FAQ
What size skates should I get?
Most skates come in mens's sizes. Women would go down 1 1/2 to 2 sizes depending on skate. Skates should fit snug as most do stretch but there should not be painful.
Your best bet is to measure your feet according to this advice: http://www.sincityskates.com/2nd/about/sizing.html
Different skates fit differently and we've put a lot of information about specific skates - but if you have any questions or want advice choosing a size or model that fits your feet best, please don't hesitate to call us at 619-232-4200.
It's a good idea to do a reality check based on shoe size, but I wouldn't recommend choosing SOLELY based on your shoe size, because how people wear their shoes is different (as is skates, though most skaters wear them snug so they'll be responsive and not give us blisters). So solely using shoe size can be misleading. For example, I wear a women's size 9 in most shoes, sometimes a 10 in sandals, and I have a pair of mens' size 7 converse and a size 8 that I prefer because I have insoles in them. Another reason its not reliable to choose skates based on shoe size is almost everyone has multiple pairs of shoes but most have only one pair of skates, so its that much more critical to get it right.
Can you tell me my size?
Yes. We are always here to help and quickest way to get advise is to give us a call 619-232-4200. But If your measurement is accurate and you measured according to this advice: http://www.sincityskates.com/2nd/about/sizing.html, standing, in the evening, in socks, then you should be able to figure out your size according to the size charts on this page:
sizing.aspx
And we measure all the way around the ball of your foot to determine width.
Some more information can be found here.
I'm new! What skates should I get?
What skates will work best for you depends on a lot of things, like your feet (high arches? narrow? wide? etc), how often you'll be skating, if you're sure you're going to stick with it, your budget, etc. Most girls start with inexpensive recreational skates, like R3s, Rubys or Rebels for roller derby. For recreational skating many people prefer a heeled boot like the boardwalk, Riedell 111 or Moxi Lolly. Our men really like the Sure Grip Rebel because of the wide fit for both recreational and starting derby. Remember though, if you are over 170 lbs we usually recommend upgrading from a nylon plate to the aluminum plate for added strength. Still confused? Give us a call or shoot us a message and we will walk you through it.
If you have a bit of a bigger budget and want to start with a more advanced set up there are many other options and upgrades available. Best is to properly fit your foot and discuss what your ultimate goals are to be able to determine the best skate for you.
Other gear you will need is minimum wrist guards. For the recreational skater pads are great but I know many people don't want them My advise is that knees and butt hurt but wrists break. I see broken wrists all too often so my coach and mom voice is telling you to get wrist guards.
For Roller Derby you will need a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards and mouth guard. We offer Rookie packages at a discount when purchased together and are happy to help you figure out your sizing and needs. For Derby all gear is important but never, ever skimp on knee pads. We are players and after 10 years of knee taps and falls we can tell you a good knee pad like the 187 Pro Derby knee pad is going to become your best friend.
There are a lot of schools of thought about what is the ideal placement for plates for Roller Derby - but generally speaking, most skaters wear the stock plates on the right size skates, which typically lines up the front wheels under or just slightly (like less than .75 of an inch) forward of the ball of your foot - in other words, when you're wearing the skates, the axle (where the nut is) on the wheel should line up approximately with (or be slightly forward of) this place on your foot (see diagram, attached), and the back axle should line up approximately with the bone in your ankle, or slightly behind that. If you're wearing the wrong size skates, the axles will line up too far forward and your balance will be off when you step into a hit. The bummer is that you might be accustomed to the weird balance trick you have to do to NOT fall when you step (even strides, hits, all of it), so when you get the right skates, it might be immediately easier for you to skate... or it might take a little adjustment, but it will be easier after you get used to it.
Some jam skaters prefer a longer plate and most recreational skaters stick to stock mounts. Again it is a matter of preference. We often ask beginner skaters what their ultimate goal in skating is. Derby, jam skating, aggressive skating, cruising outdoors... We ask this so we can help you get on track towards where you want to be skating in the future. Because we are skaters ourselves and have an actual shop that serves the public, customer service and really taking time to get our customers the right gear for them is always our main priority.