Get your child moving this summer with our top picks for the best roller skates for kids. With starting ages around four years old, we’ve made sure to pick the best roller skates for beginner child. Expect to spend anywhere from $25 to $70 on Amazon – though some of our picks get a bit more expensive depending on size and style. Our choices of the best roller skates for kids are based on Amazon rating, the price-to-quality ratio, and ankle support.
7. Pacer Comet Kids Light Up Roller Skates
- Sizes: Unisex J12-13, K1-5
- Closure: Velcro and Lace
- Wheels: Indoor/outdoor, 54mm urethane
- Bearings: 608Z Excellerator bearings
- Chassis: Lightweight torsion beam with fixed, hard plastic toe stops
With an average price below $100, these skates are man-made. They’re styled to look like an athletic shoe, the outer wheels on each shoe light up faster depending on how fast your child is skating.
Sizing gave little difficult to reviewers when they followed the manufacturer’s recommendation to order a size up. While the wheels were a bit slow and the velcro straps tore up the supplied laces, many reviewers said these skates were comfortable and soft.
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6. Hype Roller Skates
- Sizes: Unisex J10-13, K1-4
- Closure: Lace only
- Wheels: Indoor/outdoor urethane wheels
- Bearings: Easy, push-free rolling bearings
- Chassis: Replaceable toe break
With an average price around $50, these skates look different from their competitors by styling themselves to look exactly like a high top sneaker. The durable canvas exterior is soft and colorful, and the base of the shoe is lightweight nylon. The materials for these skates are all high-quality and pressure-tested.
They also come with three sets of colorful lace replacements. Customers report that the skates fit as expected, and while there were some mix-ups with incorrect skates being sent out, Hype was quick to contact and send out replacements.
5. Chicago Girls Sidewalk Roller Skate
- Sizes: Unisex J12-13, K1-5
- Closure: Velcro and Lace
- Wheels: 60mm oversized, adjustable plastic wheels (not polyurethane)
- Bearings: Semi-precision
- Chassis: High impact double adjustable chassis and truck with a built-in toe strap and self-adhesive power strap
Coming in with an average price of $30-50, these indoor/outdoor skates for girls were designed for sidewalk gliding. The controlled high-top boot includes high-quality laces for quick adjustment. While most customers said these skates fit as expected, some reviewed that they actually ran a bit big.
The skates handle surprisingly well on carpets and on sidewalks, and the wheels are adjustable. Overall, this is a comfortable and stable skate, though a few parents said that the ankle support was lacking.
4. Roller Derby Boy’s Trac Star
- Sizes: Medium (J12-K2), Large (K3-6)
- Closure: Hinged cuff and cam-lever buckle closure
- Wheels: 54mm Urethane wheels
- Bearings: 608Z Excellerator bearings
- Chassis: Lightweight patented torsion-beam frame
While these skates have a broad price range at $35-115, those higher prices come with good reason: the adjustable sizing means your kids can use these skates much longer than the average kids’ skate. With a molded shell and adjustable, padded inner sleeve, they offer comfort and plenty of stability.
While mostly meant for indoor use, these skates can be used outside, as well. A simple button push means for ingenious resizing, and the nuts on the wheels allow for slower skates for a beginner. The skate seems a bit less comfortable than some of our other picks for the best roller skates for kids.
3. Chicago Girl’s Classic Roller Skates
- Sizes: Unisex J10-13, K1-4
- Closure: Velcro and Lace
- Wheels: 60mm indoor/outdoor composite with oversized PVC spoke core
- Bearings: 608ZB semi-precision bearings
- Chassis: Double adjustable chassis and double action truck with toe stop.
With a price range of $25-95, these skates offer both affordability and style. The boot itself is a 3/4 boot made of white vinyl. Fit in an athletic style with a padded ankle collar, these skates are well-rated and comfortable.
Reviewers report that the skate fits as expected, though they recommend ordering a size up to account for growing feet. A few parents (and kids) complained about speed, however; once kids were comfortable enough to want to go faster, parents found that the bearings wouldn’t spin freely, even when the wheel was adjusted.
2. Cal 7 Roller Skates for Indoor & Outdoor Skating
- Sizes: Unisex K1-6
- Closure: Lace only
- Wheels: 54x32mm wheels in soft, 78A PVC material
- Chassis: Wide-suspension trucks
With a price range of $45-60, these sturdy skates have a retro, faux leather boot that boasts a world of ankle support and durability. The interior of the ankle is made of sturdy PVC and is lined for comfort, meaning it’s one of the best roller skates for kids.
Customers say this skate fit as expected. While marketed as indoor/outdoor skates, they’re meant more for indoor and rink use; many reported the wheels struggling on the pavement. Since the toe stopper and wheels are both replaceable, however, most parents had luck simply replacing the wheels so their kids could skate more easily outside.
1. Roller Derby FireStar Youth Girl’s Roller Skates
- Sizes: Unisex J12-13, K1-4
- Closure: Velcro and Lace
- Wheels: 70mm
- Bearings: Excellerator 608ZB bearings
- Chassis: Lightweight torsion beam frame
With a wide range of prices, from $25-90, these shoes are well-tested and thoroughly approved as one of the best roller skates for kids. A comfortable sporty design with some ankle height and a padded collar, these skates will be gentle to your child’s feet, and offer decent support when laced correctly.
Generally, reviews agree that while the skates fit as expected, parents should order a size up to account for quickly growing feet. Some, however, complained that the skates run a bit small. The provided laces were also said to get chewed up by the velcro pretty quick – an easy fix with replacement laces. Speed can be adjusted by tightening the wheels for beginners.
Conclusion
While some of the details of the skates – things like wheel size and chassis, for example – remained the same across the board, we found that the best roller skates for kids offered comfort, support, and a degree of flexibility that lets the skates be used frequently until they’re outgrown.
In the end, we loved Roller Derby’s balance between affordability, quality, and support – and plenty of other parents did, too. We’d love to hear what you have to say, though! Ask your questions and leave your feedback (and other roller skate recommendations) in the comments.
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