My Current Setup

[@astreet339]

I’m a retired moto guy and at the ripe old age of 35 I bought myself my first complete. Bens videos were my first videos I started watching. Now turning 40 in a month, I can’t thank Ben enough for all the beginner videos!

[@pablopanesso1057]

Have you managed to progress well these past 5 years?

[@cobo1007]

I religiously watch the god of skateboarding BEN DEGROS

[@thecaptn2764]

Fuggin saaame

[@Cowabungunga]

If he said jump I’d say how high

[@jouhajohnny]

Same

[@DMoney505]

@@Cowabungunga 😂

[@JonnyDIY]

All Hail!!! 😆

[@ben_3256]

been skating for a year after taking about 15 years off. been having the time of my life. getting thru the injuries is the only downer. love the vids

[@ghostpopper3320]

Keep Skatin' 1 reason I myself don't make vids is because I have a knee surgery scheduled. Once Im "cut loose" from my pain *A new Skateboarder will _arrive..._

[@lildooma]

This channel man, I keep watching and rewatching even the old videos. The DIY ledges and in-depth board reviews. Ben, you bring so much to the table when it comes to knowledge about skateboarding, both on technical and cultural levels.

[@jasonharris5201]

Ben ,you have caused so much madness in skateboarding. I have so many trucks, wheels and boards now. But I have been riding every symmetrical board I can find. Right now I’m riding the Andy Anderson twin and loving it.

[@funkydankspliff]

Welcome to the club my boy, after every sesh you will be thinking about tweaks to your setup that will provide performance boost but really it’s just our own game we gotta improve. Vaya con dios

[@jonbonjovi_is_happy]

That’s so sick that Paul Schmitt sent you those decks! And congrats on reaching the Goldilocks zone. I feel like I’m getting there. I never thought critically about my setup until getting into your channel last year, but I’m learning what works. My last board I sized up from an 8.25 to an 8.5 Alltimers Dustin Henry deck with 8.75 indy hollows, 53 mm spitfire classics. I love the width of the deck and the trucks are light but stable for transition and grinds, but it was a bit too long (14.5 wheelbase and 32.25 long) so it felt awkward for certain tricks. Anyway it just got ran over by a van 😂 so I ordered an 8.5 magenta with a 14.375 wheelbase and 32.125 length and the same indy hollows since the van bent the hell out of my axles. I’m tempted to try thunders someday because I do ride relatively tighter trucks than some, but I’m terrified of throwing off everything I do lol. I won’t even start on shoes because that’s another essay 😅 Always hyped on your uploads Ben!

[@lildooma]

kind of interested on the shoes essay, haha

[@jonbonjovi_is_happy]

@@lildooma haha well basically I’ve always skated different shoes but last year I found my goldilocks shoe in the nikesb blazer mid. It’s vulcanized so it has great boardfeel, amazing flick for kickflips and heelflips, but it’s got enough protection to keep my feet from hurting if I land primo. The only downsides are the price, the narrow toebox which hurts my feet if I wear them for long periods, and the fact that they make my feet sweat in the summer. After my pair got destroyed from use I got a pair of vans slip ons, which I initially liked due to how grippy they are. However then they started to really hurt my feet because the toebox is so narrow and I could never break them in properly for kickflips, so I got a pair of nike grant taylor’s on sale and those have been great. I think I prefer the blazer mid though because they offer ankle support and I prefer how they look aesthetically.

[@fernandoreyes680]

7:17 that flatground sesh was so good man you rip!

[@Elegant_Foxx]

This is the cleanest Degros session in a minute, you really may have nailed the board + shoes combo. I just got my first pair of dunks in 15 years of skating, the gorge green Decon Dunk Highs, hoping they wear in like you said.

[@robertbaker3620]

He's skating really good lately

[@andrewhewitt3528]

Ben your videos are literally improving my skating! I recently dumped my Thunder 147 lights for Venture 5.2 lows. It never dawned on me that lighter isn’t necessarily better in skateboarding. I have a new found confidence and feel with the Ventures, its been amazing. Also riding a WKND 8/14/31.5 board with 52mm spitfires. I’m going to bump up to a WKND 8.12/14/32 soon. Loving these PS Stix WKND boards. Your board manufacturer video with Gifted Hater inspired me to seek those boards out as well. All the best, keep the videos coming!

