The 20 Best Roller Skates for Beginners

Jun 29, 2023

The Best Roller Skates for Beginners Guide features the 20 best quad skates for different budgets from the most trusted roller skating brands.

We independently selected all products in the Best Roller Skates for Beginners Guide. We may earn a commission through affiliate programs if you click our links.

Buyers Guide: Best Roller Skates for Beginners Guide

What are the best beginner roller skates?

Finding the perfect roller skates for beginners can feel overwhelming with so many choices out there. But worry not! I’ve handpicked a variety of excellent skate models from well-known brands to simplify your search and save you time. Rest assured, this article is regularly updated and improved to offer you the latest and most pertinent information. So you can skate with confidence and joy!

Low-Cut vs. High-Top Boots

Roller skate boots are available in a low-cut, ideal for roller derby and speed skating, or high-top, great for recreational and park skating. However, boot height does not limit the types of skating you can do. It just boils down to personal preference, with both working fine for learning to skate outdoors or at the rink. Many people don’t feel the difference between low and high-cut boots. Although high-cut boots will not prevent you from twisting your ankle, they may provide security for someone with weak ankles.

Note: Most high-top skates in this guide come with outdoor wheels, while low-cut skates generally have indoor wheels.

Metal vs. Nylone Plates

You will see two types of plates on the skates in this guide: metal and nylon. Nylon is acceptable if you are interested in skating at the rink, joining a derby league, trail skating, or rolling around the skatepark. If you want to start stalling on ramps, doing grinds, or plan on seriously pursuing derby, then metal is what you want. Nylon plates are lighter but can flex, resulting in a loss of power transfer. Metal plates, however, are more durable when used aggressively or by a heavier skater and offer better performance. Most of the skates on this list are upgradable, so you can always buy the skate you can afford now and then add a metal frame down the line.

Note: You may see low-end skates with hard plastic plates while searching online. Avoid purchasing skates with plastic plates, as they are not considered safe or strong enough to support the weight of heavier skaters.

What is the absolute cheapest roller skate I can buy?

Finding the best quality skates that will last for under $100 is nearly impossible. Most skates in that price range use subpar parts, have plastic trucks, and come from unreputable brands. I would avoid any skates sold by Wish or AliExpress as they are overpriced, flimsy, and potentially unsafe. Only Candi Girl makes a skate that I recommend that falls into this price range, but even they wear out over time. Nonetheless, they are a decent skate for beginners, even though I would personally upgrade the wheels as soon as possible.

The Candi Girl Carlin is a decent-quality beginner skate made by Roller Derby Elite. At under $100, it is the most affordable skate on our list, making it an ideal entry-level hightop skate. The boot is synthetic brushed suede with a soft padded interior lining and offers excellent ankle support. With their durable yet lightweight aluminum plates and adjustable metal trucks, the Candi Girl Carlin roller skates provide exceptional control for smooth skating.Although not great, the 66mm 82A wheels are suitable for indoor or outdoor skating. The metal plates are solid and offer stability. I recommend replacing the cheap stock toe stop with a Sure-Grip Bullseye toe stop that uses a rubber toe stop. If you want an excellent-priced high-top quad skate in eye-catching colors, then the Candi Girl Carlin is the skate for you.

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Once you move into the $100 – $200 range, you will find some durable quality skates that will last you quite a long time. The skates in this category come either with nylon or aluminum plates. High-top skates in this category come with outdoor wheels, while low-cut skates have indoor wheels. Almost all the boots in this price range are made from PVC or microfiber. The lone exception is the Moxi Panther which is suede making it the best-priced leather boot in this guide.

The Moxi Rainbow Rider is an affordable high-top recreational skate for the beginning or casual outdoor skater with a fantastic aesthetic. It features a stiff vinyl boot with a comfortable and supportive padded liner. They may not hold up in the skate park but are an excellent choice for learning to skate outdoors or at the rink. Mounted to the boot is a durable die-cast aluminum plate, Moxi Rainbow Rider 58mm 82A outdoor wheels with ABEC 5 bearings and an adjustable toe stop to ensure a smooth ride wherever you take them. The Rainbow Rider is a quality skate that will bring you hours of fun without breaking the bank, putting them on our list of the best roller skates for beginners.

Chaya offers some solid beginner skate options at a reasonable price point. The Chaya Vintage is a mid-cut sneaker-like boot with retro flair perfect for everything from outdoor cruising to dance. This super cute skate uses vegan-friendly PU-nubuck leather materials and are very comfortable.Mounted to the lightweight Chaya Galaxy Evo aluminum plate with 10-degree action are Chaya Spectrum 59x38mm 78A wheels with Wicked ABEC 7 bearings. I recommend purchasing the Chaya Pocket Skate Tool to adjust your trucks and toe stops. You will be learning to skate on them for many years to come! Chaya Vintage roller skates are great for cruising on the streets or learning at the rink.

