Are Harder Wheels Better? // Aggressive Inline Skating

[@jacobzurawski]

The argument for harder wheels is not only durability. Because harder wheels will compress less under your weight, they have less ground contact and thus they better maintain speed.

[@RageForSeven]

Love the sound that rail makes. Very satisfying. Sounds like the 1st note of hells bells from acdc

[@BacktoBlading]

Hah, too true

[@Dubleduhtch]

Every wheel has its purpose. You only seem to skate park so It totally makes sense you would prefer softer wheels. Also you don’t do a lot of quick footwork or cess slides so grip is something you enjoy. I say this as a observation too with the best intentions. I know personally I like a round profile for my outerwheels and a square one for my inside wheels. Harder wheels. I like to slide and turn fast. Also power transfer it’s HUGE. I already weigh 200+lbs so I also need a harder wheels because of that. So many variables to actually consider. Offer a range ! Best of all worlds. Keep rolling!

[@BacktoBlading]

Awesome, totally agree. More options the better.

[@klisher]

i was watching Brandon Drummond's video on the Kizer Trimax with the compass wheels. That really made me happy. Like to thank you for doing that for him. I think you encompass the true sprit of the skating community world wide. Watching him skating alone right the way over in new zealand must be pretty tough. its a good thing you did for him there. must make him feel more connected to the rest of us. thanks all the best.

[@BacktoBlading]

That makes me happy. I’m a huge fan of Brandon, he’s such an amazing skater and a great personality. I know he doesn’t have access to much gear, so it’s the least I can do.

[@JQuattro]

It was hard to find this video but well worth the search!

[@BacktoBlading]

Thanks for watching!

[@apaleguy]

Definitely curious about this myself Just picked up some 95a Dead Wheels to try out at my indoor park after one session there my 88a wheels just got pretty deformed so I'm hoping with the dead wheels I won't have to rotate as much.

[@kristenmoon4405]

My concern is just the ability of the wheel to accelerate and hold speed. Going from ramp to ramp, I want to make sure it’s rolling quick enough to keep me from having to sprint to each ramp. Seems most of my concern is honestly related to the size of the wheel, not the hardness. But I decided to go with a high/lo setup. 64mm 85a for primary wheels, and 58mm 90a for inside wheels ( b/c harder wheels bite less). Seems to be a good fit.

[@electricslurpee]

the best wheel config for flat is 88s on the outsides and 95s in the middle

[@BacktoBlading]

That’s a good setup

[@birchmahogany2718]

That's a great idea, kinda like flat-rocker setup.

[@johnny26910]

that is a nice thought however, I think it would be better to setup the other way aroung. - 95a on outside, 88a in middle. -that would make more sense in my head

[@danteneal5561]

@@johnny26910 Though your wheels will catch on the 88a. With 95a in the middle, that helps with less wheel bite since they are harder wheels. With 88a on the outside, this helps with more grip to go aglongside the 95a.

[@yhwhechad]

Thats the set up i had on my majestic12s 21 years ago....b always loves it, rails, ledge's, benches grinds were always nice and smooth

[@yetticuda]

There's already a comment on this but I'm going to throw my 2 cents in. As a guy who is 250+ lbs harder is better for me. 3 very short sessions on scribe 88a wheels and they are really showing signs of wear and needed rotating. For grinder blading I don't have the skill to ride flat. Cruising I love it. What I would like to see is a variety of hardness. This profile you are using seams to be great for both flat and anti. If you did what dead does and 85 88 90 94 or something like that people could custom tailor their experiences to their skating habits. As always much love. Will be uploading mine and a buddy's mizou tomorrow for you.

[@BacktoBlading]

That’s the plan! Starting with what I know from Compass and getting harder. Testing along the way. I can see a 92 by 2020. Thanks for watching!

[@michaeldodd3563]

I remember hitting ledges as a kid with a softer wheel and taking chunks out of the wheel.

[@mistr_z7654]

editing the stick out in post appears as though you have a drone following you. everyone needs to edit the stick out, it looks great in skate park footage

[@BacktoBlading]

This is a special 360 camera called the Insta360. It does all the editing for me. Pretty crazy!

