Gear madness support thread

[BeachChicken]

I ride that but:

8.38x14.38
149 Indy Cast Hollows
Spitfire 53 Radials or Classics
Quantum Atoms

I deviate a bit but always come back

[j....soy.....]

Heroin Egg, Ace  88's, && wheels.....it rides like a dream.....

[swongolianbbq]

 Wheel thoughts


Skate 60mm classics down to 55, then move to a different setup then skate till 50 and give away, they should be a nice "classic full" kinda shape as they wear down and you get two lifespans out of em

For me conicals and og classics type shapes are too sharp on the edges when they wear down. Looks fuckin cool tho and works for a lot of people and has for a long long time

I think the rounded edge of classics and radials makes it easier to do flip tricks and stuff cause you can start doing stuff more before the tail pops vs the solid NASCAR tire ass grip of the wider/sharper edged wheels.. makes it easier for my old ass. I think that more rounded shape wheel that probably started taking over in like, 92, is kind of an important part of making skateboards easier to tricks, like concave or kicktails to a lesser degree


66mm 82a Powell snakes might be the best cruiser wheel

I think 48mm to 60 in 2mm increments is the perfect size run for wheels

62, 64, and 66 for cruisers and retro/pool setups

Some 101d 42mm's for '92-'93 kinda setups

It would be cool if spitfire regularly made sizes 48-60 in their usual shapes and urethane options, and then just one set of hard 42's for fun, and just one set of soft but slide-able 66's for filming and cruising and stuff. Doesn't make sense to make a new formula just for the 66's so that'll never happen but it would be easy to mill down fucked up wheels to 42 and release every once in a while along with a football deck or something

Holding out for 93 or 97 classics in 60mm

indy should make 1/8" aluminum risers a regular thing

I might have to try those ville wester ones

[Sedition]

Just some random gear stuff / comments / experiences of recent...

I've mentioned my DLX 8.25 / 14.38 has been feeling really small to me the last few months. I've mostly been riding my 8.75 / 14.5 BLKLBL, which is fine for everything but some flip tricks. I've been liking it so much, that I started to consider giving away some of my remaining 8.25 gear. Well, today, for kicks, I decided to throw 149s on the 8.25 (normally ride 144s on it). WOW. I was not expecting it to have the impact it did. Deck felt a bit wider, more stable, turned better (well the turn just felt better), and everything just felt better under my feet. I skated for about an hour, and then put the 144s back on...and hated them. Board suddenly felt way, way too small again (esp. f/s 5-0 grinds (tranny), and doing pivot, feeble, and 50/50 to fakie on tranny...and oddly, b/s grinds on ledges). Put the 149s back on after awhile, and things felt better again. About a year ago I had tried 149s on the 8.25 and hated them. Clearly my proclivities are starting to go towards larger set-ups (I know, I am getting old), and I think riding the 8.75 opened the door for 149s on the 8.25. Looks like I am now back to perseverating over two set-ups again, as opposed to just one. Joy.       

[BeachChicken]

Damn, I respect the attention to detail and feel more sane after reading that. I really can barely tell a difference between 144 and 149 except maybe for a few flip tricks.

[Sedition]

Damn, I respect the attention to detail and feel more sane after reading that. I really can barely tell a difference between 144 and 149 except maybe for a few flip tricks.

It's like the difference between lightening and lightning bug.

[swongolianbbq]

Just some random gear stuff / comments / experiences of recent...

I've mentioned my DLX 8.25 / 14.38 has been feeling really small to me the last few months. I've mostly been riding my 8.75 / 14.5 BLKLBL, which is fine for everything but some flip tricks. I've been liking it so much, that I started to consider giving away some of my remaining 8.25 gear. Well, today, for kicks, I decided to throw 149s on the 8.25 (normally ride 144s on it). WOW. I was not expecting it to have the impact it did. Deck felt a bit wider, more stable, turned better (well the turn just felt better), and everything just felt better under my feet. I skated for about an hour, and then put the 144s back on...and hated them. Board suddenly felt way, way too small again (esp. f/s 5-0 grinds (tranny), and doing pivot, feeble, and 50/50 to fakie on tranny...and oddly, b/s grinds on ledges). Put the 149s back on after awhile, and things felt better again. About a year ago I had tried 149s on the 8.25 and hated them. Clearly my proclivities are starting to go towards larger set-ups (I know, I am getting old), and I think riding the 8.75 opened the door for 149s on the 8.25. Looks like I am now back to perseverating over two set-ups again, as opposed to just one. Joy.     

