I have been a roller skater girl ever since I can remember. I learned to skate at a very early age and skated through most of my adolescent and teen years. In fact, some of my best memories in life happened at the skating rink as a teen. But like most teens, I hung up my skates in high school and have only skated here and there since. That’s until 2020 rolled around. That’s also the year I decided to get back on skates, but this time on quads.
Before we keep going, I want to share a few things. I’m not claiming to be a skating expert nor is this an all-inclusive guide to roller skate. This is just of skates that I’ve considered or have heard about from others when it comes to the best outdoor roller skates for beginners.
Here are the things I’m taking into consideration in making my recommendations on the best outdoor roller skates for beginners:
- Use case- As a beginner, I’m assuming you will be using your skates outside (and possibly inside at some point) in a recreational setting. Think rolling through the park, cruising the beach with friends, or doing some basic dane skating.
- Functionality- A skate that is functional with quality parts to start your skate journey.
- Price point- Typically as beginning roller skaters, you are just trying this out and want an entry-level or intermediate pair of skates to learn on.
- Aesthetic- Skating is all about personal style and finding a skate that matches your style is a part of the activity. I’m focusing on artistic boot-style outdoor roller skates for this post, since they are the style of skate, I have the most knowledge about. Although you will see a list of boots to choose from, keep in mind that ever skate boot is cut differently.
Ok, now lets get to it!
Best Outdoor Roller Skates for Beginners 2021
🛼 Moxi Roller Skates for Beginners
Moxi Rainbow Riders
Price: $100
Basic Features:
- Vegan vinyl boot
- Aluminum Plate
- ABEC-5 bearings
- Adjustable toe stop
- 58mm 82a wheels
The Moxi Rainbow Rider skates have created a lot of buzz in the skate community since they launched in 2020. Quality skates at the $100 mark are not easy to come by, but guess what? Moxi made it happen. These recreational skates have a sturdy boot that is comfortable and supportive. Not only are the specs on these skates impressive at the price point, but the design is also what really speaks to the heart. They come in 3 different colors (black, pink, and yellow) and all of the styles have rainbow laces and graphics.
Moxi Beach Bunny
Price: $149
Basic Features:
- Vegan vinyl boot
- Aluminum Plate
- ABEC-5 bearings
- Adjustable toe stop
- 58mm 78a wheels
At a slightly higher price point than the Moxi Rainbow Riders, you have the Moxi Beach Bunny skates. My first set of quads was the Moxi Beach Bunny skates. These skates are great for beginners because they have a firm boot that offers more support. They are well padded, which I think offers new skaters an extra sense of security. I also think these could be a good fit for those with wide feet, as the inside of the boot is roomy. Asides from function, these are incredibly cute. They even come with toe caps, which are a skate gear essential.
🛼 Riedell Roller Skates for Beginners
Riedell Citizen Roller Skates
Price: $135
Basic Features:
- Vegan boot
- Powerdyne thrust nylon plate
- ABEC-5 bearings
- Fixed toe stop
- 62mm 85mm wheels
Riedell is an OG skate brand. While these skates may seem no-frills with only two-color options to choose from, they are a solid set of skates for a beginner. They come out of the box with some of the same features of mid-priced skates, such as the Powerdyne thrust nylon plate. Although they only come in two colors, there are tons of ways to customize these skates to add your own personal touch.
Riedell Zone Roller Skates
Price: $249
Basic Features:
- Vegan boot
- Rock nylon plate
- ABEC-5 bearings
- Adjustable Carrera toe stopper
- 57mm wheels
You can’t go wrong with a part of zones. For starters, Riedell is a legendary skate brand that has been around for decades and is based right here in the USA. In fact, Moxi makes their skates via Riedell. Riedell Zone’s are the skate that Moxi Lolly’s are based on. You can call them siblings because the boots are the same and are ideal for regular or narrow-width feet. This skate has minimal padding and takes about 10 hours to mold to your feet. It would be a good idea to pick up an insert for added foot-bed comfort. These are awesome skates for beginners and can be used for a variety of outdoor skating styles. The only downfall in my book is the limited amount of color options (Black and Camel Tan), but on the bright side, the suede on the camel color can be dyed if you’re up for some DIY.
