“Aggressive inline skates” is the common name for skates used in the skateparks or in the streets for those who want to grind ledges, curbs, rails and do some more intense tricks. They have also been affectionately called “Blades” in reference to the classic brand Rollerblade just like the terms “rollerblading”, “blading”, and “bladers”. These skates have evolved so much since their booming start but they are now designed perfectly for intense skating. In this guide, we will break down their elements to explain why certain parts may vary for different skating and skaters.
Sven Boekhorst grinding down a rail
The wheels that come on these skates are usually small, hard and can vary in profiles. Before we talk about the wheels themselves it’s important to acknowledge the way that they are set up. There are “Flat” setups that keep all of the wheels the same size with the same shape or “profile” providing a smooth roll. Anti-rockered or anti-grinder setups refer to the middle two wheels when they are significantly smaller than the outer wheels so that they stay out of the way in grinds.
The wheels that come on these skates are mostly small because that makes them very stable and easy to use but also keeps them out of the way in grinds. They usually range from mid 40mm wheels for anti-rockered setups to as large as 70mm for a flat setup or the outer wheels in an anti-rockered setup. The larger the wheel, the easier it is to maintain speed but the smaller the more agile. Usually skaters go for a height around 54mm – 60mm for the outer wheels or flat setups to receive both benefits (a bit of speed and agility, it’s the perfect medium).
Now the hardness, they are hard because a higher durometer makes them very durable but also very smooth. They lack in grip but that makes them super smooth in skateparks and is intended to prevent wheel bite. Wheel bite is when you accidently get caught in a grind on your wheels, it’s awful and usually painful!
Their profiles or shapes are the part of the wheels outer edges that touch the ground. Some are very round and agile but the flatter the wheel, the more stable. This aspect is very similar to wheel height as the preference for most skaters is the middle ground that receives both benefits. Not too round because it’s slippery and not too flat because that makes turning difficult. So the ideal shape for most is a rounded-flat profile but there is no perfect wheel, only a wheel that is perfect for you! We recommend using the wheels that come stock on your skate and experimenting with other wheel that you think you could benefit from.
Durability is very important when it comes to these skates because when you are putting yourself into these risky situations you really need a boot that feels secure and can take the heat from grinding and having aggressive fun. Most are made of a glass-fiber reinforced plastic or other durable plastics with thicker areas where it’s needed most. There are also more expensive versions that are made of carbon and carbon composites which save you in weight while still being incredibly durable.
The soul frames are pretty vital to an aggressive skate, they are a part of the grinding structure so they need to be thicker. They are the piece that goes in between the boot and the frame but sometimes are attached to the boots in a unibody design. USD Aeons are a great example of these kind of skates because they’ve become very popular for their durability and lightweight structure that is pretty low-maintenance.
The boots almost always come with removable liners inside except for a very few. With the liners being removable it’s easy to get a skate with a shell that you like the fit of and customize the fit more aftermarket. One thing about ordering skates that we stress is making sure that you get the right size by measuring your feet instead of going by shoe sizing.
The UFS (Universal Frame System) mounting changed everything in aggressive inline skating as you were able to break a frame and replace it with a new one. Before this, skates were non-repairable and riveted together but not yet the right way. There are still unibody/riveted options that again, make them more durable and lighter in weight. Most aggressive skates will have UFS mounting though, which makes them easy to customize and even use in urban or off-road skating (so fun!). Any aggressive frame is made for grinding and has a central grinding area. Some even have a large grinding space that takes over the position of the inner two wheels and these are often called “freestyle frames”.