I was on 149's on 8.5 boards for like 15 years straight. Tried the 144's when they came out, also on an 8.5 and didn't like them. I could appreciate the "tippy" nature of it in the way that it seemed easier to initiate flip tricks and flip them quicker. I didn't appreciate the magic carpet ride and less stable/more twitchy feeling. And anyways, for me it's harder to slow down a fast flip, but easier to just add a little effort to a slow flip. Went back to 149's, but started skating 8.25 decks on them, and I love it. I still skate 8.5's too. Mainly blue eagles and "og mellow" bakers.

Which leads me to where I am now, skating 159's with risers and 60mm wheels on an 8.5. last time I had these trucks and wheels was 5 years ago, and I had them on a shaped 9-something inch deck and had a great time, but had to sell off some stuff when I relocated across the country in my van. Now I can mix and match to my heart's content and still have some consistency. 2-board quiver ftw. I say that now, but I still wanna set up a 7.75 with 48mm wheels and venture lows... and I still have to build my crazy 66mm-wheel dirt/rain cruiser..

One benefit of having multiple setups is I can pass wheels down to other boards as they get smaller, and buy less wheels.

[Sedition]

Expand Quote

Just some random gear stuff / comments / experiences of recent...

I've mentioned my DLX 8.25 / 14.38 has been feeling really small to me the last few months. I've mostly been riding my 8.75 / 14.5 BLKLBL, which is fine for everything but some flip tricks. I've been liking it so much, that I started to consider giving away some of my remaining 8.25 gear. Well, today, for kicks, I decided to throw 149s on the 8.25 (normally ride 144s on it). WOW. I was not expecting it to have the impact it did. Deck felt a bit wider, more stable, turned better (well the turn just felt better), and everything just felt better under my feet. I skated for about an hour, and then put the 144s back on...and hated them. Board suddenly felt way, way too small again (esp. f/s 5-0 grinds (tranny), and doing pivot, feeble, and 50/50 to fakie on tranny...and oddly, b/s grinds on ledges). Put the 149s back on after awhile, and things felt better again. About a year ago I had tried 149s on the 8.25 and hated them. Clearly my proclivities are starting to go towards larger set-ups (I know, I am getting old), and I think riding the 8.75 opened the door for 149s on the 8.25. Looks like I am now back to perseverating over two set-ups again, as opposed to just one. Joy.     

[close]

I was on 149's on 8.5 boards for like 15 years straight. Tried the 144's when they came out, also on an 8.5 and didn't like them. I could appreciate the "tippy" nature of it in the way that it seemed easier to initiate flip tricks and flip them quicker. I didn't appreciate the magic carpet ride and less stable/more twitchy feeling. And anyways, for me it's harder to slow down a fast flip, but easier to just add a little effort to a slow flip. Went back to 149's, but started skating 8.25 decks on them, and I love it. I still skate 8.5's too. Mainly blue eagles and "og mellow" bakers.

Which leads me to where I am now, skating 159's with risers and 60mm wheels on an 8.5. last time I had these trucks and wheels was 5 years ago, and I had them on a shaped 9-something inch deck and had a great time, but had to sell off some stuff when I relocated across the country in my van. Now I can mix and match to my heart's content and still have some consistency. 2-board quiver ftw. I say that now, but I still wanna set up a 7.75 with 48mm wheels and venture lows... and I still have to build my crazy 66mm-wheel dirt/rain cruiser..

One benefit of having multiple setups is I can pass wheels down to other boards as they get smaller, and buy less wheels.

Despite predominantly riding 144s since they first came out, I've always thought 149s and 159s were the best feeling/turning trucks that Indy made.

[Too Frank To Fred]

Just some random gear stuff / comments / experiences of recent...

