Shapes in between 8.25 and 8.38

[lydius]

I'm looking for a new go-to shape that's in the niche middle ground between 8.25 and 8.38. Is it just consensus that the 8.3 DLX twin-tail is the one to use? The peace of mind having two tails would really seem to add to the spontaneity and fun of a session, and the tails seem pointy instead of full or squared off, which I kinda like. I'm intrigued by Mason's 8.28 shape but it does seem a bit short, as well. Also looks like Gravette consistently has an 8.3 out, and I'm a taller guy that might appreciate the longer shape. But I do like flatter boards like Tum Yeto, I thought Creature were supposed to be a bit steeper. Let me know your thoughts if you've skated any shapes in this range.

[Mantracker]

I'm pretty sure the Mason/Lintell 8.28 is not actually 8.28 exactly, but the number is used to easily distinguish between the normal 8.25 DLX shape and the new shorter wheelbase/length DLX 8.25. Anyone ever throw a tape measure on one of those to confirm?

Element has some 8.31 decks

Looks like some UK or Aus brand named Verb does 8.325

Roger and Alltimers make 8.3 decks

Santa Cruz and Skate Mental make an 8.28

[camel filters]

8.38 is definitely a noticeable middle ground between 8.25 and 8.5 but can you honestly tell the width difference in decks slightly under 8.38 but over 8.25? Like Mantracker alluded to with the 8.28 DLX label, I think a lot of those decks are just either 8.38 or 8.25 with different labelling so people can differentiate the wb and length variations of their line up. Your best bet is to note the wb and legnth of the deck that works for you and not focus too much on finding something exclusively between 8.25 and 8.38.

[hobochimp]

This feels like madness too far gone

[Xen]

8.3 used to be my goto if I could find a good one/true 8.3; lurkville made the best true 8.3, sadly not anymore.

NHS makes a true 8.3, gravettes board. 32.2 with a 14.5” WB tho. I was bummed when they pushed the WB out as the old shape used to be 8.3”x32”x14.353”WB before they revamped their board lineup (they also ditched the amazing 8.2x31.9x14.353wb).

Alltimers as noted above is also a true 8.3, never a fan of the shape.

The dlx 8.3 twin, if you don’t mind two tails is your best bet.

Santa Cruz makes an 8.28”x31.8” 14.19”WB, and it measures true and really feels closer to an 8.3” than an 8.25” so you get that bigger board top down appearance and the nimbleness are of a smaller board; It’s my favorite shape in their lineup and I always have one on ice.

I made myself settle on 8.375 as a goto as they are regularly available across most brands and can be found with both short and long wb. Most 8.38s tend to be closer to 8.5 in my experience.

The madness isn’t worth it because gear drops aren’t consistent.

I love radial slims but they’re gone.

A 14.375 WB feels the best to me but they’re rare. 14.5 is too big (and usually makes for a longer board: 32.2+) unless I’m on transition so better off just skating 14.25” wb.

If you can find a good, regular drop 8.375 stick with it, otherwise decide if you want to size down or up and just go 8.25 or 8.5 as they generally have better dims.

[backinaction]

Also remember that depending who is sanding the boards that day the board could actually measure bigger or smaller than the printed dimension, and different from the last one of the exact same shape you had.

I have had an 8.25" that measured almost 8.38" and I loved it. I bought another of the same shape and it measured at 8.18", which was enough that I didn't want to run my 149s on it. 

[Mbrimson88]

I think as @Xen said, there are a few boards listed as the 8.3 through 8.375 to 8.38 that are often quite different, depending on who makes them or which brand or batch they come from.

I am more familiar with BBS wood, given it is more mellow and I can usually get good shapes that work for me, as well as almost no shortage of the same boards over and over when I want them.

That DLX twin 8.3 is a fav for quite a few people, definitely wider than 8.25 but less than the DLX 8.4 or even the DLX 8.38 (which is so close to 8.5) from that range.

