Should You Choose the Carver C7, CX, or C5? (For Surfers & Non-Surfers)

[@wingnut381]

I’m a surfer. No amazing talent but I love it. I have both CX and C7 and I rate them both. Can’t stress enough how experimenting with bushings makes the world of difference. Find what works for you and the board comes alive.

[@JayDeeTee]

Yes and still no European site to get the Riptides at leatst I found the Surfskate Love wheels imported and they are great!

[@wingnut381]

@@JayDeeTee Riptide bushings available in Europe from a number of places. Sickboards in the Netherlands stock them. Newton’s Shred in the Uk and I’m sure there are others if you hunt about. Hope that helps.

[@goa6329]

@@wingnut381 Didn't know about the different bushes. I will check this for my cx setup on my carver Triton... Thanks!!!

[@connorm3457]

I have 5 total C-7 trucked boards, that myself along with my grandkids, use on a daily basis. They are by far the best for me, to keep my surfing muscle memory, as I am presently unable to readily access waves. Every driveway is a lip, or bowl to carve. I tried my friend’s C-X and it wasn’t loose enough for my to generate as much speed, as I get with my boards. 💪💪🤙🤙🤙

[@MrConfo]

Congrats Steve and all the surfers for your contributions. I longboard surf (9’) since 20 years and supsurf (9’6) for 4 years, just to say that i love small waves and retro style longboard, and I’m closer to shortboard surfing style on a 5’6 directional kitesurfing board. Anything that carves and relaxes interests me. I own a CX for 6 months now and feel the versatility between pumptracks, bowls and flats just amazing. I’ve never felt a lack of turning radius, but a lack of my skill to turn even shorter if needed (usually not needed). I’ve just tested punctually 3 or 4 times C7 on flats and pumptracks, on a Carver 31 with 17 WB, where my CX is mounted on a 19 WB Soulboardiy. I recognize myself in Owen testimonial, in that sense that I felt the C7 movement more mechanical and maybe a lack of lean, less natural than the CX. Maybe it’s just a question of time to adopt better the C7, but what I’ve also experimented by trying others surfskate trucks (Meraki, Slide), is that for my riding style, i don’t look for the looser feeling systems, but a system that resists a bit, for 2 reasons : it feels closer than the resistance of surf rails on water and it brings versatility by adding some stability on all terrains. Lightweight and ability to upgrade bushings is also great with CX. I think we’re very lucky in today surfskating world, we only have one “problem” : the choice ! When I look some years behind me concerned by funboard and kitesurf, i can say that the tentation to buy too radical boards had a too big influenced on my young years and made me buy boards or sails that were too radical for my skill and wave spot. The answer is very personal : finding your own balance between specialization and versatility. I would not say C7 is too radical, just less natural for me.

[@Didgeman80]

I've ridden curf, ss, meraki, wb, grasp and the cx and c7. My number 1 go-to for bowl, cruising, flat land flow fun, short board and longboard is the cx. I have yet to try a c5....just haven't had the chance. All of these trucks are great but if i had to pick just one, it's the CX. The CX was the third truck that i tried and didn't really fall in love with it until i tried it on a longboard and eventually , bowl. ❤

[@Quickrex]

C5 is just more stable and can ride fakie no problems, it's a Hybrid truck. But if you want to take surfskate bowl riding to the next level C5 strong point much faster but requires a little more energy expenditure, but the thing is that it skates the big, steepest bowl you can find and drop in with confidence just like the Curf, but Curf really sucks when you hit a transition. Front and rear both have some undesired attributes, but you already know. Oj's Team Riders 61mm 95a and Nomads Elite 57mm 95a is really good, hard enough. But still keeps the surfskate feel. Especially the Nomads, love them. Orangatang bushings, knuckles what a treat.

