makes skate helmets especially good for skating, where you usually fall backwards. Some skate helmets are even size-adjustable. Wrist guards for children typically have two plates - one over and one under the hand. This stabilizes the child’s hand and protects it better from breaking.

Remember to check the size guide to know which size to choose.