These wheels come in 38mm Width/62mm Height for indoor skating, so they are a  relatively  narrow wheel.  I wore these wheels for about 3 months, 2 seasons ago thinking I was getting the old version of them when I ordered.  I was surprised with a newer version of a wheel that I did not want changed.  They were great for speed and juking around the track, and for stopping.   (The old version came in a darker Forest Green as opposed to Kelly Green).  I loved the old Green Omegas:  They really were the perfect wheel for me.  As a skater, I tend to skate on my toes, and on the front two wheels of my skates.  I like to accelerate quickly through sprinting, and not use long strides as much.  With the changes, the wheel just wasn’t the same.

What I didn’t like about the changes was that the wheel seemed to wear out more quickly, not be as fast and much less solid in the center of the wheel.  For instance, the “new” omegas have a nylon hub, while the old ones had a hollow core.  The old ones are more like the Atom Lowboys, which I really like, and the news ones, are just like an unwanted relative who annoys you.   With the Nylon hub, it feels like there is too much give or spring when I skate, and therefore, it takes away from speed as I am pushing, yet my energy is going into the Nylon as opposed to into the floor.  Plus, they do not feel as hard as the old ones, yet I can not find the data on the old ones, so I can’t really say if they were perhaps a 95A unlike these that are 93A.

It’s important to note that if pricing lends to quality and performance, (you get what you pay for saying), the Atom Omegas 93A Green are approximately $40 cheaper (list price) than the Lowboys.  So, if you are on a budget, and you are an agile skater, then you might prefer to wear the Omegas.

My request to Atom, bring back the old Omegas.  They were far superior.  Just this gals’ opinion.  However, as an afterthought, given the prevalence of scrum starts, who needs to roll as much?  It’s become more of a game of lateral agility, and they are quite food for this.

P.S.  I dug up an old set of Green Omegas, and I am skating on them now.  I begged someone for them, and since it’s hotter and more humid out, and we skate on wood; they feel like new.  If I were skating on concrete or skate court, I would not be wearing them though.  They are better suited for wood and polished concrete.

Sure-Grip Avenger in White:

Before I start the actual review, let me spell out what I think makes for an awesome derby plate:  Durability, agility, maneuverability and roll performance, stopping performance, lightweight, speed and precision.

I want to be able to turn on a dime, and at the same time be able to roll like mad on hard wheels and not have my ankles and legs weighted down by heavy plates.  Of course, I want the plates to last and not break down on top of the rest.

I currently have two sets of white Avengers, a set on my Vanilla Boots and a set on my Riedell 951s.  They are both set up short forward mount.  The Avenger in white has a new DA45 truck, which is slimmer than the original version and optimized for this with the fixed king pin in the Avenger.

Onto the review….

From my perspective, the Sure-Grip Avengers with the DA45 action meet my requirements across the board.

First, let’s look at durability. For those who are nervous about the strength of the Avenger and subscribe to the idea that if it’s lighter, it has more potential to snap or break mid-jam, odn’t worry.  I weigh more than the average skater (most likely) and I practice sometimes 6 times per week.  I have had  no breakdown with this plate since I started skating a prototype in October 2011.  So, Durability, check!

Next, agility, maneuverability and roll performance since they are all intertwined.  Wait…How is roll something to which the plate contributes?  Read on….

There is no skate action better balanced for derby than a DA45.  It can be tuned with various cushions to go from silly-loose as to be uncontrollable or so tight they will not steer.  So, that leaves a lot of tuning room in between.  Don’t get me wrong, any skate can be tuned in a similar manner, yet that is where the DA45 geometry steps to the front.  For any given state of adjustment the DA45 will turn easier and sharper, faster than anything else out there.   On scale of 1-10, you can get any skate to turn into the 6-7 range, although some take more work than others.  The DA45 goes to 10 due to the unique combination of the “45 degree” king pin angle, the precious adjustable pivot and of course the double action cushion arrangement.   The geometry also lets the wheels stay flat on the floor longer than other designs.  This improves traction, which means you can generally run harder wheels.  That’s where roll comes in.

Want a short forward mount?  This plate is perfect for that, and Sure-Grip even writes “your plate will not hang over the front of your boot”, which lets the place be mounted further forward into the derby sweet spot.  This leads to more agility, better maneuverability and roll performance, all there in spades, check!

What makes them so light?  The white Avenger plates are made of magnesium alloy and feature a holl0w center.  The kingpin is hollow as well.  Both of these features were designed to save weight, which translates into less fatigue on your feet, easier pushing and overall lightness.  There are lighter plates out there, but they are plastic.  They bend and twist which costs the skater performance and there is always the possibility of a plastic plate breaking.  It’s lightweight and with none of the disadvantages of most plastic plates.  Check!

Speed, you will certainly have that as well with the Avenger.  The sleek design lends to less air over surface friction, and therefore, less drag, more speed.  You can focus on working smarter, not harder.  Riding on these plates reminds me of driving an expensive BMW, the handling is supreme, and pick up is unsurpassed.  The plate does a remarkable job of sending energy to the front or back, which allows for your wheels to meet the needs of the jam at hand, whether it be quick pick up speed or long strides.  Speed and Precision, check!

