Updated: Oct 6
ProGuide
Boots & Frames: Selecting and Sizing Your Tech
Boots, Frames, Size Charts & Instructions
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Whether you're browsing our ProShop for a solution like a Complete Skate Package (CSP) or you prefer to select your own component(s)—meaning, you create your own skate and we assemble and ship—you can and should use this ProGuide to tackle the selection and sizing of boots and frames. However, for bearings and wheels, see this ProGuide.
After you review this ProGuide on boots and frames, if you still have questions, share them with us by creating a post on our Filo (ProShop category).
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Complete Skate Packages (CSPs)
With CSPs, you technically only need to tackle the Tracings: How-To (Instructions) detailed below. We'll handle the rest for you. If your skates are being shipped outside the continental U.S., you can request a quote by contacting us on chat with your delivery address, prior to placing your order.
Create Your Own
When selecting your own components—boot, frame, wheels, bearings—you have to start with the boots. This means you will have to start with tackling the tracings with Step 0: Tracings, a How-To (Instructions) before doing anything else.
The Rest of Your Cart
Once you've added the boot to your cart, you can then browse frames and use the frame charts below to select your frame size and add your frame to your cart. Lastly, you'll need to add the Mounting and Shipping option for delivery. If you wish to mount everything on your own, you'll note this when placing your order and still have to add the Mounting and Shipping option to your cart. If your skates are being shipped outside the continental U.S., you can request a quote by contacting us on chat with your delivery address, prior to placing your order.
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Step 0: Tracings, a How-To
Your tracings are required and used to confirm your measurements. Your measurements, along with your life stage, are used to calculate your boot's size. Then, your boot's size determines your frame's size. Your frame's size determines your standard components. Once you know your frame's standard components, you can decide if you need to purchase anything to further personalize your order before we ship your skates/components to you. We also provide tutorials created by Roll-Line to help you before, after, and throughout the life of your tech.
Use the following expandable sections to view more and tackle each step.
Step 1: Tackle the Tracings
If you prefer a print-friendly version, check out the PDF version here.
Overview Using a single sheet of standard paper, start by standing barefoot. Place each foot in the center of the paper. Then, have a partner trace each foot while maintaining the pencil (or similar writing utensil) at 0º — meaning, vertically oriented. ProTip: You don't want an exact tracing, so by maintaining your pencil vertically, you allow a tiny bit of buffer for your feet and your new boots. As this is done correctly, look down: You'll see the marks of your partner's pencil around the contours of your feet.
Step 2: Measure the Tracings
Friendly Reminder In skating, and all around the world (94.7%), we use the metric system: We use millimeters (MM) on tech like boots, frames, wheels, and bearings and we use kilograms (KG) for body weight references on components like cushions. If you ignore this reminder and use another unit of measurement, you will order the size for your tech and its components, and you will be responsible for it. Like Combos, Complete Skate Packages (CSPs) require labor (time, mounting, drilling) and thus irreversible changes to the boot and other assembly. By placing your order, you accept our terms and thus the responsibility for the information you enter. Protect your investment by using this ProGuide and convert your inches (or other unit of measurement) to MM online before you place your order.
Overview
Next, measure your tracings—NOT your feet. We need to find both the maximum length and maximum width of each tracing, for a total of four (4) total measurements. Start by measuring from the heel mark(s) to your longest toe and do the same for your maximum widths by measuring from the farthest point of your tracing on the left to the farthest point of your tracing on the right. Then, make note of each tracing's maximum length and maximum width on the tracing itself, as shown below. Then, snap a photo of each tracing with your measurements written on them (needed for step 5).
Examples:
Step 3: Calculate the Boot Size
Now that you have two lengths and two widths in millimeters (MM), use the greater of your lengths as your primary length reference. In the example above, my tracings' lengths happen to be the same (280 MM) — though this can certainly vary. You never know until you do your tracings. Some feet are identical in length. Some feet are not identical (Ex: 280 MM and 285 MM). In any case, take the higher number.
Calculations
Since my feet have stopped growing, I'll add 5 MM to my highest number (280 MM) and arrive at 285 for my boot size. For someone whose feet have not stopped growing (youth, teens), add 10 MM to the tracings' max length to arrive at their boot size.
Step 4: Select a Boot & Check Out
This is the fun part! Now, you can browse boots and choose the boot by its characteristics and audience. Get started by opening our ProShop page in a new tab.
ProTip: Filters
Using Filters, you can choose Components and select Boots to narrow down your options from All Products to see only Boots sold in our ProShop. You can then use other Filters like Catégories (image below) to further refine your results and see boots by various audiences, disciplines, and more. At any time, you can click on a product click to read more about it on its own product page.
Step 5: Upload Your Tracings
How-To Snap a photo of both tracings. Then, using our Filo you can select the ProShop category and create a post with your own notes, text, questions, and any additional media you'd like, by simply adding your order number (so we can find it easily) and uploading your photos of your tracings.
Post-Purchase Email Reminder
After you place an order in our ProShop, you'll get an email reminder about tracings, just in case your order contains boots or a Complete Skate Package ("CSP"). If your order does not involve boots, you can disregard this reminder. See an example of this reminder email below.
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credit: Roll-Line Catalogue 2022
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Boot-to-Frame Charts
Since your boot size determines your frame's size, you'll need your boot's size to choose the right frame size before you check out.
Please note:
If you're purchasing a Complete Skate Package, you only have to choose your boot size and wheel preference. You can use this for the goal of learning but ultimately skip it because our team will tackle this step for you.
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Questions
As always, knowledge is key and we do this to share knowledge and perfect each resource. So, collaborating is key! For anything related to the content of this ProGuide, we invite you to use the comments section below.
Product Questions
Should you have Product questions—meaning, an inquiry about a particular boot or questions not related to this particular ProGuide—you can and should check out our Filo's ProShop channel ("category") and create a post to share your question. Don't be shy! Your question could help someone else and even protect you and your investment from costly mistakes, ordering the wrong size, product, etc.
See more tutorials on Roll-Line's YouTube Channel