I selected the Candi GRL Carlin Roller Skates as the best outdoor roller skates for beginners.
As a die-hard roller skater and long-time skating instructor, I was overjoyed to find out that roller skating is trending once more. In particular, I’ve realised that outdoor roller skating has become more popular than ever before. However, from the many beginners who have come to me for advice regarding roller skates, I’ve gathered that not many people know how to shop for outdoor skates.
Although indoor and outdoor roller skates can seem virtually identical, this isn’t the case at all. If you want to spend your time on pavements and parks, you need a pair of skates that can put up with this wear and tear. Luckily, I have just the list of skates to help you out.
The reason I chose the Candi GRL Carlin skates as the best pair is because I feel it can help beginner skaters the most. Firstly, the wheels are perfectly designed for rough, exterior surfaces, providing new skaters with additional safety. At the same time, the skates offer balance and support, while making it a breeze for you to contain your movements. Finally, they are comfortable.
Still, you probably have your preferences when it comes to the best outdoor roller skates. You may be after durability, comfort, or even design. Well, it doesn’t matter what you are looking for; keep reading here and you just might find it.
Best Outdoor Roller Skates for Beginners
Here are your best picks for outdoor roller skates for beginners:
Candi GRL Carlin – Best Overall
Specs:
- Wheel Size: 66mm Polyurethane Wheels
- Bearings: Bevo Silver-5 Race Rated Chrome Bearings
- Upper Material: Suede
- Closure Type: Lace-up
Great Outdoor Wheels
As these wheels have been specifically designed for outdoor surfaces, you will be hard-pressed to find a better set. One of the advantages is in the wheel size. They are large and springy, moving over uneven surfaces with ease. At the same time, they are excellent at absorbing shock as well.
The larger size of the wheels also makes it great for skating across surfaces with larger cracks. You will be able to skate over these rather than stumble.
Good Balance and Support
The large wheels also make it easier for beginner skaters to balance on the skates. Thus, you won’t have to put as much energy into staying upright. Instead, you can focus on improving your other skills.
In terms of support, the skates have a high-profile ankle and can be laced up tight. This ensures that your ankle has proper stability and you can get a tight fit you need to keep you stable.
Good Control
The chassis and the trucks on these skates are lightweight and well designed. This means that you can turn and make quick movements more easily. This will come in handy if you haven’t mastered all your skills just yet. The low weight will make it simpler to skate effortlessly.
Comfortable
Last, but not least, these skates are very well-lined. This makes them quite comfortable to wear and cuts down on the hassle of breaking in the skates. The only disadvantage here is that the skates have not been designed for wider feet.
- Perfect for outdoor surfaces
- Easy to balance and good support
- Great control
- Comfortable
- Not suitable for wide feet
Chicago Sidewalk Roller Skates – Best for Kids
Specs:
- Wheel Size: 60mm
- Bearings: Semi-Precision Bearings
- Upper Material: Synthetic Material
- Closure Type: Lace-up and Strap
Good Wheels
These wheels are great for the outdoors. The larger size means that your kids will have no trouble gliding across various cracks on the sidewalks. In particular, they will be safer as the wheels will help to stabilize their skating.
The wheels also ensure that your child’s skating won’t get interrupted in any way. Instead, they will be able to easily skate across the uneven ground without feeling the bumps in the road. However, these wheels can feel stiff right out of the box and need to be adjusted first.
Good Stability and Support
The oversized wheels work miracles for your child’s balance, allowing them to stay upright even if they haven’t completely mastered this skill yet. This way, they won’t waste any time worrying that they are going to tip over or fall down.
The high profile of the ankle helps to support your child’s ankles. This takes some of the shakiness away from new skaters’ movements as well. To add to this, the laces and straps ensure that the skates feel secure around your child’s feet.
Lightweight
Kids, in general, will struggle with heavier skates, but beginners will find this a problem. This is why it’s good to know that these skates are lightweight. Your child will be able to move around easily rather than feeling weighed down.
Comfortable
The last thing you want is your child giving up on skating because their skates don’t feel right. The good news is that the interior is quite plush, ensuring that your child will feel comfortable wearing them. So you don’t have to worry about this issue.
- Suitable for outdoor surfaces
- Good stability and support
- Lightweight
- Comfortable
- Wheels can be a bit stiff
Impala Roller Skates – Best for Comfort
Specs:
- Wheel Size:58mm
- Bearings: ABEC 7 Bearings
- Upper Material: PVC
- Closure Type: Lace-up
Comfortable Interior
It’s a shame when you buy a great pair of skates only to find that you have to break them in first. Well, with these skates, you won’t need to worry about that at all. The inside of this boot is incredibly soft and comfortable. It is also quite pliable, allowing you to take to your skates right away, so no break in period necessary! This also cuts down on the risk of you developing blisters as a result of chafing.
