Are you looking to transition your game from ice hockey to roller hockey?
And… you’re looking for the best roller hockey skates as an ice hockey player?
Well, you’ve come to the right place.
It’s a sad day when the ice melts and your ice hockey season is finally over.
But… thankfully, you can keep playing your favorite sport by transitioning to inline hockey.
In fact, there’s been a ton of debate on whether or not roller hockey is good for ice hockey. I wrote all about it in this article here.
In this article, we’ll show you the 3 best roller hockey skates for ice hockey players in 2023.
Let’s dive in.
Best Overall: Bauer Vapor 2XR Pro
The Bauer Vapor 2XR Pro Roller Hockey Skates are Bauer’s top of the line inline skates in 2023.
If you just want the best possible inline skate and you don’t care about the price, then these will be your best option.
Pros
- Nice stiff boot
- Great fit if you use Bauers on the ice
- Accelflex system for maximum power transfer
- Extremely comfortable (Aero Foam memory foam)
- Recoil tongue is flexible, giving you explosive strides
- Lightweight
- Labeda Addiction Wheels for extra grip and better agility
Cons
- Not very budget-friendly
- Not as many sizing options (width-wise)
| Skate Features | Bauer Vapor 2XR Ratings |
| Comfort | 9.5/10 |
| Stiffness | 9.5/10 |
| Weight | 9.5/10 |
| Sizing Versatility | 7.5/10 |
| Time to Break-In | 9/10 |
| Durability | 9.5/10 |
| Performance | 10/10 |
| Aesthetics | 9.5/10 |
| Wheels | 10/10 |
| Price | 6/10 |
| Overall | 90/100 |
Bauer is the biggest brand in ice hockey.
However, they’re also one of the top players in roller hockey.
And, they’ve taken the top spot for roller hockey skates. In fact, they’re not just our best pick for ice hockey players looking to break into roller. They’re our top inline skates overall.
Bauer has really upped their game on the already impressive Vapor 1XR—only to introduce the newest edition of the skate as the Bauer Vapor 2XR Pros.
The boot is made from a 3D Lasted, carbon fiber technology—a space age-like frame. It also features X-RIb Technology, which provides incredible support and stiffness while allowing for maximum range of motion.
The Labeda Addiction wheels are designed to provide incredible grip on indoor playing surfaces. They have a 76A grip rating and an 83-86A hardness. This means you’ll get a ton of grip without impacting your wheels’ durability.
This will be super handy for ice hockey players transitioning to roller as one of the hardest adjustments is stopping in inline skates.
Durability is one of the greatest strengths of this skate. You’ll be able to use it for years—and maintain high performance along the way. In fact, Bauer even states that you can use these inline skates for up to 4 times per week easily.
The lower-profile toe cap gives you an impressive foot-to-skate connection. Plus, on the inside, you’ll be very comfortable thanks to the thick internal foam around the ankles and collars.
You can say goodbye to lace bite with this model. This heat-moldable model includes Recoil Pro felt-molded tongues with metatarsal guards.
The biggest downside to these inline skates is the price. They’re very expensive (even pricier than most top-tier ice hockey skates).
However, they’re the best inline skates overall—providing you with an edge up as you transition from ice hockey to roller hockey.
Runner-Up: Mission Inhaler WM01
Our second best pick for roller hockey skates for ice hockey players are the Mission Inhaler WM01s.
These skates nearly took first place, as we rated them X out of 100 overall.
Pros
- Very good fit with the Grip-Fit PRO liner
- Lightweight, full-carbon composite outsole
- Very comfortable
- Protective 3D-lasted Curv composite quarter package
- Nice stiff boot is great for tight turns
- Medium and wide fits
Cons
- Very expensive
- Doesn’t have an ice skate equivalent
| Skate Features | Mission Inhaler WM01 Ratings |
| Comfort | 9/10 |
| Stiffness | 9/10 |
| Weight | 9/10 |
| Sizing Versatility | 9/10 |
| Time to Break-In | 8/10 |
| Durability | 9/10 |
| Performance | 9.5/10 |
| Aesthetics | 8.5/10 |
| Wheels | 9/10 |
| Price | 6.5/10 |
| Overall | 86.5/100 |
The Mission Inhaler WM01s are among the highest performance inline hockey skates available in 2023—and an excellent option for ice hockey players transitioning to roller.
These skates are stacked with new inline skate tech, making them some of the most advanced roller skates on the market.
