Good but painful
Written: Jun 05 '03
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Pros: A smooth ride, adjustable chassis, good ventilation, quick lace-up
Cons: Boot insole can be rough, causes chaffing, poorly placed elastic strap inside is uncomfortable
The Bottom Line: Very good product, but excruciatingly uncomfortable without adjustments. If there wasn't a comfort problem, I would rate this much higher.
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| onlyidleft's Full Review: Bauer X-Tra 5.0 In-Line Skate X-TRA 5.0 M |
Here's the thing. I needed a new pair of rollerblades, but I really didn't (and still don't) have that much money. Well, I found the Bauer X-Tra 5.0 at my local skate shop on sale for about $100.00 (canadian), and I figured they would do the trick.
The first thing I noticed when I tried them on was how smooth they felt. Each stride felt very easy and soft, very flowing. I checked the wheels after, and they seem softer than your average (which can be good or bad, depending on what you need). But these blades are in general, quite smooth.
I bought a pair a few days later (I need time to mull things over), and took them out for a spin later that evening. I was out for about 2 hours. The first hour was great - the rollerblades continued to perform smoothly, very comfortable. However, after a while, I began to notice a slight pain on the fleshy part of the inside of your foot. When I got back home, I realized that there were 2 extremely poorly-placed elastic straps connecting the bottom of the insole to it's tongue. These straps serve no functional purpose other than to keep the tongue secure within the molding. After a while, due to the elasticity, these straps rubbing against your foot can really hurt!
Well, I cut these straps off the next day. (I hope this doesn't void any warranty). Since then I haven't had problems with this (no straps = no problem).
However, a couple days later, I did notice another issue with comfortability. I went out rollerblading, but with relatively low socks (ie my socks did not reach the top of the insoles). Now, the material on the inside is NOT smooth or soft. After about an hour, I realized that I was actually being CUT by the insoles. Well, I should have known better I suppose than wearing such low socks, but the inside IS unusually rough.
Since I recovered from this sad injury (it did take a week or so to heal), I have taken the rollerblades out several times, making sure I wear extra-thick, high socks. No problems since. Other than these two major issues, I find the rollerblades to be reasonably comfortable. However, I have never (to the best of my memory) had such a problem before with any previous rollerblades, so I must overall give it a very low rating on comfort.
One minor issue I should add regarding comfort - it has a velcro ankle strap, which I like, to provide additional support up high. However, I find that it is too rigid - it does not give when you lean forward at all. This wouldn't be a problem, if you could adjust the strap more easily. However, I find that it takes an unusual amount of effort to re-adjust the strap - so much so that it is probably too tedious to do while skating.
However, I was impressed with the excellent ventilation system of the Bauer X-tra's. The insole is made from a meshy material, and there are lots of spaces to breathe. As well, the boots are easy to lace up, with only 1 hook to go through and the ankle-strap providing the quick service.
I would recommend these rollerblades to any budget conscious rollerblader of any skill level, but of course with the warning on comfortability. Unless you're looking for hardcore racing blades, or ones that come with training wheels, these should suit your everyday needs, at an affordable price.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
onlyidleft
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Location: Canada!
Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
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