Review: Spitboards 34mm Pro Fingerboard
Spitboard 34mm Pro Fingerboard - Charly Design
A fan favorite among beginner pro fingerboarders, are Spitboards worth the investment?
We bought the Spitboards 34mm fingerboard in the “Charly” design to see what the hype is about on this beginners pro fingerboard setup.
At Katterhaus, we believe a comprehensive review of fingerboards available is necessary to have more people get into the hobby with little gatekeeping and judgment. We are writing about fingerboards in the hopes of inspiring others to buy quality boards to first kick off their fingerboarding career.
Overview
In Internet Fingerboarding spaces, the Spitboards pro fingerboard is highly regarded as a great beginner fingerboard at a great price. However, I have also have seen that the board has some haters that say that Spitboards doesn’t cut it. We had to get one in the shop to see how this beginner pro fingerboard has won the hearts of so many finger skaters, while ruffling the feathers of others.
Spitboards was founded in the United Kingdom by a dubbed young hustler named Slimeball who sold fingerboards street by street and from day into night became an international seller of Fingerboards. While there is not much to review on Spitboards history, what we do know is that Spitboards is definitely successful in speaking to the heart of beginner fingerboarders. Many major fingerboard companies do not seem to be investing in evolving deck shape, however Spitboards is different with their unique board design that really has set them apart from the other boards I have tried so far.
The Spitboard 34mm Pro Complete Fingerboard I’m reviewing here was purchased off of Amazon for about $35 at the time. While not the most cost effective board for beginners (I would like to direct you to a Skull Fingerboard if you’re looking for something under $20), the Spitboard is truly an innovative piece of mini skateboarding which any fingerboarder would be thrilled to have in their collection.
Parts Analysis
Single Bearing Polyurethane Wheels: 60D Street style off-white wheels that make a good amount of contact on the ground without sacrificing too much momentum on the board. Bearings have been extremely reliable on this board (despite their noise).
Spitboards Brand 34mm Fingerboard Pro Trucks: Standard alloy trucks with bouncy rubber bushings are nothing to write home about however no glaring negatives. Kingpins are secured with locknuts, but no washers are on the kingpin on this board sadly. Bushings will be prone to giving you wheel bite. I recommend switching out for some more buff bushings.
Grip Tape: Grip tape that comes with this deck is pre-cut and is laser engraved with the Spitboards logo, a great added touch. I have to note that the adhesive on this gripe tape tends to falter on the edges, and this specific style feels a little too thin for my liking. However, material is great and allows you to get a great feel for the board and the steep concave it boasts. The grip tape aforementioned is pre-cut, however on the edges on the tape are a little short so you need to get the placement just right to have proper coverage.
96 x 34mm 5-ply maple deck: Deck is complete with the Spitboards logo laser etched on the wood and graphic on the bottom. I selected the Ghost Charly Deck, and as a King Boo fan I really do love this graphic. Graphic has stayed strong despite a good amount of ride time on this board. For those that are starting to get into fingerboard and need something a little more forgiving — I don’t think there is a better board on the market that will help you land your first flips. Thansk to the high angle and steep concave the board has, you will find it easier to flip with this deck.
Tuning Tools: Regular industry tuning tool is included in the Spitboards 34mm complete boards, sufficient for most tuning but may start to wear with extended use.
Extras: Fingerboard clip and sticker sheet are included with the Spitboards 34mm Fingerboard Complete! Neat!
a better look of the Charly design on the 34mm pro fingerboard
Riding
I’ll never forget when I hit my first ollie on this board when I started fingerboarding. I remember struggling so harshly on a Tech Deck and just finally ordering a Spitboard based off of consumer reviews. Difference was night and day - especially when you only know what a Tech Deck feels like. Now, because the angles are so high on this board, it may take some time to get used to for someone who is used to low or medium concave on their boards. However, if you are a beginner fingerboarder who is having trouble getting good pop, I do have to give a point to my guy Slimeball for making the best setup for beginner pops.
Board is super easy to flip with the high concave and angles, however that has come with wheel bite in some of my sessions with the 34mm Spitboard Complete. The bushings, despite them being quite responsive also tend to wear out quickly and need constant tuning. Bushings did get weak quickly with myself and have been needing a good tighten mid session (and I will tighten my fingerboard up in the club, I have no shame). Wheels spin evenly on the trucks with no wobble and with some better bushings this complete could shred with some of the industry standard boards.
Personally, I did the ride test on a night out clubbing during one of my good friend’s birthdays. The ease of use of the Spitboard for curious clubgoers learning their first tricks, to the super porous grip tape acting like little velcro for my fingers, and even the sick graphics grabbing attention from across the bar, this board was a conversation piece from the beginning to the end of the night.
I really do love my Spitboard and believe it is worth the investment if you are looking into seriously getting into the fb hobby, this is a board that I keep coming back to even whenever I improve on my skills and is great for any collection. The feel and quality of Spitboards is lovely, and you deserve to shred with something as smooth as this.
TL;DR: I can confidently say that the 34mm pro complete from Spitboards is worth the money for your first pro fingerboard setup and is totally worth the investment.
Final Thoughts
I Recommend the Spitboard 34mm Pro Complete Fingerboard if:
You’re looking for a beginner fingerboard with a high angle, rubber bushings, and grippy wheels to help you get pop and your first flips.
You are able to drop $35 on a beginner board that will help you get the professional fingerboard feel early, and you are ready to keep upgrading your board whenever you feel ready. If you know what type of deck shape you like, I urge you to buy what is best for your style.
You’re looking to get a clip with your fingerboard (or you can get one of our clips in store).
You want an all out decked out complete with your choice in great graphics and a variety of trucks and wheels.
Check out Fingerboarding Content Below!
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