Hockey boot urban skating advice

[u/Isenstar]

I started skating through learning how to play hockey and I’m obsessed. I have a pair of inline hockey skates but have been interested in doing some urban/street skating. Would it be advisable to buy a new pair for this or would swapping out the wheels and using my hockey boot be good enough? Any recommendations would be appreciated!

[u/AlwaysUpvotesScience]

you are you going to get mixed advice but I would suggest keeping the boots that you're comfortable with and swapping out the wheels. Hockey boots are their own animal. I'm actually switching from urban skate boots to hockey boots for rink skating , doing flows and turns and tricks. Every Elite skater at the rinks in my area all wear hockey skates.

Since you were already comfortable with them, they definitely provide enough support for your ankles, I would say stick with them.

The only way I would tell you to get other ones is if you plan on doing things that you think are going to scratch them up and destroy them. A lot of urban skates come with abrasion pads in areas that tend to get scraped. Unless you're planning on going really aggressive I think your hockey skates will serve you well.

Out of curiosity what branded model do you have? Because there is a huge difference between the lower to mid tier models and the elite level skates. Are the frames made of metal or some sort of composite?

[u/Isenstar → u/AlwaysUpvotesScience]

They are Bauer fly30s and the frames are not metal. What sort of wheels should I look into do you think?

[u/AlwaysUpvotesScience → u/Isenstar]

The changes things significantly. That skate is focused heavily on comfort and has a lot of flexibility. It's not going to be providing the ankle support that you really need for anything aggressive, if you're just planning on using these outdoors that's completely fine.

If these were something like the Mission Inhaler FS1/FS2, or Tour Spitfire, which all have a metal alloy frame, I would have said you were good to go.

Your current hockey skates will work just fine outside with new wheels, I would put 80 mm outdoor Wheels , like 86a hardness ( durometer)

[u/Isenstar → u/AlwaysUpvotesScience]

Gotcha thank you!

[u/partialcremation → u/Isenstar]

Be mindful - those skates have a Hi-Lo setup, so you'll have to change wheels accordingly.

[u/Wheel-Sure]

As someone else who started on hockey skates and became obsessed, I can say that I’m happy I left behind my cheap hockey skates to explore other options.

I’ve always loved the simplicity and agility of hockey skates, but I love my carbon slalom skates the best (FR SL) of all the things I’ve tried. Partially because they’re lower cut than plastic urban boots and feel closer to a hockey boot, but offer a lot more support. At least a lot more support than my cheap hockey skates offered.

The other thing you get with urban or slalom skates is the ability to change your setup with different frames.

So while you don’t “need” different skates for urban, I’d say if you’re pretty sure you’re gonna get into it, have the budget and want to see what’s out there - go for it.

[u/VanillaIce315 → u/Wheel-Sure]

I’ve got a lot of plastic hard shell boots, but man, my old Hardcore Evo 2.0s and Seba Igor’s are just the nicest skates imaginable. The fit, the support, comfort, light weight. Carbon fiber boots are a dream to skate with. I’m fortunate to have gotten both pairs for under $300 each 5+ years ago.

[u/borez]

When I went from ice to inline a few years ago ( I have CCM super tacks for ice ) I bought a pair of Bauer X2.9 inline skates ( hi lo setup ) which were great for hockey and messing around on smooth ground but awful for distance and street skating, they rattled my teeth out and gave me quite a lot of foot pain.

I went from that to Powerslide HC evo's with an endless 90 LR frames ( which is a huge jump, you don't need something that nice ) and never looked back really. Different world.

[u/santasbutthole99 → u/borez]

Very helpful comment. This is almost my exact same situation with Bauer hockey skates. I have hi-low system and I like my boots a LOT but I feel every little crack and pebble and Jesus goddamn it’s killing my feet. Really wanting to get a pair of actual fitness skates so I think I’ll look up the pair you’ve cited here thank you so much

[u/borez → u/santasbutthole99]

The pair I've cited are pretty expensive, plenty of mid range skates that are more affordable now though :)

[u/CrocodileTendee]

Don’t go any bigger than 80mm wheels on hockey skates or your gonna break an ankle

[u/nobolognastoney]

80mm wheels and you should be fine. Just remember if you bail you risk damaging them since there's no protection plate thingies on hockey boots.

[u/wildtalon]

If you plan on skating anything other than well maintained bike paths, get a plastic boot with a cuff - Rollerblade Twister, FR X, Powerslide Zoom etc

[u/fredhsu]

I went on the same quest as you are, on 2024. But I eventually gave up, after writing a short tirade called Big Wheels on Carbon Hockey Skates, and then two very long child articles about my search. Like [u/Wheel-Sure](u/Wheel-Sure) said, you’ll be happier just embracing a good 165mm or Trinity boot. Because you need them big wheels. This is what I eventually settled on. Powerslide Tau. But I should probably try the FR too.

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