Griptape

What do the differences in griptape actually mean?

Three things vary between grips, and only one is about performance:

• Grit level. Griptape is rated by grit, the coarseness of the surface. Most skate grip runs 80 to 100 grit. Coarser grips harder and wears shoes faster; finer is slightly easier on shoes with still-solid grip. Between quality brands at similar grit the difference is subtle.
• Thickness and feel. Thicker tape like Mob is stiffer and some skaters feel it gives more board feel; thinner tape is more flexible and easier to apply cleanly around the nose and tail. Neither is better, it is preference.
• Clear, black or graphic. Black is the standard, clear lets the deck graphic show through, graphic adds a design on top. All three are the same grip material underneath, so this choice is purely aesthetic.

Which griptape brand should you get?

• Mob Grip — the most widely used grip in street skating. Consistent, reliable, medium-thick, goes on cleanly. The standard others are measured against, in black, clear and graphics.
• Jessup — the original griptape brand, going since the 1970s. Thinner than Mob with a following among riders who prefer a flexible tape.
• Grizzly — founded by pro Jamie Foy, a strong graphics range with quality comparable to Mob.
• Santa Cruz — a reliable option with the Santa Cruz graphics.

How do you apply griptape?

It takes about five minutes. Peel the backing, centre the sheet over the deck before committing, press from the middle outward to push bubbles to the edges, scribe the edge firmly with a skate tool or screwdriver, then cut the excess with a sharp knife at 45 degrees from underneath. Run the offcut along the edge to rough it up so it bonds and does not peel. Buy a deck from us in store and we will grip it for you; doing it at home and want a hand, come in.

When should you replace griptape?

When the surface feels smooth rather than abrasive, or your feet start sliding more than usual. Dirty grip can be cleaned with a grip brush to restore some bite, but eventually it wears out. At a few dollars a sheet it is one of the cheapest maintenance items in skating.

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