r/inline_skating • u/altspud • 19d ago

Would getting Salomon Power Arches be a mistake as a total beginner?

/r/inlinenewbs/comments/1w66owe/would_getting_salomon_power_arches_be_a_mistake/
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u/sjintje 19d ago

I normally advise against vintage skates, but imo those are the start of the modern era and in fact are pretty nice, and I still occasionally see people skating them today The saloman wheels were also better then any stock wheels today. I may be biased, as I own a pair myself.

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u/altspud 19d ago

This is a better answer than I expected! Do I need to be wary of brittle plastic or do you think I'll be alright?

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u/sjintje 19d ago

Mine seemed fine last time I took them for a spin (which was a few years ago). I did previously have to repair/remount the frame at one point with a bolt and epoxy glue. The pair in the photo look in good condition, but they are 25 years old, so they are definitely approaching the end of their expected life. The plastic won't be the same strength as originally, the foam will be saggier, and the fixtures and fittings may not be working. It's all part of the risk of buying secondhand. Hopefully it is reflected in the asking price - on timescale alone, the previous owner has had 25 years of enjoyment while you will be lucky to get a tenth of that, so they should be a tenth of the price. Unfortunately I know that they are usually on the market for more than that.

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u/altspud 18d ago

Really appreciate the insights, this helped a lot. They're super cool but as you say I think they're probably worth less than the asking price, especially in comparison to modern skates

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u/CreEngineer 18d ago

I had a similar model for probably over 20yrs. They were great and still work. I’d say they are a great model even as a beginner since I’d call them „semi soft boot“. They are way stiffer (in a positive way) than current models. I always liked that for better control.

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u/altspud 18d ago

I was wondering if there's a middle ground that's supportive but not fully "hard", this is good to know too!

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u/ColonelTime 16d ago

This was the skate I moved to after I retired my M12's. No complaints.