Skating in Retro Style: Our Review of the Riedell epic roller skates
As artistic skaters who admire the vintage vibes of old-school skating, we’re constantly searching for skates that blend modern performance with retro flair. We want quality skates to unleash our creativity that also reflects our classic style.
So when we came across Riedell’s Epic skates boasting an iconic retro boot and upgraded components, we knew we had to try them. We ordered a white pair with vintage vibes to take for a spin across the hardwood.
After hours of dancing, jamming, and gliding during many sessions breaking in these leather retro skates, we’re ready to share everything you need to know in this detailed review. Keep reading for the full scoop on sizing, specs, pros, cons, usage, and overall performance of Riedell’s stylish Epic artistic skates.
Table of Contents
First Impression
Fresh out of the box, the Riedell Epic skates exude covetable vintage vibes with their iconic white leather boot and throwback style. The premium leather upper looks beautifully broken in with eye-catching details.
Sliding our feet into the Riedell epic roller skates feels like traveling back in time to the golden era of skating. The retro comfort cradles our feet while allowing natural movement. The 57mm Radar wheels offer a pleasing blend of agility and speed for artistic flair.
The enhanced nylon plate provides a balance of control and flex for rhythmic skating. Our first impressions reveal the Epic’s mastery of combining modern performance with far-out retro style.
Taking Them for a Spin
Eager to test how the Epic’s old-school vibe translated into motion, we laced them up and embraced the rink ready to roll. Gliding smoothly during those first laps, the leather boot moved fluidly with our feet once broken in.
The ample ankle padding prevented any irritation as we jammed. The 57mm Radar wheels allowed quick crossover transitions and footwork. Carving felt stable thanks to the customized cushions absorbing shock.
The Epic skates enabled us to explore the rink with vintage freedom thanks to their hybrid of cushioned comfort and responsive agility. Their soulful performance lets us find the artistic groove every session.
Pros: What Won Us Over
After many hours expressing ourselves in the Epic, here are the far-out pros that impressed us:
- Iconic retro style – Gorgeous white leather looks straight from the 60s/70s
- Dance-ready wheels – 57mm size ideal for rhythmic transitions
- Customizable cushions – Fine-tune flexibility and response
- Vintage vibes – Styling takes you back to the artistic golden era
- Quality components – Upgraded performance from true vintage skates
- Ankle padding – Plush cushioning for comfort
For skaters craving major vintage style with enhanced modern performance, the Riedell 220 totally delivers. Their throwback vibe awakens your inner artistic soul.
Cons: A Few Small Issues
While a phenomenal retro artistic skate overall, we did encounter a few minor negatives:
- Long break-in time – The stiff leather requires dedication
- Limited black and white colors – More variety would expand the style
- The nylon plate is less durable – But has nice flex for artistic skating
- Expensive investment – But high-quality parts and boot.
However, none of these small cons are dealbreakers for devoted retro-loving artistic skaters seeking both style and performance. The fit and function make the investment worthwhile.
Epic vs. Raven: Padding and Support
Compared to the similar Riedell Raven skates, the Epic model stands out for its extra plush padding and reinforced structure, providing more shock absorption for jumps and tricks.
The Epic features thick foam padding lining the entire ankle collar area, with an additional layer of cushioning on the quarter panels and Achilles heel. This extra foam protection allows a confident landing of jumps, absorbing harsh impacts.
The reinforced quarters offer increased support and rigidity, stabilizing the ankles during turns and spins. The Raven boot contains more standard entry-level padding without the extra ankle collar cushions.
For intermediate artistic skaters focused on mastering technical jumps like axels, lutzes, and salchows, Epic’s ultra-cushioned and reinforced boot provides an advantage. The additional padding cushions land softly, reducing strain on ankles and knees.
So for dancers ready to take on more challenging leaping elements, the Epic’s padding and support make the risky maneuvers feel more secure. While also a great artistic skate, the Raven is better suited for those focused on footwork and creative choreography rather than intensive jumps and tricks.
Technical Specs
For those interested in the technical specs, the Epic offers:
- Boot: Leather upper with padding (model Riedell 220 retro)
- Plate: PowerDyne Fuse Enhanced nylon
- Wheels: Radar Varsity 57mm/98A
- Bearings: KwiK Zenith
- Toe stop: Adjustable PowerDyne
- Closure: Lace-up
- Sizes: 4-10 (White), 4-13 (Black)
- Colors: Black, white
The upgraded components complement the iconic retro boot to create an artistic skate blending vintage style with modern performance.
Caring for Your Epics
To keep your Epic skates performing at their peak, be sure to follow these care tips:
- Use quality leather conditioner regularly on the boots to prevent drying and cracking.
- Inspect the wheels, bearings, and plates before sessions for any damage or wear. Address issues promptly.
- Wipe down the boots with a soft cloth after skating to remove dust, dirt, and debris.
- Rotate the wheels frequently to distribute wear evenly and extend wheel life.
- Replace laces as needed if they become frayed or loose.
- Consider upgraded cushions for easy customization and responsiveness.
- Store skates properly in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight when not in use.
- Remove insoles and use cedar shoe trees to wick moisture and retain shape.
With some basic care and maintenance, your Epic skates will keep delivering unmatched vintage style and performance session after session.
Sizing Guidance
Based on our experience, here are some sizing tips on the Riedell 220:
- They fit narrow so wide sizing is recommended
- Length runs true-to-size so order your normal shoe size
- Trying on in-store allows you to get the perfect fit
- Expect a break-in period as the stiff leather molds
Be ready to invest time molding the stiff leather to your feet, but the custom fit enables exceptional control once broken in.
Ideal Use Cases
After extensive testing, we found that Epic excels in these scenarios:
- Rink freestyle dancing – Embody the retro skating style
- Artistic/dance skating – Enough support for choreography
While not for beginners, the Riedell epic roller skates awaken your inner artist with its soulful retro performance and style.
Final Verdict
After many hours jiving and rolling in the Riedell epic roller skates, we happily rate them 5 out of 5 stars as a vintage-inspired artistic skate. For skaters wanting to infuse sessions with far-out style and performance, they hit all the right notes.
Their clever combo of the iconic retro boot and upgraded components provides impressive value. While the snug fit demands dedication upfront, the Epics deliver fluid agility and righteous vibes once broken in.
So for funky skaters desiring modern performance with old-school flair, grab the Riedell Epic. Their nostalgic style will have you dancing in vintage vibes!
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Available Colors: Black, White
Price: The price is 555$
Link to purchase from Riedell’s official website
Link to purchase from Walmart
Here you can find other reviews we have made for rhythm roller skates:
Click on the link to see the best Riedell skates we recommend for every skating category.
