I wrote this review a while ago and it still stands. After testing many flight decks for durability and pop, I can tell you that this board last for a long time. You can break it, but it’s more likely to crack after extensive use instead of snapping in half. The flight decks lasts about 3 times longer than regular 7-ply maple decks, even for hardcore skaters.
The Powell Peralta flight deck is lighter than anything I skated before, has decent long-lasting pop, and feels really playful. Stiff, poppy, lightweight, and longer-lasting as long as you don’t use your tail to brake. Once it starts to wear, the fiberglass can cause your skin to itch, though the newer models have improved.
It holds up to its reputation in most areas but the are a few minor caveats. I still think it’s the perfect street board but it comes at a price. Is it really worth the money or would you be better off with regular deck?
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Contents
Is This Truly The Best Skateboard Deck?
That remains to be seen, the Flight deck remains one of the most durable skateboard decks, but needs to share this title with the Santa Cruz VX deck which offers a bit more pop and the Lithe NEX/Lithe Slate 3.
Overall the flight deck is incredibly strong and the true secret isn’t the fiber, Steve Cabellero mentioned on The Nine Club it’s the glue. It’s supposed to keep the fiber from splintering though earlier version still had this problem.
Pros:
- Can land with both feet in the middle without breaking the board instantly.
- Crispy pop and it lasts for ages
- Lightweight and responsive
- Great rebound and snap
- Very, very durable lasts longer than any deck I previously skated
- A very thin deck
- The tail is about 1.5/2x as strong
- Doesn’t snap in half
- Tail won’t snap
- No need to break it in
- Mellow concave
Cons:
- The graphic is gone in a second (but who cares right?)
- Once it starts to wear the fibers can cause itch
- Razor tails just like any other board but it takes a bit longer
- It’s rather expensive
- Once the tail wears, shark bite will have a whole new meaning
- Mellow concave might be a deal breaker for some
Why is it Special?
It truly is one of the strongest and best skateboard deck available. While Powell-Peralta claims it can last up to 10 times longer, I would say 3 times at best for hardcore skaters. Truth be told, you’ll have a hard time breaking this board and is ideal for heavy skaters or board breakers. It truly sucks to snap a (new) deck in half but this is harder to accomplish when riding a flight deck.
The deck consists of two triaxial fiberglass layers with black (secret sauce) epoxy resin that holds the five Maple wooden ply’s together.
It has great pop and doesn’t lose its snap or pop after extensive use.
The top layer is made of the triaxial fiberglass which looks pretty weird when you look at it for the first time. I’m used to maple wood, not fiberglass but it definitely has a coolness factor.
How does it hold up?
Pretty good so far, this deck has been skated for quite some time and it’s still pop-fresh. After skating this board close to 90 hours, it really holds up well. Still has a good pop and stays snappy.
I think they did a poor job with the graphics, it disappears instantly. If you want a longer-lasting graphic look at Plan B’s Black Ice boards but this is not about being fashionable. A deck looks nice until you skate it right? That first boardslide may hurt a little, but decks are meant to be destroyed.
The tail will last for a good while but isn’t razor tail resistant, it seems to last longer though. No signs of fiberglass splinters and if you treat it right the tail can last longer than average. I don’t think it really lasts twice as long, but longer than a regular 7-ply deck..
Eventually, it will develop razor tail as all decks do, just stay away from manuals if you haven’t mastered them and use and old deck instead.
We managed to snap it after using great force. At first a crack appeared but it was still skateable, after a few more tries we we’re finally able to break in in half.
Update: after skating several flight decks I can tell you that they are worth the money. You can still skate them when you crack the board though it feels a bit sketch. As for wear, they don’t show pressure cracks and don’t chip. If you do a lot of flip tricks the deck will wear from the side walls.
Should You Buy It?
That is entirely up to you but I’m sure there are many people out there that will benefit from the toughness and appreciate the snappy and responsive feel this deck offers. After all, it’s personal preference and you might be able to pick up a few decent decks on sale for the same price.
Still, it’s a really strong deck and made it to our list of best skateboard decks for good reasons. It doesn’t feel as poppy as a hard rock maple deck but still provides enough pop to ollie bigger features.
When to Buy
If you have the disposable income, regularly break a deck, are older, and demand the best performance or break decks occasionally you should really go for it. It’s such a nice deck, poppy, snappy durable, and comes with great graphics. I really love how they look and definitely will give you that urge to go out and skate.
