Roller skate buying guide
Should You Size Up or Down in Roller Skates?
Neither by default: of the 7 skaters and specialists in our compilation who talk about skate size, the one point nobody contradicts is to read the brand’s own chart, because brands disagree with each other — Riedell says go smaller than your shoe, Impala says true to size and men up two sizes, K2 says round up between sizes. Where the skaters split is the feel: inline voices (Casper of Powerslide, the Thisissoul shop, slalom skater Klaudia) want a snug skate and Casper went down a size, while quad coach Dirty Deborah Harry says go up a size if the width pinches. The skater behind this site settles it this way: size follows each brand’s advice, including “size up” when the brand says so; “tight” is for the laces, straps and buckle, never the size.
Gear on this page: eight products are named further down — Impala Quad Skate, Riedell Dart Roller Skates for Men and Women, Moxi Beach Bunny Roller Skates for Women, Moxi Rainbow Rider Roller Skates for Women, Rollerblade Zetrablade Women Fitness Inline Skate, Rollerblade Macroblade 100 3WD Mens Adult Fitness Inline Skate, K2 F.I.T. 80 ALU Black Mens Inline Skates, Rio Roller Signature Skates. They are optional, the page works without them, and the links to them are Amazon affiliate links.
Amazon prices were read on the listing on 7 October 2026, for the size and colour Amazon shows by default; other sizes and colours can cost more or less. Price and availability are set by Amazon and can change.
The rule that comes first
From the skater behind this site: a skate size is not a shoe size, and it varies a lot from one maker to the next. Measure your foot in millimetres, heel to longest toe, standing, at the end of the day. Then read that brand’s chart and follow its advice — including “go up a size” when the brand says so; the brand knows its own lasts better than anyone. “Tight” belongs to the fastenings: laces, straps and buckle done up firmly, and never loosened to make a skate feel bigger. Most beginner pain (blisters, numb toes, a heel that lifts) is a size problem in disguise, and no break-in fixes a wrong size.
What top skaters recommend
Features first. Where a skater works for or owns the brand they talk about, we say so.
Measure, then read the brand chart
- Jan Welch, editorial director of Big Wheel Blading with 30 years in the industry (owner of the wheel brand Dream Urethane), says measure your foot in Mondopoint (centimetres) and compare it with the brand’s size guide (Big Wheel Blading, updated 14 Apr 2026).
- Viktor Hald Thorup, two-time Olympic speed skater and Rollerblade World Team member (he also owns a skate shop), says choose length first, width second, and that heat-moulding helps a boot fit (Viktor Thorup, 6 Feb 2021).
Camp 1: snug, and sometimes a size down (inline)
- Casper, presenter of Powerslide’s official channel (Powerslide staff, four years in a skate shop by his account), wants the heel locked and the toes touching: “think ski boot”. He had to go down a size. Localised pain means change model, not size; light discomfort while the liner forms is normal (Powerslide, 11 Mar 2024).
- The Thisissoul skate shop channel (Amsterdam; presenter not named, a seller) says a snug fit gives more control and the toes may touch the front (Thisissoul, 20 Sep 2020).
- Klaudia, a freestyle slalom skater who presents herself as a world champion with 20+ years on skates (identity not independently verified), says above all not too big: a skate gives with time, up to half a size in her experience (Klaudia & Michał, 3 Mar 2025).
- Nick Lomax, Powerslide urban rider, chose his boot because it “fits me like a glove” (quote from the video description) (Powerslide, 12 Jul 2021).
Camp 2: comfortable, and a size up if the width pinches (quads)
- Dirty Deborah Harry, coach behind Dirty School of Skate (about 299,000 subscribers; says she endorses no brand), wants a boot that fits “like a slipper” and does not rely on being big to support you. Your foot does not get longer, so if the width pinches, go up a size (Dirty School of Skate, 21 Jun 2022).
The brands themselves
- Powerslide (Casper’s employer) says it is not necessary to buy inline skates one size larger: add 3-5 mm to your foot length and check the chart of the exact model (Powerslide sizing guide, read 7 Oct 2026).
- K2 says add a few millimetres and round up when you fall between sizes; unisex sizes follow US men’s (K2 sizing tips, read 7 Oct 2026).
- Impala says true to size, half sizes go up to the next full size, and men add two sizes (Impala size chart, read 7 Oct 2026).
- Riedell says skates often run a size smaller than your street shoe; when in doubt or between sizes, take the smaller (Riedell blog, read 7 Oct 2026).
- Rio Roller says its sizes are often a little bigger than your shoe size (Rio Roller chart, read 7 Oct 2026).
Where they really disagree, and what is missing
- Size down vs size up. Casper (down) and Klaudia (never too big) against Dirty Deborah Harry (up if wide). They are not on the same skate: the snug camp is inline, with rigid shells; the size-up advice is for quad boots. Riedell and K2 split the same way on “between two sizes”: Riedell takes the smaller, K2 the larger.
- Gaps. No pro in our aggressive or speed compilations explains sizing in a readable source (Them Skates’ chart is an image), and we found no readable official chart for Moxi, Rollerblade, Sure-Grip, FR or Decathlon. Nobody we compiled measured how much a liner “packs out” beyond Klaudia’s half size.
From the skater behind this site
- Size: each brand’s chart and advice, nothing else. If the brand says size up, size up.
