3-Wheel Skates Buyers Guide

Three wheeled skates (tri-skates or 3x3 rollerblades), are designed with the purpose of maintaining higher speeds without losing manoeuvrability. This guide should explain the pros and the cons of using a 3 wheel skate, where they excel and where they don't, and what’s the best 3 wheel skates for general use.

The 3 wheel configuration became a commercial interest in 2014 through the marketing campaigns of Powerslide. They were promoting the idea of speed to general use skaters through the (now outdated) term ‘powerblading’. However, to get more speed you need to make the wheels bigger. Increasing the size of all four wheels would make the wheelbase less manoeuvrable. Therefore, Powerslide discarded one of the wheels and adjusted the frame's central alignment. This allowed them to keep a short frame length whilst benefiting from larger wheels. Consequently, it's argued, the turning circle of a 3-wheel skate is similar to a 4-wheel skate with smaller wheels. 

(Just to note; three wheeled skates existed before 2014  but in more specialised contexts such as off-road skating and speed skating.)


TLDR: Quick recommendations

Best 3 wheel skates for beginners: Powerslide Next 100 Skates

Best 3 wheel skates for marathons: Powerslide HC 110 Evo

Best 3 wheel skates for comfort: K2 Trio 100

Best 3 wheel skates under £150: Powerslide Zoom 100

Best 3 wheels skates for slalom: Powerslide Tau 90

Why three wheels?

In engineering terms; the argument is, three wheels fit around the shape of your foot better than four. They allow the middle wheel to sit right in the arch area of the foot (with the two other wheels either end) effectively moving the wheel away from the lowest part of the foot and allowing the overall ride height of the skate to be lower.

The best example of this is the Powerslide Next Skates, which is a great all-round 3 wheel skate, and includes comfortable and heat moldable MyFit liners. The Trinity frame system keeps the middle wheel tucked right into the arch of the foot, even more so than other brands. 

What are 3 wheel skates best for?

3 wheel skates excel in wide open spaces where distance and/or leisure skating is desired. You want to be able to get up to speed and then stay at that speed.

The best example of this style of skating is a marathon. There’s little need to slow down, any turns are wide and obtuse and you can focus on what’s ahead of you, rather than around you. The best marathon skates as a general user are the Powerslide HC Evo 110 Skates. The carbon fibre boot gives you similar power transfer and responsiveness to a speed skating boot, but the plastic cuff provides support and allows you to rest more comfortably. This is important if you don’t want to activate your muscles continuously (we can’t all have quadriceps like Bart Swings).


What makes a good 3-wheel skate for Slalom?

There is debate about the effectiveness of 3 wheels in slalom/freestyle disciplines (intricate and precise tricks around cones in a line), as traditionally this is a 4 wheel discipline. Brands like FR Skates excel at manufacturing skates for this activity, but they don’t make 3 wheel versions. 

Skaters who do want to use 3-wheel skates for slalom should not purchase skates with wheels bigger than 90mm. A short 231 mm length frame might be most optimal, too. Therefore, the best 3 wheel skate for slalom is the Powerslide Tau 90 Skates. The frame uses 90mm wheels (which is smaller than average) and utilises rockerable axles (which changes the height of the middle wheel by 1-2 mm). This feature is crucial to the implementation of tricks in this style of skating.


What’s the most comfortable 3 wheel skates?

3 wheel skates typically use the same boots as their 4-wheel counter parts, so they are just as comfortable as 4 wheel skates. Being higher off the ground, however, means that you may be able to lean into the edges of the wheels more, therefore you may find pressure in slightly different areas when turning, compared to 4-wheels.  Because of this, 3-wheel skates with premium liners, like MyFit or Intuition, are preferable as they provide noticeably better support and comfort in this respect.

Nevertheless, K2 are renowned for making some of the comfiest skates on the market. They are distinctive from others in that they use what’s called a ‘softboot’. The fundamental structure of the skate is still plastic, but the dorsum (top and sides of the foot) are built from fabric, much like a running shoe.

Soft boots might offer slightly less support than other models but can often be forgiving on your feet and reduce fatigue. The K2 Trio LT 100  is the best choice in this style, for both general use and longer distances. Users often report great shock absorbing properties which make them more enjoyable on rough surfaces.


How to choose the right wheel size on 3-wheel skates?

Generally there are four different options for wheel size on 3-wheel skates: 90 mm, 100 mm, 110 mm and 125 mm. Experienced users will be able to get value out of any size, but your wheel size should depend on your foot size (or your skill level).

If you have feet size EU 37-40, a smaller 90 mm wheel should be better proportioned to you. If your feet are size EU 41-43 a 100 mm wheel might be better proportioned to you. And, if your feet are EU 45-47 a 110 mm might be better proportioned to you. EU 48 and over might be best suited to 125 mm wheels.

Whilst it’s good to digest, this is a nuanced topic and, perhaps, not worth overthinking (yet). More experienced skaters will be able to get value out of any size wheel, but some wheel sizes may be more appropriate for your proportions as an individual. 

Another way to look at wheel size is below:

90 mm = Easiest to control, lowest speed
100 mm = Good control, good speed
110 mm = Harder to control, fast speed
125 mm = Hardest to control, fastest speed


What’s the best budget 3-wheel skates?

The best 3-wheel skate under £150 is the Powerslide Zoom 100 Skates. They keep the costs low by riveting the parts together (which means they are not removable parts). This creates an added bonus of being excellent to take out of the box, put on your feet and roll away. Simple! Powerslide used 100 mm wheels so they never get out of control, a dual fit liner for easy fitment, and the riveted frame keeps your foot very connected to the wheelbase and low to the ground. We use this skate weekly, it’s in the boot of all our cars just because it’s so easy!

Why not three wheels?

Three wheels can be daunting even for experienced users, so anyone looking to try them should exercise some caution. Having a more central pivot point can cause unexpected disruption to your stride or flow. Skating over uneven surfaces (very common in the UK) means that there can be short moments when the middle wheel is the only one making contact with the ground. This can sometimes be destabilising.

Another drawback to three wheel skates is that they place users much higher off the ground, which can accentuate issues like pronation or supination. Less experienced skater’s may also find that the speed is more difficult to control which will exacerbate any struggles you're having learning certain techniques. 

The primary objection to three-wheel skates today is that other products on the market now better address the issue 3-wheel skates were trying to solve. The revolution of wizard-style skating means that 4 wheel frames with big wheels, long wheelbases and 'natural rockers' (a very subtle pivot point on the third wheel back) are plentiful. These products effectively provide speed, manoeuvrability AND stability.


3 wheel skate comparison table 

Summary

Three-wheeled skates combine speed and manoeuvrability, and are best suited for distance skating, marathons, and cruising. The larger wheels on a short frame means they provide higher speeds without losing the ability to turn. 

For beginners, the Powerslide Next 100 is a great all-rounder. For endurance and speed, the Powerslide HC Evo 110 is great, or the K2 Trio LT 100 for ultimate comfort.

On a budget? The Powerslide Zoom 100 gives fantastic performance for under £150.

Three wheels, arguably, have the advantage of better foot alignment which experienced users can exploit. However, they might be challenging for novice skaters as they require more concentration when skating on uneven surfaces. 

While 3-wheel skates remain fashionable, wizard-style 4-wheel frames now provide bigger wheels with speed and manoeuvrability, and with greater stability too! This could be another option to look into depending on your needs. 

Any case, I’ll leave you to consider these options or if you need more expert advice give us a call or email!

See the three wheel skates in action with Asha's beginners skating guide. You can view LocoSkates' whole range on our 3 wheel skates page now.