[@bendegros]

You are going to like my upcoming video🙂

[@andrewhewitt3528]

@@bendegros lookin forward to it!

[@bluewhale201_2]

This is why Ben is such as great youtuber, he is humble knowing when he's made a mistake. What a great rolemodel for skaters, I love it!

[@SmallWheelsBigPants]

the time between his uploads feels like an eternity

[@arikuusela6716]

Paul seems to be a really nice guy! I bet he had a moment of joy when you reached out for him. There is no better compliment than asking a person "these are the best, where can I find more?"

[@cooolpotato]

Been going back to the AH 8.25 eagle shape for a while. And the Emerica Wino Slip cups are my latest obsession. Enjoying a Heroin egg for curb stuff!

[@100milesandrunnin]

I love watching this kind of video. I am currently loving the blue classic eagle anti hero 8.5 31.7 length and 14.25 wheel base, riser pads in between with 149 standard thunders and spitfire formula 4 classic shape 56mm wheels. Got them back grooves from slappy’s on the back truck too. I also do the front truck loosen more then the back. It’s the best and most enjoyable set up I’ve ever ridden in a long time. Cheers Ben!

[@JonnyDIY]

Holy Flip trick Batman! 🤣💕👍 I'll skate anything, used to be 7.75 and skinnier back in the day. Now its 8, 8.25 or 8.5 depending how much tranny skating

[@subieracer005]

Paul is such a rad guy! I will watch anything with him in it.. So much knowledge!

[@ghostpopper3320]

Could be Dr. Paul's been pressin' dem 7ply for a Lifetime!

[@scottmaple6775]

What Ben was saying about the shape of the arch of the foot. I remember that back in...probably the very late 80's...NHS brought out a convave that actually raised a bit across the truck bolts (so runing through the centre of the board from front truck bolts to rear). They had an advert asking "which hamburger do you prefer? Hamburger A or Hamburger B" Hamburger A showed the arch of the foot (so the 'concave' of your foot) being opposite to the concave of a typical deck. Hamburger B showed their new concave sitting more aligned with the arch of the foot. I had a Jeff Hedges around that time and I'm pretty sure it had this concave.

[@JHibbeln93]

Thanks for the upload ben. Recently I switched from thunder to indys after being on thunders for a long time. I needed new trucks anyway and I thought bigger wheels sound fun, but they just don’t work that well on thunders. I also had this idea that I didn’t want to get too comfortable with ONE brand because the reality is you can skate almost anything and eventually you will get used to it. At first it was weird and i was getting so much ghost pop, but after the first couple sessions it felt normal and I’m stoked on indys.

[@ronniecreager2585]

Love to see you ripping again ben. I found a nice goldilocks zone this summer. Shoe madness is a definite thing tho haha. Maybe worse than Board related madness. You should just ask around for some DC lynx OGs or something like that. We deserve to see that. I did vans the summer before last and loved them but I had some dcs lying around unopened for this summer, it took a session but once I got the feel back man it was fun. Like being a kid again. I’m going up a truck size this summer but the trucks I call home now are thunder hollow lights, not as swimmy as Indy’s and feel really snappy. Great grinds. Anyway happy new year man hope all is well. See you next time!

[@rebe4587]

Ben nothing but respect for u Sir.

[@HD-iq7np]

#1 Influencer of the year right here

[@eriktacina]

I have switched from thunder to Indy MiD and found out that trucks being closer made such a diferent feel so I stayed and got my third pair. I got 8.5 with 14.2 WB. It really make me think more about my setup. Thanks G keep going.

[@robertcasey3528]

Ben built the very first half pipe.

[@SabrinaMorris]

I'm just really glad to know there's someone out there with as much shoe/equipment madness as me.

[@Rustyfingaz]

One of the most informative yt channels for skateboarding products 💪🔥

[@maxochavez5854]

Man I’ve tried board after board and my wife hates me cause I always switch back to the old 7.75s I have. I short only 5’7 and a size 8 foot so the short length and wheelbase really feels better for me in every way. Just gotta get consistent with trick to land bolts everytime instead of toe dragging or tippy toeing! Much love Ben! #RADDAD

[@jon5one7]

You may think I'm crazy but try an 7.875. I went from that to a 8.12 bad I. The day man. I thought it was a nice spot between 7.75 and 8.

