Penny Trucks Roller Skates? The 128 Correct Answer

I’ve been testing inline and roller skate bearings for over 30 years. As the Director of Bont Skates, it is my responsibility to ensure that our team of professional skaters are on the very best bearings in the world. I don’t have an agreement with a single bearing manufacturer and source skate bearings from a number of different manufacturers in different countries. Every week I am approached by no fewer than five bearing manufacturers asking me to test their skate bearings for Bont Skates. Some I test, some I don’t, it depends if they sound like they’re making quality bearings or not. Over the years I have tested hundreds of different brands of skate bearings.

This post covers everything you ever wanted to know about skate camps. This includes camps for skateboarding, inline skating, roller skating, scooters and roller derby skating.

Bont 608 ABEC 7 skate bearings

Bont 608 ABEC 7 skate bearings

How does Bont test stock?

The first thing I do before testing a bearing is to find out what materials are used in the bearing. The majority of 608 bearings are made to be mass produced as cheaply as possible. Therefore, most bearings are made from inferior steel. This is a problem because inferior steel warps under stress. All bearings look similar when you spin them in your fingers, but when you stand on the bearing and roll it at high speed, you need to test it. Next we check the bearing tolerances. If the balls are not very round, or the bearing manufacturer uses poor tolerances, then the bearing is guaranteed not to roll as well as a tighter tolerance bearing. Tolerances relate to manufacturing accuracy. Tolerance is the allowable deviation for any given size to achieve proper function. For example, one bearing may have a tolerance of +/- 0.01mm and another may have a tolerance of +/- 0.1mm. The one with the “tighter” tolerance, all other things being equal, will be the better camp.

Once we know that the 608 skate camp has good fundamentals, we will test it in the real world. The first test will be a roll test where we do a fairly long standstill rollout down a long hill. This is repeated a number of times. This gives us a real time under the actual load used to skate on the camp. If it passes that test, we send it to our professional athletes for testing. Our team members run the same lap times over and over again every day and know if one camp is faster than another. If a bearing pleases our team skaters and we think it might be a candidate for possible addition to our range, then we will discuss many other aspects of the bearing with the bearing manufacturer to see if we can improve it further , including cage design, retainer design, lubrication and polishing.

Which bearing oil is the best?

I’ll start by mentioning what the worst skate bearing oil is, and that is grease. If you’ve ever walked into a skate shop and picked up a pair of roller skates, inline skates, or a skateboard or scooter and spun the wheels and they barely turned, then you’ve experienced bearings filled with grease. If your bearings are full of grease you will need to clean them, but seriously if they are full of grease you know they are not going to be good bearings so just save them for skating in the rain or mud or similar.

The best skate bearing oil is a light racing oil. Sewing machine oil can also be used. At Bont we use a Kluber oil from Germany, which we think is excellent.

There are a number of great bearing manufacturers out there. Traditionally, the best camps come from Switzerland and Germany, and the Chinese camps tend to be entry-level camps.

How can you tell if a camp is good or not?

All bearings look similar so you won’t be able to tell by looking at it. The best thing you can do is buy from a reputable brand like Bont.

Are ball bearings the same for all styles of skating?

The main bearing size for skates is referred to as a 608 bearing. This is the same bearing size for roller skates, inline skates, roller derby skates, skateboards and scooters. Some sports like roller derby have more lateral loading pressure on the bearing, but other than that all different skating sports use the bearings in a similar way. If you’re jumping or skating through dirt I would avoid ceramic bearings as the balls are more prone to breakage than steel bearings.

608 Bont skate bearings 608 Bont skate bearings

What is the ABEC rating?

Don’t get me started with the ABEC rating. This is an absolutely useless review. Many unscrupulous bearing manufacturers stamp ABEC 9 on an ABEC 1 bearing. Nobody checks, so they don’t care. The ABEC rating system is intended to serve as a guide for rating bearings with higher tolerances. For example, a Bont ABEC 7 bearing has tighter tolerances than a Bont ABEC 5 bearing. When I was a kid, ABEC 7 was the highest rating and ABEC 9 was only for military use. Now you can buy a bearing that has ABEC 11 stamped on it. Please. The ABEC system has gotten so out of hand we can just dismiss it.

Examples of ‘ABEC 11’ skate bearings on Alibaba. Examples of ‘ABEC 11’ skate bearings on Alibaba

Are more or fewer balls in a bearing better?

Company A will claim that fewer balls mean less friction, which means faster bearings, and Company B will claim that more balls mean less weight on each ball, which means faster bearings. So which one is true? You are both the same. Decreasing the number of balls reduces friction, but each ball now carries more load. Increasing the number of balls increases friction, but each ball has less load. In my tests, the results are the same.

What are the best skate camps?

There are a number of great bearing manufacturers out there. Traditionally, the best camps come from Switzerland and Germany, and the Chinese camps tend to be entry-level camps. The Chinese and bearings are now of much better quality than they used to be and they can make very good bearings if the company buying them insists on quality materials and has their own quality control in China.

What are the fastest skate camps?

Similar to the question above, the fastest skate bearings are the ones made with the best materials and the highest tolerances. There is no faster camp than a bont camp. If it existed, we would buy it.

Are ceramic skate bearings better than steel bearings?

Ceramic balls are rounder than steel balls and don’t get as hot as steel balls, yes they are faster. However, they are also more prone to problems with dirt and dust and can tear when you jump on your skates. BUT not all ceramic bearings are faster. Some ceramics are really terrible. In the early 1990’s I was making ceramic bearings in Switzerland, the same ones we still sell today, and I paid over $200 a set to make them. Skaters came to me and said that my bearings were too expensive and that they could buy ceramic bearings for $60 a set in China. These ceramic bearings were inferior to the Bont ABEC 3 steel bearings. They really were some of the most terrifying camps I’ve ever ridden on. You could even feel the play in the camp just by holding them in your fingers, they were that bad. Since many people couldn’t afford $600 ceramic bearings (which was the usual price for 20 of them in the 1990’s), skaters tried the cheap ones and dismissed ceramic bearings as bad bearings, which really isn’t the case.

Are ceramic bearings worth the money?

If you want more speed then yes they are worth the money. If you take care of them, you can use them for years. I use ceramic bearings on my skates.

When should I replace my bearings?