🛼 Sure-Grip Roller Skates for Beginners
Sure-Grip Fame
Price: $209
Basic Features:
- Vegan boot
- Rock nylon plate
- ABEC-5 bearings
- Adjustable Carrera toe stopper
- 57mm wheels
These are good option for those looking for outdoor roller skates to focus on artistic, recreational, or jam (dance) at the $200 price range. Again, these are entry-level skates and not meant to be used for park skating. Another pro? These skates come in junior’s sizes for little ones that want to learn to cruise on 8-wheels.
Sure-Grip Boardwalk
Price: $230
Basic Features:
- Suede boot
- Rock nylon plate
- ABEC-5 bearings
- Adjustable Carrera toe stopper
- 65mm wheels (Ideal for outdoor use)
If you like the Moxi Lolly skate, then it’s closest cousin (look wise) is the Sure-Grip Boardwalk series. These skates are made is several beautiful suede colors with a stitched sole, that makes them extra durable. They have a reputation of being comfortable and great for those with wide feet, and have more padding than the Moxi Lolly or Riedell Zone. Another bonus, they are not too hard to your hands on since most of the skate shops have them in stock fairly regularly.
🛼 Chaya Outdoor Roller Skates
Chaya Melrose Series
Price: $150
Basic Features:
- PP hard outer sole boot
- Glass Fiber reinforced Plate
- ABEC-5 bearings
- Bolt-on toe stopper
- 61mm 78a urethane wheels (Ideal for outdoor use)
The Melrose skates are part of Chaya’s lifestyle series of skates.These skates are ideal as a first pair of skates for casual outdoor and recreational skaters. They have a soft padded interior and a firm boot. These are ideal for those who want a more supportive boot. They come with soft outdoor wheels that are perfect for rolling over rough surfaces.
Chaya Melrose Elite
Price: $180
Basic Features:
- PP hard outer sole boot
- Fiberglass Plate
- ABEC-7 bearings
- Adjustable stopper
- 62mm 78a urethane wheels (Ideal for outdoor use)
The Melrose Elite offers a slight upgrade from the Melrose. The biggest difference with these is that they are more padded for a more comfortable feel. The boot on these is pretty firm and offers good ankle support. These are great for cruising around in.
🛼 Impala Roller Skates for Beginners
Impala Roller Skates
Price: $95
Basic Features:
- PVC boot
- Aluminum Alloy Plate
- ABEC-7 bearings
- PU bolt-on brake stopper
- 58mm 82a urethane wheels (can be used both outdoors and indoors)
I personally have not skated on Impala roller skates; however, I know several people who own them. They seem to have decent features for starter skates and very comparable to other skates in their price range. The boot on these skates is pretty stiff, but as a beginner you may feel more comfortable in a stiffer boot as you learn to navigate. Some complain about the wheels/bearings being a slow, so ad you advance you may decide to upgrade these. One big pro about these skates is all of the pretty colors they come in. It’s the reason many people gravitate towards them when they first start skating.
Heads up, when you look up reviews on Impala roller skates, you’re going to find a mixed bag of opinions. Some people really dislike Impala skates. Many say that the heel comes off the skate and their customer service can be hit or miss. On the other hand, you will find reviews of people who love their skates and think they serve them well as beginner roller skates. Since I haven’t owned any, I really can’t provide insight to this other than the prospective of others.
My thought on this is that you have to be realistic of the performance you are going to get from $100 skates. These skates are starter skates for light to medium use. Once you start skating daily, hitting the trails, thinking about park skating, then it’s time to retire these and upgrade. Think of them as a stepping stone in your skate journey and not a long-term skate. The pro here is that if you decide this skating thing isn’t for you, you can walk away not feeling guilty about your investment.
