25 of the Best Roller Skates for Women of 2023

The ultimate guide to the best roller skates for women to skate outdoors, for derby, dance, and park skating.

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Buyers Guide: 25 of the Best Roller Skates for Women of 2023

The Buyers Guide section of bigwheelblading.com, provides everything you need to make informed purchases online.

There are many roller skate options out there, and researching and finding a skate that best suits your needs can be overwhelming. Having been in the skating industry for 27 years, I’m very familiar with what is out there. To save you time and frustration, I have curated a list of the best roller skates available from the major brands within the industry. This guide is a living article and will be continuously updated and modified.

What are Roller Skates?

Roller skates are footwear with wheels attached to the bottom, allowing the wearer to glide or roll on a surface. They are typically used for recreational activities or as a form of transportation. Roller skates can come in various styles, including quad skates with two sets of wheels on each foot or inline skates with a line of wheels in a row on each foot. Roller skates can be made of various materials such as plastic, metal, or leather and can be used indoors or outdoors. They have been popular since the 18th century and are still used today for fun and fitness activities.

How do Roller Skates and Inline Skates Differ?

Inline skates and roller skates have different wheel configurations and purposes. Roller skates have four wheels in a rectangular pattern, offering stability and suitability for indoor skating, artistic skating, and roller derby. On the other hand, inline skates have a single line of wheels on a frame, providing speed and maneuverability for outdoor activities like distance, freestyle, aggressive, and urban skating. The skating stride also differs, with inline skates using an ice-skating-like stride and roller skates using a shuffle stride. The choice depends on personal preference and the specific activity desired.

What is the Difference Between Inside and Outside Roller Skates?

Indoor roller skates have small, hard wheels for smooth indoor surfaces, while outdoor skates have large, soft wheels for rough outdoor terrain. Indoor skates prioritize smoothness and maneuverability, while outdoor skates offer better traction and shock absorption. Outdoor skates also have more durable boots. Choose based on where you’ll skate: indoors or outdoors.

How to find the proper fit and size of roller skates?

Properly fitting and sizing roller skates ensures a comfortable and safe skating experience. Here are the steps to follow when fitting and sizing roller skates:

Remember to break in your skates gradually and wear them around the house or on a smooth surface before taking them for an entire skate session. This will help ensure a comfortable fit and reduce the risk of blisters or other injuries.

What are the Health Benefits of Roller skating?

Roller skating is a fun activity that can provide various health benefits. Here are some of the main health benefits of roller skating:

Overall, roller skating is an enjoyable way to improve physical and mental health. It’s a low-impact exercise that people of all ages and fitness levels can enjoy.

We have compiled a list of the 25 Best Roller Skates for Women of 2023 below, but if you are in a time crunch and want to see our 10 favorites, here they are!

The Moxi Rainbow Rider roller skates are perfect for beginner recreational skaters seeking a high-quality and comfy outdoor roller skate without breaking the bank. The rainbow-themed boot features vinyl uppers with a soft, padded, and supportive lining. It comes with a durable die-cast aluminum plate and soft 58mm 82A outdoor wheels, ABEC-5 bearings, and an adjustable toe stop for a smooth and cruiser-friendly ride. With meticulous attention to detail and thoughtful touches, the Rainbow Rider offers excellent value for casual or new outdoor skaters, leaving you feeling like you’re gliding along rainbows!

Moxi Beach Bunny roller skates are a top choice for women seeking affordable roller skates that are both animal-friendly and perfect for stress-free recreational skating. The drum-dyed vinyl uppers are eye-catching in the sunlight, while the custom-printed Dri-Lex moisture-wicking liner ensures convenience and comfort. The skates come with a Die-Cast Aluminum base and trucks, along with 58mm 72A Wheels and ABEC 3 bearings for a smooth ride.

Related: The 24 Best Scooters for Kids from Toddlers to Teens

Riedell Orbit roller skates are a vibrant and fresh take on the popular model 111 boot, known for its excellent ankle support and comfortable fit. These outdoor skates stand out with their colorful design, shining under the sun! The Marvel Plate, made of die-cast aluminum with 10° kingpins, ensures stability and reliable response. The unique Zen Wheels feature Orbit decals and are the same popular 57mm outdoor wheels loved by budget skaters. With an 85A durometer, they offer a perfect balance of grip and a smooth roll, making urban and trick skating a delightful experience!

