The flat-cave deck keeps the ride mellow but its sharp rails will still give you sudden energy shifts when necessary. The deck's lightweight and flexible yet as tough as multi-layered maple boards.
The bottom scratches easily.
Practicing stability and learning new tricks is Penny Australia Flame's wheelhouse. But, as swift, responsive, and snappy as this board is, what we like the most is the epic artwork on the bottom that mimics the '70s and '80s 4-wheeled freedom vessels that were Old Ford, Chevy, and Bedford vans.
Practicing stability, learning new skate tricks
27" deck with waffle non-slip coating
4" cast aluminum powder-coated trucks
Abec 7 stainless steel bearings
59mm (2.32") 83A polyurethane wheels
Limited lifetime
The double-spray grip enables sufficient barefoot hold, so you can ride and even boardwalk without shoes. The surf and rail adapters improve the turning radius, increase control, and enable tight carves and aggressive turns.
The bearings become loud with time.
Owing to the Waterborne tech, riding Australia Blackout High-Line Surfskate feels nothing like using an average Penny board. No, with the adapters adding a degree of suspension and dampening vibrations, the board glides with an unparalleled smoothness and feels more like a surfboard than a skate.
Skills progression and all-time stoke (by utilizing Waterborne patented technology)
29" concave deck with waffle non-slip coating and double-spray grip
6" cast aluminum powder-coated trucks
Abec 7 stainless steel bearings
59mm (2.32") 83A polyurethane wheels
Limited lifetime
The all-black look is simple yet sleek, making the board stealthy and creating an understated style that separates the model from bright and loud skateboards. The rebound is high, so you can ride without worrying about every minute obstacle.
The board cannot support a substantial load.
Penny Australia Classic Complete Skateboard sticks with the basics, recreating the classic board that put this company on the map and decided its trajectory going forward. Embodying Penny's vibe, this board keeps the ride smooth and lets you chill and make some memories without feeling any pressure at all.
Learning skateboarding, street riding
22" deck with waffle non-slip coating
3" cast aluminum powder-coated trucks
Abec 7 stainless steel bearings
59mm (2.32") 83A polyurethane wheels
Limited lifetime
The bearings are made from stainless steel, so they're protected from moisture and will not start showing corrosion signs with time. The wheels give you a narrow contact patch, making the board responsive.
The wheels start wearing out pretty soon.
Penny Australia Bright Light draws inspiration from Tokyo streets. Featuring marmalade orange trucks, bright cyan wheels, as well as the company's staple black deck, the board will enable conquering busy city streets with confident intensity, setting you apart from the bland monochrome crowd.
Learning skateboarding, street riding
22" deck with waffle non-slip coating
3" cast aluminum powder-coated trucks
Abec 7 stainless steel bearings
59mm (2.32") 83A polyurethane wheels
Limited lifetime
The board is quite heavy.
Longboards are excellent long-distance transportation means and Penny Australia Ocean Mist follows suit. Aside from ensuring a relaxed ride and supporting comfortable long-range trips, this board will enable easy boardwalking, steep carving, and safe downhill riding.
Classic and relaxed ride, long-range trips
36" deck with waffle non-slip coating
6" cast aluminum powder-coated trucks
Abec 7 stainless steel bearings
59mm (2.32") 83A polyurethane wheels
Limited lifetime
Epic Artwork
The Penny Australia Flame borrows inspiration from the 4-wheeled freedom vessels that the '70s and '80s were all about. We're talking about Old Ford, Chevy, and Bedford vans sporting epic artwork on sides. Nowadays, people usually dig minimalism and we have nothing against it. But, surrounding awesome-looking flames with a chequered flag, there's something about this board, something that blasts from the past without deterring/discouraging the future. The downside is that, as much as we like the artwork, the bottom scratches pretty easily, so the print seldom lasts, as unfortunate as it is.
Setting aesthetics aside, what we're working with here is a mid-length Penny board that accommodates kids and intermediate skaters. With the deck measuring 27 inches long, kids and teenagers can practice stability on this skateboard but also learn new skate tricks. Not unlike most cruisers, this one's versatile and pretty maneuverable. the company's playbook, the deck on the board is pretty much flat, which means that the skaters' feet are working with generous space and ample room for boardwalking..
Fast and Responsive
Of course, the company's decks are seldom disappointing but the trucks, wheels, and bearings can miss sometimes. Here though, they're hitting on all cylinders. Starting with the trucks, the board adopts 4-inch cast aluminum powder-coated trucks, nothing that Penny boards have not shown us before. But the wheels, the wheels are a little different. Technically speaking, they're the same 59-millimeter (2.32-inch) 83A polyurethane wheels. That said, even though they're not the smallest wheels, they're more responsive than most 59ers, they pop and flip alright, and they're no slouch acceleration-wise.