[@Rodrigotorresml]

Hi im 5'8, 10.5 shoe size and i ride 8.0 decks feels really good!

[@diddymelone2265]

lol I thought you were riding that slappy setup?! xD bro! you are crazier than I am! I currently have like 3 setups, for park and street that is, +1 rain setup and a cruiser setup. all complete with trucks and wheels and everything - I also have 3 new decks lying around, 2 sets of wheels and ... no my trucks are all in use, at least :P oh god. I love your passionate madness Ben, you tought me so much and make me feel less crazy myself :P

[@TomAtencio]

I've been riding 7.4 through 7.81 since the early 90s, and have landed on 7.56. I have a cardboard template that I trace onto boards with concave that I like and cut my template, router the edges and seal the new shape with lacquer. I pair that with Venture 5.0 Lows and 44mm through 46mm Boardycakes wheels. It's my Goldilocks setup and they feel perfect every time.

[@Talaskabomb]

I hear you with the "Goldilocks". Ben, I would love to see you review the new Andy Andreson 8.7 deck. I th8nk you might love it.....

[@Toniebones]

I will never get tired of him reassuring the loyalty I have in the brands I use.

[@MikkoHenrikki]

Amazing flatground skills!👏 During last two years I have tried quite many different setups. Partly thanks to your channel I have supported quite a lot local skate shops. 😅 Now very content with this setup: 8.25 Real renewal doves deck (wb14.375), 144 indy titanium, 53mm spitfire classics and swiss bearings. I tried Thunder trucks and ACE trucks as well. For me Indys work best with stock bushings. Have a nice week!🤙

[@MrDrRemi]

Always have had mellow level boards. I used to ride low trucks with an 8.38 but have switched to regular thunders and it just hasn’t felt the same but they don’t make a wide low truck.

[@finishedskate]

Over the years I have settled on probably the exact board set up you’re riding, 14.25 wheelbase is a must, however I lighten it up with Indy 149 titaniums. Because of your videos I actually switched from bones V3 to Spitfire formula for 52mmclassics. They just look like a skateboard wheel should.

[@DarmokAtTanagra]

Nice setup! Great warehouse session! And great counter-point to some of the gear madness in your other vids (tho I love them all)! Recently got some Emerica Temples and was about to dismiss them for not enough board-feel, and being too heavy, even though I do like them a lot, so have been skating other shoes...But then tried the Temples again and am reversing myself, they really do feel great to skate in, the soles are so grippy, and they just feel better on my board..And I decided there's just enough board-feel after all...Doh

[@RyanWinnInking]

46 and starting to really like mellower and mellower concave. I think for the same reasons you stated. But I’m also not doing many flip or pop tricks. Mostly curbs and carving. Thank for the great insight, as always,

[@skateparkreality]

I just moved to a small town in Southern Colorado and the local shop is very kind but has no shapes so my madness has subsided by necessity

[@rulehardgarage9740]

I just went on a year long pursuit of trying to match a shape that I got from a local company. They don't get the same shape any longer. Long story short it was a 8.5 w/14.25 WB and mellow kicks. I finally found the Powell 243 which is close to what I wanted but now I think I need to add risers to give a little more height to my venture highs. You made me go full NERD. Love it.

[@ToxicGreen357]

Professor Schmitt... PLEASE drop a Ben Degros deck!!! You gotta do it! You'll sell at least 94.3K of them lol

[@408lurks]

Your style seems quite natural on a full 8.5 with some heavy indys. Suppose if you skated a smaller board on some ventures that would make sense considering ventures are less jerky and facilitiate your technique. Lately ive been skating full boards but drilling shorter wheelbases to gain leverage over my trucks. Works super well with thunders because the canter on thunders is do extreme that they still displace weight towards the kicks of the board. Currently on an 8.75 by 31.8 football with 12.5 wheelbase and thunder 151s. Cheers

[@SKULLSKATE82]

What you think about 8.125 with 148 thunders and spitfire 54mm???

