Steeper concave boards seem to affect the way I pop. Tricks get harder. It took me YEARS to realize this. The more mellow, the better for me. Throw in a smaller wheelbase and my tricks come easier. When I was younger I was able to power through board differences, but as I’ve gotten older, the slight differences have become so apparent.
i really like mellow concave (girl, toy machine, zero have been my favorites since like forever ago) i really like vans style shoes for everything, including my friend's wedding, and walking 20 miles.
Are all the normal decks of the named brands mellow concave? I like the baker concave but it it is described as medium concave in my online skateshop (as pretty much all boards) so when i order a board with medium concave it can be steep or mellow and i am desperately looking for an accurate database so i can try different boards with mellow concave
Really crazy to see how far you've come with fs tail flip out. I remember the video where you were getting them on the "curb" and now you've had one in most videos on legit high ledges. Bravo
I honestly didn't know shit about this and been skating 22 years. Thanks again. Tre flips are better with flat decks in my personal opinion and manuals.
As a skater who dabbled into longboarding, I think it'd be very wise for companies to experiment with tub concave which is where the middle is flat but the sides flare up. This is in contrast to radial concave where the concave flares up consistently from the y-axis towards the sides. The advantage of tub concave is a comfortable feeling deck for landings that still has sufficient concave.
- Local shop blank deck, 8.25, with a good amount of concave. - The new Independent 144s for 8.25s they made recently - great step up from 139s, which I have been used to forever. The 144s feel perfect on transition paired with the 8.25 deck. - Bones STF v5, 56mm - Bones Swiss - Shorty's hardware - Mob grip - Fallen (RIP, but still got a couple pairs left) or Emerica or Supra vulc shoes with good toe padding. I do way too many kickflip tricks. I've been skating for more than 20 years so my setup tends to be pretty constant these days as I skate for exercise and enjoyment and age into doing less risky things.
You’re definitely my fav TH-camr my last 3 decks have been based on your reviews and I’ve loved them all thank you for being so helpful please keep making these in depth reviews you have a ton of awesome knowledge and it helps out a ton. Thank you and have a great day
@Jerimy Murray Dude, I wasn't talking to you. I got your joke. Look at who I replied and what he said. He didn't get your joke so I replied the joke went over his head.
Concave in skateboarding was a design answer to the problem of flat boards. Flat boards: -Lose pop -Lose shape -Snap easier -Less springy Because of these issues, skateboards were made with concave and that’s why mellower boards are generally inferior. However, flat boards still have some advantages so medium concave is better.
Honestly never thought about shoe construction to concave relationship until you posted this video! I'm usually a cupsole person and leaned towards more concave than less over my 14 years of skating Now I know why. There was some subconscious connection my feet to board were making that just worked for me. Hate flat boards since they don't flick consistently and feel weak/soft, in my opinion. Mellow to steep concave, you can at least feel when to release your foot as you flick.
FLoyd Roo dude that is crazy I’ve been doing the same thing. Right now I’m on this antihero board with a lot of concave and I have another board waiting for me to try a creature with Medium concave and for the past week I’ve been wondering what the pros and cons would be
Great video! when I was younger and a lot smaller, I always went for boards with the most concave because they were easier to flip and were the most responsive. Now that I'm older taller and stronger I prefer bakers mellow concave decks because I find I get more control and better style with flip tricks because I can really control the speed of the flip and rotation. Also I go for emerica shoes with the G6 insole because they're super comfortable and still get great board feel, plus they last a long time. The Reynolds 3 G6 has been my favorite as of late.
I have a friend who had a toy machine and i hated, was so flat and heavy. Now im skating an Alien 7.6 steep concave with some thunders and busenitz adv. Light and poppy
I like mellow concave. I'm currently skating a steep concave Polar Board Co. & it's been a battle on Rails & Flip Tricks. I skate more rails & feel that a flatter board helps with my balance. The upside about a steep concaved board is the Polar Board's pop is still holding up after a month of skating.
Anderson 8.5 Powell Peralta deck. The deck features identical nose and tail.Mob Grip. B.Westgates 913 new balance. Bronson G3 bearrings( actually made for Skateboards real rpm's) thunder titanium hollow lights 151's. There's a snake run & bowel combo right there 🙌 Overtime was needed for this sled. Cheers Ben, as per usual i loved the details. Good video
Favorite skate channel for sure! Keep it up Ben, I love trying out new boards and seeing the differences as you are showcasing. Your review of a flatter deck in the past talking about back foot placement for easier pop was a revelation! Especially since I started skating again at age 36.
I've been using a thank you deck, it's super mellow and square, currently figuring out how to adjust my feet. Overall I think it gives me more control skating obstacles and flip trick finally aren't overflipped, nice one.
You got me dying with “dad” final because I’m skater and dad and sure it’s pretty rad. Love your videos and how you share your thoughts and opinions on the skate industry. Another subscriber from Spain! 🙌
About 10 years ago I had a DGK deck with the most insane concave I ever skated. Super steep. Haven't found a similar shape since, which is a shame, because although you had to put a little more effort into popping it off the ground, it paid off with how easily it flipped.
I’d love them except for I absolutely can not stand how much heavier they feel to me. It’s enough to make me dislike and not ride their decks which I would in all other respects really love and would likely ride solely if not for the weight issue
"One dude's opinion" ......One dudes highly specific well explained minutia mapping opinion, thank god you do such detailed work. I watched a few other reviewers and I'll be just listening to "one dudes opinion" from now on thank you very much. Great work as usual.
