Beginner roller skating
Bearings: The Number on the Box Means Nothing
ABEC ratings measure manufacturing tolerance for industrial machines spinning far faster than any skater. A higher number does not make you faster. What matters is keeping grit out and re-oiling them.
The ABEC rating is a manufacturing tolerance, written for industrial spindles turning at speeds no skater will ever reach. It says how precisely the bearing was machined. It does not say how fast you will roll, and nothing on the box claims it does.
So ABEC 9 on a cheap bearing is marketing. A high number on poor steel, with poor seals and thick factory grease, rolls worse than a modest bearing that was built properly - and it costs more.
What actually changes your roll is keeping grit out and re-oiling. A clean ABEC 5 outrolls a filthy ABEC 9 every time. Wipe the wheels after an outdoor session, and open the bearings when they start to sound dry rather than when they stop turning.
Keep going: this is one section of the full Roller Skating for Beginners guide — sizing, gear, stopping, and where to skate, in one page.