[@wlacosta]

another thing about deep grooves is that they enable you to hold grinds much longer

[@zhou_sei]

you're getting awesome! love seeing your progress. also, thanks for these technical details... helps me pick a deck, which is important (because i'm broke)

[@finishedskate]

Here’s a random question for you, and maybe a video idea. How do you store your stock pile of decks to where they don’t get warpage?

[@cidraking]

Same thinking here about the concave-old feet situation. Been skating 8" decks this past year and, with the standard dlx 8.06" being my reference, i've tryed some other brands/woodshops because of the wb being a little too much (i tryed a couple of the Real SE 8"s but couldn't get used to the short lenght of it) so long story short got myself a girl G008 (under 32" with 14.25"wb) and while the flatter concave felt much better on my feet i missed that precious "spoon feeling" / concave on the nose-tail that dlx decks have specially on crookeds-noselides to crooked grinds in particular (haven't tryed other bbs boards recently but i assume they do have it as well). To sum it up: once i'm done with my current II krooked i'll be on the haunt for a IV dlx board or move up to the 8.12 with 14.25wb (even though i promised myself it was enough board testing when a couple years ago I started to move down from 8.5's on the "quest for the lost flatground" ). Cheers from southern Spain and keep it coming! salud!

[@bendegros]

I'm back on a 8" board too for the exact same reason :)

[@Sk8Comeback]

Dude that nollie pop to 5.0 stall thing on the mini ramp was 👌 great watch again sir 👊

[@ancientwestonian]

Hey Ben, enjoyed the deck analysis here! I wanted to recommend a shoe for you. I skated blazers almost exclusively for about 12 years. I went to my local shop to get some new ones and didn't like the materials in the ISO blazers or any of the other color ways. I noticed Lakai had a good looking and grippy shoe called the Trudger. Its Simon Bannerot's pro model. aesthetically it looks like hybrid of half cabs and dunks. they skate with the support and flexibility of blazers. They are so comfy i have a work pair and a skate pair and planning on getting another skate pair when this one is done. I thought you might like to try some out as another "small adjustment" while you go through a little shoe madness and try to avoid the absurdity of acquiring dunks.

[@gabriellaforce2041]

Wow! Paul Schmitt doing the boards you want! You reach something here!!! My current setup it’s the same for a long time. In fact it’s the real unskatable winter here in Montréal and I am tired of the interior park. I got more fun skating a 7.5 / 44mm wheel in my garage!😂

[@jonserrano13]

My madness has gotten way better over the past year. Always Ace AF1 55’s, Quasi 8.375 with a 14.25 wheelbase, or also enjoying the Woodchuck Laminate 8.375 blanks, 56mm spitfire conicals worn down to about a 54, feels great!

[@kenrocker7427]

Thanks for sharing this video. I recently went through a shoe crisis myself after skating sb dunks for years - for the price and availability, I decided to go back to accels! It’s funny how skaters of a certain age - we all come to similar conclusions about things- board and trucks around 8.25 and wheels around 52mm…

[@MrDrop11]

Ben constantly changing parts lol. I sorta get it, but knowing baord and truck geometry, you can alter the geo with some washers , bushings and wheel size. For instance, my indy kostons only measure 48mm tall now. Just by making a few adjuatments to bushings and washers. Then i added a little bit of height back by going from 51 to 54 mm wheels. This makes the already rsther small wheel base indys wheel base even smaller. I dont like my board to stand up too high when the tail is down. I dont like it too low either and my adjustments habe made ir just right . I may rsise my truck height back to 50 or 52mm to add just a little bit more pop and give me a hair more wheel clearance.

[@benjaminlathrop4245]

With the dunks, I find wearing them around for a couple of weeks (out and about, anything but skating) really helps them break in

[@bendegros]

That’s what I’ve done on my second pair. They are nice and cozy now. Just started skating them.

[@mwboost]

Nice 👌🏼 I prefer the mellower concave these days. Also have the front truck a little looser. Not into the twin nose or tail either. I like my tail and nose lol.

[@megalowdonny3152]

I just got some 149 forged standard Indy’s for my 9.75 Heroin symmetrical razor edge egg, and it feels pretty good. Is it ridiculous and completely counterintuitive to ever learning flip tricks? Yes, but it does stay GLUED to my feet on transition.

[@d420zed]

you taught me switch pop shove revert at centennial square in Victoria BC , with skateboarding Jordan ( skid row bro ) lol .