I see you with the ventures on the girl deck. Old school set up. I'm on venture high og 5.8s with an 8.5 quasi. The shape is crazy. It's got the really blunt nose and tail.
Interesting video, thanks Ben! I’m currently riding an Ishod Wair 8.25 twin tail, Indy 144 Standard, 53mm F4 lock-ins, Bronson G3 and Indy hardware. For shoes I’m rocking the Emerica Provider (Provost pro model). Nerding out about skate equipment is super fun! but I’ve found that the absolute best setup is the one you are skating when you are skating with your friends. Bonus points if you are supporting your local shop and favorite skater 😎👍
Just rewatching some older videos, never thought about shoes/concave combinations, but vulc shoes with mellower concaves just makes sense when I think about it
I skated from the mid to late 80’s, but I do remember getting on a board in the early/mid 90’s, and it seemed SO flat compared to what I remember boards being. In the “pocket” or bolts area as you called it. I like that area with a lot of concave. Your reviews are so in depth and are a real help for me now that I want to get back into skating as an old man now. LOL. Thanks as always Ben!
Back in 2001 I had a black label "black" concave deck that had deep concave on the nose and tail. I can remember it working pretty well, and I thought that the less surface quality on the ledges made it slide better, maybe it was just that your foot was in a pocket during slide tricks.
another splendid video content old chap.totally enjoyed it, especially on how you measure the steepness of the concave. i always luv riding a fairly steep concave, even till now that i'm 40. but my board size has gone up from a 7.75 to a 8.25/8.38..now i'm gonna go measure all my decks. and its sunday 8.30 in the morning here in Borneo, Asia.
ive only skated medium concave so far. nice pop and just the right amount of curve in the pockets. gonna get a high concave board next, see how that goes
I love light and mellow decks! I have fairly flat feet though, and I wear leather vans old skools. Boards with more concave don't feel nearly as comfortable.
I m 47 and believe it or not a small change makes a great difference. My mellow PP board is a Haven to me because it feels easier to pop because of the longer tail, and what u mention on the Milder curve is true. I feel My back foot kinda trapoed on a steep one and I also feel it harder to pop and less comfortable. Very good videos!
Great insights Ben, and you're absolutely ripping. Started watching your channel about a year ago and it's crazy how much you've progressed. I was feeling old and washed up, but your videos are proof that if you put in the time and effort you can still skate great. P.s. if you ever get the chance I wanna see you review Footprint insoles!
absolutely agree, skating vans slip pros and a chocolate and everything you say is accurate.thank you for doing the concave measurements!fantastic visual
I remember a few years ago my friend had a girl deck and I tried it out and I had the nicest kickflips I want to buy my self one. I also remember the deck being flatter compared to my delux
@@ibookboyuk I had one of those as a kid that I found at a junk store...fuckin absolutely felt convex, cuz as you lean, it feels like your feet are just going to slide right off still.
I like mellow or flat concave and have always liked it to be stepped concave aposed to rounded. I think its got part to do with me being flat footed. A 14" wheel base is about perfect for me as long as the nose and tail are mellow or medium ish. I like some leverage but not too much. I prefer a looser rocker and i skate independent standard height and ace works pretty well for me too. I cant skate thunder unless the deck has a rocker that is stupidly loose. I have a bit of trouble at times pushing the tail down all the way after skating for a couple hours when my knee starts to bother me. I skate 48-50mm wheels too. And skate éS accel og. Only shoe i can really skate. Everything else is too thin. But that shoe is very much a happy medium for me. Padded tongue and collar with a flexible cupsole gives plenty boardfeel without hurting my feet. Boardfeel from a shoe doesn't have as much to do with the thickness of the shoe but the flexibility of the sole.
@@zackm8399 what sucks is that theyre gettin harder to find. Everyone skating these big 52-58mm mostly. I cant go much bigger than 50mm cuz ill half pop my tricks. Its a bit of a struggle tho cuz when you get down to like 43mm its hard to stay locked into grinds. 48mm i feel is the perfect size for me.
David A I may try that next. I got the baker B2 steep concave with the squared nose and tail. It’s too steep. Timing of my pop is way off and the flick angle is off and feels heavier with the squared nose and tail
one of the best feelings is when you struggle to learn a trick and then try it one day and land it first try!! sw front 180 5-0 was one of those for me for sure!!
I keep changing what I use. I'm thinking I'm liking a mellow concave. For a while I stuck with 1 deck brand and kept getting it. Only until recently I've been changing things to see what I like since I go through decks at about 1 ever 4 months. I've tried larger wheels, smaller wheels, different trucks, different bushings, tried loose vs tight however I'm staying with tight. I have a retro style board and I'm liking the mellow concave on it. I feel like I'm more consistent with it. Also it's a wide board so it took some time getting used to flicking the shit out of it but I feel more comfortable with the wide landing space I have. Honestly I'm not too surprised since my first board was an 80s board that I got from a flea market when I was younger before getting a world industries 7.75 deck from a friend one year because I never had money for new stuff so all my stuff was second hand or thrown in the trash lol. I was so sad the day I snapped that old deck. I will always remember my first board. That was about 15 years ago and I wish I kept the broken halves.
Really enjoyed the transition skating. That bowl looks really fun. Would love to see you transfer some of your flat ground flip tricks to transition. Just don't ask me how.
