Love this video. Great reflection. I think it’s a bit like golf. No one goes golfing with one club. You wouldn’t want to use the same club as a driver that you would as a putter. I think having multiple sets of wheels in the bag is essential for folks like me and yourself. The wheel that performs best for you on skatelite is unlikely to be the wheel that performs best for you on polished concrete etc. I have 6 wheels in my rotation that I used based on the park I’m riding. The majority of people who skate just don’t care or they don’t understand why they like what they ride or they can’t afford 10 different wheels
Thanks ! Yeah I can see the parallels you are drawing there. Although I personally was keen to find one wheel to rule them all so I didn't have to ever change wheels to suit where i'm skating because its just time wasted i'd rather spend skating. I think I was pretty much there with the spitfires but am always keen to keep my eye on whats out there just in case something better comes along. I've settled on Bones SFT 84B 60mm which are every bit as good as spitfires but with a slightly faster feeling on smooth concrete. The X99's were just too soft for me so i now just keep them in my bag in case of emergency. I'm a firm believer that you can "learn your wheels" and become familiar with their characteristics so you can actually skate just as well with any of the higher tier options with just a little bit of exposure. I proved that to myself by switching over to the bones 84b after initially thinking they were too hard and slippery on wood, now i know exactly how to ride them and i never slip out unless i make a silly mistake. I used to have 2 boards (one for vert and one for boles and mini ramps) but it just became a pain to manage and I got used to riding the mini ramp bowl board on vert ramps too. I think our minds are clever enough to adjust to anything within reason and i prefer sticking to just one setup if i can.
@@manashieldmedia Been riding them 4 months (weekly skate), slide well and good grip on wood and concrete. I live in the US and so the parks I ride are generally smooth anyway. I def recommend them but wheel preference and feel is very subjective. Give em a try, they come in around $30.
This year I switched from Bones SPF 58mm 84B to Spitfire Full Conical 58mm 99. Ride smooth concrete parks & bowls, gota a new set of Bones (spare) wasn´t thinking of using them so soon because the Spits are incredible!!! But after your review & comments I´ll give a ride on the Bones to see what they feel like ....
There I am at 04:45 lined up with other familiar faces 😀. Gford skatepark has been neglected by Guildford Borough Council for years; A couple of the regular riders have to carry out maintenance themselves.
Great review, Neil! As always. I'm on the Tony Hawk X99s for Skatelite and Gator Skins. Waiting to get back on a vert ramp and might swap out for my Speedlab Jeromy Green 99A wheels.
@@friscotecsk8s119 thank you 👍🏻😉 when I rode my speedlab 101a’s a few years ago they felt very comparable to the spitfire 99’s so I think they would work very well on the vert ramps . The only reason I swapped back was because I flat spotted one hitting a tiny rock in a concrete park. They actually very kindly send me a replacement for free which was awesome but I didn’t switch them back again. I think I made a couple of videos about them but it would be interesting to revisit them next time I get an itch to mix things up again.
Great video, I found it really informative. You should try bones STF 99a’s. I find they feel really similar to formula 4’s but have slightly more grip on wood.
I skate the 64mm Dragons (G-Bones shape) with Bones Swiss ceramic bearings in concrete bowls. I am a huge advocate for these. Fast AF!! Love this combo 👊🛹❤️
I have these wheels, and other X99. They are the right wheel for my local park. I have them in 54 up to 60. I also have the 84B. Love them as well. They are best for nose slides. I am a Bones guy. Always have been and always will be. 🐀☠️
Cool, as I say I’ve had a strange relationship with bones wheels , l’m liking the 84b on concrete but despite trying hard just can’t get on with the x99’s but I deliberately avoid rough parks.
@@NeilHesterSkateboarding It really comes done to park and personal preference. I don't think there is a one size fits all. It is skateboarding. We all have a little things. And that's ok and a great thing about skateboarding.
Have you tried the Spitfire F4 in the 101a? Curios as to how slippy/grippy they are on sk8lite. I predominantly skate concrete bowls, but occasionally (and hopefully more in the future) get the opportunity to skate a miniramp, a bowl, and a vert ramp that are all sk8lite. I'm trying to decide on getting the 101a or the 99a.
