Loaded Fathom Review: Commute Fast, Travel Far, Work out Hard

Loaded Fathom: i.loadedboards.com/117-113.htm
The Loaded Fathom bracket setup is designed for serious distance skating and commuting, and fitness skating. It's a highly specialized distance-pushing longboard built around the Loaded Zee Brackets designed by G/Bomb (the King of brackets), resulting in a high-performance, double-drop distance setup.
The Fathom is an invitation to push hard and far. The super low platform and the large drop created by the brackets, combined with BIG wheels, really make you want to jump on the board and hit the road!
Pros:
- Low ride, great speed & stability for LDP, commuting, skogging
- Pre-tuned for anyone wanting to get into performance LDP (no trial & error)
- Runs mega-wheels wheelbite-free without risers
- Compact and stowable, modular for travel packing
Cons:
-- Specialized bracket setup, not for all-around city slashing
- Might be too low for some heavy riders on very bumpy terrain
- Fixed-angle brackets not ideal for a pumping setup (but…)
My complete review post: www.ridingboards.com/loaded-f...
Orangatant Dad Bod wheels review: www.ridingboards.com/orangata...

[@Euphoricillustrations]

Just got this board and have been using it to commute to work and the gym and it truly rides like a dream would 100% reccomend for commuting

[@tally2312]

Are you using the dad bods? Do you have another longboard to compare too? Thx!

[@QuentinLeonetti]

@@tally2312 I'm using it with dad bods. I also have a pranayama with 85mm wheels. Bigger wheels means higher board, so it's def harder to push. But places where I'd usually scrape my board are not an issue with the dad bods which is fun :) Board itself is very comfy and an enjoyable ride. If you don't have a board with 85mm wheels I'd recommend that to start, then try out the bigger ones if you feel like it.

[@juniorss8333]

@@QuentinLeonettido the dad boss carve decently well?

[@QuentinLeonetti]

@@juniorss8333 They are really big so don't expect the same as a 70mm but it's still fun!

[@tally2312]

@@QuentinLeonetti thanks for the reply! I have a zenit maze and drop cat 38 both with 85mm wheels. Which I love. Do you see any reason to add one of these? Is there any real benefit to the 105s? Or do you feel this is redundant to your other boards? I will say, another reason to potentially purchase is these would travel nicely in a suitcase taking the brackets off.

[@robertstrong6639]

Getting this board today with 88 wheel company Mcfly 86mm 76a wheels from Longboard living in Toronto after work.

[@sk8_rufus]

Good review, thank you. Very informative. Have been thinking of getting one since it recently appeared.

[@davidcolvin3]

Love all the info! Thank u💪 helped me decide that i want it

[@eBoard3R]

🤙🏼🤩🤩🤙🏼 *Loaded killed it with this setup!*

[@strongerlongerlife]

Super helpful -- thank you!

[@SeasofCheeze]

Would you recommend this deck for sliding or freeriding? I'm thinking of buying the deck and using Sector 9 72mm butterballs and gullwing trucks that I already have.

[@stealtherider3008]

Great video! Where is the Fathom board made? US? China? Where is the bracket made? US? China?

[@geogemini8528]

How is it for freeriding hills? Nothing super fast, just slides and carves. I love my double drop 42" for freeriding but not sure how I would like a 33"board, do your feet feel too close together?

[@habat4ever]

Hi, very nice review! :) Do you recommend 150, 165 or 180mm trucks? Raw or Polished? What could be the advantage/drawbacks of each 3 against each other? I would like to use the board with the 105mm (for very long distances) and also the 85mm (for regular commuting) so I might have to buy the two sets of wheels with a custom complete...

[@RidingBoards]

As explained in the video, the default Paris 150mm work great, the narrow width leads to higher responsiveness, without wheelbite (with the Dad Bods) thanks to the brackets.

[@user-fi6hg8vq6c]

What other decks can be used with this setup?

[@danielmira5994]

Hey, thanks for the great review! Can you go a little further on the “pumping setups” brackets Loaded is planning to be releasing? Thanks!

[@RidingBoards]

I asked Loaded regarding the more pump-oriented brackets, no specific news just yet but they are in the process of exploring some ideas.

[@esk8unity]

👏🏼

[@jpzammo]

How much do the trip and fathom weigh total

[@timebombprod6829]

Does it slide?

[@JackyPup]

How would this be different from a drop through board. Seems to me they have dropped decks and shortened usable space. Don't get me wrong.. these look great. Just starting on my journey into LDP

[@ryank2373]

The Trip runs 150mm trucks just fine, I run 145mm Valkyries on my Trip without any issues.

[@Healtsome]

Same, running 150mm Paris + McFlys on my trip with no issues. Even more, I've fitted 90mm eskate wheels + 150 paris on my Pranayama easily. Fitting 105mm Dad bods, however, might be too risky.

