The Best Adjustable Inline Skates for Teens & Tweens – A Helpful Guide

The Best Adjustable Inline Skates for Teens & Tweens | AD

My kids love being active and enjoy activities such as scooting and cycling on a regular basis. Recently, my eldest has been talking a lot about wanting to try inline skating. The time has come for her skating dreams to come true! We had a look online to find the best adjustable inline skates for kids that would work well for her as a beginner and beyond.

Read on to find out more about which adjustable inline skates that we chose and why, as well as lots of helpful tips about learning to inline skate. 

What is Inline Skating?

Inline skating (sometimes called rollerblading) is a great way to improve your fitness, to travel to school or work, or to simply have some fun! They first became popular in the 1990’s and are a great alternative to roller skates for riders who crave more speed! 

Inline skates (sometimes called rollerblades if they’re from the Rollerblade brand), are designed with four wheels that are located directly behind each other in one line. This means that you can enjoy a fast and smooth ride without having to put lots of effort in. 

SFR Pixel Adjustable Inline Skates Review

We browsed the selection of available adjustable kids inline skates from Skates.co.uk to narrow down the choice and ended up choosing the SFR Pixel Adjustable Inline Skates in Green / Orange. 

SFR Skates is a brand that has 25 years experience in the field with a huge range of high-quality skates for all levels of skating but with a main focus on skates aimed at beginners and children. 

Until recently, I didn’t know that adjustable skates even existed. I thought we’d have to buy new skates every year but this invention is amazing! Having these adjustable inline skates size 4-7 means that the skates fit my daughter well now and will keep fitting her for many years to come. 

The SFR Pixel Adjustable Inline Skates are also available in smaller sizes UK 11J-1 and UK 1-4. The wheels get a little bit bigger with each size up too. Size UK 4-7 was the perfect choice for us and growing tween feet!

These SFR Pixel Inline Skates are a semi-soft design that is jam-packed with features that are perfect for beginner skaters. The skates have a sturdy but lightweight aluminium frame and high-impact cuffs that support and protect ankles. The closures are Velcro power straps and ratchet-style buckles that ensure a secure and comfortable fit. The skates adjust in both length and width to allow for growing feet.

The maximum rider weight is 60kg so these are ideal for tweens and young teens. These skates have a stopper on one of the skates. This is a common design for safety to ensure that children stop correctly to avoid falls. 

My daughter loves her new inline skates! They seem really comfortable and are super-easy to adjust. They feel well-made, strong and sturdy too. 

Protective Gear for Skating

To skate safely, the right safety gear is an essential part of the set up. It will help avoid injuries and also helps build confidence for beginner skaters. Below is a list of protective gear all skaters should wear:

• A helmet: A good quality helmet to protect against head injuries. There are specific skate helmets. These protect the back of the head better than most bike helmets. 
• Wrist guards: Wrist guards help protect your hands and wrists when you fall and catch yourself with your hands.
• Knee and elbow pads: These help prevent scrapes and bruises and also joint damage. When you’re new to skating, you will fall over and your knees will suffer if you don’t protect them properly.

You can often purchase wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads in a bundle to save money.

Learning How to Skate – Tips for Beginners

When you are first starting out with skating, it’s natural to be a bit nervous just like with anything else that is new. My daughter was excited to get started but a bit nervous too – luckily, she’s not scared of falling over! (I am though!) Below are a few times for new skaters to help you learn how to skate quickly and safely:

• Ensure you have all the right protective gear before heading out on your first skating session!
• Sort out the fit and sizing of your skates at home before setting off.
• Watch some videos on YouTube with skating tips for beginners. 
• Choose a calm and quiet space with a smooth surface to skate on. Somewhere with a fence that you can hold on to (or grab if you lose your balance) for the first few sessions is ideal. 
• Start slow with short sessions to avoid frustration and fatigue. 15 minutes or so at a time is perfect when you’re starting out. You can make a lot of progress in these short sessions. 
• Work on having the correct posture with slightly bent knees and a straight back for improved balance. Keep your eyes facing forward when skating.
• Learn how to stop safely by using the heel brake or the T-stop technique. 
• Then work on learning new techniques such as turning and work on your skating speed. 

You will see your skills developing and improving with each session! Keep going and get out as often as you can to work on your skating skills.

We have been going out for 15 minutes at a time most days since getting these new inline skates. Each time, there’s been a huge amount of improvement which is fun and exciting!

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Inline Skating FAQ

What age can kids ride inline skates?

Inline skates are recommended for children aged over 5 years old. Young children should always be supervised by an adult when skating. Older children should also be supervised until they can ride confidently. Protective gear should also be worn.

Where can you inline skate?

Anywhere where there’s a safe, smooth and flat surface with plenty of space. Tarmac cycling or walking paths in quiet neighbourhoods or parks, basketball courts that are not is use, quiet/empty car parks or seafront promenades for example. When you get more confident, you can also skate on any smooth pavements. Just avoid busy places with lots of pedestrians, any uneven surfaces (cobblestones and gravel!), and steep hills.

Are inline skates adjustable?

Many inline skates for children are adjustable, but not all so do check before you buy. Once your child has finished growing, sized options work well. 

Are adjustable skates good for kids?

Adjustable skates are a great option for growing kids’ feet as your child will be able to use the same pair of skates for years without sacrificing on quality or comfort. 

How to adjust adjustable inline skates for kids?

This will work differently on different brands but it’s super easy on the SFR Pixel Inline Skates that you can see in this post. Your skates should come with simple and clear instructions for how to adjust your adjustable inline skates. 

Is inline skating good for kids?

Yes, inline skating is a good activity for kids – it’s great exercise, it’s good for coordination and balance, it gets kids outside, and it’s lots of fun too!

What’s the difference between inline and roller skates?

Both have four wheels but the configuration is different. Inline skates have wheels all in one row and roller skates have two at the front and two at the back which makes them a good choice for good stability. Inline skates are better for speed and riding outdoors while roller skates are a popular choice for indoor skating, dancing and roller derby. Roller skates usually have a brake at the front while inline skates have a brake at the back. 

What type of skates are best for beginners kids?

That depends on what kind of skating they’d like to do. My daughter wanted to do inline skating so that’s why we chose that style. 

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