Everything about Ankle Buckles

Inline skate ankle buckles are an important part of inline skates that help to secure the skate to the foot and ankle. Historically, early inline skates did not have any kind of ankle support or buckle system. As the sport of inline skating evolved, skate manufacturers began to add on crank straps as an aftermarket accessory for added support. In the late 90s, inline skates started to come with 3 buckles as a standard feature. This eventually evolved into the 2 buckle + laces system that is commonly used today.

On modern skates, there are 2 types of skate buckles, The buckle that is attached to the cuff (top buckle), and the buckle that goes over the lacing area (ankle buckle

The mounting standard.
These type of buckles or straps all have only one hole on both sides. They only vary in length. As long as the length will work, you can use any brand buckle on any brand boot.

Buckles that are mounted like this are called SBM2 which stands for Standard Buckle Mount with a total of 2 bolts.

Most top buckles have the SBM3 standard.

If you have not heard this standard before, then this is not very suprising, because we made it up ourselves here at This Is Soul Skateshop to make buying buckles more easy for you. 

Buckle VS Strap
A buckle is the part of the skate that fastens and secures the strap in place, while the strap itself is a plastic strip that goes around the ankle. It is sometimes possible to purchase and replace the buckle separately from the strap.

Releasing the buckles on inline skates can be difficult, especially for beginners. However, with practice it becomes easier after you have done it a few times.

In terms of longevity, metal buckles tend to be more durable and long-lasting than plastic ones. If the strap on the skate wears down, it is important to replace it in order to maintain proper support for the ankle.

Browse all ankle buckles here:
https://www.thisissoul.com/collections/ankle-buckles/