In this Impala skates review, I will be doing a deep-dive into the Impala Skates brand to see what they have to offer.
I have been involved in roller skates repair and maintenance for many years now. So, I like to keep my finger on the pulse of the most popular brands around. For a while now, I have been observing the meteoric rise of Impala Skates.
I know what it takes for a good pair of skates to function, so I took a closer look at the brand to see if it lives up to its claims. Keep reading to learn more.
Impala Skates Review – Summary
Here is a quick rundown of what Impala Skates is all about. For the most part, this Australian brand caters to new skaters who are just starting out. Their focus is on creating a comfortable roller skating experience with just enough features to help with a good performance.
Where the company – and the skates – stand out is with the designs. They have plenty to offer in terms of color, pattern, and flair. Therefore, if you want to make a statement, this is a brand you shouldn’t hesitate to check out.
You should be aware that Impala Skates don’t have as much to offer seasoned skaters or even intermediate ones. It’s a brand that is best suited to those who are just starting out.
About Impala Skates
Impala Skates are quite new to the rollerblading scene. Founded in Melbourne, the company was started in 2017. Impala Skates did gain popularity rather quickly, becoming a global success in just a few, short years.
In addition to Australia, the company sells roller skates in New Zealand, North America, Europe and Asia. Impala Skates is different from most other skate brands as it places a greater focus on beginners. The company has also made a name for itself by basing their styles on retro designs, giving it a unique twist.
Impala Skates Range
Impala Skates are known for their skates, but this isn’t the only product that the company has to offer. You can also find these options under the brand:
Impala Inline Skates
Impala Skates has just one design for inline skates – the Lightspeed model. It is available in different colors and designs, however. It is equipped with a plastic boot, and ABEC-7 bearings with an optional heel break.
As for the wheels, the most common option is 53mm 95a all-terrain Street wheels. However, they can fit 72mm wheels. The wheels come with a straight alignment, but they can be adjusted to be rockered.
Skateboards
The skateboards by Impala Skates are mostly the full-shape, medium concave variety. However, you can also find medium concave with proper tail and mild nose kick boards. There are also the mellow concave with nose and tail kick and mellow concave with subtle kicktail.
They are all equipped with ABEC-7 Impala Pink Rubber Shield bearings. The boards are made from Maple hard rock wood. The wheel types and sizes differ for various surfaces and uses.
For the most part, these skateboards are considered to be entry-level models.
Protective Gear
Impala Skates also has its own protective gear line for both kids and adults. This includes knee, elbow, and wrist pads. They have been designed to match the bubblegum-esque nature of many of Impala Skates’ designs.
The Roller Skate Collection
Of course, the star of the show are the roller skates, so what are they like?
Performance Level
Let’s begin with the performance level – what are these skates meant for? Well, the brand identifies themselves as catering to “beginner-intermediate” skaters. So, these are not designs meant for more experienced skaters.
I would say that the skates fall firmly into the beginner category. Yes, you may get some use out of them as an intermediate skater, but they would best serve someone who is just starting out.
The good news is that Impala Skates does have some excellent offerings for beginner skaters. Take the Impala Quad Roller Skates, for instance. From a features point of view, I am suitably impressed by the plates and trucks.
They are durable enough to take a few knocks from first-time skaters and still hold their own. At the same time, they are quite lightweight. This helps to keep the overall weight of the skate down, making it easier for novice skaters to glide.
The skates also have good ankle support which is another important feature for beginners. This helps to stabilize themselves and not have to worry about falling over.
Variety
Apart from the traditional quad roller skate design, what else does Impala Skates have to offer from its line? Well, it more or less only has one type of quad skates. These come under the recreational category.
The only real variation between the skates is the design. When you look at the components as well as what each pair is capable of, you will see that it is essentially the same prototype. Therefore, if you’re looking for skates that are better suited for speed skating or dancing, then you are out of luck.
This is in line with how Impala Skates market themselves – entry-level skates that work well in indoor skate parks or other learning grounds. They have been designed to help skaters pick up the basics and stand out while doing so.
Components
Let’s break down the components of the basic Impala Skates quad skates to see what they are made of:
Upper Heel and Sole
Impala Skates pride themselves on being vegan. As such, the upper heel and the sole are made from PVC. However, this doesn’t take away from the appearance of the skate. In fact, it does resemble imitation leather, particularly with its matte colors.
The main advantage with this material is that it barely needs any breaking in, unlike its leather counterpart. Furthermore, the PVC is quite comfortable and is a breeze for new skaters to get used to.
All in all, it plays an important role in how user-friendly the skates in this line are.
Trucks and Baseplate
Then, there are the trucks and baseplate which are made from aluminum alloy. These are one of the highlights of the roller skates. This is because the components boast durability as well as a low weight.