[@MattDiGi]

My madness gets worse every time i watch one of your vids, I can’t stop switching preferences 😂

[@Sk8Comeback]

I’m skating the Vans Kyle Walker pro 1 atm (never worn vans before) they’re really good! Love to know what you make of em! They’re the half volc half cup sole

[@chasebonin7043]

That shape looks like a WKND shape. I know they were pressed by PS for a while. I had an 8.6 and LOVED it.

[@tagztry696]

Zero 8.38, Indy hollow forged 149s, Spitfire 54 conical fulls, Bronsons, MOB, and a pair of Vans. Never changed the sizes and brands I use for the last 2 years. I guess when you get to your mid 30s and up, changes isn’t something exciting anymore but a headache.😅

[@iconic_filmdirectors]

damn what a pleasure to see how you stomp all you tricks!

[@dutchmcfadyen5867]

I actually have one of those chunky boards 😅 it is nice 👍 Mine is from the deluxe brand "There" which I got mine awhile ago so I have no clue if they're still like that.

[@josegurrola9021]

Need to hop back on the board. Kinda stopped skating for a year now. Things were just getting back to normal (if that's what u call it) life after pandemic and went back to school and kinda just have a barely ridden board in my closet. Sun is just starting to come back for an hour or so here in the PNW. Just daily rain so will have to find a good time to go

[@chrisramsey1724]

I'm currently riding a chocolate couch shape,it's a 9.25 with the shortest wheel base iv ever skated 13.875 I think and it's 32 length on a set of indy 169s with 52mm spitfire wheels and I absolutely love it!! I already got another deck same shape for when this one is done!!!

[@noluck8250]

8.6 is such a gorgeous size, I preach it daily

[@ryanrowlett476]

Just started skating the Nike BRSB- surprisingly comfortable and decent board feel out of the box for a cup!

[@TheLuckyone760]

I’m 46 that can skate. I’ve been riding Baker mellow concave 8.5’s for a long time. I do have to re-drill rear truck bolt holes to bring the WB to 14 inches (I’m 5’7 1/2). I did try the BAKER 8.475 with 14.25 WB but felt too tapered for me towards the tail. Felt like I didn’t have enough width for back tail stuff (size 10 feet) Other deck shapes/conclaves that I like are Chocolate/Girl GO39 & G096. Haven’t tried Anti Hero’s 8.5 with 14 WB yet but that will be next. Good skating as always thanks for your clips 👍🏼

[@666shredordie]

I really like the PS Stix 8.75 standard shape. I've been riding Standard 159s with 53mm Bones V4 wides which I really like but only had a few sessions on before rolling the crap out of my ankle last Sunday. I bought a pair of Slappy standards though in a 9 wide. I was riding Ace 55s Classics before the Indys so I'm in a bit of truck madness right now but I'm thinking the Slappys will be perfect for my Goldilocks setup but if not I'll stick with Indys because I've bent 55 Classic hangers before so they're only good for transition riding for me. But the wheels and board are solid 8.75 PS Stix standard and Bones 53mm V4 Wide

[@t3nuts]

do u ride the blank ps stix? i’ve been been having trouble on where to get them

[@666shredordie]

@@t3nuts no I've been riding GX1000 and Street Plant.

[@trashcanchrxs]

I’m only 5’8 and 140 lbs but I’ve been riding a 9 or a 9.5 for like a year now, idk why I just love the way it feels underneath me. Currently it’s a 9.81 mark Gonzales krooked on 66 Ace Trucks, standard formula four Indy’s with some Bronson ! It’s been my favorite set up so far

[@Rustyfingaz]

11:19 no lie I remember being on the train and the homie was swapping trucks out like a pit crew

[@sungameloc]

Literally was swapping my trucks as you said that...

[@Puxto1]

Groove is in the heart

[@seniorblyat]

i think i finally found my goldie lock setup.. My deck is a girl twin shape sean malto 8.25 with a 14 inch wheel base.. i got independent 144 forge hollow for my truck and some good old spitfire formula4 with bronson bearings.. So far that setup been doing me really good.. but i may still need to try to find the perfect twin tail board.. bc the 14 inch wheel base seems good for 360 flips that i kinda struggle to learn.. but in manuals and other flip tricks it may hindre me abit.. but only time will tell since i only have had 2 sessions on that deck.. Also i cant ride any other truck than idependent now.. ive tried other trucks but its a nope from me haha Anyways good to see you still alive and post sometimes! you inspire me so much to go skate!

