In this article i’m going to tell you everything you need to know about Riedell roller skates. I’m going to review the construction and components of the skates, how they came about, what skaters love about them and any draw backs.
Pictured above: Crimson red Riedell Roller Skates. Deal linked below:
Riedell Roller Skates – background
The brand Ridell was founded by Paul and Sophie Riedell in 1945, in Red Wing, Minnesota. It was Paul and Sophie’s mission to create high quality skates using hand crafting skills. They started making ice skates to begin with, and expanded into roller skates, eventually becoming a market leader in comfortable, durable, roller skates. They also became well known for making customizable roller skates.
They typically used high quality leather in the skates’ manufacture.
Riedell is a family owned brand to this day and it is now in its third generation.
What types of skates do Riedell make?
Riedell are famous for their Riedell R3 model. This is a great entry level version of the Riedell roller skates, (derby variation) . Some other Riedell roller skates models favoured by skaters, include the 111 Angel, 120 Juice and the ColorLab line, which is fully customizable. These skates are pictured below, with their typical prices:
Riedell R3:
The Riedell roller skates R3 model typically costs circa $200.
Riedell 111 Angel:
The Riedell 111 Angel is an artistic skate and typically costs circa $200.
Riedell 120 Juice:
These are a more expensive artistic skate, costing circa $419.
Riedell Colourlab:
These were custom made and you can pick up pairs of these on ebay as vintage skates for anywhere from $200 to $500. Click the link below to go to an Ebay search:
The picture above shows you the type of options which were available with the colorlab line.
Riedell Roller Skates – Composition
Riedell skates are made from high quality materials often featuring leather, with PowerDyne plates featuring a 15-degree kingpin angle, and Radar wheels. They are built to last and to give the skater a great level of responsiveness and comfort. They also come in an engineered vinyl which may suit vegan skaters.
Often the KwiK ABEC 5 bearings are used on these skates and PowerDyne adjustable toe stops.
Some of these features change depending on the model, so you would need to examine them for the pair of skates you are interested in. We may examine different models of Riedell skates in more detail in the future – watch this space!
Why do skaters love Riedell skates?
Skaters love them for their high quality, and the fact they are hand crafted and durable. Skaters typically do believe they are worth the price – you can see people discussing this on forums such as Reddit.
What are the drawbacks?
Riedell skates can take a while to break in, depending on the model. They can be expensive so maybe not an option for someone who does not have this type of money to spend on a pair of skates.
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