If you’ve been following you will have noticed that I’ve been actively working my way through different brands of skateboard decks and it’s been a great experience. This time I’ve explored and skated a toy machine 8.25 deck. Read on to find out how I enjoyed skating a toy machine on this review.
Toy Machine Skateboard Deck Key Specs:
Brand: Toy Machine
Model: drip (blue / yellow)
Deck Width: 8.25
Deck length: 32
Concave: medium
Material: 7-ply Maple
Pro Model: No
Design and aesthetics of the Toy Machine deck
From what I can tell this is standard line deck, not a pro model with a specific design. However I loved the design never the less. No one has to guess it’s a toy machine, let’s say that much. Throw in the contrasting colours of navy blue and yellow and it does stand out a little.
Performance and Feel of the Toy Machine deck
Getting down to business, this deck even though it looks super nice screams to be skated, you can’t just walk around holding it and looking like a poser. Nope, step on this thing and you’ll feel the way it fits your feet and flows nicely.
From the first Ollie to the last heelflip I did on it, the deck just stuck to my feet. Catching in air wasn’t hard, which sounds weird but the deck almost levitated upwards with my pop and hugged my feet as it came around from flips. Comments from fellow skateboarders, usually we’re questions like “do you have magnets in your shoes”, “did you see that pop” etc.
I can’t say it was heavier or lighter on either side (nose or tail either), just that it was quite evenly distributed.
Generally riding around on the park, the deck carved as I needed quite nicely, my feet felt comfortable with their positioning and in general I was happy. Worth noting the grip was default black mob grip.
Durability and Build Quality of the Toy Machine deck
This is where I have a problem with the toy machine deck. The build quality looked just as good as my Element decks and performed as good as the Zoo York deck. However this thing snapped, right in half, after a heelflip about 5 sessions in. I know I come down hard on my heelflips but that last element deck, the Zoo York deck and now my Cliche deck have handled this better. Oddly I didn’t see any pressure cracks forming either, so the snap was completely unexpected
I therefore don’t know if it was just bad luck, or lower quality in the materials. As a pro, you’d be fine, replacing a skateboard deck every couple of sessions, but as a casual skater paying $60 plus, you’d possibly be disappointed.
The design stuck around for a while, scratches from stopping and doing some noseslides/board slides weren’t too bad, which means it was well applied to the deck, which was great.
Pros and Cons of the Toy Machine Deck
Pros:
– Incredible pop
– Lightweight
– Really good connection to feet
Cons:
– Price might be high for casual skaters if it doesn’t last.
Who is this Toy Machine deck best for?
Based on my experience I would put this toy machine deck down as being great for two kinds of skaters. 1. The casual skateboarder who just rides (no flips or heavy drops). 2. The pro that can replace a deck every few sessions. This is based on the longevity of the deck that I experienced. I may buy a second in the future and update this, if I experience different.
Price and value of the Toy Machine deck
Is the deck well valued, absolutely it was acquired at the price of a midrange deck. Not overly expensive and also not crazy cheap. Therefore value for money, if you can get 20 sessions or more out of this, then it’s a great deck.
Conclusion:
Alright let’s conclude. If you want to pop like a pro, flips that stick to your feet then yeah this toy machine drip deck is for you. Just try to make sure you’re landing bolts every time. The guys I skate with, don’t count things as nice unless we land over bolts, so this becomes a habit and technique for us.
I think the ultimate question to ask has to be, would I ride a toy machine deck again. The answer is a definite yes, and even though I’m trying different things out each purchase I am tempted by a second toy machine before I go for anything else, after my current cliche deck.