They are a surprisingly good feature for a roller skate that comes in at entry-level.
Bearings
All the bearings on the skates are ABEC 7. Of course, by itself, this doesn’t mean much. When it comes to bearings, it is more important to pay attention to the material they are made from. However, Impala Skates doesn’t give out much information here.
Despite this, I found that the bearings were acceptable. As a result, you get a pretty decent level of precision with these skates.
It certainly won’t be enough for skaters who are looking for more challenging activities, but it works just fine for beginners.
Wheels
Last, but not least, there are the wheels. Once again, there is a great deal of homogeneity with the wheels as well. The dimensions are 58mm x 32mm and they have an 82A Durometer Urethane. This means that they fall under the category of hybrid wheels.
Also, after testing them out, I found that the wheels lived up to my expectations. They are just gummy enough to move over uneven surfaces without an issue. At the same time, the skates have enough grip to keep me moving safely across polished surfaces as well, which was more than I could have asked for.
Keep in mind that the wheels are on the smaller side for beginners, but I didn’t think this impacted the balance in any way at all.
You do have to be careful when you head outside with the skates, though, as it is easy to get them caught in some of the larger cracks in the pavements.
Design
The one thing that I can’t fault Impala Skates for is the design. These boots and wheels have been beautifully constructed. There are also a lot of great options to choose from if you want to get a stylish design.
If you’re looking for something a little basic, you can pick from shades like pink, aqua, midnight, black, and sky blue. Some of these options have interesting contrasting laces and wheels to add a little flair.
In case you want all eyes on your skates, then there is a wide variety for you to select from.
There is the patented Cynthia Rowley floral design, holographic, leopard print, and Harmony print blue skates which will help you stand out from the crowd.
Are Impala Skates Affordable?
Another factor to consider is whether or not Impala skates are affordable. Or, at the very least, how they compare to other roller skate brands.
Well, Impala Skates aren’t the cheapest option on the block, but they are not the most expensive option out there either. I would say that they fall somewhere in between when it comes to price.
The cheapest skates are $94.95, while the most expensive option is $119.95. For the most part, you are paying for the design here. As a result, if your focus is on quality and components, then you may not necessarily see a point in paying this much.
On the other hand, if you don’t mind investing in design, you’ll feel like it is a worthwhile investment.
Are Impala Skates Easy to Find?
As mentioned, Impala Skates exploded onto the scene a couple of years ago and really took off. Their eye-catching designs made them extremely sought-after and most of their products sold out pretty quickly. After this initial boom in sales, skaters had to make an effort to find some of their designs.
The good news is that since the demand has eased off a bit, it is now much easier to find them. The most consistently available products are black, rose gold, holographic, leopard print, and aqua. For other options, you may need to visit the website and make a direct purchase.
It is important to remember that this is an Australian brand. Due to this, you won’t necessarily find every design in stores near you. Instead, some of them will be available in certain areas over others.
Once again, this problem can be remedied by visiting the store’s website. Bear in mind that you may have to pay more in terms of shipping fees if the skates are being sent from Australia.
What the Brand Stands For
So, do Impala Skates stand with any particular community or charity? Is any of the money that you spend being used to help those in need?
Yes, Impala Skates does give a portion of its proceeds for certain skates to children’s funds around the world. The company promises to make a minimum donation of $50,000.
Another nice gesture is that Impala Skates is involved in sustainability. The boards used in their skateboards are wood. However, the company plants three trees for every board they build. Therefore, some semblance of balance is created.
Impala Skates and Celebrities
Impala Skates have been getting a lot of attention lately, thanks in part to some high-profile endorsements from celebrities. Kylie Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Rihanna have all been spotted skating in Impala Skates, and their endorsement has helped the brand to become more popular than ever before. Impala Skates are known for their stylish designs and for being very comfortable to wear. If you’re looking for a new pair of skates, be sure to check out Impala Skates!
The Final Verdict
So, what is the overall view of the brand? If you are a beginner skater, I would absolutely recommend Impala Skates.
I also enjoy how lightweight it is and love the fact that it is so comfortable straight off the bat. You don’t need a lot of time to break them in, either. This is a feature that you should look for in roller skates for novices.
There is no denying that the designs are incredible. These days, roller skating isn’t just about a good performance – it also has a lot to do with style. In this way, Impala Skates really deliver. If this is something you are passionate about, then you will love this brand.
So, did you find anything you liked about Impala Skates in my review? If so, you can head over to Amazon and check out a pair for yourself. You should be able to find various designs and sizes to fit exactly what you are looking for.
I love the great colours and designs but be aware these skates fit NARROW feet best. If you have even a slight bunion they will hurt, and they can’t be stretched like leather.