Blank Skateboard Parts - To buy or not.

Are blank decks and other skateboard parts any good? This is a great and often asked question. Blank skateboarding parts mostly consist of wheels, bearings, and decks that are made without any company name attached to them. They are plain and generic, usually just a simple one color, and relatively inexpensive.

There is not just one company that makes blank skateboarding gear and there lies the source of problems that some unfortunate skaters have encountered. These parts are usually made in China (big surprise there), by several manufacturers, and shipped and sold in bulk. Because of this, it's hard to tell if you are getting anything well made. Becuase of this I typically recommend that you avoid them, but there are times that you might want to buy blank gear. If you keep these points in mind you should be able to avoid some of the worst items:

Blank Decks:

Be careful when buying blank decks; some companies use cheap and softer wood that won't have very good pop, and likely won't last long. Be sure that the deck is made from 7 ply hard maple wood. It can be tough to know if you are getting quality, so ask the owner of the shop and make sure it is made of good wood. If it is, it should be fine; although, I wouldn't expect it to last nearly as long as a pro grade skateboard deck. If you aren't that aggressive of a skater or just take it easier, it might last you quite a while. One thing that should be pointed out is that blank decks and shop decks are not necessarily the same quality or from the same manufacture. Sometimes they are, so ask your shop and find out more about the shop deck.

Blank Wheels:

There is no clear way to determine the quality of the urethane in the wheels before you buy them. You can ask at the shop you are looking to buy them from, but there's a good chance they won't even know. If you can get them cored, then that will help. Fortunately they are relatively inexpensive so you can experiment and pick some up and try them out with out much of a dent in your wallet.

Blank Trucks:

There aren't really blank trucks out there, but there are low end and cheap skateboard trucks on the market. I recommend that you stay with the name brand trucks however if your not aggressive or not sure if skateboarding is right for you and want a cheap skateboard give them a shot. When they crack or the king pin breaks pick up a new name brand pair.

Blank Bearings:

These bearings are easy to find and pretty cheap. If you are going to get some make sure that they are ABEC rated. Most of the time you can get a cheaper good quality skateboard bearing set like Black Panthers or Luck’s for only a little bit more money so look around.

There are a lot of people in the skateboarding industry who flat out hate blank skateboard gear or hate the idea of no name skateboard gear, and they think that if you buy blank gear, you are helping to undermine skateboarding as legit sport, because you aren't supporting pro skateboarding. Perhaps there is a ring of truth in this, but in our humble opinion it doesn't really matter. Skateboarding has been evolving and changing over the last several decades, and skaters will continue to evolve along with it. "Legitimate sport" or not, professional or not, just so long as you skate you are supporting skateboarding.

The bottom line is this if you have conviction about the legitimacy of skateboarding as a sport, or have the money and want something of determined quality; by all means get pro grade skateboard gear instead of no name blank equipment. However, if you are strapped for cash, just starting out, or just don't want to support pro skating, then blanks aren't all that bad of an idea. Keep in mind; you get what you pay for.

Skateboard Trucks Review: The Grind King 5.0 Axl II

Grind King is a Venice based company that has been innovating and supporting skateboard truck hardware for nearly 20 years.

The Grind King 5.0 Axl II’s are lite, giving, responsive, and durable. Somewhat pricey, but we feel that they are worth it in the long run. The only down side we found was that the bushings felt a bit soft for our tastes; however, after we replaced them with some harder bushings they felt just great! Grind King skateboard truck construction are better quality than most, and if they do happen to break you have the warranty to fall back on. All GK trucks are made in the USA and are guaranteed for life against axle slippage and kingpin breakage or truck hanger breakage. Totally worth it!

Grind King will do everything possible to expedite your warranty should you ever experience a problem with your trucks. “We pride ourselves on having the lowest defect rate in the industry.”, “We stand behind the quality of our trucks which is why we guarantee them.”

Features:

• 356 aluminum heat-treated to T6 condition


• Aeronautical heat-grade 8 Kingpins


• Original diamond knurled non-slip 8740 chrom-moly steel axles with reduced-length rolled threads; able to reach tensile strengths up to 200000 psi. This particular aircraft alloy is stronger than the standard 1010/1020 and even stronger than the 4140 that some truck companies brag about.


