R3 Roller Skate

Great skates for the price! Spent my youth on skates which eventually put me on speed teams and employed as a floor guard until I went in the service at 18. Hadn't skated since, but my teen daughter decided to give roller skates a try after learning to ice skate a year ago. Bought these to join her because rentals just are that terrible. First time on the floor in almost 4 decades was "interesting" to say the least, but after 20-30 minutes, it all started coming back. 😊 With that said, getting back into skating normally (to me, including rocking that shuffle vibe to the beat) and their basic functions is what this review is based, plus against high-end, custom speed skates of yore. 1) Fit: I was and still am impressed with boot quality and fit. They are true to size in length. I wear 10.5 wides so I bought 11's to allow for an extra pair of socks if needed. The toe area is tight. I read on another review for these that the reviewer stated the same but solved with shoe stretchers. I purchased a pair and they are in my skates as I type this. Boot bottom padding is awesome. I live the padded collar around the ankle too! Very comfortable. Highly recommend tube socks and not ankle socks with these. My old skates I could get away with ankle socks since there was no padding. These however do ha e it (and again, it is nice) but I did end up with a blister on top of my ankle. Correct socks fixes that. 2) plate and trucks: I'm used to old school metal plates so I was hesitant with nylon. They're strong, don't flex, amd I felt very confident on them. I dont see that changing. The trucks, I left at factory adjustment, but I did take a key to fit the nut in case they were too stiff. Back in the day, we did loosen them up for speed skating. Factory adjustment turned out to be just right for me. Im going to leave them until the rubber cushions in the trucks break in more to see what I'll do to fit my preference. Out of the box, the adjustment is solid. The Wheels/Bearings: Wheel material and construction is fantastic. Surface is groomed for extra traction. I did slip a few times but I don't believe it was the material of the wheels that was a factor. Likely the floor surface (not the best, nor the cleanest/freshest. It was an old school rink that's just barely hanging on) or me being 80#'s heavier than I was as a skinny teen trying to do teen things at teen speeds in the corners. Lol! Overall, these are 5 star for the use I plan on giving them, with the boots/plate/trucks likely lasting me the rest of this life. Bearings and wheels are wearable items that eventually do get replaced due to wear, with the ones provided with skate are excellent quality to start with.

They are sized small toe box is tight so if you wear a,size 10 1/2 get size 11 they are well made great for a beginner to intermediate skater.

Size was perfect fit. These are a good bang for the buck kinda skate. Upgrade the wheels and they are perfect boogie shuffle light weight and smooth break in time is low. Love these.

I'm reserving a 5 star rating until I've spent more time with them to see how they hold up but initial impressions are very good. Many moons ago (late 80 and early 90ss) I practically lived at the skating rink and even worked there for a couple of years while in college. While in Monterey during my army training I made the switch to Roller Blades and tore up the streets and boardwalk. I more or less retired all forms of skates in 1996. Fast forward 20 years and while visiting a friend in Dallas we decide to take the little ones to a roller rink. It instantly brought back fond memories and when we got home the older child seemed to really enjoy it too. As an early christmas present I decided to get her and I new skates so we could start checking out all the local rinks and also skating around the neighborhood once it warms back up. For her I picked up a pair of Roller Derby Zingers to get started on. After briefly considering more expensive skates I ultimately picked up a the R3s for myself (along with a spare set of outdoor wheels and bearings). They arrived 3 days ago and after a quick test fit I started checking everything else. Out of the box the wheels were a bit tight but a couple of minor tweaks with the included skate tool and they were rolling just fine. I also cranked down the toe stop as low as it would go (jam plugs are on the way) but other than that they were ready to rock. Yesterday we went to Skateland to break in our new skates and the skates performed admirably. As others have mentioned the red wheels in some versions of the product picture but they are the Cayman Sonar's as listed in the product descriptions and they are perfectly adequate wheels. I burn through wheels pretty fast so I expect I'll be ordering new wheels and bearings by summer time anyway. Overall at less than $150 these skates are a tremendous value and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to a friend.

Exactly what she wanted. Loved the gift

After not skating for approximately 30 years, I decided to start again as a hobby about 6 months ago. I recently purchased the Riedell R3 quad roller skates, and after also owning a pair of Chicago skates (purchased on Amazon), the difference was immediately noticeable. The build quality on the R3 is great. The boot feels more structured and supportive without being uncomfortable, and the overall fit gives me better control on the floor. Within my first session, I could feel the added stability, especially when turning and trying to maintain balance at speed. The wheels and bearings roll smoothly right out of the box, and the skates feel responsive without being overly stiff. That balance makes them a great option for someone who is serious about improving their skating (like me). One of the biggest advantages is confidence. These skates feel predictable and stable, which makes it easier for me to focus on technique instead of just trying to stay upright. If you’re working toward rhythm or dance skating, this matters a lot. They’re comfortable enough for longer sessions, but still supportive enough that you can tell they’re designed for performance. Overall, this was a good upgrade for me and well worth the investment. If you’re currently using entry-level skates and want something that will actually help you progress, I would recommend the R3.

I had to return for a bigger size but am really happy with purchasing. The toe is medium. I wear 11s but had to get a size 13 skates. In the break in process now were doing very well.

Very tight across the tops of the toes Unable to use Had to return