10
Dec
I think nearly every kid goes through a phase of wanting a pair of heelys or roller shoes and of course, most parents usually cave and decide to treat their kid with such present for their birthday or Christmas. So how do you know what to look for? There are many factors that you should consider, so for all you parents out there, below we’ll go over a brief guide on what to look for when buying heelys or roller shoes.
The first thing you should know is the sizing. The sizing of these particular shoes seem to run a little smaller than average and most of the time they are marked in kids sizes and boys sizes. The best way to know if the shoe fits is to have the child try them on, or if planning to order them online, measure the foot and then look for the insole measurements to get the size you need.
Safety is a factor that most parents are probably concerned about. You need to really look at how the wheel on each shoe works as not every shoe is made in the same way. Most kids don’t really think that they will hurt themselves so you need to look at a shoe that can convert from rolling to running in the least amount of time. Most of the time injuries are caused by children who start running with the wheels out so heelys are not ideal for this as they need to sit down and remove the wheel. Some brands of shoes might not even have the option to put the wheel away. The best option for roller shoes is to have a wheel that kids can click into place while still standing.
Convenience is a thing that kids and parents must think about together. Heelys are usually on the expensive side, but they also come with a lot of parts like a wrench, plug, and wheel that you need to carry with you to be able to convert them from a normal shoe to a roller shoe. This can be a problem if you start to lose parts as replacing them can be pretty pricey. The best option is to find a shoe that doesn’t have any parts that you can lose aside from wear and tear where you can just replace the shoes as they get old.
Quality is the next factor most people would want to find in a running or roller shoe. Heelys are high quality there is no denying that, they do not wear quickly at all. The wheels are the parts that seem to wear out the fastest, but you can buy replacements for them quite easily. Some other shoes might not be as high quality as wheelys so you might find yourself replacing them more often than you thought. The best way to find out if what you’re buying is good quality or not, is by talking to parents who have purchased the same ones or look for reviews online.
The cost of these shoes can vary a lot. You can find clearance heelys for about $35, but new ones will usually cost you $50 or more; the larger they get, the more expensive they can become. However, you can find lower priced ones from other brands; some of the less expensive ones can be found for around $20.
The last thing you should consider is the fact that these kind of shoes have been banned from most schools and stores. Stopping to convert the shoes before you enter a mall or grocery store can get fairly annoying for most parents, as for ones that don’t change that can limit the place your child can wear them. This once again comes down to convenience, so choosing the shoes that can click into place on a moments notice works out best for both parent and child.