Beginner to Intermediate Roller Skates: Skates that can grow with you through your skate journey
🛼 Moonlight Roller Skates Moon Boots
Price: $249
Basic Features:
- Suede and vegan leather boot options
- Aluminum Alloy Plate
- ABEC-7 bearings
- Adjustable toe stop
- 58mm 82a urethane wheels (can be used both outdoors and indoors)
Moonlight Roller Skates are fairly new to the game but they have quicky gained attention in the skate community. Their skates are very stylish with unique color options. Asides from their fashionable appeal, they are made with high-quality materials perfect for outdoor skating.
🛼 Moxi Skates
Moxi Lolly
Price: $299
Basic Features:
- Suede boots
- Powerdyne Nylon Thrust Plate
- Off Set Toe Stop and Stabilizing Foot Plate
- ABEC-5 Carbon Steel Bearings
- 62mm 78a wheels (Great for outdoor skating but not recommended for park skating)
I own three pairs of Moxi Lolly Roller Skates and to put it simply, I love them. I know these are on the high-end of the roller skates for beginning skaters, but these are skates that will easily grow with you due to their quality and diverse functionality.
Moxi was founded by Estro Jen, a well-known skater in the skate community, and is made by legendary skate brand Riedell. The skates are made right here in the USA and feature quality craftsman ship. The suede boot is really soft and molds to your feet as you wear them (they take about 10 hours of wear to break in). One thing to note is that Lolly’s do not have a lot of padding and have no cushioned insole. I highly recommended inserts like the Superfeet Hockey Insoles. As far as exterior build, the skates come with Powerdyne nylon plates, which are great for starters and can always be upgraded in the future (I’ve upgraded to Atom Pilot Falcon plates on two of my pairs). As far as the toe stop, it comes with one that is easy to change or remove in the future, but perfectly good for new skaters. Lastly, the wheels. Moxi Lolly’s come with Moxi Juicy wheels, which are super soft wheels idea for outdoor skating, especially over bumpy sidewalks.
🛼 Crazy Skates
Evoke Roller Skates
Price: $279
Basic Features:
- Suede boots
- Nylon plate
- Adjustable toe stop
- High-quality urethane wheels
These skates are good balance of good quality skating components and design. They have many fashionable details such as suede leather paired with laser cut steel to create a skate that fashionable and functional. While I personally have not skated on these, many people in the skate community say these skates are very comfortable. They are form fitted on the ankle area with a neoprene lined tongue that shape to your foot shape for comfortable ride.
As you embark on the road to finding the best outdoor roller skates, you may find other options on the market. And that’s awesome because this list is just a slice of the pie of the roller skates you’ll find out there.
Regardless on the roller skates you decide to purchase, make sure to keep these keep safety components in mind:
- Quality Plate- Aluminum or nylon plate. Steer clear from plastic as it can break and be a safety hazard
- Solid Wheels- Make sure the wheels are in good conditions, free from any holes or gashes.
- Toe Stops- As a beginner, you want to make sure your toe stops are securely attached and are at a level that is comfortable for you.
And speaking of roller skate shopping, skating is a lifestle. Here are some gift ideas for roller skaters for a you or a friend that you may enjoy with your new skates!
Kim Deshanne Lecy says
Rollerblade company skates. Add
Kade Lecy says
Rollerblade company skates. Add
Rebecca says
Where can I find sneaker skates..luv those..I live in Tennessee..Where to get..Thanks!!
Ron ALVARADO says
Thank you for sharing this with us, as a beginner I like to hear other opinions on skate cuz I grew up skating back then and times have changed as well as skate have and new brands are coming out as well , so now in my 50’s I still skate and have yet to buy skate but is looking and trying bro get the best ones for my buck but also have support and comfort as well and this helps me at least, so thank you again for sharing….