@@catch2297 ... Hell yeah. That guy's insane. Really enjoyed it!. Thanks man!. If you haven't already, check out Chad Caruso's YT channel. Insane Mini ramp tricks as well and has a really flowy style.
@@catch2297 ... Yeah that's the guy. Pretty crazy stuff. Pretty cool watching it from Australia and getting to know America better and skateboarding in America better and seeing all the parks there. They look so good. They're starting to get a lot better in Australia too.
It all depends on the brand. With Dwindle boards I prefer a full shape since the kicks are up. I like a mix of board brands, but I really know that mellow boards (that aren’t girl/chocolate) are not for me
I've always preferred a steeper concave. Personal preference but ever since I was a kid its helped with my flip tricks and locking in on grinds. Mellow is cool but for me its always been so much harder to get a consistent flick. Just my personal opinion.
thanks for making videos like this with specs facts and opinions about many facets that I assume a good number of casual skaters don't consider, as well as brand information as it may save some people time and trouble if they have preferences that are more akin to one brand then another and are forced to purchase something online. Fortunately I have a skateboard shop I can go 2 in my hometown to get something of a feel of how the board is under my feet but of course not many people are going to be able to try all the different combinations of high trucks low trucks medium concave mellow concave different wheelbase Etc when they first start skating especially if they're not trying to spend a fortune. I try to think of them something like an instrument in that if Taylor or Gibson mix5 of the same model guitar you can order it out of a catalog but if you go to a store and play two guitars of the same make and the same model you're going to have a preference to one of them and it seems to me many of those nuances transfer to skating whether it's wheel size wheel base text Saad etcetera much like, string tension volume control ,string gauge, string spacing, but with skateboards not as many people are approaching it with hard numbers so much as their opinions, videos like this add a very useful Dimension in that people(especially those less versed in making purchases) can still go by their personal preference, feeling and experience but apply to that information they may not have had and numbers that are easily transferable to their next setup.
so glad to hear someone else say they can't skate Vans. I've been jealous of my friends who can for 30 years - cheap, stylish, and CHEAP they used to be like $20
I have two Skateone deck's with the k15 & k20 concaves. The k15 is a little to steep for me & the k20 is really flat & not as mellow as they claim IMO. After that I got a Primitive deck & the concave is perfect!!
I love the Van's TNT advanced pro model shoes you should get them and review them if you haven't already. I was skating these shoes for like 4 months before the rubber wore down but now its been 7 months since I've had them thanks to shoe goo and they still haven't gotten a hole in them the rubber just wears down
the DOA "Flat As Fuck" 90's mold is amazing. It's not actually "flat" but just mellow concave with mellow kicks. Tons of board feel and control. Works amazing with Thunders and Ventures
I had a baker mellow concave and loved the way it skated , I got another different baker deck in the same size and couldnt get use to it and didnt love it as much as the last one even though it was the same brand deck , on the mellow deck my tres were on lock and everything just felt better on it
My setup right now is: Shoes: Nike dunk OG, Board: Nomad Skateboard 7.858 (medium concave), Wheels: Bones 51mm V5 (but will change to Orbs 52mm), Bearings: G2 Brones, Hardware: Diamonds, Trucks: Thunder light(top) and thunder hollow (baseplate)... I find this setup pretty okay since im a short (158cm) 3X age dude.
always felt like the more concave the smaller a deck feels. With high/steep concave I like 8.5s, with mellower concave 8.2 feels better. And I always thought OG means original graphic 😅
Road a Santa Cruz deck with quite a bit of concave was able to pop with a lot of confidence (I’ve been skating for less than a year, so I’m still trying to get better Ollie’s and pop). I really liked the steep concave. BUT I’ve found there’s not as much mercy in landing on a steep concave deck. Now I’m riding a Thank You which I think is more mellow than a Girl board and I really really dig it! I’ve started to really like Lekai shoes.
The mellower the better. Just a little concave right near the edges. Had a deck like that in the 90's. So much easier to skate. They all have such massive concaves these days. I hate it. I always catch my heels on the concave skating transition even for kick turns which throws me of balance. Have to find one like I had in the 90's again if they exist?. Or maybe a narrower board to keep my heels clear over the edge might be ok?.
I’m riding a mike caroll 7.6x31.5 deck from 2008 I had refurbished and it’s sick! It’s a very mellow concave which I like since I skate a pair of globe fusions which are rather bulky shoes but give me more stability and I don’t have to worry catching shove it’s in the pocket with mellow I can catch them anywhere and still have enough shoe on the board to control myself if that makes sense
Still a fairly new skater,started on a Blind deck and grabbed some Sk8 Hi's from Vans. I'm enjoying it,I want to try a mellow concave to see the difference and find what's best for me.
Low concave a la Girl all day for me, but recently picked up a Real (slick) after seeing your video. Last time I rode a DLX board was 1998 or so, lol. I remember it felt rock hard and I also had trouble dealing with the concave. Guess what? The new deck felt rock hard and the concave, steep nose/tail was really messing with me the first week or so. I'm starting to get used to it now but think I'll stick to flat, Chinese-made decks from now on.
I feel like i should like steeper concave decks, because theoretically it makes flip tricks easier, but I don’t know if I actually do. I need to start studying my decks more instead of just buying for the graphic. Great content!
