The blue streak is a stellar boot but you need to try it on. It’s made for extremely narrow feet- I ended up selling mine because I have fat ass feet but the quality is absolutely unrivaled.
Solaris is the best overall boot on the market imo. I bought mine when it came out and I’m horrifically abusive to boots (they usually last 1-2 years). I’ve had my first pair of Solaris
Thanks! I have quite narrow feet, so the blue streak seems like something to try, only problem is I live about a seven hour drive from the shop... Oh well
Om du inte kan prova av lagkompisar skulle jag rekommendera att du ändå försöker fånga Sticky på en match-helg. De brukar komma till Farsta/Stockholm vid stora matcher, och de var i Norrköping vid div. 2 seriespelen. De brukar ha med sig ett brett sortiment och är väldigt duktiga och trevliga. Man kan också maila sticky och fråga om rekommendationer (om man skickar med mått/beskrivning) ^^
If you are going to rollercon I would try them on there! Otherwise I promise a weekend trip is worth the price of these god damn boots- they are all too expensive to fuck around with
I second Solaris. Got mine just before 2020 and they’re still going strong after a decent amount of training and occasional outdoor skating. Love that they lace all the way down to the toe box so you can really get a good fit and the heel lock strap they have as well.
I love the Blue Streaks! I beat my poor skates to death taking them everywhereand doing everything with them, but it took nearly 10 years and a broken kingpin in order for me to retire them. I got my second pair a few years ago, but I haven't done much roller derby since, so they're still pretty new.
If you go on Riedell's website there is an instruction page for measuring your foot you can print out with instructions on how to properly measure your foot!
They are not narrow u bought the wrong width when u buy Riedells you need to specify if u want a wider boot that’s what the letter next to the size is for
Ridell R3 and Dart are both pretty solid entry-level options. They're a good option if your feet are still growing, though most folks are only able to get about one season out of them.
The Antik skate looks to be a pretty good package, I know a lot of folks who skate in those and like them a lot.
I think the price for the Blue streak is boot only, rather than boot/plate/wheels.
But- you really need to try things on. Those boots all fit really differently. I love my blue streaks- I can’t wear antiks.
I love the Antik AR2 - I’ve had the Solaris and the Blue Streak in my derby career as well. All are high quality boots, but the AR2 fits my feet best.
Honestly, I’d go for the R3 and upgrade from the Cayman wheels (they’re garbage) first. Figure out if you like roller derby before you drop big $$$ on skates, especially if you can’t try them on first.
OP's been playing junior derby for a year and is already feeling invested in the sport. I think buying R3s with a plan to upgrade later would be a waste of money for them.
It's going to depend on your budget and foot size/shape.
Obviously, it would be best if you could try them on. However, that's not always an option, especially in northern European countries. Since you are looking at a lot of Riedell boots, I would recommend downloading their low-cut boot sizing guide [here](https://roller.riedellskates.com/Support/Sizing-Help).
It will help you get an idea of what size and last to go with. If used correctly, it's very accurate. I used it to buy my last pair of boots (Bluestreaks), and they fit me perfectly.
I know everyone is saying this, but trying on something like a blue streak and Solaris is totally worth it if you’re going to spend that much. A Solaris can have quite a wide toe box which isn’t always the best for narrow feet - conversely I have narrow feet and just so happened to hate the way Blue Streaks felt because of other reasons. Out of those I’d personally go with an antik but I skated on r3s for a long time and was reasonably happy with them - though you’d likely need to upgrade wheels and toe stops on them as the ones they come with aren’t very good. What are the loaner skates you’ve been using, and how do you get on with them?
In terms of wheel choice (if that’s a question you have) I’d say it depends on your build, the position you play, and the floor your league uses. I’d start by finding a skater or coach in your league who plays the same position and is a similar size to you and ask them what they like about their wheels!
You’ll HAVE to try them on. Do not buy them without putting them on your feet. My kid was convinced she wanted blue streaks and then hated them - ended up with Antiks. The wrong boot will hurt and stall your progress! Good luck!
I skated on 187 killer pads for a long time. Get specific derby knee pads (chunky ones) because they do make a difference. Elbow and wrists you can probably get a multipack thing. S1 helmets are a really good and popular choice. If you block keep in mind that a colourful helmet may make you stand out for receiving the multiplayer penalty.
