Inline skates have evolved into various specialized types based on their applicable sports and functional characteristics. Inline skates are the primary or exclusive equipment for sports such as figure skating and jam skating.
Recreational skates are the most common type found in domestic ice rinks. They resemble figure skates in appearance, but unlike figure skates, their brakes are not adjustable, and the wheels are typically made of yellow nylon.
International standard speed skates have much larger wheels than regular inline skates, a low-cut design, and are not allowed to have brakes; they are essentially long-distance running shoes.
American standard speed skates differ from international standard speed skates in that they incorporate brakes due to the need for a sudden burst of power in a crouch start, similar to the difference between a T-strap and a regular running shoe.
Figure skates are specifically designed for figure skating; they are the designated shoes/exclusive equipment for figure skating. Each wheel has a different hardness, and they are equipped with a pendulum; they are a variant of figure skate blades.
Blocking skates are specifically designed for blocking competitions, featuring enlarged brakes, wider wheels, and wheels with lane markings to maximize explosive power.
Disco skates are JB skating skates, designed based on specific patterns. They have the smallest wheel diameter of any skate type and are equipped with small or no brakes.
Jam skates have spherical brakes, allowing for many fast dance moves and wheel control.
Extreme skates have smaller wheels, longer trucks, grooved wheel frames for securing tubes, and smaller brakes, making them suitable for U-shaped tracks.
FSK skates represent a street style of freestyle skating, similar to extreme skates but with added brakes and narrower trucks.
Hollywood skates have specially designed brakes and soft wheels, providing considerable traction and emphasizing braking power.
Goalkeeper skates are roller skates specifically designed for goalkeepers. They have smaller wheels, large speed-reducing rubber, and while less agile, they offer exceptionally high grip.
Downhill roller skates boast the longest trucks and widest wheels among all types of inline skates. Due to their high compatibility with downhill skateboard parts, international skaters often modify their skates using skateboard components.
Figure skates are skates specifically designed for figure skating. They are designed for figure skating without jigs and are used for figure skating control competitions.
While flatland figure skating is not an internationally recognized inline skating discipline, some enthusiastic inline skaters in Europe and America still strive to use inline skates for various activities. It's worth noting that there are no officially recognized flatland figure skating skates; most are custom-modified by skaters using agile low-top skates and shorter wheel tracks, without jigs, achieving a level of agility that can even surpass that of inline figure skating skates. However, the downside is that due to the addition of jamskating, the skates are not very durable, making them unavoidable consumables.