Amazing skating as always. 👌 You can make a point of buying a deck with a little more concave and nose/tail steepness than you're used to so you can skate it for longer, same as buying a wheel an extra 1mm bigger, if you're a cheap ass like me. 😅
Never skated a girl deck, but ive gone from low concave to medium, and even super steep concave like my old zoo York brandon westgate deck. Im riding a creature deck and id say its probably medium to steep in terms of concave and I much prefer these steeper concaves. Flicking is so much easier, i feel like a Kickflip god with these. I've heard people talk about comfort, and I haven't noticed any difference at all, but I ride cupsoles with some fairly thicc midsoles so its not like I feel absolutely everything on my deck. If I did wear vans id probably feel a bit differently, but thats just my two sense.
How do you skate so well on that? I had a girl deck once. 2nd worst board I've used. The super mellow concave made it almost impossible to do scoop tricks like tre flip and varial heels. Real and plan b is where it's at. Love the pop.
Ive noticed on my quasi board it does have a mellower concave then the hockey deck I’m now riding only thing is that I don’t like about this new deck is how steep the kick is it’s hard for me to get a nice pop I guess it’s because I’m used to mellower boards but I turn better on steeper concave and I’ve noticed kickflips are easier on it my manuals are easier to hold also landing on the board is easier my feet catch more in the pockets maybe since my wheels have shrunk it’s affecting my pop but honestly it really is all about preference
one thing i have to say about vans is that the reason why your feet hurt is because the insoles will take time to mold to your feet, I recommend using your old insoles from your previous vans and microwave your shoe for at least 2 and a half minutes checking on them periodically for 30 seconds. once the show feels warm enough, Lace em u then walk and run in them; therefore the shoe will be flexible and not hurt your feet too much. I hope this helps :)
I am a fan of massive concave..... there was what was considered Tri Plane....very steep concave....like what came on the original JFA decks....like the vids to teach the new generation....
Terrific content as usual, my dude, keep it coming! Long time subscriber here, but haven’t commented in a minute. I’m curious to your take on something I’ve been considering. I’ve been skating Crailtap for a couple years running now, mostly straight 8 versus a 14 inch wheelbase and been loving it. Also, I’ve been ride-or-die Indy’s for roughly 13 years. Now, about to turn 30, my confidence and muscle memory are coming back to me in great strides, so I’m entertaining the idea of jumping back up to 8.25 but with the same length and wheelbase dimensions (Crailtap are great, by the way). So, after this too long of a message, my question to you is... 144 or 149?! Haha
Steeper concave boards seem to affect the way I pop. Tricks get harder. It took me YEARS to realize this. The more mellow, the better for me. Throw in a smaller wheelbase and my tricks come easier. When I was younger I was able to power through board differences, but as I’ve gotten older, the slight differences have become so apparent.
Do you skate creature?
i really like mellow concave (girl, toy machine, zero have been my favorites since like forever ago)
i really like vans style shoes for everything, including my friend's wedding, and walking 20 miles.
Are all the normal decks of the named brands mellow concave? I like the baker concave but it it is described as medium concave in my online skateshop (as pretty much all boards) so when i order a board with medium concave it can be steep or mellow and i am desperately looking for an accurate database so i can try different boards with mellow concave
🤣🤣🤣
Steeper concave hurt my feet and I like the feel of mellow kicks, flat feet flat everything lol
David A I hear ya! I have flat feet too and it just kills me to ride anything with an aggressive concave.
Have you ever tried learning English ?
Mr. Banana Feet I bet my Hebrew is better than yours! :)
I feel you dude. My feet are so flat they are basically 2 x 4
Sammeeeee!!! lmao flat feet flat concave love it lol
Really crazy to see how far you've come with fs tail flip out. I remember the video where you were getting them on the "curb" and now you've had one in most videos on legit high ledges. Bravo
I honestly didn't know shit about this and been skating 22 years. Thanks again. Tre flips are better with flat decks in my personal opinion and manuals.
As a skater who dabbled into longboarding, I think it'd be very wise for companies to experiment with tub concave which is where the middle is flat but the sides flare up. This is in contrast to radial concave where the concave flares up consistently from the y-axis towards the sides. The advantage of tub concave is a comfortable feeling deck for landings that still has sufficient concave.
You seem to be ignoring the fact that the tub concave would make many tricks more awkward and difficult than they already are.
@jamponyexpress7956 Nah i had one. Everything was crispier. I quit skating though. Now i lived a more productive life.
- Local shop blank deck, 8.25, with a good amount of concave.
- The new Independent 144s for 8.25s they made recently - great step up from 139s, which I have been used to forever. The 144s feel perfect on transition paired with the 8.25 deck.
- Bones STF v5, 56mm
- Bones Swiss
- Shorty's hardware
- Mob grip
- Fallen (RIP, but still got a couple pairs left) or Emerica or Supra vulc shoes with good toe padding. I do way too many kickflip tricks.
I've been skating for more than 20 years so my setup tends to be pretty constant these days as I skate for exercise and enjoyment and age into doing less risky things.
You’re definitely my fav TH-camr my last 3 decks have been based on your reviews and I’ve loved them all thank you for being so helpful please keep making these in depth reviews you have a ton of awesome knowledge and it helps out a ton. Thank you and have a great day
Birdhouse is mellow! Your like a skateboard professor. I love the art and style of vans but they fall apart quickly.
I love flatter decks with a pair of vans pro shoes and being a dad all day to my two girls.
the format of this video - info, YOUR preference, then skating, & what pro skaters prefer - is great. wish more videos were formatted like this
Girls in the 90s were flat? Lol
Jerimy Murray ayy lmao
Yes, they were flat, 7.4, and very narrow nose and tail
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That one went way over your head mate
@@TheEchelon no...I think your missing something bro.
