Join Honey Island Rollers – Next Step: Equipment
Do you feel like you want to take the plunge and try Roller Derby for the first time? Worry no more. At Honey Island Rollers we will help you get from 0 to 100 in no time. Roller Derby is a complex sport that requires learning some new skills and… you guessed it… roller skates!
So what type of roller skates do I need and where do I get them from? Is there any local shop in Malta that sells Roller Derby Roller Skates? The simple answer is no, but we help you sorting out your gear and in the ordering process. Honey Island Rollers has a number of roller derby skates in different sizes, that you can try on, to help you decide what to buy.
What Gear do I Need to Start Training Roller Derby?
Apart from your set of quad skates, you will need protective gear! Specifically, helmet, elbow pads, wrist guards and knee pads must be worn at all times during training. No exceptions allowed. A mouth guard must be worn for contact portions of training as well. If a skater is missing the required protective equipment, they will not be allowed to participate in training. There is both entry level and more advanced gear that you can buy, which we’ll go over in the next section. Read more about the optional roller derby equipment here.
Essential Roller Derby Gear:
- Derby Quad Skates
- Knee Pads
- Elbow Pads
- Wrist Guards
- Mouthguard
- Helmet
1. Derby Quad Skates
Roller Derby skates are a bit different from what you see on social media or on the streets. The main characteristic is their low cut boot. Why that? It allows for much better ankle movement and it’s great for pushing your opponent away. It also helps with gaining speed. Yes, you will need to learn how to skate really fast.
There are many models out there in a variety of price ranges. As an entry-level skate, we would recommend one of the below models. Riedell is a classic Roller Derby brand and offers reliable skates. Many folks in our league wear them, you can ask for references. We highly recommend you to try them on BEFORE purchasing. We have many sizes available and our team mates can lend you theirs, if you prefer to try a different model. Sizes vary tremendously from brand to brand and a snug fit is very important.
Other fan favourite brands are Chaya and Antik. You can browse a wider catalogue on our partnered supplier’s page, Roller Derby House. These entry level skates come with suitable wheels, which are great for beginners. Some people want to upgrade the wheels after the rookie course though. It’s not required, but it can elevate your skating experience. Here is a list of some optional upgrades that you can do to your equipment.
2. Knee Pads
Knee pads: the must have. One of the first things you will learn in your Honey Island Rookie Program is how to fall safely. And how do we fall? Forwards! This means, your knees need to be protected. Cheap knee pads won’t do the cut, as you will need extra cushioning. The more the better. Believe us when we tell you that your knee pads will be used A LOT. Regarding knee pads, there are a lot of options, some come in packages with wrist guards and elbow pads, some are sold alone. We are going to show you some options below. As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask us.
Our first choice, and main recommendation, will always be the brand 187 Killer Pads. They are a Roller Derby staple and provide the best protection. Below we mention the 187 Killer Pads Slim Knee option, which is great for beginners and less bulky. If you decide that you want to do this for life, you can invest in the 187 KILLER PADS Pro Derby, but expect a hefty price. Other recommended brands are Triple 8, and for the colourful people out there, Moxi and 187 Killer Pads have a great collab, which offers the same protection in a variety of colours. You can check out all the Knee Pad options available at Roller Derby House, here.
3. Elbow Pads
Similar to Knee Pads, Elbow Pads are one of the basic pieces of equipment that you will need. You will fall less on your elbows, but they can potentially help you avoid skin burn when sliding on the floor. So, yes, let’s get them into the shopping cart. Some Gear Protection Packs include them already, but if you’re buying independently, here are some suggestions. Elbow Pads won’t break your bank, so our recommendation is, obviously, the 187 Killer Pads. These are also the ones included in the Gear Pack mentioned above.
