The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Skateboard Grip Tape | Element (2024)

FAQs

How do I choose grip tape for my skateboard? ›

Pick the Right Grip Tape Sheet Size

Grip tape usually comes in 9" x 33" sheets, while oldschool board grip tape can measure up to 12" x 14". It's important to know your board's dimensions when choosing your grip tape size, as you'll need a sheet that's big enough to cover your deck completely.

What is griptape made of? The rough surface of griptape typically consists of silicon carbide and provides resistance and friction between your deck and the soles of your shoes. Without this friction, it'd be extremely hard to get your deck into the air.

Grit ratings range from 12 grit to approximately 1000 grit, but grip tape ranges from 24 grit to about 80 grit.

Once the grip is pressed down firmly, you can take a file and start breaking the edges of the tape before cutting. You can use a file, or pretty much any straight metal tool (shaft of a screw driver, ruler edge, etc), and run it along the edge of your board on top of the grip.

Grip Sizing

Golfers with the smaller hands need undersized grips and those with larger hands need a larger golf grip size. Grips come in junior, undersized, standard, midsize and jumbo sizes. If you want something between a standard and a midsize, you can use extra wraps of tape under the grip to customize the size.

Grip tape works well to give your feet traction on the board, even when wet. But grip tape can lose adhesion over time with repeated wetting and drying. If that happens, the tape will start to peel off the deck.

Skateboarding can get messy, and over time, your skateboard's grip tape can accumulate dirt, dust, and grime, making it less effective.

ZUEXT Skateboard Griptape is the perfect balance of grit that keeps your board attached to your feet while not destroying your shoes too fast. It skates great with the classic black, clear or camo skateboard griptape. Grab a griptape sheet now!

THE GRIPTAPE INDUSTRY

Amongst the leaders, Jessup is understood to be the only brand both manufacturing and selling skate griptape itself in the US, and Mob does have its own exclusive facility. However, there are a number of companies who have grip produced in Asia and get it cut and printed in the US.

Choosing the Right Sandpaper Grit

For heavy sanding and stripping, you need coarse sandpaper grit measuring 40- to 60-grit; for smoothing surfaces and removing small imperfections, choose medium sandpaper from 80- to 120-grit sandpaper. To finish surfaces smoothly, use a super fine sandpaper with 400- to 600-grit.

Which is rougher 80 or 120 grit? ›

For example, if you're refinishing a piece of wood furniture, you'll start with a coarse grit like 80 to remove the finish and smooth any imperfections. Next, you'll advance to a finer grit like 100 or 120 to smooth the scratches left behind by the 80-grit sandpaper.

You want to make sure your grip is 100% applied to your board. This will help bond it to your board. Use your pointed tip screwdriver to poke holes in the grip for your hardware. It's always best to go from the top down.

Trim the griptape to fit

Cut the excess tape off the deck with a box cutter along the mark.

As a general rule, adding 4 extra layers of tape (in addition to the 1 wrap of double-sided tape needed to adhere the grip to the shaft) will take a grip from an Undersize to Standard, Standard to Midsize, and so on. Be aware that building up grips with extra tape will stretch the rubber and make the grip feel firmer!

Before you can put new grip tape on you will need to pull off the original sheet. In many cases your local skate shop will be able to help you with grip tape removal but it's always handy to know how to do it yourself.

If performing technical tricks on flat ground is your preference, wheels around 98a work well. These best wheels for freestyling are commonly between 54mm and 55mm. Street skating. If the pavement is your preferred riding surface, you'll fare best with wheels of at least a 99a durometer rating.