Our friends at Inline Warehouse are the best gear experts out there when it comes to all things inline skating. They cover different skating styles with a variety of styles of skates (plus protective gear, wheels, and parts, clothing) and even accessories to help you travel with your skates in tow. Here’s their expert advice we’re happy to share.
Skating makes everything more fun, especially travelling! It allows you to experience your destination from a unique perspective and enables you to cover distances similar to biking. In addition, skates offer a convenient mode of transport. Imagine being on vacation while engaging in your favorite active pastime. With skating, you’re unlikely to ever be bored while on the move.
Pack The Skates & Gear
Skate bags and backpacks are the easiest, and the Inline Warehouse folks’ favorite way to transport skates (you can also include all your gear!) There are a ton of size options to allow you to choose the best skate carrier for your needs.
**Insider Tip Alert** The IW skate bag is perfect for carrying your skates and all of your protective gear in one go, with mesh pockets on the side that always come in handy.
Try the Classic Hang Them Up
If you consider yourself a more ‘classic’ skater, there are a couple of tried-and-true methods for carrying your skates. One popular way is to tie the laces of your skates together and toss them over your shoulder, similar to how you would carry a bag.
Another option is to use a skate leash, which is most commonly used with roller skates but can also work well with inline skates. Skate leashes are convenient for attaching all of your protective gear as well.
Lastly, hooks are an underrated but helpful tool for keeping everything organized. Make sure to choose a hook that is large enough to fit your entire hand, allowing you to carry your skates easily.
Tips for Flying with Skates
Most airlines allow for a pair of skates to be carried on as a “personal item”. It is best to check the rules for every airline you might be flying on as each one is a bit different (and on smaller planes, you can be limited in what you can take on).
**Insider Tip Alert** Inline Warehouse staff have reported that airport check-in personnel are sometimes unfamiliar with skates. This may lead to confusion, with some agents incorrectly stating that exposed wheels are not allowed or that skates must be placed in checked luggage. To avoid any issues, it’s a good idea to check the airline’s rules in advance. Or, plan to carry everything in a backpack geared toward packing skates, and simply take them as your carry on.
Now that you are ready to pack, don’t miss the inline skating vacation opportunities—the perfect way to test out the expert advice!
Go international to possibly the best multi-day skating location in the world on Germany’s Flaeming Skating Adventure!
Think outside the midwestern box and head to the Iowa Inline Skating Adventure—an outstanding skating locale in the U.S. where you’ll find hundreds of miles of concrete, off-road, flat, interconnected paths.