If you let them rust, replace them. If they’re making all sorts of bad noises and you’ve cleaned them and they still don’t roll well, replace them. If you replace them, make sure you put them in the trash if you have one so they don’t end up in landfill. They are recyclable.

How do you use ball bearings in skate wheels?

Once you watch this video you won’t believe how easy it is 🙂

How do you get bearings out of skate wheels?

Take your Allen key. Tuck one end into the bearing and tuck it out like that.

How are skate bearings cleaned?

To clean my bearings I used to use an industrial pressure air washer which was great but not everyone has one. Other systems on the market required a lot of fiddling, so I invented an electronic bearing cleaner. You simply slide the bearing onto the shaft, push the button and it will clean the bearing in seconds. Replacing bearings can save you a lot of money, especially if you invest in quality bearings.

How often should I lubricate my skate bearings?

If you love it when everything always runs perfectly, then you can clean and lubricate your bearings every three months. If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t care too much about your skates, just clean and lube them when you hear them making noise or not spinning freely. If you are a professional skater, you may want to clean and lubricate your bearings before each competition.

How do I choose the right roller skate bearings?

As I mentioned before, all bearings look the same. The best thing you can do to choose the right bearings for roller skates is to buy bearings from a brand that you trust. Like Bont 😉

Bont 608 ceramic skate bearings Bont 608 ceramic skate bearings

How does Bont ensure Bont camps are the best?

Elite skaters are picky. If I don’t provide my professional team with the best bearings, they will complain and end up using another brand of bearings. Basically, I have to keep my skate team happy. However, I wrote my name on the bearings and for them to bear the Bont name, they must be the best. I have to have the best product in every single category. I’m very competitive and don’t settle for second best.

Team Bont Skater wins with Bont 608 Skate Bearings Team Bont Skater wins with Bont 608 Skate Bearings

Well there you have it. If you have an important question that I haven’t answered here, please email me and I’ll add it to the list. Have fun skating!

About the author:

Alexander Bont has been skating since he was two years old. He was part of the Australian national short track team for 7 years. He has also competed on quad roller skates, long track ice skates and inline speed skates. Alexander has won a number of Australian national titles including national records in short track and state titles in inline speed skating. He is the owner and CEO of Bont Skates and has a passion for skate design.

There’s nothing wrong with penny boards – they’re a short, cheap board, BUT because of their small size, penny boards aren’t a good board choice for most people in most riding scenarios. Penny boards aren’t bad, they just aren’t as versatile as a longboard or skateboard for transportation.

Penny boards are good for riding in crowded areas on flat ground (hills can be dangerous) and are small enough to fit in your backpack, which can be useful. The small size can cause big problems and most of the time it is a big disadvantage for most drivers.

Why do people say penny boards are bad?

The first reason people think penny boards are bad is that they aren’t a good choice for taller riders – this immediately makes them bad for a lot of taller people. Additionally, what penny boards do best (easy to carry board, great for airports etc.) is incredibly specific compared to the versatility of longboards or skateboards. That can feel limiting for most riders who have decided to ride a penny, although penny boards are cheaper/less expensive than longboards, as you can see (for example) in the video below.

Even if it’s not about pure downhill speed, higher quality components used in performance longboards make cruising and carving more fun – and let you learn faster as a beginner.

The other big reason people think penny boards are bad is that penny board shape and design focused primarily on cost savings (making it cheap) while sacrificing ride comfort and stability at speed.

What’s Bad About Penny Board Shapes?

The design of the penny board shapes – both the 22″ original shape and the slightly longer Penny Board Nickle – lose a lot of wasted space in the nose of the board (in front of the foremost axle) which is not easy to stand on. The spacing between Penny Board axles gives riders the most leverage and control – but this space is shorter than necessary for Penny Board to save money and get cheaper.

Note the large space that the front wheels cannot stand on. On a very small board, the shape and design choices made by penny board designers don’t make sense to many people and make it more difficult for taller riders to ride than it needs to be.

On small boards (22 inches for a penny board) ANY wasted space is a critical loss for a rider, as it means the rider’s feet have to be closer together – resulting in less stability, control and comfort when pushing.

Since reducing the size of the penny board nose would be a relatively easy fix to improve performance, many people say penny boards are bad because this change could have been made from the start.

Towing behind a car is never safe—but the lack of stability and control on a penny board makes that worse. Also in this video the flex of the plastic combined with a narrow board and short wheelbase leads to an accident that could have been avoided.

Less control means more kills and more injuries that could have been avoided, which also makes more people think penny boards are bad.

Why do penny board shapes waste so much space on the front of the board?

As mentioned above, penny boards were designed with this wasted space in the nose because the distance (wheelbase) between the front axle (axle) and the rear axle (axle) also dictates how much stiffness is needed to support the rider . Wider wheelbases (distance between axles) require stronger and stronger materials, which are more expensive. To get a better price, penny boards lower the cost by reducing the distance between the front axle and the rear axle by adding a nose which is not useful but really is an aesthetic feature just to get the look of the board improve board.

Three or four inches of wasted space is a big deal for performance and means at least 20% of a penny board’s overall size is generally wasted and ineffective for board control/allowing for a comfortable stance, resulting in poor performance on hills etc.

This shorter wheelbase (due to the unused nose space) allows penny boards to be made out of thinner, cheaper plastic (rather than Canadian maple, or even better, stronger composite) – it’s also the only reason penny boards are cheaper (under $100) than some more powerful mini longboards and cruisers.

If you watch the video of penny boards being ridden downhill, you can see how riders try to compensate for the small wheelbase that causes instability (speed wobble) when they start going faster. Longboards handle speed better and make hill bombing/carving and cruising safer and more fun as it’s easier to stay in control of your board.

The downside of the combination of poor design and a super small shape is that a penny board was really difficult for an average sized rider to use. When you see taller (or even average!) riders riding a penny board, the small wheelbase is also why their stance generally looks awkward.

Penny boards do NOT have enough room for taller riders to stand on comfortably. When your feet are close together, it’s harder (and less comfortable) to push, making penny boards a poor choice for beginners.

Compare the penny board’s shape and stance to something like a Derringer 33 mini carving longboard, where the shape is specifically designed to accommodate the fact that there isn’t much room to work. The space between the front and rear axles is maximized (excluding the nose) to provide the widest stance for more control and stability.

