Comparison Penny Board Original LED vs SkateX Penny

The dimensions of the deck in length and width (according to the largest dimensions).

Both small and large decks have their advantages and disadvantages. So, a short and narrow deck contributes to manoeuvrability, but puts forward additional requirements for the rider's skill — it can be difficult to cope with a small "nimble" skate, especially at high speed. A long and wide board, on the contrary, is more stable, but it is difficult to make sharp manoeuvres on such a skateboard. In addition, the optimal length for each type of skate (see above) also depends on the age category of the skater: for example, classic skateboards in the adult version have boards no shorter than 600 mm, and anything less refers to children's models. The width, in turn, can be determined by the size of the foot: a person with a large size (from 44) may simply be uncomfortable on a narrow deck.

Detailed recommendations on the optimal dimensions for each type of skate and planned riding features can be found in special sources.

Stiffness of skateboard wheels.

This parameter is denoted by a number and the letter A; the higher the number, the stiffer the material. Higher stiffness allows the wheel to maintain speed better, increase wheel life, make it easier to slide (drifting, for example) and perform jump tricks more efficiently. On the other hand, soft wheels cope with small bumps in the road better, they have better grip and manoeuvrability, and they are also less noisy. Accordingly, the choice of wheel stiffness depends primarily on what surfaces it is planned to ride.

In general, wheels up to 80A can be classified as very soft, and up to 87A — are soft; such wheels are best suited for driving on not-very smooth, worn asphalt, paving slabs with an abundance of joints, etc. Indicators 88A — 95A correspond to medium hardness, such wheels are designed mainly for high-quality "urban" surfaces like a new sidewalk. Stiff wheels are marked from 96A to 99A, they are designed primarily for skate parks and other specialized surfaces, and indicators of 100A and more correspond to professional-level options.

It is worth noting that the wheels are usually made removable, and if necessary, they can be replaced with others, harder or softer. However, one must also take into account the fact that the entire design of the skateboard is usually designed for a certain stiffness of the wheels, and significant deviations from this parameter are unde...sirable. And you should not forget about the type (see above): for example, it is hardly worth looking for especially soft wheels for a traditional stunt skateboard.

The diameter of the wheels installed on the skateboard.

The speed reached by the skateboard is directly proportional to the diameter of the wheels, and the acceleration is inversely proportional. In other words , larger wheels will accelerate more slowly, but to higher speeds. Accordingly, when choosing this parameter, it is first of all necessary to take into account what is more important: good speed (for this it is better to choose larger wheels) or the ability to manoeuvre (small ones are suitable for this). In addition, the large diameter makes it easier to cope with small bumps on the road.

It is also worth remembering that each type of skateboard (see above) has its requirements for the size of the wheels, due to the specifics of the application: for example, high-speed longboards have larger wheel diameters than classic stunt skateboards. Accordingly, only models of the same type can be compared with each other according to this parameter. Detailed recommendations on the optimal diameter for different types of skateboards can be found in special sources.

The wheels are usually made removable, which means that if desired, wheels of a different diameter can be installed on the skateboard. However, they should not differ greatly in size from regular ones. You should be especially careful with large wheels: it may turn out that the deck will reach them when tilted, and this is fraught with falls and injuries.

The thickness of the wheels installed on the skateboard.

The width of the wheel is, roughly speaking, the width of the track left during movement. Narrow wheels are convenient for stunts, in particular in grinds (sliding along pipes, railings, etc. directly on the suspension), but they require flat surfaces; wide, in turn, behave better on rough roads, they are more stable and cope with small bumps more efficiently. Accordingly, narrow wheels are typical mainly for stunt models designed for skate parks and other specialized locations with high-quality surfaces; wide, in turn, are better suited for longboards and "city" cruisers who often have to ride on less than perfect roads.

The wheels in modern skateboards are made removable if desired, they can be replaced with wider or narrower ones. However, it is still not recommended to deviate from the “native” width value — riding can become uncomfortable, if not dangerous.

The presence of lighting in the wheels and/or deck of the skateboard. Such lighting, usually, is based on LEDs, and it can be powered by generators driven by the rotation of the wheels — this allows you to do without batteries (however, the type of power supply should be specified separately).

Additional lighting not only gives the board an interesting appearance but also contributes to safety at night — the skater becomes more visible to drivers and other road users. However, extra parts built into the wheels or deck will inevitably degrade performance. Therefore, this function is found mainly in mini-cruisers and rollersurfers (see "Type"), intended for children and adolescents and not designed for particularly extreme use; professional skateboards are generally not equipped with backlighting.