I don't normally do pinned comments, but I figure this is the simplest way to cut a lot of comments off at the pass, as it were. In a lot of early online posts, marketing, content, etc. about these wheels, they were talked about as at least being "freestyle-adjacent". In fact, I got emails from the distributor presenting them as such. It was basically what I was hinting at in the section about Powell's secret freestyle team - a way of them making something that was "for freestyle" without really being associated *with* freestyle. This is why the Nano Cubics crop up in dedicated freestyle shops like Decomposed: www.decomposedskateboards.com/wheels (Sorry Witter, not throwing you under the bus intentionally - you were just the best example I could find!) This is the context in which this video was made. Obviously, the fact they were made with a nudge-nudge wink-wink towards freestyle has worked, as a lot of people don't seem to realise that's the way they were made/marketed. Powell have walked that line quite carefully... and that in itself should be a good subject of discussion. Anyway, carry on, as you were, etc.
I think you have to view the nano cubics less as a freestyle wheel and more of Andy's personal hybrid wheel. Andy is ostensibly a freestyle skater, but at the end of the day most of the things he's doing are more street oriented than they are flatland freestyle, and so the nano cubics are in technicality a freestyle wheel, but are effectively more heavily leaning into the street than the freestyle. I think it says a lot that in the promotional videos that Andy's done, he describes the shape in terms of street skating, he describes how the offset assists with slappy grinds and provides better lock in on rails. It's very clear to me that these are designed to ENABLE freestyle tricks, but not necessarily purpose to be built FOR freestyle. I will also add though that I've been skating the 93a 54mm nano cubics, and I do love them as a effectively a freestyle cruiser wheel, it's really convenient knowing that no matter how rough the ground is I can practice buttery smooth monster walks without too much effort. That being said, the minor offset is annoying, it's not deep enough and so my board isn't standing stable in rail like it would with a deeper wheel, something like the Decomposed squashed nuts are almost a necessity with these, or you might even need to "size up" your trucks.
I have had the same issue with the offset of the wheels. I ride an 8.5‘ popsicle shape for street with 149 independent trucks and the occasional freestyle in between. The wheels would be a tat too short for nice even and stable „primos“ or in freestyle terms: in rail and my wheel nuts would get scratched when practicing on rougher grounds. So when I „tinkered“ around to fix this issue I thought about putting an additional washer behind the wheel. It‘s not perfect but feels pretty even to me and I had no issues. I hope this helps 🙏🏽
Like with anything, there are trade offs with these wheels. They are similar in shape to hybrid wheels offered by other companies like Decomposed. The big difference is that they are Dragon formula, which makes skating on surfaces like what is found on many basketball courts way more appealing because you won't get flat spots. I can't speak to what is found in the UK, but in the USA these wheels are labeled as made in the USA. So unless Tony has stumbled onto some sort of skate conspiracy.... The fact that they are a different type of urethane (Dragon Formula) is more likely the reason why the finish is a little different than most wheels. They ride a little different, they sound a little different, because they are made different. I think what your expectations are about these wheels is really what is going to determine what you think of them after actually trying them. I've always preferred Decomposed hybrid wheels over traditional freestyle wheel shapes so I personally like them, but to each their own.
So I double checked the packaging of the remaining Nano Cubics I have in stock, and you're right: those are listed as made in USA. But something is DEFINITELY off with these. As I said in the video, I've got a pretty good nose for Chinese urethane - it has a very distinct smell as something outgasses from it. Similarly, the look and finish is unique, too. This is how I knew Never Enough's Felines were made in China, for instance - they looked and smelt a lot like these Nano Cubics. I seem to remember Waltz did a batch in China as well (which, considering Osterman's close working relationship with Christian Heise at Never Enough, wouldn't surprise me). And while there's nothing inherently wrong with Chinese manufacturing, it does tend to be the case that American companies go there to get a cheaper product... or, if we're being really cynical, to do things that they're not legally allowed to do in the US due to environmental laws. But how would Powell put "Made in the USA" on the packaging? Well, either that's the truth (possible), they're just reusing their standard labels and hope no one will catch them out (unlikely, considering the size of the company), or they're using the way "country of origin" legislation works to make these *technically* made in the USA, even if they're poured in China. This, incidentally, is how Independent operated for a LONG time - all their parts were cast in China, then shipped to the US for final assembly so they could still say "Made in the USA". According to international law, as long as 50% of the final retail value comes in the final assembly step, you can claim the product is made where the assembly happens, *not* where the consitutent parts are made. It happens a lot more than you think, and is really easy to do. Again, I can't prove this. But it's not impossible, and it would explain why these look, feel, and smell like countless other Chinese wheels I've handled in the last ten years.
Oh, as for the flatspot issue: I'm not sure that Dragon formula is inherently more flatspot-resistant than some other urethanes, and I wouldn't cite that as a reason to use them, personally. Also, I'm not sure what's special about basketball courts in the US to create flatspots - that seems like an odd thing to mention. That said, what I tend to find is that anything coming out of Creative Urethane (Momentum, most Decomposed, most Waltz until recently, Speedlab/Moonshine, Mode, Sk8kings) *will* flatspot a lot faster and harder than anything coming out of AEND (Seismic, ABEC11, Dogtown). In fact, I've never put a single flatspot in any Seismic wheel in ~14 years of using them, but I turned a set of Sk8kings Crown Jewels into cubes within one session back in 2006. I've since seen Waltz and Momentum wheels that look basically the same. You can resist this effect slightly by increasing ride surface (skinny wheels = easier flatspots), but Creative's always had this issue.
You are my favorite freestyling snob! I love watching you skate, and it makes listening to you talk crap more tolerable, haha. I think you nailed it. They are for the casual freestyler and/or the old guy who slappies. I like them, but I probably would want something else if I ever did any serious freestyle like you. Great video as always. Keep doing your thing!