@Jerimy Murray
Dude, I wasn't talking to you. I got your joke. Look at who I replied and what he said. He didn't get your joke so I replied the joke went over his head.
Concave in skateboarding was a design answer to the problem of flat boards.
Flat boards:
-Lose pop
-Lose shape
-Snap easier
-Less springy
Because of these issues, skateboards were made with concave and that’s why mellower boards are generally inferior.
However, flat boards still have some advantages so medium concave is better.
Honestly never thought about shoe construction to concave relationship until you posted this video! I'm usually a cupsole person and leaned towards more concave than less over my 14 years of skating
Now I know why. There was some subconscious connection my feet to board were making that just worked for me.
Hate flat boards since they don't flick consistently and feel weak/soft, in my opinion. Mellow to steep concave, you can at least feel when to release your foot as you flick.
Zoo York deck 8.0, Silver Trucks, OJ Wheels. The Zoo York shape and build is just perfect. OG shape, and super thin which I love.
so funny, ive thinking about this subject for about four days now, and then you post a video that answered my question...BOOM Thanks ben love you man
FLoyd Roo dude that is crazy I’ve been doing the same thing. Right now I’m on this antihero board with a lot of concave and I have another board waiting for me to try a creature with Medium concave and for the past week I’ve been wondering what the pros and cons would be
Great video! when I was younger and a lot smaller, I always went for boards with the most concave because they were easier to flip and were the most responsive. Now that I'm older taller and stronger I prefer bakers mellow concave decks because I find I get more control and better style with flip tricks because I can really control the speed of the flip and rotation. Also I go for emerica shoes with the G6 insole because they're super comfortable and still get great board feel, plus they last a long time. The Reynolds 3 G6 has been my favorite as of late.
I have a friend who had a toy machine and i hated, was so flat and heavy. Now im skating an Alien 7.6 steep concave with some thunders and busenitz adv. Light and poppy
franxxjavixx AWS doesn’t really have a deck with concave over .375 (Which is a mellow-medium) ...Girl, Baker OG is .313 Which model are you SK8ing?
I like mellow concave. I'm currently skating a steep concave Polar Board Co. & it's been a battle on Rails & Flip Tricks. I skate more rails & feel that a flatter board helps with my balance. The upside about a steep concaved board is the Polar Board's pop is still holding up after a month of skating.
Anderson 8.5 Powell Peralta deck. The deck features identical nose and tail.Mob Grip. B.Westgates 913 new balance. Bronson G3 bearrings( actually made for Skateboards real rpm's) thunder titanium hollow lights 151's. There's a snake run & bowel combo right there 🙌 Overtime was needed for this sled. Cheers Ben, as per usual i loved the details. Good video
Favorite skate channel for sure! Keep it up Ben, I love trying out new boards and seeing the differences as you are showcasing. Your review of a flatter deck in the past talking about back foot placement for easier pop was a revelation! Especially since I started skating again at age 36.
I've been using a thank you deck, it's super mellow and square, currently figuring out how to adjust my feet. Overall I think it gives me more control skating obstacles and flip trick finally aren't overflipped, nice one.
Friend of mine rocks a wide and mellow Thank You deck, I've tried it out a few times and it's pretty well rounded feel.
Weird because each Thank You deck I've seen in person had aggressive concave and steep nose and tails.
You got me dying with “dad” final because I’m skater and dad and sure it’s pretty rad. Love your videos and how you share your thoughts and opinions on the skate industry. Another subscriber from Spain! 🙌
About 10 years ago I had a DGK deck with the most insane concave I ever skated. Super steep. Haven't found a similar shape since, which is a shame, because although you had to put a little more effort into popping it off the ground, it paid off with how easily it flipped.
try hockey or fa
@@csitc2790 just did. Not bad
I’d love them except for I absolutely can not stand how much heavier they feel to me. It’s enough to make me dislike and not ride their decks which I would in all other respects really love and would likely ride solely if not for the weight issue
"One dude's opinion" ......One dudes highly specific well explained minutia mapping opinion, thank god you do such detailed work. I watched a few other reviewers and I'll be just listening to "one dudes opinion" from now on thank you very much. Great work as usual.
I see you with the ventures on the girl deck. Old school set up. I'm on venture high og 5.8s with an 8.5 quasi. The shape is crazy. It's got the really blunt nose and tail.
Interesting video, thanks Ben!
I’m currently riding an Ishod Wair 8.25 twin tail, Indy 144 Standard, 53mm F4 lock-ins, Bronson G3 and Indy hardware. For shoes I’m rocking the Emerica Provider (Provost pro model).
Nerding out about skate equipment is super fun! but I’ve found that the absolute best setup is the one you are skating when you are skating with your friends. Bonus points if you are supporting your local shop and favorite skater 😎👍
Just rewatching some older videos, never thought about shoes/concave combinations, but vulc shoes with mellower concaves just makes sense when I think about it
I like really steep concaves on shoes with a long toe box for kickflips, steep nose for heelflips
I skated from the mid to late 80’s, but I do remember getting on a board in the early/mid 90’s, and it seemed SO flat compared to what I remember boards being. In the “pocket” or bolts area as you called it. I like that area with a lot of concave.
Your reviews are so in depth and are a real help for me now that I want to get back into skating as an old man now. LOL. Thanks as always Ben!
