From: adchen@umaxc.weeg.uiowa.edu (Tony Chen)
Subject: REC.SKATE FAQ - part 5/7:  SKATE REVIEWS
Followup-To: rec.skate
Reply-To: adchen@umaxc.weeg.uiowa.edu
Organization: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 19:57:58 GMT
Expires: Tue, 1 Dec 1992 00:00:00 GMT

Archive-name: rec-skate-faq/part5
Last-modified: 9/11/92

REC.SKATE FAQ - PART 5:  SKATE REVIEWS
 
Table Contents
  - In-line skate reviews
 
================================================================================
 
                              IN-LINE SKATE REVIEWS
                              ---------------------
                         (as compiled from alt/rec.skate)
 
NOTE: This collection of "reviews" was culled from articles posted in 
alt.skate (now defunct) and rec.skate, dating from May 1991.  While these 
articles include many facts and first-hand experience, much of the text here 
is necessarily opinion. Also realize that the in-line market is changing 
rapidly, so prices and specifications are likely to be out of date.    
 
 
Table of contents
-----------------
 Zetras, Riedell, other low-end skates
 Roller Derbys
 Bauers
 California Pro
 Ultra Wheels Gretzky Wings
 Switch-It
 Aeroblade (Rollerblade)
 Racing skates
 
 
I'd at least consider getting the "Reidell 601 Extreme!" skates (or possibly 
other Reidell models) over the R-blade Lightnings.  Although I haven't tried 
on a pair, their wheels (Hypers) appear to be far superior to the slow, 
spongy, Rollerblade Kryptonics 608s that come on the lightnings (though I've 
heard the version on the TRS are a bit better than those on the regular 
lightning due to a bigger hub).  The one local store I know of here that 
carries the Reidells (Beacon Hill Skate) sells them for about $175.  They 
look like pretty decent skates.
 
David B Rosen, Cognitive & Neural Systems         Internet: rosen@cns.bu.edu
 
-----
 
Riedell 601 Extremes from Skates On Haight, San Francisco. $175.
 
These have the top clasp/buckle like the Lightning TSR's.
The design of the boot was aided by Olson (the founder of Rollerblades).
You cannot adjust the height of the wheels like you can on the Lightnings.
The wheels are supposedly fast (I say supposedly because I as a beginner
can't really say that fer-sure, I can say I did move fair distances without a 
lot of effort).
 
The boot is supposed to breath better and be better designed than the 608's.
I found both the Reidell boot and the 608 to feel the same (in terms of 
comfort)(standing in the store)
 
I also brought wrist/hand guards (slammers(?)) and knees pads (~$17 ea) and 
they have already paid for themselves (I've only fallen once so far but 
when I did it was hard).
 
The help I got in making the decision from SOH was very good. Another place 
was nice to me was Courtesy Sports in Los Altos ( $179.99 with a 10% back if 
you find them advertised cheaper). The worst place was Big-5, Stevens Creek, 
San Jose ("They're more expensive so they have to be better.") Everybodyelse 
(where I went in person) was imbetween.  
Nuevo Color (San Mateo) were very nice on the phone (608's $179)
 
Any Mountain and Tri City are not cheap (608's: $185-$199) (even with their 
sale price) 
 
Nobody in this area tended to stock the Baur(?) or the Ultra Wheels Classics 
mentioned in August Consumer Reports (A lot of people have the Ultra Wheels 
Skate Attrck 2000's which compared to the Lightnings and the Reidell is *very* 
uncomfortable), and nobody had their price for the RollerBlade Lightnings.
 
On the personal side, I found the orthopedic pads for my flat feet do help, and
that because of my 'knocked-knees' my stance is slightly wider than that of 
most people I've seen skating, but it really has affected my balance like I 
thought it would (sometimes I do find myself pushing the outside edges of my 
feet against the boot).
 
Anyway, all I have to do now is learn how to turn quickly enough to avoid the 
oncoming brick wall (that probably won't make the Skate boarders happy :))
(SOH also has skate boards).
 
If I didn't get back to you personally, sorry, thanks for all you help and 
answers,
 
Winston.
 
-----
 
SonH is still alive and well. SoffH is just their mail-order branch.
 
The only warning about SoH is that there appears to be some bad blood between
them and Rollerblade. They will steer you away from Rollerblade products (and,
mostly, toward SwitcHit products). They bash Rollerblade's Aeroblade, calling
it technically inferior, which is wrong.
 
>I've only ice skated a little, but I've been thinking about buying ice
>skates, then I saw SwitcHits.  Anybody know if they're OK as ice skates?
>I guess they're hockey blades, which I'm not sure I'd want if I'm into
>figure skating.
 
The SwitcHit blades indeed have a hockey blade rock. I don't know why they
couldn't do figure skate blades, though. You might want to call SwitcHit
and ask. They have an 800 number.
 
SwitcHit says that several NHL players have gone with SwitcHit. What these
players have done is put SwitcHit blade mounts on their boots. These players
don't use SwitcHit's boots.
 
The Consumer Reports one-page article is very good. I think virtually all of
their comments are right on target. The main problems were in coverage -- they
didn't include Riedell or SwitcHit skates or Rollerblade's Aeroblade in the
evaluation.  Also, they just mentioned replacement wheels in passing, but
didn't mention any particular brands.
 
