Roller Hockey Equipment News / Blog / Reviews
Bauer RS vs RSX Roller Hockey Skates, what's the difference? Is one better for skating out in the streets?
We have been receiving a lot of questions about the Bauer RS and RSX inline skates. Now that a ton of hockey players are without ice and looking to the streets to get their hockey fix we thought we'd get our thoughts out to help you get the right pair of skates for the summer!
Browse our full selection of Bauer RS and RSX Skates!
I feel it's important to mention the Bauer RS (Yellow wheels and accents) and RSX (Blue wheels and accents) are the CHEAPEST INLINE SKATES Bauer makes for roller hockey. With that I hope to temper expectations that these are going to be a completely luxurious experience for everyone. They will do the trick to get out and skate this summer, but won't stack up quite like your $500+ ice skates.
The RS and RSX are entry level skates, and what Bauer is able to bring to market at a price that most people can afford is great. I'd say they are the best skates in the $100-$250 price range, compared to any other brands starter models. They are perfect for kids with growing feet, small adults. Bigger skaters (175lbs+) beware... anything more than recreational skating could end bad.
Bauer RS Inline Hockey Skates
The Bauer RS Skates use a solid one-piece plastic shell. We love this, reminds me of the old hard boot Titan brand rollerblades I had as a kid. Fairly supportive and handles a lot of abuse as far as scratches from falls. Will make a good hand me down. I think they look awesome all scraped up.
The Outdoor wheels are hard, made for playing hockey in an outdoor rink. Not a lot of grip, they will slide easily and roll quickly. For cruising, and street skating, you will feel a lot more more of the bumps in the road.
The Hi Lo frames used on all Bauer/Mission skates we believe offer the best agility and most natural transition from ice to inline.
The Bauer RS Junior Skate model is the next range from 1-5 skate size.
The Bauer RS Senior Skate Model is available in sizes 6-12.
Bauer RSX differences and upgrades
Besides the bright blue colour, there are 2 upgrades on the Bauer RSX Inline Skates. There is a Junior Bauer RSX Model from size 1-5 and a Senior Bauer RSX Skate with sizes from 6-12.
- The tongue is upgraded, with extra foam inserts on top of the foot for more comfort.
- They come with softer indoor wheels. It isn't a super high quality indoor wheel, but we think they are great for street skating. They absorb more shock for a smoother roll and offer way better grip which makes them easier to control.
The indoor will wear down a bit faster if you are playing intense hockey, but for people who are just starting out with street skating, there is no reason to avoid using these outdoor, unless you plan to use them indoor one day. Then I'd say still use them and get a better set of indoor wheels to use indoor.
Just noticing: upgraded laces. The laces on the RS are really cheap. RSX are a minor step up. Adding a pair of waxed or coloured Elite Hockey laces looks really sharp!
Beware:
Thin Tongue on RS:
The Tongue is pretty thin on top of the foot. Just make sure that you lace the skates evenly. Don't over-tighten in one spot or you can create lace bite on top of the foot which is no fun at all.
Thin Hi Lo Frame:
These frames can hold up very well for almost all kids and most small adults for recreational and street skating, ball hockey, training etc. But if you start playing with a puck or are a bigger player (over 180lbs) or putting a lot of force into your skates, you may run into some issues.
https://www.reddit.com/r/InlineHockey/comments/fugad8/not_a_good_start/
See this Reddit post of someone who bent their frames completely during their first session.
He was a big skater, over 200lbs, so we advise if you are heavier, or putting a lot of force into the skates and want them to last, we would recommend upgrading to the Mission Inhaler FZ5 for wider feet, or the Bauer Vapor X2.7 for narrower feet. They come with a much stronger frame.
Not to scare you away completely, just to be honest with what we've seen so far. These are a dynamite first pair of skates for most!
Indoor and Outdoor Wheels:
Don't worry TOO much, for the streets, either wheels can used just fine and get upgraded easily. Choose the right fit and budget first and you can change the experience in a major way by switching wheels. We are happy to help recommend a wheel if you let us know where you'll be skating most!
Send us a photo a few weeks in to skating and we can advise you on wheel rotation (flipping and changing spots) to maximize their life.
Exceptions to this rule... We wouldn't recommend using an outdoor wheel indoor though, you can't grip in turns or stop which is a major disadvantage.
Also, don't use your really expensive indoor wheels outdoor, they'll get shredded and won't perform on smooth surfaces anymore.
Does the extra cost justify the upgrade:
Tough one. The cost to upgrade, $70 for Junior, or $80 doesn't quite add up to me... the wheels shouldn't cost more than a couple bucks each to upgrade. So I guess most of the cost is in the new tongue. Which is definitely an upgrade, but its still a pretty airy tongue for $50? I think if you want a comfortable and smooth experience right away, go for the RSX. If you are on a budget and just looking for something fun to boot around the block in, possibly get in some street hockey, the RS will do just fine.
Bauer RS and RSX Sizing advice:
Roller Hockey skates will fit 1-2 sizes down from a perfectly fitting shoe. Jr and Youth skate sizes generally fit 1 sizes down from shoe size. Senior skates are 1.5-2.0 sizes down from shoe.
Example: I wear an 8.0D skate size and a 10.0 US Shoe size.
The most common mistake buying ill-fitting skates is having the same size as your shoe size.
Better than using shoe size, which isn't perfect, measure in CM (centimeters) in 3 easy steps:
- Stand up on paper
- Trace both feet as accurately as possible,
- Measure the longest in CM to the nearest MM (Example 23.2cm)
Then, use the size chart to find the skate closest to your measurement. For growing feet I would suggest making sure you have 3mm-1.0cm of extra space for growth. The bigger you go, the harder they will be to control, so we don't advise going higher than 1cm.
Bauer RS and RSX Inline Skate Size Charts
Bauer RS Youth Skates
| Skate Size | Y10 | Y11 | Y12 | Y13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Shoe | Y11 | Y12 | Y13 | 1 |
| EU Shoe | 28 | 29.5 | 31 | 32 |
| UK | Y10.5 | Y11.5 | Y12.5 | Y13.5 |
| Length in CM (Centimeters) (label) | 17.0 | 18.0 | 19.0.0 | 20 |
Bauer RS / RSX Junior Skates
| Skate Size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Shoe | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| EU Shoe | 33.5 | 35 | 36 | 37.5 | 38.5 |
| UK Shoe | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5.5 |
|
Length in CM (Centimeters) (label) |
21.0 | 21.8 | 22.6 | 23.5 | 24.3 |
Bauer RS / RSX Senior Skates
| SKATE SIZE | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Shoe | 7.5 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 12.5 | 13.5 |
| EU Shoe | 40.5 | 42 | 43 | 44.5 | 45.5 | 47 | 48 |
| UK Shoe | 6.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 12.5 |
| Length CM (Centimeters) (label) | 25.1 | 26.0 | 26.8 | 27.7 | 28.5 | 29.4 | 30.2 |
Buy Bauer RS or RSX Inline Skates now!
Still haven't had enough?
Holler if you have questions!
Thanks again for choosing us to get your hockey fix this summer! We love this gear and it's our pleasure to share with you what we've learned over the years to get the most out it! It can seem confusing but let us know what you are thinking and we'll get you up to speed.
As always - shoot us an email if you have any questions or would like to place an order! Use the contact page or contact me directly - sean@coasthockeyshop.com