Very much a street skater/longboarder with zero freestyle knowledge here but…. Are nano cubics even pitched as a freestyle wheel? I’ve always just seen them as Andy Anderson’s signature wheel for street skating with a shape that helps to bump up into wall rides/slappys. I could be totally wrong, they may well be intended for freestyle in which case your review seems valid, but it seems a bit harsh to critique them for something they weren’t intended for if they weren’t designed to be a freestyle wheel in the first place.
no its def pitched as a street wheel for curbs and FS is the “oh btw- if u care abt this, it can coco!” Its not a freestyle intended wheel, its an all around wheel, same way how Andy’s board isnt a freestyle board, its all around with FS intended features
Andy does do a lot of freestyle stuff. So even though they aren't pitched as for freestyle or designed purely for freestyle, I think reviewing them from that aspect is fine but calling them a freestyle wheel is wrong tbh. The Powell website says "NanoCubics are inspired by and developed for Andy Anderson to help him expand his wide range of street, park and freestyle tricks across all terrains", at no point is it called a freestyle wheel.
I do perceive these wheels as to be Street skating wheels that are TECHNICALLY capable of being freestyle if you're the kind of person who does "party tricks"
This video comes across as if the wheels are advertised as purely freestyle wheels, which they aren't. Not on the Powell website anyway, maybe other places do which would be very misleading I guess. Still a very well made and informative video regardless. Considering they are intended to as a kind of hybrid wheel a review from the freestyle perspective is great.
What a sec... did Tony just talk me OUT of buying something from his store? Hahaha. My favourite businesses are always anti-businesses. Chuckles aside, and there we many (mechanic-rolling-out-from-under-car shot, then rolling out of frame, crying "Jesus Christ!", which could have just been all the review we needed), I really liked the side-on shots of the Seismics and Nanos to show the footprint size and the very different edges. I noticed, too, that the contact patch was so different, the Seismics being so obviously bigger. For a future comparison, it would be good to see how the Nanos compare to the 97a Seismics, assuming you're running the 93As on the surface, just to get a sense of the slippery-factor (incidentally, a great name for an 80s cover band). Thanks, Professor T!
These were the 97a Nanos, not the 93a ones. Surprisingly, the two are quite comparable in terms of an absolute lack of friction. And the fact this was happening on such a grippy surface? That's both weird and alarming.
I have the 93a version and i really like them. That just boils down to if u enjoy the dragon formula or find use for them due to the type of ground you’re skating. I know a lot of people that swear by the og dragon formula. Also, I actually prefer radial wheels to conical. There weren’t any wheels close to that duro and shape when I purchased them. If Decomposed had their 95a available at the time I might have gone with those instead. In comparison to the dragons, I think decomposed’s 93a is actually tooo grippy imo.
93a is usually quite a grippy durometer, so yeah, I would expect Decomposed's 93a to be quite sticky compared to the sudden slide-out characteristics of the Dragon urethane. 95a is usually my sweet spot - good grip, but not too sticky. A regular 97a is usable, but doesn't soak up the bumps the same way. Anything above that just doesn't work for pushing around here, realistically.
i like them with an extra washer on the inside, i feel like decomposed wheels even have more axle coverage than these, the main thing is the decomposed and waltz 93a wheels (hopefully waltz makes more 93a) are totally flush on the inside and these have a little sunken in area on the inside more for grindabliity but i think is works the opposite ive done slappy style tricks on the decomposed and that flush edge helps way more than a sunken in edge, ig im one of those freestyler/street guys and not doing coconut wheelies and just incorperating bonelesses into primos basically but i actually like them for rail tricks the same way ppl use smaller trucks to lock into rail
As a street guy coming into freestyle I got a lot of value from the more street shape and getting some wider trucks on. Both sets are a lot of fun and more eyes on freestyle can't be bad if people buying them hear about it that way
What concerns me about this not-quite-freestyle product is more that people are buying them *thinking* they're suitable for freestyle and being disappointed. And like I said in the end of the video, these are quite expensive compared to (genuinely) better products. Running Offset Skate Supply for the last five or six years, I've run into this a lot - people sending me emails saying "I'm using *insert product here* for freestyle and having a terrible time". Hell, there was a post on r/freestyleskateboard about these very wheels just yesterday. Freestyle is a weird niche with weird demands on setups. "Hybrid" stuff rarely works for it very well.
They're not freestyle wheels and they're not pitched as freestyle wheels. They are Andy Andersons signature wheels that he uses for street skating which also help him do some freestyle tricks easier. You just gone on a rant about a wheel that's not meant to be a dedicated a freestyle wheel not being a good freestyle wheel.
Great video and product knowledge and experiment. I am a super beginner at skating in general and have a 7.6 waltz double kick , ace 11 trucks and waltz freestyle wheels. I have a almost popsicle 8.25 mellow concave my plan was make my freestyle board and was going to use santa cruz slimeballs speed balls scudballs pink ,60mm 95a wheels ( before i got my waltz set up ) for the similarities on freestyle wheels ( i thought) and was not sure and went with the Freestyle company Waltz and got dedicated equipment. You just proved that point ( among many others ) to stick to the tools made for such . thanks .
That's precisely the case. No one would seriously try doing BMX on a folding commuter bike; similarly, no one would do flatland BMX on a downhill mountain bike. Getting the right tools for the terrain is very important.
To the hypothesis about chinese molding, here's a PowellPeralta response to question about country of mold: "All Powell Peralta and BONES wheels are made in our factory in Ventura, Ca. USA. Thanks"
If this is true, I'd be very curious to know what they're using that makes them *smell* so Chinese. It's something that I've only ever found on Chinese wheels before, so I assume it must be the chemical they're adding to the formula that makes Dragon urethane so slippery that is outgassing and making that smell. Either way, the real test will be if Trump's anti-China tarriffs come into play in the next year... that's going to mess with a lot of stuff in the skateboard industry.
There's a dozen other wheels I'd recommend over these. Where are you based? Happy to point you somewhere that you can get something more suitable for less money.