These heat-moldable top-tier inline skates provide maximum comfort, fit, and protection. And, they’re some of the lightest skates available—great for players with a medium-profile foot.
The WM01s are constructed with 3D-Lasted Curv carbon boots and outsoles that are super stiff and supportive. This stiff boot really helps with those super tight turns that are necessary in roller hockey.
It also has an asymmetrical toe cap that makes the skates feel much more ergonomic.
The skate liners included are dual-zone Grip Fit Pros. These liners are great at wicking away moisture to keep your feet dry and firmly in place.
You won’t have to worry about ankle bite either. The WM01s come with anti-abrasion padding and Supple Edge Comfort pads to give your ankles extra comfort. These also prevent nasty chafing and blistering.
The skates feature 74A wheels and Hi-Lo Swiss bearings. While these skates are super fast, the grip is just a bit lower than the 76As on the Bauer Vapor 2XR Pros.
And, they don’t have an ice hockey equivalent, which is why they’re rated a little lower than the Bauer alternative.
However, these are some of the most comfortable inline skates and some of the highest performing on the market in 2023.
Best Budget: Tour Volt KV2
If you’re going from ice hockey to roller but you don’t want to spend a ton on some inline skates, then you’ll want to check out the Tour Volt KV2s.
These skates are a great choice if you want a solid all-around performance skate at a convenient price point.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- High performance for the price
- Extra comfort with Sensor Fit Pro liner / Relay Memory foam
- Quarter package Bionik Technology is lightweight
Cons
- Not the highest-performing skates available
- Not the best durability
| Skate Features | Tour Volt KV2 Ratings |
| Comfort | 8/10 |
| Stiffness | 7.5/10 |
| Weight | 7/10 |
| Sizing Versatility | 7.5/10 |
| Time to Break-In | 7/10 |
| Durability | 6.5/10 |
| Performance | 8/10 |
| Aesthetics | 8.5/10 |
| Wheels | 6.5/10 |
| Price | 8.5/10 |
| Overall | 75/100 |
Need some inline skates but you’re just not ready to spend a grand?
You’ll want to check out the Tour Volt KV2 inline skates.
These are a great all around skate when you’re moving from ice hockey to roller.
This medium-fit profile is great if you don’t have super narrow or wide feet and are somewhere in the middle. Think Bauer’s Fit 2 for medium volume ice hockey skates.
The outsole offers a solid level of stiffness, featuring a thermo-formable boot so you can bake them at your hockey shop or at home.
This will ensure the boot fits even more ergonomically to your foot, while maintaining a high stiffness.
But, despite being a very stiff boot, they’re quite comfortable. They feature extra foam at the collar of the skates making you far less prone to blisters and chafing.
For wheels, these Tour skates feature a Cyclonium wheel with decent grip in 280mm wheels (at rear) and 276 mm wheels (in front) giving you a solid angle of attack.
These wheels help with those quick starts which are much harder with roller compared to ice hockey.
The biggest downside to the Tour Volt KV2s is that they just don’t match the performance of top-tier inline skates like the Inhaler WM01s or the Vapor 2XR Pros. Plus, they’re not quite as durable.
If you plan on playing competitively in a local beer league, these skates will work for you, but they likely won’t outlast those higher-tiered roller hockey skates.
Bonus: Best Add-On: Marsblade O1 Roller Frame Kit
If you really want to make the transition from ice hockey to roller hockey easier, then your best bet is to go with Marsblades.
These are roller kits you attach to your roller hockey skates. So, you’ll still have to buy skates, but you can add these on.
These are all the rave right now for a good reason. One major difference between inline skates and ice hockey skates is that with ice skates, the blade is on a curve—rocking back and forth.
With roller hockey skates, that isn’t the case. The wheels are in a straight line. They’re now designed so they have staggered wheel sizes but this only goes so far.
The Marsblade set up is awesome because it replicates the rocking motion you get on ice skates.
And… for more hockey equipment reviews, check out our other popular blog posts: 3 Great Hockey Skates for High Arches, 3 Best Intermediate Hockey Skates, and 3 Best Fitness Trackers for Ice Hockey.
Sources
https://www.hockeymonkey.com/tour-roller-hockey-skates-volt-kv2-sr.html
https://www.hockeymonkey.com/mission-roller-hockey-skates-inhaler-w01-sr.html
https://www.purehockey.com/product/bauer-vapor-2xr-pro-inline-hockey-skates-senior/itm/40743-41/