Other non DLX brands with approximately the same 8.38 x 32.2 with 14.5 wb boards can use the same shape for their 8.38 (including Element, DGK, Birdhouse, Baker, Heroin, Deathwish) but there is a more generic 8.3 shape from BBS that is more like 8.3 x 31.95 with 14.375 wb that is used by most of the more mid range brands on BBS / Generator from what I have seen too.

I have boards from local shops on Generator 8.38s that are the same slightly smaller size, which I believe are the same as the Passport decks, along with other brands including Alltimers, Carpet and half the other BBS listed brands.


All these boards are definitely not blunt or squared off, with more pointed kicks than others, if that is more what you are after too.

I have come to really like the DLX / bigger 8.38 with the 14.5 wb as my main ride, on Indy 149s, but others ride it on Indy 144s / Venture 5.6 / Thunder 148s and it works well for them too.

That size and shape gives me a bit more room than the average 8.25 but is a little more nimble than the average 8.5, so a good in between board that I can use for everything.

[skatebruh]

The difference between 8.25 and 8.38 is pretty small and half the time I measure decks they seem to be off by 1/16th of an inch. I'm on a Real 8.38 Full SE right now and it's a hair smaller than 8.5.

I'd go to a shop and look at the boards to figure out what kind of shape you want to try and keep a note of what size and brand it was if you like it. If you want a specific recommendation, the Baker OG shape 8.38 has a 14.5" wheelbase so I'd look at that if you haven't already.

[Sedition]

This feels like madness too far gone

^ That. Moreover, how could one be that nuanced about width, with not even mention of wheelbase?

[vicious cycle]

I measured a Real 8.28 and a AntiHero 8.25 between the front bolts. Both are a 3 in the press.
The 8.28 is about 1mm narrower than the 8.25...

[Xen]

... there is a more generic 8.3 shape from BBS that is more like 8.3 x 31.95 with 14.375 wb that is used by most of the more mid range brands on BBS / Generator from what I have seen too.

If I could find this board, consistently, it's all I'd skate.

There has an 8.3 with that wheelbase
https://skateparkoftampa.com/spot/cz.aspx?ID=1&SID=9364&M=

But no clue of the dims are accurate or just them calling it an 8.3 when it's really an 8.375, like Roger does: https://www.skatewarehouse.com/Roger_Pink_Starfish_Deck/descpage-RGPS83DK.html?from=gshop

It seems there are a few companies (and websites) that round down/up with some dims, e.g., a 14.375" WB is almost always rounded up to 14.5 on retail websites; same for 8.125/8.25 boards that are tagged as '8.1' or '8.2'....like they are character limited or something.

[Watson]

This feels like madness too far gone

I actually popped in out of curiosity just because the premise of this thread is wild to me. We're talking 1/16th of an inch.

[Xen]

Expand Quote

This feels like madness too far gone

[close]

I actually popped in out of curiosity just because the premise of this thread is wild to me. We're talking 1/16th of an inch.

While true, 8.3s, to me, are very/noticeably different than 8.25s or 8.375/s38s; I've never felt the difference with other weird dims, e.g., like riding 8.4s or 8.6s (both of which are indistinguishable to me compared to an 8.5"

The SC 8.28 is also like that, it doesn't feel like an 8.25" or an 8.3".

[lydius]

Thanks all for chiming in. Some good points to think about in here. I love the madness, there's so many things to tweak about your skate experience, why not try to find something that really fits what you want?

[camel filters]

Thanks all for chiming in. Some good points to think about in here. I love the madness, there's so many things to tweak about your skate experience, why not try to find something that really fits what you want?

I encourage you dialing it in to what you really want. I just believe it'd be a better use of your energy to search for a specific wb and length instead of looking for a board within 8.25 and 8.38.

[backinaction]

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... there is a more generic 8.3 shape from BBS that is more like 8.3 x 31.95 with 14.375 wb that is used by most of the more mid range brands on BBS / Generator from what I have seen too.

