Ice vs Roller Hockey

[GH_ID 0]

Hi everyone,

I hope this hasn't been discused before so here it goes :

I am looking to identify differences between a rollerhockey skate and a icehockey skate. Is the protection different? The venting? The weight?

Is there a skate specially designed to switch between ice and rollerhockey?

I appreciate your help. Thanx

[stock07 1]

I would say venting is one, inlines tend to be more vented...stiffness is also a big thing, ice skates tend to be WAY stiffer although the 06 mission inlines are super stiff...Ice skates for the most part are lighter due to the wheels and bearings on inlines....I know you can turn ice skates into inlines, but Im not sure youd want to turn an inline skate into an ice skate, although I know people who have...

[GH_ID 0]

I would also think they are more vented, but it doesn't seem like it when you look at existing models out there.

[stock07 1]

Just depends on the brand....the bauers are vented at the toe caps most inlines are vented there as well if they are vented at all.

[GH_ID 0]

Are Ice skates more protective or is it the same boot?

[SyracuseBulldogs04 0]

ice skates are more protective because of there stifness

[GH_ID 0]

But why are they more stiff? Is their a different need in ice hockey for a stiff boot?

[technophile 0]

But why are they more stiff? Is their a different need in ice hockey for a stiff boot?

I would guess it's because the puck is heavier in ice hockey, and shots tend to be correspondingly harder when you block them (more inertia on the puck). Thus a stiffer boot helps guard against the harder shots. (Same reason inline shin guards etc are often not as protective as ones designed for ice.)

And that's not even counting inline using balls, which are even less painful than inline pucks IME. :)

It's also possible that it's for performance reasons; ice turns and stops tend to be sharper and more abrupt than on inlines; stiffer boots are probably needed to take the additional force.

[logan 0]

Biggest difference in my opinion is consideration of cuts and abrasions.

Inlines, you worry about skates getting abrasion from concrete or asphalt--but this usually doesn't apply to high end, as they are most used on tiled surfaces.

Ice, you have to worry about cuts and sharp blades, so the tendon guard is most important. You can almost do without one for inlines--but its still good to have should you get whacked back there.

[Patrick67 1]

Guess I could play with some less protective shin-guards then.. What are some good light shin-guards for inlinehockey that you wouldn't use for Ice?