K2 Soul vs. RB Twister for freeskating?

[tomvv11]

I'm looking to get a new pair of skates for slalom and urban bombing around. Anyone tried Rollerblade Twister IIs or K2 Souls or preferably, both? I tried using the boots from my Mod 10s with the shorter frame from my '96 Escapes, but the boots are too sloppy for slalom. I'm using the Escape boot now, a stiffness improvement, but though both are size 10.5, the Escape has always been too narrow for my EEs. The Mod 10 boot is plenty wide. Twisters in my size are presently NA in N.A., and are a chunk higher in price, but they're a fine looking skate. The Soul 7s are closer to my price range, and are leather besides, but I don't know if they're as good a freeskate. If you have experience with either, do tell.
Thanks,
Tom

[djdaddy]

Tom,

I had the exact same dilemma.

Forgive me for the long post, but...

First let me say that I am a veteran skater. I have had equipment from K2, Roces, RB, Bauer, and on and on and on. I actually have quite a collection of skates from "back in the day". When I was much younger I ran a local skate shop and did some things regionally for a few skate/wheel companies. So I have been around the block a few times.

So when I bought my oldest son his first pair of skates I decided I needed to upgrade - seeing as how my "good" skate are a pair of RB Macroblades with Hyper Fat Boy wheels that are older than my children. I had not been involved in several years, so I just started looking around. I quickly found the Twister II and the Soul Slide models respectively. I deliberated for a while about which one to buy. They both seemed to fit my needs for an all around, all-purpose, indoor/outdoor skate. I have always leaned towards the RB brand. I have ridden K2 equipment, but I was always a fan of Rollerblade.

I ultimately bought the K2's because the more I found about them, the more it seemed they were more comfortable overall. K2 always did a good job with the comfort level of their skate. And I am getting old. My feet hurt. Plus they came off the shelf with 80mm wheels and ABEC 7 bearings. So I wouldn’t have to do a lot of upgrading right away (I'm an upgrade junkie - gotta have my bone swiss).

I have had them for several months now and I am satisfied with them. I bought them from Inline Warehouse. They had the best price (and the guy on the phone answered all of my questions). The skate is very agile. The strap system makes the skate a part of your anatomy. So you get a very responsive experience from the skate. They are also fairly comfortable. The liner is nice and thick and there are no "hard spots" in it.

Now I have not had the luxury of skating in the Twister IIs. So I don’t know how they ride. But I am very happy with my K2's.

[rishio]

I'm interested in getting the twister but my local stores do not have them. There are other rollerblade models at my local stores so I can try those get my sizing but is the sizing consistent with other rollerblade skates?

And anyone know if the frame fits 80mm wheels?

thanks,

Rishi

[IW Staff]

Sizing should be consistent and yes, 80mm wheels will fit.
Thanks,
IW