@@PerryEarl Hi, I own some but I haven’t tried them yet. I would imagine they would be good on skatelite but it all depends on you as a skater , what your experience is etc. I know for sure the 99’s are very good and I have zero complaints about using them on skatelite.
@@NeilHesterSkateboarding if you do get around to trying them, I would love to hear what you think. Seeing as I’m in Florida where it’s usually a hundred and Hell degrees outside, and I’m typically in concrete bowls, I think I’m gonna go with the 101a ones and just see how they work next time I’m at a sk8lite spot. Thanks for the reply, and keep me in mind if you get around to trying them out too.
@@PerryEarl Cool, I will although it may be quite some time as i dont like to switch things out too often. the only reservations i would have would be on indoor wood surfaces that might be dusty which will make things slippery but skatelite and concrete should be fine.
My favorite duro. The wheel that compares the most to a Spitfire f4 99a. Different branding for marketing on the part of Bones? The 99s were simply called STFs Easy Streets 2 years ago...
i have some x99 54mm v5. not tried them yet, but they seem like they will be really nice. i have several sets of x97 56mm v6 and quite like them. the relative quiet is something that i really like about them. v6 shape is like v5 but about 5mil wider depending on size. generally pretty rough ground on the east coast US. the x97 is a good comfortable all-around wheel in my opinion but a little bit more slippery than i'd like. it's manageable, just a bit sketchy on a hard carve sometimes. i didn't really like bones stf wheels, they tend to chunk out like modern ojs. i don't think i've tried spf, doubt i will.
@@diplenski I guess it depends what you are looking for and for what surfaces alongside your likes and dislikes. Back in the 90’s I loved a quiet board so any kind of rattle annoyed me but now I just want speed and grip and harder wheels just feel way faster than the x99’s to me. Even the spitfires feel way harder and faster. Softer wheels just feel sluggish for me and deliberately avoid rough surfaces because I have enough choice of smooth parks and ramps. I don’t skate street, only transition so that also focuses my needs and desired even closer.
I ride the 81b Bones SPF's on smooth concrete - they are almost as fast as the 84b but are much more grippy! I also have some X99 56mm V6 widecut wheels for more crusty parks. I wish they made a 58mm V6 X99. They are quiet, very fast and super forgiving for old legs and for a 99a wheel. I find I can skate longer with them. This Dragon/X Formula is an interesting formula but takes some getting used to to grip/slip. Maybe a wider contact patch is better with these wheels.
I just dont feel like they are what I’m looking for, too soft, quiet and slow compared to SPF and I’m not slipping with the SPF’s so far. I do t skate anything crusty but as I said I’ll keep them in my bag just in case I do.
I was going to ask if you've tried the Dragon formula but sounds like you'll find them too soft and quiet. Everybody seems to be raving about them though.
I have tried them on someone else’s board but yes they aren’t what I’m looking for in a wheel. 6 years ago it might have been a different story because I was skating 95a wheels but now I’m on a different path.
@@NeilHesterSkateboarding I've gone on the same journey. Started back on 90a Rat Bones, then 95a OJs, some OG 95a Rat IIs, some other thing that was too soft, now on Spitfire Classics 99a which are great. Have had the same experience with 'too quiet' wheels, and too slow wheels on ramp especially, but don't like too hard either. Might have to try the 97a Dragons.
less contact patch on them than your spitfires, they should feel faster, and less friction. Less surface area... less to hear audibly and a different sound compared to worn in spitfires. They actually get audibly louder after 6 months.
@@NeilHesterSkateboarding yeah that’s interesting actually. I got on a mates board with 99s and i just hated the fee of wheels. Im a big fan on the dragons ( both 97 and 93a ) but these 99s have got my attention. I just have crap knees so any absorption is great
@@bennyg949 Even the x99’s feel too soft for me spitfire 99’s feel way harder, the 84b’s are noticeably faster and I’ve not had any slipping issues on any terrain yet.
