I wear K2 skates. It’s pretty much that simple. When I went home in August, I picked up a pair of Salomons, but even then, I wanted to get new K2s. I finally ordered a pair of Soul 7s from Inline Warehouse. Almost 1/3 of the cost was shipping, but they still weren’t expensive compared to a lot of the skates you find in New Zealand.

I’ve had them on for about half an hour so far, spinning around the parking lots over the lunch break. The first thing that I noticed was the shorter chassis. At 247mm, they are about 2cm shorter than my Salomons. I’m going to have to be a bit careful with my balance until I get used to them, but they are so much more maneuverable. My skating won’t be prettier over night, but it’ll a lot easier to drag my feet around in circles. The speed tests are going to have to wait until I get back from work, but anything with brand new bearings is going to feel faster.