While the wheels are not necessarily that soft, they're not bad from a friction perspective, the rebound is solid, and the wheels snap back into shape with almost no delay. They're semi-conical wheels, so, again, the response is alright and the wheels will not stop you from learning and pulling off intermediate tricks, at the very least. Removing the wheels from the equation, Penny boards nowadays are usually sporting Abec 7 stainless steel bearings and this board is no exception. They're durable and long-lasting bearings that do not weigh as much as cast aluminum ones, making the board tough yet lightweight.
Additional Info
Last updated price | $129.00 |
Stock | In stock |
ASIN | B084P3CNR2 |
Genuine Surfing Feel
Take a back seat, kids, and let old-timers show you how it's done. Alright, we're not discouraging you, young fellows, here, you can ride and appreciate everything that the Penny Australia Blackout High-Line Surfskate board is offering just as much as the more experienced riders. Sure, both crowds know that the width is where it's at and that the length should seldom be the top consideration. Still, the 29-inch deck that we're working with here deserves at least some recognition, so here it is. But, as much as we like the extra length that lets adults ride with comfort, the board does not bank on this part, not really. What this skateboard is banking on is the company's patented Waterborne tech as well as the double-spray grip.
Starting with the latter, the double-spray grip facilitates barefoot hold, hence the 'surfskate' in the board's name. Owing to this double-spraying approach, the model even enables boardwalking without shoes.
A Unique Riding Experience
Long story short, the double-spray grip is huge, but not as huge as the aforementioned Waterborne tech. No, this is what this board's all about, its angle, its focal point, its nucleus, the best and biggest part. In a nutshell, what the technology is bringing to the table is these surf and rail adapters that you put between the trucks and the deck. With these adapters, you receive an improved turning radius as well as increased control.
Using cushiony urethane bushings, these adapters act almost like conventional skate trucks. The difference here is that they're also adding an important suspension degree, dampening vibrations and enhancing the board's glide so that you can generate speed from pumping. This is where the genuine surfing feel comes from, separating the board from the company's average skateboard. Working alongside the 6-inch cast aluminum trucks, the adapters also enable wide yet tight carves and sharp aggressive turns, giving the board more lean and keeping the ride buttery smooth.
Is there anything disappointing about this Penny board? Sure. Even though the model uses the same Abec 7 stainless steel bearings that most Penny skateboards are using today, these ones become pretty loud with time, maybe it is the adapters' influence, who knows. Nevertheless, Australia Blackout High-Line Surfskate is an absolute blast. As much as we enjoy Penny skateboards, riding this board is nothing like riding most Penny models and we mean it as a compliment, 100%.
Additional Info
Last updated price | $0.00 |
Stock | May be out of stock |
ASIN | B07ZQV5D95 |
Timeless Friendship
The Penny Australia Classic Complete Skateboard is that old friend that you haven't hung out with in ages but, when you do, it feels like no time has passed and you're still on great terms, clicking and having an awesome time. This is the board that made Penny Australia, the board that put the company on skateboarders' map, the board that defined the company and shaped its future. We're not saying that this is the company's best board though, not quite. When you're going back to the basics, there are always sacrifices, and we will discuss these sacrifices.
But first, the updated timeless look, the all-black paintwork that is both simple and sleek, the totally black aesthetic that makes the model even stealthier than the board that started it all. The look embodies the company's vibe and we can dig that, letting you cruise with an understated yet distinct style - no logos, no aggressive artwork, just you chilling and making memories.
Of course, we're discussing a classic Penny board here, meaning that the model will facilitate learning skateboarding as much as street riding. The board will not be able to support substantial loads but this is always the case with 22-inch decks.
High Rebound Rate
Construction-wise, the board features the classic 22-inch deck with waffle non-slip coating. Supporting the deck are 3-inch cast aluminum powder-coated trucks, Abec 7 stainless steel bearings, and 59-millimeter (2.32-inch) 83A polyurethane wheels.
From where we're standing, the wheels are the best part here. Thanks to the size, they enable comfortable cruising and can keep the ride pretty smooth. With the 83A part referring to the wheels' above-average hardness, the wheels are boasting a high rebound rate, so you feel confident on the streets, tackling substantial obstacles without feeling even the tiniest bumps.
The trucks are contributing almost as much as the wheels though. They're plenty responsive, which means you can make last-millisecond corrections without losing balance. They also facilitate flipping and popping despite sitting pretty close to the board.
Could this board have used rail adapters, like the ones that the Blackout High-Line Surfskate model is using? Yeah. But we're glad this one goes the opposite way, sticking with the basics and with what's been working for ages. If you feel the same way, we can highly recommend trying the Penny Australia Classic Complete Skateboard.
