for people who have ridden the AH 8.5 eagle vs the 8.38- is there a preference? i hated the 8.5 shape, it felt slim and idk i just never adjusted properly. but i feel like i recall people saying the 8.38 is a little fuller, and im curious if that would maybe be the better option for me
I have had a lot of experience with both, so hopefully this doesn't end up too long, but here goes.
To start with, the DLX shapes thread has a fair bit of info on this, but exactly where in there, I couldn't say right this minute, but I have put up info there before with various shapes including these two, as well as the 8.4 x 32 with 14.25 wb and other Full SE shapes, which I won't go into in this post.
https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=85076.0As to my own view of the eagles, I definitely prefer the 8.38 to the 8.5 but I also like a longer board, longer wheelbase, so that is the main thing to start with.
On paper specs as follows:
8.5 x 31.8 with 14.25 wb (blue eagle shape, for want of a better simple name)
8.38 x 32.25 with 14.5 wb (army green eagle shape, or maybe the most common shape more recently, also called "Dreamer" shape)
Actual measurements vary, but the main thing is the 8.5 is nowhere near 8.5 wide - more like 8.4 or even 8.3 and tapers significantly from front to back being closer to 8.25 at the back bolts, whereas the 8.38 is a hair off a real 8.5 so is actually wider and longer with the width staying true right the way through the board from front bolts to back bolts, but is also a little more pointy in the kicks than the 8.5 which is a bit more rounded up front, without saying it is squared off or anything like that.
Just to throw another shape in the mix, the more normal 8.5 DLX shape which seems to be making a comeback is definitely 8.5 wide, 32.18 / 32.2 or so long with 14.38 wheelbase and although straight through the middle, it tapers off in the kicks from bolts area, which some people don't like, even calling it a weird shape, but it still works and the kicks are a little longer than the other two boards above.
I have had quite a few of these as well, but there is something about the 14.5 wb that I prefer, even though I feel like the 8.38 is a little short in the tail for what I usually skate, transition and ramp, along with more simple street stuff, but it works well and is a bit more nimble feeling than the other 8.5 boards that are actually 8.5 wide.
Hopefully that makes sense, without being too crazy about the specific shapes.
Some people really like the blue eagle shape, but I would say that is more a smaller 8.3 sized board than an 8.5, if you really want to compare it to other boards out there, which is also why some people are not into it, if they do like a true 8.5 wide board.