[@ejlopez6637]

I bounce around a lot with setups. I just get too hyped on new stuff and want to try it out. Just got off some tensors (my occasional guilty pleasure) and set up a Christmas complete. A Real 8.25 with a 14.375 wheelbase and mob grip. Spitfire formula four lock ins 99a. And some ace hollow af1 44s. The whole setup feels so good. I didn’t think I’d like the slightly longer wheelbase, but if feels great. Also, the turn of aces feels so good. Also rocking their hollow hardware. It’s kind of silly to think that it would be any lighter haha, but I really like the threading it has. It keeps the grip from doing the little volcano thing where it peels up. That’s a pet peeve of mine.

[@pauladams1456]

What do you think about the new DLX True Fit mold decks?

[@abelbugel3621]

Nice Fun video ik definitly gonna use it thnx ❤❤

[@freehammerskateboarding488]

I had board madness real bad. For the last year I've been changing what I skate a lot. I seem to have cured the madness. Started last year on a 7.75 with Venture trucks, ended on an 8.25 with Ace trucks.

[@MuzluPattes16]

I was wondering if you made a review on the standart Tensor alloy trucks. They are half the price of Indies and if their claims about the new geometry and better turning is true, I could save up 8 week's student loan. I tried the old ones and they were always tight, and if you tried to untighten them, the truck no longer compresses the bushings. So there's no middle ground. They are either tight or unuseable.

[@MuzluPattes16]

I have to save up as much as I can so I don't have to skate the same deck for over 2 years to the point where the deck becomes a loaf of bread with samurai sword edges that give me the nastiest cuts in my shins.

[@kryptichands968]

Nice setup Ben, looks like my kind of deck

[@ramrunsfast]

I would say I'm in a weird place with set-ups. I went through a bit of a set-up madness during the pandemic and played around with everything from a 8.0 deck all the way to a 9.5 as well as switching around with wheel size, durometers, contact patches,, trucks, and even grip tape. A couple things that I came to a conclusion for myself. I prefer having a much wider board for riding bowls and have found that a 9.0" with a 15" wheelbase seems to be the sweet spot with some Ace trucks and some 56mm conical full wheels. For my street set-up I'm still trying to tweak it as the timing with a wider wheelbase feels totally off with simple tricks like ollies. I've had a Santa Cruz and Anti Hero board with 14.375" wheelbase and I feel like they're just a tad bit long with my mini-logo trucks. One board that has felt good but I feel the nose just a bit too short and steep has been Hockey. I really enjoy the 8.5" width and 14.25" wheelbase, 56mm wheels, with a lo-truck that extends the wheelbase a bit. I'm not too sure where I should go from here with the street set-up. As a kid the one set-up where I learned a lot of my tricks was a Zero children of the corn board from the early 2000's but I genuinely can't remember if it was a 8 or 8.25"" board and if the wheelbase would have been 14"" or 14.25". At the time I rode the Tensor-lo trucks with the plastic slide plate and some 54mm Ricta Core wheels that had a wide contact patch. Anyways, maybe once this Canadian winter goes away I'll look at tweaking my street set-up some more. Any tips from you or the community are always greatly appreciated.

[@Michaelanthony209]

That 8.38 shape with the 14.25 wheelbase was one of my favorite shapes I ever rode. I’m a 14 wheelbase guy and I was totally fine skating those boards on ventures and thunders. I also had 3 in a row

[@cbrvench2483]

8.38 14.25wb for street. 9inch 15"wb for vert. 30+yo 250lbs+ 6'2". Works for me, except for when I forget im on the smaller board and end up falling back due to smaller everything. I too get double/tripples of boards I enjoy, just in case something happens!

[@TheAK0390]

never seen a diving board like that but it sounds so fucking cool where has this been my whole life

[@taneltolsting2900]

Yeah, really clean session! Maybe skating indoors fits you better, easier to warm up and keep the warm in the joints. I love low concave too, but it needs to have steep kicks and rather nearly symmetrical to symmetrical.

