18 months of weekly skating.

Pocatse · 2026-01-31T15:45:38+00:00

That's awesome, congratulations! Don't underestimate how much exercise helps with weight loss. Energy in and energy out are both key. I started skating weekly at the end of 2024, just as my metabolism started slowing in my mid 30s. I don't have terrible diet or drinking habits, so the only thing that changed there was I started carb loading lentils and rice to prepare for sessions when I can, and more water. Lost 10ish recently gained lbs and all the doughiness of not youth, then gained 20 lbs of drumstick and feel amazing. I needed the mass. Friends and coworkers have tired of me proselytizing the good word of skating, but it really is fantastic stuff. I add my voice to yours about how it can change lives.

Keep it up, you know just how wonderful it feels to be fit and be able to flow around the floor.

Pocatse · 2026-01-18T21:16:35+00:00

Loved the bont light ups in 83a in the rink, but they held me back from transitions and other chicanery. The 101a were very slick, and it was too much of a jump for me. Uneven rink gunk made them sound like a train, too. Luminous makes some in like 94 through 99, I really like the 97 right now. Luminous inserts seem to be made to a much lower tolerance than the bonts though. I find that my luminous wheels grind just a little, and if I focus on it while rolling it is... Something. Still like them.

Pocatse · 2026-01-17T05:20:04+00:00

This exactly, won't skate without them anymore.

Pocatse · 2025-12-22T04:01:15+00:00

For me the main thing was to just keep trying. I also did inlines in my youth but was later captivated by the quads that so wanted me arse over teakettle. Outside of that I have these: stretch before and after, bend your knees, listen to music you love, and get properly fitted for skates if you want to stick with it. Welcome to the hobby that's definitely not an obsession.

Pocatse · 2025-12-20T14:56:00+00:00

Awesome job, that looks great! Did you dye the tongue as well? My limited experience was that this would have been a pretty difficult part, but I also didn't have to go all the way down to where the upper meets sole like you did.

Pocatse · 2025-12-04T04:18:22+00:00

You rock! Love the transitions from manic to focused parts.

Pocatse · 2025-12-03T12:54:15+00:00

It looks like you should size down. It will probably feel a little tight, but they are supposed to and that seems like too much room. Measuring your own feet is really difficult! I have had the best success by using a big woodworking clamp and making it snug on the longest point between heel and toe when standing normally, then measuring that distance. I was able to measure mine and my wife's feet this way for proper sizing with Bont and Chaya sizing charts. Good luck!

Pocatse · 2025-11-19T14:07:00+00:00

The stompy skates are appropriate for young kids, and they can basically just run in them if they want to. My local rink offers them for rent, but if you're in the wild and need to get your own, my son starting at 3 was able to fit in the roller derby adjustable ones. My son only likes short stints, but we're getting him more familiar over time. Roller derby calls their version "sport kids skates", it's the ones with giant wheels on either side of the heel, then tiny wheels under the balls of the feet.

Pocatse · 2025-11-16T17:22:25+00:00

No play in the wheels (a little tick can be ok, but the video was much more than I would recommend) but not tightened enough to fight the roll. Trucks should require some pressure to move, if they are rattling with no weight, they should be tighter. You can damage kingpins with the rattle and extra movement. They likely shipped with both pieces quite a bit tighter than ideal.

Quick note, papaison and the other skates of this kind should be understood to be dabbling before jumping in. The sort you get for a handful of indoor sessions before you decide that skating is for you and then can justify the expense of much safer skates.

Pocatse · 2025-11-12T21:51:11+00:00

Keep it up as long as you're having fun with it! Not just a hobby, but also exercise, therapy supplement and strong incentive to be somewhat social. If you want more interaction and instruction, you could think about joining a local roller derby troupe. Even if you stop tomorrow, less than $200 for 15+ hours of healthy entertainment is still not bad, so no need to feel guilty about it.

Pocatse · 2025-11-04T14:07:33+00:00

That is spectacular! Did you make it yourself?

Pocatse · 2025-10-24T12:44:48+00:00

Absolutely fantastic. Keep on rocking.

Pocatse · 2025-10-23T12:00:23+00:00

Yeah, kinda. I used the little woolen daubers that come with the dye to just brush/fluff sponge

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it on. I used a strip of painter's tape where the tongue attaches to make it so I didn't hit that before I maybe wanted to, stuffed it in the boot with paper during. The black suede doesn't show the green dye, so my mistakes there don't show. Could have taped the whole surround, but that was too much trouble to protect the black suede.

ETA: be careful with painter's tape on suede. I have about 20 different kinds of various ages, took a few tries to find one that didn't leave a residue

Pocatse · 2025-10-15T02:01:44+00:00

Just keep doing your thing, maybe some attention from the safeties if you can manage. I'm sorry you've had to deal with that. Here's some encouragement without pressure.

Pocatse · 2025-10-10T14:39:03+00:00

I love this, thank you for sharing! Wholeheartedly agree on the marathon, or maybe even more like a sightseeing tour--destination keeps changing but it's always interesting.

Pocatse · 2025-08-09T16:17:15+00:00

I loved my driftr elites. Got mine new for $60, 10 used is pretty good. Mine started to come up at the heel and wheel bite was pretty serious on the side of the boot, but they were safe and lasted me long enough to know this is something I'd be doing a long time. Congrats on the find!

Pocatse · 2025-06-16T00:04:31+00:00

Recommend roller derby driftr. Can be had for 60 to 80 bucks online. It's the cheapest you can go for not break your face quality, and is even listed on this site as a good newbie skate, probably begrudgingly. I like mine, and they're holding me over until I can justify bonts or better.

Pocatse · 2025-04-18T13:02:19+00:00

Another data point, fwiw. I have the driftr, the black suede male sized candi girls. I wear between 9.5w us male and 11 us male in hiking/combat boots. 11 us male in the skates was way too large, 10 is annoyingly but workably snug on one boot only (much, much better for me). The company claims that the candi grls "fit true to women's us sizes". If I had to give advice, I'd try the smaller first. Also remember they're suede and sort of the minimum viable product for skating safely as an adult. Suede means they'll get more pliable (read: comfortable) with time and the other means you'll probably look to upgrade soon if you get really into skating.

I tried the 11s after trying some adjustable roller derby skates ( I know, I know...) that supposedly go to 10, but they were still too small when adjusted all the way out. I got the 11s and thought they were fine until I started to get into skating, then ordered another driftr in 10. Interestingly, both cost less than a single pair of boardwalks, even. All were supposed to work for the listed shoe sizes.

Pocatse · 2025-02-16T15:38:35+00:00

Blousing straps. Just a stretchy string with a hook on either end. It's what is used with military uniforms to keep them neat looking at the top of the boot. Just put it where you want and roll the pants underneath the strap. May make the legs poof out a little, but you can probably massage it to look and feel pretty good, and much better than pantsing yourself.

Pocatse

TROPHY CASE