[@goa6329]

Great video! Thank you!!! Personally I started to ride on a Carver Triton with CX. Love it. Went to buy a Yow 33 with Meriaki system. Love it as well!😅 I just switch in between both, depending on my mood and the type of rides. The 2 of them are always coming along. I will soon purchase a Carver Super Snapper 28, for travelling purposes as it is a small board that can fit in my travelling bag. And I will opt for the C7 trucks. I am comfortable on streets as well as on the pumptracks with a very loose setup. Let's keep ridding!!!🤙

[@rumdad1998]

Steve, this video is excellent! You did a fantastic job getting right to the heart of all the most important considerations between the three Carver truck system options and the surfer testimonials are fantastic providing a wide range of surfer perspectives across many types of surfing styles. I was literally just talking to a good surfer friend about this exact subject and was thrilled to send him this video to help with his decision between CX and C7. Chances are he will probably start building a quiver like me once he gets the bug, but I really appreciate your help in steering him into his best informed first purchase. Thank you!

[@spadelump]

So happy to see someone from here (Ireland) and hear my gfs accent too. Yay Donegal. 😊. I'm a non surfer but love the looser surf skates like yow and spice skate type x (and I commute on them too), I'm thinking of getting a carver too but worried I'll find the CX too stiff for my liking. (Used to have a c7 and liked it but upgraded to a yow)

[@SurfskateLove]

Switch out the bushings to 85a durometer and you'll be shocked by how loose and fluid it is.

[@AWSMEAD]

I have found surf skating has really helped me with drop Knee (DK) bodyboarding. I do surf as well (9ft long board and mini mal) but I prefer DK bodyboard on anything over waist height waves. I have Carver CX, a Slide, oxelo (decathlon) and a water borne setup on a 46 inch dancing board. I love them all for different reasons. No experience with the C7 but the CX is great quality.

[@divisionbreak]

Been 3 years with the C7. Will get the CX with upgrade Riptide bushings next.

[@coreymillia]

Just get one of each. I probably could have done without the C5, but acquired one on an eBay auction. I'm definitely getting some softer bushings from your website eventually for the CX. One board I got recently that I haven't seen you review is the Long Island. It has quickly become my favorite board. Thanks for the excellent videos and online class. So far the "how not to die going down steep hills" and how to stop the embarrassing squeek have been most useful.

[@SurfskateLove]

Just got mine in the mail! Review forthcoming.

[@IotaAesthetics]

This was so helpful. Thank you. I was trying to work out which one would suit me (not a surfer or a skater) and what would suit my husband (surfer) Thank you so much.

[@Sillysillylittleman]

Still run my C7 on my Da Monsta and she runs so good after all these years definitely the best skateboard and investment i made.

[@slamvibes]

This was amazingly helpful! Awesome breakdown and video.

[@troppotardi]

I have the C5 on a Santa Cruz Screaming Hand deck. It's a transition board and is perfect (at the moment) for me in skate parks and bowls. I surf and skate as a reference. previously owned a CX and a C7 and just have a Hydroponic (way too soft) and the Santa Cruz now. Shout out to Surfskate love. Your videos are really informative.

[@andalingtanjung8835]

can the c7 be changed to cx by tightening it? if i tighten it is it safe for c7? or is it easy to loosen later?

[@troppotardi]

@@andalingtanjung8835 mine always seemed to come loose by itself.

[@navi88888]

a video made with heart, good stuff, thank you

[@tonyn5055]

I had no idea surf skating was even a thing. I've been surf skating since I was a kid. That's kinda why I started skating in the first place. I wanted to pretend like I was surfing. That was the 1970's. But that style of skating never left me. 10-15 years ago when I started skating again I was virtually the only person at the then New Venice Skatepark that still skated like that. I was doing this on my regular set-ups though. I just keep my board's narrow. 8.125 width is my preference, Indy 139's for better carves(I finally realized the smaller trucks have better carving abilities). I also change out the bushings to bone's mediums. When people see me ride they falsely believe it must be super loose trucks that allows me to flow. But I keep my trucks tight enough to prevent any speed wobbling. It's just from years of skating that way. Recently I decided to buy a small Carver with the smaller C5 truck's. The board is only 7.75 wide but flows beautifully. It only took about a day to adjust to it. I absolutely love it. It's fast at the park. But super quiet and graceful feeling. I highly recommend the C5's. They aren't as squirrely as the C7's, and gives me total control. But the C7's are a close second. They would be great if you wanted to S-turn to infinity on flat or slightly banked terrain, but are a little on the clunky side for my taste. And are harder to control at the skatepark. The CX's seem to perform best at the skatepark. I love my board with the small C5's so much it's my regular board now. I just bought another. It's the Surfrider model. I wish they would do an 8" with that same shape. It's perfect.

