Why are my skates squeaking and should I be worried?
In short - NO. This can often happen with new skates as the cushions are brand new and not yet compressed. As you put pressure on them, they then squeak into the cushion cups or truck. Sometimes it can even depend on the weather! If you have played around with the trucks and they are super loose or super tight, this can happen too. If your skates have gotten wet at all (from rain or even being inside a bag with sweaty pads!) can often be the culprit. Or cheap rubber cushions. It's always worthwhile checking over to see if your pivot cups look in check. Squeaking is not a manufacturing fault as annoying as it is.
My new skates hurt my feet - will it improve?
Usually, yes! New skates will always have a break-in time which can often be gnarly.
My skates got torn up. Is this under warranty?
Generally manufacturers will give 6 months for boot warranties (some may give up to 2 years on plates) but honestly some issues are user error - if you skate on skates not made for their intended purpose (eg: using cheaper skates to skate ramps) then chances are they may get ripped up or you might have the boot glue come away from the sole. Please be realistic with your use. If you fall over and your skates get scuffed, this is not a manufacturer issue. If you have an absolutely gnarly stack street skating, you might just tear your boots. This is not a manufacturer fault sadly. Skates are a piece of sports equipment and while many have intended uses for aggressive skating, if you stack it on rough concrete at the skate park, you might just rip up your new boots. That absolutely sucks and we hate to see it, but unfortunately it's part and parcel of aggressive skating so it may be hard to justify a replacement to the manufacturer even within the warranty period.
When I push my skates on the floor, they don't roll straight. Is this an issue?
No. Skates are supposed to have feet and bodies in them which adds weight to them. Unless you can physically feel the skate pulling in one direction, then we would usually say to try harder cushions.
Which bearings will make me skate faster?
Truthfully, none really. Sure, a dirty bearing won't feel great to skate on, but generally bearings are made for high speed airplanes so unless you're skating as fast as a plane........ok fine ceramic bearings feel dreamy BUT as soon as you take 'em outside they're gonna lose their precision. Fancy bearings will certainly keep their roll for longer, keep clean longer and be easier to clean, but for the most part how fast you go will be to do with the surface, your wheels and YOU.
Skating outside feels awful. Why?
Have you got super soft outdoor wheels? Wheels that are 78a durometer are the softest wheel option you can get, so that's our Go To for the smoothest feel on rough terrain.
Why do I feel so stuck to the floor when I skate inside? Why can't I t-stop or plow?
Have you got outdoor wheels on? Anything between 78a-85a will generally feel gummy inside as a soft wheel grips the floor. So maybe you're ready for some indoor wheels! If you're on a 78a then maybe going to a hybrid around 85a will be enough of a jump to start with. But if you're on an 82a-85a already then you're probably ready for your first true indoor wheels! It's normal to have to switch wheels from outdoor to indoor.
Got any top tips for me?
Yep - bend your knees and work on your dorsiflexion so you have good ankle maneuverability