The 2008 Holiday Small Budget Skate Solution

Sunday November 30th, 2008Written by Jeff

Christmas Gifts [Pic]
Christmas is around the corner and you might be trying to decide how much money you'll need to get from Grandma for some new skates. Well, let's assume that your Grandma doesn't have much money and your parents think $300 for new skates is ridiculous with the economy what it is right now.

Well, let's say you wind up with 50, or maybe 150 bucks. What are you to do? We've got a couple scenarios and ideas for you.

Bearings [pic]
$50: Wow, this is going to be tough. If you've already got a pair of skates, consider just getting new wheels and bearings. Unless you've torn through the boot of your skates, you may be able to keep your existing ones around a bit longer. This might not let you get the latest colorways, but there haven't been any huge advances since skates adopted UFS (universal frame system). The only trouble you might have is with the liner being too worn out just like an old pair of shoes. I remember trying to patch up my old USD liners when I was younger and short in cash. There's just no real way to fix it without replacing it and unless you can find something on eBay, new liners are gonna take your entire budget here.

$100: You're in better shape here. A quick replacement of new wheels and bearings and you might even have money to replace torn up liners. Comfort is first priority and these are the the three keys. The boot is just for looks and unless you've got pieces falling off it, you should be okay. If you're a budget shopper, you may be able to swing a new pair of frames on this budget. However, another $50 could get you an option you may not have considered.

Rollerblade DT4 [pic]
$150: This is the magic number. Brand new entry level Rollerblade brand aggressive skates complete with UFS frames, good bearings and good enough wheels start in this range. Sure, they may not be the coolest skates out there, but Rollerblade makes great skates and if you haven't at least tried on a pair for comparison, you might find them to be just as comfortable as that more expensive brand. The other alternative here is to buy a model of skate from a year or two ago. Several online and B&M retailers have the same brand and virtually the same design that was out a couple years ago listed at bargain prices. You may not get the latest colors, but who cares?

Of course this industry needs help with you buying their latest skates, but as long as your out there skating and being seen as a positive image of rolling then you are helping. Maybe you'll get a skateboarder at your local park to try out your blades and they'll discover that rollerblades are their calling and not a board.

 

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