GEAR & Uniforms

Getting Started

Our newest skaters are called Mighty Minions.  We have loaner gear available as your skater is learning about roller derby.  Loaner gear is free to use for your first 2 practices, and a $5 usage fee will be added after that.  Loaner gear will need to remain at the Derby Depot for other skaters to use throughout the week. 

 

While they are learning to skate, Mighty Minions do not play roller derby in bouts (games), but they can participate in skills demonstrations at Home Bouts

 

Once skaters advance to the Home Team, they will play roller derby in Home Bouts

 

If and when skaters advance to Travel Team, they will participate in Home Bouts and Tournaments (home and away).  

Checklist

Practice – All skaters

At each practice your skater is required to have the following equipment, fitting properly and in working order.  There are links to details and options for each gear item.  You can also check out the example starter kit.


We also ask that all skaters meet our uniform requirements for practice:


  • black & white jersey or t-shirts
  • shorts/leggings – solid black; recommended 8″ inseam minimum
*loaner gear available

Home Team

Here are the additional requirements for Home Team.

Home Bouts:
  • Home Team jersey or black & white t-shirts
  • arm bands (optional)

Ask a board member abour ordering a jersey.  If a jersey is unavailable, you can also paint your number on a white and black t-shirt.


Arm Bands with your skater number are optional.  If you don’t have them for a bout, your skater number will be written on your arms with removeable ink.


Travel Team

Here are the additional requirments for Travel Team.

Home Bouts:
  • Home Team jersey or black & white jersey or t-shirts
Scrimmage:
  • black & white jersey or t-shirts
Sanctioned Tournament Requirements A Team:
  • maroon & white Wasatch A*Salt jersey

Regulation Tournament Requirements B Team:

  • maroon & white Wasatch A*Salt jersey (non replicated number)

Ask a board member abour ordering jerseys if you don’t have them.

Recommendations

Here is some basic gear info along with links to recommended products.  If you are new to roller derby and unsure of how to choose among the options, you can also check out the example starter kit.  If you notice any broken product links, please contact us to let us know.


We are here to help!  If you have questions about what products are best for your player, feel free to ask the board member at the counter.

Skates – Derby skates are different from regular roller skates in several ways that make them suited to the full-contact sport of roller derby.  Derby skates can be purchased through a variety of online retailers.  A few skate brands we recommend are Riedell, Bont, and Antik.  Keep in mind that skates are sold in men’s sizes!


Wicked Skatewear – Derby & Speed Skates


Derby Warehouse – Derby Skates

Wheels – Wheels are rated by hardness.  You need a harder wheel for indoor skating (roller derby) than for outdoor skating.  Shoot for hardness 86 and up depending on skater weight; the lighter the skater, the softer the wheel.  The skates you buy may already come with acceptable wheels.

 

Wicked Skatewear – Indoor Wheels

 

Derby Warehouse – Roller Derby Wheels

Toe Stops – The skates you buy will come with acceptable toe stops, but you may want to upgrade as you advance in roller derby.

 

Wicked Skatewear – Gumball Superball Toe Stops

 

Wicked Skatewear – Bionic Super Stoppers

Helmets – Skaters’ helmets are a very critical piece of equipment for safety in roller derby.  Derby helmets are different from bike helmets.   Black helmets are preferred, must be derby rated or hockey rated, all others must be approved by the coaches.  You can select a helmet with or without a visor (personal preference).  Hockey helmets are a bit more pricey, and are available locally at Pure Hockey

Helmets without a visor:

Derby Warehouse – Triple 8 Certified Sweatsaver

Derby Warehouse – S1 Mini Lifer

Helmets with a visor:

Derby Warehouse – Triple 8 Certified Sweatsaver

Derby Warehouse – S1 Lifer Visor

Mouthguards – Many of our skaters use SISU mouthguards.  Here are some options for SISU mouthguards and other brands.


Derby Warehouse –  Mouthguards


Amazon – Mouthguards for Roller Derby


Wicked Skatewear – SISU Aero Mouthguard Small/Junior

Arm Bands – Arm bands are black fabric bands with your skater number displayed in white.  Arm bands are optional at any level of play.  If you don’t have them for a bout, your skater number will be written on your arms with removeable ink.  Personalized arm bands can be ordered from Etsy.

Example Starter Kit (from Derby Warehouse)


Use your loaner gear to help figure out sizes, in addition to product size guides.  Speak to a board member to get our discount code for Derby Warehouse.


Gear Maintenance

Helmet Care – Inspect your helmet lining and make sure it is intact (it is recommended to change out your helmet lining every 6 months).  Check for any cracks in the helmet shell, and check that the chin straps do not have any tears.  If your helmet is cracked, it is time to replace it.  To clean, simply wipe down the outside with a warm wash rag and spray the inside with a sanitizing spray (i.e. Lysol).
 
Mouthguard – Your mouthguard should be washed weekly. You can brush it with a regular toothbrush and toothpaste and rinse, and let dry. To deep clean your mouthguard, soak it in Listerine, or denture cleaner overnight.  It is a good idea to reform your fitted mouthguards as well.  Fitted mouthguards have a limited number of re-forms, check online, and see if it is time for a new one. If your mouthguard is torn, please replace it.
 
Bearings – Bearings get dirty over time, and they can be cleaned or replaced.  We occasionally run clinics training skaters how to clean their skates.  We recommend Bones Reds Skate Bearings (8mm, 16 Pack), which can be purchased at local skate shops or Amazon.  Derby Warehouse has a helpful diagram of the anatomy of a skate (bearings are #8).
 
Elbow Pads, Wrist Pads, and Knee pads – Please deep clean your pads. The bacteria that grows on pads can cause skin problems, and cleaning is really important.  Also, a carpool full of stinky skaters and their gear is *rough*!
 
Basic Maintenance – After every practice, your skater should spray their gear with a deodorizer/sanitizing spray (be careful what you use for sensitive skin), and it should be set out to dry fully.  Setting gear in the sun for an hour is a great way to make sure it gets all the way dry.
 
Deep Cleaning
  • You will need a 5 gallon bucket or large sink you won’t need overnight.
  • Check your pads to make sure all straps are free of tear and the velcro is intact. Also, make sure the hard part of your knee, elbow, and wrist pads do not have cracks (if anything is broken, it is time to get new pads).
  • Rinse your pads for ten minutes.
  • Fill your empty bucket/ sink with 1 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of borax, and ½ cup of your favorite laundry soap.
  • Fill up halfway with very hot water, then submerge your pads, and fill the rest of the way with water.
  • Close the bucket, if using a sink, weigh the pads down with a heavy pan full of water.
  • After 8 hours, dump the dirty water, and rinse again for 10 minutes with hot water.
  • Set outside to dry (it will take a whole day to dry fully).