Are you looking for a great active hobby that you can do both indoors and out? Roller skating offers amazing options for fun and fitness. Before you buy the first pair of skates that catch your eye, however, you need to learn a bit about the outdoor vs. indoor difference.
Where do you plan to skate? Are you thinking about a local indoor rink you can visit in any weather, or do you want to explore local trails outdoors at the park? The main difference between roller skates for outside and inside are the wheels. Choose a pair of traditional quad skates or go for stylish Nattork inline skates to start. Then, explore wheel options for each location.
What Do I Wear for Indoor Roller Skating Near Me?
Indoor wheels are usually harder than those you use outside. Roller skate wheels are rated using a number scale with A behind it, so 85A and below are soft, and 91A and above are hard. For skating at a rink or similar indoor space, choose a higher number.
Why? The harder the wheel, the less grip it has on the ground. There are no pebbles, tiny sticks, or other debris at a rink, so you do not have to worry about shock absorption when you roll over anything. Also, the ground is never slick with rain or oil, which makes hard wheels work well. They can help you go faster, too.
Pick the Best Roller Skates for Outside
For outdoor skating, medium or softer wheels work better. Their slight give makes it more comfortable to roll over small obstructions, cracks, and rough surfaces like asphalt. Although this may affect maximum speeds a tiny bit, you are probably not starting out as a racer on the sidewalk or park trails. Choose outdoor wheels for stability and comfort. If your skates allow for it, slightly large wheels are even better for rougher surfaces.
Once you move on from beginner status and figure out what type of roller skating you really want to do, there are other options to try. Roller dancers, roller derby participants, and speed skaters all have their own favorite wheel type and skate setups.
Indoor Outdoor Roller Skates Give You Options
If you want to explore the whole world of roller-skating opportunities, it makes sense to choose hybrid wheels instead. This makes the most sense for kids and beginners who have not defined their new active hobby yet. These wheels are usually around an 85A in the hardness scale: soft enough to roll over pebbles and rough ground outside, but hard enough to move well on slicker, smoother floors at the local rink.
Indoor outdoor roller skates themselves do not have any unique characteristics. As long as the size is correct and you have a few simple tools, you can change out the wheels at any time. So, choose your favorite pair of Nattork roller skates for kids or adults and get ready to have fun wherever you want.