The Moxi Beach Bunny is a quality vegan-friendly skate that is well-constructed, affordable and looks great. Inside the stiff PVC boot is a comfortable moisture-wicking Dri-Lex liner. The Moxi Beach Bunny is an excellent skate for beginners, and you will get compliments wherever you go.Mounted to the Beach Bunny is a PowerDyne Marvel aluminum plate with a 10-degree kingpin and adjustable toe stop. Attached to the trucks are Moxi Beach Bunny 58x33mm 78A wheels with ABEC 3 bearings that provide a smooth ride on the boardwalk or in the rink. They come in the coolest box and also with a skate key for adjusting your skates and doing maintenance. How can you not smile putting these on!?

The Chaya Melrose Deluxe is a beginner high-top roller skate at an unbelievable price constructed of all vegan-friendly materials, providing a fun rolling experience without compromise. Moreover, the durable and stiff vinyl boot with internal padding provides excellent ankle support. A Galaxy Evo aluminum cast plate mounts to the boot and features a height-adjustable toe stop.Sugar Rush 62mm 78A wheels and Wicked ABEC 7 bearings promise a smooth and comfortable ride. These skates make you look and feel great while being comfortable enough to skate 20 miles without pain. Skating on the Melrose Deluxe will make you look and feel great. They are incredibly sturdy and glide like a dream right out of the box, putting them on our list of the best roller skates for beginners.

The Sure-Grip GT-50 is a low-cut entry-level speed skate similar to the Riedell R3, excellent for rink skating and beginner roller derby. The 62mm Sure-Grip Swirl wheels with ABEC 5 bearings and ROCK nylon plates are solid. While the vegan-friendly vinyl boots are flexible, have comfy cushioned padding, and lace up perfectly.The toe stops are removable and adjustable, a feature many skaters require. For being a non-leather skate without ankle support, I was worried about fit. Right out of the box, the skates fit perfectly and exceeded expectations. However, I recommend investing in outdoor wheels if you want to skate outside.

The Riedell R3 is among the most popular low-cut entry-level indoor speed skates for beginners due to its outstanding performance and value. They are handmade using vinyl material with a nylon plate but are durable and can take quite the beating. The Riedell R3 Skates fit similarly to a sneaker, are heavily padded yet narrow at the toes, and provide a snug, comfortable fit.Although the PowerDyne Thrust Plate is lightweight and performs well for beginners and during first derby practices, it does not perform as well as aluminum plates for serious roller derby players. However, you can easily upgrade the plates, and many people do after a year or so. Furthermore, the 62x43mm 95A Radar Cayman wheels with ABEC 5 bearings are great for the rink, but if you want to skate outside, you should buy softer outdoor wheels to make skating more enjoyable on uneven outdoor surfaces.

The VNLA Parfait is a super cute high-top roller skate ideal for beginners with wide feet to learn how to skate outdoors or at the rink! In my opinion, the Parfait is visually comparable to Moxi Beach Bunnies. The padding inside the microfiber boot provides an incredibly comfortable fit, and the tongue is extra thick and durable.The mounted lightweight aluminum plate features an adjustable rubber toe stop and 58x32mm 78A wheels with ABEC 7 bearings. At its mid-range price, the VNLA Pairfait is an excellent choice for beginners looking for comfortable and high-quality roller skates.

Based on Riedell’s model 111 boot, the Riedell Orbit is an adorable colorful outdoor skate with good ankle support that won’t break the bank. The PVC boot is very stiff, yet the padding and soft footbed make them surprisingly comfortable out of the box. They are easy to skate, and you will notice your skating start to prove almost immediately.The Marvel die-cast aluminum plate with 10° kingpins with 57x32mm 85A Sonar Zen wheels and ABEC 5 bearings provide stability and excellent response. At 85A, the wheels are soft enough to grip any surface and fast and smooth, providing hours of rolling enjoyment at the rink, on trails, and on the streets. Lastly, the skates have a replaceable and adjustable toe stopper.

The Jackson Finesse is a vegan-friendly vinyl beginner skate that is excellent for outdoor adventures or at the rink. Inside, you will find comfy memory foam ankle padding and an antibacterial lining. It is mounted to a nylon Pilot Viper Zytel Plate with Atom Pulse Lite 62x33mm 78A wheels with Bionic ABEC 7 bearings.The Atom Pulse wheels are among the best outdoor wheels on the market. These skates are virtually on par with far more expensive models and custom builds. The Jackson Finesse is a solid skate with good ankle support, putting them on our list of the best roller skates for beginners.