Additional Info
Last updated price | $109.00 |
Stock | In stock |
ASIN | B0153SF5OE |
Hit the Streets with Intensity
The Penny Australia Bright Light makes an interesting proposition, not necessarily the one that speaks to us but the one that might speak to the youth. While we like Penny boards a little more discreet and understated, this skateboard approaches from an opposite angle, drawing inspiration from the contrasting streets that define modern metropolis areas like Tokyo.
Adopting marmalade orange trucks, ultra cyan wheels, and the company's signature black deck, this board lets you hit the streets with unwavering intensity. This punchy board handles the toughest surfaces with ease, so you can switch between pavements, road tiles, even cobblestone roads knowing that the skateboard can defeat them all. But, full disclosure, we would recommend going easy on/with less forgiving surfaces since the coating on the wheels is not quite as durable as one would hope and replacing these wheels is about as fun as it sounds (not at all).
Leaving aesthetics behind, what we have here is Penny's classic board, not unlike the one that we have reviewed above. The model will fit newbies and experienced riders alike, letting inexperienced people learn skateboarding with relative comfort and ease, while seasoned veterans can attack the streets with confidence and poise.
The Hardware that Backs up the Loud Design
Penny skateboards, even though always affordable, seldom incorporate shoddy parts, and this one fits the same mold. This becomes especially evident when you look at the Abec 7 stainless steel bearings. First, they're relentless yet resilient, so good luck wearing them out. Second, made from stainless steel, they could not care less about moisture and dust, meaning that you can hit every puddle without worrying that the bearing might start forming rust patches or corroding eventually.
The deck's nothing to scoff at too. As always, the waffle-top non-slip coating will let you ride without worrying about slipping and falling on an even surface. Made from composite materials, the deck remains flexible without deforming with time.
Concluding the review are the standard 3-inch cast aluminum trucks that adopt powder-coating to protect them from rust and corrosion 83A polyurethane wheels measuring 59 millimeters (2.31 inches), offering a pretty narrow contact patch with an excellent response.
To conclude, the Penny Australia Bright Light is loud and boisterous yet the hardware that this board comes equipped with can back up the model's loud demeanor, making quite an appealing case.
Additional Info
Last updated price | $109.00 |
Stock | In stock |
ASIN | B084PF2HGJ |
Long-Range Traveling
Technically speaking, the Penny Australia Ocean Mist is a longboard. The skateboarding community seldom associates Penny boards with longboards but the company has dipped its toes into this segment before and this model follows the same suit. Even though aesthetics is not what separates this board from its penny relatives first and foremost, we'll start there, so stick with us. Basing its design on the Australian coastline, the board recreates the country's coastal hue pairing a teal blue deck contrasts with sand-colored wheels, adding some uplifting freshness that 2020 could use, no doubt about that.
Apart from its appearance, the longboard disposition is what defines Ocean Mist. Just like most longboards, this one offers a classic and relaxed ride and can facilitate long-range trips. The board is less flexible than cruisers and even less than standard skateboards, so you can forget about easily pulling off tricks that involve flipping and popping. Plus, with the deck measuring 36 inches, the Penny Australia Ocean Mist is quite heavy, much more so than the previous Penny models.
All Roads will Work
However, the upsides are also huge. To begin with, the board handles rough surfaces with ridiculous ease, absorbing vibrations and enabling a comfortable ride even on cobblestone roads. The board is excellent at building momentum and sustaining it, meaning that long-range trips take much less effort.
Needless to say, an increased deck also promotes stability and lets you ride with confidence knowing that some small bump will not be enough to throw you off. Rocks, rough roads, you name them, the board can handle them all. Sure, the board is also less responsive since the enlarged trucks increase the clearance between the wheels and the deck. But the high-tensile bolts that hold the deck let the board support as much as 260 pounds without hiccups, so even the fluffiest riders can tame this one without worrying about the longboard breaking down from the excess weight. Aside from long-distance traveling, longboards are pretty good at aiding carving and facilitating downhill riding. They're also more durable than skateboards and cruisers.
Additional Info
Last updated price | $139.00 |
Stock | In stock |
ASIN | B084NW7NMM |
What Is a Penny Board?
Penny boards are plastic skateboards that the community usually classifies as short cruisers. They're made by Penny Australia, though people often use the term to describe most plastic cruisers nowadays that are on the short side. These boards are affordable and, made from plastic, much more flexible than skateboards with wooden decks. Despite the inexpensive price, they are made from quality materials and can usually support more weight than you would presume looking at them.
