Best Outdoor Wheels for Artistic and Hockey Skates
Feel like skating in the street? Get a set of outdoor wheels for your artistic or hockey skates and skate every day!
Rink wheels vs Outdoor Wheels
Did you know that you can skate in the street with your artistic or hockey skates? Just change your rink wheels with a set of good outdoor wheels. Your rink wheels are extremely hard; they are intended to be used in polished surfaces and are not suitable for the street. Basically, rink wheels:
- do not roll on rough surfaces,
- make you feel uncomfortable on uneven ground (causing typical "leg tremors"), and
- they would just be ruined during your first skating session.
Outdoor wheels, however, are made of much softer polyurethane (PU) and they roll on smoothly uneven ground. They easily roll over debris and dirt, automatically recovering their circumference, and allowing you to skate in the street with total comfort.
What should I look for when buying a set of outdoor wheels?
HARDNESS
Generally speaking, for street (asphalt, bike lanes, parks...) you need 78a hardness wheels, which the most common among quad roller skates.
DIAMETER
Most street skaters use wheel diameters between 57mm and 76mm, depending on various factors. For artistic or hockey skates, the most common diameter for outdoor wheels is 57-65mm.
As a rule of thumb:
- 57mm -> ideal for roller dance, maxium agility, same format as a freestyle artistic wheel
- 62mm -> old school wheel diameter, maximum versatility
- 65mm -> ideal for cruising, safer and faster than smaller wheels
- 70mm or more -> long distance, marathon
Which outdoor wheel should I choose?
Not all wheels are born equal, nor do they convey the same sensations. The quality of the polyurethane formula directly determines the wheel performance and, eventually, its degree of comfort, fun and safety.
For its versatility, agility and value for money, Radar Energy wheels are an excellent choice. Be ready for lots of fun and a smile on your face!
Do I need special bearings to skate outdoor?
No. You can use the same kind of bearings you use for artistic or hockey. However, fully open bearings are not recommended, as they get dirty very quickly. They must be shielded on one or both sides. It is always a good idea to buy a set of bearings just for your outdoor wheels, as this will allow you to swap all wheels in just 2 minutes.
OK, I'm ready to buy a set of wheels to skate outdoor! What's next?
Go to the Wheels section in our store and click on the wheel you want.
If you want to receive the wheels with bearings already mounted, please add a set of bearings to your shopping cart. (Note: Make sure to select the proper bearings. EU artistic/hockey skates usually have 7mm trucks, so most likely you will need 7mm bearings). At checkout, please specify you want the bearings mounted in the 'Comments' field.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
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