I've mentioned my DLX 8.25 / 14.38 has been feeling really small to me the last few months. I've mostly been riding my 8.75 / 14.5 BLKLBL, which is fine for everything but some flip tricks. I've been liking it so much, that I started to consider giving away some of my remaining 8.25 gear. Well, today, for kicks, I decided to throw 149s on the 8.25 (normally ride 144s on it). WOW. I was not expecting it to have the impact it did. Deck felt a bit wider, more stable, turned better (well the turn just felt better), and everything just felt better under my feet. I skated for about an hour, and then put the 144s back on...and hated them. Board suddenly felt way, way too small again (esp. f/s 5-0 grinds (tranny), and doing pivot, feeble, and 50/50 to fakie on tranny...and oddly, b/s grinds on ledges). Put the 149s back on after awhile, and things felt better again. About a year ago I had tried 149s on the 8.25 and hated them. Clearly my proclivities are starting to go towards larger set-ups (I know, I am getting old), and I think riding the 8.75 opened the door for 149s on the 8.25. Looks like I am now back to perseverating over two set-ups again, as opposed to just one. Joy.     

I remember loving 149s on 8.25"s. I was mad for years that there were no 8.25" axle trucks but I realized having the trucks slightly wider than the deck works pretty damn well, especially at that size. I'm about to revisit that theory but with 8.75" axle trucks on 8.62" decks...

[Sedition]

Expand Quote

Just some random gear stuff / comments / experiences of recent...

I've mentioned my DLX 8.25 / 14.38 has been feeling really small to me the last few months. I've mostly been riding my 8.75 / 14.5 BLKLBL, which is fine for everything but some flip tricks. I've been liking it so much, that I started to consider giving away some of my remaining 8.25 gear. Well, today, for kicks, I decided to throw 149s on the 8.25 (normally ride 144s on it). WOW. I was not expecting it to have the impact it did. Deck felt a bit wider, more stable, turned better (well the turn just felt better), and everything just felt better under my feet. I skated for about an hour, and then put the 144s back on...and hated them. Board suddenly felt way, way too small again (esp. f/s 5-0 grinds (tranny), and doing pivot, feeble, and 50/50 to fakie on tranny...and oddly, b/s grinds on ledges). Put the 149s back on after awhile, and things felt better again. About a year ago I had tried 149s on the 8.25 and hated them. Clearly my proclivities are starting to go towards larger set-ups (I know, I am getting old), and I think riding the 8.75 opened the door for 149s on the 8.25. Looks like I am now back to perseverating over two set-ups again, as opposed to just one. Joy.     

[close]

I remember loving 149s on 8.25"s. I was mad for years that there were no 8.25" axle trucks but I realized having the trucks slightly wider than the deck works pretty damn well, especially at that size. I'm about to revisit that theory but with 8.75" axle trucks on 8.62" decks...

The DLX 8.25 is actually a little closer 8.38, too...so 149s certainly "fit" well on that board.

[moonordie]

Expand Quote

Just some random gear stuff / comments / experiences of recent...

I've mentioned my DLX 8.25 / 14.38 has been feeling really small to me the last few months. I've mostly been riding my 8.75 / 14.5 BLKLBL, which is fine for everything but some flip tricks. I've been liking it so much, that I started to consider giving away some of my remaining 8.25 gear. Well, today, for kicks, I decided to throw 149s on the 8.25 (normally ride 144s on it). WOW. I was not expecting it to have the impact it did. Deck felt a bit wider, more stable, turned better (well the turn just felt better), and everything just felt better under my feet. I skated for about an hour, and then put the 144s back on...and hated them. Board suddenly felt way, way too small again (esp. f/s 5-0 grinds (tranny), and doing pivot, feeble, and 50/50 to fakie on tranny...and oddly, b/s grinds on ledges). Put the 149s back on after awhile, and things felt better again. About a year ago I had tried 149s on the 8.25 and hated them. Clearly my proclivities are starting to go towards larger set-ups (I know, I am getting old), and I think riding the 8.75 opened the door for 149s on the 8.25. Looks like I am now back to perseverating over two set-ups again, as opposed to just one. Joy.     

[close]

I remember loving 149s on 8.25"s. I was mad for years that there were no 8.25" axle trucks but I realized having the trucks slightly wider than the deck works pretty damn well, especially at that size. I'm about to revisit that theory but with 8.75" axle trucks on 8.62" decks...