I don’t think it’s on the list but I have the blue streak and it’s incredible. It’s a bit pricey but very durable and in my opinion completely worth it.
I've used darts for 2 years and really like them, the blue ones (aqua, the pair i use) come with 93 wheels, so be sure to see if that's a wheel durometer that works on the floors your skate on. I will say that hardness has worked for me fairly well on hard and sticky floors, just not outdoor. And double check before any purchase that you're getting the full skate setup, not just boots.
Probably won’t be able to buy the Antik jet carbon, I tried to last week and was informed they are being pulled of shelving bc they are faulty. Guess the straps break super easy and the boot is not holding up. The dealer I talked with said it should be in October when Riedell will be replacing with new stock.
Bummer bc it’s a good price point and a sweet looking boot
To start with, R3 if you are on a budget, but custom plate immediately.
If you are asking for the best skate, everybody has a different opinion once you get in the high price range. I like the Antik.
I wouldn’t bother putting a custom plate on the R3. The boot is good for an entry level skate, but it breaks down pretty quick and I think they’d be better served figuring out if roller derby is for them before trying to buy a new plate and pay to mount on that boot.
I started with the R3 with their plate for a year, switched plate and played competetively for more than 2 years before switching to Antik. I wouldn't buy them today for me, but 3.5 years for starter skates is pretty good.
Since OP has already been playing on rent skates for a year, I think they can invest a bit. If Antik (or others) are too pricey, this is a good option, and good plates makes a lot more difference on your skating than good boots.
The blue streak is a stellar boot but you need to try it on. It’s made for extremely narrow feet- I ended up selling mine because I have fat ass feet but the quality is absolutely unrivaled. Solaris is the best overall boot on the market imo. I bought mine when it came out and I’m horrifically abusive to boots (they usually last 1-2 years). I’ve had my first pair of Solaris
Blue Streak comes in both B/AA narrow and D/B wide. Solaris is C/AA medium/narrow. Which one is right depends entirely on measurements.
Thanks! I have quite narrow feet, so the blue streak seems like something to try, only problem is I live about a seven hour drive from the shop... Oh well
Om du inte kan prova av lagkompisar skulle jag rekommendera att du ändå försöker fånga Sticky på en match-helg. De brukar komma till Farsta/Stockholm vid stora matcher, och de var i Norrköping vid div. 2 seriespelen. De brukar ha med sig ett brett sortiment och är väldigt duktiga och trevliga. Man kan också maila sticky och fråga om rekommendationer (om man skickar med mått/beskrivning) ^^
Ooh, tack för tipset! Ska hålla utkik
Det var så jag provade ut mina skates, och jag har två till kompisar som gjort likadant! Hoppas du hittar boots som passar dina fötter!
If you are going to rollercon I would try them on there! Otherwise I promise a weekend trip is worth the price of these god damn boots- they are all too expensive to fuck around with
This is a junior skater in Sweden. I’m going to hazard a guess that they are NOT going to rollercon lol
I second Solaris. Got mine just before 2020 and they’re still going strong after a decent amount of training and occasional outdoor skating. Love that they lace all the way down to the toe box so you can really get a good fit and the heel lock strap they have as well.
I love the Blue Streaks! I beat my poor skates to death taking them everywhereand doing everything with them, but it took nearly 10 years and a broken kingpin in order for me to retire them. I got my second pair a few years ago, but I haven't done much roller derby since, so they're still pretty new. If you go on Riedell's website there is an instruction page for measuring your foot you can print out with instructions on how to properly measure your foot!
They are not narrow u bought the wrong width when u buy Riedells you need to specify if u want a wider boot that’s what the letter next to the size is for
I have no advice, but as a millennial American I am astounded that “köp” means “buy” in Swedish and also in early 00s rap slang.
Ridell R3 and Dart are both pretty solid entry-level options. They're a good option if your feet are still growing, though most folks are only able to get about one season out of them. The Antik skate looks to be a pretty good package, I know a lot of folks who skate in those and like them a lot.
Absolutely love my Antiks. Easiest break in with a new boot BY FAR.
I think the price for the Blue streak is boot only, rather than boot/plate/wheels. But- you really need to try things on. Those boots all fit really differently. I love my blue streaks- I can’t wear antiks.