[@okiforbreakfast]

Love the part where people sent you their opinions :)

[@nateross14]

The CX felt ok fo me when I first started riding. Now that I'm an experienced rider, I don't like riding the CX. It doesn't pump near as well as a Meraki or C7 due to lack of front swing and far less enjoyable when carving and pumping are the main focus. I can see trick and bowl riders preferring the CX, but personally not a fan.

[@igq91]

Thank you sir!!!🙏🏼

[@Acolyte_of_Cthulhu]

store recommended me the c7 for casually cruising.

[@freesicily]

I bought a santa cruz 30 inch board with cx trucks

[@MJRamirezVideo]

Great info thanks

[@ioanbeynon2624]

Cx for me it does everything i want.

[@ioanbeynon2624]

So which is the best for cruising and get the most speed with least effort Cx or the c7

[@pedverse]

cx or c7 for cruising? thinking about getting loaded bolsa, mainly for commuting from point a to b. or should i just go for cruiser?

[@StokedNC-surfer]

Go CX. Longer wheelbases are better for cruising. The Riptide bushings are really good and make a huge difference.

[@SurfskateLove]

Definitely CX for me. Loaded Bolsa wouldn't be the best choice for commuting because of the narrow wheelbase.

[@pedverse]

@@SurfskateLove got longboard and streetskate too! just want something bit more nimble or fun from home to bus stop or mby to store :D . went for loaded since i love their longboards. local store didnt have CX bolsa in warehouse, so did order the c7 one. but mby i cancel that one, and w8 till can get cx. OR just will buy cx trucks later

[@tuckerwyatt9940]

CHOOSE THEM ALL!!!!

[@starcinema2846]

Tried the C7 today and didn’t like it. I stick with the CX🤷‍♂️

[@andalingtanjung8835]

can the c7 be changed to cx by tightening it? if i tighten it is it safe for c7? or is it easy to loosen later?

[@JayDeeTee]

started and loved cx a lot now I have a 2nd board with Smoothstar Thruster D and CX does not feel right anymore. Still cx is cool on fast rides through city though. Just met some hardcore surfers that said the opposite. They have quite tight Cx since they said surfboards do not lean really😅. In the end it is the personal feeling

[@StokedNC-surfer]

When you put a surfboard on rail it leans. I agree though that the CX is closer because you have to engage your body as you do when surfing.

[@jg2wheels]

I can't decide if I want to spend the money and get a C7 board. I've been riding a CX for about 8 months now, but really want to see how the C7 feels. Non surfer, but been on a 10' longboard recently and would love to learn to surf more.

[@partywithlance]

Try the softer riptide bushings that Steve recommends. You can really get quite loose with them, pretty darn close to the C7 or Meraki. Then if you love it, spend the money on C7, Meraki, Smoothstar, etc. Rock on dude!!!

[@fotobread]

​​@@partywithlance i agree. 70kg. I now use 75A front cones and 90A barrels rear. I havent yet rode spring type truck now except swelltech.

[@SurfskateLove]

I would say it depends on how much of an enthusiast you want to be. If you're going to spend a lot of time surfskating and you like variety, and you have the budget, go for it! But if you're not going to use it, don't waste the money.

[@Bitteroyster]

10/10 video

[@samuraigracie9587]

CX for sureeeeeee

[@BenjaminCate]

Please! Where is the skate ditch located in 6:26 of the video? I know it's probably somewhere in San Diego which is near to where I live. Thank you

[@peltotalo]

Great content. Consider using a lapel mike. It would improve your audio immensely. Keep up the good work.

[@SurfskateLove]

I use a $329 unidirectional sennheiser, as well as audio panels in my studio. I’ve used a couple lav mics in the past and I didn’t like the audio quality at all. Do you have a recommendation?

