Roller skates for kids.

[ImFree2doasiwant]

Dc ages 4 and 6 have been roller skating a few times they love it and are keen to get their own skates. I was thinking of getting some for Christmas if they stay enthusiastic til then.

Skates hire is £2. I've had a quick look online and the selection is mind boggling!! Can anyone who knows what here on about, advise?

DO NOT BUY "No Fear" brand, they are unsafe.

For that age anything else that's actually roller skate shaped will work, but avoid adjustable ones as the back wheels going forward to adjust can cause them to fall backwards very easily.

Better to buy skates with a proper boot which is a size or two too big, then thick socks and lace them up.

SFR and Rio are a couple of brands that do decent ones for littles. Find them used on ebay and they're cheap enough to compensate for not being adjustable.

Don't forget helmets and pads - it's difficult to find decent wrist guards for tiny arms but it's worth trying!

This style is good www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174934317714?hash=item28bae5da92:g:bp8AAOSwGothPH3-

Lidl sells them, and the pads, a couple of times a year. Adjustable. Cost around £20. Lasts fine, does the job.

You want:
Hudora My First Quad Roller-skates
from amazon, they are fab, the are the ones for beginners so adjustable in size, really well fitting, and have a bumper stopper to help stop them fall backwards on them. My dd 6 loves them.

I actually disagree with upthreads about not getting adjustable and just getting cheap ones, you want something that has the back bumper as falling backwards is a definite way to hate skating, and having badly fitting ones is a definite way to be rubbish at skating, really nice fitting ones that can be tightened in different places makes all the difference. We tried a few on and we looked into it alot and took advice from our roller rina shop who only hire out ones with back bumpers for that age because it means they stay upright its so much nicer.
Agree getting a nice helmet and pad set is really good plan too.

@EatsFartsAndLeaves

DO NOT BUY "No Fear" brand, they are unsafe.

For that age anything else that's actually roller skate shaped will work, but avoid adjustable ones as the back wheels going forward to adjust can cause them to fall backwards very easily.

Better to buy skates with a proper boot which is a size or two too big, then thick socks and lace them up.

SFR and Rio are a couple of brands that do decent ones for littles. Find them used on ebay and they're cheap enough to compensate for not being adjustable.

Don't forget helmets and pads - it's difficult to find decent wrist guards for tiny arms but it's worth trying!

What's wrong with "no fear"? My DD has a pair and gets on OK with them. Can you link to any evidence that they are unsafe please?

I've seen more No Fear skates disintegrate on the job, snap clean off in places they shouldn't and fail to withstand basic maintenance like taking the wheels off than any other skates.

I've also seen them not able to tip side to side without the wheels catching on the side of the boot, meaning that they stop very suddenly and unpredictably whenever you use your "edges" at all, don't really function properly as roller skates and kids won't learn to skate with good technique on them.

If you look for skate reviews in places where they're not selling anything, e.g. on Reddit or on skate forums or facebook groups, everyone will repeatedly say not to buy No Fear. But they're sold as children's toys to people who don't skate themselves, and parents just assume that kids break things and don't understand that sudden wheel stops are dangerous for example.

I hadn't even thought if second hand on ebay, thanks!

@EatsFartsAndLeaves by adjustable do you mean the ones with clips rather than laces? Dc1 is really really enjoying skating so am happy to get a decent pair of skates, and even happier if I can get them second hand.

@scully29 they look good but maybe a step back from the ones they've been using. I do see younger children using them.

It doesn't really matter how they do up, by adjustable i mean skates that fit three or four different shoe sizes (but it changes the position of the wheels relative to the heel of the boot).

SFR Vision is very common and is what my 6 year old is using. They're not adjustable but I think his are 2 sizes bigger than his actual shoe size and he skates fine in them.

Cushion down the bum reduces fear of falling backs btw, this goes for adult learners too

Skate buying guide

The place we go roller skating has this advice

Ah I see thanks, I had no idea you could get that type, not something I'd go for in any case .
Ill h
ave a read thanks @BikeRunSki