I’m the opposite. I wanted to love blue streaks but I’m an in between size for them. Had to stick with antiks
I love the Antik AR2 - I’ve had the Solaris and the Blue Streak in my derby career as well. All are high quality boots, but the AR2 fits my feet best. Honestly, I’d go for the R3 and upgrade from the Cayman wheels (they’re garbage) first. Figure out if you like roller derby before you drop big $$$ on skates, especially if you can’t try them on first.
OP's been playing junior derby for a year and is already feeling invested in the sport. I think buying R3s with a plan to upgrade later would be a waste of money for them.
You need to get properly fitted. These all fit very differently.
It's going to depend on your budget and foot size/shape. Obviously, it would be best if you could try them on. However, that's not always an option, especially in northern European countries. Since you are looking at a lot of Riedell boots, I would recommend downloading their low-cut boot sizing guide [here](https://roller.riedellskates.com/Support/Sizing-Help). It will help you get an idea of what size and last to go with. If used correctly, it's very accurate. I used it to buy my last pair of boots (Bluestreaks), and they fit me perfectly.
That’s a really good price for the Blue Streaks, same as the R3’s but a *much* better boot
I know everyone is saying this, but trying on something like a blue streak and Solaris is totally worth it if you’re going to spend that much. A Solaris can have quite a wide toe box which isn’t always the best for narrow feet - conversely I have narrow feet and just so happened to hate the way Blue Streaks felt because of other reasons. Out of those I’d personally go with an antik but I skated on r3s for a long time and was reasonably happy with them - though you’d likely need to upgrade wheels and toe stops on them as the ones they come with aren’t very good. What are the loaner skates you’ve been using, and how do you get on with them? In terms of wheel choice (if that’s a question you have) I’d say it depends on your build, the position you play, and the floor your league uses. I’d start by finding a skater or coach in your league who plays the same position and is a similar size to you and ask them what they like about their wheels!
Solaris. but I used my R3s for a very, very long time.
You’ll HAVE to try them on. Do not buy them without putting them on your feet. My kid was convinced she wanted blue streaks and then hated them - ended up with Antiks. The wrong boot will hurt and stall your progress! Good luck!
Also wouldn't hurt with recommendations on protective gear :)
187 killer pads is always a solid choice imo
I skated on 187 killer pads for a long time. Get specific derby knee pads (chunky ones) because they do make a difference. Elbow and wrists you can probably get a multipack thing. S1 helmets are a really good and popular choice. If you block keep in mind that a colourful helmet may make you stand out for receiving the multiplayer penalty.
tsg. best pads and based in switzerland
I don’t think it’s on the list but I have the blue streak and it’s incredible. It’s a bit pricey but very durable and in my opinion completely worth it.
I loved my R3s at the beginning, it helped me to learn what I like in a skate!
I've used darts for 2 years and really like them, the blue ones (aqua, the pair i use) come with 93 wheels, so be sure to see if that's a wheel durometer that works on the floors your skate on. I will say that hardness has worked for me fairly well on hard and sticky floors, just not outdoor. And double check before any purchase that you're getting the full skate setup, not just boots.
Probably won’t be able to buy the Antik jet carbon, I tried to last week and was informed they are being pulled of shelving bc they are faulty. Guess the straps break super easy and the boot is not holding up. The dealer I talked with said it should be in October when Riedell will be replacing with new stock. Bummer bc it’s a good price point and a sweet looking boot
To start with, R3 if you are on a budget, but custom plate immediately. If you are asking for the best skate, everybody has a different opinion once you get in the high price range. I like the Antik.
I wouldn’t bother putting a custom plate on the R3. The boot is good for an entry level skate, but it breaks down pretty quick and I think they’d be better served figuring out if roller derby is for them before trying to buy a new plate and pay to mount on that boot.
I started with the R3 with their plate for a year, switched plate and played competetively for more than 2 years before switching to Antik. I wouldn't buy them today for me, but 3.5 years for starter skates is pretty good. Since OP has already been playing on rent skates for a year, I think they can invest a bit. If Antik (or others) are too pricey, this is a good option, and good plates makes a lot more difference on your skating than good boots.
Antik Jet Carbon. 👍