[@SurfskateLove]

Oh, you know what I just realized? I filmed this a few weeks ago before I put up the audio panels in my studio. They make a huge difference. You should notice in some of my other new ones.

[@peltotalo]

@SurfskateLove I look forward to that then. I'm by no means an audio guru but notice such things.

[@SurfskateLove]

@@peltotalo Yeah me too. Bugs me. I've just had to build my studio one step at a time as I've had a budget.

[@peltotalo]

@@SurfskateLove well you've spent lots of dough on surfskates which is not a bad thing.

[@marco77ar]

Ahhhh. Straight up, never surfed in my life. Though, not a kid, born in 77, so getting to 50. .....so, its skating without pushing?....if i may, i don't want to, you know, yeah. I have skated my whole life. The price never came up, how long does the deck last? I usually use Powell 8.0", 8,25", 242,243. I can get them to last maybe 3 months, and thats, maybe two months... How often do you have to replace the deck? 7 ply maple, but i do have 2 powell flights that have lasted like a year each, I don't really take those setups out too much, kinda overdone, they're cool and all. Any ways, that truck setup was pretty dope, and without realizing, I guess I kinda do something similar. My set up in the backseat of the car, 8.0" powell, bones s&s 7 ply maple, its lime green, but they were on sale for 29, so I got four. Tensor geo magnesium 5.25", Chinese ceramics, and 56mm 90a mini logos. Here's the deal, i really think you can simulate that, king pin nut off, pull the hanger off, take off the bushings, AND the washers. save the bushings just in case, the 4 washers top bottom, you can throw them in the trash. Bones soft, good. Indy softs, are a bit shorter, and softer. Put the truck back together,( sanes washers), and then that kingpin nut, hand tighten, and then like another half turn just so the nylon cathes. If its done right, those trucks should be wobbling, like scary loose, to the people that don't know..... crazy carving time.....

[@KINOSHINOBI]

CX addict here 👈

[@gritzfishing7342]

I’m an advanced surfer who likes to do turns like cutbacks and snaps. I feel like the cx is best for those aggressive turns. Do you agree?

[@andalingtanjung8835]

can the c7 be changed to cx by tightening it? if i tighten it is it safe for c7? or is it easy to loosen later?

[@coreymillia]

It's just one bolt, you can use a standard skate tool. Very easy to tighten and loosen up. I would say it gives you a CX feel, it's the way I rode when I first got one. Now I ride it as loose as possible.

[@SurfskateLove]

I'm not sure what you mean, but you can't change the C7 to a CX. Here's how to adjust the C7: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIunmnR_j858hLs

[@dck272]

​@@SurfskateLoveI think they just mean can you get the c7 to replicate the feel of a cx by (for example) adjusting the bolt

[@kostyafedot551]

I started with CX. Not a skateboarder, neither surfer. I allowed me to stay active all winter and learn how to pump at underground pumping. I wonder is C5 is better option if I want bushings with rebound, to have it more like LDP pumping? CX bushings have to be set to be completely loose, no rebound.

[@Quickrex]

To spice things up changing bushings like some from surfskate love or some that will fit is for sure is Orangatang from Loaded use them on my CX and C5. C5 is more like a hybrid skate truck that can reverse and do tricks. But it strong point is that it works really well in Bowl or pool. If you just want to cruise stay on the CX. C5 are more for hybrid skating. I'm strictly a skatepark transition and bowl rider. Home car skate car surf car home.

[@JEAdventures]

I’m struggling to decide what to get. I’m coming from longboard skateboarding and just want to cruise and pump around the streets like @surfskatelove does. Looking at getting the Carver Greenroom but should I get a CX or C7 version? I don’t have the option to try any of them first.

[@SurfskateLove]

I would say CX for you. surfskate.love/surfskate-selector/

[@PenguinoZsif888]

Which would be better for power slides ?

[@SurfskateLove]

CX

[@bushmonkey877]

Hi Steve, I'm interested in the carver C5 truck system but in all honesty I would only use them in bowl riding or pump track riding as I don't do any skate tricks or come from a trad skateboard background. I already have the CX system and use them for this, so would the C5 be a pointless as the CX does it all anyway? Look forward to hearing your opinion. Thank you in advance and thanks for the videos. Atb Daz.