@@bennyg949 personally I can’t consciously feel something like absorption through wheels and I think there would be way more benefit to just wearing shoes with an EVA midsole and some decent insoles, wheel wise for me it’s all about grip vs speed. I’m not going ride skinny contact patch street wheels blasting around a bowl because they will slip out and will be too small and slow anyway so a big and hard wheel that can grip on all terrains was my target and these x99’s just didn’t quite do it for me but if you are used to dragons you should notice an improvement. But I feel like they are a step backwards from 99 spitfires.
If you are used to 100a I think you’ll find these soft but there’s a lot that depends on whether you like them or not so it’s really hard for anyone else to say.
I've replaced my Bones SPF 81B 56mm P5 with Bones X99 60mm V5. And I see no reason to buy SPF again. In some rough concrete bowls I preferred my X97 to the too harsh SPF. On smooth concrete, the X99 are at least as fast as the SPF 81B they replaced. They grip like SPF 81B but they're comfier, quieter and faster on rough surfaces.
@@jaimeronan x99’s aren’t as fast at 84b spf’s but I don’t ride rough concrete, in fact i avoid it, I have no reason to skate it when I have smoother faster options.
Theyre not as fast but skate for a few hours flip tricks, drops, slide well enough but the absorb the impact better than comparable duro wheels. On the negative side ive been slipping out on 180 tricks on the pyramid. Theyre not supposed to be grippy. Theyre supposed to be a medium wheel that slides. More for the old head ledge god
Love this video. Great reflection.
I think it’s a bit like golf. No one goes golfing with one club. You wouldn’t want to use the same club as a driver that you would as a putter.
I think having multiple sets of wheels in the bag is essential for folks like me and yourself.
The wheel that performs best for you on skatelite is unlikely to be the wheel that performs best for you on polished concrete etc.
I have 6 wheels in my rotation that I used based on the park I’m riding.
The majority of people who skate just don’t care or they don’t understand why they like what they ride or they can’t afford 10 different wheels
Thanks ! Yeah I can see the parallels you are drawing there. Although I personally was keen to find one wheel to rule them all so I didn't have to ever change wheels to suit where i'm skating because its just time wasted i'd rather spend skating. I think I was pretty much there with the spitfires but am always keen to keep my eye on whats out there just in case something better comes along. I've settled on Bones SFT 84B 60mm which are every bit as good as spitfires but with a slightly faster feeling on smooth concrete. The X99's were just too soft for me so i now just keep them in my bag in case of emergency. I'm a firm believer that you can "learn your wheels" and become familiar with their characteristics so you can actually skate just as well with any of the higher tier options with just a little bit of exposure. I proved that to myself by switching over to the bones 84b after initially thinking they were too hard and slippery on wood, now i know exactly how to ride them and i never slip out unless i make a silly mistake.
I used to have 2 boards (one for vert and one for boles and mini ramps) but it just became a pain to manage and I got used to riding the mini ramp bowl board on vert ramps too. I think our minds are clever enough to adjust to anything within reason and i prefer sticking to just one setup if i can.
I'm on Pig 101a 58mm and love em, fast and squeaky!
Cool 👍🏻 🐽
More details! How are they holding up how long ya had em hows the slide hows the grip? I skate mostly parks and im trying to find the perfect wheel 😭
@@manashieldmedia Been riding them 4 months (weekly skate), slide well and good grip on wood and concrete. I live in the US and so the parks I ride are generally smooth anyway. I def recommend them but wheel preference and feel is very subjective. Give em a try, they come in around $30.
This year I switched from Bones SPF 58mm 84B to Spitfire Full Conical 58mm 99. Ride smooth concrete parks & bowls, gota a new set of Bones (spare) wasn´t thinking of using them so soon because the Spits are incredible!!!
But after your review & comments I´ll give a ride on the Bones to see what they feel like ....
👍🏻
There I am at 04:45 lined up with other familiar faces 😀. Gford skatepark has been neglected by Guildford Borough Council for years; A couple of the regular riders have to carry out maintenance themselves.
Sounds like a familiar and common story!
Great review, Neil! As always. I'm on the Tony Hawk X99s for Skatelite and Gator Skins. Waiting to get back on a vert ramp and might swap out for my Speedlab Jeromy Green 99A wheels.
