FR - FRW 80 - Black/White Inline Skates

FR Skates brand has emerged in 2018, however it is not hard to see that in fact it is a continuation of one of the most valued freestyle and freeskate brands – namely, Seba. After years of experimentation with all kinds of skates, from aggressive to fitness and speed ones, owners have decided to redefine their product line. FR Skates is more focused and relies on what always was a core of Seba lineup – solid skates for freeride and top end freestyle slalom skates.

FR line skates were at the forefront of technology of urban skates for over a decade and even today they are ahead of large majority of competition offerings. FRX came several years after FR1 and FR2 models and ever since has been an industry benchmark to which other budget-oriented freeskate models are compared. FRW is a variant of FRX targeted at female audience – however, the differences between two models mostly boil down to aesthetics. The one notable addition in FRW is a brake – this makes skates a bit better suited for users who buy them as their first skates and will learn how to skate on them. Naturally, this applies to everyone, not only women.

Skates are based around rigid hardboot made out of durable material and equipped with multiple convenient features which are held in high regard by thousands of skaters. The shell itself has been cut more open than usual in skates of such design – it improves comfort, especially for user with high instep.

Starting from the top of the skate, FRW 80 comes with the same cuff as more expensive versions – the only difference is that standard screws were used to attach it to the shell in place of canting system. This should not be perceived as an issue, though, as very few skates come with canting feature. FR skates were one of the first skates to introduce replaceable abrasive pad on the side (sometimes called “slider”) which makes boots lasting longer by protecting them during wheel slides (shuffles). As you can expect, this piece is also present in this version. Frame mount spacing is 165mm and boots are compatible with most of the frames which use this standard – also triskating ones, which are easier to attach thanks to special wheel well next to front mounting point, which makes more room for big wheels.

Inside of the shell sits a comfortable, anatomically shaped liner which can be laced in the upper part, helping in securing the foot in place. Beneath the liner sits a shock absorber which makes skating more comfortable and reduces impact of landings. Boot tightening is composed of laces, plastic buckle on cuff and 45 degree Velcro strap on shell. Plastic buckle and Velcro strap not only allow for a reduction of the skate price – they also make the boot a bit lighter, without compromising how it secures the foot in place. Of course, for those who prefer the 45 degree buckle, there is an option to swap the Velcro strap for it easily.

Skate comes with new X2R frame of 243mm length, complete with Street Kings wheels and Twincam MW7 Freeride bearings. This makes FRW a universal, reliable and agile setup which feels right at home in urban environment. Moreover, X2R frame comes with a rockering system – you can tilt outer axles upwards, creating full rocker (“banana”) which is a standard setup for freestyle slalom. 4x80mm setup is a classic among freeskates and is perfect for jumps and slides.

FRW 80 are perfect mixture of versatility, proven design, quality and low price, making them ideal choice for everyone taking first steps in freestyle and urban skating. They will also serve as good entry level skate for complete beginners – the brake will come handy while learning the skating technique.

There is no denying that some corners were cut to hit lower price point, however, it was done in a smart way, without compromising the skate usefulness. FRW 80 are an example that lower budget skates still can be made very well and punch above their weight when it comes to possibilities they bring to the table.