[close]

But no clue of the dims are accurate or just them calling it an 8.3 when it's really an 8.375, like Roger does: https://www.skatewarehouse.com/Roger_Pink_Starfish_Deck/descpage-RGPS83DK.html?from=gshop

That Roger is a Clutch O shape.  Same as this SkateWarehouse deck. https://www.skatewarehouse.com/Skate_Warehouse_Script_Deck/descpage-SWSK4DK.html

Both are Clutch O, both labeled as 8.3 at Clutch.   Dims for Roger say 8.3x31.75.  Dims for SW say 8.37x31.5

[Xen]

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... there is a more generic 8.3 shape from BBS that is more like 8.3 x 31.95 with 14.375 wb that is used by most of the more mid range brands on BBS / Generator from what I have seen too.

[close]

But no clue of the dims are accurate or just them calling it an 8.3 when it's really an 8.375, like Roger does: https://www.skatewarehouse.com/Roger_Pink_Starfish_Deck/descpage-RGPS83DK.html?from=gshop

[close]

That Roger is a Clutch O shape.  Same as this SkateWarehouse deck. https://www.skatewarehouse.com/Skate_Warehouse_Script_Deck/descpage-SWSK4DK.html

Both are Clutch O, both labeled as 8.3 at Clutch.   Dims for Roger say 8.3x31.75.  Dims for SW say 8.37x31.5

Exactly! This is what we can't have nice things.

That shape is rad AF tho if a bit short (I skated two of the SW and it was 8.375x31.5 each time).

[Mbrimson88]

Expand Quote

... there is a more generic 8.3 shape from BBS that is more like 8.3 x 31.95 with 14.375 wb that is used by most of the more mid range brands on BBS / Generator from what I have seen too.

[close]

If I could find this board, consistently, it's all I'd skate.

There has an 8.3 with that wheelbase
https://skateparkoftampa.com/spot/cz.aspx?ID=1&SID=9364&M=

But no clue of the dims are accurate or just them calling it an 8.3 when it's really an 8.375, like Roger does: https://www.skatewarehouse.com/Roger_Pink_Starfish_Deck/descpage-RGPS83DK.html?from=gshop

It seems there are a few companies (and websites) that round down/up with some dims, e.g., a 14.375" WB is almost always rounded up to 14.5 on retail websites; same for 8.125/8.25 boards that are tagged as '8.1' or '8.2'....like they are character limited or something.

Just looking at an Aussie skate shop OCD, which has width, length and wheelbase, (and maybe the most stock any one shop has as well) I can see some boards definitely fall into those categories, but I don't know if it is manufacturer or company specs or other things as to why some boards are not listed as they measure up.

Polar 8.375 are 14.375 wb, not 14.5 listed, same with the Passport 8.38 decks.

Two other misc brand boards, as well as their shop boards show longer than what they are - maybe measured with the concave, not straight across.

Others are showing as different wheelbases to what I thought they were, but I don't have those boards here with me right now to check.

Either way, it is a pretty good site to check and they have a ton of good deals on now too, if you are Australian and need a board or anything else.


https://www.ocdskateshop.com.au/collections/decks

[Xen]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

... there is a more generic 8.3 shape from BBS that is more like 8.3 x 31.95 with 14.375 wb that is used by most of the more mid range brands on BBS / Generator from what I have seen too.

[close]

If I could find this board, consistently, it's all I'd skate.

There has an 8.3 with that wheelbase
https://skateparkoftampa.com/spot/cz.aspx?ID=1&SID=9364&M=

But no clue of the dims are accurate or just them calling it an 8.3 when it's really an 8.375, like Roger does: https://www.skatewarehouse.com/Roger_Pink_Starfish_Deck/descpage-RGPS83DK.html?from=gshop

It seems there are a few companies (and websites) that round down/up with some dims, e.g., a 14.375" WB is almost always rounded up to 14.5 on retail websites; same for 8.125/8.25 boards that are tagged as '8.1' or '8.2'....like they are character limited or something.

