How to find the best skateboard grip tape | Jessup Manufacturing Co

Kickflips, ollies, zipping up and down the concrete. More than 6.4 million Americans are now experiencing skateboarding and traction is continuing to grow. When it comes to finding the best skateboard, it truly is a personal choice and depends on what you want to accomplish. One thing remains though: skateboards without grip tape are just not a complete skateboard. The grip tape is essential for keeping your feet on the board and providing traction to do tricks. Finding the best skateboard grip tape largely depends on your skating style, but there are several criteria to consider when making your purchasing decision.

Grip Tape That Doesn’t Destroy Your Shoes

Ripping up your shoes because of grip tape is commonplace in the sport. Considering that grip tape resembles sandpaper for sanding wood, but now it is being used for just the opposite- we are using it to grip ourselves to wood on a board. You can imagine how after time that will wreak havoc on the shoes you are pressing it up against.

You will want to look for a grip tape that isn’t too sharp, but grips well enough for the job. If you are skating around town and “just messing around” you can likely choose a grip tape that has a lower grain. However, if you are planning to use the board to do a ton of tricks, you’ll want to go with something of at least a medium grain to give you the traction needed.

If you’re just starting out, we recommend going with something less grippy. It won’t destroy your shoes while you are learning and you can work your way up to more traction as needed.

Grip Tape Sizes

The size of your board will dictate what grip tapes you should look at. Ideally, you want something that will seamlessly cover your entire board so you’ll need to know your board dimensions prior to purchasing. Skateboard and longboard grip tape are made of the same material, though it is sold in different sizes to accommodate different sizes of skateboard deck.

Grip tape is usually made in 9’’ x 33’’ sheets which are perfect for street skateboard setups. Longboard grip tape will measure differently, in some cases up to 12’’ x 4’’. If you have a cruiser or old school skateboard the dimensions may vary so, make sure you have them handy when you go to order.

Ease of Application

While some decks will have grip tape already on them, you will likely have to replace yours at some point. While applying skateboard grip tape is a fairly straightforward and easy process, the best skateboard grip tape will go on smoothly with little to no air bubbles.

Air bubbles can be very common with applications (especially for first timers), so don’t dismay. Rolling out your wheel over the grip tape should smooth out any bubbles.

Grip Tape Designs & Colors

Grip tape has come a long way since it was introduced to boarders in the 1970’s. Black colored grip tape is still the most common, but it can really be your own personal art. Some of the best skateboard grip tape we have seen offers bright colors, patterns, and our personal favorite is the clear grip tape to show off your deck.

Whatever your personality, there is likely to be a grip tape to reflect it. Skaters will also get creative and get patterns into their grip tape to help them easily tell between the nose and tail of the board. Some boards have even started graffiti art on their grip tape, spray painting their own designs.

Pricing

Pricing varies with grip tape, starting around $4 upwards of $20. Depending on what you are looking to do on your board, you can easily purchase a less expensive option and be perfectly fine. If you are looking to do more complex tricks, you might want to explore a grittier option which will come with a heftier price tag. However, gritty also means your shoes are more likely to shred quickly. Some boards opt for less grit, knowing they will need to replace it more in order to save the integrity of their board shoes. At the end of the day, it really will come down to how you want to skate and how much you mind (or don’t mind) replacing your grip tape.

Find Your Personal Best Skateboard Grip Tape

Choosing what is the best skateboard grip tape ultimately ends up being a personal preference. Although it doesn’t get as much attention as the deck and wheels, having the best skateboard grip tape for you is a crucial element to your board. With it being a one-time use component and fairly inexpensive the good news is that if you don’t like what you purchase, you can go back to the drawing board the next time around.

Shop our variety of skateboard grip tape options now.