- Tight means the fastenings: lace, strap and buckle firmly so the ankle is held; loosening is never advised.
- Quad or inline: a rigid inline boot holds the ankle; quads are often built soft, like sneakers. He skated inline and only learned on quads, so take his quad points with care.
The comparison: what each brand tells you
| Model | Price seen (date, where) | Brand sizing advice | Who it is for | Weak point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impala Quad Skate | Amazon.com $91.36 (B07N7PZ84S), 2026-10-07 | Published chart in cm; true to size, half sizes up, men add two sizes | Quad beginners on a budget who want clear sizing | Fixed toe stop; low-top boot |
| Riedell Dart | Amazon.com $175.00 (B00655ZG0I), 2026-10-07 | Often one size smaller than your shoe; between sizes, take the smaller | Quad beginners who want a rink brand | No official Riedell chart we could read; nylon plate |
| Moxi Beach Bunny | Amazon.com $119.20 (B0781889KN), 2026-10-07 | Full sizes only, medium width (Moxi page); chart not readable | Outdoor quad skaters | Half-size feet must choose; size up or down not stated |
| Moxi Rainbow Rider | Amazon.com $129.00 (B08DH4LYPT), 2026-10-07 | Moxi chart not readable by us | Quad beginners wanting a padded outdoor skate | Same unknown sizing as above |
| Rollerblade Zetrablade (women’s) | Amazon.com $139.99 (B0DSLVFQWP), 2026-10-07 | Rollerblade chart is an image per model; check it on the listing | Inline beginners who want four 80 mm wheels | Soft boot: snug-fit voices want a firmer shell. Same skate also sold as a whole-size listing (B07G2J8QKC, $113.32 on 2026-10-07); this listing is the half sizes (6/6.5 to 10/10.5) |
| Rollerblade Macroblade 100 3WD | Amazon.com $170.46 (B08BXNVY8M), 2026-10-07 | Same: model chart as image | Adults who want a longer fitness skate | Three 100 mm wheels, above the 90 mm many voices set for a first skate |
| K2 F.I.T. 80 ALU (men’s) | Amazon.com $125.96 (B09GWF3PF3), 2026-10-07 | K2: add a few millimetres, round up between sizes; unisex sizes follow US men’s | Inline beginners who want a supportive cuff (Stability Plus) and four 80 mm/80A wheels on an aluminium frame | Model year not stated on the listing; ABEC 5 bearings |
| Rio Roller Signature | Amazon.com $112.00 (B07NSHXFMH), 2026-10-07 | Rio Roller: sizes often a little bigger than your shoe; read its chart | Quad beginners who want a classic high-top | The listing gives almost no specs; sold by a third-party seller with 1 left in stock when we read it |
Use our size calculator for Impala, Rio Roller, Chaya, Powerslide and K2, which turns your foot length into each brand’s size from its own chart.
Beginner FAQ
Should I size up or down in roller skates?
Follow the brand's own chart and advice: brands disagree. Riedell says often a size smaller than your shoe, Impala says true to size with men adding two sizes, K2 says round up between sizes, and Powerslide says no need to buy one size larger. The skater behind this site says size follows the brand, and tight is for the fastenings.
Should roller skates feel tight?
The fit should be snug, the fastenings tight. Casper (Powerslide) wants the heel locked and toes touching, like a ski boot, and the Thisissoul shop says toes may touch the front. Dirty Deborah Harry wants a quad boot that fits like a slipper. The skater behind this site says tight means laces, straps and buckle, not a smaller size.
Do roller skates stretch or get bigger over time?
A little, according to slalom skater Klaudia, who says a skate gives up to half a size with time, so never buy too big. Casper says light discomfort while the liner forms is normal, but localised pain means change model, not size.
What if I am between two sizes?
Ask the brand. Riedell says take the smaller; K2 says round up; Impala says half sizes go up to the next full size; Powerslide says add 3 to 5 mm to your foot length and read that model's chart.
Should I size up if I have wide feet?
Dirty Deborah Harry says go up a size if the width pinches, because your foot does not get longer. Viktor Hald Thorup says choose length first, then width. A wide-fit model can avoid sizing up; see best skates for wide feet.
How do I measure my foot for roller skates?
Jan Welch says measure in Mondopoint (centimetres) and compare with the brand's chart. The skater behind this site adds: millimetres, heel to longest toe, standing, at the end of the day. See how to size roller skates.
How this page was compiled: 7 skaters, coaches and gear specialists who speak about skate size or fit (Jan Welch, Viktor Hald Thorup, Casper, Thisissoul, Klaudia, Nick Lomax, Dirty Deborah Harry), plus five brands’ official sizing advice, drawn from our skater compilation of 7 October 2026. Each claim links to its source. Full compilation and method: the skater gear compilation.
Related pages
- How to size roller skatesMeasuring step by step.
- Size calculatorYour foot length to each brand’s size.
- Best skates for wide feetWhen width, not length, is the problem.
- Best roller skates for adult beginnersThe full first-skate compilation.
- Why do my feet hurt when I roller skate?Pain that is really a size problem.
- Never loosen your lacesTight is for the fastenings.
Keep going: this is one of the buying guides that sit next to the full Roller Skating for Beginners guide — sizing, gear, stopping, and where to skate, in one page. Free, no sign-up, nothing to buy.