The 10 Best Girl's Roller Skates
Special Honors
National Museum of Roller Skating Home to the world's largest collection of roller skating memorabilia and historical artifacts, this quirky attraction in Lincoln, Nebraska honors what they say is "one of America's greatest sports." There's an exhibit on the evolution of the skate wheel along with 19th-century patents and videos of high-stakes competitions. You can explore the five varieties of the sport, which include roller derby, speed skating, roller hockey, artistic skating, and in-line skating. rollerskatingmuseum.org
Editor's Notes
December 16, 2020:
First of all, don't forget to get a good helmet and some knee and elbow pads for kids to go along with these skates.
We've added three fun new pairs that look as good as they roll. The high-quality Impala Holographic take the number one spot thanks to their high-quality construction and great reviews. The previous top pair, Moxi Beach Bunny, are still a primo choice but their price has doubled and is now a bit out of range for many families.
For younger girls, the Sulifeel Rainbow Unicorn bring the flash and are adjustable to fit growing feet. The Kuxuan Doodle Illuminated have a distinct look with artsy details and light-up wheels. We removed the Lenexa Pixie because it seems to be a case of style over substance, which you don't want when you're strapping wheels to your feet. The Fisher-Price Grow With Me is no longer available.
We've also updated the information for several items, including the Moxi Beach Bunny, the Epic Star Vela, and the Roller Derby Trac Star. Finally, we've added a new listing in the Special Honors section that is fun for skating enthusiasts and fans of quirk.
November 22, 2019:
Roller skating is an excellent way to get your girl out on her feet, burning calories and building up her balance, coordination, strength, endurance, and much more. While allowing your child to wear roller skates comes with some inherent risk, if you watch and guide her carefully, she should be able to enjoy her hobby immensely without risking serious injury. Just like with roller blades, scooters, penny boards, and similar products, outfitting your child with the proper safety gear is essential.
When revisiting this list, we noticed it had an abundance of beginner pairs, but not many for serious skaters, which is why we added the Moxi Beach Bunny. These skates come in sizes for children and adults and are made with high standards and quality materials. The company was founded by a former roller derby girl and skate enthusiast, so you know their designs are thoughtful and thorough. We also added the Chicago Roller Rink at the expense of the Epic Princess, since we felt this ranking could use another dialed-back style for the girl who's more traditional.
For this list, our main priorities were safety, strong ankle support, durable trucks, adjustability for younger children as they grow, and fun styles that girls will love, going further than just providing typical pink skates, as evidenced by the Lenexa Pixie, Epic Star Vela, and Pacer Comet.
If you're shopping for a girl who is rapidly growing and are eyeing a pair of skates that are not size-adjustable, we recommend going a size up and having her wear extra-thick socks in the meantime, which can add to her comfort and feeling of control.
The Benefits Of Roller Skating
As your little girl’s heart rate goes up, she’ll have an opportunity to burn a bit of body fat.
If you’re debating whether or not it’s a good idea to let your daughter start roller skating, let’s settle that argument once and for all: it is a good idea. Sure, like any athletic activity, roller skating comes with certain risks, but for the most part, it’s an incredibly safe pastime that has myriad benefits for your youngster.
Physically, roller skating provides excellent cardiovascular benefits. As your little girl’s heart rate goes up, she’ll have an opportunity to burn a bit of body fat. Now, no one is saying that your child is overweight or is at risk of becoming overweight, but with childhood obesity statistics where they are, it’s important that we find as many ways as possible to get our kids exercising. This becomes doubly important when you think about the fact that roller skating isn’t something that’s easily accomplished with a phone in front of your face, so the activity has the added benefit of getting your kids away from their screens for a while.
That’s not where the physical benefits of roller skating end, either, especially if you start your daughter out young. Skating requires balance and coordination, two things that young children need to work on in their early years to have a good sense of either later in life. If your daughter starts skating at an early age, she’ll have a physical advantage in other athletic pursuits as she grows, whether or not those involve skating.
From a psychological standpoint, skating can provide children with valuable alone time, as well as an activity that they can enjoy with friends. Children’s birthday parties at roller rinks are exceptionally popular for their simplicity and their low cost, in addition to the fact that they’re wildly entertaining for youngsters. If your daughter has her own pair of skates, not only will she stand out in a positive way among the other kids who have to rent stinky, potentially bacteria-laden quads from the rink, but she’ll also have a leg up on other skaters. All that time spent skating in your driveway will pay off as she zips around the rink and develops a reputation as one of the cooler girls in school.
Finally, getting your daughter her own pair of skates can be the start of a tradition that might last your whole life long. If you have a pair of your own skates, you can head out together for a quick roll around the neighborhood, and set aside a time each year for that same tour. It’s a great way to bond with your daughter, and maybe even get her to open up to you a little during her angsty teenage years.
Which Roller Skates Are Right For Your Girl?
Choosing a pair of roller skates for your girl may seem rather difficult at first, as the differences among models may be hard to suss out at a glance. With a little digging, however, you can find some key differences that will guide you toward the perfect pair for your little one.
One of the easiest things to look for is the means by which a given pair of roller skates is fastened. Traditionally, skates have been tightened by laces, but young children may have some difficulty tying skates to an appropriate tightness. This is because, even if they’ve mastered the bunny ears, they still may lack the upper body strength to get a pair of skates to a safe level of tightness. Sure, you could tie them for her, but that might prove embarrassing around other kids. That’s why it’s far easier to get skates for particularly young girls that have simple, plastic ratchet clasps. These provide a hugging sensation around the foot, with a great amount of support in the ankle. That ankle support is vital with very young skaters, as they’re going to be incredibly unsure of their footing for a while, and a sprained ankle is sure to sour them to skating.
An older girl will do just fine with laces, however, and if she’s a more advanced skater (perhaps this is her second or third pair), these will be even better, as she can dial in the amount of ankle support she deems necessary to skate with comfort.
Another key feature to keep your eye on is boot construction. Many of the roller skates on this market are made with relatively stiff plastic boots. Again, for younger, more inexperienced skaters, these are ideal for the support they provide, but older, more experienced skaters may find them restricting. For such skaters, look for a slightly softer material that has some flex to it.
Staying Safe On Eight Wheels
Just because roller skating is a relatively safe activity, that doesn’t mean it’s entirely without risk. Make sure you take a few precautions when giving your daughter her first set of roller skates.
For starters, make sure she has a helmet. This is non-negotiable, and in some communities you may face neglect charges should she be seen rolling around the neighborhood without one. Even if she’s merely skating around an indoor roller rink, it’s important that her head is protected.
The other body part most at risk when skating is the wrist. We instinctively use our hands to brace ourselves during a fall, and it takes years of conscious effort to fight against that instinct. At a young age, your daughter is sure to fall this way, and she can easily sprain or break a wrist if she isn’t wearing braces.
Knee and elbow pads are also smart, especially if she’s rolling around on concrete, but they may not be as necessary on a slick indoor surface. Even so, if she’s willing to wear them, have her do so, as it’s better safe than sorry.
Finally, while she’s learning, stay within reach. Treat her journey on eight wheels the same way you would teach her to ride a bike. Stay close, and provide encouragement until she’s confident that she can handle the fun all on her own.