Best Slappy Wheels?

[reptar_bar]

Trying to get better at slappy grinds and wondering what kind of wheels make slappy’s easier, big or small? Like should I try some tiny wheels or some big chonkers? What’s everyone’s preferred wheels for slapping? 

[TastyBurrito]

For me: Spitfire F4 97a Classic 54-56mm.

Small enough for me to not have to push so much, soft enough for crustier parking lots, can still slide, and the rounder shape gets me on the curb easier.

[Frank and Fred]

The beauty of slappies is anything works.

60mm 95a. Roll on with ease, a bit of grip to really lean into it on the approach.

or

50mm 101a. slip slide around, lots of hanger exposure for more grind room.

Slappies are great b/c you don't have to overthink things. Run what you brung.

[Xen]

Lots of opinions in the Slappy/Curb thread...easily searchable.

https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=116360.msg3539446#msg3539446

Personally, I think the Bones V5 is the best slappy wheel I've skated, round enough to not be fickle getting onto curbs, and the square edge locks in very nicely. I run 52s and slappy just fine. I usually don't go past 53/54 for a primarily 'street' setup.

Larger spit classics will also work very well, though I find the smaller you go with classics the easier it is roll out getting on or off during the slappy grind of choice.

Much will depend on the type of curb...is it worn and rounded? Square edged? But any wheel, likewise, any setup will work...it's ok to slappy AND do flippity shit...you don't really need a 10" board and 169s (most double sided curbs can easily be skated with 159/149s, but you do you).

Absolutely hate spit tablets for slappys...so many willy grinds for some reason.

[Easy Slider]

Below 48 can get a bit difficult to get on regular curbs.

[HyperBeam]

lol i'm usually opposed to "specialty gear" questions like this, but with slappys i think it's funny because theoretically it seems they would be easier with either really small or really large wheels, doesn't matter which, and only relatively more difficult with medium sized wheels (53mm-56mm).

although in practice i don't think it makes a difference

[moonordie]

53mm OG classics F4 have been nice to me

[reptar_bar]

Lots of opinions in the Slappy/Curb thread...easily searchable.

https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=116360.msg3539446#msg3539446

Personally, I think the Bones V5 is the best slappy wheel I've skated, round enough to not be fickle getting onto curbs, and the square edge locks in very nicely. I run 52s and slappy just fine. I usually don't go past 53/54 for a primarily 'street' setup.

Larger spit classics will also work very well, though I find the smaller you go with classics the easier it is roll out getting on or off during the slappy grind of choice.

Much will depend on the type of curb...is it worn and rounded? Square edged? But any wheel, likewise, any setup will work...it's ok to slappy AND do flippity shit...you don't really need a 10" board and 169s (most double sided curbs can easily be skated with 159/149s, but you do you).

Absolutely hate spit tablets for slappys...so many willy grinds for some reason.

Lmao dude I have been running spit tablets since they came out and notice that I slip out of 50’s on anything rounded when slapping. Maybe I’ll try something else next time.

[Uncle Flea]

Depends on your coast.

West coast angle vs east coast over vert.

I feel smaller wheels like 52 down are easier on over vert. Lighter is better for me when slamming into curbs. Lower trucks too.

Everything is easier on a block or curb when you're low and slow

I don't slappy much tho. I like to pop in and out so I ride everything big for speed mostly.

[manysnakes]

Below 48 can get a bit difficult to get on regular curbs.

I was given some 47mm wheels and I found them to be frankly dangerous for slappies. I don't understand how anyone could use them for that.

As for my favorite Slappy wheel, I definitely find that a wheel with a rolled over edge helps. I just use Spitfire F4 Classics. The wheels I have now were I think 53mm when I started, and I'd guess they're ~50-51mm now. They work fine, I see no need for a "slappy" wheel, whatever that would entail.