[@SurfskateLove]

Yes, I would say the C5 would be pointless for you. You won't like it coming from a CX.

[@42k-b8b]

I've discovered some kind of board that has the capability of flying in the bowl like a cx, but still has a kind of flowy feeling like a yow. its called Grasp and it isn't a spring system and instead using a bushing system. now, I haven't gotten my hands on the trucks they sell, as they boards are crazy expensive and I'm still not sure where you can even get them straight from grasp, but maybe you could make a review on it? I'd like to see your opinion on it if you can get your hands on it. (People recommend to put the trucks on your favorite board)

[@SurfskateLove]

Yes, I'm currently working on a Grasp review.

[@42k-b8b]

@@SurfskateLove Yeah i watched another video where you mentioned Grasp, and I rushed back to comment. only to realize you replied quicker than I thought

[@42k-b8b]

@@SurfskateLove I'm looking forward to it!

[@Unlawful88888]

I was looking to see if you did a review on the grasp PADO .23 trucks. Can't find anything. Have you tried them?

[@SurfskateLove]

Yes, I'm working on a review of them now.

[@StokedNC-surfer]

The Grasp trucks are an improvement over the CX. They work as a system. You get more flow out of them. I experimented with the Riptide bushings and that is the key. Highly recommend because you get the flow of the C7 in something slightly heavier than the CX. Very stable as well.

[@CruzthakidQuest]

Any one see the new carver bing puck and carver continental, I’m a long boarder, new to surfing and beginner snow boarder. Can someone help me with my thinking…. I want the carver bing puck (27.5) x truck for bowls and skate parks? And the carver bing continental (37) x truck or c7 truck for long flowey carves? Which y’all recommended??? Longer board with cx? Or c7? Short snappy puck board with cx right??? Please helppppp

[@SurfskateLove]

Yes, you have it right. That's exactly what I would recommend. CX on the short board, C7 on the lonboard. Have fun!

[@Quickrex]

Why is nobody discussing this annoying dead band feel especially when pumping and generating speed in a bowl. I’m a surfer and I personally think the C5 is much faster and more true to riding a surfboard in a bowl than you get from say the CX, the CX v/s the C5 is my opinion just height and ability to lean more on the CX. Adding a riser to the C5 and almost the same. On a surfboard you lean into to the rails and of course you can’t on a skateboard. My problem with the Yow, smoothstar that tries to mimic or give the feeling of rail surfing, is that they are to slow in bowl and I find it difficult to be aggressive and hit a transition and jump and land safely again with out the front truck boggling and kissing the concrete. Just to much wiggle and not enough bit and hold.

[@alva1325]

我有所有的carver 三种滑板 和yow. sm77. 最大的区别是速度， 如果想要空中技巧，那么我的水平 cx 更合适，， c5. 缺少稳定性

[@arnaldinhoalves]

Hi... Congratulations for your channel. Big fan here. One question... Wich surfskate do you think it's better for training for snowboard? Thanks

[@thestonedandstripped]

MLK skatepark💙

[@janotremba6375]

Just started surfskating and Its so Hard to pump 😞

[@SurfskateLove]

Keep practicing and you'll get there!

[@lizbird]

Its all in your front foot! Use a “squat” momentum!

[@janotremba6375]

@@lizbird ill try 😉

[@curtis6310]

If youre a surfer, leave carver behind and buy a swelltech.

[@SurfskateLove]

So says you. Every surfer has their own preference, and many surfers have told me that the SwellTech does not replicate how they feel in the water. Not arguing, just making the point that it's all personal preference.

[@kanablis1946]

This is literally the worse advice I've ever read. As a surfer the most surf like training you can get is the CX or C5 in a bowl where pumping is actually pumping and not a wiggle. Wiggling does NOT translate to surfing!

[@ChusPostu]

C5 para entrenar snowboard es perfecto, también se puede usar como un skate normal en bowl y park, 🌊🤙🏻🛹🇪🇦