• Precision drilled pivot, kingpin and mounting holes


• GK has always realized the importance of bushings and strives to maintain the best possible urethane available; available from 90-97 durometer


• GK trucks are the lightest trucks out there.

Skateboard Deck Review - Black Label Emergency Lucero X2 Jester

The Lucero Signature Black Label Emergency X2 Jester Skateboard Deck is a big deck that features old school graphics, light weight 7 ply constructions, and durability. It’s larger size and shape will feel good and familiar for you old school riders (remember Schmitt Stix?) at 9.5x33.125 it's a great choice for cruising, ramps, pools, or skate parks. Black Label decks generally have average weight, with a nice concave, tail fin and nose shape, and plenty of pop. Like we said before the graphics remind us of our old pool decks, with a Joker head menacingly grinning from behind bending bars, the Black Label Flame, and Emergency Cross. Once you have a complete assembled with some larger trucks, fast bearings, and big wheels this skateboard feels and looks very cool. It's reasonably priced. Probably bits on the high side in most walk in establishment, but you can find it fairly reasonable online. Get the Black Label Emergaency Lucero X2 Jester skateboard deck today if you are into the great old school deck and the edgier, Punk rock, dark side of skateboarding style like Black Label Skateboards.

Skateboard Deck Review - Consolidated Skateboards Good Luck Team

The Consolidated Skateboards Good Luck Team skateboard deck is a very popular deck that features dark but humorous graphics, light weight 7 ply constructions, and durability. With average dimensions it should feel as familiar as most boards (7.625) it's a great choice for any style but best for skating street or skate parks.

Consolidated generally makes s light weight skateboard deck, with a nice concave, popsicle sticks shape, and plenty of pop. Like we said before the graphics are a little dark but very funny, featuring a bunny handing his severed foot to another saying, “Good Luck”; now that’s team work!

Once you have a complete assembled with a nice set of matching trucks, fast bearings, and wheels this deck feels and looks very cool.

It's an average priced deck. Probably a bit on the high side in most walk in establishment, but you can find it fairly reasonable online. Get the Consolidated Good Luck Team skateboard deck today if you are into the great deck and the independent skateboarding style of Consolidated Skateboards.

Death Skateboards P Melcher Blood Bath 8 Skateboard Deck Review

Death Skateboards P Melcher's signature skateboard deck, Blood Bath 8 is a top notch 7 ply deck that features hardcore graphics, light weight, and durability. This deck is slightly wider than most boards but you'll hardly be able to tell once you are on; it's a great choice for any style of skating from street to skate parks, pools, bowls or if you're just a larger size. We were surprised how light weight this skateboard deck is, with a nice concaved, popsicle sticks shape, and plenty of pop. Like we said before the graphics are hardcore but so is Death Skateboards, with a spinning wheel and a crimson trail of blood, it's so very road kill and hence the name "Blood Bath". Once you have a complete assembled with a nice set of matching trucks, fast bearings, and wheels this deck feels and looks very cool. It's reasonably priced. Probably bits on the high side in most walk in establishment, but you can find it fairly reasonable online. Get the P Melcher Blood Bath 8 skateboard deck today if you are into a wider deck with hard core style.

Tony Alva Flying Tiger Skateboard Deck Review

The Alva Flying Tiger is a very popular deck that features great graphics, light weight, and durability. With slightly larger dimensions than most boards (9.24x34) this deck has allot of room on it; it's a great choice for those who like to skate parks, pools, bowls or if you just have big feet. It's a big skateboard deck; however, it's surprisingly light weight, concaved, and has allot of pop. The shape is a more modern popsicle stick shape instead of the traditional nose and tail look of old school skateboard or pool board.

The graphics are based on the Flying Tigers whose fighters sported a shark nose graphic during World War II. Once you have a complete assembled with a nice set of trucks, bearings, and wheels this deck feels great.

The only down side to this is the price. Probably due to the Tony Alva name the Flying Tiger retails on the high side in most walk in establishment, but you can find it fairly reasonable online. Get the Alva Flying Tiger skateboard deck today if you are into old school size and new school style. This would be a perfect skateboard deck for any skater who is committed to perfecting their skateboard tricks.