6:36 Dude that front salad was so good
Back in 2001 I had a black label "black" concave deck that had deep concave on the nose and tail. I can remember it working pretty well, and I thought that the less surface quality on the ledges made it slide better, maybe it was just that your foot was in a pocket during slide tricks.
another splendid video content old chap.totally enjoyed it, especially on how you measure the steepness of the concave. i always luv riding a fairly steep concave, even till now that i'm 40. but my board size has gone up from a 7.75 to a 8.25/8.38..now i'm gonna go measure all my decks. and its sunday 8.30 in the morning here in Borneo, Asia.
I had the Gordon&Smith Nicky Guerrero cyclops board in the 80's and that board had great concave shape.I wish I still had it.....
ive only skated medium concave so far. nice pop and just the right amount of curve in the pockets. gonna get a high concave board next, see how that goes
I always skate a g028 deck from crailtap with vans (half cabs) and I love it
Since we are talking about mellow decks, review baker (or deathwish)!!
or magenta they are from the same distrib
Those are steep decks..not mellow at all lol riding one right now
@@bencrust4516 Which one you talking about?
dxmanforlife Taylor Kirby pro board
@@bencrust4516 is that mellow?
When you say Canadian and pop tricks from that ramp to flat, you remind me of Chris Haslam and his days in Almost Round 3 😁 great style Ben
Haha funny how the 2 flat deck skaters you name are like the hardest flicking feet out there
I love light and mellow decks! I have fairly flat feet though, and I wear leather vans old skools. Boards with more concave don't feel nearly as comfortable.
I m 47 and believe it or not a small change makes a great difference. My mellow PP board is a Haven to me because it feels easier to pop because of the longer tail, and what u mention on the Milder curve is true. I feel My back foot kinda trapoed on a steep one and I also feel it harder to pop and less comfortable. Very good videos!
Great insights Ben, and you're absolutely ripping. Started watching your channel about a year ago and it's crazy how much you've progressed. I was feeling old and washed up, but your videos are proof that if you put in the time and effort you can still skate great. P.s. if you ever get the chance I wanna see you review Footprint insoles!
absolutely agree, skating vans slip pros and a chocolate and everything you say is accurate.thank you for doing the concave measurements!fantastic visual
I remember a few years ago my friend had a girl deck and I tried it out and I had the nicest kickflips I want to buy my self one. I also remember the deck being flatter compared to my delux
I prefer to ride a skateboard with a considerable amount of convex..... Concave is so overrated.
Warren Leeds If you skate one of the nearly flat ten inch decks from the late seventies they actually feel convex now.
ahahahahahhahaya
@@ibookboyuk I had one of those as a kid that I found at a junk store...fuckin absolutely felt convex, cuz as you lean, it feels like your feet are just going to slide right off still.
@@crusheen i don't get it
K
I like mellow or flat concave and have always liked it to be stepped concave aposed to rounded. I think its got part to do with me being flat footed. A 14" wheel base is about perfect for me as long as the nose and tail are mellow or medium ish. I like some leverage but not too much. I prefer a looser rocker and i skate independent standard height and ace works pretty well for me too. I cant skate thunder unless the deck has a rocker that is stupidly loose. I have a bit of trouble at times pushing the tail down all the way after skating for a couple hours when my knee starts to bother me. I skate 48-50mm wheels too. And skate éS accel og. Only shoe i can really skate. Everything else is too thin. But that shoe is very much a happy medium for me. Padded tongue and collar with a flexible cupsole gives plenty boardfeel without hurting my feet. Boardfeel from a shoe doesn't have as much to do with the thickness of the shoe but the flexibility of the sole.
Joel Siciliano sounds like creature boards, but those wheels sound small
@@zackm8399 what sucks is that theyre gettin harder to find. Everyone skating these big 52-58mm mostly. I cant go much bigger than 50mm cuz ill half pop my tricks. Its a bit of a struggle tho cuz when you get down to like 43mm its hard to stay locked into grinds. 48mm i feel is the perfect size for me.
You should try the Baker O.G. shape with Indys #bakerforlife
Dominic Tasico B16 that would be great!!
Birdhouse og
Baker O.G. is pretty much the perfect shape for me, stepped up to a 8.475 from a 8.25 and that's when I feel the shape even got better - insane
David A I may try that next. I got the baker B2 steep concave with the squared nose and tail. It’s too steep. Timing of my pop is way off and the flick angle is off and feels heavier with the squared nose and tail
David A just bought a baker og 8.5 and did a couple of flip tricks and it is flipping really fast I kinda like it. About to go see how it grinds
Girl boards are so dope. I love skatin’ them
one of the best feelings is when you struggle to learn a trick and then try it one day and land it first try!! sw front 180 5-0 was one of those for me for sure!!
I keep changing what I use. I'm thinking I'm liking a mellow concave. For a while I stuck with 1 deck brand and kept getting it. Only until recently I've been changing things to see what I like since I go through decks at about 1 ever 4 months. I've tried larger wheels, smaller wheels, different trucks, different bushings, tried loose vs tight however I'm staying with tight. I have a retro style board and I'm liking the mellow concave on it. I feel like I'm more consistent with it. Also it's a wide board so it took some time getting used to flicking the shit out of it but I feel more comfortable with the wide landing space I have. Honestly I'm not too surprised since my first board was an 80s board that I got from a flea market when I was younger before getting a world industries 7.75 deck from a friend one year because I never had money for new stuff so all my stuff was second hand or thrown in the trash lol. I was so sad the day I snapped that old deck. I will always remember my first board. That was about 15 years ago and I wish I kept the broken halves.