By removing excess, unused nose space, the Derringer 33 remains more stable when pushing, cruising and carving hills.

Shortboard skateboards/street decks also have a more effective standing platform than a penny board – albeit less than a longboard. The way a road deck is engineered also prioritizes ride performance and standing platform over cost savings in a way a penny board doesn’t.

The stationary platform has such a big impact on a skateboard’s (or longboard’s) performance that there are now hybrid longboard skateboards designed for street skating AND hill skating – these boards (like the Arbiter DK below) use larger standing platforms but bring them with street skate style shapes for easy tricks.

Some skateboards and longboards are bridging the gap and are intended for mountain riding as well as skate parks and tricks. If you want a little bit of everything this could be a good choice.

As millions of people bought penny boards, MANY people ended up on decks that were ill-suited (not well-suited) for their height and weight—while not well-suited to their neighborhood or commuting needs—leading to that a large percentage of riders felt that penny boards just aren’t good. The fact that penny boards are cheap means that LOTS of people bought a penny as a beginner even though it’s not a good board for average sized riders to learn.

Penny boards aren’t bad.

As mentioned above – penny boards are not inherently bad. There is nothing to say that a plastic sheet will perform poorly. In fact, fiberglass composites and carbon fiber (two of the highest quality/highest performing materials) are both mostly made up of different types of plastic.

It’s the TYPE of plastic that penny boards are made of that causes the problem, as it was chosen for its cost-effectiveness – not for its performance characteristics. The Apex 40 longboard in the video below, on the other hand, is heavily built with carbon fiber composites and high-performance plastics.

Longboards (and the Apex 40 family of longboards in particular) use carbon fiber composite reinforcements and available noseguards to remain super strong – WAY stronger than any penny board.

If you spend a lot of time on planes and speeding through airports, then this is sure to be a place where penny boards (and pennies) highlight the alternatives. It’s easier to pick up a smaller board, put it down, and carry it through crowded areas (where long-distance comfort isn’t important).

The main problem with penny boards relates specifically to the design decisions that result in pennies being a poor choice for most serious riders in most common riding scenarios. Unless you travel/fly a lot (or even if you do) – you’ll probably have more fun on a skateboard (if you’re in the park scene) or a longboard if you’re into dancing, freestyle tricks, or riding hills.

If you decide to buy a longboard (or not), you should visit Original Skateboards in Portland, OR. We are always ready to skate.

With that in mind – no matter what type of board you choose (skateboard or longboard, etc.), make sure you do some outings with your friends. Road trip, plane, whatever – it’s easy to make memories and always hard to get home.

0 / No / Black – £72.00 0 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / Black – £87.50 0 / No / White – £72.00 0 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / White – £87.50 1/ No / Black – £72.00 1 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / Black – £87.50 1 / No / White – £72.00 1 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / White – £87.50 2 / No/ Black – £72.00 2 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / Black – £87.50 2 / No / White – £72.00 2 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / White – £87.50 3 / No / Black – £72.00 3 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / Black – £87.50 3 / No / White – £72.00 3 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / White – £87.50 4 / No / Black – 72, 00 £4 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / Black – £87.50 4 / No / White – £72.00 4 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / White – £87.50 5 / No / Black – £72.00 5 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / Black – £87.50 5 / No / White – £72.00 5 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / White – £87.50 6 / No / Black – £72.00 6 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / S Black – £87.50 6 / No / White – £72.00 6 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / White – £87.50 7 / No / Black – £72.00 7 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / Black – £87.50 7 / No / White – £72.00 7 / Yes Radius Kingpin Kit Please / White – £87.50

DISCOBLOXXXX

This is what you’ve all been waiting for! Discoblox are Australian made, easy to install sanding blocks that are compatible with almost any plate. #Discoblox supports slide, stall and drop-in coping and is suitable for ramp and bowl skaters of all levels.

THIS IS A PRE-ORDER PRODUCT ONLY. WE HAVE SOME IN STOCK THAT IS ANOTHER PRODUCT. PRE-ORDERS TAKE 6-8 WEEKS.

There are a few different types of Discoblox. Most disks use the “standard” blox. However, some plates need to be slightly adjusted. Please check below

Falcon Plates – If you are using your Discoblox with Falcon Plates, please select the Lowrider product instead.

CIB Grind Trucks – If you plan to use your Discoblox with Grind Trucks, choose the Lowrider product instead.

Arius Disks – If you want to use your Discoblox with Arius disks, you will need the Iceblox option.

Reactor, Revenge, Rival – These plates have a radius (slightly wider kingpin base) that the radius kingpin kit fits. Please add this kit to your order.

Sure Grip Avenger: The mounting bar arms only need to be bent to the shape of the plate.

Roll-Line: You must order a ‘Roll-Line modified’ version. Please include this in your order notes on the shopping cart screen.

To find out what size you need, simply measure the distance between the inside faces of the kingpin and use the size charts to determine the size you require.

Avanti Plate Size Wheelbase (mm) #Discoblox Size 10 Degrees 1,118 0 Suregrip 2,128 1 3,138 2 4,148 3 5,158 4 6,168 5 7,178 6 8,188 7 9,198 8 Avenger Plate Size Wheelbase (mm) # Discoblox Size 45 Degrees 0 130 n/a Suregrip 0 1.140 n/a 2 150 1 3 160 2 4 170 3 5 180 4 6 190 5 7 200 6 8 210 7 Athena Plate Size Wheelbase (mm) #Discoblox Size Bont 5 127 1 20 degrees 5.25 133 1 5.5 140 2 5.75 146 2 6 152 3 6.25 159 3 6.5 165 4 6.75 171 4 7 178 5 20 degrees 7.25 184 6 7.5 191 7 7.75 197 7 400 (US2) 100 0 450 (US3) 115 0 500 (US4) 125 1 550 (US5) 140 2 600 (US6) 150 3 650 (US7) 165 4 650 (US8) 4 700 (US9) 5 750 (US10) 6 Ignite Plate Size Wheelbase (mm) #discoblox Bont 95 n/a 20 degrees 105 n/a 115 n/a assembly 125 0 bar 135 1 modification 145 2 custom 155 3 order 165 4 175 5 185 6 195 7 205 7 impala plate size wheelbase (mm) #discoblox size US2 /EU 33 1 US3 / EU 34 1 US4 / EU 35 2 US5 / EU 36 2 US6 / EU 37 3 US7 / EU 38 3 US8 / EU 39 3 US9 / EU40 5 US10 / EU41 6 US11 / EU42 6 Pilot Falcon plate size e Wheelbase (mm) #discoblox 16 degrees 5.25 133 1 Lowrider only 5.5 140 2 5.75 146 2 6 152 3 6.25 159 4 6.5 165 4 6.75 171 5 7 178 6 7.25 184 6 7.5 191 7 7.75 197 7 8 203 N/A 8.25 210 N/A 8.5 216 N/A 152 2 6.5 165 3 7 178 4 7.5 191 5 8 203 6

