This was great. I just bought the Rookie classics and I'm VERY new to skating, like day 3 new. This made me feel better about my choice. I wanted to get a decent pair just to see if I even liked it, then figured I could upgrade if I wanted to later.
yay! I'm really glad to hear that the review has helped you :) You shouldn't feel bad about your choice of skates and I hope you're having a fantastic time learning how to skate :D
I have seen people wear the Bubblegum and Rosa skates at the skatepark especially when they’re learning to roll down flat ramps and pump the transition, but I absolutely would not recommend them for aggressive skate styles. I don’t think they’re going to be strong enough for high impact skating (especially with plastic trucks!) I did not feel stable in them at all (trucks would not tighten enough) and the toe stop is not adjustable which means you can’t shorten/lengthen for your skate style and what’s comfortable for you. I’m not sure of the longevity of the skate boots, but heel separation seems to be an issue particularly with synthetic boots. I hope that helps!
I'm a beginner skater who is using impala right now (just cause: cute + pretty affordable for a brand new skater) but I have veeerrry tight calf muscles and limited range of motion in the achilles area due to a congenital condition, so I'm unable to bend my knees to the extent that would help me be more stable on skates. Hearing you say the heels were a little higher than normal on these which led to you bending your knees more makes me think these might actually be more accommodating to my specific needs. Any idea how the heel height compares to impala?
👋 hi! Unfortunately, I no longer have the Bubblegum skates, but I do have a pair of Impala skates that I could compare to my Moxi Lolly’s. The Lolly’s have a heel height of 38mm and the Impala height is 42mm. I didn’t measure the height of the Bubblegums, but judging from the picture I showed I suspect the Bubblegums might be a little taller than the Impalas, but maybe not by much. I hope that helps!
Hi thanks for the review. I have this for learning roller skating. I found it very hard to do manuver at first then someone helped me to adjust the wheels and it become a bit nicer to glide. I also tried it outside on the road but I found it when I do bubble movement I kept stopping after one bubble (i usually can do it easily indoor) and have to reposition my feet again and again. Is that because the wheels are not supposed to be used outdoor or what?. Thanks.
👋 hi! Okay, it’s encouraging to hear that you can do bubbles indoors. Usually outdoor surfaces are very rough (compared to indoors)and it can be harder to do bubbles with softer wheels. Another factor is your own leg strength. We don’t use the muscles needed for bubbles just standing and walking and it is harder to do them on outdoor pavement! It’s hard to give advice without seeing what you’re currently doing, but if you’re skating very slowly, you might find it easier to go a little faster to keep the momentum going. I hope this helps!
What kind of budget friendly skates would you recommend for people looking to switch from regular rollers to the ones with 4 wheels? Some that are suitable for the skate park
It’s difficult to make a specific recommendation especially at budget level prices. I suggest looking for skates with a good amount of support in the ankle, which is key. I prefer leather for durability and because it is long lasting. You can change the wheels, insoles, and plate to suite your skating style. Try and buy the best skates you can afford. You may be able to find some good used skates online. Hope this helps!
Thank you! The socks are actually made by Rookie as well ☺️ I just happened to have them. I’m not sure they still produce those exact socks, but it looks like they have some other cool stripy ones 😍
Did this review help you? Want to see more skate reviews? Let me know in the comments 👇
This was a great review! I really liked your ranking system and the breakdown within the categories you chose.
Thank you! I'm really glad the rankings helped :)
This was great. I just bought the Rookie classics and I'm VERY new to skating, like day 3 new. This made me feel better about my choice. I wanted to get a decent pair just to see if I even liked it, then figured I could upgrade if I wanted to later.
yay! I'm really glad to hear that the review has helped you :) You shouldn't feel bad about your choice of skates and I hope you're having a fantastic time learning how to skate :D
Very thorough and precise review! Thank you so much, it was really helpful!
Thank you! I’m glad it helped!
Helpful.. Which skates do you recommend for beginners?
It completely depends on the type of skating you plan to do and your budget 😊 but in general…stay away from plastic/nylon trucks!
do you think these are genuinely good for the skatepark? do you think the heel will come off after some time or anything like that?
I have seen people wear the Bubblegum and Rosa skates at the skatepark especially when they’re learning to roll down flat ramps and pump the transition, but I absolutely would not recommend them for aggressive skate styles. I don’t think they’re going to be strong enough for high impact skating (especially with plastic trucks!) I did not feel stable in them at all (trucks would not tighten enough) and the toe stop is not adjustable which means you can’t shorten/lengthen for your skate style and what’s comfortable for you. I’m not sure of the longevity of the skate boots, but heel separation seems to be an issue particularly with synthetic boots. I hope that helps!
Great review!
Thank you :) Glad you liked it!
I'm a beginner skater who is using impala right now (just cause: cute + pretty affordable for a brand new skater) but I have veeerrry tight calf muscles and limited range of motion in the achilles area due to a congenital condition, so I'm unable to bend my knees to the extent that would help me be more stable on skates. Hearing you say the heels were a little higher than normal on these which led to you bending your knees more makes me think these might actually be more accommodating to my specific needs. Any idea how the heel height compares to impala?
👋 hi! Unfortunately, I no longer have the Bubblegum skates, but I do have a pair of Impala skates that I could compare to my Moxi Lolly’s. The Lolly’s have a heel height of 38mm and the Impala height is 42mm. I didn’t measure the height of the Bubblegums, but judging from the picture I showed I suspect the Bubblegums might be a little taller than the Impalas, but maybe not by much. I hope that helps!
Hi thanks for the review. I have this for learning roller skating. I found it very hard to do manuver at first then someone helped me to adjust the wheels and it become a bit nicer to glide. I also tried it outside on the road but I found it when I do bubble movement I kept stopping after one bubble (i usually can do it easily indoor) and have to reposition my feet again and again. Is that because the wheels are not supposed to be used outdoor or what?. Thanks.
👋 hi! Okay, it’s encouraging to hear that you can do bubbles indoors. Usually outdoor surfaces are very rough (compared to indoors)and it can be harder to do bubbles with softer wheels. Another factor is your own leg strength. We don’t use the muscles needed for bubbles just standing and walking and it is harder to do them on outdoor pavement!
It’s hard to give advice without seeing what you’re currently doing, but if you’re skating very slowly, you might find it easier to go a little faster to keep the momentum going. I hope this helps!
What kind of budget friendly skates would you recommend for people looking to switch from regular rollers to the ones with 4 wheels? Some that are suitable for the skate park
It’s difficult to make a specific recommendation especially at budget level prices. I suggest looking for skates with a good amount of support in the ankle, which is key. I prefer leather for durability and because it is long lasting.
You can change the wheels, insoles, and plate to suite your skating style.
Try and buy the best skates you can afford. You may be able to find some good used skates online. Hope this helps!
I like your socks are they Tube socks think or thin ones
Thank you! The socks are actually made by Rookie as well ☺️ I just happened to have them. I’m not sure they still produce those exact socks, but it looks like they have some other cool stripy ones 😍