Really enjoyed the transition skating. That bowl looks really fun. Would love to see you transfer some of your flat ground flip tricks to transition. Just don't ask me how.
andrew look up @velvetsmooth on instagram for insane transition tech
@@catch2297 ... Hell yeah. That guy's insane. Really enjoyed it!. Thanks man!. If you haven't already, check out Chad Caruso's YT channel. Insane Mini ramp tricks as well and has a really flowy style.
andrew he’s doing the fifty tricks in fifty states thing isn’t he ? Madness
@@catch2297 ... Yeah that's the guy. Pretty crazy stuff. Pretty cool watching it from Australia and getting to know America better and skateboarding in America better and seeing all the parks there. They look so good. They're starting to get a lot better in Australia too.
It all depends on the brand. With Dwindle boards I prefer a full shape since the kicks are up. I like a mix of board brands, but I really know that mellow boards (that aren’t girl/chocolate) are not for me
I've always preferred a steeper concave. Personal preference but ever since I was a kid its helped with my flip tricks and locking in on grinds. Mellow is cool but for me its always been so much harder to get a consistent flick. Just my personal opinion.
i always love to watch your vids no matter what is there. and i hate that here is only 19k subs -_-.
Up to 69 now
thanks for making videos like this with specs facts and opinions about many facets that I assume a good number of casual skaters don't consider, as well as brand information as it may save some people time and trouble if they have preferences that are more akin to one brand then another and are forced to purchase something online. Fortunately I have a skateboard shop I can go 2 in my hometown to get something of a feel of how the board is under my feet but of course not many people are going to be able to try all the different combinations of high trucks low trucks medium concave mellow concave different wheelbase Etc when they first start skating especially if they're not trying to spend a fortune. I try to think of them something like an instrument in that if Taylor or Gibson mix5 of the same model guitar you can order it out of a catalog but if you go to a store and play two guitars of the same make and the same model you're going to have a preference to one of them and it seems to me many of those nuances transfer to skating whether it's wheel size wheel base text Saad etcetera much like, string tension volume control ,string gauge, string spacing, but with skateboards not as many people are approaching it with hard numbers so much as their opinions, videos like this add a very useful Dimension in that people(especially those less versed in making purchases) can still go by their personal preference, feeling and experience but apply to that information they may not have had and numbers that are easily transferable to their next setup.
so glad to hear someone else say they can't skate Vans. I've been jealous of my friends who can for 30 years - cheap, stylish, and CHEAP they used to be like $20
I have two Skateone deck's with the k15 & k20 concaves. The k15 is a little to steep for me & the k20 is really flat & not as mellow as they claim IMO. After that I got a Primitive deck & the concave is perfect!!
I love the Van's TNT advanced pro model shoes you should get them and review them if you haven't already. I was skating these shoes for like 4 months before the rubber wore down but now its been 7 months since I've had them thanks to shoe goo and they still haven't gotten a hole in them the rubber just wears down
great video ben thank you for all your work
I love the baker og shape!
I've found that my almost boards have had my preferred type of concaves. Mellow and full concave. I'm fine with either.
Love your videos! Nice to get unbiased reviews on skate products!
Enjoyed seeing you put carpentry/geometry to use here.
I like steep kicks with low trucks ....for example Santa Cruz’s taper shapes with venture lows = perfect
Primitive with thunder highs = perfect lol
Another good video Ben. Your trick bag is huge, props bro.
Sweet vid Ben! It be sick if you put together something on the different board shapes Girl makes! Keep killing it 👊🏻
also with indy 159 makes it feel like a magic carpet ride
the DOA "Flat As Fuck" 90's mold is amazing. It's not actually "flat" but just mellow concave with mellow kicks. Tons of board feel and control. Works amazing with Thunders and Ventures
I have been interested in trying one.
I had a baker mellow concave and loved the way it skated , I got another different baker deck in the same size and couldnt get use to it and didnt love it as much as the last one even though it was the same brand deck , on the mellow deck my tres were on lock and everything just felt better on it
DLXSF regular concave and Vans Eras= best board feel ever and lifted 360 Flips
Yo man your so good! I just recently went back to a mellow concave and it feels so much better.
My setup right now is: Shoes: Nike dunk OG, Board: Nomad Skateboard 7.858 (medium concave), Wheels: Bones 51mm V5 (but will change to Orbs 52mm), Bearings: G2 Brones, Hardware: Diamonds, Trucks: Thunder light(top) and thunder hollow (baseplate)... I find this setup pretty okay since im a short (158cm) 3X age dude.
always felt like the more concave the smaller a deck feels. With high/steep concave I like 8.5s, with mellower concave 8.2 feels better. And I always thought OG means original graphic 😅
It actually means original gangsta
Jart decks have a really good mellow concave
Road a Santa Cruz deck with quite a bit of concave was able to pop with a lot of confidence (I’ve been skating for less than a year, so I’m still trying to get better Ollie’s and pop). I really liked the steep concave. BUT I’ve found there’s not as much mercy in landing on a steep concave deck.
Now I’m riding a Thank You which I think is more mellow than a Girl board and I really really dig it!
I’ve started to really like Lekai shoes.
I skate on Decathlon skateboard shoes. My setup: Girl Skateboard deck, Venture trucks, Ricta super crystal wheels, Reds bearings, Jessup Griptape, Diamond hardware.