I've been saying this for ages. 149 on 8.25 board unlocks a realm of happiness.

[Sedition]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Just some random gear stuff / comments / experiences of recent...

I've mentioned my DLX 8.25 / 14.38 has been feeling really small to me the last few months. I've mostly been riding my 8.75 / 14.5 BLKLBL, which is fine for everything but some flip tricks. I've been liking it so much, that I started to consider giving away some of my remaining 8.25 gear. Well, today, for kicks, I decided to throw 149s on the 8.25 (normally ride 144s on it). WOW. I was not expecting it to have the impact it did. Deck felt a bit wider, more stable, turned better (well the turn just felt better), and everything just felt better under my feet. I skated for about an hour, and then put the 144s back on...and hated them. Board suddenly felt way, way too small again (esp. f/s 5-0 grinds (tranny), and doing pivot, feeble, and 50/50 to fakie on tranny...and oddly, b/s grinds on ledges). Put the 149s back on after awhile, and things felt better again. About a year ago I had tried 149s on the 8.25 and hated them. Clearly my proclivities are starting to go towards larger set-ups (I know, I am getting old), and I think riding the 8.75 opened the door for 149s on the 8.25. Looks like I am now back to perseverating over two set-ups again, as opposed to just one. Joy.     

[close]

I remember loving 149s on 8.25"s. I was mad for years that there were no 8.25" axle trucks but I realized having the trucks slightly wider than the deck works pretty damn well, especially at that size. I'm about to revisit that theory but with 8.75" axle trucks on 8.62" decks...

[close]

I've been saying this for ages. 149 on 8.25 board unlocks a realm of happiness.

That’s exactly what I rode prior to 144s..

[art hellman]

[Jort250]

What are good board recommendations for a tech skater on Venture Lows? Is the consensus flatter boards (like Flight decks or Real SE) are a better time? I’m running through some Girl boards right now which I like the feel of, I’m just finding that they’re sogging out fast

[Sisig]

Just realized my setup is perfect for me but the lack of gear madness makes the setup a little boring

[moonordie]

Just realized my setup is perfect for me but the lack of gear madness makes the setup a little boring

Don't touch that setup and instead waste money on an egg board

[Fifty8mm]

What are good board recommendations for a tech skater on Venture Lows? Is the consensus flatter boards (like Flight decks or Real SE) are a better time? I’m running through some Girl boards right now which I like the feel of, I’m just finding that they’re sogging out fast

Depends how strong your legs are. But if you can pop comfortably on girl tails and nose, from my experience bbs boards will feel soggy compared to china epoxy boards. Palace board 8 with 14 wb is good too. Palace 7.75 is fucking great.

Im riding a flat Politic deck 8.25. Such a comfy low effort set up. This is what i prefer. Flatter concave, nose and tail. With venture 5.2 lows.

[swongolianbbq]

I was thinking it'd be cool to build a quiver of boards from different eras

My phone's dying but this is a really rough idea

70's - skinny
- single kick, bennett trucks? Indy 109's? Tail skid plate... Translucent "road rider" style wheels ~54-56mm, g&s style?

Late 70's/early 80's? - Wide
- single kick, wide pig style board, 215's? Kryptonics-style wheels.. 60mm? Tail skid plate.. Dogtown, Santa cruz?

Mid-Late 80's? Wide w/ all the plastic, bones brigade style
- powell pig style board, plastic rails, nose and tail guards, bones 64mm wheels, 9" stage 4's? super gritty grip..

Early 90's shaped double kick, Jason lee style, ~90, '91?
- double kick, "fishtail" style, no plastic, 169's, ~56mm OG classic-style wheels or lock-ins?

BPSW era, ~92-93?
- 8.75 football, 149's, ~42mm wheels

Earlier popsicle era, 94 on?
- venture lows, 48mm wheels, 7.5-7.75" deck?

East coast 90s popsicle style?
- 8.5 deck and trucks, 60mm wheels

Maybe the last two don't matter so much idk

[Mbrimson88]

I was thinking it'd be cool to build a quiver of boards from different eras

My phone's dying but this is a really rough idea

The funny thing is I think I have almost every era of skateboard, definitely not originals, but at the very least all of those type of setups and more, mainly from getting a lot of used and second hand gear and skateboards / parts, but also because it is fun to set up something like that any time someone comes in and said "Hey wouldn't it be cool to make a XXXX board?" and more often than not I have the parts or at least can make something work to be able to set up something that resembles anything and everything.