@@friscotecsk8s119 thank you 👍🏻😉 when I rode my speedlab 101a’s a few years ago they felt very comparable to the spitfire 99’s so I think they would work very well on the vert ramps . The only reason I swapped back was because I flat spotted one hitting a tiny rock in a concrete park. They actually very kindly send me a replacement for free which was awesome but I didn’t switch them back again. I think I made a couple of videos about them but it would be interesting to revisit them next time I get an itch to mix things up again.
Great video, I found it really informative. You should try bones STF 99a’s. I find they feel really similar to formula 4’s but have slightly more grip on wood.
Thanks , I’ve settled on 84b SPF’s they are working for me on concrete and wood just fine 👍🏻
I skate the 64mm Dragons (G-Bones shape) with Bones Swiss ceramic bearings in concrete bowls. I am a huge advocate for these. Fast AF!! Love this combo 👊🛹❤️
@@andymason2981 👍🏻
That's my Bowl wheel, too. With Super Red Ceramics. Love 'em.
I have these wheels, and other X99. They are the right wheel for my local park. I have them in 54 up to 60.
I also have the 84B. Love them as well. They are best for nose slides.
I am a Bones guy. Always have been and always will be. 🐀☠️
Cool, as I say I’ve had a strange relationship with bones wheels , l’m liking the 84b on concrete but despite trying hard just can’t get on with the x99’s but I deliberately avoid rough parks.
@@NeilHesterSkateboarding It really comes done to park and personal preference. I don't think there is a one size fits all. It is skateboarding. We all have a little things. And that's ok and a great thing about skateboarding.
@AdventuresInSkateboarding Agreed 👍🏻
Have you tried the Spitfire F4 in the 101a? Curios as to how slippy/grippy they are on sk8lite. I predominantly skate concrete bowls, but occasionally (and hopefully more in the future) get the opportunity to skate a miniramp, a bowl, and a vert ramp that are all sk8lite. I'm trying to decide on getting the 101a or the 99a.
@@PerryEarl Hi, I own some but I haven’t tried them yet. I would imagine they would be good on skatelite but it all depends on you as a skater , what your experience is etc. I know for sure the 99’s are very good and I have zero complaints about using them on skatelite.
@@NeilHesterSkateboarding if you do get around to trying them, I would love to hear what you think. Seeing as I’m in Florida where it’s usually a hundred and Hell degrees outside, and I’m typically in concrete bowls, I think I’m gonna go with the 101a ones and just see how they work next time I’m at a sk8lite spot. Thanks for the reply, and keep me in mind if you get around to trying them out too.
@@PerryEarl Cool, I will although it may be quite some time as i dont like to switch things out too often. the only reservations i would have would be on indoor wood surfaces that might be dusty which will make things slippery but skatelite and concrete should be fine.
My favorite duro. The wheel that compares the most to a Spitfire f4 99a. Different branding for marketing on the part of Bones? The 99s were simply called STFs Easy Streets 2 years ago...
I don’t think they compare to formula four 99 at all. Way softer and slower feeling to me.
you're a good bowl skater
Thanks 👍🏻👊🏼
i have some x99 54mm v5. not tried them yet, but they seem like they will be really nice. i have several sets of x97 56mm v6 and quite like them. the relative quiet is something that i really like about them. v6 shape is like v5 but about 5mil wider depending on size. generally pretty rough ground on the east coast US. the x97 is a good comfortable all-around wheel in my opinion but a little bit more slippery than i'd like. it's manageable, just a bit sketchy on a hard carve sometimes. i didn't really like bones stf wheels, they tend to chunk out like modern ojs. i don't think i've tried spf, doubt i will.
@@diplenski I guess it depends what you are looking for and for what surfaces alongside your likes and dislikes. Back in the 90’s I loved a quiet board so any kind of rattle annoyed me but now I just want speed and grip and harder wheels just feel way faster than the x99’s to me. Even the spitfires feel way harder and faster. Softer wheels just feel sluggish for me and deliberately avoid rough surfaces because I have enough choice of smooth parks and ramps.
I don’t skate street, only transition so that also focuses my needs and desired even closer.
I ride the 81b Bones SPF's on smooth concrete - they are almost as fast as the 84b but are much more grippy! I also have some X99 56mm V6 widecut wheels for more crusty parks. I wish they made a 58mm V6 X99. They are quiet, very fast and super forgiving for old legs and for a 99a wheel. I find I can skate longer with them. This Dragon/X Formula is an interesting formula but takes some getting used to to grip/slip. Maybe a wider contact patch is better with these wheels.