[@teardeem]

I'm honestly thinking of getting some accel ogs

[@SharksBreath]

I’ve been riding the mellow OG shape baker boards pretty much back to back for over a year now apart one deviation to a Real full SE and then switched straight back to Baker. I don’t always love the way the look on the nose and tail (kinda pointy) but I’m used to it and they just work so well for me. I keep flirting with the idea of trying a different board but it’s hard when somethings working and you could end up just sucking for a while when adapting to that change. I do think no matter what brand I go for moving forward however it has to be mellow for me. I think Deathwish have slightly rounder nose/tails perhaps? So might be a good option to try something different with them being the same distribution as Baker 🤷🏻‍♂️ would you consider getting on a mellow Baker board? What are your top recommendations for brands with mellow boards? Thoughts on Foundation boards?? Current setup: Baker 8.25 (Casper Brooker Pro board), Indy 144 forged titanium, spitfire F4 classics 53mm, Bones reds, MOB.

[@memorysometimers3067]

One thing I learned from Ben is knowing where the boards were made and how. Are they single pressed or 5 pressed at once? Are they made in China with imported wood that is overly dry and fragile? I’ve road one Baker and one DeathWish and never ever will again. Super dull and tails went razor faster than other boards.

[@TheMlvswoll]

I skated two of those Bakers and really enjoyed those decks. Unfortunately, I broke both of them. I’m 235 athletic build so if I come down hard and I’m not over the bolts I have issues breaking decks just behind the rear truck bolts if I land tail heavy. I started skating Real and find their decks especially R1’s are very durable and I’ve stuck with them and other Deluxe decks ever since.

[@gtopnotch6012]

Definitely prefer mellower concave now because ive also been wearing bearfoot shoes that helped me with training my arch and strengthening stability. I wear Xero Kelsos which are awesome to skate

[@christianamato7082]

My crazy madness is a board that doesn't roll straight. I think the holes on the board were not drilled center and aligned right, I've tried new bushing and everything else.

[@matthewbarrett9743]

Another sick video. I went up from 8.125 to a Toy Machine 8.375 and it really worked and my local shop had a sale on Toy Machine so I bought 4 decks at 8.375 to put in the bank

[@bilbobagginsofbagend]

i watched gigers setup video, then this. it's fascinating to me that johnny gives 0 shits about all these details that ben can so wonderfully obsess about - and both are absolutely right.

[@chrisXjosi]

Etnies Singleton XLT Michelin are good vulc shoes!

[@bannapeels]

sup ben your videos are so interesting to watch

[@flackovisual]

Im really into aces with short wheelbase boards (exspecially gx1000 boards lately). Can you make a review of the ace lows and/or aces hollow?

[@RikRiorik]

My overall madness had definitely diminished. Still some tweaks to figure out but I’ve narrowed things down substantially. As soon as more dry weather starts getting more common I should start to figure it out even more as I leave my wet weather setup behind and can experiment with some of the gear I’ve already got.

[@robertbaker3620]

I genuinely get excited when I see you've posted a new video.

[@chrisXjosi]

I think that indy changed currently the formula for the bushings.

[@ianturnbow7011]

One of the preferences I’ve found over the last 14.5 years is the relation of the thickness of a sole to the concave of the board. Slimmer vulc soles feel great with a more mellow concave. Puffier cupsoles work well with a medium or somewhat steeper concave. Skating thin shoes on a steep board is hell. Skating bulky shoes on a mellow deck feels off.

[@bendegros]

I agree.

[@landifornia2147]

I ride currently a 9’ board crafted by a local shaper. It has a 14’25 wheelbase wich I like a lot. 6’7 symetrical nose and tail. With 55 classics Ace, they turn the best. 56 conical full spitfires. An 8’5 sovrn is waiting for me. I look forward to skate an 8’5 again but with 9 inches trucks…

[@alejandropreciado1814]

Ben degros is a certified skate maniac. He probably thinks about his setup while brushing his teeth.

[@thisismusic5105]

Front crooks pop over was buttery

[@rmhfpv9225]

I thought Ben was all into Thunders?

[@MazerTime]

I love how technical you get on the details

[@T.Law92]

Has this guy ever been referred to as the Bob Ross of skateboarding? What a calm, humble, knowledgeable demeanor.