Reactor Fuse Plate Size Wheelbase (mm) #Discoblox Size 10 Degrees 3.132 1 Radius Kingpin 4.140 2 Lowrider 5.148 3 6.156 3 7.164 4 8.168 5 9.174 5 10.180 6 11.186 6 12.192 7 13.198 7 Reactor Neo Plate Size Wheelbase 0 Radius Kingpin 3134 1 Lowrider 4144 2 5150 3 6156 4 7162 4 8168 5 9174 6 10 180 6 11 186 7 12 192 7 Reactor Pro Plate Size Wheelbase (mm) #Discoblox Size 15 degrees 3 134 1 Radius 4 Kingpin 1 Lowrider 0.14 2 6 156 3 7 162 4 8 168 5 9 174 5 10 180 6 11 186 7 12 192 7 Rival Plate Size Wheelbase (mm) #Discoblox Size 15 Degrees 2,128 0 Radius Kingpin 3,134 1 Lowrider 4,140 1 5,146 2 6,152 8 2 47 415 8 2 47 415 8 9170 4 10176 5 11182 6 12188 6 13 194 7 Rock Plate Size Wheelbase (mm) #Discoblox Size 10 Degrees 1 107 0 Sure Grip 2 117 0 3 127 0 4 137 1 5 147 2 6 157 3 7 168 4 8 9 178 8 6 Roll Line Plate Size Wheel Base (mm) #discoblox Size Variant 130 0 Blaster 140 1 150 2 160 3 170 4 180 5 190 6 200 7 Requires mounting rail modification and RollLine cushion. RollLine is always a custom-made product. Rookie Skate Size Wheelbase (mm) #Discoblox Size Radius Kingpin 4 2 Kit Required 5 153mm 2 6 161mm 4 7 175mm 5 8 5 Sunlite Plate Size Wheelbase (mm) #Discoblox Size 10 Degree 2 143 2 Lowrider 3 152 3 4 154 3 5 170 4 6 179 5 7 189 6 8 198 7 9 208 n/a

Pressure Plate Size Wheelbase #discoblox 15 degrees 2 116 0 Moxi Nylon Plate 3 126 1 Powerdyne 4 136 2 Normal or 5 149 3 Lowrider 6 158 4 7 168 5 8 178 5 9 188 7 10 200 7 Triton Plate Size Wheelbase (mm ) #discoblox size 15 degrees 4 140 2 Moxi Metal 5 146 3 Powerdyne 6 152 4 7 158 4 8 164 5 9 170 5 10 176 6 11 182 6 12 188 7 13 194 7

If you need help figuring out what Discoblox is right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

What should I do to take care of my roller skates?

Roller skates are easy to care for. A regular inspection and a few key adjustments are all it takes to get the most out of your skates and keep them safe and fun for years to come.

The tools we recommend here are for standard North American roller skates, you may need to adjust them to fit your specific roller skates.

weekly:

Tighten your stoppers

Vibration from skating and prolonged use can cause your stoppers to loosen over time. Non-adjustable bell stoppers

These are the toe stops typically found on recreational high boot skates and most children’s roller skates. To tighten the toe stoppers, simply use the appropriate screwdriver (usually a Phillips or flat head) and hand tighten the toe stop screw (located in the center of the stopper) as firmly as possible. Adjustable stoppers with large hex nuts and spring washers

These can be found on many roller derby skates and mid to high end skates. To tighten these stops, simply tighten the large locknut at the base of the toe stop bolt with a skate tool or 15/16″ wrench. You may have to lean your weight in a bit to get these almost as tight as possible. To remove these stops or adjust their height, first loosen the large lock nut and then adjust their height or remove them by unscrewing them completely from the plate. When you’re done, make sure to re-tighten the locknuts by pressing the tension washers against the plates, otherwise they may fall off during use! Adjustable stops with allen key locknuts

These can be found on most high-end roller skates. To tighten these stoppers, simply tighten the allen wrench locknut located on the side of the plate near the stopper as tight as your tool will comfortably hold by hand. To remove these stops or adjust their height, first loosen the allen wrench locknut and then adjust their height or remove them by unscrewing them completely from the plate. When you’re done, make sure you tighten the Allen Lock Nuts or your stoppers could fall off during use! PLEASE NOTE that the threaded shank of adjustable stoppers must always be at least 1/2 inch into your plates. Failure to do so could damage your panels and this damage is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

check your wheel nuts

These can also slowly loosen due to vibrations. If you change your wheels frequently, your lug nuts can get old, which can cause them to loosen over time. Shake your skates well from side to side. If you hear a clanking/banging sound (the sound of a wheel rocking back and forth on its axle) you have a loose lug nut! Using a skate tool or 1/2-inch socket wrench, tighten the loose nut a small amount at a time, being careful not to press on the bearing with the tool, until the wheel spins freely , but has very little play on the axle and is quiet when you shake the skate. If you find that you can screw/unscrew your lug nuts by hand, it means they are old and need to be replaced.

monthly:

Wipe down boots, plates and wheels

Dirt and dust eventually accumulate on your boots, plates and wheels. Using a soft, well-drained, damp rag, wipe everything down, starting with your boots, then plates and wheels. Do not allow water from the wet rag to get near the bearings. This is a great time to inspect your boots for damage, fix tape and make sure your plates are securely attached to the boot.

Check and adjust your trucks

December 2, 2021 • Jessica Holland

Trucks aren’t usually the first thing skaters think of when choosing their first pair of skates or building a dream setup. But they have a big impact on your skating, and it’s important to understand what they do.