@@Justin-pq6bo Yeah, there's not a lot of options on this side of the pond. I run the only shop specialising in freestyle stuff in the UK (www.offsetskatesupply.co.uk), but post-Brexit you might be better off having a look across the pond at Decomposed's offerings (www.decomposedskateboards.com/).
I landed my first rail trick on my nanos and ive never felt for stable 😂, i think this wheel is more oriented towards everything else but freestyle, but give us street skaters the ability to do freestyle tricks while still keeping our setups. Look at it as a dragon/X wheel with axle nut protection and bit more axle clearance, also as you use them and age they get crazy better
This is the thing: if you've never used any actual freestyle wheels, these will seem great. Like I said in the video, in the early 2000s, we would have killed for these! But in 2024, there's a lot better options available for a lot less money.
@@FreestyleTricktips yes that is true, my Walmart skateboard was the greatest thing ever until I got a REAL skateboard 😂. I'm genuinely interested in freestyle, but also street, what wheel would you know to take on both sides?
@@K_spawn Assuming you're looking for a skinnier wheel, have a look at some of Decomposed's options: www.decomposedskateboards.com/wheels The Mantis wheels aren't exactly top-class urethane, but they're a lot cheaper and more useable than the Nano Cubics are. That'd be my recommendation for people who don't want a "proper" freestyle wheel like Seismic or Mode's offerings.
@@FreestyleTricktips thank you so much! I really though nano was doing something new by covering the axle, but the mantis wheel do so too! The red ones are sick! I'll be ordering them this week
Honestly my personal opinion the darkstar lightning core wheels are literally the most impressive skateboarding wheels to ever hit the skateboarding market 👌.
I'm very surprised by this. I used to love Darkstar's decks back in 2001, but from what I've seen, they're basically just doing bottom-end stuff for children and beginners now?
i like the nano cubics personally and will buy another set when mine are worn down. some of my favorite skaters i’ve met all use 93 nano cubics as well because they are a hybrid wheel
I skate Freestyle and Street, and for that I have 2 different setups. On my Freestyle setup I have Felines, on my Street setup I have Nano Cubics and I'm 100% happy with those. I can do all my Street-tricks comfortably, and whenever I feel like it I can get into Railstands or Coconuts without instantly ruining my axles. Wouldn't ever use the Nanos for my Freestyle setup though.
Hello Tony. Thanks for the quite in-depth look into these. I think it could save some people buying them just for freestyle:). But I wondered: You've made some hypothesis about country of mold. Did you think or tried to connect with Andy Anderson and find out more about the process? Thanks
I haven't spoken to Andy for a few years now. We've not crossed paths since 2018; he doesn't do any freestyle events outside of Canada. I don't think he ever has actually, now I think about it. Even when we saw each other in Japan, he wasn't competing - he just happened to be there.
@@FreestyleTricktips Thanks. I realize, you're not journalist and this video is opinion piece - but I just felt a little uneasy about your "deep suspection" about country of origin. So I wanted to know, if you made some steps for finding it - writing to Andy, Powell etc..
Nice. Honest review. Funny thing is, I am that curious street skater watching a freestyler review wheels, because I’m thinking of changing up my setup. They do look super useful for slappies, but they also seem pretty slippery. Cheers!
They're INCREDIBLY slippery. I know a couple of guys in London who tried using the softer Dragon wheels for street and ditched them quite quickly. The urethane breaks into a slide far too unpredictably on a lot of surfaces.
@@FreestyleTricktips interesting! Thanks for the additional info. I’m gonna have to try dragon formula for myself I reckon. Pretty niche use case, even for street. Nothing wrong with having a second setup for those spots.
I skated these wheels as well and I really have to agree. They are super slippery, way too small, slow and unstable in rail. I was so hyped on these when nesk8 got them and I bought them immediately because I thought I'd need a hybrid wheel for a hybrid setup but no, that's bs. Just skate two setups. It makes everything easier. What confuses me the most is that Christian Heise is skating these and actually said he likes them. Anyways, good video as always! Keep going
@@thommccarthy1139 Do you know the funny thing? I actually got the 58mm/93a ones at the same time as these and they're even less suitable for freestyle than these are, which is why I made the video about these ones specifically. You'd expect the 58mm ones to have more axle coverage, for instance. They actually have less (2.45mm of urethane past the axle nut; the same measurement for the 52mm Nano Cubics is 2.65mm. For comparison, Speedlab Shrimps and Seismic Focus both have 4.45mm of urethane past the axle nut). Also, having skated both the 93a Dragons and the 97a Nano Cubics, I can confirm they both are slow in a straight line and break into a slide very unpredictably. It's due to an additive in the urethane compound, not the durometer. (Seismic do a similar thing with some of their longboard wheels - they call it Elixir, but it slides much more predictably than "Dragon" urethane does.)
@@FreestyleTricktips You know, I folded and ordered some axons earlier today simply cause you rep it so hard and I can tell it comes from a place of genuine conviction.
@@thommccarthy1139 It genuinely does. Over the years I have tested every single setup variable I can think of to the point of obsession and, oddly enough, I'm not in the habit of making an outright recommendation without really having the data to back it up. In the wheel world, there's some wheels which are decent (Mode's OG freestyle wheels), there's some which are hot trash (the white Kryptonics, the old Momentums), and then there's the Axons. I don't think I know anyone who's tried them who hasn't absolutely loved them. Which duro did you go for, out of interest?
Those wheels are great! The rougher the ground, the faster they go. not meant to be strictly freestyle. It has freestyle features. Just like his deck is not a freestyle deck.
That is very much the opposite of what I've seen with both these and the 93a Dragons. Hell, you can see how rough this surface is, and they're still sluggish as all hell. As I said in the video, the best test is always to test them side-by-side with a better wheel with matching bearings. There's a lot of good softer wheels now - I'm glad we're finally getting away from the "99a or 101a are your only options" era - and these are genuinely some of the slowest out there.
They are street skating wheels. Confused by the title of this video, but came here to praise dragon formula. Best wheels formula ever for riding fast and sliding around a lot. If you like that...
