Seba - E3 80 Inline Skates

Seba E3 White is a completely new model in the brand’s catalogue – replacing the ever popular FRX 80, which currently are made by a separate brand, FR Skates. Even though there are many similarities to its predecessors, the skates are made with a new shell and have high chances of conquering the entry-level price bracket of freeskates.

E3 construction is based around a classic hardboot concept, using a stiff outer shell as a base. Seba have decided to once again go with an open shell design and for a good reason – it makes the boot comfortable for a wider group of users and especially benefits skaters with high instep. As we have said – it is a new shell, based on a different mould than FR skates and with different diameters. Thus, we encourage everyone, especially those who had comfort issues in FR boots, to give E3 a try – it may turn out that they will provide a much better fit! We are also happy to see increased number of ventilation holes in the shell – a characteristic that almost died out in current freeskating models. Fans of classic, “perforated” Rollerblade Twisters are going to be pleased, no doubt!

The cuff used in E3 is a part taken from other Seba models, like SX or CJ – it comes with a slight v-cut (it’s lower in the back), giving a greater degree of movement above the ankle. It’s an important feature for people who practice freestyle slalom or jumping on skates. E3 White variant comes with a cuff mounted by screws – this allows for an easy replacement if needed. This is one of few differences between more advanced White and simplified Black version. Thanks to it, you can add a bit of unique look to your skates, using one of coloured cuff variants made for SX/CJ models.

The shell comes equipped with a replaceable slider – nowadays a standard among freeskates. It protects the boot from wearing down in the critical area most prone to damage during falls and slides.

The boot uses standard 165mm mounting and even though Seba has not used metal plates to reinforce boot-frame connection, thanks to hard and dense plastic it’s very solid. In theory, the skates are compatible with all 165mm v-type frames, but because of only two mounting points and lack of any longitudinal adjustment options, a position of frame under the boot will vary. Thus, if you are looking for a low price hardboot to use with your frameset or plan an upgrade from a stock frame in the future, we encourage you to check how the two will fit together, first.

Inside the shell resides a comfortable, anatomically shaped Seba liner, with a lacing option in the upper part. Lacing the liner keeps its tongue in place and makes your foot sit more securely inside the skate. The inner boot used in E3 should be well known to anyone who skated Seba made FR models before. Underneath the liner sits a shock absorber, increasing ride comfort and reducing impact of landings. The boot fastening is composed of lacing, a 45 degree Velcro strap and a standard buckle with receiver on the cuff. Using Velcro strap instead of buckle allows for reduction of price while at the same time making the skates a bit lighter. It’s apples vs oranges situation – some people like Velcros, other prefer buckles. Thankfully, this part is easily replaceable, so you can always put on a plastic buckle of your choice, if you want.

E3 come with an X2R frame, a model which is being present in both Seba and FR Skates lower end offering for some time now. The frame is of 243mm length and comes with four SK (Street Kings) 80mm diameter, 85A hardness wheels and ABEC5 bearings. This is a versatile, manoeuvrable setup that you can trust in urban environment. One great feature of this frame are rockerable axles – you can adjust outside wheels position to make them sit 2mm higher than middle ones, giving you a “banana” rocker without using smaller wheels. It’s a great feature especially for beginners in freestyle slalom, as it removes a need of buying additional four 76mm wheels with skates themselves.

All put together, Seba E3 are a perfect pair of skaters for beginners in freeskating and people who want to try a variety of different skating styles. They will serve you well in urban skating, to learn slides with and even at the beginning of a journey with cone slalom. E3 White is a bit more advanced offering than more simplified E3 Black, coming with slightly upgraded parts. A great choice for skaters who already have some experience with skating and are ready to take it to next level.

Seba used knowledge acquired through the years to create a solid and generous offering freeskate from lower end of price bracket. E3 have very high chance of becoming a new reference point against which other skates in this category will be compared. We are pretty sure that E3 is destined to make some waves this season!