gear recommendations

At VCR, safety is our top priority! Below are our recommended roller skates and protective gear to ensure you’re ready for practice.

Protective Gear Requirements:
For all roller derby practice portions, protective gear is mandatory.

While a mouthguard is not required for our Beginner Program, helmets are highly recommended (though not enforced).

Please note, you are skating at your own risk— wearing all protective gear minimizes injury risk, but injuries are still possible.

Roller Skates

Skating equipment from large chain stores may not be durable for roller derby. It's important to invest in skates that can handle the sport. Recommended brands include Riedell, Antik, Atom, Bont, and Chaya. For beginners, we recommend these budget-friendly options:

  • Riedell Dart Skates

  • Riedell R3

  • Sure-Grip Boxer Skates

  • Crazy Skates Crazy Zoom

Pair of beat up roller skates with green wheels and purple laces
Black roller skate with large arrow tip design in white

Knee Pads, Elbow Pads, & Wrist Guards

Brands to look at for roller derby use include 187, Triple 8, and TSG.

There are packages online that include all 3; below are some options:

Helmet

Protect your head with a helmet designed for roller derby or skateboarding.

Look for multi-impact helmets from brands like 187, Triple 8, and S1.

When purchasing, ensure a snug fit (not too tight or loose). A good test is to gently wiggle the helmet front-to-back and side-to-side to ensure it stays securely in place.

Mouthguard

We highly recommend the SISU Aero Guard, which can be molded for a custom fit, providing comfort while speaking or drinking.

Wheels & Bearings

For basketball courts, we recommend harder wheels (97A-101A).

Suggested brands include:

  • Wheels: Radar Halo 97A, 99A, or 101A (green, white, or black)—be sure to buy 2 sets for total of 8 wheels!

  • Bearings: RollerBones—1 set includes 16 bearings (enough for 8 wheels).

Where

To Buy

You can find your gear in-person at:

Or online:

For online thrift stores:

For pre-owned or secondhand items:

Important: While finding a better price online is great, we highly recommend trying gear on in person before purchasing to ensure the best fit.

Please note that the above are recommendations only. We do not have any affiliations with the brands, stores, or groups listed above. We are in no way connected to or endorsed by any of them.