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Getting Your Bearings; a beginner's guide to roller derby gear.

Writer's picture: Chicago StyleChicago Style
beginner roller derby gear
Some of our favorite beginner roller derby gear.

Are you interested in joining Chicago-Style New Crew? Have you already submitted your RSVP for our upcoming Recruitment Night on March 10th? Are you curious what equipment you're going to need to get started on your derby journey? Fear not, friends! We are here to help you get rolling in some of our favorite beginner-friendly roller derby gear. The first thing to know is that Chicago-Style Roller Derby is committed to lowering the barrier of entry within the roller derby community. We believe roller derby is for everybody regardless of age, race, gender identity, or economic status. As such, we offer various accommodations. We have an extensive reserve of roller derby gear that is available for a very low rental fee. We also work with Coachlite Skate Center to bring you cost effective skate rentals. In addition to low cost rentals we also offer financial accommodations for new skaters and Chicago-Style members who experience financial hardship. You can always reach out to leadership@chicagostylerollerderby.com to learn more about our financial hardship policy. Now, let's kick it into gear. The first thing you're going to need is a multiple-impact helmet! There are three brands of helmets that tend to be the most popular. There's the S1 Lifer Helmet, Pro-Tec Skate Helmet and the Triple 8 Skate Helmet. Pricing can range anywhere from $50 to $100+. S1 helmets tend to be the popular choice but Triple 8 has the lowest cost option at $49.99. Some helmets come with extra face protection in the form of a visor. Visors are a great option for shorter skaters or for skaters who wear glasses. The next piece of gear you'll need is a mouth guard. The only piece of gear we can't rent to new skaters is a mouth guard, so you will have to purchase your own for the New Crew Program. Pretty much any mouth guard will do but there is definitely a brand favorite within the roller derby community, Sisu mouth guards. They're great because they are able to be custom molded at home with hot water. They're also regarded as the most comfortable. Sisu mouth guards range in price from $10 to $30. We highly recommend the Sisu Aero Guard for $20. It's slim profile makes for a smoother sensory experience. Sizing is determined by height so be sure to check the size chart.

Chicago-Style Roller Derby New Crew 2023
New Crew 2023

The next item you'll need is safety pads. This will include wrist guards, elbow pads and knee pads. One of the very first things you're going to learn in New Crew is how to fall safely, so having a well fitting set is very important. As stated above, we have a lot of loaner gear available for you to rent and try on for size. We highly recommend taking advantage of this before you purchase your very own set. However, if you're in it for the long haul and want your own pads here are the top brands. 187 Killer Pads, S1 Pads, Pro Tec Pads, Smith Scabs and Triple 8 Pads. That's an extensive list, we know! If you are looking for something within budget but CSRD-themed, we would recommend this ProTec 3-piece set in checkerboard.

Let's talk about size inclusion! If you are a petite skater, all of these brands offer pads in XS and scale even smaller with their junior sizing. If you're a bigger skater, there's great options for you too. Smith Scabs offers up to XXL. Moxi Skates offers fun and vibrant pads in 'XL' and 'Thick.' Thick is meant to be a XXL but the elastic is very forgiving. Our favorite option for plus size skaters is 187 Killer Pads - Pro Derby Knee Pads. It's this author's humble opinion that these are the best knee pads on the market, period! The added bonus is that they stock these babies in a 2-3XL as well. These can be pretty pricey, the knee pads alone total $130 but they are certainly worth saving up for.

Now the piece we've all been waiting for, roller skates! While referees are welcome to wear inline skates, roller derby skaters must use quad roller skates. The most cost effective route is to rent from the roller rink but if you'd like to spin a little coin and get your own pair, we will share some beginner friendly options. Keep in mind sizing for roller skates tend to scale one size smaller than your shoe size, but the best thing you can do is try skates on in person or at the very least, get sized by a retailer like Coachlite Skate Center. The most common beginner skate is from a brand called Riedell. Riedell is a family-owned business based out of Red Wing, Minnesota. Their skates are made in the state and are they are the brand darlings of the derby-verse. The R3 skates are probably the most common beginner skate. They are priced the lowest at $195 but not without their flaws. They are a good skate at a good price. However, they are notorious for toe stop issues. As you scale up in price with Riedell skates, their quality scales with it. You can spend upwards of $800 on Riedell's top of the line derby skate which features a sporty, contour fit boot, a heel slip-preventing v-lock strap and the high-performance Reactor Pro Plate.

chicago-style roller derby new crew 2023 in beginner gear
New Crew practicing strides and stopping.

Bont is another trusted brand of roller derby skates and their Prostar Roller Derby Skates are a great value at $229. These boot are vegan-friendly and feature a heat molded heel. This means that you can warm this boot with a hairdryer and mold it to your foot. This is especially helpful for people with narrow or wide heels. The feature that really makes this worth the additional $35 is the Tracer plate. The plate on the Prostars are metal, specifically aluminum. Metal plates are a huge selling point for every body, but especially bigger skaters.

The last beginner friendly skate we bring you is from Sure-Grip. The Rebel Avanti Skates is priced at $275. These scale up in price due to the genuine leather boot and aluminum plate. Aluminum plates are a preferred material for plates because they're sturdy while also being lightweight. The drawback is that Sure-Grip boots come in whole sizes only. This means you can't do a half size like you can with the Prostars.


The last things you'll need to bring to your first New Crew practice is a red shirt, a water bottle and your patience. Remember that your coaches who you see perform skills with mastery were once New Crew skaters just like you. It's going to take time and practice. Be kind to yourself and your team mates. Personally, I've made some life long friends in my New Crew classes. There's a comradery that is unmatched while you learn these new skills together. You might find yourself frustrated or doubtful through the course of New Crew, but you'll also find yourself surrounded with teammates who are rooting you on. Author: Stoner

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