I believe this thread started with a query about inexpensive Rollerblade
mail-order sources. First off, it appears as if most mail-order operations
cannot sell the upper part of the Rollerblade line. The dividing line appears
to be at the Lightning TRS. If you want the Aero, Racer, or TRS, you may not
be able to find it via mail-order. There are limitations on what shops can
discount these upper skates, too.
 
I like to support local shops that give good service. You may be able to do
some bargaining with a local shop on accessories that you buy along with your
skates, etc. Just remember that it costs money to provide good service!  If a
local shop charges high prices but doesn't give good service, don't support
them. It may be useful to tell them why you're going elsewhere. The best ways
to get support for local skating is to vote with your $$$ at shops that are
doing good things.
 
Phil Earnhardt          pae@netwise.com
 
-----
 
Just for the sake of expanding our inline horizons 8-) a friend and I
headed out to a Pelican sports/pool store out on Rt.22 (in NJ) to scout
the non-Rollerblade inline skates. Two main non-RB lines they had
available were RollerDerby and Bauer.  
 
First the RollerDerbys
 
Sonic2000's ($150 list):
   Boots cut low in front, but high in back, with laces and a buckle (ala the 
Lightning TRS) and small wheels (didn't say anywhere, but looked like 70mm,80A)
My friend and I didn't even bother trying on these skates after we noticed 
that the plastic runners with their plastic connecting pins going from the 
left runner to the right weren't holding the runners very well.  We could 
press each runner inward and the pins would snap in where they should've.
 
South Coast ($250 list):
   A three-buckle skate, looks lots like the Macroblade, but in a hideous 
hot-pink (liner)/black (boot)/yellow-n-orange (trim/accents) color combo.  
Wheels weren't marked again, but looked like 70mm 80A.  Spinning the wheels 
with the skates upside-down gave about 3 or 4 turns, which was pretty 
surprising.  Anyway, the liner was okay, but for some reason in the bottom 
they were packed with a rubbery insole.  After taking them out, we felt much 
more comfortable in the skates.  I'd rate the liners comparable to the TRS's.
Although this was an all-buckle skate the buckles looked like they were cast 
from a cheap mold.  A far cry from the buckles on the Aeroblade.  But all in 
all, the buckles held pretty snug.
 
TK4000's ($300 list): 
   Also a three-buckle skate, all black.  I assumed the wheels were like those 
of the other Rollerderbys.  Bearings much better than the Sonic2000's.  The 
liners were again packed with the rubber insole, but after removing those, we 
found that the liners were pretty good, much like the Macros.  The buckles 
still looked cheaply made though.  Good snug fit, but still short of the Macros.
A moderate skate, but definitely not worth $300.
 
All the Rollerderby skates have a really small brake pad on the right
skate.  It's only about 3/4 inches thick!  The material was really, really
hard plastic though, not the rubber kind.  As a whole, I'd recommend against 
buying this brand, if only for the reason that your money would be much better 
spent on other brands (isn't that the only reason? 8-)  The store did have the 
RD skates marked down pretty low though.  The sonics were going for $99,
the SCoast for $170ish, and the TK4000s for like $240.  
 
 
The next brand was Bauer
 
The Bauer naming is kinda confusing with all those X's 8-) but anyway...
 
X/3 ($120 list):  
   All laces, shiny grey boot with black in places.  70mm wheels.  Probably 
78A.  We didn't try these on, but hey, they're the low end skates, go figure.
 
XF/3,Freestyle ($180 list):
   All laces, shiny grey boot with black, 72mm 78A wheels.  Again we didn't
try these out, but looks like it was comparable to the Lightning 608s or
Zetra303s (I know, there's a difference, but just as a guess.)
 
XS/5,Street ($200 list):
  All laces again, with a shiny black boot.  Came with neon yellow 72mm 78A
wheels too.  My friend tried them out.  Good liner, but laces are laces
and they take time so my friend kinda said "nah..." 8-)  Anyway, a good
skate,  good bearings, good fit.
 
XT/7,Trainer ($300 list):
  This skate was amazing. (Well, after trying the Rollerderby skates,
these were relatively amazing 8-).  The boot is shiny black, cut low with
laces and a great buckle on the cuff.  Wheels were 72mm 78A, the
bearings were Germans I believe.  The liner was like sinking your feet 
into a pillow.  Very cushy, very snug.  As much as I hate to admit
it 8-), the liners were probably better than my Aeroblade liners.  Even
rolling around on the carpeted floor, the skates felt *very* fast.  If
they weren't so durn expensive, I'd grab a pair.  One important thing to
notice is that the front wheel is set a good deal forward, even farther
than the Aeroblade front wheel is.  The front wheel's bolt is practically 
under the front end of the boot.  Good for speed I suppose, but definitely 
a different feel from all the other skates.  It was really too bad this
Pelican store didn't have Racers (like the another one did) so I could
compare. 
 
The Bauer skates all had rubbery brakes, slanted at an angle so that you
could effectively lift your brake foot to lift.  Rollerblade brakes,
when new are parallel to the ground, which makes it a tad bit harder to
brake easily.  The Bauer brakes were a little thin though.  About half
as thick as Rollerblade brakes, so they might wear faster.  
 
Anyway, hope this little review is useful to people looking to buy skates.  
 