The Jackson Finesse roller skates are a great choice for outdoor skaters, especially those seeking vegan-friendly options. The Finesse Boot features reinforced vinyl-coated uppers, memory foam padding, and an antibacterial lining for ultimate comfort. It comes mounted on a nylon Pilot Viper Plate with 62mm 78A Atom Pulse Lite Wheels, Bionic ABEC 7 Bearings, and an adjustable XS Toe Stop. These skates offer a smooth and enjoyable ride for all your outdoor adventures!

The Jackson Vista Viper roller skates offer stylish and affordable outdoor fun with lightweight nylon plates. The Vista Boot is a sturdy high-top made from suede microfiber with a reinforced leatherboard for added support and durability. Memory foam padding around the ankle and a foam-backed tongue provide comfort and relieve pressure points and forefoot discomfort. These skates are perfect for both beginners and experienced skaters. The Viper Nylon Plate supports 62mm 78A Atom Pulse Wheels, offering excellent grip on outdoor surfaces and a smooth ride over debris. The skates are equipped with Bionic ABEC-7 bearings for a fantastic skating experience!

Sure-Grip Boardwalk rollers skates are timeless suede high-tops, perfect for a comfortable and supportive ride outdoors. In 2021, the boots received a makeover with fresh pastel colorways while retaining the soft and pliable suede construction that makes them delightful to wear. The lightweight nylon plate features double-action trucks and a fully adjustable toe stop, allowing each skater to customize their braking preferences. The color-matched Boardwalk Wheels enhance the eye-catching style and ensure a smooth and grippy ride.

The Riedell Crew outdoor roller skates offer a classic design with a modern touch, perfect for outdoor fun on boardwalks, streets, trails, and parks. The 120 leather boot has a contemporary flair, complemented by contrasting laces and toe stop. The boot features a moisture-wicking Dri-Lex lining and reinforced quarters for support during jumps, spins, and dance moves. The lightweight PowerDyne Thrust nylon plate houses 62mm 85A Sonar Zen wheels with ABEC-5 bearings and an adjustable round toe stop for a smooth and enjoyable ride.

The Chuffed Wanderer roller skates are comfy and strong, and beautiful! They are perfect for any skater looking to roam the streets or skate in the park with style. These skates feature aluminum alloy plates, eyelets, and trucks, ensuring sturdiness and reliability. The uppers are made of suede leather, except for the vegan black skates with microfiber uppers. Inside, the boots have built-in liners with a cool-lined print and generous foam padding for added comfort. The cushioned insoles help prevent injuries from harsh landings. The skates also have a cushioned tongue with their embroidered logo, and their stock wheels are black, 58mm in size, with 82A hardness and ABEC7 bearings, ensuring smooth and effortless spins.

The Moxi Lolly roller skates represent the ultimate style for lifestyle and recreational street skating. The Lolly Boot features soft, foam-backed suede for a comfortable, snug fit that improves with time as the leather breaks in. The lightweight plastic Powerdyne Thrust Plate absorbs vibrations, ensuring a smoother ride. These skates have soft 65mm 78A Moxi Classic Wheels and ABEC-5 bearings for a fantastic skating experience.

The Riedell R3 offers an outstanding balance of performance and value for juniors and beginner skaters, making it highly popular in those groups. The R3 boot is tough and durable, holding its shape well to withstand the challenges beginners face. The Thrust Plate is lightweight but lacks the rigidity needed for advanced performance, prompting many R3 skaters to consider upgrades. Cayman Wheels are suitable for rink skating and early derby practices, but higher-quality wheels are recommended as your skating skills improve.

The Bont Prostar Suede Skates offer a fresh twist on their entry-level Prostar model, featuring pastel-colored suede leather instead of traditional black microfiber. The Prostar boot is designed to be light, responsive, and heat-moldable, ensuring a custom fit for each skater. With thermoplastic in the heel, you can easily mold the boot with a hairdryer in under 10 minutes. The fiberglass base provides a solid and responsive ride, while the Prodigy Plate, Glide Wheels, and ABEC 5 bearings work together to keep you rolling smoothly and swiftly.

