I decided to revisit an old hobby during quarantine. I saw graceful TikTok-ers don their rollerskates and take on their cities. I wanted to be like them. It’s the ideal activity that offers social distancing and a great way of getting around town quickly.
Impala and Moxi skates fall under the category of quad roller skates. Quad skates are four-wheeled roller skates that have two wheels on the front side and another two wheels on the rear side.
Like many, I scoured the internet for rollerskates only find month-long waiting lists. I was able to finally snag both Impala and Moxi rollerskates for this review.
Some things to look for when buying skates:
- The softness or hardness of a wheel: This is determined by a durometer scale that runs from 0 to 100A. The closer you are to 0A, your wheels will be softer, and the closer you are to 100A, your wheels will be hard. Hard wheels are great for indoor skating and softer wheels are best for outdoor skating where they can absorb the impact on cement surfaces.
- Material
- Wheel width
- Bearings
Let’s see which skates won the battle!
Moxi Roller skate Review
Moxi skates seem to be an all-time favorite. The quality is great and they have both leather and vegan options.
Moxi skates were created in 2008, in Long Beach, California by Michelle Steilen (AKA Estro Jen on social media). To date, Moxi skates are designed and produced in the United States at the Riedell Skates factory in Red Wing, Minnesota.
Let’s go through the pros and cons of Moxi roller skates.
Pros
- Super comfortable sole. The soles needed no breaking in. I was super stoked to be skating like a pro within minutes.
- Vegan leather upper!
- Leather upper options available. If vegan is not your thing, opt for their leather upper styles, such as the Lolly.
- The colors and patterns are much more interesting. I am obsessed with the Beach Bunny ($149), Jungle leopard pattern ($149) and Rainbow Rider ($99)
- Wider Wheels
- The Moxi Beach bunny, Moxi Ivy, and Moxi Lolly wheels have a hardness of 78A, while the Moxi Jack wheels have a hardness of 97A.
Cons
- Runs large. I wear a size 7 in women’s shoes and ordered the 6 in Moxi skates. I recommend sizing down one size.
- More expensive than Impala skates. Their most expensive style is the Lolly for $349. It’s made with real suede leather. I find that the leather upper forms and fits better to your foot shape and size.
- Constantly sold out. Luckily, you can sign-up for their waitlist for restocks. You will need to buy as soon as you get the restock email because they will out of stock within minutes.
Where to buy Moxi Roller skates?
You can buy Moxi rollerskates directly on their website or from Urban Outfitters and Amazon (official store).
Impala Roller SKATE Review
Impala Roller Skates have been around since 2017 and were created in Melbourne Australia, by Globe International.
Impala is perhaps best known for its candy-colored skates, which have an aluminum plate, hybrid indoor-outdoor wheels, and a fixed toe stop. The quad skates are ideal for cruising, learning how to skate, and busting out impressive dance moves.
I started out using them on the hardwood floor of my living room. When I was ready to take the skates outdoors, I discovered that the hybrid wheels handled both smooth asphalt basketball courts and rougher concrete parking lots just as well.
I bought the leopard Impala skates ($95) and I am obsessed with them. They are brown leopard print with red wheels. Goes well with my Seattle grunge attire.
And yes, I did get TWO pairs of leopard roller skates. Leopard print is all I wear nowadays.
Let’s go through the pros and cons of Impala skates!
Pros
- Vegan leather upper!
- Runs true to size. I ordered my street size 7 and the size 7 Impala skates fit. If you’re in between sizes, definitely size up.
- Much more affordable than Moxi skates. I got my pair for $95!
- Narrow wheels – makes skating easier.
- Impala quad skate wheels have a hardness of 82A.
Cons
- Super high heel which may feel weird while skating.
- Stiff sole. The sole was not as comfortable as my Moxi skates.
- No leather options. In my opinion, leather fits and molds to your foot much better.
Overall the Impalas feel stiffer than my Moxis. This makes Moxis more comfortable to skate in.
Where to buy Impala Roller skates?
Shop for Impala skates through their website or on Tilly’s and Amazon.
Should I Buy Moxi or Impala Skates?
Ultimately, we chose our Moxi skates over the Impalas. The fit and performance were just so much better. It was like night and day when I tested both pairs. You are definitely getting what you pay for.
I will keep my Impala skates as a backup pair but always reach for my Moxis when it’s time to rock and roll.
We also highly recommend getting knee pads. Moxi and Impala both have their own knee pad products but this set on Amazon works well too!
And if you’re looking for some Impalas, I have two brand new leopard pairs for sale and they can be shipped or picked up in Seattle. I have a size 7 and 8. Here is a link to the skates.
Ping me on Instagram if you’re interested!
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