Derby kit to invest in overtime
Toestops
The toestops that come with your skates will pretty much be useless for any toestop related skills in derby. I jam quite a bit for my team as I can be quite nippy on my skates and good toestops can be a useful asset for jammers. I have been using gumballs for about two years and have found them really durable (except any outside skating wears them down quickly). I am looking to invest in something a bit larger and bouncier now though I think as I am getting far more confident on my toestops.
I have been told by a few people that moonwalkers tend to wear down quite quickly and are quite small similar to gumballs, except moonwalkers come in a variety of colours whereas you have to dye gumballs if you want them colourful which can be a faff.
I use Crazy Skates Bounce toestops which I have seen Kamikaze Kitten from LRG/Team England wearing. But they take a little bit of wearing in so they aren't slippy, but after that are great for running on as they have a bouncy surface. Ones like the Crazy Big Bloc's, are massive so if you don't particularly like toestop work something like that might give you more security.
Note - if your toestops are slipping when you use them while skating to make them grippier scrape them on concrete for a bit to prevent the slipping.
The toestops that come with your skates will pretty much be useless for any toestop related skills in derby. I jam quite a bit for my team as I can be quite nippy on my skates and good toestops can be a useful asset for jammers. I have been using gumballs for about two years and have found them really durable (except any outside skating wears them down quickly). I am looking to invest in something a bit larger and bouncier now though I think as I am getting far more confident on my toestops.
I have been told by a few people that moonwalkers tend to wear down quite quickly and are quite small similar to gumballs, except moonwalkers come in a variety of colours whereas you have to dye gumballs if you want them colourful which can be a faff.
I use Crazy Skates Bounce toestops which I have seen Kamikaze Kitten from LRG/Team England wearing. But they take a little bit of wearing in so they aren't slippy, but after that are great for running on as they have a bouncy surface. Ones like the Crazy Big Bloc's, are massive so if you don't particularly like toestop work something like that might give you more security.
Note - if your toestops are slipping when you use them while skating to make them grippier scrape them on concrete for a bit to prevent the slipping.
Light weight nuts
A cheap way of altering how light your skates feel on your feet is to buy some Astro nuts or equivalent, and they come in a variety of different colours to accessorize your skates. I have light weight nuts part of which covers the bearings to keep them cleaner (these are called Zero Nuts). Although in the grand scheme on things a few grams isn't much weight, but I really like mine.
One thing to be careful of though when using nuts made from this material is forcing them on, as this can damage them. Make sure you put them on straight and gently to avoid shredding them. However, I have been told that nylon based nuts like these do not have a long life, but saying that I have had mine for 6 months and there are no signs of wear yet. This is more of a problem you skate on lots of different surfaces and as a result frequently need to change your wheels.
A cheap way of altering how light your skates feel on your feet is to buy some Astro nuts or equivalent, and they come in a variety of different colours to accessorize your skates. I have light weight nuts part of which covers the bearings to keep them cleaner (these are called Zero Nuts). Although in the grand scheme on things a few grams isn't much weight, but I really like mine.
One thing to be careful of though when using nuts made from this material is forcing them on, as this can damage them. Make sure you put them on straight and gently to avoid shredding them. However, I have been told that nylon based nuts like these do not have a long life, but saying that I have had mine for 6 months and there are no signs of wear yet. This is more of a problem you skate on lots of different surfaces and as a result frequently need to change your wheels.
Outdoor wheels and bearings
These are a must if you just can't get enough skate time in the summer. Using the same bearings as for your indoor wheels is a big no. This would really reduce the life of your bearings (which are important for your skates to spin fast - see below for more detail). When buying bearings for outdoors they is not as much need for them to be high quality, cheap ones are fine for just messing about to improve skating outside.
Outdoor wheels are softer than indoor wheels. This means they can then absorb the bumps without them ricocheting up your legs. Check here for general wheels advice.
These are a must if you just can't get enough skate time in the summer. Using the same bearings as for your indoor wheels is a big no. This would really reduce the life of your bearings (which are important for your skates to spin fast - see below for more detail). When buying bearings for outdoors they is not as much need for them to be high quality, cheap ones are fine for just messing about to improve skating outside.
Outdoor wheels are softer than indoor wheels. This means they can then absorb the bumps without them ricocheting up your legs. Check here for general wheels advice.
Snouts
These (along with laces) can be a great way to personalise your skates with spending loads of money on custom made skates.
These are also crucial to protect your skates from scuffs - very important if you use the same skates for skating outside as you do inside. Tarmac isn't as gentle on them as sport hall equivalent floors.
