Best Derby Skates of 2020

DW staff evaluated each of the complete skate packages we offer, graded them on performance, comfort, and value, and then listed a few of our favorites!

After years of market dominance from the legendary AR1, Antik has finally named a successor to the throne. The signature high top remains and the AR2 Derby complete package that is highlighted below includes a Reactor Pro Plate, Halo Wheels, Moto Deluxe Bearings, and a Gumball Toe Stop.

Performance: 9 /10
One of the upgrades made to the AR2 was to replace the leather outsole with a composite one, similar to the Solaris. The Reactor Pro underneath is the flagship of the Reactor Series - strong, lightweight, powerful, and responsive. Halo Wheels and Gumball Stops are the #1 choice of derby players around the world for wheels and toe stops, respectively.

Comfort: 9 / 10
Antik's signature high top is a confidence booster for a great many skaters and the open-toe, full length lacing is simply masterful for fine tuning any fit. The combination of pliable leather and clean cuts around the ankle and tongue have not caused any abrasion issues or blisters in our testing. The counters are heat moldable as needed, though the wide ball/narrow heel mold seems to be juuuuust right for most skaters.

Value: 9 / 10
No doubt it's a top shelf price for a top shelf skate, but consider that just an AR2 Boot and Arius Plate together fall just $1 shy of the AR2 Derby complete skate's sticker price. Getting a full set of Halos, Moto bearings, and a Gumball for a dollar is a pretty sweet deal!

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Jackson excels at creating packages that offer performance and value above and beyond what one might assume from their price tags. The Supreme is Jackson's sturdy new boot and is mounted to a Viper Alloy Plate here, with Poison Savant Wheels, Bionic ABEC7 Bearings, and a Bigfoot Stopper.

Performance: 8 / 10
Supreme Boots, constructed from microfiber, are stiff, supportive, and hold their shape better than leather as time and use wears on. The Viper Plate (essentially a Falcon-lite) is our favorite component on this package thanks to amazing action that perfectly balances stability and responsivenes. The Poison Savant Wheels are suprisingly manueverable for being 84A, but would likely be replaced with harder wheels for many indoor surfaces.

Comfort: 7 / 10
The microfiber lining in the Supreme is one of our favorites. It's velvety smooth to the touch but has a bit of tackiness to it that helps secure the fit. The boots are built on a female last that favors average to slender profiles; wide feet may experience pinching around the ball and are advised to size up. If they exist, many imperfections in the fit can be targeted with Jackson's unique AquaTech heat molding technology.

Value: 10 / 10
Relative to the performance and years of use you should get out of this build, the intermediate price tag is an extreme bargain. The Viper Alloy baseplate carries a lifetime guarantee against breaks or defects, which only adds to the tremendous value.

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The Eclipse is Chaya's new high end derby boot and is unlike any other currently on the market, packed full of design elements and other features that enhance fit, performance, and quality of life. It's mounted to a Shiva Plate with Juice Java Wheels, Wicked Bearings, and a Cherry Bomb Toe Stop.

Performance: 9 / 10
The boot's carbon composite shell provides a crazy strong foundation and excellent power transfer into the plate below. That Shiva Plate has 20¡ action that is tremendous for derby thanks to a balanced mix of power and finesse. Java Wheels are great edgers and the stock 92A is reliable on many surfaces. Cherry Bomb Toe Stops might just be our most raved about toe stop - they are suprisingly slow to wear for how well they grip and rebound.

Comfort: 8 / 10
While the Eclipse does have a stiff shell, the boot is designed with 'flex cuts' that adapt to various shapes right out of the box. The heel pocket can be a bit particular due to the firm heel-lock padding and unique shape, but heat molding address that quite well and is highly recommended. The memory foam insole is one of the more noticeable footbeds in the industry and perfectly compliments the boot's otherwise rigid construction.

Value: 8 / 10
There is little doubt that this build offers some of the best performance capabilities of any on the market in 2020. It doesn't offer quite as much of a package discount as the others in our list but it does deliver 5 out of 5 high-quality components and none of them warrants being replaced, wheel preference notwithstanding. With regards to durability, the boots have thus far proven well built and capable of handling lots of abuse and wear.

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