[close]

Just looking at an Aussie skate shop OCD, which has width, length and wheelbase, (and maybe the most stock any one shop has as well) I can see some boards definitely fall into those categories, but I don't know if it is manufacturer or company specs or other things as to why some boards are not listed as they measure up.

Polar 8.375 are 14.375 wb, not 14.5 listed, same with the Passport 8.38 decks.

Two other misc brand boards, as well as their shop boards show longer than what they are - maybe measured with the concave, not straight across.

Others are showing as different wheelbases to what I thought they were, but I don't have those boards here with me right now to check.

Either way, it is a pretty good site to check and they have a ton of good deals on now too, if you are Australian and need a board or anything else.


https://www.ocdskateshop.com.au/collections/decks

See, I’ve gotten mixed info, from this very forum, on the 8.375/14.5 polar WB (saying measures true 14.5)…first hand experience, the 14.18” WB is 14.25.

Polar length true to size? Or shorter like quasi?

Some of those dims listed on ocd don’t line up, welcome being a good example.

[FatGuy92]

As a couple people already mentioned, depending on specs, there's more to it than width and sometimes an 8.25 and 8.38 can be totally different. Ex: A 8.25x31.5 with a 14.0 WB is not comparable to an 8.38x32.25 with a 14.5 WB. What's your setup now?

[Mbrimson88]

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... there is a more generic 8.3 shape from BBS that is more like 8.3 x 31.95 with 14.375 wb that is used by most of the more mid range brands on BBS / Generator from what I have seen too.

[close]

If I could find this board, consistently, it's all I'd skate.

There has an 8.3 with that wheelbase
https://skateparkoftampa.com/spot/cz.aspx?ID=1&SID=9364&M=

But no clue of the dims are accurate or just them calling it an 8.3 when it's really an 8.375, like Roger does: https://www.skatewarehouse.com/Roger_Pink_Starfish_Deck/descpage-RGPS83DK.html?from=gshop

It seems there are a few companies (and websites) that round down/up with some dims, e.g., a 14.375" WB is almost always rounded up to 14.5 on retail websites; same for 8.125/8.25 boards that are tagged as '8.1' or '8.2'....like they are character limited or something.

[close]

Just looking at an Aussie skate shop OCD, which has width, length and wheelbase, (and maybe the most stock any one shop has as well) I can see some boards definitely fall into those categories, but I don't know if it is manufacturer or company specs or other things as to why some boards are not listed as they measure up.

Polar 8.375 are 14.375 wb, not 14.5 listed, same with the Passport 8.38 decks.

Two other misc brand boards, as well as their shop boards show longer than what they are - maybe measured with the concave, not straight across.

Others are showing as different wheelbases to what I thought they were, but I don't have those boards here with me right now to check.

Either way, it is a pretty good site to check and they have a ton of good deals on now too, if you are Australian and need a board or anything else.


https://www.ocdskateshop.com.au/collections/decks

[close]

See, I’ve gotten mixed info, from this very forum, on the 8.375/14.5 polar WB (saying measures true 14.5)…first hand experience, the 14.18” WB is 14.25.

Polar length true to size? Or shorter like quasi?

Some of those dims listed on ocd don’t line up, welcome being a good example.

The Polar board, graphic with two heads smoking that I have is 8.38 (not as wide as my other DLX 8.38s) and almost the same length, definitely a 14.375 wb though, longer tail than the DLX board I am comparing it to, but shorter wheelbase.

I don't doubt that Polar at some point changed dimensions on lots of boards.


Definitely some others with what appears on screen to be longer might have the "PS Stix measurement with the concave" versions as they are shorter than some I know to be certain lengths though.

Even a lot of the boards listed as 32 can be more like 31.95 as per some people saying they are shorter, as well as other boards like the DLX 8.25 being longer than a few of these and that is more a true 32 length.