Note: the prices above are probably on the high side.  Pelican is
notorious for outrageous prices, so you'd probably be able to get a
pretty good deal at other stores.
 
(When we have time, we'll head out to the other and better Pelican store. 
They not only have the entire Rollerblade line-up, in every color, but they
also have Ultra Wheels and SwitcHits skates.)
 
-Tony Chen
 adchen@lee.cs.uiowa.edu
 
-----
 
Y'all ready for some Bauer hype and jargon? 8-)  I got the Bauer brochure a 
couple of weeks ago.  Why didn't I think of copying every word down for you 
folks to read? (NO comments 8-) 8-)
 
I'll provide a quick chart on the XF/3, XS/5, XT/7 and XR/10s.
 
SKATE : WHEEL/BRNGS : CHASSIS      : LINER          : SHELL MATERIAL
      :             :              :                :
XF/3  : 70mm82A/NMB : superlight   : high density   : molded polyurethane
      : Bauer       : glass-filled :   foam         :
      :             :              :                :
XS/5  : 72mm78A/NMB : superlight   : Evazote/Volara : molded polyurethane
      : Hypers      : glassfilled  : Foam (don't    :
      :             :              : ask me)        :
      :             :              :                :
XT/7  : 72mm78A/GMN : superlight   : Evazote/Volara : molded polyurethane
      : Hypers      : glassfilled  : Foam           :
      :             :              :                :
XR/10 : 76mm78A/GMN : Zandstra     : Memory foam    : molded polyurethane
      : Hypers      :  6000        :                :
 
So the verdict is...if you're comparing the XF/3 and the XS/5, the only
real difference are the wheels and bearings!  I don't know about Bauer's
penchant for over-hyped-marketing names for their liners.  Is there a major
difference in liner qualities between the XF/3 and XS/5?  Probably only
a minimal amount.  If you find XF/3s for a good deal less than XS/5s
you're probably getting a good bargain.
 
-Tony Chen, adchen@lee.cs.uiowa.edu
 
-----
 
From: markb@plasma.kinetics.com (Mark Burnham)
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1991 23:25:00 GMT
 
 
I recently purchased a pair of  CaliforniaPro Inline skates.  I have the
"top" model called the "Nitroline".  I only paid $150 for them
at Nordstrum's (NOT the cheapest place around) in San Francisco.  They are 
basically a RollerBlade Lightning TRS clone.  They have laces and a single
buckle at the top of the boot.  The wheels are 70mm/78A very similar to the
TRS wheels.  I've skated in them now for probably about 16 hours (not all at
once!) and I'm really happy with them.  A friend of mine has the TRS's and I
seem to be able to roll just as quickly as him. I think they are the best value
on the market (that I've seen). The only difference I can see between the 
Nitroline and the TRS is that the TRS boot may be slightly stiffer, and a 
bit more plush.
 
 
I called CaliforniaPro about using 72mm wheels and they said it was no problem
(that's the largest you can go however).   The phone rang about 3 times and
someone answered and gave me the information I was looking for.  I was really
impressed. That sort of response is pretty rare.  I don't know about other 
places in the country, but 72mm wheels are much more common than 70mm around 
here. Also, according to a friend who knows, the bearings in the wheels (NMB
608's) are "pretty good".  I don't know nothing 'bout bearings, so I'll take 
his word for it.      
 
That said, I've seen 1 small problem:
 
It's a pain to find someplace to get brakes.  The store I bought them from
doesn't carry the damn things.  I've made an interesting discovery however. 
The TRS brake assembly bolts right on! There is a slight difference between the
2 systems, but it seemed quite secure when I bolted on the TRS assembly.  I
haven't skated on this yet, so I can't guarantee that it works, but it seems
like it'll be fine.  The RollerBlade brake systems use much more material in
the brakes, so I'm sure they'll last longer then the stock CaliforniaPro ones
(the CaliforniaPro brakes are cylindrical, kinda like those funky skates with
2 wheels on each side of the boot. ;)  ).
I'm planning to get a TRS assembly soon and really skate on it.  I'll let you
know what happens.
 
Anyway, if anyone is looking for good reasonably priced skates, I would strongly
recommend the CaliforniaPro Nitroline skate.  BTW, they do have a cheaper model
(like ~$90) but it lacks the buckle, and unfortunately I don't remember what 
sort of wheels it had.
 
CaliforniaPro can be reached at:
10637 Roselle St., Suite G
San Diego, CA 92121
(619) 597-0690
(619) 597-0776 - FAX
 
Have fun. BTW, I have no affiliation with CaliforniaPro.
 
-Mark (markb@wc.novell.com)
 
-----
 
From: Thomas.Sullivan@cs.cmu.edu
Date: 25 Nov 91 13:09:38 GMT
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
 
I test drove my new Gretzky Wings this past Saturday in a hockey game.
They roll very smoothly and the boot is quite comfortable.  The lower part
of the skate laces and the upper part has the ski boot style buckle. This
makes for a very snug ankle fit.   I would recommend these buckle styles
for any skaters that really like a snug fit.  One of the things I didn't
like about my last pair of skates was that it was hard to pull the laces 
very tight with the plastic boots.  I like my hockey (ice) skates very 
tight and snug (like they're a part of my feet), and the buckle really 
allows for that feel on the inline.
 
