2026 Bearing Brand Preference Poll

[Fast_Freddie]

I have been on the same Quantum Isotopes for the past 4 years, clean them regularly keep the shields on.  I also have them in my cruiser and back up deck as well...

[TMX]

Started on Amphetamine 7s
Switched to Dragon Supply Fireball Builts and love them!

Still might try the Amph Hybrid or Silver Ceramics

T

[Reese Bruno]

Complete transparency i'm the poor bastard that voted mini logo

[TwisT]

Complete transparency i'm the poor bastard that voted mini logo

Minilogo bearings are great. Last year, when that tariff talk started, I bought some while they were still $12


I run Bones Swiss, but I put a black panther sticker on my deck when available.

[gringo_viejo]

I’ve been really happy with my set of used bones swiss… skated them for 2+ years.

…but it says « for 2026, » and I’ve been curious about Olympia ceramics, so I put that.

—But GV, dont you have two sets of sale Bronsons on ice already??
—Hey man…don’t judge my madness.

[Osage]

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Complete transparency i'm the poor bastard that voted mini logo

[close]

Minilogo bearings are great. Last year, when that tariff talk started, I bought some while they were still $12

   Same. They were $10 at my local and I bought 3 sets. Have them in my cruiser now and my son is on a set. Best cheap bearings out there! I prefer them to any of the Bronson's I've ridden.


   I voted other. On my main board I switch between a couple different sets of wheels and both sets have Eenox bearings. They're the factory that made Bones Swiss for decades before they changed factories and went a bit downhill. To me, Eenox feel exactly like what Swiss used to. Been on them for maybe 6-8 months and they're still excellent. Shields on and I've never cleaned them.

[Slave IV]

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Complete transparency i'm the poor bastard that voted mini logo

[close]

Minilogo bearings are great. Last year, when that tariff talk started, I bought some while they were still $12

[close]

   Same. They were $10 at my local and I bought 3 sets. Have them in my cruiser now and my son is on a set. Best cheap bearings out there! I prefer them to any of the Bronson's I've ridden.


   I voted other. On my main board I switch between a couple different sets of wheels and both sets have Eenox bearings. They're the factory that made Bones Swiss for decades before they changed factories and went a bit downhill. To me, Eenox feel exactly like what Swiss used to. Been on them for maybe 6-8 months and they're still excellent. Shields on and I've never cleaned them.

Has it been confirmed that Bones switched factories (away from WIB) or is it just that WIB is also selling their own skate branded bearings, which could cause conflict of interest and focus more on their own brand while still making Bones?

Also, agree on ML or Reds. If I’m going cheap, I’ll go with those. If it is confirmed that WIB no longer makes Bones Swiss, I might try Reds Big Balls next time I need bearings. Might not happen since I’m currently riding my 20+ year old Swiss 6 and they are still outperforming all the newer bearings I bought since.

[crazyfox0777]

I’ve tried most bearings. I’ve skated the worst (lucky) to the ok (reds) to the best (quantum,modus)

[Llewellyn Moss]

Current SKF riders, how you like em? Anyone ride both Swiss and SKF and have a preference, or do you find them basically equal?

[Chalupa]

Current SKF riders, how you like em? Anyone ride both Swiss and SKF and have a preference, or do you find them basically equal?

I got Bones on my main setup and SKF on my backup board. Bones is slightly faster, but they’re similar. The only noticeable difference is the spin test, where Bones keep going, but SKF stops sooner. On the board, they both keep spinning unless you’re going up an incline. It’s probably due to the grease SKF uses, because they are pretty fast after breaking them in. I can’t speak on lifespan because I don’t ride the board with SKF as often.

[Jort250]

Open to hearing differing opinions but I’m personally not brave enough to try anything outside of Bones

[lamfordie]

I'm really loving Quantum Metallics

[moonordie]

How long for a griptape or hardware poll?
Cut it out ffs

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

Complete transparency i'm the poor bastard that voted mini logo

When people say ‘Red’ I think of the sticker….when they say minilogo, I can smell and and feel that grease they are packed in.

[Doosh215]

Been a Bones Swiss guy for 20+ years, but recently tried Modus Ceramics just to try something that wasn't Bones. They're really good, especially for only $70 when Swiss Ceramics are like double that. Think I might stay on Modus.

[swongolianbbq]

Bones pretty much finished off GMN

I think most folks in the early 90s were just using NMBs

Then came the crazy CCS, Shorty's, high tech shoe era where there were like a million different bearing brands probably all made in the same place..