Most Penny boards are classic cruisers, some are pretty much standard skateboards or longboards, and some are unique models that you cannot purchase elsewhere. More often than not, they're portable boards that can easily handle city streets. Some Pennies will let you learn skateboarding, while others can help seasoned riders pull off sick tricks. Though they're not quite as comfortable in this regard as electric skateboards, the company's boards even enable semi-comfortable short-distance commuting. You can also choose between countless designs, including minimalistic-looking boards and bright and loud models grabbing everyone's attention right away.
What Features to Compare
Application
Most Penny boards are technically cruisers. Cruisers let you traverse busy city streets and learn skateboarding. The ones that come equipped with wide decks will provide additional stability, while the narrow models will be more responsive, so you can perform small tricks. There are also Penny models that are longboards and skateboards, with the former facilitating carving and long-distance riding and the latter letting you pull off tricks that entail popping, flipping, and grinding rails and ledges. There are also unique models that incorporate different adapters, with some models feeling more like surfboards than skateboards.
Deck
Generally speaking, as far as the deck is concerned, the width is more important than the length. But the length will determine the board's disposition even more than the deck's width, so it is pretty crucial as well. From a construction standpoint, the company's decks always employ waffle-top non-slip coating so you can ride without worrying that the shoes you're wearing might be a little slippery. Penny boards are almost always flat but there are a few models with concave decks, elevating the board's responsiveness and facilitating carving. Some models also incorporate double-spray grip, meaning that you can ride them even barefoot.
Trucks
Trucks decide how responsive the board is almost as much as the deck. When the trucks are done right, you can add last-moment corrections. They will also determine how easy the board carves. The folk at Penny Australia always make them from cast aluminum and apply powder coating, protecting the trucks against the elements and making sure that they do not fall victim to rust or corrosion.
Bearings and Wheels
The company uses industry-standard Abec 7 stainless steel bearings, boosting the boards' longevity and, with the stainless steel construction, also ensuring that the elements cannot harm them. Because Penny boards are, generally speaking, cruisers, they're using 59-millimeter (2.32-inch) wheels that rate 83A hardness-wise. To put it differently, these are medium-sized and relatively soft wheels, usually giving you a contact patch that's not especially narrow or wide, with a solid response and the wheels almost immediately snapping back into shape after popping. They're pretty good from an acceleration viewpoint and not terrible at handling rough surfaces.
Skateboards vs Cruisers vs Longboards
Skateboards used to be nothing but some wooden plank, 2 trucks, and 4 wheels. Because that's the case, most people call anything that fits this description a skateboard, even though there are noticeable differences between average skateboards, cruisers, and longboards. Without further ado, here are these differences:
Skateboards
Ordinary skateboards, shaped like popsicles, aid technical skating and let you perform tricks that revolve around popping and/or flipping the board. Width-wise, they vary from 7 to 9 inches. Length-wise, these boards usually range between 30 and 32 inches. Street skaters stick with narrow decks, while verters and bowl skaters normally go with wide decks. Aside from the popsicle-like shape, these boards can look quite different. The models that have noses and kicktails curving upwards enable jumping and flipping the board with relative ease. Meanwhile, concave boards, where the curve follows the entire deck, can make the board more responsive while carving. In other words, classic skateboards let you grind ledges and slide across rails as well as pop ollies and flips.
Cruisers
Cruisers sit between skateboards and longboards. You can use them for commuting as much as for rolling around with decent comfort. Most cruisers adopt flat decks but there are models that elevate the tail and add some concave to the deck. These models let you hop on and off curbs as well as correct the balance without losing composure. Most Penny boards are cruisers, though there are some that can be considered longboards or skateboards. They're more lightweight than longboards and taller than standard skateboards. Enabling quick acceleration and providing balance with comfort, cruisers are the best overall boards when done right.
Sure, they do not make carving and downhill riding as easy as longboards but it is possible. The wheels on cruisers are always relatively soft so that even rough terrains become tolerable. The boards that come with an elevated tail will let you perform basic tricks but not as much as regular skateboards. You will not be grinding curbs or pulling off sick ollies on cruisers but, with some experience, you can have almost as much fun on these boards in parks as you'd have on a skateboard.
Longboards
Longboards are the tallest boards, hence the name. You can accelerate like crazy on a board like that, racing downhill without worrying that a small pebble can become the difference between you having fun and visiting a hospital with a few broken bones. Again, due to the size, longboards are not as responsive as cruisers and skateboards. Elevating them off the ground is not quite as easy as it is with cruisers/skateboards. But, aside from building momentum, these boards are excellent at maintaining it. Even people with limited experience can carve on a longboard. Last but not least, these boards enable covering substantial distances and can handle any surface, so you can hop on and go forth knowing that even the bumpiest surfaces will not present considerable challenges.