[@teijeiro74]

Made after the Pantheon Pranayama. But still a beautiful board.

[@FartsFromApplz]

Do think the width is enough for someone with a US12-12.5 size?

[@RidingBoards]

I'm a size 12 and it's definitely wide enough for me. When I ride I rarely have my feet at a 90º angle to the deck though. Especially when pushing distance your supporting foot tends to face forward.

[@FartsFromApplz]

@@RidingBoardscheers, thanks. Think I’ll be picking one up this week

[@happyon4wheels]

Is it as low to the ground as the Loaded/Trip both with Caguamas?

[@RidingBoards]

Hum I haven't really checked. when I get a chance, I'll set them both up with Caguamas again, measure the height and let you guys know

[@slipdribbler4510]

Not OP, but The Trip was always advertised as having 1.3" (about 33mm) drop, and I just measured my spare Zee bracket having a 34mm drop, so pretty even as far as it goes. What I CAN tell you is that I have a Trip, and I'm using the Zee bracket on the front of a different bracket deck. The Trip still rolls a few mm (maybe 5mm or so - ¼" ish) lower to the road when the two are set side-by-side , both fitted with the same trucks [55º Poppys] and 90mm wheels. Bear in mind there are other factors to ride height, eg: the Trip also has a Rocker/camber/rocker profile to the deck, and I haven't held a Fathom deck in my hands but I believe it has a slight camber , and has an extra ply or two in it's layup (?). .

[@insanogeddon]

Sweet set up but costly and all that speed w/o a great means to stop can be NASTY

[@juniorss8333]

Do you prefer the dad bods over the Cagauma?

[@RidingBoards]

The DB are sooo fast and smooth and roll over everything, curbs cracks and bumps are a non-issue. On the other hand if you're going to meet sidewalks or back alleys on your path, the Caguamas are more nimble and they're still very fast (and higher acceleration). So all in all it depends if you just want to push straight as fast as possible for hours on bike lanes and roads (Dad Bods), or if you ride across narrower areas as well and do lots of tighter turns and/or carving (Caguamas).

[@juniorss8333]

@@RidingBoardsthank you

[@MhkHeinz]

Looks interesting. But curbs, big cracks or bumps in the asphalt and so on are common on commutes. How do you handle that, without a kicktail? So far I cannot imagine a longboard beating a bike as a commuting vehicle and a cruiser with a kicktail seems to be more practical for a mixed commute, where you ride the publiv transports and only skate for the last mile or so.

[@RidingBoards]

Sure this is for a different use case, closer to bike commuting where you travel long distances on decent paths/roads and for skate fitness

[@michael-lucanatt8009]

You havent seen LDP yet, we regularly push faster than casual cyclists. I dont even have a push setup like this fathom and you can still get like 10-11 mph casually

[@UrAGoofy]

It seems like a comfy size but it's 33" including the trucks. I have size 12 feet and long legs can anyone say if it will be really small??

[@RidingBoards]

I'm a size 12 too and 6'1 (1.87m) and I find the ride quite comfortable for LDP

[@fxbasics5530]

Can you ride downhill if you come across a hill on your commute?

[@RidingBoards]

You sure can. It'll be harder to slide for shedding speed if you're running the Dad Bods though as they're super grippy (unless you're good). A bit easier with the Caguamas. You can definitely carve nicely though - assuming the street isn't super narrow.

[@QuentinLeonetti]

@@RidingBoards I agree with that! I've been enjoying carving the road in the countryside, awesome feels. Wouldn't dare to attempt to slide with it though :D

[@aloneboarder]

Can you pump this set up? Anyone tried this board as a racing board?

[@LDPizza]

It pumps a little however, in a symmetrical way, like a mini-vanguard... if it makes sense!

[@vu3088]

Can you get up driveways or even curbs?

[@RidingBoards]

Driveways definitely and small curbs. The flex lets you unweight/spring up too. Super safe feel

[@vu3088]

Thanks for the reply! I was set on getting the Ballona with the dad bods, but now I’m heavily considering this instead. I’m just concerned that the fathom doesn’t have a tail, and what the size difference is. I’m primarily going to use it to get around faster, I’m not using either for tricks.

[@RidingBoards]

@vu3088 they're very different, I ride both for commuting depending on my needs. If there are quite a few obstacles or if I need to carry the board around a lot, e.g. for stores or bus/train, I usually take the Ballona for the portability and the kick. If there are extensive bike paths and open roads I use the Fathom for the high speed and easy pushing. You can check out my review posts www.ridingboards.com/loaded-ballona-review and www.ridingboards.com/loaded-fathom-review-distance-commuting-bracket-setup

[@David-xd3ce]

I really want one, but its superexpensive

[@philip6252]

Looks terrible