Woman skates K2 Alexis vs Rollerblade Spark

Comparison woman fitness skates - to $200

K2 Alexis X Pro 2014	Rollerblade SPARK Comp 80W 2013	Rollerblade SPARK 84W 2013

Parameter	K2 Alexis X Pro	Rollerblade SPARK Comp 80W	Rollerblade SPARK 84W
Wheel diameter	2x84mm (rear) 2x80mm (front)	4x80mm	4x84mm
Wheel hardness	80 A	82 A	84 A
Bearings	K2 ILQ 5 equivalent ABEC 5	SG 5 equivalent ABEC 5	SG 7 equivalent ABEC 7
Skid	aluminum	composite	aluminum
Tie	upper buckle strap (velcro) symmetrical laces high bond	upper buckle strap (velcro) asymmetrical laces	upper buckle strap (velcro) asymmetrical laces high bond
Measured shoe size	40,5	40,5	40
Collection	2014	2013	2013
Comfort in scale 1-6 (subjective assessment)	3	4	5
Appearance in scale 1-6 (subjective assessment)	2	4	6

My choice: Rollerblade SPARK 84W

Reason:

Since it is getting warmer and during summer it is good to spend more time outdoors - I decided to pull out my skates of the closet. Unfortunately, it turned out that the wheels were already in terrible condition and should be replaced. At first I thought about replacing only the wheels, but looking at the prices on the Internet I noticed that with a little more expensive I can buy a brand new skates. Because of that I began the search for new one :)
I was looking for woman skates up to $200 (fit my slim foot - size 40). I was looking for fitness skates for recreational riding - I am a beginner so far :) All skates compared on this site I measured in one stationary shop in Warsaw - Poland (the link is at the end of the post). I took into account two main criteria:

• my convenience - the comfort and fit to the foot
• technical parameters of the wheels, bearings and skid

Satisfy the first condition was necessary but not sufficient for further consideration of skates purchase.

Skates K2 Alexis is the latest model (2014 collection) with a very interesting solution - the two rear wheels are larger than the front wheels. This design allows for a compromise between speed and easy turning. However, K2 were too wide for my slim foot. This caused the leg was not well held by the shoe. I did not feel that the skates fit. Even a strong bonding laces and buckles do not stabilize the foots in the shoe. For comfortable skating the main idea is to choose the size and shape of the shoe to my own feet, so that it did not move inside the shoe. This is important for safety (effective ankle hold allows for better control) and to avoid chafing. Moreover K2 skates was too big and did not look well on my shapely leg. Therefore, I did not take into account skates K2 for the purchase.

Another model that I measured was skates Rollerblade SPARK Comp 80W. They were much better fitted and better presented on the leg than the K2 Alexis. The skates fits and the leg did not move in the shoe. Unfortunately, the shoe insole was not soft enough in my opinion. After a few minutes 'test drive' inside the store, skates began to pinch me in the ankles, and the ride was not comfortable at all. The big advantage of this model is a method of bonding the shoe - laces are asymmetrical, so that the shoe better adapts to the shape of the foot.
Specifications SPARK Comp 80W skates are average good - composite skid, wheels 80mm / 82A with bearings SG 5 (equivalent to ABEC 5) - nowadays is the minimum for a comfortable ride. Therefore, I thought that the skates are sufficient for my needs - ideal for a novice. But it began to pinch me in the ankles...

The last but not the least model, which I was trying at the store, was skates Rollerblade SPARK 84W. During the 'test drive', it turned out that they are the best fitted to my feet – narrow and well-kept leg, so I rode on them stably and reliably. I did not have to buckle up tight buckles and laces to keep the foot stable in the shoe. Besides, these skates are quite nice look :)
Also, looking at the technical specification SPARK 84W you can see that it is a product of the 'higher technology'. Large 84mm wheels with a hardness of 84A, bearings SG 7 (equivalent to ABEC 7) and an aluminum skid components are generally used in more expensive models. I think that these skates have satisfied even more experienced and demanding person than me.

After a long comparison (fitting and testing of three models in the store, I spent nearly two hours or more :D) I bought a skates Rollerblade SPARK 84W. My choice was dictated primarily of comfort and good technical parameters. Large and hard wheels for easy riding on sidewalks, and on the smooth asphalt goes really fast. I am still a beginner and the only problem is to how to slowdown, because the skates do not stop themselves (do not feel any resistance). All the time I should control the drive speed, because the skates spin up quickly :)
When driving in real conditions, it turned out that the skates are well chosen. Even after a long trip I have no problems with compression, blister or sore feet. Therefore, I believe that it is better to spend more time in the shop for testing than complain about the inconvenience after :)

Useful links:

• Rollerblade homepage
• K2 homepage
• Shop where I bought skates