Chuffed Founder, Trayhurn, tried them all, and our contributor Jess asked her some questions about her insights: how trucks can transform the way you skate, how to choose the right type for your style and body, and why the new ChuffedCore Die 2 .5-inch (64mm) axle, released in collaboration with Brunny Hardcore’s Garry Manfroid, was designed as is.

We hope this guide will help you figure out which trucks feel the most comfortable and if the new ChuffedCore trucks are right for you.

WHAT ARE TRUCKS?

They are the part of the skate that attaches to the kingpin and sits between the cushions. Your wheels attach to the truck and it is the mechanism by which you can customize your movements.

If you are new to the different parts of your skates and how to adjust them, learn more here.

WHAT ARE GRIND TRUCKS?

This is a slang term, it could amount to marketing each brand individually. Some brands call their trucks Grind Trucks, others call them Wide Trucks. To me, a grind axle would be any axle that makes grinding easier, and is usually a bit wider than the standard 2″ narrow axles that come on many complete setups.

WHAT COUNTS AS A WIDE TRUCK?

As previously mentioned, many trucks that come on standard roller skates are around 2 inches tall. Most often what we call a wide truck is about 3 inches. Our chuffed core trucks are 2.5 inches tall. We often call them “wide” trucks because they are wider than the standard 2″ trucks and perform the functions of the wider 3″ trucks that are out there.

WHY DID YOU DISCOVER A 2.5″ GRINDING SURFACE?

I’ve tried every truck out there, from the narrow 2-inch to all sorts of wide trucks, and I really felt like there had to be a middle ground. I know a lot of other people have felt the same way. I think the 2.5 inch grind area is the perfect size to pull off grind tricks without sacrificing the maneuverability of a smaller truck. It also doesn’t cause as much wheel bite, wheel clipping, etc. for me as I’ve experienced with a 3 inch truck.

WHY DID NOT THAT ALREADY EXIST?

I think a lot of times when people were roller skating they were looking for skateboarding gear so people used the smallest skateboard trucks out there like penny trucks which are about this 3 inch size. People might have had some success with it and so didn’t think they needed to be smaller. I don’t know anyone who has a foot the size of a penny skateboard so I believe these 2.5 inch trucks are better suited to most foot sizes than other wide trucks on the market.

It’s also quite expensive to develop a new size that doesn’t exist on the market when molds for, say, a 3-inch truck already exist. When you’re making a brand new product, that development cost is higher, and I think it’s a bigger risk, but one that we really thought had to happen because we’re really confident that that size is better suited to a foot is , as opposed to the 3 inch trucks which are the size required for a small skateboard like a penny.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WIDER TRUCKS? WHAT TRUCKS CAN YOU DO WITH WIDE TRUCKS?

Wider trucks help you perform a wider range of grind tricks (like 50-50s, soul grinds, mizous, acids…a lot of those names come from blading) more easily. I won’t say you can’t do this on narrow trucks – you can! I did it. But I was literally grinding on the kingpin of my skates, which is a very small area to grind on. So I would say it takes a lot of time and precision to do 50-50 grinds on narrow axes and the feel is not the same as grinding on your real axis.

Wide trucks can also be more stable for skating bigger things like big bowls or verts.

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF WIDE TRUCKS?

The downsides can sometimes – especially if you have smaller feet – be a loss of maneuverability. I feel like when I carry really wide trucks I have to skate with my feet wider apart to avoid locking my wheels, which can mean I have to adjust my stance. For example when doing a 360 I would always be very nervous doing that on a wide truck. On a narrower truck I find it’s a lot easier. That’s a big reason why we chose 2.5 inches. I feel like I can still do anything I could do on a 2 inch truck, but I get the added bonus of being able to grind easier and having that extra stability.

DO WIDE TRUCKS CAUSE MORE WHEEL BITE?

I find that the 3 inch trucks on the market create more wheel bite for me. I was able to overcome this wheel bite on a 2.5 inch truck with a small wheel of about 54mm. I don’t feel the wheelbite on my frontside slides like I do on other wider trucks.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE SKATING ON CHUFFEDCORE TRUCKS AND HOW IT COMPARES WITH THE WIDER TRUCKS? WHAT TRICKS WILL YOU HELP ME?

They will definitely help you get 50-50 grinds and other grinds much easier than on a skinny truck. They also felt lighter to me than on a really wide axle. I felt that with a really wide truck there was too much clearance on either side of the wheel that I would slide around a bit on the coping. With the 2.5″ size I feel like I can really hold on and get nice, long grinds on a variety of copings, ledges, rails… The feeling of being in tune with my gear is also really come with these axes. With a wider truck, I often worried about damaging my wheels or feeling like my posture was severely compromised. These just feel like they’re the right size for my feet, making me feel really stable and in control of my skating.

IS IT A RIGHT GENERALIZATION TO STATE THAT WIDER TRUCKS ARE BETTER FOR STREET SKATING AND NARROW FOR CARVING BOWLS?

No, I think I would disagree. Wider trucks are good for anything grind related, be it street or coping, and I also find that when carving bowls, especially large bowls, a bit of width underfoot gives you a better base for stability gives you the feeling that you can control those carves and accelerate a little bit more. So I think the right wide trucks can suit pretty much all styles of skating.

DO I HAVE TO CUT MY KINGPINS TO GRIND WITH CHUFFEDCORE TRUCKS?

Kingpins should not stick out too far on this truck. This was heavily incorporated into the design by designer Garry Manfroid. So when we say a skate is compatible with these trucks, we would also say it has full kingpin clearance. That definitely went into the design process from the start.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU CHOSE THE MATERIALS?

The hangar of the ChuffedCore trucks is made of T6 aluminum, a very common material in skateboard manufacturing. It’s a high quality, high strength aluminum alloy that grinds really well. The high quality skateboard trucks used for grinding use this material. The axle is optionally made of steel or titanium. Both are really high strength. Titanium is just a little bit lighter. It is typically around 45% lighter than steel.

DO YOU HAVE WHEEL SIZE RECOMMENDATIONS IF USING CHUFFEDCORE GRIND TRUCKS AND BRUNNY SLIDERS?