[logjammin]

I love bigger wheels 56mm-60mm for handling all-terrain, but when it comes to slappies they kinda throw me off. Like I'm hanging onto a weird angled roll instead of a grind. I actually prefer 52-54mm classic shaped F4's for curbs and coping. Feels more graceful, if that makes sense.

[streetmeat]

it doesnt matter at all. anything works. dont buy into the whole ‘curb setup’ bs

[big_kev_215]

I find just the Spitfire 99a F4 classics in the 53mm range to be the best (let’s say 52mm-55mm).  Not a fan of more squared-off wheels for slappies personally

[DeadSquidMask]

When learning, I found that the biggest, hardest wheels possible where they key for finally getting “it,” more so than the shape.

I added risers and found the taller setups worked very well for slappies, for me.

Then I reverted to the normal gear, making the change gradually. It really helped me get comfy and learn stuff. Now I skate curbs more than anything else.

[Bupstop]

Spitfire Classics work best for me. The round edge helps me pop over onto the curb or ledge. I use 52s. I can slappy on squared off wheels but I find it easier with the classic rounded.

[jsettle]

any wheels you want will work fine

[Lou Strux]

Echoing what so many others have said: I’ve never tried a size/shape I wasn’t able to smack a proper slappy with.
Try to resist over thinking it: whatever you’re running right now is great.
That said, those Spitfire Lock-Ins are real nice & easy due to the rounder conical outer lip to ease you on & squared off inner lip to hold you there. Essentially 1/2 Conical & 1/2 Tablet. No big deal, though.

[Paco Supreme]

54 classics.

I can’t stand how skinny they are but they glide up a curb with ease

[Ok]

54 classics.

I can’t stand how skinny they are but they glide up a curb with ease

What do you not like about the skinny?

[Xen]

it doesnt matter at all. anything works. dont buy into the whole ‘curb setup’ bs

It's funny, I hit the local curbs and there's rarely a person NOT on some behemoth board (and skating slow), and yet a few are always like 'I can't/don't flip my board anymore, it's too big'...

I don't get it? I lose tricks on big ass boards, but I don't lose slappies on an 8.125. What's worse is watching them try and shove or flip (let alone out of a grind)...they almost never pop out..so gross...clunk, bail....these aren't old dudes either.

I skate curbs like ledges, I bring my pop out game when slapping for almost all tricks.

Curb killer on the other hand...man knows how trick in and out of slappies.

[Nacho Maildrop]

it doesnt matter at all. anything works. dont buy into the whole ‘curb setup’ bs

All that needs to be said.

[FatGuy92]

IMO it depends on what you're doing. When I learned slappy 50s, nosegrinds, and smiths, I definitely didn't care much and if anything, preferred conical fulls. Once I tried to learn crooks, I could never lock in properly. Moving to a slimmer shape helped me get into them consistently. Also a slimmer wheel usually helped me hold onto noseslides longer. I don't think there's a magic wheel that will help with slappies in general, but the shape and surface area definitely do play some noticable part.

[Weezil]

as far as normal street wheels go (52-56mm 99-101a) I dont think it matters.

maybe with super small wheels or super big wheels it could cause an issue, haven't tried anything smaller than a 52 in over 10 years, haven't tried anything over 56 for regular wheels. I did have issues with cruiser wheels though, little sticky.

[TheLowerBack]

Size really doesn't matter. Shape only really matters on your preference and how you hold certain grinds, ie-some people can't lock 50's on round wheels as well, some people can't lock K's on square wheels.
I like 52's(in general) because I find nose slide to K or 180 nosegrind easier on smaller wheels.

[Paco Supreme]

Expand Quote

54 classics.

I can’t stand how skinny they are but they glide up a curb with ease

[close]

What do you not like about the skinny?

Honestly, they just feel they’re more edge than riding surface and most of the spots I like are a tad too crusty for them, I found my compromise in the f4 radial. It’s the healthy mix of rounded edge and wheel bottom for me

[Andmoreagain]

I think any wheel works.

