Inline skates and the equipment, gear, and other products associated with inline skating or the various disciplines of inline skating are the focus of this section of our web guide.
While some inline skating disciplines (Vert skating, aggressive inline skating, inline figure skating, and inline alpine skating) are covered in our Extreme Sports area, this part of our guide covers the products involved in inlike skating, in general, as well as inline skating, inline hockey, inline skater hockey, and roller soccer.
Core inline skating components are focused on the skates themselves. At its heart, any pair of inline skates consists of a boot and chassis, with soft-boot designs suitable for recreational skating or hard-shell composites for performance and more aggressive disciplines. Frames are made of either aluminum or composites in 3- to 5-wheel configurations, tuned for speed or maneuverability. Bearings are graded by ABEC or ISO scales, with race-rated options like Bevo Gold-7 and Twincam ILQ-9 enhancing roll smoothness. Anatomical padding and EVA footbeds wick moisture and lock the heel in place. Accessories may include performance socks, skate bags, frame spacers, bearing oil, and tool kits for axle and wheel changes. Inline Warehouse is a major retailer of inline skating products, although they are available from several other sources.
Boots used in inline hockey and skater hockey resemble ice hockey models, although they mount a chassis with polyurethane wheels.
The key gear used in these disciplines includes skates with Hi-Lo frames (larger rear wheels for power and smaller front wheels for agility) on performance boots. Protective gear includes helmets with half visors or cages, padded hockey girdles or pants, shoulder and elbow pads, shin guards, gloves, and mouthguards. Composite sticks are paired with low-friction inline pucks, such as Sonic roller-hockey pucks engineered for flat play, or floorball-style hard plastic balls. Training aids may include shooting targets, rebounders, and stick-handling cones. Top brands of hockey skates and protective gear include Bauer, CCM, Mission, Tour, Alkali, True, and Warrior.
Inline skater hockey is often interchangeable with inline hockey in North America, and the equipment parallels inline hockey. The skates are four-wheel inline skates with moderate wheel sizes (76-80 mm) for quick directional changes. Sticks are made of lightweight composite or aluminum with shorter shafts than those used in ice hockey. Plastic balls are used rather than pucks in some leagues for indoor play. Protective gear mirrors those used in roller derby.
Roller soccer marries the skills of soccer with the mobility of wheels. The skates used are four-wheel inline skates (preferred for ball control) or quads. Aggressive boots are discouraged in favor of speed-tuned street frames. The game utilizes a standard size-5 soccer ball with a smooth, slick PVC shell. Low-bounce bladders are optional for indoor safety. Protective gear includes rounded-shell helmets, shin guards, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards. Complete protective kits are recommended. Training equipment may include portable rebounders, pop-up goals, and agility ladders for various drills. RollerSoccer USA emphasizes that gear should strike a balance between protection and mobility, and that most equipment is sourced from mainstream skate and soccer retailers.
Leading manufacturers include: for recreational and performance skates (Rollerblade, K2, Powerslide, Seba, and Roces), inline hockey gear (Bauer, CCM, Mission, Tour, Alkali, True, Warrior, and Sherwood), and roller soccer (Nke, PUMA, FORZA, Soccer Innovations, ORKZ, and Bownet.
Major manufacturers invest heavily in research, using athletic feedback and lab testing to refine boot stiffness, wheel formulas, protective-foam densities, and stick flex patters for their target disciplines.
Manufacturers and retailers of inline skate products are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
Alkali is a premium hockey brand renowned for manufacturing a range of high-quality inline hockey gear, including composite ABS sticks, skates, and protective equipment. They have established themselves as a leading manufacturer in the inline hockey space, offering a complete line of gear for players of all skill levels. Alkali is particularly recognized for its innovative inline hockey skates. Its catalog includes skates, pants, sticks, tech, protective gear, accessories, and uniforms.
https://alkalihockey.com/
Founded in 2008, Coast to Coast is Canada's leading specialty retailer for roller and street hockey gear. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, the company has a brick-and-mortar shop and its online store, offering the country's widest selection of inline hockey skates, wheels, bearings, sticks, ABS blades, protective apparel, and accessories, carrying top brands like Alkali, Bauer, Konixx, Labeda, Mission, Revision, and Tour, as well as custom skate setups and expert advice.
https://coasthockeyshop.com/
Founded in 1994, Inline does business online and through two retail locations: San Luis Obispo, California, and Alpharetta, Georgia. Its locations, retail hours, pickup order hours, and contacts are posted on its website, which includes a product catalog divided into three categories: roller hockey, fitness skating, and street skating. Online shoppers can also shop by brand, product, or clearance items. Also included are buying guides, video reviews, and product descriptions.
https://www.inlinewarehouse.com/
Rinkster is a dedicated inline roller hockey outfitter selling roller hockey wheels (Envy Pro Street, Krysis, Trickster, True Identity), inline skate bearings (Bullets, Golden Sniper, Ninja, Samurai, Sniper Assassin, Warrior), chassis parts, and custom-designed team uniforms and off-rink apparel. Its products are made in the United States, and the company is an official supplier for USARS Team USA (Senior Women's, Junior Women's/Men's). Rinkster is a sponsor of State Wars.
https://rinksterhockey.com/
Roces is an Italian brand founded in 1952, originally crafting high-quality leather shoes before branching into winter sports footwear. In 1981, the company debuted what is widely regarded as the first modern inline skate. Currently, the company produces inline skates, quad roller skates, protective gear, and accessories. The company's history is provided on its website, and its catalog includes aggressive inline skates, quad skates, ice skates, kids' skates, and ski boots.
https://roces.com/
Specializing in inline skate products for men, women, and children, Rollerblade is a division of Italy's Tecnica Group, although it was founded in Minnesota as Ole's Innovative Sports in 1982. Its U.S. headquarters are in West Lebanon, New Hampshire. Rollerblade was the first mass-market inline skate maker, so its name is synonymous with the sport, which is why inline skates are commonly referred to as rollerblades. Categories include men's, women's, kids', accessories, and sale items.
https://www.rollerblade.com/
Headquartered in France, the company was founded in 2005 by freestyle legend Sébastien Laffargue. Originally serving the competitive slalom scene, SEBA quickly became the first brand dedicated solely to freestyle inline skating. Today, its lineup includes freestyle, urban, speed, junior, and specialty skates, each tested by pro riders for snug fits, high response, and memorable performance. Its models are highlighted on the company's site, and tips on choosing the right skate are included.
https://www.sebaskates.com/