[@Worques]

Wow I wouldn't even notice that he's holding something in his hand if it wasn't this comment. I thought that someone was following and filming 😂 @Back To Blading how is that camera called? :O

[@CasualCastle]

Dude that camera angle from the back was aweeeesome

[@chilli-iceolive-abode2447]

88a dead wheels chunked out in under 4 hours for me and I rotated them about 5 times... Currently got 92a UC wheels and they've been used for at least 40 hours with only a few rotations. 🤷‍♂️

[@inlinemonkey8477]

jeez how much grinding do you do? I hope you buy cheap wheels or you are rich because 40 hrs isn’t shit for wheels

[@chilli-iceolive-abode2447]

@@inlinemonkey8477 haha try reading it again, they'd been used for 40hrs at that point in time a year ago.

[@rol4life]

Softer wheels for park harder wheels for street

[@beefnacos6258]

Truth

[@BacktoBlading]

Yep, I think that’s the goal. Slowly building the line, but I can see some 90’s in the future.

[@Worques]

could you explain why is that? why harder wheels for street?

[@73N5H1]

I skate a lot of street, went to a park with wooden floors once and was sliding all over the place with 88s.

[@PHAT_ROLLS]

I’m 250+ lbs, skate anti rocker and mostly skate rails and ledges, I have 88mm 89a wheels now but chunks come off after 2/3 sessions. What are the best wheels for what I do? I just wanna something that lasts

[@drewtheobald4974]

I watch your channel a lot. Just got back into blading after 15 years. I used to skate TRS alphas, just bought gawd fm3s, all stock. They feel fast... Like super fast. Im prepping myself to skate handrails. Mellow stair rails specifically. I dont need all this speed, it just makes me feel slippery and more likely to fall back. What can i do wheel wise/bearing wise to slow my skates down so i feel more in control. I dont skate park. I assume a lower abec like a 3 or 5 (as opposed to the 9), but as you mentioned that is more for coasting and wheels play a bigger play. What would you suggest?

[@danielpspersonal]

Now I'm nostalgic about my 78A 72mm Hyper wheels from the 1990s Nowadays I would probably get 83A~85A 72mm (Round profile) for the AEON 72(if I ever manage to get one) for park and urban skating.

[@BacktoBlading]

That’s my setup with the Compass 72/85. Edit coming soon!

[@SaschaReichertVideoBlog]

good edit once again, nice to see your opinions. i had the feeling it looks you roll a bit smother on the 85a but not that big difference. really interresting.

[@BacktoBlading]

Yeah, really hard to tell the difference but it was smoother on the 85s for sure. So subtle, but I noticed. Thanks for the feedback!

[@zuhardi]

Interesting discussion. i use 88 valo wheels with antirocker. pretty good on tarmac and ledge grinding. bit slippery on park but you can enjoy grinding really well. i used a softer uc wheels before but it worn out really fast since i skated on tarmac pretty often.

[@BacktoBlading]

I like those Valo wheels. Not great, but not bad.

[@zuhardi]

@@BacktoBlading yeah not so great really. plus i use antis so it pretty slippery. im suck at flat setup lol. btw i still use a valo alex browskow brown boots. since valo is not around anymore, i planning to get a white roces m12. at least it still a same boots lol

[@ryan2stix]

Great vids! Where are you located? I'm in Edmonton Canada and you can't find skates anywhere here...might be scoring a used pair off a guy on facebook though! At 41, this old dog still has some bite! (Hopefully haha) cheers

[@BacktoBlading]

I’m in the states. Try shop task?

[@fat_ninja_status]

Me even being a fat skater back in high school I switched between 94a and 88a kryptonics 61mm or 62mm wheels on anti rocker. Would run harder wheels in summer cause they wore less from heat and didn't have as much issue with core blow out on harder wheels during summer. Definite thing to consider is not just surface but how heat and cold play into the wear. With conditions around me my testing thoughts would be a 88a and 92a everything is rough or just painted over parking lots downtown is cobblestone In hampton Va. Used to destroy Senate wheels easily why I stuck to kryptonics way cheaper lasted twice as long. But our local ski world didn't bring much options in.

[@BacktoBlading]

That’s good feedback. Harder wheels are probably best for most situations, 88a to 92a. I think there’s a good use case for 85a though in winter or on wood ramps. This is why I love to test!