4. Wrist Guards
Wrist Guards are the forgotten cousins of the protective gear family. But don’t be fooled, one wrong move could land you on your butt and, instinctively, you will place your hands on the floor to absorb the impact. Protecting your wrists is not a joke and should always be taken seriously. Wrist guards are a bit trickier in Roller Derby, as there will be times where you will need to lean on your team mates. For example, the wrist guards included in the Moxi 187 Killer Pads collab are very painful when resting on your team-mate’s shoulder, so we always encourage to get those separately. Here is an example of what we mean, as this might sound very foreign right now.
And here are our recommended wrist guards. No matter which ones you choose, be sure to wear them every time.
5. Mouth Guard
Mouth guards are a piece of plastic that you place inside your mouth to help you protect your teeth and might mitigate the impact in case of concussion. The ideal mouth guard is heat mouldable to adapt to your specific teeth structure. There is really only one brand we recommend and that’s SISU. Their mouth guards allow you to drink and speak without drooling and the need to remove them. You can purchase those at Roller Derby House or, on Aliexpress, if you’re not in a hurry. Remember, mouth guards are mandatory for contact practice. At the beginning of your rookie training, while we get you comfortable on skates, you might not need them. But as soon as you start contact training, it’s a must. Mouth guards are not only protective, but also fun! With a ton of colours to choose from, be creative and choose the one that matches your personality the most.
6. Helmet
No training will ever happen without a Helmet. We see many pros on social media rocking the skate park without a helmet, but we honestly don’t understand why. Always protect your head. It is also the first piece of equipment that goes on. You do not want to fall on the floor and bump your head without a helmet on. There are plenty of helmets you can choose from. You can also personalise them with stickers (yeah, we love stickers!). Helmets come with the option to add a visor, for added protection for eyes and nose. If you plan on going pro, we highly recommend it. Our favourite brand is S1, although other brands like Triple 8 are also decent.
Here concludes our little guide to the essential Gear Requirements for Roller Derby. There are many other things you can add and personalise. We will call them little “extras”. We have curated a list of optional gear that you can get to upgrade your existing equipment. Note that it is not mandatory, but you might see some improvement with them. Read our Optional Roller Derby Gear Guide.
What Do The Honey Island Rollers say About Their Roller Derby Gear? Tips From The Pros!
I have Chaya Pearls in size 40 – they are a good fit and comfortable, but lack an “ankle strap” that the R3s have so, sometimes, especially when putting weight on the front area like for toe stop work, you would feel the ankle “slip” just a teeny tiny bit, but the skate is not too big, as I had Chaya Ruby skates first and they were in size 39, but they were way to small for me – so small I lost my toe nail.
So Chaya size 40 with Powerstrap is the perfect fit for me – I usually wear 39/40 in street shoes.. more 39 than 40 but some models/brands I take in 40.
– Noe Mercy
I have wide AND completely flat “slab of meat” feet and use the Chayas without power strap with no wiggle. For me Riedells weren’t comfortable. I have the entry level Ruby skate, 39, and I usually wear a 39.
– Sharkie
I wear size 36 for regular shoes but have wide feet. As a reference, my Vans are size 36 and I usually get them from the kids’ section. But for Riedell, I couldn’t even get in the 36 size, so I had to go for 37 instead. They are narrow width and a size bigger was perfect for me.
– Kommissar Rax
I have Riedell derby skates (model Solaris) size 39, same as normal shoes. Extremely narrow and long feet (a miracle I’m able to stand up). Fits like a glove. My Moxie skates: Same, but I think Riedell is the actual manufacturer of those.
Also: My first skates were the Jackson rookie skates. Destroyed my toes completely so I couldn’t wear shoes or skates for MONTHS. For people with narrow feet, go for Riedell all the way.
– St. Elmo
I usually wear size 39 shoes. I had tried the size 39 Chaya Ruby skates for the roller lab and they destroyed my toes. So i bought them in size 40. The fit wasn’t great and my feet would constantly try to escape. The Powerstrap made a big difference, even though I feel like I have to tighten it quite often.
I think my Moxi Panthers are a size 6. As you may know, I kind of hate them. They are too stiff and the padding hurts my feet and even leaves dents in them. Recently I tried a different lacing technique which helped, but still not the best fit.
– Prawn Star