Since I'm still pretty much a greenhorn at inline skating, I've got a few
things to learn about stopping in a hockey game!  Especially now with 
skates with very fast bearings.  I love the fact that I can corner much 
better with the Wings than my older skates, and the speed and
smoothness is much closer to ice now too, but ya just can't hockey stop
in an inline like you do on ice (and I keep forgetting that!).  Any other 
inline hockey players have comments on stopping style?  
 
I also removed the brake from my skate about midway through the game,
and it made turning around to skate backwards much easier.  I kept 
catching the brake sometimes when I'd turn around.  I don't recommend
skating without a brake around town (hills and such) but on a flat surface 
during a hockey game, not a bad idea.  I also found that I could turn more
easily by pivoting on the front wheels instead of the whole skate.  Might
be able to retain the brake if I perfect this technique more.  
 
The liner in the Wings is also very comfortable.  Pretty thick foam so
even when the skate is tight, you don't feel like it is digging into your
foot.  I'm pretty happy with the skate so far.
 
Oh yeah, we were playing hockey on a tennis court.  Great surface, pretty
smooth (although ours here at Carnegie Mellon have some major cracks
in them) so you roll nicely, and don't shred yourself when you fall, but 
rough enough that you can really hug the surface on turns.  
 
--Tom
 
P.S.  The Wings are also on sale now at the Great Skate for $170.  This
       is a *GREAT* price.  I paid $183 at Sabreland for mine, which is 
        the best "regular" price I found.  I didn't get my Great Skate
        sale catalog until a few days after I had already ordered them 
        from Sabreland.  If anyone is interested in a fast, comfortable
        skate, I'd recommend looking into these.  Enjoy!
 
P.P.S.  They also give you this really cheezy video of them making an
        UltraWheels video with Gretzky.  A real selling point!  (HA)
 
-----
 
The Reviews section of the October issue of Outside has an excellent article
about in-lines. The writer reviews skates he likes from Ultra Wheels,
SwitcHit, Bauer, Riedell, and Rollerblade. 
 
He also describes the nature of learning new things on skates: you often will
find that you learn new skills instantly -- or will find that you already know
how to do something, but won't discover it until The Moment of Trial. I won't
spoil the stories he tells, but I do think he embellished his Boulder Creek
Trail story a bit--I don't think I've ever hit 40MPH on the section of trail
mentioned on my Racers. Perhaps 30. That's fast enough. It is a fun little
section of trail, provided that few other users are around.
 
The writer strongly states that lateral support is mandatory. This is not
necessarily true. Good racers prefer to have their ankles free for more power
on the stroke. World-class skaters -- both quad and in-line -- will use
boots that are cut very low. However, substantial lateral support is very
useful for almost all non-racing types.
 
My other gripe, a small one, is that I view the RacerBlade as an excellent
commuting skate, not necessarily as only a beginner's racing skate. If you're
mainly interested in getting from Point A to B and already have some
experience, don't ignore the "Racer".
 
All in all, an excellent article. Some good ideas for folks who want to try
something other than Rollerblade skates. Check it out.
 
Phil Earnhardt          pae@netwise.com
Netwise, Inc.           Boulder, CO  (303) 442-8280
 
-----                     == SWITCH-IT REVIEWS ==
 
Switchit's address is:
 
Innovative Sport Systems, Inc.
6507 Cecilia Circle
Minneapolis, Mn 55439
 
Some of the SwitchIts features are nice.  Both my roomates have Switch-its, 
but have had some problems:
 
1) They have the lace up (not buckle ones), and they have an extremely 
   though time getting them tight, and keeping them tight.  I've never 
   seen the buckle version (probably the SwIt high end).
 
2) One pair came with very short axels, which weren't quite long enough, and 
   he had a wheel pop off while skating.  Very dangerous.  SwIt sent him a 
   new set of axels (where the threads came all the way though the bolts, not 
   just 1/2 way), and appologized, but I have to question their quality 
    control, and commitment to safety for ever shipping crap like this.
 
3) My one roomate and I do a lot of jumps and he's having problems with the 
   plastic hubs of his wheels crumbling.  Overall the wheels don't seem to 
   hold up under *heavy* stress.
 
I didn't really like the long wheelbase, or the fact that there is a 
un-removeable brake stop on each side.  I also liked the top buckle on the TRS.
 
-----
 
Yeah, I looked at SwitchIts, but:
 
* Their homegrown wheels looked cheap and flimsy.
* The "Laceless" model only has two buckles -- in fact it has lace
  holes so you can use both.
* They weren't all that comfortable
* They weren't all that cheap
* I don't do Ice right now, and as has been pointed out, swapping left
  and right runners is not an adequate way of rotating your wheels.
 
But on the positive side:
 
* I like the long wheelbase (back wheel farther back) and big wheels
* It has a little thingy to keep the liner heel from coming up off the
  heel of the boot while you skate
* They're lighter than a lot of skates (but not nearly as light as
  Aeros)
 
Can anyone tell us about the Reidell 601 Extreme?  I've heard this is
a good skate.
 
David B Rosen, Cognitive & Neural Systems         Internet: rosen@cns.bu.edu
 
-----
 
I have a pair of SwitchIts.  They're nice skates, and certainly
better than the standard hired RB's.  I tried on a pair of Macros,
but didn't like them.  I haven't tried the AeroBlades yet (but if I
like them, I may get a pair of them too).  
 