Personally, I skate a 54mm wheel on my chuffed skates with my Brunny sliders. I feel like I’m nice and low and I can focus on my grinds. I think Garry rides a 58mm wheel. I think anything larger than 58 is a bit too big to grind, so I would recommend a wheel between 54mm and 58mm for most skates and plates. Again, it comes down to preference. So if you feel like something is working for you, then do it!

WHAT PLATES ARE THE CHUFFEDCORE TRUCKS COMPATIBLE WITH?

We haven’t been able to test them on all plates, but these are the plates we tested for fit. These plates will either fit them out of the box or require some modifications to the cushions and rotating bowls.

Compatible with no modification required:

Chuffed Skates standard plate

Suregrip Avanti

Suregrip probe

Sunlit

Wonder

Modifications required to adapt to:

sliding/grinding blocks

Slide blocks allow skaters who skate in parks or on the street to stall more easily on coping and curbs. It’s a piece of hardware that rests between your wheels in the center of your plate and comes in a variety of styles, colors, and shapes. Most sliding blocks are easy to install. If you’re looking to improve your game at the skate park, these are the components for you!

Be sure to check the size and compatibility charts to ensure you are purchasing the correct block size. If you are not sure what block size you need, contact us and let us know your record brand, model and size. We’re here to help!

We are sorry to hear that you received a damaged or faulty item. If you have just opened your brand new order and find that your item is damaged, please send us the following information here:

– Your order number

– Product Name

– Photos showing the error as clearly as possible

Don’t worry about sending your damaged item back to us, just keep it until we’ve been in touch and we’ll tell you what to do next.

If, in our opinion, your goods are defective, the normal warranty conditions will apply. It is your responsibility to follow the warranty/instruction information. We may ask you to return your item and we will ship your replacement item (subject to availability) or happily refund the original product price and associated shipping costs. This will restore the original payment method.

Please note that you are responsible for all costs incurred in connection with a return. Please allow up to 14 days for the refund to be processed after receipt of the goods.

Everyone does it differently! Some people like to take the trucks off and use a pressure washer which will definitely get the deck as clean as possible. Others just use a simple spray and wipe or sponge to get a good exfoliation. It is entirely up to you and what is available to you!

Just remember that getting the bearings wet is never good for them. To prolong its lifespan, we recommend disassembling the circuit board first.

Quick Tip: Visit the Penny Care section of our website for information on removing and replacing components on your board!

NOTE: The latest version of Bont Discotrux has the axle rods attached with pins pressed in. This change keeps the axles secure and prevents them from falling out. When changing a wheel, you may feel a slight wobble in the axle, which is normal. Tested by our Parkstar team, this wobble is no longer noticeable when the wheels are tightened and does not affect skating. In addition, the axle does not move when pressure is applied to the truck.

The DiscoTrux is a roller skate truck specifically designed for street and park skating. Designed by Bont ParkStar ‘Disco’, he has combined his many years of roller skating experience with his problem-solving creativity. The DiscoTrux is a new, unique solid aluminum skate truck design with interchangeable parts, most notably the option to use wide or extra wide trucks (70mm or 100mm). DiscoTrux comes standard with 70mm wide axles, but you can upgrade to a 100mm wide axle with these 100mm axle housings.

Free AU Shipping. Please note that in response to the current Covid-19 situation we have eliminated freight charges for our Australian customers on ALL online orders $50.00 and over to help you meet your requirements through our online Service easier to manage.

Australian Post delays. Please note; We received a notification from Australia Post today that they are currently experiencing delays due to increased demand. Please allow a few extra days for the delivery of your order. Updated April 21st.

Any questions about our products or shipping please contact us during business hours and we’ll be happy to help 🙂

Telephone: 1300 665 272

Email: [email protected]

Live Chat: Now available on our website.

delivery times

We ship most orders within 24 hours.

Products marked as “Sold Online Only” are dispatched directly from our warehouse and may not be available for viewing in our retail store. If an item is temporarily out of stock, it may take up to 5 days for your order to be completed.

We will always email you if your order is delayed and you will receive a confirmation email with a tracking number once your order leaves our warehouse.

Australia freight prices

Orders under $49.99 – $6 flat rate

Orders over $50 – FREE freight until further notice

Pick up in store – FREE

Express Shipping – via Australia Post, prices based on address

We ship with Australia Post and Couriers Please. All shipping costs are waived for items shipped via standard freight. If you would like your order to be shipped via Priority Mail, please add your products to your basket and go to the Shipping section of the checkout process and select the Priority Mail option. You will receive a quote based on your order size and mailing address.

Most orders are shipped via Australia Post. Couriers Please require a signature (or exit authorization) upon delivery so they cannot deliver to a PO Box or Parcel Locker.

Signature for Delivery: Please note that couriers require a signature upon delivery. Therefore, please use a delivery address where your package can be received during business hours. If a signature cannot be obtained, the courier will leave a delivery notification indicating when the next delivery will be attempted. If a signature cannot be obtained on the second delivery attempt, the item will be returned to Bayside Blades. Parcels sent by Australian Post will be left at your local post office for collection, no one will be available to collect.

Pick up in store

If you live in Melbourne and would like to collect your order from our Highett store (2/487 Highett Rd, Highett VIC 3190), please wait until you receive confirmation that your order is ready for collection before proceeding to collect, as many items are stored in our warehouse and may take some time to be taken to our retail location for collection.

Since it is not always possible for us to keep all products in stock in the shop, there may be a short delay before your goods are ready for collection. We will notify you when your order is ready for pickup.

Online products only

While we try to keep as many products in our store as possible, we have limited storage space. We offer some products as “online only” which means we do not stock them in our physical store and have them stocked externally in our warehouse.

If you choose to collect your web order from the store, please note that there may be a short delay while we arrange for the goods to be dispatched from stock to our retail store.

If you would like to know how long it will be before your order is ready for collection, please call our shop on 1300 665 272 and we will advise you of an estimated collection time for your items.

New Zealand

We offer our customers in New Zealand a 50% discount on shipping, calculated based on your location. To view shipping options and rates, please add your products to the shopping cart and go to the shipping section of the checkout page.

Are you wondering which board to use for your skateboarding? A penny board or a skateboard? That’s certainly a good question. While both boards are good and have advantages, they also have differences.

To enlighten you more on this subject penny board vs skateboard we have summarized some points you should know before getting one for your exciting skateboarding experience.