The nanos are very good street wheels with freestyle usability. I'm a lazy man and hate to change setup, so i use the same setup for freestyle and street/transition/cruising and i think the nanos are a good choice for that(i also do few rail tricks so i dont care about rail stability), but for freestyle-only i agree that they are not good compared to real freestyle wheels like the focus or axxon. They are compromise.The offset is minimal so street skaters can use it without changing trucks, i think thats the point of not using a deep offset. To be honest i really like how they behave on asphalt and also rough ground when i cruise around, they feel good under my feet even if they are small. But probably is a very personal opinion. The real shame is that powell didnt make available to the public the isamu and Killian Martin "100%" freestyle wheels :/
Genuine question: didn't you slide out weirdly at Paderborn or Brandenburg skating these wheels? Also, as for the "street skaters can use it without changing trucks" idea... that's not quite true. You still have to factor in the offset, as they add about 0.2" to the size of the undercarriage of the deck. Considering most street skaters don't even know the exact axle length of their chosen trucks, blindly adding Nano Cubics into the mix can really mess up your overall setup. For instance, say you've been told "139mm trucks are for 8.0" decks". Typically, 139mm trucks have an 8" axle, and this makes for a perfect match between the axle and deck - which is fine for street, but not ideal for freestyle (you usually want the undercarriage to be slightly shorter than the deck width). Add in the Nano Cubics, and all of a sudden your undercarriage is 8.2" wide and you're actually leaning towards the deck in rail, killing rail stability completely.
In paderborn i slided because of my rigidity in contest! Im super stiff even just cruising in competition and was the result. Still too nervous. Never happen that during my trainings, even on smooth surface. Seems that more experienced people like Christian have no sliding problems with the nanos! Of course they slide more and are a lottle bit harder to control in freestyle than larger and wider freestyle wheels, thats granted! As i said, they are not good freestyle wheels. But for me using same wheels aldo on miniramp bowl and street is just gold. I care just about fun, not about performance! These are just my opinions. And for the offset, 90% of the nano cubics owner just dont care about rail/primos, that offset is just to barely cover the nuts for slappies and other street tricks. That said i absolutely agree that they are overpriced (as well as anderson decks that i will not buy again in the moment i find good big symetrical freestyle usable decks, as its happening now). Of course my personal opinions. I just have fun with these wheels and thats all i care
I’m not a fan of the wheels either, but you can’t compare the speed or quality of a urethane when you have two different sets with different diameters, cut shapes, contact patches, hardness, etc. Even just having a different shape with everything else the same can change the rigidity and rebound characteristics significantly. Plus, powell didn't target these as dedicated freestyle wheels either. I prefer things to do one thing really well than to be a jack of all trades, but it can work for some people like Andy Anderson.
I ride the nano cubics, and i never saw aclaim that they were intended for freestyle or anyone used them for it. they are a smaler version of dragons with a covered nut. not for railstands but as you sad for riding up into slappies. thats what they are good fro, they are also very good on mini ramps and rails as they lock in securely. thats what they are made for. not freestyle..not intended, not marketed as such, why they end up in your hands for a review is beyound me.
Andy himself said that they are designed for Freestyle AND street. He even said himself that they are for rail stands and coconut wheelies as well as slappys.
@@MikeArpeggio345 Thanks for pointing that out. And as I discussed in the video, if you're buying them specifically for that reason (i.e. rail and coconut wheelies), you're throwing money away. There's far better options out there.
The problem with this idea is that it's temporary at best. Coconut wheelies are so abrasive that they reshape the outer edge of the wheel very quickly. It doesn't matter what the shape starts as - it'll be coconut-wheelie-shaped in no time. That's why I've always prioritised thick outer edges - that's the only way to ensure the wheel lasts a long time. Rounded edges just grind off to sharp corners.
Oh, god. I'd not even thought about what Dragon urethane + water would do. These were already sliding out on dry and grippy asphalt - a small amount of drizzle and you might as well be on ice.
I love your content and you but I’ve been skating the 56mm version for months now and I absolutely adore them. Additionally, you are sponsored by seismic and therefore bias. I’ve broken the core on two separate sets of seismics in fact a large portion of the community is sick of siesmics poorly made products and rude customer service.
The axion is great. The last model did have some issues but the Axion is bullet proof. Consistent feel & grip that you feel confident on. Good stability in rail & they are fast & maintain bearing alignment. Its just a better wheel
@@michaelmacisco2566 I will pick up some axons considering I can well afford it and some of my favorite skaters (Tony included) highly recommend them, but the 56 93a cubics have been my favorite freestyle wheel up to this point after using many others from decomposed, mode, waltz etc.
I don't normally do pinned comments, but I figure this is the simplest way to cut a lot of comments off at the pass, as it were.
In a lot of early online posts, marketing, content, etc. about these wheels, they were talked about as at least being "freestyle-adjacent". In fact, I got emails from the distributor presenting them as such. It was basically what I was hinting at in the section about Powell's secret freestyle team - a way of them making something that was "for freestyle" without really being associated *with* freestyle. This is why the Nano Cubics crop up in dedicated freestyle shops like Decomposed: www.decomposedskateboards.com/wheels
(Sorry Witter, not throwing you under the bus intentionally - you were just the best example I could find!)
This is the context in which this video was made. Obviously, the fact they were made with a nudge-nudge wink-wink towards freestyle has worked, as a lot of people don't seem to realise that's the way they were made/marketed. Powell have walked that line quite carefully... and that in itself should be a good subject of discussion.
Anyway, carry on, as you were, etc.