I just dont feel like they are what I’m looking for, too soft, quiet and slow compared to SPF and I’m not slipping with the SPF’s so far. I do t skate anything crusty but as I said I’ll keep them in my bag just in case I do.
I was going to ask if you've tried the Dragon formula but sounds like you'll find them too soft and quiet. Everybody seems to be raving about them though.
I have tried them on someone else’s board but yes they aren’t what I’m looking for in a wheel. 6 years ago it might have been a different story because I was skating 95a wheels but now I’m on a different path.
The Bones XF and PP Dragon formula are the same formula - the X97 and X99 are harder versions of the 93a Dragons.
@@NeilHesterSkateboarding I've gone on the same journey. Started back on 90a Rat Bones, then 95a OJs, some OG 95a Rat IIs, some other thing that was too soft, now on Spitfire Classics 99a which are great. Have had the same experience with 'too quiet' wheels, and too slow wheels on ramp especially, but don't like too hard either. Might have to try the 97a Dragons.
less contact patch on them than your spitfires, they should feel faster, and less friction. Less surface area... less to hear audibly and a different sound compared to worn in spitfires. They actually get audibly louder after 6 months.
@@bennyg949 I’m much preferring the 84b’s than the x99’s
@@NeilHesterSkateboarding yeah that’s interesting actually.
I got on a mates board with 99s and i just hated the fee of wheels.
Im a big fan on the dragons ( both 97 and 93a ) but these 99s have got my attention.
I just have crap knees so any absorption is great
@@bennyg949 Even the x99’s feel too soft for me spitfire 99’s feel way harder, the 84b’s are noticeably faster and I’ve not had any slipping issues on any terrain yet.
@@NeilHesterSkateboarding think i might have to try these x99. Just to set my head😵💫
@@bennyg949 personally I can’t consciously feel something like absorption through wheels and I think there would be way more benefit to just wearing shoes with an EVA midsole and some decent insoles, wheel wise for me it’s all about grip vs speed. I’m not going ride skinny contact patch street wheels blasting around a bowl because they will slip out and will be too small and slow anyway so a big and hard wheel that can grip on all terrains was my target and these x99’s just didn’t quite do it for me but if you are used to dragons you should notice an improvement. But I feel like they are a step backwards from 99 spitfires.
going from 100a 52mm ccs basic wheels to 54mm x99. I ordered 52mm x99s but got 54mm... anything I should look out for? I mostly skate skateparks
If you are used to 100a I think you’ll find these soft but there’s a lot that depends on whether you like them or not so it’s really hard for anyone else to say.
@@NeilHesterSkateboarding I absolutely love them after a first session.
@@manashieldmedia cool 👍🏻😉
I've replaced my Bones SPF 81B 56mm P5 with Bones X99 60mm V5. And I see no reason to buy SPF again.
In some rough concrete bowls I preferred my X97 to the too harsh SPF. On smooth concrete, the X99 are at least as fast as the SPF 81B they replaced. They grip like SPF 81B but they're comfier, quieter and faster on rough surfaces.
@@jaimeronan x99’s aren’t as fast at 84b spf’s but I don’t ride rough concrete, in fact i avoid it, I have no reason to skate it when I have smoother faster options.
@@NeilHesterSkateboarding I know some spots that are too slippery for SPF 84B. I don't need noise to feel fast.
My 54mm wide cut X99s chipped on the third session, pretty disappointing, sticking with F4 from now on.
I’ve seen that happen with a lot of dual durometer style and softer wheels F4’s are pretty hard to beat 👍🏻
Theyre not as fast but skate for a few hours flip tricks, drops, slide well enough but the absorb the impact better than comparable duro wheels. On the negative side ive been slipping out on 180 tricks on the pyramid. Theyre not supposed to be grippy. Theyre supposed to be a medium wheel that slides. More for the old head ledge god
@@grampsskateboarding4814 I’m not a street skater so none of that applies to me, but then neither is Tony hawk these days 🤔 😜