Anyone remember when OJ marketed those round wheels as good for slappies 

[streetmeat]

Expand Quote

it doesnt matter at all. anything works. dont buy into the whole ‘curb setup’ bs

[close]

It's funny, I hit the local curbs and there's rarely a person NOT on some behemoth board (and skating slow), and yet a few are always like 'I can't/don't flip my board anymore, it's too big'...

I don't get it? I lose tricks on big ass boards, but I don't lose slappies on an 8.125. What's worse is watching them try and shove or flip (let alone out of a grind)...they almost never pop out..so gross...clunk, bail....these aren't old dudes either.

I skate curbs like ledges, I bring my pop out game when slapping for almost all tricks.

Curb killer on the other hand...man knows how trick in and out of slappies.

i'll admit that at my age, my trick selection and style has transitioned into being 90% 'slappy guy' but i still like to flip my board, pop my board and do everything else. i learned how to slappy on a 7.75 with literal bearing condoms and probably some 5" wide hangers on some Royals in the early 00s so the whole dedicated curb setup thing just seems like a gimmick to sell gimmicks to people

[disclosed]

Expand Quote

it doesnt matter at all. anything works. dont buy into the whole ‘curb setup’ bs

[close]

It's funny, I hit the local curbs and there's rarely a person NOT on some behemoth board (and skating slow), and yet a few are always like 'I can't/don't flip my board anymore, it's too big'...

I don't get it? I lose tricks on big ass boards, but I don't lose slappies on an 8.125. What's worse is watching them try and shove or flip (let alone out of a grind)...they almost never pop out..so gross...clunk, bail....these aren't old dudes either.

I skate curbs like ledges, I bring my pop out game when slapping for almost all tricks.

Curb killer on the other hand...man knows how trick in and out of slappies.

stop bullying me!

i can slappy on any board. i agree, but personally prefer a wider board. in general.
i do believe a wider truck helps a little, and the leverage, but it shouldnt matter to the point of changing your setup.
but i think i lot of guys just like skating the big boards sometimes. its like dumb fun. i think the whole curb setup thing comes from people seeing curbs as the one place where they can just play around with some big boards if they normally skate smaller decks. its all about having some fun and nothing too serious.

on topic, i think smaller wheels are better, especially for those real 90 degee curbs here.

[manysnakes]

Expand Quote

it doesnt matter at all. anything works. dont buy into the whole ‘curb setup’ bs

[close]

It's funny, I hit the local curbs and there's rarely a person NOT on some behemoth board (and skating slow), and yet a few are always like 'I can't/don't flip my board anymore, it's too big'...

I don't get it? I lose tricks on big ass boards, but I don't lose slappies on an 8.125. What's worse is watching them try and shove or flip (let alone out of a grind)...they almost never pop out..so gross...clunk, bail....these aren't old dudes either.

I skate curbs like ledges, I bring my pop out game when slapping for almost all tricks.

Curb killer on the other hand...man knows how trick in and out of slappies.

Where I am, there are a few of these people but they never seem to be connected to whatever nascent "scene" exists around curbs - they always seem like old guys who kinda got sold on the idea of building a "slappy complete" or otherwise believe that one must skate an 9" deck with no nose if they are over ~35. I always kept my popsicle, but there was a moment of weakness, when I was returning to skating, where I bought a Welcome shaped deck with 159 trucks and shit, because I just kind of ambiently understood that this was the normal size skateboard for someone my age. Nowadays, I skate between an 8 and 8.25" almost exclusively.

Almost all of the best curb skaters at my local spots are skating what I would consider a fairly "standard popsicle" in the 8-8.75" range.

I personally find it much easier to slappy with 144-149 trucks, which when combined with a relatively narrow wheel like a Spitfire Classic, will lock in perfectly on most average double-sided curbs. Wide trucks lack this ability, and there's substantially more metal one must lift all the way on top.

[Síota]

I think any wheel works.

Anyone remember when OJ marketed those round wheels as good for slappies 

You mean these?


I honestly forget where, why and how I have them. Instant flat spots I imagine.