Crazy how well some of those boards skate, but also how average others are / were to ride, such as the early 60s type of board, of which I do have one, very beat up thing someone donated to us.  Not worth riding but cool to look at and think what they were doing on those sort of boards back then.  As you said 70s almost cruiser type of boards are way more fun than some people think too - just make it turn and get out there and do some laps.

Best era was late 80s going in to early 90s changing out everything on a board besides the trucks and bearings, from fish tails to almost no tails, big fat wheels to almost no wheels, vert ramps down to carpark curbs, but in saying that, almost every other era of skateboarding was amazing too, in its own right.  Anything after the mid 90s is almost modern day skateboarding as we know it, aside from certain brands, quality of product, width of boards, but at least the popsicle has remained constant throughout the 90s, 00s, 10s, and 2020+ now.

[Sedition]

^ It’s also really interesting that “polarizers” are kind of at both the beginning and “end” of that arc.

[rawbertson.]

I was thinking it'd be cool to build a quiver of boards from different eras

My phone's dying but this is a really rough idea

70's - skinny
- single kick, bennett trucks? Indy 109's? Tail skid plate... Translucent "road rider" style wheels ~54-56mm, g&s style?

Late 70's/early 80's? - Wide
- single kick, wide pig style board, 215's? Kryptonics-style wheels.. 60mm? Tail skid plate.. Dogtown, Santa cruz?

Mid-Late 80's? Wide w/ all the plastic, bones brigade style
- powell pig style board, plastic rails, nose and tail guards, bones 64mm wheels, 9" stage 4's? super gritty grip..

Early 90's shaped double kick, Jason lee style, ~90, '91?
- double kick, "fishtail" style, no plastic, 169's, ~56mm OG classic-style wheels or lock-ins?

BPSW era, ~92-93?
- 8.75 football, 149's, ~42mm wheels

Earlier popsicle era, 94 on?
- venture lows, 48mm wheels, 7.5-7.75" deck?

East coast 90s popsicle style?
- 8.5 deck and trucks, 60mm wheels

Maybe the last two don't matter so much idk

LOL I have the last 4 and they are the most important to me.
the last one is my current main setup 
the 2nd last one is my kids boards 

and I was skating football and shaped nose style before that and still have em, just beat up now and probably wont care to replace em. i do have some extra franky boards in the wrapper still but i might just keep them they are really cool looking.

the others i suppose i dont care much about because they are from before I started skating

[BeachChicken]

Sounds like a colossal waste of money for a few minutes of novelty on each but still spending the vast majority of your time on your main.

Here's my experience:

90's/early 2000's popsicle with low trucks and small wheels: fun to do low speed flip tricks or skate small ledges, gets stiff feeling and limited the faster you go.

Egg/shaped early 90's. More fun than the one above but always feels subpar compared to a modern popsicle especially if you skate nollie/fakie with any pop and also like nose sliding things.

Weird novelty things like polarizers and micros: fun for a few minutes for shits and giggles, not anything you'd grab and go skate.

Considering the cost of gear you're spending a lot to have a ton you won't use.

[back smith]

Sounds like a colossal waste of money for a few minutes of novelty on each but still spending the vast majority of your time on your main.

Here's my experience:

90's/early 2000's popsicle with low trucks and small wheels: fun to do low speed flip tricks or skate small ledges, gets stiff feeling and limited the faster you go.

Egg/shaped early 90's. More fun than the one above but always feels subpar compared to a modern popsicle especially if you skate nollie/fakie with any pop and also like nose sliding things.

Weird novelty things like polarizers and micros: fun for a few minutes for shits and giggles, not anything you'd grab and go skate.

Considering the cost of gear you're spending a lot to have a ton you won't use.

Nah having different setups keeps it interesting and lets you explore different angles. They don't need to be era-specific but also hey why not.

Anyway, what would you say is an adequate duration of fun for a one or two hundred dollar purchase? How about if the time is limited but it's really fun for that short time?

[Sedition]

Sounds like a colossal waste of money for a few minutes of novelty on each but still spending the vast majority of your time on your main.

