YOUR FIRST WHEEL UPGRADE

So did you buy the R3s or Rebels to get started in derby without investing your entire paycheck, but now that stock wheel that came on it is holding you back? The truth is these wheels really suck for derby now that you have made it through tryouts or picked up some speed, right?

A lot of people come into the shop and say “I need something softer, these Caymans are 95a.” The thing  is that tho that durometer (hardness) of wheels is only part of the equasion when chosing the right wheel. An even bigger factor in how a wheel performs for you is what kind of material it is made out of, along with what kind of hub/core it has. There are other factors too, like the width, height, and shape, but more on all of that later. Right now you just need to know that a 95a Lowboy DOES NOT feel anything like a 95a Cayman. 
 

For skaters that are a few weeks/months into derby and ready for their first wheel upgrade (or who want to upgrade at the time they are purchasing their first skates) I usually recommend the Radar Tuner, Sure Grip Fugitive, or sometimes the Radar Flatout. The Tuner and Fugitive wheels are both made out of similar materials and have similar hubs. They vary in hardness depending on color, but red or blue in both fall in the 92a-94a range, which is about in the middle. They might feel a little slick on a slick floor or a little grippy on a grippy floor. But if you aren’t ready for owning multiple sets of wheels at this point, then this “middle of the road” kind of wheel is what you need. For skaters who like even more grip (especially if you only block and/or are not concerned with getting slowed down just a tiny bit, or if you practice/play on a slick surface, I sometimes recommend the Flatouts, which are a slightly softer urethane, and 88a durometer. Similar hub.

These wheels are in the $60-70 price range, which is about the minimum you can expect to pay for any quality competitive speed wheel. You CAN spend $75-150 for very specialized competitive performance wheels (like most Atom wheels, some Hyper wheels, high end Radar and Sure Grip, etc.) but really I would recommend upgrading to those once you have a better idea which one is going to be right for you, or which surfaces you are struggling on or what problems a wheel like the Fugis or Tuners are giving you. Then you can dial into something that will work best for you, your skating style, the position you play the most, the floor you skate on, etc. I do have some general info on lots of these tho, if you are already thinking ahead an upgrade.

Radar Flatout. 88a (grippy) 62mm tall x 44mm wide. Comes in many colors. Flatoutrageous is the slim version. This is also the wheel that comes on the “R3 Derby” Package.