Ice blades for inline skates tested

Powerslide Sabre 4 + der-rollenshop.live Ice Blades Test

Brief Description:

The Powerslide Sabre 4 ice blades and the der-rollenshop.live ice blades are designed to transform inline skates into ice skates by replacing the wheels with these blades. This allows you to use the same boots and frame for both street and ice skating, saving space in your home storage, for example. Another benefit is the exceptional comfort you can experience while skating on ice. The blades can be mounted on most inline skates. You simply need to pay attention to the frame length (manufacturer product details) or seek advice if necessary.

Product Details

der-rollenshop.live Blade

• Blade: Stainless, hardened steel, professionally pre-sharpened by hand (optical "flaws" may occur), 312mm length
• Suitable for: Frames with a length of 265mm-280mm
• Contents per pack: 2x der-rollenshop.live blade, 16x standard spacers

Powerslide Sabre 4 Blade

• Material: Heat-treated 5CR14Mo vanadium steel (3.5mm thickness, hardness approx. 54 HRC, pre-sharpened)
• Weight: 196g including hardware (Size S/M; 219mm, 231mm, 243mm, 255mm, 259mm)
  Available sizes: XXS/XS - 207mm, 212mm, 220mm, 231mm; L/XL - 275mm, 305mm
• Contents per pack: 2x Sabre 4 blade, 16x special spacers

Installation/Mounting

Both the Powerslide Sabre 4 blades and the der-rollenshop.live blades are relatively easy to mount. However, the process can be a bit “fiddly” at first and requires some dexterity.

The Powerslide Sabre 4 blades have an advantage due to their special spacers, which make installation slightly easier. These spacers are tapered and fit a few millimeters into the slots of the blades without slipping past them. On the other hand, you probably already have standard spacers for the der-rollenshop.live blade at home. ;-)

Setup used for this test:
Boot: Powerslide Phuzion Enzo (size 41)
Frame: Powerslide Elite Cast AL 275/4x90 Black Tri
For this setup, the Powerslide Sabre 4 blade corresponds to size L/XL (blade length: 335mm). The der-rollenshop.live blade also fits perfectly.

Both blade variants are compatible with frames from other manufacturers as well. (Just make sure to match the size!)

How to install:
Start by removing all wheels and, if applicable, the brake. You can store the wheels, for example, in a wheel bag. Keep the axles, as they are needed for installation.

Once the wheels are removed, follow the instructions provided. Begin by inserting the spacers and the blade into the frame. This process requires a little patience and dexterity.

Once the blade is mounted, all screws should be tightened again to ensure they do not come loose. And now, off to the ice!

On the Ice

When putting on the skates—oh, excuse me, the ice skates—it already felt familiar on the feet. It’s truly a world of difference compared to the rental skates most people know. The wearing comfort is just like inline skating, with the only difference being that you’re gliding on ice instead of asphalt.

The first laps on the ice were approached with some skepticism. A lot of attention was paid to how it felt and even how it sounded. The factory grind is solid and provides a good grip on the ice. Both the Powerslide Sabre 4 blades and the der-rollenshop.live blades leave a great impression while skating. Faster turns and accelerations are no problem. They glide smoothly across the ice, giving the skater a feeling of safety. Nothing wobbles, vibrates, or squeaks. In terms of maneuverability, these blades are on par with “proper” ice skates. However, in terms of speed, they can’t quite match ice hockey skates or the Powerslide Trident Ice Blades.

Quick turns (curves) are easy to execute, making it incredibly fun to slalom between the crowd.

During the nearly 3-hour test, there were no issues with loose screws or anything similar. (Of course, screws need to be tightened properly. But remember: after “tight” comes “broken.” ;-) For this test, the blades were used in their factory-sharpened condition.)

Summary

The Powerslide Sabre 4 and the der-rollenshop.live blades leave a high-quality and solid impression. They are lightweight, a bit “fiddly” to mount, but within a few minutes, an inline skate can be turned into an ice skate.

On the ice, the blades perform remarkably well. Various skating maneuvers can be executed without any issues, and thanks to their agility, sudden turns to avoid unexpected obstacles are easy to manage.

All in all, it can be concluded that both tested blades are a must-have for anyone who doesn’t want to give up inline skating during icy weather, bad road conditions, etc., while keeping an eye on their budget. Both the Powerslide Sabre 4 and the der-rollenshop.live blades feel like skating on a rocker frame with 80 or 90mm wheels and are incredibly fun. Visually, both variants are also well-designed, although the der-rollenshop.live blade, subjectively speaking, seems to fit this frame size a bit better.