The SwitchIts are nice for these reasons:
 
1.  Most people have RB's, and I like to be different.
 
2.  They're good if you like Ice as well.
 
3.  Swapping wheels is very simple -- just swap all 4 at once
 
4.  No LACES!  This is the single best feature for me.  
    The velcro straps on some brands seem a little flimsy,
    and I don't like doing up laces.  I love the plastic
    bindings
 
5.  Mounting system allows you to retrofit your most comfortable
    existing boots for SwitchIts.  Useful for experienced skaters.
 
6.  Very comfortable, and seem to be light ( but I haven't seen
    any Aeros yet).  Good ankle support.
 
7.  There's an inner boot which may be easily removed and washed.
 
Against:
 
8.  The brake mountings extend a little too far back for my liking.
    Even if you remove the brakes, the mounts could get in the way
    during cross overs or when going down steps fast.
 
9.  The wheel base is a little long for sharp turns, spins or trix.
 
10. The boot can get a bit sweaty after 5 hours of skating.. :-)
 
11. There was only one color, a hideous bright orange, in my size.
    Some other brands use brighter colors.
 
Paul Gillingwater, paul@actrix.gen.nz
 
From: paul@actrix.gen.nz (Paul Gillingwater)
Date: 16 Jan 92 19:31:17 GMT
 
I'm a SwitchIt owner.  I like them.
 
> 1)  Brakes are significantly smaller than other skates.  True, they give
> you two brakes, but neither brake frame is removable!  The smallish
> brake pads have less stopping power and wear faster than other
> manufacturer's brakes
 
Yes, they do wear faster.  The frame isn't removable, which can be a
hassle when going forwards down steps.
 
> 2) Only two buckles on the Switchit 1141.  Can you offer enough support
> with only two buckles?  Wear not talking some rear-entry ski boot here.
> In fact there are still holes so you can use laces for additional
> tightening.
 
I find that two can give enough support, at least for my needs.  I
have trouble with laces... :-)
 
> 3) Hubcaps on the wheels have been known to simply crumble, although
> this is due to higher-than-normal stress.  IMHO, hubcaps, although
> providing some scrape protection seems like just adding to the menage of
> wheel-geer parts.
 
Yep.   I have lost most of my hubcaps as a result of scrapes and
bangs.
 
> BUT, as much as I slam Switchits, there are many GOOD points:
> 
> 1) Long wheel base of 11.5 inches, good for a little more stabilty
> if you need it (i.e. don't do a lot of tricks/spins...) and can take
> 76mm wheels.
 
They're FAST too -- but that's the wheels I guess.
 
> 2) Although the brake *frame* is not removable, the brake pads
> themselves are changeable withOUT tools.  A big plus when you're on the
> go.
 
Quite right too.  Just unscrew them by hand.
 
> 3) Ability to swap wheels quickly (although, as it's been pointed out,
> this isn't as useful as it seems, since wheel rotation should include
> changing positions too).
 
This can be a benefit if you're lazy (like moi).
 
> 4) The only skate on the market to let you swap the rollerblade for a
> ice hockey blade.  (However, real ice hockey skates never have a hard
> urethane shell because it's too stiff.  As far as I can tell, ice hockey 
> players would rather have a soft leather shell for flexibility.)  
 
Quite right -- in fact one of the biggest drawbacks is the boot.  But
SwitchIt mechs (i.e. the heel plate) can be retrofitted to most pro
leather boots.  This is a big plus.
 
Paul Gillingwater, paul@actrix.gen.nz
 
 
From: rice@gambln.enet.dec.com (Tim Rice)
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 15:15:42 GMT
 
I owned a pair of the Micron hockey skates back around '80.  I grew up on
Bauer skates (Black Panthers, 92's, etc.).  When I got into my 20's my feet
were too wide for Bauer's anymore (to much trouble with in-grown toenails).
The Microns are the urethane (plastic) boot with an ICM blade.  They were a
nice skate except that motion side to side was too restrictive.  The boot
didn't pivot enough in that direction so I would "often" lose an edge and
wind up on my butt.  This finally happened once during a game where I got 
hurt, I went head first into the boards.  The skates were retired just after
that.
 
Other than that the boot was great.  It provided many advantages over a 
leather boot.  One I didn't see you mention was that it distributes the 
shock from a puck much better than leather.  Again this is speaking from
experience since I had some toes broken in this fashion.
 
After experimenting with different skates I'd buy leather because it is
still the best all around.  The only real disadvantages to leather are the
break in and down aspects.  They provide the most control.  The next problem
is in finding a leather skate.  I stay away from synthetics as much as
possible.  I prefer GRAF skates.  The break in period is very short.  The
break down period is also short (downside).  It is a very comfortable boot
and provides the most control I've found.  They are rather expensive 200+
for a hockey skate, considering they won't last 3 years.  An active high
school type player may only get one year out of them.  For someone my age
they're perfect, I get 3 years out of a pair.  It's about time for my third.
 
                        == END SWITCHIT REVIEWS ==
-----
                          == AEROBLADE REVIEWS ==
 
 
By the way, I love my new Aeros.  Much better glide than the Lightnings I had 
been using (rental loaners).
 
Something I thought was extra neat, although I haven't taken advantage of it 
yet, is that the rockering SLOTS are offset.  This allows a flat blade, a 
shallow rocker, a deep rocker, and combinations.
 
