Rollerblade - Twister Edge X 2019 - Black/White Inline Skates

If we were to choose one word describing what Rollerblade is, the choice would be simple – “quality”. The brand is one of foundation stones of inline skating and greatly contributed to expansion of the sport in 90’s. Even though Rollerblade roots are American, they have merged with Italian company Tecnica at the beginning of XII century. Nowadays, not everyone knows that Tecnica has been making a very good skates themselves. Among these skates was Tecnica Twister, a skate which was considered to be the best freeskate on the market for years.

Rollerblade saw the potential in Twister and decided to not only continue production after a merge, but to develop and upgrade it further. Thus, the venerable old Twister, a grandfather of current hardboot freeskates, clocked almost 25 years on the market. It is a long time by technology standards and the age started to show, when compared to competition offering. Without a shadow of doubt, the frame mounting was one area in need of improvement. Rollerblade decided to make a whole new skate from scratch, instead of doing another rework of existing model. This is how Twister Edge was born. The “X” version is equipped with premium components to provide a top of the line urban skate without any compromises.

What clearly separates Twister Edge X from other freeskating hardboots is style. Sharp and clean lines of the shell give skate a “stealth” look. The boot is made out of durable and rigid polymer composite, as Rollerblade wanted to maximize energy transfer. This is enhanced further by Anti Torsion Box, a square-shaped hole in the bottom which is reinforced on edges to make underside of the boot more rigid. It also serves a role in ventilation, allowing for better air flow. The frame and boot connection is reinforced by aluminum plates. All of this completely eliminates problems with “soft” underside of the shell which plagued later versions of original Twister. The new model offers excellent control, responsiveness and energy transfer, providing a completely new level of quality in these areas.

Inside of the shell resides anatomically shaped Premium First Fit liner, equipped with AirFlow insole. The liner wraps around the foot and the ankle, working with shell lacing and buckles to provide excellent, secure fit without any heel lift. First Fit liner is made of higher quality materials than one found in regular edition of Twister Edge and provides superior comfort right out of the box. Underneath the heel is a shock-absorber, which lessens impacts on landings. The skates come with replaceable sliders which protect the shell from wear on the sides.

The frame is modeled after classic Hot Rod frame known from original Twister, but is more rigid. Rollerblade offers an unique, very sensible approach to frame length – the skates in sizes up to EU44 have 243mm length, while bigger sizes come with 255mm one. Both fit four 80mm wheels and are of the same height. Thanks to it, the skaters with bigger feet can enjoy added stability (as 243mm frame is often too short for them) without sacrificing low center of gravity provided by 80mm wheels. The wheels used in Twister Edge X are Rollerblade Hydrogen of 85A hardness. The US-made Hydrogens are the very best wheels in Rollerblade portfolio, with excellent durability, roll, grip and rebound. Twincam ILQ-9 Classic Pus belong to upper class of bearings for urban skating, being reliable, long lasting and fast.  As usual, Rollerblade adds brake in the box, which will come in handy for those who are learning how to skate.

Twister Edge marks a beginning of a new era in Rollerblade collection – they are modern skates built for performance, durability and comfort, without compromises. Their characteristics make them going toe to toe with best of other brands hardboots. The “X” variant is further upgraded with higher quality liner, wheels and bearings - a version for those who seek the very best and do not accept compromises. We recommend them to anyone who is looking for a pair of premium freeskates.