Recommended Wheels

We often get asked what kind of wheels we recommend. The quality of the urethane you skate is directly proportional to the amount of enjoyment you experience when skating. The wheel is the only part of the skate that touches the ground and therefore has a large impact on the performance of the skate. In other words––the wheel is largely responsible for the experience you have. So it's worth it to avoid being thrifty when shopping for wheels. Always prioritize getting high quality urethane over getting a specific color. And this goes without saying, but the graphics won't affect your skating, so you can ignore the artwork.

High quality urethane will roll faster, provide better grip on all edges, and allow for controlled sliding. It will also wear evenly and last longer than less quality wheels.

In our experience the absolute best wheels on the planet all happen to be made at one of three urethane manufacturers in the U.S. These specific manufacturers have many decades of experience refining their formulations and pour processes for inline skate, roller skate, skateboard, and scooter wheels. The performance of their products is superior to anything being made in Asia or Europe at this time, in our opinion. There are lots of average and mediocre wheels on the market, some of which are sold very inexpensively. If you have the option, opt for the best wheels you can afford.

If you want to maximize your enjoyment skating we highly recommend you use one of the following brands of wheels, all of which are made in U.S.:

• Endless Wheels
• Undercover (must say "Made in USA")
• Rollerblade Hydrogen (not Hydrogen SE)
• Cymatics
• MPC
• Junk
• Piper

Do not buy wheels from AliExpress or any other gray market site even if they claim to be selling one of these brands. They are likely counterfeit and will not be the same high quality product you will get from a reputable skate shop or direct from the manufacturer. If the price seems to good to be true, then it's probably a fake.

For recreational or urban skating we prefer durometers between 84A and 86A.  This range generally gives a good balance of speed, wear, grip, and slide.