I think you have to view the nano cubics less as a freestyle wheel and more of Andy's personal hybrid wheel. Andy is ostensibly a freestyle skater, but at the end of the day most of the things he's doing are more street oriented than they are flatland freestyle, and so the nano cubics are in technicality a freestyle wheel, but are effectively more heavily leaning into the street than the freestyle. I think it says a lot that in the promotional videos that Andy's done, he describes the shape in terms of street skating, he describes how the offset assists with slappy grinds and provides better lock in on rails. It's very clear to me that these are designed to ENABLE freestyle tricks, but not necessarily purpose to be built FOR freestyle. I will also add though that I've been skating the 93a 54mm nano cubics, and I do love them as a effectively a freestyle cruiser wheel, it's really convenient knowing that no matter how rough the ground is I can practice buttery smooth monster walks without too much effort. That being said, the minor offset is annoying, it's not deep enough and so my board isn't standing stable in rail like it would with a deeper wheel, something like the Decomposed squashed nuts are almost a necessity with these, or you might even need to "size up" your trucks.
I have had the same issue with the offset of the wheels.
I ride an 8.5‘ popsicle shape for street with 149 independent trucks and the occasional freestyle in between. The wheels would be a tat too short for nice even and stable „primos“ or in freestyle terms: in rail and my wheel nuts would get scratched when practicing on rougher grounds. So when I „tinkered“ around to fix this issue I thought about putting an additional washer behind the wheel.
It‘s not perfect but feels pretty even to me and I had no issues.
I hope this helps 🙏🏽
Like with anything, there are trade offs with these wheels. They are similar in shape to hybrid wheels offered by other companies like Decomposed. The big difference is that they are Dragon formula, which makes skating on surfaces like what is found on many basketball courts way more appealing because you won't get flat spots.
I can't speak to what is found in the UK, but in the USA these wheels are labeled as made in the USA. So unless Tony has stumbled onto some sort of skate conspiracy.... The fact that they are a different type of urethane (Dragon Formula) is more likely the reason why the finish is a little different than most wheels. They ride a little different, they sound a little different, because they are made different.
I think what your expectations are about these wheels is really what is going to determine what you think of them after actually trying them. I've always preferred Decomposed hybrid wheels over traditional freestyle wheel shapes so I personally like them, but to each their own.
So I double checked the packaging of the remaining Nano Cubics I have in stock, and you're right: those are listed as made in USA. But something is DEFINITELY off with these.
As I said in the video, I've got a pretty good nose for Chinese urethane - it has a very distinct smell as something outgasses from it. Similarly, the look and finish is unique, too. This is how I knew Never Enough's Felines were made in China, for instance - they looked and smelt a lot like these Nano Cubics. I seem to remember Waltz did a batch in China as well (which, considering Osterman's close working relationship with Christian Heise at Never Enough, wouldn't surprise me). And while there's nothing inherently wrong with Chinese manufacturing, it does tend to be the case that American companies go there to get a cheaper product... or, if we're being really cynical, to do things that they're not legally allowed to do in the US due to environmental laws.
But how would Powell put "Made in the USA" on the packaging? Well, either that's the truth (possible), they're just reusing their standard labels and hope no one will catch them out (unlikely, considering the size of the company), or they're using the way "country of origin" legislation works to make these *technically* made in the USA, even if they're poured in China.
This, incidentally, is how Independent operated for a LONG time - all their parts were cast in China, then shipped to the US for final assembly so they could still say "Made in the USA". According to international law, as long as 50% of the final retail value comes in the final assembly step, you can claim the product is made where the assembly happens, *not* where the consitutent parts are made. It happens a lot more than you think, and is really easy to do.
Again, I can't prove this. But it's not impossible, and it would explain why these look, feel, and smell like countless other Chinese wheels I've handled in the last ten years.
Oh, as for the flatspot issue: I'm not sure that Dragon formula is inherently more flatspot-resistant than some other urethanes, and I wouldn't cite that as a reason to use them, personally. Also, I'm not sure what's special about basketball courts in the US to create flatspots - that seems like an odd thing to mention.
That said, what I tend to find is that anything coming out of Creative Urethane (Momentum, most Decomposed, most Waltz until recently, Speedlab/Moonshine, Mode, Sk8kings) *will* flatspot a lot faster and harder than anything coming out of AEND (Seismic, ABEC11, Dogtown). In fact, I've never put a single flatspot in any Seismic wheel in ~14 years of using them, but I turned a set of Sk8kings Crown Jewels into cubes within one session back in 2006. I've since seen Waltz and Momentum wheels that look basically the same. You can resist this effect slightly by increasing ride surface (skinny wheels = easier flatspots), but Creative's always had this issue.
You are my favorite freestyling snob! I love watching you skate, and it makes listening to you talk crap more tolerable, haha. I think you nailed it. They are for the casual freestyler and/or the old guy who slappies. I like them, but I probably would want something else if I ever did any serious freestyle like you. Great video as always. Keep doing your thing!
Very much a street skater/longboarder with zero freestyle knowledge here but…. Are nano cubics even pitched as a freestyle wheel? I’ve always just seen them as Andy Anderson’s signature wheel for street skating with a shape that helps to bump up into wall rides/slappys. I could be totally wrong, they may well be intended for freestyle in which case your review seems valid, but it seems a bit harsh to critique them for something they weren’t intended for if they weren’t designed to be a freestyle wheel in the first place.
no its def pitched as a street wheel for curbs and FS is the “oh btw- if u care abt this, it can coco!”
Its not a freestyle intended wheel, its an all around wheel, same way how Andy’s board isnt a freestyle board, its all around with FS intended features
Andy does do a lot of freestyle stuff. So even though they aren't pitched as for freestyle or designed purely for freestyle, I think reviewing them from that aspect is fine but calling them a freestyle wheel is wrong tbh. The Powell website says "NanoCubics are inspired by and developed for Andy Anderson to help him expand his wide range of street, park and freestyle tricks across all terrains", at no point is it called a freestyle wheel.
This dude is clueless.
They weren’t advertised as such Witter just did a short video trying them. And the wheels Tony is talking up as better option he’s sponsored by them.
@@vorpalblades "This dude" is one of the best freestyler skateboarders in the world, actually, and is totally correct in every way.
I do perceive these wheels as to be Street skating wheels that are TECHNICALLY capable of being freestyle if you're the kind of person who does "party tricks"
This video comes across as if the wheels are advertised as purely freestyle wheels, which they aren't. Not on the Powell website anyway, maybe other places do which would be very misleading I guess. Still a very well made and informative video regardless. Considering they are intended to as a kind of hybrid wheel a review from the freestyle perspective is great.
