Welcome to Denver, Robert!

I'm afraid I cannot help much as there truly are not a lot of choices for trying on skates.

I think your best bet would be to go with one of the larger chain sport stores as they tend to have the full range of sizes to try on. As long as you are buying a known brand like K2, Rollerblade, etc. you can expect about the same level of quality and comfort. And if you are buying an aluminum frame, it won't be the lowest-end model and the features will be better.

I've been skating since 1998. My first pair of skates were K2 soft boots. I bought them a little too large when I lived in Atlanta and wound up having to use inserts and wear double layers of synthetic socks to prevent blisters. When those wore out after several years and hundreds upon hundreds of miles, I took them to Galyans (now Dick's) here in Denver and they actually gave me a trade-in on another pair of K2s. (I'm still amazed by this!) I still have those skates, though they have stretched over time and use and I'm back to using inserts and double socks. I also have a pair of Miller semi-custom speed skates which I was never able to break in and rarely wear.

So I certainly stand by K2s - they make comfortable soft boots for skating & skiing. The key is finding what fits your feet, just like shoes. I would also consider any other skates you can try on and wheel around the store in. It's unfortunate, but this really is not the best time to buy skates when you don't know what you want. Online would not be the best bet for your first pair unless you can return them. I'm not certain REI still stocks skates, but if they do, they take just about anything back, even after years of use sometimes, so you could try there as well.

Once you get skates, I highly recommend taking a lesson, although I don't know if there are lessons to be had in the area... our resident instructor has fallen off the radar and I think is no longer in Denver. (Mike - let me know if you are still around!) If you are very serious about skating, you could probably find a clinic somewhere else in the US to attend, and I have heard these are loads of fun and really give a jumpstart to a new skater. I started skating with instruction and I can not recommend it more.

At a minimum, get wrist guards and a vented helmet. You might consider knee pads, and also elbow pads if you don't like bruises. Nothing puts a damper on a new sport faster than an injury. I always wear a helmet and wrist guards, and sometimes knee pads if the terrain will be sketchy or unknown. Do not - ever - wear cotton socks skating if your skates rub even a little and there is a chance you might break a sweat on your feet. Skating blisters can be very discouraging.

Good luck and I hope this is of some use to you. Feel free to email the list with additional questions or feedback.

Karen

On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 1:13 PM, Robert Skinner <bobskinner@...> wrote:

 

Hi my name is Robert and I just joined this group.

My wife and I have been walking for exercise every morning for some time
now, but I really do not enjoy walking. I have long been interested in
inline skating and my wife suggested that she could buy me a pair for my
birthday and I could do that instead, an idea I quite like the sound of
:) I have inline skated a little many years ago and I do enjoy ice
skating (if that helps at all) but I now have to decide on a pair of
inline skates and there seem to be so many options, but so few that I
can actually find in a store...

I have been reading quite a bit online and have visited a couple of
sporting goods stores but I would like to try on a few more skates
before buying. It seems from what I have read that comfort is important
and of the 3 or 4 different skates I have found locally the K2 Moto 84
has been the most comfortable, but I really would like a larger
selection to try before deciding. I am a pretty big guy so from what I
have read an aluminum frame might be a wise choice and the K2 moto I
tried on was the only aluminum frame I have come across locally.

My wife and I will be in Denver tomorrow for a bit and I was wondering
if anyone could recommend a few stores that have perhaps more than one
or 2 inline skate options in the Denver area? Also if anyone has any
other recommendations on skates that I should or could consider?

Thank you so much for any assistance that can be offered. I am excited
to get my first pair of inline skates!

Sincerely,

Robert Skinner