That Reflex beanie

Speed Demons, Reds, Mini Logo, FKD, Lucky, Quickies, Black Panthers, Ninja, etc

Kids were all about "well MY bearings are ABEC 7"

Like dawg mine are Bones Swiss get outta here

[Benicio El Toro]

Edit- Just saw swongolians post and had to add this. My second bloard was 2nd grade. My older brother (6th grade) broke into our trailer with a friend and took our Christmas money to buy us both skateboards. Mine was a Powell mini logo, gk, idk the wheels, and lucky bearings. Anyways he thought he was buying himself the faster bearings but he got the ratings backwards. So I won. And boy was mom pissed and not in a good place atm. In hindsight it's a good thing he did that bc we wouldn't of got that money otherwise. He did not deserve what he got. I win again.

Swiss is my edc. Open to something new.
Flip hkd for the polarizer, trying to support a shop and over paid.
Orphans in the cruiser.

[Osage]

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Complete transparency i'm the poor bastard that voted mini logo

[close]

When people say ‘Red’ I think of the sticker….when they say minilogo, I can smell and and feel that grease they are packed in.

  They don't come packed with grease any longer. I'm told they are made at the same facility that makes all the Chinese Skate One bearings, they're just a step below Reds in terms of QC and spec tolerance.

[Osage]

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Complete transparency i'm the poor bastard that voted mini logo

[close]

Minilogo bearings are great. Last year, when that tariff talk started, I bought some while they were still $12

[close]

   Same. They were $10 at my local and I bought 3 sets. Have them in my cruiser now and my son is on a set. Best cheap bearings out there! I prefer them to any of the Bronson's I've ridden.


   I voted other. On my main board I switch between a couple different sets of wheels and both sets have Eenox bearings. They're the factory that made Bones Swiss for decades before they changed factories and went a bit downhill. To me, Eenox feel exactly like what Swiss used to. Been on them for maybe 6-8 months and they're still excellent. Shields on and I've never cleaned them.

[close]

Has it been confirmed that Bones switched factories (away from WIB) or is it just that WIB is also selling their own skate branded bearings, which could cause conflict of interest and focus more on their own brand while still making Bones?

Also, agree on ML or Reds. If I’m going cheap, I’ll go with those. If it is confirmed that WIB no longer makes Bones Swiss, I might try Reds Big Balls next time I need bearings. Might not happen since I’m currently riding my 20+ year old Swiss 6 and they are still outperforming all the newer bearings I bought since.

  It is my understanding thart WIB did not start selling their own skate bearings until Bones switched manufacturers but I could be wrong. The Eenox bearings sure seem exactly like what Swiss used to be before they got cheaper a few years ago.

[skatebruh]

All bearings are the same

[Chalupa]

All bearings are the same

Who has had a set of Bronson G3 for 5 years?

[Slave IV]

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Complete transparency i'm the poor bastard that voted mini logo

[close]

Minilogo bearings are great. Last year, when that tariff talk started, I bought some while they were still $12

[close]

   Same. They were $10 at my local and I bought 3 sets. Have them in my cruiser now and my son is on a set. Best cheap bearings out there! I prefer them to any of the Bronson's I've ridden.


   I voted other. On my main board I switch between a couple different sets of wheels and both sets have Eenox bearings. They're the factory that made Bones Swiss for decades before they changed factories and went a bit downhill. To me, Eenox feel exactly like what Swiss used to. Been on them for maybe 6-8 months and they're still excellent. Shields on and I've never cleaned them.

[close]

Has it been confirmed that Bones switched factories (away from WIB) or is it just that WIB is also selling their own skate branded bearings, which could cause conflict of interest and focus more on their own brand while still making Bones?

Also, agree on ML or Reds. If I’m going cheap, I’ll go with those. If it is confirmed that WIB no longer makes Bones Swiss, I might try Reds Big Balls next time I need bearings. Might not happen since I’m currently riding my 20+ year old Swiss 6 and they are still outperforming all the newer bearings I bought since.

[close]

  It is my understanding thart WIB did not start selling their own skate bearings until Bones switched manufacturers but I could be wrong. The Eenox bearings sure seem exactly like what Swiss used to be before they got cheaper a few years ago.

That makes sense but just wondering about any confirmation regarding Bones Swiss manufacturing. I have no doubt that Eenox are similar, if not the same as Bones Swiss based on the assumption that Powell may have had patents for their specific design that are expired or otherwise able to be sidestepped by WIB, or even co-developed with WIP and their agreement expired. Something along those lines.