What a sec... did Tony just talk me OUT of buying something from his store? Hahaha. My favourite businesses are always anti-businesses. Chuckles aside, and there we many (mechanic-rolling-out-from-under-car shot, then rolling out of frame, crying "Jesus Christ!", which could have just been all the review we needed), I really liked the side-on shots of the Seismics and Nanos to show the footprint size and the very different edges. I noticed, too, that the contact patch was so different, the Seismics being so obviously bigger. For a future comparison, it would be good to see how the Nanos compare to the 97a Seismics, assuming you're running the 93As on the surface, just to get a sense of the slippery-factor (incidentally, a great name for an 80s cover band). Thanks, Professor T!
These were the 97a Nanos, not the 93a ones. Surprisingly, the two are quite comparable in terms of an absolute lack of friction. And the fact this was happening on such a grippy surface? That's both weird and alarming.
I have the 93a version and i really like them. That just boils down to if u enjoy the dragon formula or find use for them due to the type of ground you’re skating. I know a lot of people that swear by the og dragon formula. Also, I actually prefer radial wheels to conical. There weren’t any wheels close to that duro and shape when I purchased them.
If Decomposed had their 95a available at the time I might have gone with those instead. In comparison to the dragons, I think decomposed’s 93a is actually tooo grippy imo.
93a is usually quite a grippy durometer, so yeah, I would expect Decomposed's 93a to be quite sticky compared to the sudden slide-out characteristics of the Dragon urethane. 95a is usually my sweet spot - good grip, but not too sticky. A regular 97a is usable, but doesn't soak up the bumps the same way. Anything above that just doesn't work for pushing around here, realistically.
i like them with an extra washer on the inside, i feel like decomposed wheels even have more axle coverage than these, the main thing is the decomposed and waltz 93a wheels (hopefully waltz makes more 93a) are totally flush on the inside and these have a little sunken in area on the inside more for grindabliity but i think is works the opposite ive done slappy style tricks on the decomposed and that flush edge helps way more than a sunken in edge, ig im one of those freestyler/street guys and not doing coconut wheelies and just incorperating bonelesses into primos basically but i actually like them for rail tricks the same way ppl use smaller trucks to lock into rail
As a street guy coming into freestyle I got a lot of value from the more street shape and getting some wider trucks on. Both sets are a lot of fun and more eyes on freestyle can't be bad if people buying them hear about it that way
What concerns me about this not-quite-freestyle product is more that people are buying them *thinking* they're suitable for freestyle and being disappointed. And like I said in the end of the video, these are quite expensive compared to (genuinely) better products.
Running Offset Skate Supply for the last five or six years, I've run into this a lot - people sending me emails saying "I'm using *insert product here* for freestyle and having a terrible time". Hell, there was a post on r/freestyleskateboard about these very wheels just yesterday.
Freestyle is a weird niche with weird demands on setups. "Hybrid" stuff rarely works for it very well.
Tony, thank you for your knowledge! I think the same, but I can't explain so exactly and accurate. Big hug and good music! 😊
They're not freestyle wheels and they're not pitched as freestyle wheels. They are Andy Andersons signature wheels that he uses for street skating which also help him do some freestyle tricks easier.
You just gone on a rant about a wheel that's not meant to be a dedicated a freestyle wheel not being a good freestyle wheel.
Great video and product knowledge and experiment. I am a super beginner at skating in general and have a 7.6 waltz double kick , ace 11 trucks and waltz freestyle wheels. I have a almost popsicle 8.25 mellow concave my plan was make my freestyle board and was going to use santa cruz slimeballs speed balls scudballs pink ,60mm 95a wheels ( before i got my waltz set up ) for the similarities on freestyle wheels ( i thought) and was not sure and went with the Freestyle company Waltz and got dedicated equipment. You just proved that point ( among many others ) to stick to the tools made for such . thanks .
That's precisely the case. No one would seriously try doing BMX on a folding commuter bike; similarly, no one would do flatland BMX on a downhill mountain bike. Getting the right tools for the terrain is very important.
To the hypothesis about chinese molding, here's a PowellPeralta response to question about country of mold: "All Powell Peralta and BONES wheels are made in our factory in Ventura, Ca. USA.
Thanks"
If this is true, I'd be very curious to know what they're using that makes them *smell* so Chinese. It's something that I've only ever found on Chinese wheels before, so I assume it must be the chemical they're adding to the formula that makes Dragon urethane so slippery that is outgassing and making that smell.
Either way, the real test will be if Trump's anti-China tarriffs come into play in the next year... that's going to mess with a lot of stuff in the skateboard industry.
Glad I watched this video I've been looking for a freestyle wheel for a 7.75 street board and thought these might be the answer
There's a dozen other wheels I'd recommend over these. Where are you based? Happy to point you somewhere that you can get something more suitable for less money.
@FreestyleTricktips I'm based in Ireland I'm been trying to find offset wheels here but no luck
@@Justin-pq6bo Yeah, there's not a lot of options on this side of the pond. I run the only shop specialising in freestyle stuff in the UK (www.offsetskatesupply.co.uk), but post-Brexit you might be better off having a look across the pond at Decomposed's offerings (www.decomposedskateboards.com/).
@@FreestyleTricktips thank you for your help
@@Justin-pq6bo No worries. I hope you find something that works for you!
I landed my first rail trick on my nanos and ive never felt for stable 😂, i think this wheel is more oriented towards everything else but freestyle, but give us street skaters the ability to do freestyle tricks while still keeping our setups. Look at it as a dragon/X wheel with axle nut protection and bit more axle clearance, also as you use them and age they get crazy better
This is the thing: if you've never used any actual freestyle wheels, these will seem great. Like I said in the video, in the early 2000s, we would have killed for these! But in 2024, there's a lot better options available for a lot less money.
