Chicago Bullet Review: Classic Rink Skate Worth It?

Who is the Chicago Bullet for?

The Chicago Bullet is a classic rink skate with decades of history in U.S. roller rinks. It is the skate most Americans first rolled in as kids, and it still does exactly what it was designed for: stable, predictable laps on polished indoor floors at a price that fits any first-skate budget.

Chicago Bullet specs at a glance

According to the Chicago Skates official site product page, the Chicago Bullet ships with these specs:

• Boot: lightweight synthetic leather upper, low profile cut
• Plate: reinforced nylon with short kingpin
• Wheels: 58mm x 32mm, 92A to 94A hardness indoor wheels
• Bearings: ABEC 5 precision bearings
• Toe stop: rubber bolt on, fixed height
• Sizes: US men 1 to 13, US women 2 to 14
• Weight: roughly 2.0 kg per pair in size 8

The Bullet is purpose built for indoor rink floors. Every choice on the spec sheet, from the hard 92A wheels to the low profile boot, points toward predictable rolling on polished maple or coated concrete.

What stands out

The rink pedigree is the headline. Rental-house and shop-fitting reports repeatedly describe the Bullet as the pair people walk out with as their first skate and never upgrade, because it just works for how they actually skate. Lightweight boot, indoor wheels, and a price that rarely hurts. It is a no-drama pick for rink-focused beginners.

The low profile boot is a subtle advantage most reviewers miss. Compared to a high top skate, the lower boot lets your ankle flex forward more freely, which helps with the rink dance and shuffle moves many older skaters remember from the 70s and 80s. For anyone whose main goal is classic rink skating rather than derby or park tricks, the Bullet is purpose built.

Sizing is very reliable because the Bullet has been in rink rental houses for decades. If your foot fit well in a rental pair, a personal pair of Bullets will fit the same way.

The price is another real advantage. At under 100 dollars, the Bullet is one of the cheapest real brand skates available. That matters because the next tier up starts around 150 dollars and most beginners are not ready to commit that much before they know they will stick with skating.

Where they fall short

Outdoor performance is the clear gap. Hard stock wheels bounce off every pebble and crack. If your main skating surface is a sidewalk or boardwalk, either budget for outdoor wheels immediately or pick a different model that ships with them. A set of softer 78A outdoor wheels from Sure Grip or Moxi runs 40 to 60 dollars and transforms the Bullet into a passable outdoor skate, but that wheel swap adds real cost to what started as a budget buy.

The boot padding is minimal, which saves weight but causes rub points on bare ankles. A pair of thick skate socks solves it, but plan for the socks before your first session or the skate will feel stiffer than it needs to.

The ABEC 5 bearings are adequate for rink use but slow on outdoor concrete. Upgrading to ABEC 7 or sealed bearings costs another 20 to 30 dollars. Not essential for indoor rink use.

The ankle support is lower than a high top beginner skate. For absolute first time skaters who wobble a lot, a higher boot like the Impala Quad or Sure Grip Boardwalk gives more confidence in the first few sessions.

Chicago Bullet vs alternatives

Against other entry tier roller skates:

• Chicago Bullet vs Impala Quad: The Impala Quad has a stiffer high top boot that teaches good posture faster. Bullet has the lower profile for rink dance and a lower price. For a rental house feel and classic rink skating, pick Bullet. For support during learning, pick Impala.
• Chicago Bullet vs Moxi Beach Bunny: The Moxi Beach Bunny costs about 150 dollars more but has a suede boot, real outdoor wheels, and more plush padding. If your budget stretches and you skate outdoors often, Beach Bunny wins easily. For pure rink use at minimum cost, Bullet holds its ground.
• Chicago Bullet vs Riedell R3: The Riedell R3 is the derby world's entry level skate. It has a firmer boot, better trucks, and a plate that handles harder skating. Costs 70 to 100 dollars more. Pick Bullet for casual rink nights, R3 if you want to try derby or harder rink skating.

For our full beginner buying comparison, see the best roller skates for beginners round up.

Care and maintenance

To keep a pair of Bullets rolling smoothly across multiple years of rink nights:

• After every session: wipe wheels with a dry cloth to lift rink dust.
• Every 20 sessions: pull bearings, clean with citrus degreaser, relubricate.
• Every 15 to 20 sessions: rotate wheels to opposite corners to spread wear.
• Check toe stop bolt monthly: the fixed height toe stop can loosen under repeated stops.
• Store wheels up: prevents flat spots during long breaks between sessions.

Our Roller Magic wheels guide covers wheel and bearing maintenance in more depth.

Who should buy the Chicago Bullet

Buy if you are:

• A rink focused skater looking for an under 100 dollar entry point
• A returning skater who remembers rental Bullets fondly
• A parent buying a first pair for a child who will skate at rinks
• Comfortable with minimal padding and a lower profile boot

Skip if you are:

• Skating mostly outdoors from day one
• Wanting maximum ankle support as an absolute beginner
• Planning to push into derby or park skating within the first 6 months
• Looking for plush boot padding

For the full outdoor and indoor surface breakdown, see our indoor vs outdoor roller skating guide.