Even though the deck is about $100-110 you’ll earn that back if you snap board often. I think this is a great board for experienced technical skaters and skaters who want the best stuff. It’s a conversation starter.
Another pro is that it comes with a delamination warranty for its useful life. After testing many flight decks we didn’t had one board that showed any signs of delamination.
Check Amazon for the Flight deck.
When You Shouldn’t Buy
I bought this board a while ago and they went for around 70 bucks, I was shocked that they are so expensive nowadays, perhaps I got lucky but at 100 bucks it’s quite an investment for a skateboard deck. Powell-Peralta makes some bold claims and I’m not convinced it lasts 10 times longer than a regular deck.
Perhaps if you compare it to skateboard from Walmart or Target or one of those cheap blanks, but not compared to a reputable manufacturer. The fiberglass can be a dealbreaker for people with sensitive skin, you can get splinters once it starts to wear.
There are other durable decks that are cheaper so why the Flight deck? Do your research and make an informed decision when you buy.
Lastly, this board wears slower than others but once it does the tail will be vicious. The fiberglass will make it sharper compared to other boards and when it bites, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Other Durable Skateboard Deck Options
It’s not like Powell-Peralta is the only company that offers durable skateboard decks. In fact, there are many others. It just happens that they have been on top of the market for decades, a great reputation, and make great products. Here are some other options to consider.
Santa Cruz VX
Santa Cruz introduced the VX not too long ago which consists of 5 plys of maple and 2 fiberglass layers. Very cool board and I was glad I got one for myself. It has a bot more flex compared to a 7-ply maple deck, and is slightly heavier than the Flight deck (hardly noticeable).
It also has more concave so it’s a good choice for technical skaters. Poppy and quality board that won’t easily snap.
Lithe Nex & Lithe Slate 3
The Lithe Slate 3 is probably the most durable skateboard deck you can buy followed by the Lithe Nex. While the Nex is still affordable, the Slate 3 is for those with deeper pockets. Both are excellent decks that last for ages though they are slightly heavier than the competition. Still worth looking into if you hate razer tail or chipped decks.
Emillion Fibertech Decks
Emillion offers long-lasting fiberglass enhanced decks which keep their pop and snappiness for a long time. These boards last longer than regular maple decks and could be an option. Medium concave and stiff decks which you need to get used to, but once you do you’ll love it.
Lib Tech Skateboard Decks
Lib Tech offers decks using a mix of fiberglass, and maple wood. Hard to destroy these boards and great for heavy skaters or the demanding technical skater. These boards are hand made and consists of various materials carefully crafted into a quality board and claim to be eco-friendly.
P2 Decks
Another option if you’re looking for something stronger than average. P2 decks consist of 6 maple layers and kevlar fiber on top. They also offer a 45-day guarantee in case you chip your nose or tail and you can return it if you decks breaks from boardsliding or disaster tricks.
Dwindle Impact
Dwindle offers decks with carbon discs around the bolts at the bottom of the board. This absorbs most of the impacts and should make the deck last longer. They offer regular impact decks, Impact light and Impact plus. The plus has 8 maple ply’s and two carbon discs and A carbon-fiber top laminated insert.
We skated this board over 100 hours and it is one of the stronger decks for a decent price. No pressure cracks, just a few chips and it still has a few miles left. We moved on though, but this is a solid choice for hardcore street skaters.
Conclusion
It’s about time companies start pushing new technologies and develop decks that are longer lasting. Sure if your board snaps occasionally it might be good for business but you’ll ruin your reputation in the long run. I for one, welcome new tech as the industry has been in limbo for a long time.
Wheels, trucks, bearings, and bushings are getting better, so why not take decks to the next level? This is exactly what Powell-Peralta did and the skaters I talk to love the Flight decks. Do they last as long as claimed? I don’t think so, but if you are a deck breaker this will be a great investment.
It might take some time to get used to the snappiness or flex of this board but it’s a solid investment for skaters who break decks occasionally. It’s expensive, but it pretty popular and they are selling like hotcakes. Due to popular demand prices may vary. Give it a shot if you can afford it.
I’m an aged skateboarder and still shred responsibly. Started skateboarding 25 years ago, peaked in the 2000’s, and still ride to this day. I am a total geek when it comes to skateboard gear, love test to stuff and share my findings.