@@FreestyleTricktips yes that is true, my Walmart skateboard was the greatest thing ever until I got a REAL skateboard 😂.
I'm genuinely interested in freestyle, but also street, what wheel would you know to take on both sides?
@@K_spawn Assuming you're looking for a skinnier wheel, have a look at some of Decomposed's options: www.decomposedskateboards.com/wheels
The Mantis wheels aren't exactly top-class urethane, but they're a lot cheaper and more useable than the Nano Cubics are. That'd be my recommendation for people who don't want a "proper" freestyle wheel like Seismic or Mode's offerings.
@@FreestyleTricktips thank you so much! I really though nano was doing something new by covering the axle, but the mantis wheel do so too! The red ones are sick! I'll be ordering them this week
Wow! All these wheels even have bearings depth measurement!
Honestly my personal opinion the darkstar lightning core wheels are literally the most impressive skateboarding wheels to ever hit the skateboarding market 👌.
I'm very surprised by this. I used to love Darkstar's decks back in 2001, but from what I've seen, they're basically just doing bottom-end stuff for children and beginners now?
i like the nano cubics personally and will buy another set when mine are worn down. some of my favorite skaters i’ve met all use 93 nano cubics as well because they are a hybrid wheel
I skate Freestyle and Street, and for that I have 2 different setups. On my Freestyle setup I have Felines, on my Street setup I have Nano Cubics and I'm 100% happy with those. I can do all my Street-tricks comfortably, and whenever I feel like it I can get into Railstands or Coconuts without instantly ruining my axles. Wouldn't ever use the Nanos for my Freestyle setup though.
Hello Tony. Thanks for the quite in-depth look into these. I think it could save some people buying them just for freestyle:).
But I wondered: You've made some hypothesis about country of mold. Did you think or tried to connect with Andy Anderson and find out more about the process? Thanks
I haven't spoken to Andy for a few years now. We've not crossed paths since 2018; he doesn't do any freestyle events outside of Canada. I don't think he ever has actually, now I think about it. Even when we saw each other in Japan, he wasn't competing - he just happened to be there.
@@FreestyleTricktips Thanks. I realize, you're not journalist and this video is opinion piece - but I just felt a little uneasy about your "deep suspection" about country of origin. So I wanted to know, if you made some steps for finding it - writing to Andy, Powell etc..
Very informative Video! Thanks Tony!❤
Nice. Honest review.
Funny thing is, I am that curious street skater watching a freestyler review wheels, because I’m thinking of changing up my setup.
They do look super useful for slappies, but they also seem pretty slippery.
Cheers!
They're INCREDIBLY slippery. I know a couple of guys in London who tried using the softer Dragon wheels for street and ditched them quite quickly. The urethane breaks into a slide far too unpredictably on a lot of surfaces.
@@FreestyleTricktips interesting!
Thanks for the additional info.
I’m gonna have to try dragon formula for myself I reckon. Pretty niche use case, even for street.
Nothing wrong with having a second setup for those spots.
I skated these wheels as well and I really have to agree. They are super slippery, way too small, slow and unstable in rail.
I was so hyped on these when nesk8 got them and I bought them immediately because I thought I'd need a hybrid wheel for a hybrid setup but no, that's bs. Just skate two setups. It makes everything easier.
What confuses me the most is that Christian Heise is skating these and actually said he likes them.
Anyways, good video as always!
Keep going
There are larger versions with lower durometer, which is what kinda makes this video and this comment a bit misleading.
I know.
I looked at the bigger ones and they are bigger, yes, but the surface in railstand is exactly the same.
I haven't tried the softer ones
@@thommccarthy1139 Do you know the funny thing? I actually got the 58mm/93a ones at the same time as these and they're even less suitable for freestyle than these are, which is why I made the video about these ones specifically.
You'd expect the 58mm ones to have more axle coverage, for instance. They actually have less (2.45mm of urethane past the axle nut; the same measurement for the 52mm Nano Cubics is 2.65mm. For comparison, Speedlab Shrimps and Seismic Focus both have 4.45mm of urethane past the axle nut).
Also, having skated both the 93a Dragons and the 97a Nano Cubics, I can confirm they both are slow in a straight line and break into a slide very unpredictably. It's due to an additive in the urethane compound, not the durometer. (Seismic do a similar thing with some of their longboard wheels - they call it Elixir, but it slides much more predictably than "Dragon" urethane does.)
@@FreestyleTricktips You know, I folded and ordered some axons earlier today simply cause you rep it so hard and I can tell it comes from a place of genuine conviction.
@@thommccarthy1139 It genuinely does. Over the years I have tested every single setup variable I can think of to the point of obsession and, oddly enough, I'm not in the habit of making an outright recommendation without really having the data to back it up.
In the wheel world, there's some wheels which are decent (Mode's OG freestyle wheels), there's some which are hot trash (the white Kryptonics, the old Momentums), and then there's the Axons. I don't think I know anyone who's tried them who hasn't absolutely loved them.
Which duro did you go for, out of interest?
I was genuinely talking about this an hour ago.
Those wheels are great! The rougher the ground, the faster they go. not meant to be strictly freestyle. It has freestyle features. Just like his deck is not a freestyle deck.
That is very much the opposite of what I've seen with both these and the 93a Dragons. Hell, you can see how rough this surface is, and they're still sluggish as all hell.
As I said in the video, the best test is always to test them side-by-side with a better wheel with matching bearings. There's a lot of good softer wheels now - I'm glad we're finally getting away from the "99a or 101a are your only options" era - and these are genuinely some of the slowest out there.
They are street skating wheels. Confused by the title of this video, but came here to praise dragon formula. Best wheels formula ever for riding fast and sliding around a lot. If you like that...
The nanos are very good street wheels with freestyle usability. I'm a lazy man and hate to change setup, so i use the same setup for freestyle and street/transition/cruising and i think the nanos are a good choice for that(i also do few rail tricks so i dont care about rail stability), but for freestyle-only i agree that they are not good compared to real freestyle wheels like the focus or axxon. They are compromise.The offset is minimal so street skaters can use it without changing trucks, i think thats the point of not using a deep offset.
