Here at Lucky Skates, we are addicted to wheels.
We’ve tried loads – wide wheels, narrow wheels, tall wheels, short wheels, soft wheels, hard wheels.
We’ve skated everywhere outdoors – on smooth and not so smooth surfaces.
When it comes to outdoor roller skating you want to make sure you have the right wheels for the job.
Here’s some information about outdoor wheels and some of our all time favourite wheels for outdoor roller skating.
The Right Stuff
By now you’ve seen that there are lots and lots of wheels on the market.
All wheels roll but if you’re skating on the wrong type of wheel you might find it uncomfortable and more difficult.
If you take a hard indoor wheel on an outdoor skate you can get very sore legs (from vibration), flat spots on the wheel and your chances of hitting something and falling over are a lot higher.
If you’re skating on a cheap plastic wheel or a very old wheel you might also experience discomfort and end up sliding rather than rolling.
(It’s also important to note that when we talk about outdoor roller skate wheels this doesn’t include skate park/ramp skating. Yes many skate parks are outdoors however the surface and tricks at skate parks require a much harder wheel which we will cover in an upcoming blog.)
Hard or Soft?
Just like tacos, wheels can be hard or soft.
The hardness of the wheel is indicated by the number on the wheel followed by an A.
78A, 82A, 85A etc.
The scale starts at around a 78A for an outdoor wheel and goes to around a 101A for an indoor wheel.
The lower the number the softer and grippier the wheel.
For most outdoor roller skating on paths or road we usually recommend a soft wheel rated between a 78A to 85A.
Softer wheels will be the most comfortable for long distance and general skating.
A 78A wheel is nice and soft and will absorb the vibration that you get from an uneven path and will help you* roll over cracks and other debris.
(Wheels will help you but they wont do everything for you, you still need to stagger your feet for stability, lift your wheels, look out for debris and avoid some crappy parts).
Big or Small?
Outdoor wheels come in various heights and widths.
The minute you get on a different height wheel you can feel it.
Here’s the pros and cons.
Tall & Wide
- + Better for speed and long distance as the bigger the wheel the less effort you need to put into keeping a fast roll
- + Wider wheels give you more contact with the ground and are good for stability
- – Less beneficial for agility and tricks
Short & Narrow
- + Better for stop-start action as a smaller wheel allows you to accelerate quicker to get to high speed
- + Better for agility, tricks and dance
- + Closer to the ground
- + Lighter
- – But you do have to work a bit harder if going long distance
10 of Our Favourite Outdoor Wheels
1. Atom Pulse Wheels. Available in 2 different heights and 4 types including a glitter version and an LED light up version!
2. Radar Energy Wheels. Available in 3 different heights and loads of colours, these are one of our most popular wheels
3. Atom Road Hog Wheels. Tall and wide 66mm x 44mm for long distance skating
4. Moxi Gummy Wheels. Big and beautiful, cute colours, good for long distance skating
5. Bont BPM Wheels. Not too big or small, a good all rounder and now available in pink or blue
6. Luminous LED Wheels. Our bestselling light up wheel, the 85A versions can be used outdoors
7. Bont Glow LED Wheels. A popular light up wheel and 83A
8. Chaya Big Softies Wheels. A nice big soft outdoor wheel at 78A and 65mm
9. Sure-Grip Boardwalk Wheels. An age-old favourite with a rolled lip and jelly vibe
10. Sonar Zen Wheels. A narrow, affordable outdoor wheel at 85A
You can check out all our outdoor roller skate wheels here!
