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Swiss or ABEC bearings?

Find out how these two bearing styles differ and which you might choose.  You may just want a set of both

Which type is better or faster?  Swiss or ABEC skate bearings?

Two terms, ABEC and Swiss, are frequently mentioned when shopping for skates and bearings.  They refer not to a specific bearing vendor, but ABEC to a bearing's perfection and Swiss to a style of bearing assembly/manufacture.

For years, ABEC ratings have been used to describe the perfection of most machined bearings, grading the smoothness of polish.  The higher the ABEC rating, the less rolling resistance.   An ABEC 7 should roll faster than an ABEC 5 by the same vendor.  In addition, the higher the rating the softer the metal becomes and the quicker it wears.  Each vendor of ABEC-rated skate bearings have their own manufacturing process, without an overall assembly rating.

Then along came Swiss adding a different claim:  It isn't just the smoothness of  polish that matters but the entire assembly.  Swiss vendors tout superiority to their ABEC-labeled counterparts claiming assembly and manufacturing specifications unique to skating, that they shed debris better and roll faster with less maintenance.

Do skate bearing requirements differ than other mechanical devices thus requiring their own assembly specifications, or do ABEC ratings suffice?  The jury's still out.  Both require smooth movement against another surface to spin freely and a certain amount of maintenance to roll at their peak.   Your choice depends on a number of different factors unique to your skating requirements.  To help you decide, here are a few items to consider as you "DE-LID" (remove the lid from) this tiny can of worms:

Having skated with both, I have found the following advantages (+) and disadvantages (-) with each:

Conclusion:

For races, I find new ABEC 5's or 7's, freshly cleaned, degreased and oiled, along with a fresh set of wheels, to be faster than new Swiss bearings.

If I require low maintenance and fast recreational skating and race training, Swiss are my choice.

However, I'm just one skater... let me know what YOU think!  I'll collect your feedback and follow-up with another article with your commentary.  If you've used both Swiss and ABEC 5's or 7's-tell me how each has held up for you and under what circumstance.  Share the wealth of your experience!

Related Articles and Links:

ABEC - What does it Mean?
Just about everything you ever wanted to know about bearings, but were afraid to ask.

Bearing Manufacturers
Here is the contact information for several inline skate bearing manufacturers

Bearing Selection Advice (retail site)
Here's one retailers comments on several models of both ABEC and Swiss bearings.

Bearing Up: ABEC = HYPE?
For the technophile, here are more detailed facts about bearings, ABEC ratings and interesting figures such as how fast skate bearings spin.

Inline Skate Bearing Reviews (consumer site)
Several skaters comment on this site about their experiences with different makes of both ABEC and Swiss bearings.

Whether you skate on paths, trails, back roads or city streets, please remember to do so safely, always wear protective gear, be courteous and Be Seen.