To be honest i really like how they behave on asphalt and also rough ground when i cruise around, they feel good under my feet even if they are small. But probably is a very personal opinion.
The real shame is that powell didnt make available to the public the isamu and Killian Martin "100%" freestyle wheels :/
Genuine question: didn't you slide out weirdly at Paderborn or Brandenburg skating these wheels?
Also, as for the "street skaters can use it without changing trucks" idea... that's not quite true. You still have to factor in the offset, as they add about 0.2" to the size of the undercarriage of the deck. Considering most street skaters don't even know the exact axle length of their chosen trucks, blindly adding Nano Cubics into the mix can really mess up your overall setup.
For instance, say you've been told "139mm trucks are for 8.0" decks". Typically, 139mm trucks have an 8" axle, and this makes for a perfect match between the axle and deck - which is fine for street, but not ideal for freestyle (you usually want the undercarriage to be slightly shorter than the deck width). Add in the Nano Cubics, and all of a sudden your undercarriage is 8.2" wide and you're actually leaning towards the deck in rail, killing rail stability completely.
In paderborn i slided because of my rigidity in contest! Im super stiff even just cruising in competition and was the result. Still too nervous. Never happen that during my trainings, even on smooth surface. Seems that more experienced people like Christian have no sliding problems with the nanos! Of course they slide more and are a lottle bit harder to control in freestyle than larger and wider freestyle wheels, thats granted! As i said, they are not good freestyle wheels. But for me using same wheels aldo on miniramp bowl and street is just gold. I care just about fun, not about performance! These are just my opinions. And for the offset, 90% of the nano cubics owner just dont care about rail/primos, that offset is just to barely cover the nuts for slappies and other street tricks. That said i absolutely agree that they are overpriced (as well as anderson decks that i will not buy again in the moment i find good big symetrical freestyle usable decks, as its happening now). Of course my personal opinions. I just have fun with these wheels and thats all i care
I’m not a fan of the wheels either, but you can’t compare the speed or quality of a urethane when you have two different sets with different diameters, cut shapes, contact patches, hardness, etc. Even just having a different shape with everything else the same can change the rigidity and rebound characteristics significantly.
Plus, powell didn't target these as dedicated freestyle wheels either. I prefer things to do one thing really well than to be a jack of all trades, but it can work for some people like Andy Anderson.
I feel like these are one of those wheels that if it was harder, it'd be better, to some people. I think the consensus is yes.
By Joe, I think I've cracked it!
Jove
@@vorpalblades , maybe he's invoking Joe Humeres ;)
It worked, all of Andy Anderson's bestest internet friends are here getting heated over nothing in the comments.
Oh, that sweet, sweet engagement. Yummy.
I ride the nano cubics, and i never saw aclaim that they were intended for freestyle or anyone used them for it. they are a smaler version of dragons with a covered nut. not for railstands but as you sad for riding up into slappies. thats what they are good fro, they are also very good on mini ramps and rails as they lock in securely. thats what they are made for. not freestyle..not intended, not marketed as such, why they end up in your hands for a review is beyound me.
Andy himself said that they are designed for Freestyle AND street. He even said himself that they are for rail stands and coconut wheelies as well as slappys.
@@MikeArpeggio345 Thanks for pointing that out. And as I discussed in the video, if you're buying them specifically for that reason (i.e. rail and coconut wheelies), you're throwing money away. There's far better options out there.
@FreestyleTricktips I have waltz wheels and these wheels. Honestly, they're just fine for freestyle.
I have an idea where you take a freestyle wheel and round out the outer edge more, making Coconut wheelies better easier
The problem with this idea is that it's temporary at best.
Coconut wheelies are so abrasive that they reshape the outer edge of the wheel very quickly. It doesn't matter what the shape starts as - it'll be coconut-wheelie-shaped in no time. That's why I've always prioritised thick outer edges - that's the only way to ensure the wheel lasts a long time. Rounded edges just grind off to sharp corners.
@@FreestyleTricktips alright, I’m still working on the idea though
Is the new tricktip video gonna be out soon 😆
Valid question. I'm going to pass it on to my secretary who'll look at my calendar and get back to you.
(I don't have a secretary.)
Why would you think its a freestyle wheel? I haven't seen or heard any marketing that refers to them as such.
1000. I can’t stand dragons. It’s dangerous. Especially in lightly damp conditions. Looking Susan yo btw g
Oh, god. I'd not even thought about what Dragon urethane + water would do. These were already sliding out on dry and grippy asphalt - a small amount of drizzle and you might as well be on ice.
I use them on my Freestyle setup but only because I already had them and I gonna buy new wheels when I have more money
They ride great because of the extra stability
Tell Andy Anderson and tag him!
You really triggered the Andy Fanderson's with this one. What were you thinking.
I am, apparently, a glutton for punishment.
I did manage to get one person to try some Axons, though. And he loved them. So that's a win.
they are slippery for me , just street skating them so far
I love your content and you but I’ve been skating the 56mm version for months now and I absolutely adore them. Additionally, you are sponsored by seismic and therefore bias. I’ve broken the core on two separate sets of seismics in fact a large portion of the community is sick of siesmics poorly made products and rude customer service.
Have been riding 93a 56mm all summer and they have been a godsend but moreso the dragon formula than the shape I think
The axion is great. The last model did have some issues but the Axion is bullet proof. Consistent feel & grip that you feel confident on. Good stability in rail & they are fast & maintain bearing alignment. Its just a better wheel
@@michaelmacisco2566 would you keep trying a brand that isn’t durable enough to stand to a simple rail stand?
@@michaelmacisco2566 I will pick up some axons considering I can well afford it and some of my favorite skaters (Tony included) highly recommend them, but the 56 93a cubics have been my favorite freestyle wheel up to this point after using many others from decomposed, mode, waltz etc.
@@thommccarthy1139 ive skated a bunch of wheels also. But the Axion quickly became my fave.