What do I mean?  This is the flat blade setup.
 
   ---               ---
   | |   ---   ---   | | 
   |x|   |x|   |x|   |x| 
   ---   | |   | |   --- 
         ---   ---      
 
I don't know, maybe this is an old idea, and the Aeros aren't first, but I 
*love* this kind of design detail!
 
-----
 
I have a pair of Aeroblades.  Here are my comments:
 
On the plus side:
 
* Boots very lightweight as mentioned.
* Ventilation good.
* Allows you to bend forward a lot.  (And not side to side, fortunately.)
* Boot positions shin tilted forward more than some other skates --
  encourages you to bend knees more -- a good position for skating
* Big wheels (76mm)
* ratchet buckles are pretty good
* lightweight but strong frames (runners)
 
End-on view of frames (very schematic):
 Aero     Other
_______  _______
\#   #/    | |
 \   /     | |
  | |      | |
 
 
Cons:
 
* The buckles don't "remember" your previous setting when you remove them 
  like the Macroblade ones do.  But you can always mark it with a felt tip 
  pen I suppose.
 
* The brake is like that on the lightnings and macroblade, but it is made 
  of "a new composite material" that SQUEALS LIKE HELL WHEN YOU BRAKE.  
  Scares the daylights out of unsuspecting pedestrians.  Rollerblade told me 
  this would stop when the brake pad was broken in, but it hasn't.  I just 
  bought a lightning replacement pad -- I hope this cures the problem.
 
* I've had some trouble with the fit to my feet.  These seem to be narrower
  than my old rollerblades.  They should really offer both D and E widths 
  like Bauer does.  It may also be that three buckles and a very thin boot 
  can't support the whole foot all that well.
 
* The place where the tongue overlaps with the rest of the liner digs two 
  ridges into my foot.  Also the footbed (insole) they come with is fairly 
  uncomfortable and non-anatomically-shaped.
 
* They seem to have missed some places that need ventilation. the areas under 
  the tongue and and the front and back of my ankles still get quite sweaty.
 
* On some skates the two parts of some of the buckles do not line up quite 
  parallel -- this could lead to premature wear or slipping.
 
* Some were shipped with wobbly wheels (non-true) -- but your Rollerblade
  dealer should replace them for you if you bring them back in.  Also
  the wheels are not centered with respect to the bearings, and they
  have a cheap-looking part on where I guess they were cut out of their
  mold during manufacturing.  Makes me want Hyper Wheels.
 
* Wheels aren't as light as the newer wheels from Hyper and Kryptonics.
 
* I've decided I like softer wheels, to handle those bumps more gracefully.
  Aeros are 78A so maybe my old Zetra 608s had 74A?  But I don't know of any 
  inlines that come with softer than 78A nowadays.  Maybe I'll splurge on 
  some new wheels.
 
* Front wheel is further forward than on other skates.  This is okay for 
  the experienced skater but I don't recommend it for a beginner because 
  this can make the skate unstable if you put your weight forward onto it.  
  This may make the skate faster for racing, but it also makes more leverage 
  that tends to lift your heel inside the boot, so proper fit becomes even 
  more important.  I think they should have moved all four wheels back a 
  little (maybe 1/4 inch), since having the back wheel back a little improves 
  stability.
 
* I don't like the color options -- can't they offer something more low key so 
  people outside of California aren't embarrassed to be seen in it? :-)
 
* NMB 608Z bearings (made in singapore).  I have heard that these are not as 
  good as the GMN 608Z german bearings that at least used to come in the 
  Lightnings.  Not that I've noticed any difference in performance myself.
 
* Back of the brake sticks out a little more than I think is necessary, which 
  can get in the way of crossovers if you're not careful.
 
* The frame spacer / bearing spacer / axle system is poorly designed.  It does 
  not hold the wheel quite straight, and it seems to bind the bearings a little
  when you tighten the bolts a lot, which you have to do to prevent the wheel 
  from slipping up and down a little during skating.  Before tightening there 
  is too much play and the frame spacer does not properly meet the bearing --
  one of them starts to slide off of the the other on one side.  I don't know 
  why, but the one pair of Lightnings I looked at were better than the Aeros in 
  this respect, even though they *appear* to have the same parts for this.
  Phil Earnhardt says Reidell has a superior spacer system.  I used to have the
  old metal-runner Zetra 608, which held the center of the bearing via metal 
  washers and spacers, and worked much better in that way.  They should make 
  the inner diameter of the frame and bearing spacers smaller to match the 
  axle, and the frame spacers and the inner part of the bearing spacers (which 
  holds the two bearings apart) should be made of aluminum instead of plastic.
 
I hope somebody at Rollerblade reads this.
 
David B Rosen, Cognitive & Neural Systems         Internet: rosen@cns.bu.edu
 
-----
 
David B. Rosen writes:
>I have a pair of Aeroblades.  Here are my comments:
>
>* The brake is like that on the lightnings and macroblade, but it is
>made of "a new composite material" that SQUEALS LIKE HELL WHEN YOU
>BRAKE.  Scares the daylights out of unsuspecting pedestrians.
 
It is pretty effective, though, at getting those dim-wits who don't
know what "on your left" means to move off the path... :-)
 
>* I've had some trouble with the fit to my feet.  These seem to be
>narrower than my old rollerblades.  They should really offer both D
>and E widths like Bauer does.  It may also be that three buckles and a
>very thin boot can't support the whole foot all that well.
 
