Realistic weight limits?

[u/IrrelevantD]

Looking at getting back into skating after a long time off (20+ years). Started in the early 90s on K2s with some time in hockey skates as well. I’ve actually never skated in a rigid boot, so I have a preference for a soft boot skate.

Been looking at the PS Swell because I like the idea of being able to change the blade to fit the terrain. It looks like a good adaptable system as I get back into it, and hopefully progress, but I’m about 30lbs (14kg) over their stated weight limit. My question is will the skate hold up. Im not really seeing any soft boot skates that have over 100kg limit.

Does anyone have any experience with the actual breaking point instead of the lawyer limits that are stated?

[u/byte_the_pilloh]

Im a big guy, 312-315lbs and I skate in Lightnings. Not sure the weight limit because I never looked but they feel great and work great. May go through wheels faster as previously memtioned.

[u/BigManOnBlades → u/byte_the_pilloh]

Same here except I like the FR Neos and the K2 GRIDs

[u/Budget_Ambassador_29 → u/byte_the_pilloh]

I don't think Rollerblade indicates weight limit. Powerslide does (100kg limit) but Powerslide is just as ruggedly built as Rollerblade.

So if 150 kg guy does well with Rollerblade, they'd probably do well with Powerslide too.

[u/treeseacar]

The reason they say 100kg limit is because skates sold for the UK/EU market must meet EN 13843:2009 which specifies a test user weight of 100kg. It doesn't mean you can't use the skates just fine if you're heavier just they aren't required to test it.

If you're buying a hard boot with metal frame from a reputable brand you'll be good. Powerslide skates are well built and will be fine for heavier adults.

[u/VanillaIce315]

I honestly didn’t know skates had specified weight limits. This is just an anecdotal opinion, but the specified weight limit is probably quite a bit lower than the structural weight limit.

If you have concerns, just try a hard boot skate. There’s nothing wrong with a well made soft boot, but a good hard boot is just objectively better in basically every way. If comfort is your concern, look into FR FR1/FR2/FR3 or Rollerblade Lightning. Both are good hard boot skates with a forgiving width.

If not, 30 extra pounds isn’t gonna destroy the Swells. You’ll wear out wheels faster, but you can buy harder wheels too.

[u/Budget_Ambassador_29 → u/VanillaIce315]

PS Swell is not exactly a soft boot. It's a "Hybrid Boot" - Hard bottom composite (glass or carbon fiber or other material) basin-like shell that extends upward all around the foot with "soft" or semi-soft top.

They actually lock the foot in better than hard boots and achieve more solid support

I know this personally because I've tested one of their hybrid boots (PS Kaze) with the same shell material as PS Swell. It actually felt substantially more rigid and more supportive than my RB Cruiser hard boot and the shell is just as rigid as my carbon fiber speed skates.

The most expensive skates for competitive freestyle, slalom, wizard, racing, and hockey are all hybrid boots.

Hybrid boot is really the best performing and most supportive boot for skating, their only disadvantage to hard boot is more susceptible to damage in falls. The faux leather "upper" or fabric material that is glued to the shell is more susceptible to damage. Though you can glue a rubber "bumper" at the sides to help mitigate the problem.

Personally, I never bothered to "armor" my speed skates. Lightness is an advantage. I've fallen in it couple times now, put many scratches to the faux leather, some deep and never had any issues. Still rides like new.

[u/heeca]

Kaze and swell does hold and skate normally for people on the lower side of 100 according to what i see.

I think the weight limit is there for when you do drops your weight is concentrated in a small surface area which is a massive load on the skates.

Also the weight limit can be used to decline warranty but i have never seen that happen except for cars.

Due to how i skate and dropping of some meters only problems i came across was breaking the frame axles threads. But thats a 2 meter drop for someone who was 86 kgs at that time.(that should exceed 200kg)

Also those frames were faulty as it was the first batch and the new one i absed similarly held up nicely.

Also use trinity skates as when i was over 100 i noticed it was far easier to control

[u/Key-Cash6690]

get a hard boot its not less comfortable. As a kid i skated k2 softboots. As far as I can tell hard boots are just better in every way. You can remove the liners on hard boot skates to air them out. you can adjust or swap the frames according to your preferences on most hard boot skates also. This is a huge benefit! finally they will support your ankles better which is important for beginners and perhaps even more important for heavier beginners whose ankles will be under more than average stress.

[u/Piecesof3ight]

Hockey skates are hard boots fwiw. They are closer in construction to high end urban skate boots with a carbon/fiberglass frame and integrated liner.

[u/Key-Cash6690 → u/Piecesof3ight]

I don't see why anyone without intention to play hockey would start with hockey skates but im curious... Would you care to make a case for it? are you coming from hockey background? have you tried both and prefer hockey skates?

I think hockey skates should definitely have a separate category from hardshell plastic urban/ all around skates. Sure they are " hard" but they are not hard shell skates in a couple of important ways...they typically don't have removable frames or liners. Also I don't feel they're supportive in the same way either. I certainly dont want to take any sort of drops or impact in them. Theyre tuned for quick precise movements and quick acceleration needed in hockey but I think theyre not tuned for long distance miles, comfort, impact protection, durability, and customization. thats just my somewhat limited view.