Are "bad" brands really that bad?

[Bleep]

Well, I've been skating about six months now and have loved every minute of it. I bought a darkstar boards with blank trucks and wheels back in december and think its a great ride personally.

It seems to be the common consensus that made in china decks are significantly worse performance wise, however at the time I just picked the graphics set i liked and went from there.

Truck and wheel wise I can notice a large difference between my blanks my brothers setup (Darkstar board, Thunder trucks and Ricta wheels), my deck seems to turn much quicker but at the same time be much more difficult to stabilize on, but I'm used to it.

The only other deck brand I have skated is mystery but between the two I notice no different in deck performance whatsoever.

The question for the day: Does skateboard brand actually have a massive impact on performance in YOUR personal experience, and if so, how?

[Knickers]

Well, I snapped two venture kingpins and have put a kingpin from a Fury in there and it seems to be working like a dream.

[spenser]

its not MASSIVE, but there is absolutely a difference.

dwindle (darkstar is on dwindle) is basically the worst distributor. there is a completely noticable difference between them and say.. deluxe boards (like real).

if youre a beginner or you just kinda "suck" in general, you probably wont notice. but if you actually know a thing or two, it matters.

trucks pretty much just differ in strength and weight, and a little in turning, grinding, and durability.

wheels are close.

yeah.

[_Boyd]

dude. you should definately get yourself an AWS. as soon as you step foot onto the board you'll see a major difference in quality. after riding an AWS, you'll never go back to darkstar.

[China Skate]

Um.. I guess. Boards make a difference, trucks do a bit, wheels and bearings don't really. Darkstars's distributor's are terrible. I haven't rode on some for a while, but they feel really crappy and hard to handle with once you get good. What are your trucks?

You'll notice the difference when you start getting your basic flip tricks starting.

[StevoElSupremo]

ya ride a wal mart deck then ride a FIGHT

[Rappin Rabbi]

good analogy Stevo, and so true

boards help some, and some adds up

[sk83rb0y]

I've riden element, almost, flip, blind, world industries, and a couple of fake decks. I notice a major difference. The elements and almosts feel better than the flip, blind, world industries, and fake decks. Some elements feel better than others and some almosts feel better than others. I personaly think that almosts feel better than elements.

[winnipegdizzle]

what the ****s a fake deck

[StevoElSupremo]

what the ****s a fake deck

its ***** deck trying to be cool and look like an element when its not

[spenser]

I've riden element, almost, flip, blind, world industries, and a couple of fake decks. I notice a major difference. The elements and almosts feel better than the flip, blind, world industries, and fake decks. Some elements feel better than others and some almosts feel better than others. I personaly think that almosts feel better than elements.
almost, blind, and world industries are the same. element sucks too, and flip isnt much better at all. youve never had an actual GOOD good board.

[JoeyKovacs]

I suggest you all go back to your natural HABITATS. HINT HINT! HABITAT! COUGH!! HINT! COUGH HABITAT! HINT DANNY GARCIA DECK! HABITAT! 7 5/8! COUGH..


get a habitat for crying out loud.

[StringFlinger]

I want to try a habitat. Maybe my next deck. I'm thinking about getting a 7.75" deck instead of a 7.5" like my chocolate. I've ridden my board, and my friend's 8 inch, and the 8 inch is just too much, but I could use a little more width.

[Mikeizzle]

I'm wondering, is Zoo York any good? I plan on getting one after my Chocolate gets worn out. And on another note, Chocolate makes damn good boards. I mean, damn good, very durable and lotsa pop.

[crypticpoet]

Zoo York are fantastical, but the only thing is that their decks are really, really thin. Which means that they're good for flip tricks but if you're talking stairs, ledges and heavy landings, you might want to be a bit more careful. I snapped my Zoo York on some stairs. I seem to snap all my decks on ledges and stairs. Hmm.

But overall, Zoo York are good.


Yes, boards absolutley make a difference. I'm so picky about the shape and weight of my board because I find that it does affect my skating--at least until I get used to it. Trucks also matter, because then you've got weight and strength to think about there, too.

[Shadow2kx]

Yeah I find it amazing how many people will say one Dwindle Company has crappy decks, and the other one doesnt...when they are the same boards. (World, Blind, DarkStar, Enjoi, Almost)

[sk83rb0y]

almost, blind, and world industries are the same. element sucks too, and flip isnt much better at all. youve never had an actual GOOD good board.

No, my almost is really good. Like I said before, some decks of the same company are better than others. Besides, I'm getting a Fight! next.

[Misterhamper]

Um.. I guess. Boards make a difference, trucks do a bit, wheels and bearings don't really.

I thought bearings made a GREAT differance. Like Bones Ceramics > Blank ABEC7 fx...

[Zerosk8er90]

Wheels don't really matter unless you do downhill skating.

[McJesus]

Alot of the good skaters daewon, mullen, hsu, barletta, childress,sheppard, dumcombe, ect. are sponsered by the crappy boards - dwindle dist. BUT they give their riders MUCH better boards than the average consumer

[juggle]

Ive skated a powell, zero, a baker, a shorty's and now a blank deck from blank decks dot com. None have snapped all got razor tail, all different i think im going to stick with blank but if i get some dough i might pick up another zero or a real.

[China Skate]

Why don't you all just stick with a blank..?

[Element 4 life]

my mate has a darkstar board with blank trucksnad stuff and it just dousent chip its a really good board n "bad brands" aint really tht bad just sum stuff dousent last as long or is of a high quality

[Ramp]