A cheaper option, which many skaters use is hockey tape. I use both, this is to cover more of the front of the skate to prevent scuffs that the snout doesn't cover - I'd stay away from the single strip toe guards as they don't cover anywhere near enough without hockey tape anyway.
These (along with laces) can be a great way to personalise your skates with spending loads of money on custom made skates.
These are also crucial to protect your skates from scuffs - very important if you use the same skates for skating outside as you do inside. Tarmac isn't as gentle on them as sport hall equivalent floors.
A cheaper option, which many skaters use is hockey tape. I use both, this is to cover more of the front of the skate to prevent scuffs that the snout doesn't cover - I'd stay away from the single strip toe guards as they don't cover anywhere near enough without hockey tape anyway.
Gaskets
Gaskets are essentially a bit of extra pads for your knees that go under your knee padding also helping to hold your knee pads in place.
I only recently started wearing gaskets and I actually use volleyball ones (McDavid's) as they are cheap yet still make a huge difference to the impact I feel in my knees when I go down.
Derby brands are Scabs or the slightly cheaper Triple 8's and 187's. But I have heard bad things about the Scabs ones...
Gaskets are essentially a bit of extra pads for your knees that go under your knee padding also helping to hold your knee pads in place.
I only recently started wearing gaskets and I actually use volleyball ones (McDavid's) as they are cheap yet still make a huge difference to the impact I feel in my knees when I go down.
Derby brands are Scabs or the slightly cheaper Triple 8's and 187's. But I have heard bad things about the Scabs ones...
Cushions
Cushions are positioned within the plate near the trucks and essentially allow the trucks to turn.
Harder cushions will make you feel more stable but turning and cutting across the track is harder. Softer cushions give you a easier, smoother turn but you can feel wobbly if they are too soft. If you are larger, you will probably want a harder cushion than someone lighter than you too, generally speaking. Also over time your ankles will strengthen with the derby you do which means you may want a softer cushion at this point.
Cheap cushions tend to be the Suregrip ones which fit in most plates, but do double check before buying. They are also quite cheap in comparison to other brands, and readily available in most UK derby stores.
Cushions are positioned within the plate near the trucks and essentially allow the trucks to turn.
Harder cushions will make you feel more stable but turning and cutting across the track is harder. Softer cushions give you a easier, smoother turn but you can feel wobbly if they are too soft. If you are larger, you will probably want a harder cushion than someone lighter than you too, generally speaking. Also over time your ankles will strengthen with the derby you do which means you may want a softer cushion at this point.
Cheap cushions tend to be the Suregrip ones which fit in most plates, but do double check before buying. They are also quite cheap in comparison to other brands, and readily available in most UK derby stores.
Bearings
Good bearings should feel like you have no resistance and allow for a better rollout when you skate (how far you can roll in one stride). If your bearings have good rollout you will go further.
Bearings can be graded with an ABEC rating. Generally this rating doesn't mean much - it's more important that you buy from a good manufacturer - but the ABEC rating does give some indication of the bearing's quality and level of precision used in the manufacturing process. If you buy a higher rating bearing from the same manufacture it will give you an indication of a better quality of manufacturing.
They can come in sizes of 7mm or 8mm Bearings - these will depend on which width the hangers are on your skates - these are usually 8mm but a few are 7mm - check with your skate retailer though before you buy.
More expensive bearings tend to have varying coatings such as ceramic intended to improve smoothness. Although don't judge bearings by the price as some bearings can be unnecessarily expensive and medium priced ones can be just as good.
To avoid buying new bearings ensure you clean your bearings regularly.
Good bearings should feel like you have no resistance and allow for a better rollout when you skate (how far you can roll in one stride). If your bearings have good rollout you will go further.
Bearings can be graded with an ABEC rating. Generally this rating doesn't mean much - it's more important that you buy from a good manufacturer - but the ABEC rating does give some indication of the bearing's quality and level of precision used in the manufacturing process. If you buy a higher rating bearing from the same manufacture it will give you an indication of a better quality of manufacturing.
They can come in sizes of 7mm or 8mm Bearings - these will depend on which width the hangers are on your skates - these are usually 8mm but a few are 7mm - check with your skate retailer though before you buy.
More expensive bearings tend to have varying coatings such as ceramic intended to improve smoothness. Although don't judge bearings by the price as some bearings can be unnecessarily expensive and medium priced ones can be just as good.
To avoid buying new bearings ensure you clean your bearings regularly.