The physical differences between penny board and skateboard

1. Deck Material

Penny Boards come from the Australian company Penny Skateboards, which was founded in 2010 by Ben Mackay. This type of board is also used for skateboarding. On the other hand, it has a better use for a specific purpose, which we will discuss later.

So what makes it different from a skateboard? Well, it’s the material. The decks of penny boards are made of hard plastic. This plastic is very different because it flexes. It can be shut down and return to its original form.

Nowadays most skateboard decks are made of maple plywood with about 7 plies. It is covered with polyurethane to make the deck smooth and durable.

2. wheels

The penny board wheels are made of polyurethane with a plastic core. Polyurethane is also a plastic material that is strong, safe, and flexible.

Also, penny board wheels are softer and larger than skateboard wheels. As you can see, they mostly bulge out of the board’s deck. These wheels can negotiate rougher surfaces, pebbles and cracks.

The skateboard wheels have different varieties and can range from small, medium to large sizes. There are soft and hard skateboard wheels.

Like penny board wheels, skateboard wheels are made of polyurethane, a synthetic rubber polymer.

In addition, they come in widths ranging from around 1.9 inches to 2.9 inches. These wheels are best for skateboard tricks and can reach higher speed.

3. Truck

Penny Boards trucks are made of cast aluminum. Skateboard trucks are now also built from aluminum or metals such as alloy, steel or brass. Some are also made of nylon.

Both trucks consist of two components, namely the hanger and the baseplate. The bearings and wheels are firmly attached to the bogies.

There are two sizes of penny board trucks. They are available in 3 inch and 4 inch sizes. The 3 inches might fit the 22 inch penny board model. The 4 inch size is now ready for a large 27 inch penny board.

This giant penny board is also known as a nickel board. Skateboard trucks can range from 6.3 inches to 9.35 inches.

The characteristics of penny board and skateboard

As you can see, the penny boards are smaller than most skateboards. And since they are made of plastic, they are lighter than the skateboards.

Also, penny boards come in different colors. You can choose the color you want and customize it easily because penny boards are made of plastic. Overall, a penny board is portable as you can easily carry it and even put it in your pocket due to its small size.

Unlike the penny board, a skateboard has a sturdy material that is made of wood. Also, most skateboards with big trucks are longer. It is also available in different designs and colors.

What are penny boards and skateboards best for?

Due to the size and light weight of penny boards, they are good for commuting as they are very handy. You can use them to go to school or just walk in the park or cruise your patio or the streets.

Because they’re lighter, you can also perform some normal tricks and maneuvers with ease.

Skateboards are now well suited for performing challenging tricks. They are good for racing and cruising down sloping surfaces. Even if you want to accelerate intensively, the skateboard is ideal to use.

The pros and cons of penny board and skateboard

Both skateboard and penny board are good boards for an exciting skateboarding experience. However, they have advantages and disadvantages.

penny boards

advantages

They are compact; hence they are easy to carry and very portable. You can even put the board in your pocket or just carry it with your hands.

These boards are very convenient to use as they are small and light.

You can learn how to push and twist easily. Because of this, they are perfect for beginners.

They can handle cracks and curbs due to their softer and larger wheels.

Thanks to the axle angle and center of gravity, penny boards are ideal for cruising.

Disadvantages

Because penny boards are smaller, their ability to perform tricks is limited.

The penny boards are not ideal for increased speed.

They are not entirely stable because of their smaller size. On the other hand, you can tighten the axles for better stability.

skateboards

advantages

Skateboards promote stability and durability because of their material.

Learning tricks is easy when you use a skateboard.

You can choose from a wide range available in different sizes and colors.

You can perform advanced tricks.

Skateboards can run at higher speeds and handle downhill runs efficiently.

Disadvantages

There are more dangers if you’re not careful. This is because skateboards allow you to perform many extreme tricks.

Your shoes might tear as you perform advanced tricks.

When should you buy a penny board or skateboard?

A penny board is best suited for smaller individuals due to its compact size. On the other hand, if you have big feet, you can choose the Penny Nickel Board.

Even if you’re a beginner and don’t know the do’s and don’ts of skateboarding, you can still opt for a penny board. This is because it is easy to control and manage. At least it’s easier.

Penny boards are also best for cruising flat terrain, streets and parks. If you’re learning the basic tricks of skateboarding, the penny board is perfect for you. It’s also best for commuting. This is because penny boards are portable.

Meanwhile, the skateboard is a good option for professional skateboarders, racers or more experienced users who have knowledge of skateboarding basics.

This board is great for learning advanced tricks. In addition, if you like to ride at high speed, the skateboard is for you.

If you are still not sure which one is right for you, you can go through the penny board vs skateboard points above. Overall, when choosing a skateboard or penny board, you still need to choose a quality board. This is how you will enjoy your ride when you have a suitable and quality board for you.

Feel free to write your suggestions and opinions in the comment box. In fact, our skateboarders will appreciate them. Here’s to an adventurous skateboarding experience!

December 2, 2021 • Jessica Holland

Trucks aren’t usually the first thing skaters think of when choosing their first pair of skates or building a dream setup. But they have a big impact on your skating, and it’s important to understand what they do.

Chuffed Founder, Trayhurn, tried them all, and our contributor Jess asked her some questions about her insights: how trucks can transform the way you skate, how to choose the right type for your style and body, and why the new ChuffedCore Die 2 .5-inch (64mm) axle, released in collaboration with Brunny Hardcore’s Garry Manfroid, was designed as is.

We hope this guide will help you figure out which trucks feel the most comfortable and if the new ChuffedCore trucks are right for you.

WHAT ARE TRUCKS?

They are the part of the skate that attaches to the kingpin and sits between the cushions. Your wheels attach to the truck and it is the mechanism by which you can customize your movements.

If you are new to the different parts of your skates and how to adjust them, learn more here.

WHAT ARE GRIND TRUCKS?

This is a slang term, it could amount to marketing each brand individually. Some brands call their trucks Grind Trucks, others call them Wide Trucks. To me, a grind axle would be any axle that makes grinding easier, and is usually a bit wider than the standard 2″ narrow axles that come on many complete setups.

WHAT COUNTS AS A WIDE TRUCK?