The Jackson VIP roller skates are perfect for beginner roller derby players or those seeking an upgrade without overspending. The Vantage boot, made of microfiber with a comfortable fabric lining, offers better performance than basic vinyl boots. The Pilot Viper plate, reinforced with nylon, ensures rigidity, durability, and stability. With Atom 60mm 91A Wheels and Bionic ABEC-7 bearings, these skates are excellent for both slick indoor and outdoor surfaces.

The Sure Grip Rebel Avanti Aluminum skate package is a budget-friendly choice with a leather boot and aluminum alloy plate. Combining the popular Rebel boot with Sure-Grip’s Avanti Aluminum plates, known for their strength and lightweight design with a sleek polished finish and 10° steel kingpin. The skate set includes a Carrera speed stop and 92A Fugitive wheels.

The Roller Derby Elite Legacy Skates offer elite performance in comfortable leather boots. Available with two RD Elite plates: the stable 10-degree Pro Octane and the ultra-responsive 45-degree Axis 45. Both plates are machined from lightweight, durable magnesium alloy. The Legacy boot features full-grain leather construction, a stitched leather outsole, and a small external heel lift. Labeda provides 59mm 91A Royalty wheels with Swiss bearings, and the skates come with the high-quality Bounce toe stop. Build your high-performance Legacy with these excellent skates!

The Riedell Solaris is a comfortable, lightweight, and stylish quad roller skating boot, representing Riedell’s most advanced technology. It uses cutting-edge design to redefine performance and comfort standards in quad skating boots. The Solaris features a stiff composite outsole and ContourFit C/AA last, enhancing strength, durability, fit, feel, and response. The ergonomic last follows your foot’s natural contours, improving comfort, balance, and performance. Mounted on a Reactor Pro Plate, this boot is perfect for upper-level derby competition. Halo Wheels, Kwik Zenith Bearings, and a Jupiter Toe Stop are completing the setup for a smooth and high-performing ride.

The Antik AR2 Derby Skate is a traditional package featuring the best products from Antik and Riedell’s catalog. Released in 2019, the AR2 Boot has become the new flagship offering, boasting the same composite outsole technology and moisture-resistant microfiber lining as the Solaris Boot. Its sleek design, signature high top, and angular panels offer a customizable look. The lightweight Reactor Pro Plate with responsive Magic Cushions, adjustable trucks, and micro-adjustable kingpins provide excellent performance. Not to forget the incredible Halo Wheels, known for their awesomeness and loved by skaters everywhere!

Derby Warehouse offers the Riedell Solaris Platinum, a complete setup featuring the Arius Platinum Plate for optimal performance. The package includes Halo Wheels for versatile grip and slide, Zenith Bearings, and a Jupiter Toe Stop.

The Riedell Boost roller skates are designed for beginner dance skaters, rink-ready and comfortable. The vinyl uppers provide support, and the soft lining requires minimal break-in time. The user-friendly Powerdyne Thrust plate with nylon reduces surface vibrations, which is perfect for new skaters. The skates hold a jam plug, allowing free movement during dance, and come with 57mm 96A Sonar Riva wheels.

The Roller Derby Elite Primo roller skates are sleek and smooth, making you a star on the rink, dance floor, and in the neighborhood. With a lace cover for a clean look and secure lace hooks and ankle straps, these skates ensure excellent heel and ankle support. The padded liner and footbed offer exceptional comfort. The lightweight fiberglass-reinforced composite plates have stitched leather soles and jam plugs installed. They accept standard 5/8″ toe stops or jam plugs. Rolling on Kemistry Aspiro 62mm 97A Wheels and Bevo bearings, the RD Elite Primo Skate guarantees a fantastic ride.

The Chaya Kismet Barbie Patin Gold Skates, inspired by Barbie Luciana, offer park performance for advanced skaters in a luxurious gold design. They are also affordable for beginners. The mid-cut boot ensures comfort and support for tricks and grinds. Featuring the Karma grind block with two contact points for stability and smooth slides. The Chaya Shari plate has the Power Toe System and Offset Toe Stop for enhanced speed and control. 20-degree axles provide agility and power transfer, while Barbie Lu Pro wheels and Abec 7 bearings offer premium glide. Ready to shred out of the box.