Same here.  I've got relatively wide feet, and I'm just hoping that,
over time, my liners will compress a bit and my boots will stretch just
a bit to fit my feet better.
 
>* The place where the tongue overlaps with the rest of the liner digs
>two ridges into my foot.  Also the footbed (insole) they come with is
>fairly uncomfortable and non-anatomically-shaped.
 
Of all things, my heels are uncomfortable in my Aeroblades.  It feels
as though I'm putting far too much pressure on them.  Has anyone else
experienced this?
 
>* I don't like the color options -- can't they offer something more
>low key so people outside of California aren't embarrassed to be seen
>in it? :-)
 
Ditto!  I'm all for basic black...
 
-JC, jc@msc.edu
 
-----
 
I like the Racerblade as a commuting skate. The long wheelbase gives you a
lot of front to back stability. I feel much more comfortable at a given speed
on my Racers than I do on my Lightnings.
 
Rollerblade announced the Pro Racer at the Chicago outdoor show in July. You
can see the skates on Team Rollerblade racers if you make it to one of the
Rollerblade races this summer.
 
>It Looks like the Macros are being phased out.
 
That's what I've heard from local retailers. Interestingly, the early promo
pictures they had of the Aero had a single ratchet buckle and two of the
Macroblade velcro buckles. The retailer was happy they went with 3 ratchets--
customers really prefer them to the Macro buckles.
 
Phil Earnhardt          pae@netwise.com
 
-----
 
The only suggestion I have is buy the best skates you can possibly
afford--and maybe even a pair that you can't REALLY afford, but by
scrimping somewhere else you can do it.  Or, alternatively, buy
a cheaper pair of skates but outfit them with high performance
wheels and A-grade bearings before you even hit the pavement (that
is probably the best solution, if you haven't got a lot of money).
 
I bought a pair of Rollerblade Zetra 303s in May on a whim.  They
cost $150, and I didn't want to "spend to much on something I might
not stick with."  Well, I didn't know it at the time but those skates
were inhibiting me, and within 20-30 miles the el-cheapo C-grade
bearings had melted down and left me with an inoperative pair of
blades.  Two months later I finally got around to calling the shop
where I got the skates to find out about getting them repaired under
warrantee.  They said it would take 8-10 weeks while they shipped
them to Minnesota, determined if it was really a warantee repair,
and then shipped them back--and there was no guarantee they wouldn't
charge me for the repair if they thought it was "my own fault."
 
Well, in 8-10 weeks there will be snow on the ground up here,
so I was a little upset.  I went out and bought a pair of AeroBlades
($300) in a fit of pique, and man I should have done that in the
first place!  All I can say is, for twice the money you get three
times the blade.  The fast wheels and bearings have a lot to do with
it, but the buckle (as opposed to lace) closure system is a dream.
A medium-priced alternative are the Lightnings, which have
buckle closures but not the fancy chassis.
 
I'll shut up and let someone who really knows what they're talking
about advise you, but I'll stick by the "best you can afford"
recommendation.
 
Andy, ANDY@MAINE.MAINE.EDU
 
 
                        = END AEROBLADE REVIEWS =
-----
                        = RACING SKATES REVIEWS =
 
In article <13914@aggie.ucdavis.edu> bunds@jade.ucdavis.edu writes:
>Can anyone give me information on brands of 5-wheel skates, besides
>racerblades, that are available?  I'd very much appreciate any info at 
>all.
>
>M. P. Bunds, U. C. Davis
 
The good news is that there are models from many different manufacturers.  I
have heard of models from Bauer, SwitcHit, Riedell, Rollerblade (Racerblade
plus the Pro Racer), Viking (A very good European ice speed-skating
manufacturer), Bont (Australian ice), etc.  There also is a movement for
manufacturers to sell racing boots with a pair of threaded bolts to attach
either blades or runners for wheels. Yeah! Standardization!
 
The bad news is that I've never seen anything other than the Racer in retail
markets.You're going to have to either travel to someone who sells the skates
or do it via mail-order. Marty Hill of Built for Speed sells stuff out of his
house in Syracuse, NY. Dave of SMR sports ((708) 387-0283) does the same out
of Riverside, IL. SoH ((800) 554-1235) was planning to sell the SwitcHit
5-wheeler when it became available.
 
If at all possible, I'd go in person to one of these stores and make sure you
find someone knowledgable about the long skates. You might be leary of SoH,
since they appear to have a pretty cozy arrangement with SwitcHit.
 
Have you tried the Racer? It's a bit on the heavy end for a 5-wheeler, but is
very robust and probably a good skate to start out on racing. (Heck, any of
the faster 4-wheelers are fine, too!) Some Rollerblade demo vans have the
Racer available; you can try a pair there. Some very good racers are winning
races on the Racerblade.
 
One other piece of good news: Rod Murillo, a member of Team Krypto, is now
reading alt.skate. Welcome! He's far more qualified to talk about racing
than I am; he might have some suggestions for you.
 