[@fat_ninja_status]

@@BacktoBlading oh yeah just throwing my 2 cents in. My first pair of roller derby skates wheels lasted forever. When I got my first set of tea with blueish green 78a wheels I think, they died quickly on a tennis court. Lol but that was 94ish and finding wheels local was difficult found some 68mm 88a hockeywheels. After blowing out many sets of those I got into aggressive with a 72mm 88a and kryptonics pebbles and a green metal senate grind plate. Then when I got my tarmac ce I traded in the 72mm wheels I got for Christmas back in for the 68mm or 61mm kryptonics cause the tarmac wouldnt hold the 72mm. But definetly like the wheel you've come up with but 85a would probably only last as a rink wheel with my fatness lol running a 58 90 gawds on antirocker right now holding decent but barely able to skate lately.

[@willsutton8937]

What are you using to "follow you" cam wise is it a certain cam and mount and how is the pole not being shown? Thanks in advance.

[@brocmt]

From what I can tell, the pole is there but was removed with software editing. Watch his right arm through those clips., it's locked to stabilize the pole. Go frame by frame @4:29 through 31 and you'll see it - the moving highlight in the concrete, right half of image.

[@wesmo5588]

I think its the Insta360 ONE X

[@maelogarcia5378]

When i skate concrete skatepark i use rollerbones day of the dead 92A and when i go to my favorite skatepark penn skate i skate CIB vertex 103A. Quad skater here 🙌 but i also use them outdoor because the concrete skatepark around here is smooth.

[@BacktoBlading]

So ignorant for quads. What’s a normal hardness? Is 92a normal?

[@maelogarcia5378]

Back to Blading the 103A are skatepark wheels and very slim. Normal is 95A

[@maelogarcia5378]

78a is just for cruising i have a few different durometers. Octo paseo 78A, sonar braser 84A, sonar striker 88A,rollerbones day of the dead 92A demon 95A and CIB vertex 103A. I love them all is all depends what im doing and how fast i wanna go.

[@BacktoBlading]

Thanks for that info. Super interesting. I have so much to learn

[@maelogarcia5378]

Back to Blading if you ever deside to try quads at the skatepark chaya karma pro are really good skatepark roller skates or the one i use chaya jump skate. Search for peanut and wine roller skating or planet roller skate. I love your channel thank you for everything you do. Sometime i want inline skates too i might buy THEM skates

[@WillGarciasv]

honestly, i prefer soft wheels. i forgot you had those 85a. 90a or harder are very slippery at the park and not to mention when its indoor with wooden floors and ramps. in my opinion 85a its just perfect, im ok with 88a but over that naaaahhhh. in fact, im gonna order a set of those 85a and a set of those 88a when you have them ready. thatnks for your videos. hopefully one day youll make a review on my freeskate frames

[@BacktoBlading]

They just hit last month! I’ve been skating them flat and love them. www.balancedist.com/shop-50-50?category=Wheels

[@prinznorbert4553]

Are your wheels available in germany / eu in general? I need to replace my 88s soon

[@BacktoBlading]

Soon! Loco has a shipment coming as does This Is Soul. 58/85 though, the 88s aren’t in stock yet.

[@Spock0987]

Yet another great video.

[@BacktoBlading]

Thanks for watching

[@Huntingdownfakos]

Skateboarders. Scooters. And even snake boards. But no rollerbladers!

[@BacktoBlading]

No, I posted on my local fb group but no love. :(

[@OGDamnnation]

I can't find USD VII anywhere

[@DK1105-k3c]

I have been on the hunt as well. Nothing left in my size and my skates are really on their last legs.

[@BacktoBlading]

Sorry! I hope they come back

[@danielpspersonal]

now someone has to do a blind test with a few dozen skaters in a scientific manner(control group, randomized, etc). My guess is that not even 30% would notice the difference.

[@BacktoBlading]

Yeah, it was very subtle. I’ve been pretty deep in wheels lately. I think the 88a would probably be ideal for most people.

[@danatello8489]

Shame they're different colors. Would've been kinda cool to see you do a blind test to make sure you can tell the difference lol

[@BacktoBlading]

Yeah, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to. Also nice to have some white wheels for future product shots. :)

[@inlineskatesandhybridbikes1110]

Wow~ aggressive like that ~

[@BacktoBlading]

Ok!

[@Everydaymesses08]

wait.......what is this sorcery????? where is the stick????

[@fridgepuff1722]

I skate 90s because i street skate

[@BacktoBlading]

We’re getting some for testing.

[@nitemirror1]

(pre covid)

[@1UpClothing]

imagine calling 88a aggressive wheels 'hard' thats the normal duro wtf