10 Best Roller Skates for Beginners in 2023

Roller skating has been riding its moment since March 2020. During the worst periods of lockdown, many folks opted for a cruise around the neighborhood over their usual exercise routine to lighten the mood (and reap the rewards of the feel-good workout). If you're a little late to the roller derby, worry not: We rounded up the best best roller skates for beginners so you can have some four-wheeled fun—and get a great workout in the process.

Besides offering a killer burn for your legs, abs, and glutes, roller skating comes with its fair share of mental benefits. "When you exercise and get fresh air, you’re increasing endorphins, which improve the mood and decrease stress,” Hilary Weinstein, LCSW, a psychotherapist and anxiety specialist based in New York, previously told Well+Good. “By gearing your attention to both the body and its surroundings, you can shift focus away from negative thought patterns and anxieties.” Not to mention, moving your body can also offer you a self-esteem boost... especially when you start doing all the cool tricks.

Without further ado, here are the best roller skates for beginners to help you spend some time in the great outdoors and work your whole lower body in the process. Let's roll.

Aside from the groovy rainbow design, above all, you’ll want top-notch safety features if you’re a roller skating newbie. Which these deliver: They’ve got a high and tight fit and padding on the ankle for balance and support, and a durable and replaceable toe stopper that’s super adjustable so you can easily brake. Made with drum-dyed vinyl, these don’t scratch easily. The design also features a die-cast aluminum plate created for high-impact. Say hello to the smoothest, most fun ride.

Materials: Vinyl, die-cast aluminum plate, 58mm x 40mm wheels

Colors: Black, pink, yellow

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Whether you’re skating indoors or outdoors, this $50 pair will take you far. With a comfortable, highly-adjustable fit, this pair is great for those who are just getting started. And you can swap out the speed laces when they start to get dirty for long-term use. According to reviewers, these skates run large, and are on the heavier side—so bear in mind that the friendly price tag comes with a few downsides.

Materials: Vinyl, aluminum chassis, 60mm Urethane spoke core wheels

Colors: White

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These jazzy, blue suede shoes have all the trucks and cushions you need to take turns with ease. You can also wipe them clean with a simple swipe, so no worries if you accidentally skate through a puddle or scuff them at the roller derby. Reviewers warn that these babies come a little stiff, so you’ll have to spend some time breaking them in initially.

Materials: Suede, aluminum chassis, 65mm wheels

Colors: Green, blue, peach

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Looking for a vegan option for your skates? This pair’s for you. This heavy duty pair rocks the colors of the ’70s, and are made with plenty of metal to make them stay durable despite the wear and tear of everyday use. In the reviews, quite a few everyday skaters have complained about the back heel coming detached from the wood after minimal wear, so keep that in mind if you plan on getting heavy mileage out of these shoes.

Materials: PVC upper, aluminum baseplate, 58mm 82A durometer nylon core urethane wheels

Colors: 14 colors, including forest, aqua, pastel, leopard, holographic, white, and more

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Skate the streets in style with these holographic beauties. These shoes are made with PVC to provide ankle support even as you start to add more turns and tricks to your rolodex. The boot runs super narrow, so if you’re someone with wider feet, consider choosing another option.

Materials: Faux Leather, aluminum, 58mm polyvinyl chloride wheels

Colors: Holographic

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These shoes include a strong aluminum base that you can rely on for years to come. As one reviewer writes, “We bought these as a gift for our daughter. They are super cute! They seem to be well built and that they should be comfy to roller skate in.” Comfort? Check. Style? Check. However, some reviewers have complained that the shoelace bracket is a bit flimsy, so bear that in mind as you make your choice (especially if you have narrow feet that will require you to tighten your shoes a lot for them to feel nice and snug).

Materials: Suede upper, aluminum tracks

Colors: Lilac

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Snag this limited-edition pair for a one-of-a-kind design that rides well, too. With a vegan leather upper, a rubber stopper, and a unique gold sole, these skates are about as unique as they come. One reviewer attests that these shoes have lasted them three years: “I’ve had these skates for three years. I love them and they’ve held up. They’re also pink btw,” they write. While the pattern is unique and one-of-a-kind, some reviewers complain that the vegan material isn’t particularly durable—so don’t expect the design to stick around for a super long time.

Materials: Vegan leather upper

Colors: Holographic

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The Beach Bunnies come in five fun colorways for you to choose from, but you can swap out the wheels and laces if you’re ever ready to try a new style. They also come with a Dri-Lex liner for the sweaty-footed among us, so don’t be afraid to cut loose and put these babies to use. Although the website recommends ordering a size down, many reviewers actually recommend ordering your true size—so you may consider ordering two pairs and returning the one that doesn’t fit just right.

Materials: Faux Leather, Moxi Dri-Lex lining, 58mm wheels

Colors: Blue, peach, periwinkle, strawberry, watermelon

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Three words for you: light up wheels. This quirky pair is crafted with lightweight nylon and plenty of ankle support. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the pom pom is removable. Overall, these skates have pretty stellar reviews, but people do warn that they run big—so consider ordering a size smaller than you want to.

Materials: Faux Leather, 58mm light-up wheels

Colors: Black

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A classic roller skate that still gets the job done. This Riedell Quad comes in all black to match whatever outfit you’re wearing on a given day. Some reviewers are calling these boots out for being a bit bulky and stiff, so don’t expect to ride into the sunset immediately with the little black dress of roller skates. You can also get them in white.

Materials: Vinyl, aluminum plate, 57mm wheels

Colors: Black or white

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