CHOOSING THE RIGHT ROLLER SKATE SET – A STRUGGLE FOR NEWCOMERS
There are as many categories of roller skaters as there are roller skating styles and roller skate brands, which makes choosing the ideal model and set very difficult at the beginning.
Unfortunately, many people go for cheap sets at the beginning. You want just to try it out and see if you like it. The boots are often made of plastic, hard and inflexible, or so soft that the untrained foot has hardly any grip in it. The plates are too heavy, hardly steerable, not adjustable. The wheels are way too soft or too hard. You don't make much progress because the equipment is inferior. But if you treat yourself to a good set right from the start, roller skating can become a passion.
As a rule, you start relaxed with one of the softer WIFA-STREET models with ELYO-plates to learn your first dance steps and cruise around. Then you discover your passion that may lead you to change the plates & wheels and buy better ball bearings. Artistic roller skaters stick with ELYO, whilst park and trail skaters switch to the more stable Avanti or Sunlite, jam skaters to the very manoeuvrable Avenger frame.
It is a lot about wheels!
The choice of the first set of wheels depends on the style and the floor you are skating on. At the beginning, you are often unsure whether you want to train outdoors or indoors.The softer hybrid wheels are ideal for the first few months as they can be used for dance and trail. Many skaters also appreciate the multiple LED versions we have in stock! As a rule, you will soon have at least two sets: large and soft outdoor wheels for trail skating, smaller hybrid wheels for dance.
Choose your own setup here:
WIFA Street Suede Konfigurations-SET
WIFA Street Deluxe configuration SET
WIFA DUO Suede
WIFA DUO Deluxe
Brief description of the models
1 STREET SUEDE (suede leather)
soft and very comfortable, particularly ideal for wider feet since very stretchy in the ball of the foot area.
Focus: for dance and trail
2 STREET DELUXE (nubuck leather)
soft and very comfortable, stretchy in the ball of the foot area, overall approx. 20% stronger than suede, as the leather is thicker and stronger.
Focus: for dance and trail
Hybrid models for ice and roller skating
3 DUO SUEDE Ice and Roll (suede leather) – for dance and trail!
Slightly firmer than STREET SUEDE, as it is reinforced at the upper shaft end and ball area.
4 DUO DELUXE Ice and Roll (nubuck leather) -– for dance and trail
Slightly firmer than STREET DELUXE as it is reinforced at the top of the shaft and ball of the foot.
You will find more details on each model in our ROLLER SKATES CATALOG 2023!
If you are a skilled dancer or rhythm skater we would rather recommend the STREET XTREME for its stronger counter support and lateral stability. This model is 40% harder than the Deluxe and will give you the support needed for challenging dance skating moves.
You will find more details on each model in our ROLLER SKATES CATALOG 2023!
If you are a competition park skater, you will appreciate the stability of our hybrid model CHAMPION LIGHT, fully heat moldable and available in 5 widths. Here a link to our test skater Lea Neuhold who switched from STREET Xtreme to Champion Light .
You will find more details on each model in our ROLLER SKATES CATALOG 2023!
If you are more ambitious, you should rather opt for the STREET XTREME, as it is overall more robust and has more lateral stability – and will be more durable on the long run. It is reinforced in the ankle area, softer in the ball area than an ice skating boot, and has leather lining, which is a big advantage if spending lots of hours in quads during summer temperatures.
If you want to switch to Inline skating, you need to go for ice skating models since you need a boot with a fully reinforced and stable ball area.
PRIMA INTERMEDIATE or CHAMPION LIGHT as well as INTI for children are specially suitable for both sports, ice and inline skating, since all these models have a soft cushion at the shaft top and are more flexible at the top shaft end.
You will find more details on each model in our ROLLER SKATES CATALOG 2023 and ICE SKATES COLLECTION 2023!
STREET XTREME is basically a reinforced STREET Deluxe but approximately 40% stronger. More stable at the heel, increased side reinforcement to also absorb jumps. The STREET Xtreme was adapted to the needs of the target groups - advanced street & jam & rhythm skaters as well as park skaters.
You will find more details on each model in our ROLLER SKATES CATALOG 2023!
STD-plates have a kingping angle of 20°. We now offer ELYO plates with 7 AND 8mm axles.
They are basically made for artistic and skilled leisure skaters but are also stable enough for park and trail skating. The stability can be changed by loosening or tightening the « action adjustment nuts » and by using cushions of different hardness that you can order via internet ( STD ) if you want to exchange them.
We also offer the two very popular models of the US-brand Suregrip, Avanti and Avenger.
Avantis have a 10°kingpin angle and are very stable plates for challenging flips and jumps in the skate park and for skaters who appreciate a stable plate. Avengers have a kingping angle of 45°. They are very appreciated by skilled Jam and Rythmskaters for their extrem agility.
The economic high quality nylon SUNLITE plates have a 10°kingpin angle and are appreciated for their lightness and stability.
You will find more details on each model in our ROLLER SKATES CATALOG 2023! (p. 26-31)
You will figure out that you might actually need a smaller WIFA size than your usual shoes. They run big and your foot should have a rather snug fit. Your feet are the most important reference we work with. On our website you can print out the insoles. In order to avoid mistakes due transmission distorsions, please remeasure the insoles after printing the A4 sheets!
The insoles help a lot to determine the size as you can visualize how much toe space you need. If you have wide feet at the front (e.g. Roman foot shape), you will need more toe space since the WIFA boots are slighly narrower at the toe cap. If you have narrower feet and a Greek or Agyptian foot shape you will need less space for rather a snug fit. But please leave at least 4 mm comfort toe space to be on the safe side - unless you can try them on in a shop.
For a STREET SUEDE you will need less toe space than with STREET DELUXE & STREET XTREME , because the suede leather is softer and more elastic and therefore adapts better to the skater’s foot shape. The following rule of thumb applies: STREET Deluxe & Xtreme - we recommend to take the same size as the shoe size (for skaters with wide feet at front) or half a size smaller (for standard or narrow feet).
STREET Suede - can be half a size smaller or even a full size smaller. Please read our Technical Guide for more detailed information and the relevant measuring tables.
Please watch our VIDEO TUTORIALS for foot measurements and size selection.
If you order our mounting service we will mount according to our recommendations and to our sizing chart (catalog p. 40). We mount slightly „off center“ as recommended by most specialized shops and top skaters. If you want a different mounting, please advise.
For STD-plates and the Avenger (Surepgrip) we take the shorter plates since most skaters use these plates for dancing and want them to be more indented at the front.
For Avanti (Suregrip) and SUNLITE plates we use the longest possible plate size as these are normally used by skaters seaking stability.
heel: 2 pull-through screws, 2 long screws (length 25 mm)
front part of boots: 2 pull-through screws (20mm) + 2 screws (16 mm)
CAUTION! Inside the boots - at the heel - screws are placed that are very important for the heel stability. The shaft is glued with high pression on the soles and screwed additionally to the heel. These long screws must not be removed! If they are in the way when mounting the plates, please move them to another part and screw them in again.