What to wear when roller skating is a common concern among beginners when they first start skating. Safety is important when deciding what to wear roller skating. Therefore, choosing the appropriate safety equipment should be your primary concern. In addition, you must choose comfortable skate clothing that allows movement.
Since we have been part of the roller skating community long enough, we have enough experience to assemble the best gear. The good thing is that after reading this article, you will understand the necessary items to wear when going to a roller skating event.
Continue reading to learn what apparel and safety equipment you should get before you hit the pavement on your roller skates.
Table of Contents
Protective Gear
When considering what to wear when roller skating, safety should come first. You need to get the appropriate safety equipment whether you plan to skate inside, outside, or at a sporting event.
Helmets
Helmets are the most important piece of safety gear to protect your head and brain. There are a few types of helmets to consider:
- Multi-sport helmets – These are designed for multiple activities like biking, skating, and scootering. They have good all-around impact protection with a hard outer shell and inner foam padding. Brands like Triple 8, Pro-Tec, and Nutcase make multi-sport helmets offering a range of sizes, adjustable fits, and stylish graphics.
- Skate-specific helmets – Designed specifically for aggressive skating activities like vert, park, or street skating. They offer rear and side head coverage in addition to the standard top protection. Brands like S-One, Triple 8, and Nutcase have models catering to skaters.
- Material – Hard shell helmets offer more durability while in-mold or soft shell helmets emphasize low weight. Ensure the helmet carries safety certifications. Popular materials include ABS, polycarbonate, or composite blends.
The helmet should fit snugly without pinching or instability. Pay attention to sizes, adjustable bands, and padding inserts to customize the fit. Helmet certification tags indicate what activities they’re rated for.
Pads
For falling protection, padded guards for elbows, knees, and wrists are strongly recommended.
Knee and Elbow pads
Choose padded sleeve-style or hard shell pads offering ample coverage protecting the joint and surrounding impact zones. Look for breathable and stretchy fabrics that conform to the body contours. Guards should stay in place firmly without sliding. Brands like Smith Scabs, Triple 8, Hillbilly, and Pro-Designed make high-quality pads. Combine pads and helmets from the same brands for perfectly matched protection.
Wrist guards
These provide rigid splints or flexible padded support. Opt for adjustable and breathable models allowing adequate flexibility while immobilizing wrist. Guards with palm sliders enable safe sliding if you fall forward onto your hands. Popular options are from Pro-Designed, Triple 8, Hillbilly, and more. Match sizes and fit with your other pads.
Bottom
For additional fall protection, padded shorts are recommended to cushion impacts to the hips and tailbone area. Padded figure skating shorts are ideal as they are designed for freedom of movement in athletic skating activities with strategically placed foam pads. They act as a protective base layer underneath your normal shorts or pants.
Padded shorts provide an added layer of invisible protection against bruising and more serious injuries from awkward falls roller skating. They can be worn discreetly under your clothes without restricting movement or flexibility.
If you wish to buy bottom protective gear we recommend CRS Cross Padded Figure Skating Shorts.
- CRS Cross Padded Shorts cushion your hips, tailbone and butt with pads built into our custom impact shorts.
- Lightweight four way stretchable spandex protective shorts with elastic waist. The premium fabric moves and bends with all different body types. Easy to put on and take off.
- Crash pads specially designed to soften the landing and protect hips, tailbone and butt. Strategically placed impact resistant padding is ¾ inch thick EVA foam protection.
- Be more confident, eliminate fear and ease the pain of falling. Designed for figure skating, ice skating, roller derby, snowboarding, roller skating, skateboarding, soccer goaltenders & more extreme sports.
- CRS Cross Padded Shorts and all other CRS Cross products are designed by a former US Professional skater, coach and skating mom.
What Not to Wear While Roller Skating
Never wear anything uncomfortable. Avoid wearing skirts or dresses that are too short or tight because they are too constricting. You must easily bend your knees regardless of what you are wearing. Of course, you don’t want to dress in a way that could allow your clothes to become tangled up in your skates. Ensure that none of your clothing, not even drawstrings, even approaches the ground.
In case you do fall, you should also think about potential dangers. Don’t wear clothes with big buckles, lots of zippers, or other metal accents. These can be dangerous and make even a tiny fall more likely to hurt you.
You can watch this video to get some outfit ideas:
Credit to INDY JAMMA JONES for this video of the top 10 favorite outfits to wear roller skating.
What to wear to a roller skating rink
A wide variety of stylish and current attire is available for roller skaters. It doesn’t matter if you choose jeggings, jeans, or shorts; you must be aware that the appropriate fabric can significantly alter your gait and stride. As a result, what to wear roller skating should be more of a concern than mounting your roller skate.
Here are the necessary items you should wear to avoid accidents when skating.
Denim
Denim pants have always been in style and are a fantastic option for roller skating. The ideal option is to wear stretchable jeans because they are both comfortable and don’t obstruct your movement.
High-quality jeans absorb sweat and can withstand continuous use and wear. Another benefit of wearing jeans is that you may store items like your phone, keys, and other personal stuff in your pockets.
Roller skating is a fantastic activity for jeggings. They are really comfortable, flattering on all body shapes, and stretchy. Jeggings are also a good choice for ice skating and throughout the cooler months, as they keep you warm as you roller skate.
Shorts
Look no further than a pair of shorts if you’re attempting to pick what to wear to a roller skating rink throughout the summer. Shorts are a fashion statement that also adds to the ease and comfort of roller skating.