The Sure-Grip Fame is durable and comfy, making it an excellent skate for beginners interested in dance, rink skating, or outdoor cruising. Fame skates have a snug fit making dance moves and steps easier. The comfortable padding inside the Fame boot requires no break-in time, making it super comfortable out of the box.Furthermore, the vegan-friendly Fame boot is PVC and has an indestructible ROCK nylon plate mounted to it. The plates are by far one of the best nylon plates available on an entry-level skate. The 65x36mm 78A Boardwalk Wheels with ABEC 5 bearings are perfect for outdoor skating, are smooth, and will easily roll over cracks and debris. The Sure-Grip Fame is perfect if you want a solid, comfortable skate with excellent maneuverability, putting them on our list of the best roller skates for beginners.

The Moxi Panther is an affordable yet stunning skate that combines the stiff abrasion-resistant suede of Moxi’s high-end Jack boots with the plates and wheels of the Beach Bunny and Jungle models. It is incredibly durable, has fantastic ankle support, and is Moxi’s most affordable suede skate, making them perfect for beginner recreational and park skaters.The Dri-lex microfiber liner wicks moisture and keeps your feet cool. The tongue, curved collar, and padding are very comfortable and support the ankle. These high-top outdoor quad skates feature Moxi Classic 58x33mm 78A outdoor wheels with ABEC 5 bearings to provide a smooth ride. The Panthers are good skates for the money, putting them on our list of the best roller skates for beginners.

The Bont Prostar Prodigy is a heat-moldable low-cut skate that is lightweight, comfortable, and supportive. The boot of the skate has a fiberglass base with a Microfiber liner and outer, a 6mm innersole, and memory foam padding. Furthermore, they have a wide tox box for added comfort and a replaceable rubber bumper on the toe of the skate.They are premium quality at an insanely affordable price, making them an excellent choice for beginners looking for their first derby, outdoor, or park skates. Use a hairdryer for 10 minutes to conform them snugly to your feet. Under the boot, you will find a lightweight fiberglass-reinforced Prodigy plate with 20-degree action with Ballistic 60x40mm 92A wheels and ABEC 5 bearings.

Note: When sizing Bont skates, DO NOT go off your shoe size. Instead, reference their sizing chart before ordering.

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The quality of the roller skates for beginners jumps quite a bit in the $200 – $300 range. With the exception of the micro-fiber Jackson Vista, all the boots are leather or suede. As in the previous group, all the high-top skates have outdoor wheels, while the low-cut Sure-Grip Rebel Avanti has indoor wheels.

Jackson Vista skates are stylish and affordable recreational outdoor skates with lightweight nylon plates that are true to size and perform well. The microfiber suede is lovely and soft, and the sturdy high-top boot is stiff but forgiving. Furthermore, the memory foam padding around the ankle relieves pressure points and provides support, while the foam-backed tongue reduces lace bite.Vista skates are comfortable and easy to ride straight out of the box, making them ideal for beginners. Additionally, I love being able to adjust the height of the toe stoppers. Underneath the Viper Nylon Plate is a set of Atom Pulse 62x33mm 78A Wheels with ABEC 7 bearings that are soft and smooth. The Jackson Vista is a fantastic beginner skate and will allow you to advance quickly.

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The Sure-Grip Boardwalk skates feature a suede boot and components similar to the Moxi Lolly at a considerably lower price point. Honestly, this would be my choice if you want a quality skate but don’t want to drop $369 for the Lolly. The Boardwalk is a beautiful, well-made outdoor skate designed around the beach lifestyle. A nylon rock plate is riveted to the boot, and the toe stops are adjustable. I like the 10-degree angle of these plates, which feel more stable than some of the other reputable brand’s plates. Sure-Grip 57x33mm 82A outdoor wheels with ABEC 3 bearings come mounted to the plates. These classic suede high-tops are among the best skates available, and I highly recommend them. They come in multiple colors that pop and are sure to attract attention, putting them on our list of the best roller skates for beginners.

The Riedell Crew is a re-skinned version of the classic durable 120 boot that looks amazing and will turn heads. The high-top leather skate fits securely around the ankle and has a soft comfy footbed. They are light and nimble skates ideal for recreational, park, and dance skating at an excellent price point for beginner skaters.Furthermore, a comfortable moisture-wicking lining with reinforced quarters supports jumps, spins, and various dance moves. The soft yet stiff leather boot comes mounted with a lightweight Powerdyne Thrust nylon plate, Sonar Zen 62mm 85a outdoor wheels, and ABEC 5 Bearings.

The Sure-Grip Rebel Avanti is a highly affordable low-cut performance leather roller skate, ideal for derby and outdoor skating, at an exceptional price. A lightweight, durable Sure-Grip Avanti aluminum plate with a 10-degree steel kingpin attaches to the sneaker-style Rebel leather boot. The Fugitive 62mm 92A wheels with ABEC 7 bearings deliver exceptional speed. With nearly no break-in period, this boot provides instant comfort and stability on the track, putting them on our list of the best roller skates for beginners.

