Raft Messenger

Flex Rating

So, what’s flex and why is it important to a skateboard? In skate-nerd terms, flex is the amount of displacement a deck sees when a specific amount of force is applied to it. Check out our formula to the left! There are a few factors that affect flex, like deck thickness, wheelbase, and the amount of force on a deck. We built a machine and put our entire lineup to the test by applying the exact same amount of force to all our boards and measured the displacement we saw in each. This gives a totally scientific and accurate flex range across our entire line! It’s important to understand flex when choosing a board. Here are some basics: Downhill/freeride skateboards will have less flex because you need a stiff platform to stand on when you’re bombing or gripping a corner at speed. Carving skateboards will have more flex, giving you the ability to sink into your turns and pump or carve with ease. Most cruisers, dance and ATV boards will have less flex for control when doing tricks but just enough to be forgiving when pushing around town. We’ve engineered our boards with the best flex for each style of riding but remember, flex is subjective so get out a see what you like the most!