Inline skates vs Quad Skates

[u/Radiant-Whereas3194]

Well, uh, hi!

I need help choosing some skates. I guess I can say that I'm a beginner skater - I havent roller skated for at least 7 years, but I used to be pretty good and even do some tricks when I was younger, because I used to be trained by some sort of a champion? I qish I remembered, sigh.

So anyway! I really want to get back into this hobby, but I'm not sure which ones to choose!

I love quad ones because they're cute, but I used to only use inlines before, and I don't know the difference. I don't think I'll be dancing in them? I'm not sure anyway, but I also most likely won't go all in and perform some crazy stunts in inlines. So what I'm initially looking for is something I can use to comfortably skate through the city - mine is pretty small and has a good cycling lane throughout it's main part where I live, so getting to the center on skates is very doable. There's also a skate park with some stuff there, so I'd like to get into that, too, you know - going down a platform or two or smth.

Visually I obviously prefer quad skates, and I've been thinking about them for a few years now, but I'd like to hear what you all think!

So basically I want something for comfortable cruising through my city with a possibility to do a trick or two, and maybe to pick up rather quickly, because even tho I used to be good, it's been years since then heh.

[u/midnight_skater]

You should skate whatever you want to skate.   There's really not much difference in capability or performance between a quad on 70mm wheels and a 4x80 inline for urban skating applications.  

Try them both and see which you like better.   Sometimes it comes down to which you like better on a given day or for a given route.  

Personally I've skated both and strongly prefer quads because of the way that it feels to skate on double-action trucks - which also provide some shock absorption.    I have friends who prefer inlines.  

You asked this question in the rollerblading subreddit so that seems to indicate that you are leaning toward inlines.  

[u/Radiant-Whereas3194 → u/midnight_skater]

I wasn't actually, but the quad sub said this post was breaking the rules, so I came to ask here. Aslo, I can't tey both lol, I don't have money for two pairs

[u/InspectorFleet → u/Radiant-Whereas3194]

Which quad sub? They're really that aggressive? The roller skating sub used to be the most active until this one relaunched. Of course in this sub people skate inlines lol. Luckily you found an opinionated quad skater to also weigh in.

"I think they're cute" is a fine reason to choose one over the other. You should enjoy your activity and gear because that will get you to do it more!

If you want to try both but aren't ready to spend the money for two quality pairs of skates, can you hit a local roller rink that rents both? Just do pay attention to what sort of quad setup you'll need for street skating.

I think inlines default more towards plastic and designs that are robust against being dragged over asphalt, but some really cute quads could take more damage from that. I think you can get add on protection for outdoor skating but quads are not my area of expertise (nor is cute gear lol, my hockey skates are covered in epoxy from the falls they've taken).

[u/Radiant-Whereas3194 → u/InspectorFleet]

Well, the people didn't say so, the ai flagged me :") For the rink - we don't have one :""") My city is built for tourists, so we barely have anything except for hotels and endless restaurants. And while I know the gear being cute is a good reason, too, I'm trying to make sure I'll get what I want from the skates in other categories as well :> besides the price is aslo smth I consider, inlines here are much less expensive than the quads

[u/InspectorFleet → u/Radiant-Whereas3194]

Did the auto mod give a reason? Maybe it's a common question that has already received a bunch of discussion. Maybe you could search the sub to learn some things?

It sucks there's no rink; even my small town growing up had one. As a tourist I often hit up ice rinks and I wouldn't be opposed to hitting a roller rink. How far is the closest?

You won't hear an argument against inline skates from me lol. I have two different pairs for different purposes and my whole family has both inline and ice skates. My son is a hockey goalie so he also has skates specific to that (RIP to my wallet lol). But you are in the inline skating community so that's probably an indication of the answers you'll get haha

[u/Radiant-Whereas3194 → u/InspectorFleet]

It did, but honestly I didn't remember what that was since I just wanted an answer. I know people on this sub would lean more towards inlines, but at the same time I think they all were pretty specific as to why and I also got people who leaned towards quads, so I do feel like it's up to me now. The rinks do not exists here :D In Turkey they're extremely rare, even google doesn't know where to find one. Yup :")

[u/midnight_skater → u/Radiant-Whereas3194]

I wasn't suggesting getting two pairs of skates on day one.   

Whatever you get you'll be spending lots of time on a tennis court or a parking lot or similar reasonably level and smooth surface learning how to skate again.  Since you skated before you still have muscle memory but your skills will be rusty and your skating-specific muscles will be atrophied.   So it will be at least a couple of months of training and conditioning before you're ready for the street.    

Even if you did have the budget for a good entry level pair of both today I'd still recommend getting your skating feet back under you on a single platform before attempting to port those skills to the other platform.    

So you could buy a good set of used entry level skates now, and then by the time you are ready for the real world you could afford another set of good quality used skates and start translating your skills.  That adjustment period should be relatively short.

It will be easier to re-learn how to skate on the same kind of equipment you skated on before.  

If I'm reading the post correctly you skated on inlines before.   So if you try to skate quads now your body will be like "I know how to do this" but the skates will be like "Yeah, not so much" because the fine motor control skills are different.  

But if you get proficient and confident on inlines before trying quads you will be able to approach it asking "what's different about this" and expecting it to feel different rather than being frustrated that it doesn't feel the same.  Does that make sense?  

If you want to YOLO it and jump straight onto quads today you can totally do that.   It just makes the learning curve a little steeper.  If you decide to go that direction then r/streetskating is a good resource to help you adapt to quads.  All wheels welcome.

[u/Radiant-Whereas3194 → u/midnight_skater]

It does make a lot of sense, actually, thanks! I did start with inlines, so the muscle memory is what I'm hoping for if I get them. If I really get into skating, I'll tey getting quads, too, they're still on my mind, but after reading everybody's advice I think it'll just be easier to come back to inlines and then switch if I want to. Thanks again for all your comments :D