The Very Best Roller Skates for Every Type of Skater

Boot: High-cut suede boot | Wheels: 65mm/78a wheels | Plates: nylon plate | Toe-stop: adjustable toe-stop | Price: $$

For a solid, all-around good pair of roller skates, the Moxi Lolly is your best bet. Six of the eight experts I spoke to recommended the pair, which comes from Moxi Skates, founded by professional skater Michelle Steilen (aka Estro Jen) and manufactured by Riedell, one of the oldest skate producers in the United States. The basic package includes a Powerdyne Nylon plate, Kwik Abec 5 bearings, and soft, gummy outdoor wheels, which are better for “rough terrain, cruising, or slippery surfaces,” Heiden explains. Perrino describes the wheels as being “like marshmallows,” adding that they “absorb shock like no other wheel I’ve skated on.” The wheels’ larger size gives “better stability for beginners and an overall more comfortable ride for all-day or long-distance sessions,” she adds. If you’re looking to pursue a more specific type of skating, like roller derby or rhythm skating, I’d recommend looking at the other options on this list.

Both Strategist writer Dominique Pariso and roller skater Raney Kennedy are fans of the skates, and Pariso says, “I can say with certainty that they are absolutely worth the money. I’ve gone trailskating and clocked ten miles on these babies and my feet and ankles felt completely comfortable the entire trip.” Kennedy echoes Pariso’s sentiment, saying, “Once they break in, they really feel like they’re an extension of your body.” Just note: The Lolly skates are designed for street skating and can handle ramps, cracks, and concrete, but Heiden suggests buying an extra set of wheels if you want to use them for indoor skating

Boot: High-cut vinyl boot | Wheels: 58mm/78A wheels | Plates: aluminum plate | Toe-stop: adjustable toe-stop | Price: $

For beginners, four of our experts suggested going for this less expensive pair of Beach Bunny skates from our best-overall brand. They’re the skates that Kennedy started on, and she found that they held up well while she learned to skate, surviving scuffs and the impact from falling in the year and a half that she used them before upgrading to the Moxi Lolly. According to RousHer, they have all the durability and support of many higher-priced skates. “You can be sure that they will last through the many adventures, falls, and excitement that comes with being a new skater,” she says. As you learn how to skate, you’ll probably find yourself preferring either outdoor skating or indoor skating, and the Beach Bunny is versatile enough for both. “This skate has the ability to develop with you as a skater; it is good for if you want to branch out into many types of skating, such as ramps, once you have learned the basics of roller skating,” RousHer says. While the boots aren’t made of leather, Moore says their sturdy vinyl material offers “better ankle support” for those who may need it because the material is a little stiffer.

One thing to note: The Beach Bunny is ideal for wider feet because of its large toe box. For narrower feet, you might consider the Riedell Orbit, which has a longer and narrower shape. When helping beginner skaters find their first pair of skates, Heiden typically asks them to try on both the Beach Bunny skates and the Riedell Orbit skates because she says they’re “very much comparable” in terms of stability and durability. In addition to considering the width of your feet, you’ll also want to consider color: “The Moxi is more pastels, and the Riedell Orbits are a little bit more saturated colors,” Heiden adds.

Boot: High cut leather boot | customizable hardwear | Price: $$$

Rhythm skating is a style of skating that combines elements of dance and roller skating. It requires a specific kind of boot — called an artistic boot — that typically has a higher top for added ankle support and a bit of a heel to shift your weight forward, both of which help you safely execute different techniques. To those who are looking to really bust a move, skater Liz Brazile suggests these skates from Riedell. While they are pricey — the retail price of the boot itself is $325, and that’s before customizing it with additional parts, like wheels — she explains that “they’re one of the cheapest Riedell artistic-boot models.” Brazile adds that these boots only come in black and white; black is available in men’s sizing, while the white boots come in women’s sizing, so she says to “make sure to follow the sizing charts closely.”

For a less expensive option, you might consider the Sure-Grip Stardust Roller Skates that RousHer suggests. They’re sparkly, and available in three colors — a twilight-esque black, bubblegum pink, and sky blue. Though they’re more affordable, they won’t last as long. So if you’re serious about rhythm skating, it’s worth considering the more expensive setup.

Boot: High-cut split leather suede boot | customizable hardwear | Price: $$$

If you know you want to get serious about street skating, investing in a high-quality, durable boot is a must. Both Bell and RousHer say that the boots on these Jack Boot skates from Moxi make them a prime choice for street skating. According to Bell, the skates are designed for “taking on concrete, ramps, and rough terrain,” and RousHer says they are “perfect for parks” because of their high-performance, padded suede boots that are extra firm and offer superior ankle support. She does warn that “the skates take about ten hours of break-in time, but just like a good pair of Doc Martens, after that break-in time, they feel like heaven and are well built to handle any aggressive skating you are doing.” Bell adds that slightly upgrading the standard out-of-the box Jack Boot skates is worth it if you’ll be using them a lot. For the perfect setup, Heiden suggests mounting the Moxi Jack Boot on a metal plate with an adjustable toe stop from either Roll-Line or Komplex, and finishing it off with wheels from Rollerbones Team Wheels or CIB Park Wheels.

If the Jack Boot and the remaining setup is out of your budget, there’s the Chaya Melrose Roller Skates. Heiden likes their heel, which will automatically shift your weight onto the ball of your foot for increased agility. Plus, they’ll take less time to break in: “Right out of the box, it won’t be hard to cruise around town and maneuver obstacles” in these, she says. To get even more bang for your buck, she says to upgrade them by swapping in some affordable long-stemmed toe-stops that not only offer added stability, but make it even easier to stop when you need to because they’re lower to the ground.

Boot: reinforced double split suede leather | customizable hardware | Price: $$$

Once you get the hang of park skating, you might want to pick up a few tricks, and a pair of skates with good support is essential to staying safe while you learn. The design of the Jack 2 was actually inspired by that of an ankle brace used to alleviate strain from daily high-impact skating, making these a particularly good bet. (You’ll see that added support in the double-backed, dual-density padding that wraps underneath the heel through the top of the ankle and mimics the stabilizations of a brace.) According to Pariso, these skates are best for those who “plan to learn tricks with more high-impact landings, use your skates for multiple hours a day, or just feel like you need more ankle support while skating.” With the added support comes a higher price point, so Heiden says these are best for skaters looking to “take it up a notch,” as the pair is part of Moxi’s “more premium” line.