Review on Alpha 125mm 3-Wheel Inline Skate Size 10 - Performance and Style Combined by Andrew Schobinger

These skates are built for speed and FAST! In my younger years I would probably put them on and immediately accelerate to full speed and figure out how to stop if necessary. The first thing I've realized now that I'm older is that I have a better understanding of how to control my speed in these things. I'm much more used to the turn in inline hockey so they have a very different feel and it's a lot harder to stop quickly in a turn. If you're new to this, you need to learn how to do a T-stop. It's a whole different feeling to keep your balance and control. I felt my legs and core work even more in it than in other inline hockey skates. In short, they're designed for training in an area where you have a long, flat stretch. I would NOT recommend them where there are a lot of hills or in urban areas where you have to worry about pedestrians and traffic. It can be very difficult to stop at any time, even if you are an "elite" skater. The boot is very comfortable to wear with plenty of padding so I didn't feel any rubbing in any area. It fastens with laces at the bottom and two ratchet straps. It took me a while to figure out how to release the bottom strap as I haven't seen this mechanism on any of my previous inline skates. Essentially, you have to press down on the two outer plastic wings of the ratchet. Putting it on is intuitively easy, just pull the metal clip in the center. It would be nice if there was a little brochure, leaflet or something else explaining this. The two straps also swing down and out of the way when you need to lace them up. The frame is made of "Hybrid Series" aluminum and feels quite light. After many uses, the wheels hold up well without excessive or unexpected wear. Overall, these Roller Derby Elite Alpha skates are great for those who have long, flat, uninterrupted lanes and want the skate to be able to move them at high speeds. They are not intended for beginner skaters or for skating in urban areas with many curbs and the need for a sudden stop.