And if he wants to spend his money that way, more power to him. May not be your cup of tea, but so what?

[neonbrown]

A few years ago, when I was really focused on skating and actively improving, I decided one setup was all I needed and everything else was wasting my time. Now that my interest and abilities have waned, I have three distinct setups and I find that each of them allows me to enjoy skateboarding differently; and this actually enhances my time skating, even if it comes at the expense of practice backside tailslides in my mid-40s.

[swongolianbbq]

Yeah, I dialed in my one setup I use for everything, but I always have that itch to try other stuff. Right now I have two boards, one with big wheels and one with normal sized wheels, and I used to have a '86 Powell reissue with 64's and it was a hoot, super fun to skate -and-cruise around on

I think the ones I'd be most interested in trying are the football with 42's and a skinny single kick with Indy 109's

I think the Jason lee style one would skate the same as a regular board today. I think they were using ~55mm freestyle wheels flipped around, on like, 9" trucks. the only ones that really take it in a different direction are the 70's-80's single kick swimming pool boards, esp the pre-concave 70's ones, and the BPSW 92-93 ones

BPSW board would kinda just be a novelty, 70's-80's boards could be a fun cruiser

I think it's fun to think about, with what we know now and what tricks have been invented, to put yourself on a 70's board and see what you can do... can be inspiring

I think for all intents and purposes tho, a legit cruiser for filming/transportation with like some Powell Snakes, a crust busting board with some 60mm's or whatever, and a regular ol generic 8.25-8.5 street setup is prolly all you need

But like if you're having a bad day skating at a skatepark or something you could whip out a 70's board or a BPSW setup and find another way to have fun and look at things 🤷‍♀️

[BeachChicken]

For me it's not about max abilities but they all make any normal skating I do of any type harder than it should be while not offering any advantage or fun.

[Mbrimson88]

.

With respect to everyone who has posted since the post about all the different setups, I have this to add:

Some days I don't really want to "be normal" on a skateboard, so something that is more just a cruiser can be a very welcome change, to just do laps of where ever I might be at the time.

A lot of special smaller cruisers are cut downs from original normal boards, not a shop bought complete like the Zip Zingers or so many others, which then makes things a little more personal or fun for some of those people who have taken the time and effort to reshape them, or as I used to do for kids and others, even just a regular used board turned around, shape the worn down tail in so it is a very blunt new nose, maybe the same a little for the new tail end too, old trucks and then soft wheels and there you go, instant DIY cruiser that can still be skated well enough if needed.

Some people who have lost the love of normal skateboards can really find peace and enjoy riding cruisers around, one in particular was a child prodigy, bright future, just burned out, so giving him one of those boards, he didn't quit and still skates again now, on any board he can get, rather than giving up and walking away, which he said he was going to do.

I think the only thing I have really spent money on with these are the wheels, as everything else has been old stuff and random left overs, but even then, there are still a lot of good parts out there you can buy specifically to make something more fun.


* I tried a polariser when someone brought one in, but wasn't really feeling it - yes personal opinion I know - but I have all manner of other random type boards for people to try and have a go on, so it is not a worry whatever people want to roll on, which is better than a whole lot of other things they could be doing if they didn't have a skateboard.

[rawbertson.]

Yoooo I just figured out a mad prime way to buy more gear and not feel guilty
Just get people to film you in exchange for gear!!
Then you can still try out this new cool thing but if you don’t like it you don’t have to worry!
I was trying to figure out ways to give away more stuff
Was hard to find people I was stoked on
and now finally have found 2 photographers I can hook up with hella shit.

[Too Frank To Fred]

I was never much of a weight weenie. Didn’t think it mattered to me. I’ve had one set of hollow trucks that I didn’t really like and gave away. Anyway, I set up a GFB twin blank last weekend with stage 4 151s and classic 55s. Felt ok but was super heavy for my “tech” set up (meaning curbs and flat). Then I picked up some AF1 hollow 60s and 52mm OG classics in the recent sales and lo and behold it’s 110g of weight difference on the same deck. Seems pretty significant but how will it translate to  actual skateboarding? Late the weight madness begin…. 

Stage 4s are back on a Natas reissue with big old OJs and will remain there…