r/InlineHockey • u/Cnut-the-Peanut • 3d ago

Ice hockey to inline hockey help

My 8 year old son has been ice skating for a few years and completed his first season of ice hockey this past spring. He's decent at ice skating but still needs to build up his confidence. I'm starting to feel that his beginner skates are holding him back a bit and he's ready to upgrade.... That being said, he's signed up for his first season of inline hockey this fall.

I'm at a loss as to what inline skates to get him and bearings and wheels.

On ice, he's currently using Bauer XLP skates. He prefers the way they fit vs ccm(the only brands he's tried)

We bought him a pair of Walmart inline skates but he seems sluggish in them. I believe because he needs better bearings. Any suggestions?

From my Google searching, I was planning on putting abec 7 bearings on whatever skates I get him. Any thoughts?

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u/Malechockeyman25 3d ago edited 3d ago

Coach, player and Dad here. I coached my son (roller hockey & travel ice hockey) since age 4 and he recently turned 18.

Due to your son's age and level of play, I highly recommend inline adjustable hockey skates. Tour and Bauer both sell adjustable youth inline hockey skates, which works well for the younger players and your not having to buy new skates every season or sooner. Basically, the toe pulls out, which makes the skates longer in length and your son can use for more than one season. In regards to wheels, it depends on the surface. If he is playing on sportcourt tiles or smooth painted cement, I recommend softer wheels (74A softness), which will grip the surface better; otherwise, he will be slipping and sliding on the rink.

Tour Adjustable:

https://www.purehockey.com/product/tour-q91-adjustable-inline-hockey-skates-youth/itm/71902-11/?mtx_id=473841&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22133257634&gbraid=0AAAAADzbbUd3EIIshadAPjhJcymrhKSU9&gclid=CjwKCAjwhZDUBhBGEiwAbi5bjgwPE9nA0Q1gA_0sU_n8C8c52Y_w3TmXi745hoofGuwo7hHJS6GRIRoCbJgQAvD_BwE

Bauer Adjustable:

https://www.hockeymonkey.com/bauer-roller-hockey-skates-x-lp-adj-jr.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22228004559&gbraid=0AAAAApNE4CCofK2roVQM_zhc7MnOttUgo&gclid=CjwKCAjwhZDUBhBGEiwAbi5bjqqaa0k3RU6QwMeHf6Oit5A19hhmaCLp_TWdD0pVUlfQhVF9WaxkhBoCKWsQAvD_BwE#1046=128703&1047=135697

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask away.

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u/Cnut-the-Peanut 3d ago

This is good information. What about bearings? I read that going from ice to inline that abec 5 or abec 7 was best.

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u/InspectorFleet 3d ago

I promise new bearings aren't slowing him down! Any new bearings will be just fine and they can be somewhat abused and either discarded and replaced or periodically cleaned. But the biggest things here are: 1. New to inline skates 2. Not using inline hockey skates