r/inline_skating

I just want to skate on trails outside, so nothing crazy. I would prefer skates under $125. What do you recommend?

I currently own Rollerblade Lightning 90s skates. However, I have really prominent ankle bone on the inner side of my left foot and they have been killing me. I’ve been skating for ~2 months and testing different methods to try to deal with the issue. Finally on the last skating session, I think I pushed myself too much, and my right leg is compensating, so I started having a really nasty knee pain in my right leg.

I have tried everything I could find and think of to try to fix the issue: silicone pads, sports tape, inserts, heel pads, ankle bone isolating pads, merino blend socks, spot heat molding the boot, moving the frames slightly inwards and outwards, and combinations of everything above.

I have asked about my posture while skating thinking that might be the issue, but was told that I don’t have bad posture.

Now what I like about my skates is the wheel size, four wheels, and how they look. But I have deemed the issue unfixable and I want to get new skates.

I have tried looking online but haven’t found any definite answers. I am terrified of getting another pair of hard boot skates because I think the issue may be the same. I am considering getting either soft boot skates or heat moldable hard boots. With heat moldable hard boots I believe I can go to an ice skate place for molding (or does this only refer to the liner?). Do I risk the same issue happening with heat moldable boots?

One pair of soft boot skates that I liked are also by Rollerblade and they have a hard part that I am afraid goes over the same pain spot, and since it is the same company, I am afraid of having the same issue.

I am not opposed to Frankensteining the skates (getting separate boots and frames). I have already spent so much money on medical devices trying to fix my issue, but for the right skate I am willing to spend up to $400.

I want to skate more than once per week. Weekly I usually go for 4 hours of skating (with around 2.5 hours of actual moving time) and cover around 15km (10mi). The rest of the week I am trying to recover. I want to add more skating days. I skate around the city on asphalt, don’t do any crazy jumps or tricks, and at this point would put comfort and speed above everything else.

I am not completely opposed to going to 3 wheels or increase in the wheel size. I think I will be fine with my ankles (if I switch to a soft boot, since the hard boot provides more support). I would still like for the boot to be the standard depth (I don’t like those racing or marathon skates that only go up to ankle).