As many readers will have noticed, I’m really trying out every type of skateboard deck I can get my hands on, for atleast a couple of months at a time. The collection of reviews is now starting to build, and what I’ve reviewed so far includes Zoo York, Element, Cliche, and Toy Machine.

This time around I got my feet onto an Almost deck, which is 8.25 in size and has a Ren & Stimpy (90s tv show) graphic on the bottom. Read on to find out how I got on with this. 

Almost Skateboard Deck Key Specs:

Brand: Almost
Model: Ren & Stimpy Amrani Room Mate
Deck Width: 8.25
Deck length: 31.9
Concave: low concave with steep kicks
Material: 7-ply Maple
Pro Model: Youness Amrani pro model

Shop Almost x Ren & Stimpy Amrani Room Mate 8.25" Skateboard Deck (multi) online | skatedeluxe

Design and aesthetics of the Almost deck

This is a pro model deck, by almost and therefore tends to have a more graphical image on the bottom of the deck. It is a pro deck by skater “Youness Amrani”. 

Check out his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/younessamrani/?hl=en
Check out a video part by Younes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xolywJ1-fxo

The image is a design based on the 90s tv animated cartoon called Ren & Stimpy, which if you’re a 90s child, you’ll be quite familiar with. It was a great tv show. I do like how it steps away from the default basic image on a deck, for the lower cost boards, but we don’t spend all day staring at the decks, unless you’re a collector. In which case, this could be a good addition to your skateboard deck collection, because it looks cool.  

Where the brand goes, which is on the tail, you do run the risk of it being worn down/scraped off, so you may get asked what kind of deck it is, as it may become less obvious the more you ride it. 

Almost Skateboard Deck Design
Almost Skateboard Deck Design

Performance and Feel of the Almost deck

Lets get to the point, how does the Almost deck feel, ride and perform? Is the almost deck good? 

I’ve been riding this for a few months now, and it feels comfortable. I cant step back to the Cliche which survived my hard heelflips, because the Almost deck moulds to my feet better. I am finding my foot positions quickly aswell, and able to roll out more tricks than before. I could mark this up to more experience but I’ve been skating for 20+ years on and off, so I do think the deck is helping me. 

I wont say it pops like a toy machine, but I have had a few nice pro level flips on it. Where everything has just clicked into place, from the tail slap, through to the elevation as I level out and the friction as I slide across the concave on my heel or toes. When this happens it has lead to people genuinely watching at the park, and a part of me hopes that it inspires a couple of scooter kids to pick up a board instead. The consistency in this area doesn’t rival the toy machine, but it far exceeds the cliche or element decks I had explored. 

I say regarding the weight it does feel a little heavy, so this could be why it’s not great every time, but it’s 7 ply maple, so technically shouldnt be any different to other decks unless the adhesive glue that holds the ply together is different in some way. 

Now if I’m generally riding around the park, just flowing its a great deck, like I said on the feet it feels like finding my position is easier on this, so general cruising and flow around parks is great. Technical stuff, I find maybe not so great. 

Check out the 50/50 I did on the almost skateboard deck over a gap [5050 over the gap]

The concave on this Almost skateboard deck is low, and personally I feel like I could do with a bit more on the edge, but that’s my personal preference. I feel like something with a bit more to it, helps with my kickflips and heelflips.  

Almost Skateboard Deck Concave
Almost Skateboard Deck Concave

Durability and Build Quality of the Almost deck

Like the Cliche deck this one has lasted, and if I’m honest I’ve been less afraid of doing heelflips (which are my usual way of snapping decks), because I have a few spare decks, so I can take the risk and just skate. However its held up, either I’m landing more on the bolts than before (I doubt this), or its feeling stronger and surviving the tough throwdowns I’m giving it. 

I cant see any pressure cracks on the deck yet which is great for a couple of months in. I also can’t see many chips appearing, where I’ve snagged the board on a ledge, or it came down vertically for odd reasons. I would therefore say this board for durability and build quality could be a good candidate for new skaters who need a deck to last quite a while. Don’t hold me to that, because everyone skates differently but from my perspective and skating style it’s surviving quite nicely. 

As for the design, its surviving. There isnt a lot of damage to it, and I’ve been doing grinds, flip tricks, riding quarters, and flowing through parks, so it looks like it stays on for quite a while which is great. 

[INSERT IMAGE OF DECK]

Pros and Cons of the Almost Deck

Pros:
– It doesn’t break or chip easily
– Design survives for a while as well
– Its a pro model, so fair price

Cons:
– It feels heavier than I’d like
– The concave is a little shallower than I’d prefer. 

Who is this Almost deck best for?

Looking at the performance but more for the durability, I’d say this Almost skateboard deck is really for those doing a lot of flip tricks and really feeling things out. I liked how I could find my feet easily on this and even roll away some tricks I just don’t think I could have done, on other decks which is great for those learning tricks. If you’re looking to fine tune your tricks, maybe another deck could be better. Like I said I would prefer a bit more concave on my edges for my flips, but I’m not learning, I’m fine tuning/mastering my kickflips and heelflips. 

I think this deck is also a good all rounder, for park, street and flatland, so if you’re doing a bit of everything, I dont think you’ll go too far wrong if you pick up this Almost Ren & Stimpy Amrani Room Mate deck. 

Price and value of the Toy Machine deck

Looking at the price and what I paid for it. Well it’s a midrange price, not as cheap as a fracture, or mini logo, but also not up at the high cost level of a Blind or Zero skateboard deck. 

UK Prices are around: 60 GBP
https://www.skatehut.co.uk/almost-ren-stimpy-skateboard-deck-youness-room-mate-8-25.htm

US Prices are around: 50 USD
https://www.shopdullestowncenter.com/buy/product/almost-x-ren-stimpy-youness-roommate-825-skateboard-deck-zumiez-81508b

Conclusion:

It’s now time for me to move onto my next purchase which will be a blind reaper deck, so let’s summarise what I experienced with the skateboard deck. 

I found that this was very comfortable for my feet, finding positions, rolling and landing seemed to feel quite natural with this deck, but I would have preferred a little more concave on my edges, and the pop wasn’t quite as consistent as I experienced with the toy machine. The deck survived a lot, and this is an important thing to recognise, if you’re not replacing skateboard decks very often and looking for something that is strong, then this deck was made for you based on my experience. 

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