The mellower the better. Just a little concave right near the edges. Had a deck like that in the 90's. So much easier to skate. They all have such massive concaves these days. I hate it. I always catch my heels on the concave skating transition even for kick turns which throws me of balance. Have to find one like I had in the 90's again if they exist?. Or maybe a narrower board to keep my heels clear over the edge might be ok?.
I prefer a steeper concave, just my personal choice, feels better under feet and somehow I get more pop
I’m riding a mike caroll 7.6x31.5 deck from 2008 I had refurbished and it’s sick!
It’s a very mellow concave which I like since I skate a pair of globe fusions which are rather bulky shoes but give me more stability and I don’t have to worry catching shove it’s in the pocket with mellow I can catch them anywhere and still have enough shoe on the board to control myself if that makes sense
Still a fairly new skater,started on a Blind deck and grabbed some Sk8 Hi's from Vans. I'm enjoying it,I want to try a mellow concave to see the difference and find what's best for me.
Back in the day late 80's. vision street wear had the best skate shoes. they had a rubber pad where you foot rubs on flip tricks.
Low concave a la Girl all day for me, but recently picked up a Real (slick) after seeing your video. Last time I rode a DLX board was 1998 or so, lol. I remember it felt rock hard and I also had trouble dealing with the concave. Guess what? The new deck felt rock hard and the concave, steep nose/tail was really messing with me the first week or so. I'm starting to get used to it now but think I'll stick to flat, Chinese-made decks from now on.
They can be a bit hard to switch back and forth from. It took me two weeks to really find my tricks on my current deck(Girl).
Thanks for sharing Ben.
Love this guy! So good at skating! Are you sponsored?
I feel like i should like steeper concave decks, because theoretically it makes flip tricks easier, but I don’t know if I actually do. I need to start studying my decks more instead of just buying for the graphic. Great content!
Yo I live in Tsawwassen. Dope to see that park and the Ladner park in ur videos
mellow concave decks are cool since like i get more pop and the control in the pockets and converse shoes since their thin and good flick with concave
Amazing skating as always. 👌 You can make a point of buying a deck with a little more concave and nose/tail steepness than you're used to so you can skate it for longer, same as buying a wheel an extra 1mm bigger, if you're a cheap ass like me. 😅
Never skated a girl deck, but ive gone from low concave to medium, and even super steep concave like my old zoo York brandon westgate deck. Im riding a creature deck and id say its probably medium to steep in terms of concave and I much prefer these steeper concaves. Flicking is so much easier, i feel like a Kickflip god with these. I've heard people talk about comfort, and I haven't noticed any difference at all, but I ride cupsoles with some fairly thicc midsoles so its not like I feel absolutely everything on my deck. If I did wear vans id probably feel a bit differently, but thats just my two sense.
nice informative video. chill as always thanks for not being a sellout
How do you skate so well on that? I had a girl deck once. 2nd worst board I've used. The super mellow concave made it almost impossible to do scoop tricks like tre flip and varial heels. Real and plan b is where it's at. Love the pop.
Ive noticed on my quasi board it does have a mellower concave then the hockey deck I’m now riding only thing is that I don’t like about this new deck is how steep the kick is it’s hard for me to get a nice pop I guess it’s because I’m used to mellower boards but I turn better on steeper concave and I’ve noticed kickflips are easier on it my manuals are easier to hold also landing on the board is easier my feet catch more in the pockets maybe since my wheels have shrunk it’s affecting my pop but honestly it really is all about preference
Did he say girls in the 90’s were pretty flat? He’s not wrong
Too much concave gets so uncomfortable
Yuri Lopes you should ride a Santa Cruz preisuue
Since i have shoes that are very thin, it stabs my foot when the concave is steep.
Always ride for mellow concave, the best flick for kickflip, the best scoop for impossible
Muhammad Wibowo lol what? Heavy concave definitely helps impossible.
Yeah big concaves will make a better impossible. Pinch ur toes in the lil bowl and it wraps you like a gift baby
@@gutwounds yup, plus shorter wheel bases too!
@@TaylorPhase Yeah dude, but it always comes down to preference. I just know what distributions I like and I'll stick with it. I hate crailtap 😬
one thing i have to say about vans is that the reason why your feet hurt is because the insoles will take time to mold to your feet, I recommend using your old insoles from your previous vans and microwave your shoe for at least 2 and a half minutes checking on them periodically for 30 seconds. once the show feels warm enough, Lace em u then walk and run in them; therefore the shoe will be flexible and not hurt your feet too much.
I hope this helps :)
damn your flatgame so clean!
Like a lot of concave and skate mostly Nike blazers new subscriber
Hi Josh:) Welcome!
I am a fan of massive concave..... there was what was considered Tri Plane....very steep concave....like what came on the original JFA decks....like the vids to teach the new generation....
Terrific content as usual, my dude, keep it coming! Long time subscriber here, but haven’t commented in a minute. I’m curious to your take on something I’ve been considering. I’ve been skating Crailtap for a couple years running now, mostly straight 8 versus a 14 inch wheelbase and been loving it. Also, I’ve been ride-or-die Indy’s for roughly 13 years. Now, about to turn 30, my confidence and muscle memory are coming back to me in great strides, so I’m entertaining the idea of jumping back up to 8.25 but with the same length and wheelbase dimensions (Crailtap are great, by the way). So, after this too long of a message, my question to you is... 144 or 149?! Haha
144