Related: The Best Slide Blocks for Roller Skates

The Bont ParkStar roller skates are versatile for both parks and streets. The snug-fitting ParkStar Boot retains its innovative design and excellent response but now features pastel suede uppers. The fully heat moldable base allows for a customized fit at home without the hassle of a lengthy break-in period. The skate includes a sturdy aluminum Tracer Plate, 57mm Glide Wheels for smooth outdoor use, ABEC 5 Bearings, and an adjustable toe stop with a locking screw for added convenience. This skate package offers both style and fun for your skating adventures.

The Chaya Karma Pro Skates, Chaya’s third-generation park skate, feature lightweight and durable boots made of glass-fiber reinforced composite, genuine, and nano-leather. They come with the Shari Plate, offering a dual-point mounting system for easy adjustment. The XTNDR trucks are strong and versatile, with replaceable chrome steel axles. The Shari Plate has pre-installed asymmetrical grind blocks, and Chaya Controller toe stops are adjustable. The 100A Firebolt Wheels roll smoothly on Wicked ABEC-9 Bearings.

The Chaya Ragnaroll Pro Skates are their first-ever pro model, featuring a vintage basketball shoe look in all-white. They are made with genuine and PU leather and glass-fiber reinforced plastic for durability and flexibility. The cuff height is similar to Chaya Jump 2.0 skates. Equipped with the new Chaya Zena Plate, forged aluminum XTNDR trucks with replaceable axles, and pre-installed asymmetrical grind blocks unique to Chaya. Adjustable Chaya Controller toe stops and smooth-spinning Ragnaroll pro 60mm, 100A wheels on Wicked ABEC-9 bearings.

The Moxi Jack Fuse roller skates are strong, comfy, and perfect for any skating style. They shape to your feet after 10 hours of break-in with reinforced suede uppers and shearling lining. The double-layer suede is great for park or street skating. Reliable with lace stabilizer, metal hooks, and triple reinforced eye stay. Lightweight nylon plate for easy carrying. Versatile 57mm 92A Moxi Fundae wheels with ABEC-5 bearings are ideal for the park and street. Customize with a grind block and color for your unique style!

The S1 Lifer Helmet is a professional-grade helmet using a high-impact EPS Foam Liner for maximum protection against big falls and multiple collisions.

If you want excellent pads at a great price, consider the Triple Eight Saver Series Pad Set with Kneesavers, Elbowsavers, and Wristsavers. They are available in multiple colors and sizes.

The Ennui Street Wrist Guard features a large slider plate on the palm and an ultra-stiff splint on the back to give top-notch support. The liner features a mixture of neoprene and CoolMax fabric to increase comfort, while three velcro straps keep everything in place.

The Ennui Shock Sleeve Knee Gasket slides on and fits snugly around the knee, wrapping it in a spiderweb of ‘super foam’ that cushions impacts and saves your skin from nasty road rash. Skaters who shy away from the heavyweight protection offered by the much bulkier knee pads on the market will love these gaskets and their lack of restriction. The gasket is mostly polyester, with elastane strips inside at the top and bottom to help lock the pad in place and prevent slippage. Ennui uses MyFit SPC foam coated in thermoplastic rubber (TPR) to provide impact protection. Since this is not a genuine hard plastic cap, higher-impact skating disciplines may seek higher protection levels.

Available for on Derby Warehouse

At some point, every skater will have to do skate maintenance. The best tool for the job is the Powerdyne Y3 Skate Tool, which offers excellent leverage to change wheels and tighten bolts on your roller skates. With two different size sockets (1/2″ & 9/16″) and a 15/16″ wrench, it is ideal for tightening standard axle lock nuts, kingpin lock nuts, and toe stops. The compact design of the skate tool fits easily in your pocket, so you can carry it with you whenever you skate. The Powerdyne Y3 Skate Tool makes an excellent gift for any skater in your life, landing them on our list of best gift ideas for roller skaters.

The Bont Bearing Press is a MUST for every roller skater who frequently changes bearings. One end serves to press bearings into your skate wheels, while the opposite end allows for easy bearing removal. The poll is adjustable and works for 7mm & 8mm Bearings.