Ever since rollerblades were invented in the 1980s, they have been quite popular among teenagers and adults. Rollerblades are known for the thrill of skating in a park, dirt trail, or any safe place with your friends. You will experience a powerful adrenaline rush with endorphins flooding your system.
A significant advantage of this sport is having fun and getting a solid workout simultaneously for men especially, those who wish to be in shape but rarely find the time. However, you should own a pair of good-quality rollerblades for men to enjoy this fantastic outdoor activity.
If you are wondering about the different types of rollerblades, here is the information.
Types of rollerblades
There are many types of rollerblades, and the four most common of these are recreational, hockey, fitness, and aggressive.
- Recreational
Recreational rollerblades are the most commonly found skates suitable for all bladers. However, the material, closure system, and other features will vary from a recreational blade to another.
They will also have a soft shoe construction of reinforced mesh and textile, making it lighter and more breathable. Their features include small wheels, rigid plastic cuff, and basic closure systems like ratchet buckles, standard lacing, and power-assisted lacing.
- Hockey
As the name suggests, hockey roller blades are made specifically for hockey players. Their design is quite similar to ice hockey skates.
The boots are reinforced leather and stitched with carbon fiber or plastic material. Most of their frames are manufactured from durable and lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum or Grade-2024-T3. The wheels are usually between 72 to 76 millimeters with short frames and high-performance bearings.
- Fitness
Fitness rollerblades are the way to go about it if you want to get in shape. They are pretty lightweight and offer a higher degree of comfort because of liner construction which enables optimum air circulation.
Compared to recreational rollerblades, they have larger wheels, faster bearings, and ample cuff support. They allow you to skate with safety, comfort, and efficiency for a long time.
- Aggressive
Do you like to take rollerblading to the next level and perform daring jumps, tricks, drops, and stunts? Then, the aggressive rollerblades are for you. They are different from almost every other blade because their boots are made from abrasion-resistant plastic.
The soles have a flat hard place that can withstand constant grinding, jumping, and dropping, while the overall frame is short. Usually, they come without a break, but you can easily attach that afterward.
How do rollerblades work?
There are two types of skates usually found globally:
- Traditional
- Inline (also called rollerblades)
Both of them work with the help of bearings that efficiently turn the wheels and enable a skater to make corner turns and smoothly negotiate curves. Ceramic is used in making most of them because it is durable, reduces friction, and can withstand a lot of pressure.
What are the Differences between Rollerblades and Roller Skates?
Even though many people confuse the terms rollerblades and roller skates, since both are used while skating, it is necessary to distinguish one from another.
The primary difference between them is the positioning of the wheels. Rollerblades consist of two horizontal trucks or hangers, and each of them holds a pair of wheels both to the left and right. Roller skates have a single truck with a single line of wheels. Also, the size of the wheels in roller skates are much smaller in diameter than those in rollerblades.
These are a few things related to rollerblades for men that you will find helpful, particularly if you plan to take up this exciting sport in the future. It is crucial to select the perfect rollerblades for efficiency and fun.