You can consider options such as denim shorts, sporty shorts, fashionable cotton shorts, and cargo shorts. You can also purchase cushioned shorts that are made to protect you from falls or trips in addition to these. If you want to make a fashion statement, wear a beautiful blouse with them instead of a bright t-shirt for a more informal appearance.
Socks
If you want to go roller skating, you must wear socks since they give you the cushioning you need to wear skates. You can pick from a wide selection of calf and ankle socks. They come in a variety of materials, as well as numerous original patterns and hues.
Cotton and fiber socks are the best options since they are comfortable, breathable, and shield your feet from blisters (If you wish to avoid getting blisters on your feet, you should read this guide).
Additionally, wearing socks when roller skating removes odor-causing bacteria on your feet and preserves your skin feeling pretty fresh.
Fabric considerations for clothing when roller skating
When choosing what to wear for roller skating, the type of fabric makes a big difference in comfort, performance, and safety. Consider the following fabric properties when selecting skate clothing:
- Stretch – The ability of a fabric to stretch and recover is crucial for unrestricted movement. Look for stretchy spandex-infused fabrics with at least 15-20% spandex. Options include stretch denim, lycra blends, and spandex yoga pants.
- Breathability – Roller skating is an intensive activity so moisture-wicking, sweat-absorbing fabrics help you stay cool and dry. Materials like polyester and nylon promote airflow and evaporate sweat, unlike cotton. Mesh fabric panels also improve breathability.
- Durability – Fabrics need to withstand repetitive friction, abrasion, and washing without degradation. Densely woven fabrics using high-tenacity performance yarns enhance durability. Look for ripstop reinforcements and bar tacking at stress points.
- Comfort – Soft, smooth fabrics that feel gentle on the skin prevent irritation, rubbing, and blisters for all-day skating comfort. Natural fibers like cotton and bamboo rayon or synthetic microfibers offer next-to-skin comfort.
- Bright colors – Opt for brightly colored clothing when skating outdoors for visibility and safety. Neons, fluorescents, and reflective accents help you stand out.
Avoid restrictive clothing that inhibits movement. Instead choose flexible, breathable, quick-drying fabrics with adequate stretch and durability for comfortable and high-performance skating. Blend natural and synthetic fabrics to balance comfort with functionality.
Expert Recommendations
To finalize these roller skating outfit ideas, We consulted with professional skaters and sporting gear retailers for their fashion tips and recommendations on what to wear to roller skating and what to wear when roller skating.
John Smith, a roller derby athlete, suggests wearing stretchy leggings or yoga pants for unrestricted movement along with tank tops – sleeveless so you don’t get too hot. He notes that many serious skaters even wear dance leotards for ultimate range of motion. For outdoors, he advises bright colors for visibility and light jackets that won’t blow up while skating.
Jane Williams manages a skate shop supplying gear to enthusiasts. She often steers new skaters toward flexible denim jeans which are durable and comfortable while retaining street style. For tops, she recommends fitted t-shirts or long sleeves with thumb holes to layer smoothly underpads. For accessories, she points to low-profile cuffs, headbands, and belt bags to hold essentials secure while skating.
We also learned that moisture-wicking socks help avoid blisters. DC Shoes suggests hi-top skate shoes with padded collars and large laces to customize snug supportive fits.
Weather Considerations
Roller skating is often a year-round activity, so dressing appropriately for the weather is key. Consider the following tips:
In Cold Weather
- Dress in layers so you can shed or add as needed. Base layers help wick sweat while insulation mid-layers retain heat.
- Choose stretchy softshell pants and jackets allowing movement while blocking wind and light moisture. Fleece also works well.
- Wool socks insulate feet and resist odor. Waterproof skate shoes keep feet warm and dry.
- Lightweight gloves improve grip and protect hands from abrasion if you fall.
- Scarves, ear warmers, and beanies retain body heat and protect exposed skin.
In Warm Weather
- Breathable moisture-wicking fabrics like polyester and nylon keep you cool and comfy.
- Lightweight, vented outer layers allow maximum airflow.
- Mesh panels and zippered vents provide ventilation.
- Shorts and tanks offer freedom of movement along with sun protection.
- Sweat-wicking headbands prevent eyes from being obscured by perspiration.
- Light-colored clothes reflect heat better than dark colors.
For Wet Conditions
- Waterproof jackets (and pants if very wet) keep you dry without getting sweaty. But allow some ventilation.
- Quick-drying synthetic fabrics prevent sogginess if unable to avoid getting wet.
- Waterproof gloves enhance grip.
- Avoid cotton and down insulation which lose insulating ability when wet.
Conclusion
Deciding what to wear roller skating requires some thought but getting the proper gear and outfit can elevate your skating enjoyment and safety. Prioritize safety by investing in a helmet, pads, and guards before considering fashion. For clothing, breathable stretchy performance fabrics allow freedom of movement while wicking sweat to keep you comfortable in any weather.
What to wear roller skating varies depending on your skill level, the skating environment, and weather conditions. Hopefully, these roller skating outfit ideas give you a well-rounded starting point to mix and match functional apparel and protective gear for stylish and safe skating.
As you progress in the sport, reevaluate clothing and gear needs to match your growing passion. Properly outfitted, you can focus on improving skating skills rather than wardrobe woes. The thrill of the sport comes from pushing your capabilities, not your gear.
So grab your best skate clothes and hit the rinks to create lifelong memories of fun and freedom on wheels! Whether you’re a disco queen getting groovy at the roller disco or a derby warrior roller skating into battle, expressing your true self through creative style and fearless skills is what it’s all about!