Sometimes it will create more headaches than it helps with all those measurements, but I do like to compare boards in person, back to back and one on top of the other, always looking at them both ways just to see.

[lydius]

Summary so far: NHS, DLX, and BBS all do make a "true" 8.28 or 8.3 shape

[fs1/2cab]

Expand Quote

Thanks all for chiming in. Some good points to think about in here. I love the madness, there's so many things to tweak about your skate experience, why not try to find something that really fits what you want?

[close]

I encourage you dialing it in to what you really want. I just believe it'd be a better use of your energy to search for a specific wb and length instead of looking for a board within 8.25 and 8.38.

I said that before and will continue to say so, but length and especially wheelbase are more important as the width.

[backside_frontside]

You’re talking about like a 1/16th or 1/32nd of an inch difference, which is for all intents and purposes imperceptible. I agree with those saying overall board length and wb are the most important dimensions.

[Mbrimson88]

I helped someone setup a DLX 8.25 deck the other day they had bought, but needed everything else.

Funny thing is that 8.25 x 32 with 14.38 wb is a wider board, this one no exception, the dude thinking it was 8.5 as per what he was told in the shop he got it.  We measured it and everything else lined up like 32 length and 14.38 wheelbase but the overall width in any area over bolts, middle, etc was 8 and 6/16ths (3/8ths) so that is just another "normal" for me but a big surprise for him.

We put 149s on it and they fit fine, no overhang and it definitely felt a lot wider than another 8.25 deck there at the same session when we had a roll on both of them, but was still a lot more nimble than an old 8.5 he was riding before that, so he was actually more stoked on that board than he first thought.

Funny how things work.

[Sativa Lung]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Thanks all for chiming in. Some good points to think about in here. I love the madness, there's so many things to tweak about your skate experience, why not try to find something that really fits what you want?

[close]

I encourage you dialing it in to what you really want. I just believe it'd be a better use of your energy to search for a specific wb and length instead of looking for a board within 8.25 and 8.38.

[close]

I said that before and will continue to say so, but length and especially wheelbase are more important as the width.

Its always been the case for me as well. As long as I'm around 31.5-31.7 and under 14.5 I can switch between an 8 and an 8.75 without a huge adjustment in terms of technique and how I ride my board. I have to get used to it of course, but it doesn't feel unnatural. Over 32 feels like my feet are always in the wrong place and I have to fundamentally change how I skate. Even 32 is pushing it for me on a lot of shapes.

Actually length/wb dictates whether I'll buy a deck more than anything. Its just not super common to find 31.5ish decks over 8.5. I really enjoy 8.5 x 31.5 and usually try them when I can find them. Doomsayers used to do one but that was a bbs deck and I think they're mostly all on PS now. I have a couple scumco Pennswood ones that are a square 8.5 x 31.4 14wb and it's one of my favorite shapes I've ever skated. I'm somewhat conflicted about skating them for a variety of reasons but ones still in the rotation regularly. It's a wonderful size for commuting.

[rocklobster]

I helped someone setup a DLX 8.25 deck the other day they had bought, but needed everything else.

Funny thing is that 8.25 x 32 with 14.38 wb is a wider board, this one no exception, the dude thinking it was 8.5 as per what he was told in the shop he got it.  We measured it and everything else lined up like 32 length and 14.38 wheelbase but the overall width in any area over bolts, middle, etc was 8 and 6/16ths (3/8ths) so that is just another "normal" for me but a big surprise for him.

We put 149s on it and they fit fine, no overhang and it definitely felt a lot wider than another 8.25 deck there at the same session when we had a roll on both of them, but was still a lot more nimble than an old 8.5 he was riding before that, so he was actually more stoked on that board than he first thought.

Funny how things work.

Their generic 8.25 shape is really good, I usually steer clear of 14.38 WB but the one I rode was a winner, even with a huge chip on the tail.