Roces
Roces: Top Gear for Riders & Skaters
The Roces Collection at Skates USA features high-performance inline skates trusted by aggressive and urban skaters worldwide. Known for innovation and quality, Roces designs skates that balance durability, comfort, and style for all skill levels.
Why Roces matters
If you skated in the 90s or 2000s, you knew someone who skated Roces. The M12 has been continuously refined since the early 2000s and is still one of the most-skated aggressive boots on Earth. The 5th Element was the boot that took aggressive skating mainstream — Aaron Feinberg, Eric Schrijn, Brian Aragon all built parts on them.
What's special: Roces hasn't chased trends. They've kept the same DNA — durable Italian construction, soul plates that take a beating, a fit that breaks in like leather boots. New skaters often discover Roces and stay on them for a decade.
The Roces lineup, decoded
M12 — the flagship. Multiple colorways every year, UFS-compatible (universal frame system), fits a wide range of feet. If you're getting your first "real" pair of aggressive skates, this is where most people start.
M12 Lo / M12 Lo Plus — lower cut, lighter, more flexibility for tech skating.
5th Element — the icon. Recently reissued. Heavier-duty than the M12, beefier shell, classic look.
1992 — anniversary reissue of the original Roces aggressive skate. Old-school silhouette, modern internals.
Dogma — pro model line. Spassov, others. Higher price, premium materials.
RL2 Liner — replacement liner that fits most Roces shells. Worth knowing about — liners die before shells do.
Roces sizing — important
Roces runs about a half size large. If you're a US 10 in sneakers, go US 9.5 in Roces. The boot also runs slightly wide — good for wider feet, but narrow-footed skaters might need a tighter lace or a thicker liner. The shell is solid plastic, so don't expect it to stretch much — but the liner conforms to your foot within 5–10 sessions.
Beginner-friendly?
Yes. The M12 is one of the most beginner-friendly aggressive skates because the boot is forgiving, the souls are flat (easy to balance), and parts are everywhere if you need to replace something. If you're nervous about jumping into aggressive skating, Roces is the safest first pair.