Everything you need to know about roller skate cushions

In this article i’m going to talk about roller skate cushions – what they are, what role they play in your skates and how they can change your skating experience. This is another article in the series ‘Anatomy of Skates’ – I hope you find it useful.

What are Roller Skate Cushions?

Roller skate cushions are small components which sit on the frame of your roller skates. The purpose of them is to cushion your ride as a skater – think of them as suspension! They are typically made from high-rebound urethane or rubber. They sit on the ‘kingpin’ between the skate trucks. They also control how easily the skate turns so they can provide extra agility. There are different types of cushions too – some are cone shaped and some are like hoops. The coned shaped ones are made for agility and the hoop shaped ones are made for stability.

The cushions help to provide a smooth ride, and absorb shock and vibration. They also control the extent to which a skate can turn. The cushions can make a big difference in your skating experience.

How do roller skate cushions do their job?

The Urethane or rubber cushions absorb the pressure once the skater puts weight onto them through the skate shoe. When the rider goes over a bump, the cushion softens it by compressing and then returning to its original shape. The softer the cushions, the better equip they will be to handle bumps and provide a smoother ride. Conversely, the harder they are, the more bumpy the ride but they will allow for more pressure on pushing the wheels and leaning into turns.

How do you know whether your roller skate cushions are the right ones for your set up?

The answer to this may depend on where you are skating, how skilled you are, how comfortable you are finding your existing skates, whether you want to change their use – there are many factors which could be relevant. My suggestion would be to start off asking the question, are my skates comfortable when going over bumps? Consider whether they are agile enough – do you find it difficult to make turns? Another point to consider is the aesthetics of them – they come in many colours and they can add an aesthetic feel to your skates, depending on the colour. These questions may need to be answered after you have been skating for a little while so you can get a feel for your skates.

So how do you switch up your cushions if this is what you want to do?

First have your new roller skate cushions ready. You will also need a basic skate tool.

You should use the tool to remove the old cushions. You may find that there is a little washer shaped ‘cup’ for the cushions underneath them, holding them in place. You should leave this on the skates and fit your new cushions ontop of it/into it.

Changing the cushions is very simple – you just need to remove the nuts with your skate tool/wrench, and pull them off the pin!

Do we recommend any cushions?

For the reasons mentioned above, choosing cushions can depend on many factors for the skater. However, I have listed some different types of cushions below which you may find helpful…