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In the most expensive range of roller skates for beginners, we have some of the most popular skates on our list. All three skates are made of real suede and come with wheels suitable for outdoor use. The Bont and Chuffed skates have metal plates, while the Lolly skate has nylon plates.

The Bont Parkstar is a comfortable, lightweight, and stable boot that hugs your ankles to offer exceptional support when park skating, hitting the trails, or rolling around the rink. The boot utilizes reinforced suede with internal cushioning, a 23mm heel lift, and a wide toe box. Use a hair dryer to heat-mold the boot in under 10 minutes, then shape them any way you want to provide the perfect fit around your foot. The Parkstar is a skate that you can thrash at the skatepark and will hold up through it all. You need not worry much about scuffing the front of them as they have a replaceable rubber toe guard that can take a beating. Bont’s are worth the investment and will last a long time! Many people love them so much they own two pairs—one for the park and one for recreation. Mounted to the skate is an aluminum truck with a 20-degree kingpin angle allowing for tight turns and providing stability at high speeds. Their Street Flow 58x32mm 89a wheels with ABEC 5 bearings are very smooth and much faster than you’d think for how soft they are.Note: Bont skates are difficult to size correctly. DO NOT go based on your shoe size. Make sure to reference the sizing chart before ordering.

The beautiful suede Chuffed Wanderer roller skate is comfy and robust, providing unlimited potential on the streets, at the park, and in the rink. The padded lining offers ultimate comfort with minimal break-in time. All color variations of the Wanderer are suede leather except for the vegan black skates, which have microfibre uppers. The Wanderer has an aluminum plate, an adjustable toe stop, and 68mm 82a polyurethane wheels with ABEC 7 bearings. This skate is so sturdy and reliable that it will put a smile on your face every time you put them on your feet.

The Moxi Lolly is super cute, comfortable, and well-built, ideal for the rink and outdoor cruising. The genuine cowhide suede boot offers a lot of support without the uncomfortable rigidity of vinyl. I truly love the vibrant colors and am in love with their aesthetics. Even though they are among our list’s higher-priced skates, they are worth every penny as they feel like heaven on your feet.They may feel narrow at first, but the suede will stretch to conform to the shape of your foot after a few sessions. Mounted to the boot, you will find a Powerdyne Nylon Thrust Plate with 65x35mm Moxi Gummy Outdoor Wheels and ABEC 5 bearings. Moxi Gummy wheels are perfect for jam and rhythm skating on tennis courts. The Lolly comes in the cutest box that looks like a well-traveled suitcase, with instructions and a handy tool to maintain your skates.

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The Triple 8 Sweatsaver Helmet integrates high-impact absorbing EPS foam with dual-density soft foam and plush sweatsaver fabric. This dual-certified helmet offers the ultimate comfort and protection.

Available for $64.95 from Derby Warehouse or $63.68 – $74.99 on Amazon

The S1 Lifer Helmet is a professional-grade helmet using a high-impact EPS Foam Liner for maximum protection against big falls and multiple collisions.

Available for $79.99 – $94.99 from Derby Warehouse or $89.99 on Amazon

187 Killer Wrist Guards have thick reinforcement in the splint at the base of the hand where most impacts occur. The contoured design optimizes fit and comfort, while the double stitching improves durability.

Available for $22.95 on Derby Warehouse

Smith Derby Knee Pads are comfortable and built tough for roller derby. These are Smith’s most cushioned knee pads and use three layers of padding

Available for $49.95 on Derby Warehouse

The 187 Six Pack is an excellent value for these quality and durable pads to protect your knees, wrists, and elbows from contact and falls. The foam absorbs the hard impacts, while high-density plastic hard caps protect from abrasion and minor bumps.

Available for $59.99 – $84.99 on Derby Warehouse

If you want excellent pads at a great price, consider the Triple Eight Saver Series Pad Set with Kneesavers, Elbowsavers, and Wristsavers. They are available in multiple colors and sizes.

Available for $19.99 to $44.99 on Amazon

The Powerdyne Y3 Skate Tool is excellent for changing wheels and tightening bolts on your roller skates. It features two different size sockets (1/2″ & 9/16″) and a 15/16″ wrench, making it ideal for tightening standard axle lock nuts, kingpin lock nuts, and toe stops.

Available for $15.00 from Derby Warehouse or Amazon

The Bont Bearing Press is a MUST for every roller skater who frequently changes bearings. One end serves to press bearings into your skate wheels, while the opposite end allows for easy bearing removal. The poll is adjustable and works for 7mm & 8mm Bearings.

Available for $59.99 from Derby Warehouse or Amazon