Roller Derby Elite Driftr High-Top Freestyle Roller Skates for Men & Women

Overall: This is about as inexpensive as you want to go with roller skates. They are sized up Candi girl Carlins, and both are decently built. Suede is a great material for skates, it gets soft and scuffs rather than scratch and wear through. Aluminum plates are usually at least double this price. I don't park skate [so can't comment there], but I believe these are a good choice for beginners in the rink or on reasonably manicured trails.Considerations: They come very stiff, but the suede breaks in beautifully. One of the trucks on the pair I was sent had some overcasting material on one of the axles. The bearings were just forced on there, so I had to pry them off [with much effort] and then sand down the excess to make it work as intended. This material was like a flashing, and didn't look like it was part of the structure. I have no worries about it after dealing with it, see the blue arrow. After a dozen or so 3 hour sessions the heel seam is coming apart, but it appears to be cosmetic and the actual fastening of boot to truck is in the sole and still sound.On fit: True to shoe size is only true because shoe sizes vary so wildly. I wear 10W in Moabs but 9.5 in summer combat boots, and the 10 is the right size, with caveats that it must stretch over time to be comfortable. Skates are supposed to be snug like socks, toes brushing the ends. I tried some retail Roller Derby 7-10 size adjustable skates, and they did not fit adjusted all the way up. Size 11 in these felt right, but was actually too large. Size 10 is much better, in these skates.Other thoughts: The wheels it comes with are fine and very soft [considered outdoor wheels at 82a durometer, but I am a baby and like soft wheels indoors as well], the bearings get the job done. I have changed them both out for different ones, no problems.

The media could not be loaded. These are one of the best skates there is out there in budget. perfect for beginners. they are suede material. have a nice heavy and sturdy feel to them. trucks, plates and kingpins are all metal. good for someone who is around 200lbs. I bought Chicago skates before going for roller derby driftR skates. Chicago skates were decent and had a lot of good reviews about them, but these roller derby skates are just many steps ahead. Also in a long run, these roller derby skates will last longer. I have attached a picture of Chicago skates and roller derby skates in each foot for comparison.with roller derby skates first thing you would want to do is loosen the trucks because it will become less stiff and help you turn. they came stocked with Bevo racing bearings which are ABEC 5. So, if you're not planning on skating at a high speed, they are plenty smooth and decent. However, these skates must be assembled by hammer machines or something because bearings were stuck on the axel. I had to use a gentle nudge of a mallet to break them free. luckily, I didn't have any permanent damage on them, or that is what I think. I also changed the wheels from Kemistry to Sure grip boardwalk. It is my personal preference, and you might like the stock Kemistry wheels better, but for free outdoor skating, I am not a huge fan of Kemistry wheels.You also need to give these suede boots a little time to adjust according to your feet. average recommended time is about 10 hours of skating. These boots also come with padded tongue and back which does have a nice comfortable feel to it. I would highly recommend these.

Let me start off by saying that I love the look of the skates! I love all black. The skates are well worth the price. In fact, it exceeds the price! Now don't go raising the price now. 👀With that being said, I would like to state that I've worn and actually skated in these skates twice. It was for about 30 - 45 minutes on a Greenway Trail.Today, I walked past the skates and thought I saw a speck of lent on the top of one of the boots. Up where it sits on the leg. Where the top/last lace is. I hope that's a good description. Anyway, when I went to remove the lent, it wasn't lent at all. It was opened. A very tiny rip. Like maybe the stitching or glue came apart. For me, it's no big deal. It's very tiny. REALLY TINY.My only issue with the skates are that they're very heavy. So heavy that I can barely lift my foot to move. I thought I would dance skate/jam in these, but they're way too heavy.I've adjusted the bearings, trucks, etc. I was thinking about buying new bearings and cushions, and later add some wheels, if needed. But, I really don't think anything can help alleviate the weight.In my mind, I think the heaviness is a good thing. It shows that there's nothing plastic or any other light weight, short life material. I tell myself that this must be the best plate material to have. Aluminum! Heavy duty! Long lasting! Now, that is what I tell myself, in order to stay happy. Indeed, I'm very pleased with my purchase. But, I really want to dance skate. Outdoor skating!I feel down when I see people moving and grooving like a feather! I say, what kind of skates are that light? I want those.If I buy new bearings and cushions, I hope that'll help with the flow. We'll see. 🤷🏾‍♀️Lastly, these skates are a keeper. I love the style. I love everything about them except the heaviness. The weight of it all. I would recommend these skates. Very good quality at an affordable price.P.S.Pictured is the tiny rip. I also see stitching coming apart on the other side of it (inside).