Flight, DBX, VX: The newest ways of making a skateboard, are they worth the hype, and are they worth the price?
Throughout the years, the construction of Skateboard decks has remained the same, 7-ply of maple wood. This has been one of the only constants in the construction of skateboarding components, until the last few years.
In more recent years, we’ve seen the introduction of special mixed ply decks, featuring layers of the classic maple, with added special polymers, from carbon fibre, to basalt (a type of volcanic rock). These specially made boards offer extra strength, better pop and a longer life span, however also come with a heftier price point to match.
What are these decks? How are they made? Are they worth the hype and price?
NHS VX Decks;
NHS Skate Direct produces Santa Cruz and Creature decks, two of the first brands to feature a modern ‘special ply’ deck offering back in 2019, called the VX deck. The VX decks are constructed with 5 layers of maple ply, and two layers of a special ‘Tri X’ ply. These decks are produced to be thinner, stronger, and longer lasting, offering more and a longer lasting pop, more impact protection and a lighter weight. The VX decks are available from both Santa Cruz and Creature, and are available in sizes from 8’’ all the way up to 10+’’ in a shaped board variety.
VX decks range between £100 and £115 in price, a jump from the £75 price of standard NHS decks.
Here’s a link to Youtube’s best skateboard product reviewer ‘Ben Degros’ talking all things VX
Powell Flight Decks;
Powell first released info about a flight deck way back in 2016, which if we’re not mistaken, makes them the first to release a deck of this ilk. Made of 5 thin ply’s of maple, the flight decks also feature two layers of their patented fiberglass ply. The flight decks are extremely thin, however also very strong, being tested to be more than twice as strong as a standard 7 ply maple deck.
The Fiber ply’s make the deck resistant from getting soggy pop like a standard board, giving you a more snappy pop straight out the gate, and a month or two down the line.
Powell offers many pro model decks with the flight technology, such as Andy Anderson, Steve Cab, Zach Doelling and many more. We’re sure you’ve seen the viral videos of a flight deck withstanding being run over by a car, and we’re again going to link a video of everyone’s favourite product reviewer Ben Degros reviewing one below, so check that out.
Powell’s Flight decks range between £110 and £170, so can come with a very hefty price tag. Check out Ben’s review and you’’ have a better idea of whether they’re worth the price.
Deluxe DBX Decks;
Real, Krooked and Antihero are all brands produced under the Deluxe Distribution umbrella. Deluxe’s DBX decks are the most recent special ply offering on the market, and they’re an interesting one.
Deluxe’s DBX decks are made of a mix of maple and a special Basalt formula, with Basalt being a type of volcano rock. Similarly to the VX and Flight decks, DBX boards are thinner, stronger and longer lasting than a standard 7 ply maple deck. With Deluxe saying they’ll potentially keep their pop and strength for 5x as long as a standard board. The big manufacturing difference between the DBX and a normal Deluxe board, other than the use of the Basalt, is the way they’re pressed. DBX are pressed individually in a single mold for a more consistent shape and stronger set, which differs from a standard deck usually pressed in a stack of 6 or 7.
Deluxe DBX decks are priced between £120 and £155 in the UK, putting them in a very similar bracket to the Powell Flight decks, both of which slightly more costly than the Santa Cruz VX offering.
If you want to hear more about Deluxe DBX, we’re once again going to link the goat, Ben Degros, talking about them, so check that out below.
We offer a selection of VX, Flight and DBX decks here at Native. So if you’re interested in testing out the tech mentioned in this blog, check out our technology deck page on our website via the link below, and get a super strong and long lasting ride below your feet!
https://www.nativeskatestore.co.uk/skateboards-c7/skateboard-decks-c23/technology-decks-t379
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