The Pro-Tec Ace Signature helmets.

• The Pro-Tec Ace Signature helmets are almost perfect in every way. Comfortable, advanced SXP technology gives the helmet lasting durability, and the pro style and signature aspects make the Pro-Tec Ace skateboarding helmets a great choice. Plus, Pro-Tec Ace Signature helmets come in four styles matched up to the pro who wears that helmet, plus come with stickers to match.

• SXP Multi Impact Technology - padding inside the helmet rebounds to original shape after impact
• CPSC Certified - Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Pro Signature helmets, including sticker sheets for Pro Sponsors
• Steve Caballero Pro-Tec Ace skate helmet - red with black straps
• Bucky Lasek Pro-Tec Ace skate helmet - white with black straps
• Bob Burnquist Pro-Tec Ace skate helmet - Black with black straps
• Brian Patch Pro-Tec skate helmet - Dark blue with yellow straps
• Available in sizes Jr., SM, MED, LG, and XL

Pro-Tec makes protective gear for skateboarding, wakeboarding, and snowboarding. They've been at it a long time. The Pro-Tec Classic line "The original helmet from the 70's redone", is a great place to start. The Pro-Tec Ace is the standard helmet, with Pro-Tec Aces for wakeboarding, snowboarding, kayaking - everything you can think of, water, snow, and dirt.The Skateboarding Pro Signature versions of the Pro-Tec Ace are just as good, with four types to chose from. Steve Caballero, Brian Patch, Bucky Lasek and Bob Burnquist each have a helmet. Each Pro-Tec Ace helmet is colored according to the style of its pro, and each comes with a sheet of that pro's sponsor stickers.

But in my mind, even better than being able to wear a helmet like Bucky Lasek, is Pro-Tec's SXP technology. SXP Multiple Impact Technology allows the padding inside the helmet to reform back to place after an impact. With regular helmets, the wearer is supposed to replace the helmet after each impact. That gets expensive, so most skaters don't bother, meaning that the helmet is getting less and less effective. But with Pro-Tec's SXP technology, that's not a problem. You end up saving money in the long run, and also saving your head!

The bottom line is this, they look good, are comfortable, and you don't need to buy a new helmet after every crash. Best of all the price is fairly low! Try one, and see what you think.

Original Source: Steve Cave, About.com

The Pro-Tec B2 skate helmet is comfortable, safe and stylish.

• 
  The Pro-Tec B2 skateboarding helmet is a fusion of styles and technology. The Pro-Tec B2 skateboarding helmet has the shape of the Classic Pro-Tec helmet, but packed with all of Pro-Tec's latest design and technology improvements. Just like the Pro-Tec Ace helmet, the Pro-Tec B2 skate helmet comes in four styles, each keyed to a pro and including a sticker sheet of that pro's sponsors.

• CPSC Certified - Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Available in four pro sponsored styles
• Bucky Lasek - gloss black with orange straps
• Lincoln Ueda - Matte gray with black straps
• Omar Hassan - Army Green with gray straps
• Willy Santos - Desert sand with black straps
• Available in sizes SM, M, LG, XLG
  
  The comfort of the Pro-Tec B2 skate helmet comes from the changeable padded liner and intuitive shape of the helmet. The Pro-Tec B2 holds onto the head well. The B2 helmet also comes in four sizes - Small, Medium, Large and ExLarge. It's nice to see a helmet company make a helmet dedicated to sizes, and with a true "ExLarge" size.
  
  The Pro-Tec B2 skate helmet is also safe - CPSC certified, and improved with Pro-Tec's SXP technology. SXP multiple impact technology means that when the helmet suffers from an impact, the foam inside will spring back to its original shape. With regular helmets, the padding inside the helmet absorbs impact and then stays compressed, making the helmet dangerous for future impacts. SXP technology makes Pro-Tec skateboarding helmets safer, and they last longer because they don't need to be replaced as often.
  
  Pro-Tec B2 skateboarding helmets also look cool. The old school rounded style looks great, and the colors available are pretty sick. You should be able to find one that you like, especially with the Pro-Tec B2 helmets being keyed to pros. If you have to wear a helmet, you might as well look cool - try the Pro-Tec B2.
  
  Original Source: Steve Cave, About.com