Good Outdoor Wheels
These 82a durometer wheels with a nylon core have been specifically designed for outdoor surfaces. As such, it has just the right level of hardness for rough and uneven surfaces. Thus, you can roll across these surfaces easily without worrying about your wheels gripping the surfaces too much.
At the same time, it should be noted that these wheels are a little slimmer than most. This means that you’ll have to watch out for larger cracks in the ground as your skates won’t function as well on such surfaces.
Durable
Decked out with aluminum alloy trucks and baseplate, these skates will hold up well in outdoor environments. As such, you won’t have to be overly concerned about your skates developing and dings or scratches from skating in rougher terrain.
Good Support
The high ankle profile, along with the lace-up feature means that you can ensure the skates are well-fitted. As such, you will have plenty of ankle support to keep you safe.
- Comfortable
- Good outdoor wheels
- Durable
- Good support
- Can fall into larger cracks
Sure-Grip Pink Motion Skates – Best for Concrete
Specs:
- Wheel Size: 62mm
- Bearings: ABEC 5
- Upper Material: Synthetic
- Closure Type: Lace-up
Ideal Wheels for Concrete
If you are planning to exclusively skate on sidewalks or are using them to commute, you’ll love what these wheels have to offer. To start with, they have a Hi-Rebound design which ensures a perfect amount of gumminess. Thus, you can skate without having to endure every single bump.
At the same time, they have the perfect amount of hardness. This means that there is reduced traction, allowing you to skate along smoothly and easily without having to make as much of an effort.
The only issue is that these wheels can be rather tight out of the box. Thus, they need to be adjusted until you find the right fit.
Stable and Supportive Skates
Since most beginners are looking for a supportive design, you will enjoy the high profile ankle of these skates. They offer the perfect amount of support and take the pressure off your ankles while keeping you upright at the same time.
Since the wheels are quite large, they will be a lot easier to balance on as well. This means that you can focus on learning other skills. It should be noted that these skates are only available in full sizes.
Durable
With a strong truck and plates, you’ll be pleased to know that the skates have been designed to last a while. This includes skating on rougher terrain, which makes them a good investment.
- Built for concrete surfaces
- Stable and supportive
- Durable
- Wheels are a bit tight
- Full sizes only
Exgingle Quad Skates – Best for Budget
Specs:
- Wheel Size: 54mm
- Bearings: ABEC 7
- Upper Material: Leather
- Closure Type: Lace-up
Good Value
If you’re only just starting out, the last thing you want is to invest in a hobby you might not continue. In that case, these skates are an excellent choice. They offer good value for their price and will help you get started on outdoor surfaces.
However, if you do plan to stick with skating, there is a good chance that you will outgrow these quickly. In this case, you will need to switch to a higher quality pair of skates.
Good Wheels
At this price point, the wheels are pretty good and well-suited to outdoor surfaces. Part of this has to do with the hardness of the wheels. They have just enough grip to keep your rolling smoothless even along those rougher surfaces.
The downside is that these wheels are narrower than most. Therefore, you will have to steer clear of areas that have larger cracks or dips as your skates won’t be able to make it over them.
Good Support
The high ankle profile, combined with the lace-up feature gives you plenty of support. This helps you to feel more confident on your skates and can improve your overall balance as well. Thus, it is a much-needed feature for beginner skates.
- Good value
- Good outdoor wheels
- Good support
- You may outgrow them quickly
- Wheels are quite narrow
How to Choose Outdoor Skates for Beginners
Knowing how to select the best outdoor skates for beginners can make all the difference. It will give you a better idea of which features you need to keep an eye out for and which ones you should avoid. To get the lowdown on what to look for, check out this post here.
FAQs
1. Are Roller Skates or Blades Best for Outside?
Well, it does depend on which design you are most comfortable with. While inline skates offer speed, quad skates have the benefit of being more stable on uneven ground.
2. Can You Wear All Roller Skates Outside?
No, you can’t. Skates that are meant for the outdoors will have special wheels that make it easier for you to skate on these types of surfaces. There are some skates that work well both indoors and outdoors.
3. Is It Easy to Roller Skate Outside?
It can take a while for you to get used to skating on uneven surfaces, but it won’t be long before you are skating like a pro. You can read our guide on how to roller skate outside for beginners.
Conclusion
There is no denying that the Candi GRL Carlin roller skates are the top outdoor skates for beginners. The outdoor wheels mean that you can glide over exterior rough surfaces with ease. On the other hand, the supportive features improve your balance while the design makes control quite easy. Finally, the skates are comfortable enough for you to practice in for longer.
To make sure you find the right outdoor skates, you need to do a little digging first. So, go ahead and check out all the links I have included here. Once you know what the top options on the market are, it will be easier to make the right choice and pick out the perfect pair.
You can also check out our top picks for the best inline skates for beginners and the best quad skates for beginners