These plates have made turning, hockey stopping, snowplowing and powersliding so much easier.  They make juking and running on your skates feel like you are running on air.  So, Stopping, check!

The Avenger in white is starting to take off in my league with skaters  replacing their old DA45 Magnums or what not, and newer skaters getting them on their first set up.  The feedback is pretty awesome.  Never before have I heard so many positive comments about a skate plate!  personally, they have revolutionized my skating, and I can not recommend them more.

This plate runs $191 MSRP.  You can find them on various derby websites and www.suregrip.com.  If you have more questions about “how the (white) Avengers work”, then just check out the website above.

~Athena #7 of the Steel City Derby Demons.

In my opinion the best value for your dollar upgrade is usually replacing your stock cushions. The Sure-Grip Super Cushions are similar to their Powerdyne cousin the Magic Cushions in style but not in price. I’ve heard great things about these but not sure what plates they will work on. If you use these and have an opinion please let your fellow skaters know.

Guess what. We need someone to write us a nice long review of these wheel. Give us your opinion and make your voice heard. Info@QueenOfTheRink.com

Snap is the newest addition Atom’s line of wheels. Featuring the same urethane as their Poison wheel. If you get a chance to skates these please write us a review.

Today Radar Wheels announced a new speed wheel the Sting Ray which looks to be a 43mm version of the popular 31mm Radar Diamonds with the exception of a 9 hole revolver style hub to help keep the weight down.

If you get a chance to skate on them please let the roller derby world know and give us a review.

I’ve been hearing really great things about these mouth guards for roller derby but I’ve never had a chance to use them. What do you all think about them?

Derby Playbook was launched in December, 2012 by Gandreas Software. It’s a WFTDA roller derby track layout that you can draw on and move skaters around the track. You can also set key frames with your skaters and playback their movements over a 2 minute jam. Pretty neat idea and a perfect idea for any coaches out there. I don’t think every skater needs it but for $5.00 why not give it a try. I would really like the developer to add the ability to export a jam as a video file in the future.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/derby-playbook/id485314738?mt=8

As requested by GoAnna888! Now we need someone to write up a full review for these wheels. If you want your review featured on this page send an email to info@queenoftherink.com for more info.

Up by popular demand. Not going to do a redline version since its an upgrade you can get on a lot of Riedell boots including my favorite 265.

We haven’t skated on these wheels yet but if you have please write a review and we will post it.

From the folks that brought you Antik skate boots now you can have a roller bag to match. This airline legal bag packs a ton of space for all your pads, helmet, skates and extra wheels. I really like the large mesh zipper pockets on the flap to store your pads. When you get home just flip open the bag and let the thing air dry to keep the derby stench down to a minimum.

Riedell announced the Model 495 boot a few months ago but has just got around to releasing details about the it. This will be the first derby boot that you will be able to get in different widths. If you get a pair and have an opinion please let us know.

Here’s what Riedell says about the boots.

Hand sorted full grain leather upper
Full grain Chinook leather lining
Genuine Shearling tongue lining
Riedell HF-5 heat moldable reinforcement – outside quarter right boot
Ankle Closure System (ACS)
Stitched and cemented leather outsoles
Hand-made in U.S.A.

Here’s the link to Riedell’s page on the boot:
http://www.roller.riedellskates.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductName=Model+495

Powerdyne - Moonwalker

New toe stops just released from Riedell and will be available at Championals. Here’s what they say about it.

Made of a natural, non-marking, rubber compound wrapped around an anodized lightweight aluminum stem for outstanding durability and consistency on every skating surface. The distinct tear-drop shape gives more flex, bounce, and control while the signature dimples offer more bite when starting and stopping. Available in Mint, Blood Red, and Electric Yellow for $20!

Atom Wheels - Stinger Slim

If I were married to Stinger Slims, I don’t think it would end happily. They’re so light, I’d feel fat. They’re hub is rigid – the thing has no give at its core. They’re really grippy and can’t let go,  but they’re also fast which is not a quality I’m looking for in a life-long partnership. Stinger Slims don’t know how to compromise, and marriage is all about compromise.

I wouldn’t ever want to marry them, but I’d certainly recommend them to anyone who skates and bouts on slippery surfaces.

The roll is amazing, they’re incredibly light, and they’re grippy. The urethane seems soft (88A) but on slippery surfaces right surface they’re comparable to a 92A+ for roll and feedback. They’re never sluggish.

The hub is nylon (glass filled). While I am a smaller skater, I don’t find any squish factor when comparing them to my aluminum-hubbed Radar Diamonds (though I found the grip to be better than my 92As for sure).

You can use them as pushers paired with any of the myriad of 62mm x 38mm wide wheels (Omegas come to mind)  but if you’re on cold, polished concrete, a set of 8 of these babies performs amazingly well.

Moreover, the narrow profile paired with the incredible grip means incredible agility for folks looking for more agility on the track.

They’re in the higher price bracket for wheels – about a hundred bucks for a set of 8, but they rival Poison Slims in grip and Radar Diamonds in roll and feedback. There is zero compromise with this wheel.