Phil Earnhardt          pae@netwise.com
 
-----
 
From: betsy@alf.sybase.com
Date: 13 Nov 91 23:06:25 GMT
 
I got some new racing skates about 2 months ago. I love them!!! I tryed
on Zanstras and Racerblades. Looked into Bauer and leather boots (from
Built for Speed). After all my looking...I bought Ultras from Sventech
in Seattle (sold by Ultra). 
 
Here are thoughts that might help others who are looking at racing skates.
 
Zanstras
 
There are three problems with Zanstras, from my point of view. Firstly,
the bearings "seem" really cheap. They aren't as smooth as I would like
and they make too much noise. Secondly, the boot is really
uncomfortable. A number of racers have complained that they bind the top
of their feet too much. In fact, some people cut out the sizes of their
boots. I found this true when I tryed them on. Finally, my size (6-6
1/2) only comes with four wheels....great why buy racing skates. The
good thing about Zanstras is that they are pretty light.
 
Racerblades
 
The Racerblades are really comfortable! It's like riding in pillows.
However, it's also like using a limo in a road race. They felt too
big and heavy (though I don't really remember their weight). Once I felt
the weight, I knocked them off the list...so I can't comment on the
bearings or wheels.
 
Bauer
 
As with the Zanstras, the Bauers don't have 5 wheels in my size.
However, the boot looked really comfortable. I knocked them out as soon
as I heard about the wheel limit.
 
Leather Boots 
 
Sorry...I may be into skating....but I would like to try and stay out of
the poor house. I was looking at spending $700 to $800 for leather
boots. Maybe if I ever get close to beating Karen Edwards or the other
top women skaters, I'll think about it...but I think that will take more
than just new skates.
 
Ultras 
 
The Ultras have a titanium frame. The lengths come in 13, 14 and 15
inches. The boots are very comfortable (I can usually keep them on for
three hours before they bother me). The boot fit is like the Racerblades
with a buckle and wide fit, but the shell is very light. The boot can be
molded to your foot with a dryer or hot water. In a rough estimate,
with 5 wheels they are about the same weight as my 4 wheel
Rollerblade 608s.
 
I guess what finally made the sale..was Bancroft hill in Berkeley. I can
jam down Bancroft without any shaking. The ride is very smooth. The
bearings are smooth and fast. By the by...they come with Hyper Wheeles.
 
The only problem is...no brake. So, I may not need it for racing....but
I would like one for working out. Berkeley drivers don't know what to do
with a skater.
 
I guess my advise is...try on everything (in your price range). Some
people swear by skates I rejected. What everyone is looking for in a
skate is different. I wanted good low weight racing skates.
 
Still plowing down hills....
 
betsy
 
By-the-by, does anyone know of something to put on road rash (second
skin or the likes)?
 
-----
 
From: Donn Baumgartner, donn@dell.dell.com
 
I can recommend the Xandstra Skeelers, which are available locally from
Riedel, without hesitation.  I have used these skates on the OMRA circuit
for the last two years and am very pleased with them.
 
I have the Xandstra 6000 - but got it directly from Walter Xandstra a few
years ago when he came to the New York race.  I use the Hyper 80mm wheels...
and prefer the harder (82A) wheels, but many racers prefer the 78A's and
even the 75A's.  Personal preference... but the harder wheels hold up a
little longer.
 
There are many shops nationally that carry this (and many more) inline
skates... such as:
 
        Competition Skates                Trailways Skate Rental
        c/o John Skelton                  c/o Tom Sehlhorst
        501 Springville Cr.               611 Palm Bluff
        Birmingham AL 35215               Clearwater FL 33515
        (205) 854-9617                    (813) 461-9736
        
        Montrose Skate                    Shop Skate Escape
        c/o John McKay                    c/o Janice Phillips
        1406 Stanford                     1086 Piedmont Ave
        Houston TX 77019                  Atlanta GA 30309
        (713) 528-6102                    (404) 892-1292
 
I've done phone/mail/direct business with every one of these shops... they
are all reputable.  Competition Skates and Trailways Skate are both run by
active members of OMRA (Outdoor Marathon Rollerskating Association), and both
John and Tom are racing 'experts' (in some sense).
 
And a final comment... get a subscription to Speedskating Times... for $15/year
it's the best thing going.  Dave Cooper, Eddy Matzger, and Marty Hill regularly
write articles in it.
 
-----
 
From: mpeters@wtcp.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Michael Peters)
Date: 10 Mar 92 13:41:32 GMT
 
las writes:
>I'm planning to buy a pair of speed inline skates. Need advice as
>to which brand I should purchase. Would like a skate under $350.00.
 
For under $350.00, if it's a racing skate you want, I would check
out the Bont skate packages that Special Equipment C0. has to offer.
(Phone:508-266-1612)  They have Bont Sharkie boots with Zandstra
frames, wheels and German bearings for $315.  These are leather
boots with fiberglass counters that you heat and mold to your foot.
This is a much hotter setup for speed than buying a citizen racing
skate, that has gobs of padding inside, i.e. Racerblade or Bauer
XR-10, besides they're cheaper too.  The last I heard the XR-10 may
go for $385 and the Rollerblade Pro-Blade $450.  The Rollerblade
Racerblade is in your range, but it's a bit heavy, though if you
don't skate that much, you may like the additional support that the
Racerblade gives.
 
Mike.Peters@wtcp.DaytonOH.NCR.COM ...!uunet!ncrcom!wtcp!mpeters
 
Article 2544 of rec.skate:
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