What I'm more curious about is who is making Bones Swiss if not WIB since they seemed to be the main (only?) manufacturer for this type of bearing in Switzerland. Who makes the other "Swiss" branded bearings for other companies? Is it also WIB? Just trying to learn since I saw somewhere before that WIB might be the only Swiss manufacturer of skate type bearings and if so, it's gonna be hard or illegal for anyone to be marketing "Swiss" bearings unless it's made by WIB or there is some other company. When I tried a simple google-fu, it seemed to confirm that WIB was possibly the only legit Swiss manufacturer for Skateboard bearings and anything else is likely marketing BS, which would be the most concerning part to me if indeed Bones Swiss are no longer actually Swiss.

[YeoWhattup]

Bronson Raws

[Plan9Customs]

~4 year old QBS isotopes and a set of Bones Swiss 6.

[bluedohdohs]

Been enjoying the Olympia ceramics but haven’t had too many sessions on them 8-12. Tbh sometimes i wonder about the SKFs but gonna refrain from buying new stuff for awhile

Swiss in my cruiser board, kryptonic wheels from Chicago skates, big fan

[Vexed]

I have a set of each of the Quantum ceramic varieties from when the brand was fairly new.  The shields bent on some from each set, so I discarded all shields and have since only cleaned them by spraying in 99% iso before a session once in a while and much less occasionally lubing them.  They still spin fast and sound great.

I’ve got some SKF on ice I want to break in but fear I won’t have a chance any time soon.

[moykky]

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Current SKF riders, how you like em? Anyone ride both Swiss and SKF and have a preference, or do you find them basically equal?

[close]

I got Bones on my main setup and SKF on my backup board. Bones is slightly faster, but they’re similar. The only noticeable difference is the spin test, where Bones keep going, but SKF stops sooner. On the board, they both keep spinning unless you’re going up an incline. It’s probably due to the grease SKF uses, because they are pretty fast after breaking them in. I can’t speak on lifespan because I don’t ride the board with SKF as often.

I'm maybe a bit bias, but I've used SKF since a kid (before they had skate -line, they're readily available here), I still have a box of SKF 608ZZ from the nineties and my son has a set in his setup. Of course when they came up with the "skate" bearings, I had to get them...

I have a set of Bones Swiss that I've used for ~2 years, cleaned maybe twice a year (speed cream and all) and they're going well, no complaints. SKF (skate) has been in use maybe four months and like Chalupa said, they need some break-in period and they will not "free spin" like Bones Swiss, but like we all know, the free-spin only tells us how well the wheel "free-spins".

I feel that the SKF keeps the speed at least as well as the bones swiss and is much smoother (what Chalupa said) feeling. Can't say anything about the longevity yet, but I have no reason to expect anything less than the competition. If you need new bearings, try em!

[peterpenis]

slap convinced me to finally bu bones swiss. had a few good month on them but after half a year or so they did lock up just like all the cheap bearings Im used to. Tried to clean them with 90% alcohol but couldn't get them to roll again. Still have them in case I'll ever buy acetone to try if thats really the magic soltuion slap claims it to be. But for now Im back to the closed skf bearings. They seem to handle the winter relatively well

[Sila]

I've had the same set of Modus Titaniums for three years now. Got some Super Reds for back up.

[JM]

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Complete transparency i'm the poor bastard that voted mini logo

[close]

Minilogo bearings are great. Last year, when that tariff talk started, I bought some while they were still $12

[close]

   Same. They were $10 at my local and I bought 3 sets. Have them in my cruiser now and my son is on a set. Best cheap bearings out there! I prefer them to any of the Bronson's I've ridden.


   I voted other. On my main board I switch between a couple different sets of wheels and both sets have Eenox bearings. They're the factory that made Bones Swiss for decades before they changed factories and went a bit downhill. To me, Eenox feel exactly like what Swiss used to. Been on them for maybe 6-8 months and they're still excellent. Shields on and I've never cleaned them.

[close]

Has it been confirmed that Bones switched factories (away from WIB) or is it just that WIB is also selling their own skate branded bearings, which could cause conflict of interest and focus more on their own brand while still making Bones?

Also, agree on ML or Reds. If I’m going cheap, I’ll go with those. If it is confirmed that WIB no longer makes Bones Swiss, I might try Reds Big Balls next time I need bearings. Might not happen since I’m currently riding my 20+ year old Swiss 6 and they are still outperforming all the newer bearings I bought since.

Bless you all for introducing Eenox.

I got a little chuckle at the naming, though.