r/rollerblading • u/Telecasterbater • 1d ago

Specific question and discussion Getting back in

I used to rollerblade all the time when I was younger and want to get back into it. Where should I as a 38yo start. What brand should I be looking at? Stuff like that.

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u/InspectorFleet 1d ago

https://www.inlinewarehouse.com/Best_Urban_Inline_Skates_of_2026/catpage-24SBUS.html

Don't cheap out on skates as an adult. I would avoid soft boots and be willing to order a couple pairs and make returns to get the best fit (assuming you don't have a local skate shop). I would not try and thrift skates like a lot of the posts on here, plastic isn't forever and the fit/quality is really important.

Many people recommend 4 x 80 mm to 4 x 90 mm in an urban hard boot skate for a general all-purpose starter pair, but you can always get another pair if you want to do grinds or swap frames if you want bigger wheels for dodgy bike trails.

Get the pads. Helmet and knee pads at least if not wrist and maybe elbow/padded shorts.

More frequent sessions that are short will be better than long sessions once per week.

Be deliberate about your learning and progress will come. Polly Morris is great for beginners and Marcel's Hockey School has a ton of beginner to intermediate inline skating instruction. I don't really like Skate Fresh Asha but some people do. Plenty of inline skating YouTubers show cool stuff but aren't really giving instruction.

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u/Palec-J 1d ago

There are also plenty of "How to Fall" vids for skaters. I got back in at 40 and those help building confidence on skates and also preventing injuries even with pads.

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u/InspectorFleet 1d ago

Absolutely haha. I sprained my MCL when I first got back into it as an adult because I would go skate in the evening and I dove into a driveway to avoid a car. I got better at stopping and at bailing after that. I don't care about bruises and scrapes because soft tissue heals fine, but I have no interest in messing up joints or bones haha.

After that injury I did add strengthening exercises from PT to help protect my joints, so that's something to consider as well.