As previously mentioned, many trucks that come on standard roller skates are around 2 inches tall. Most often what we call a wide truck is about 3 inches. Our chuffed core trucks are 2.5 inches tall. We often call them “wide” trucks because they are wider than the standard 2″ trucks and perform the functions of the wider 3″ trucks that are out there.

WHY DID YOU DISCOVER A 2.5″ GRINDING SURFACE?

I’ve tried every truck out there, from the narrow 2-inch to all sorts of wide trucks, and I really felt like there had to be a middle ground. I know a lot of other people have felt the same way. I think the 2.5 inch grind area is the perfect size to pull off grind tricks without sacrificing the maneuverability of a smaller truck. It also doesn’t cause as much wheel bite, wheel clipping, etc. for me as I’ve experienced with a 3 inch truck.

WHY DID NOT THAT ALREADY EXIST?

I think a lot of times when people were roller skating they were looking for skateboarding gear so people used the smallest skateboard trucks out there like penny trucks which are about this 3 inch size. People might have had some success with it and so didn’t think they needed to be smaller. I don’t know anyone who has a foot the size of a penny skateboard so I believe these 2.5 inch trucks are better suited to most foot sizes than other wide trucks on the market.

It’s also quite expensive to develop a new size that doesn’t exist on the market when molds for, say, a 3-inch truck already exist. When you’re making a brand new product, that development cost is higher, and I think it’s a bigger risk, but one that we really thought had to happen because we’re really confident that that size is better suited to a foot is , as opposed to the 3 inch trucks which are the size required for a small skateboard like a penny.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WIDER TRUCKS? WHAT TRUCKS CAN YOU DO WITH WIDE TRUCKS?

Wider trucks help you perform a wider range of grind tricks (like 50-50s, soul grinds, mizous, acids…a lot of those names come from blading) more easily. I won’t say you can’t do this on narrow trucks – you can! I did it. But I was literally grinding on the kingpin of my skates, which is a very small area to grind on. So I would say it takes a lot of time and precision to do 50-50 grinds on narrow axes and the feel is not the same as grinding on your real axis.

Wide trucks can also be more stable for skating bigger things like big bowls or verts.

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF WIDE TRUCKS?

The downsides can sometimes – especially if you have smaller feet – be a loss of maneuverability. I feel like when I carry really wide trucks I have to skate with my feet wider apart to avoid locking my wheels, which can mean I have to adjust my stance. For example when doing a 360 I would always be very nervous doing that on a wide truck. On a narrower truck I find it’s a lot easier. That’s a big reason why we chose 2.5 inches. I feel like I can still do anything I could do on a 2 inch truck, but I get the added bonus of being able to grind easier and having that extra stability.

DO WIDE TRUCKS CAUSE MORE WHEEL BITE?

I find that the 3 inch trucks on the market create more wheel bite for me. I was able to overcome this wheel bite on a 2.5 inch truck with a small wheel of about 54mm. I don’t feel the wheelbite on my frontside slides like I do on other wider trucks.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE SKATING ON CHUFFEDCORE TRUCKS AND HOW IT COMPARES WITH THE WIDER TRUCKS? WHAT TRICKS WILL YOU HELP ME?

They will definitely help you get 50-50 grinds and other grinds much easier than on a skinny truck. They also felt lighter to me than on a really wide axle. I felt that with a really wide truck there was too much clearance on either side of the wheel that I would slide around a bit on the coping. With the 2.5″ size I feel like I can really hold on and get nice, long grinds on a variety of copings, ledges, rails… The feeling of being in tune with my gear is also really come with these axes. With a wider truck, I often worried about damaging my wheels or feeling like my posture was severely compromised. These just feel like they’re the right size for my feet, making me feel really stable and in control of my skating.

IS IT A RIGHT GENERALIZATION TO STATE THAT WIDER TRUCKS ARE BETTER FOR STREET SKATING AND NARROW FOR CARVING BOWLS?

No, I think I would disagree. Wider trucks are good for anything grind related, be it street or coping, and I also find that when carving bowls, especially large bowls, a bit of width underfoot gives you a better base for stability gives you the feeling that you can control those carves and accelerate a little bit more. So I think the right wide trucks can suit pretty much all styles of skating.

DO I HAVE TO CUT MY KINGPINS TO GRIND WITH CHUFFEDCORE TRUCKS?

Kingpins should not stick out too far on this truck. This was heavily incorporated into the design by designer Garry Manfroid. So when we say a skate is compatible with these trucks, we would also say it has full kingpin clearance. That definitely went into the design process from the start.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU CHOSE THE MATERIALS?

The hangar of the ChuffedCore trucks is made of T6 aluminum, a very common material in skateboard manufacturing. It’s a high quality, high strength aluminum alloy that grinds really well. The high quality skateboard trucks used for grinding use this material. The axle is optionally made of steel or titanium. Both are really high strength. Titanium is just a little bit lighter. It is typically around 45% lighter than steel.

DO YOU HAVE WHEEL SIZE RECOMMENDATIONS IF USING CHUFFEDCORE GRIND TRUCKS AND BRUNNY SLIDERS?

Personally, I skate a 54mm wheel on my chuffed skates with my Brunny sliders. I feel like I’m nice and low and I can focus on my grinds. I think Garry rides a 58mm wheel. I think anything larger than 58 is a bit too big to grind, so I would recommend a wheel between 54mm and 58mm for most skates and plates. Again, it comes down to preference. So if you feel like something is working for you, then do it!

WHAT PLATES ARE THE CHUFFEDCORE TRUCKS COMPATIBLE WITH?

We haven’t been able to test them on all plates, but these are the plates we tested for fit. These plates will either fit them out of the box or require some modifications to the cushions and rotating bowls.

Compatible with no modification required:

Chuffed Skates standard plate

Suregrip Avanti

Suregrip probe

Sunlit

Wonder

Modifications required to adapt to:

1.2 penny deck / length

The deck of a classic penny board is relatively small and easy to take with you. It gives you plenty of room to push but just enough room to cruise down the coast. Thanks to its short deck length, it’s otherwise very flexible, doesn’t seem overly flexible and still offers some stability; However, videos often show people driving cars over their penny skateboard without injuring themselves — called “bottoms out.” The deck of a penny nickel board is longer and reminds me of a longboard. Comfort is high and standing is easier – especially for beginners and people with large feet.