The Powell-Peralta Dragonskin wheels have generated considerable buzz in the longboarding community, touted as an improvement over Powell’s already well-regarded slide wheels. This review will analyze their performance based on hands-on experience and insights from the product designer, Kevin Reimer. Let’s dive in to see if the hype matches reality.
Powell Peralta Dragonskin Freeride Wheels: An In-Depth Look
Powell has a strong reputation for producing high-quality soft sliding wheels, dominating the freeride market with products like the Snakes, G-Slides, and Kevin Reimer wheels. The Dragonskins aim to surpass these, promising enhanced performance and durability. This has led to a highly anticipated release, with prototypes and limited drops fueling the excitement.
Powell Peralta DragonSkin wheels
The Vision Behind the Dragonskins
According to Kevin Reimer, the Dragonskin wheels resulted from ongoing experimentation with proprietary formulas. They evolved from a project started before 2013, with early prototypes proving successful in races like Angies Curves. The goal was to create a freeride wheel that offered superior roll speed, grip, and longevity compared to the popular Snakes. Reimer emphasized a commitment to both performance and environmental responsibility through increased product lifespan.
Key Design and Performance Features
The Dragonskins are designed to excel on all types of pavement, including notoriously challenging surfaces like California slurry seal. They are approximately 6 durometer points harder than the 75a SSF wheels, resulting in a firmer ride, increased resistance to chipping and chunking, and a higher-end overall feel. They’re currently available in 66mm and 69mm sizes, utilizing the same molds as the Snakes.
powell peralta freeride wheels
Analyzing the Hype: Do They Live Up To Expectations?
While the hype surrounding the Dragonskins is substantial, this review will focus on an objective assessment of their performance. The marketing for Powell products often creates significant anticipation, but it’s crucial to evaluate the product independently.
On-Road Performance: Speed and Slide
These wheels demonstrate impressive roll speed, accelerating quickly and maintaining momentum. They outpace the Powell Snakes, making freeriding more enjoyable. The standout feature of the Dragonskins is their unique slide feel: a smooth, forgiving glide, with a distinctive sensation of the wheel moving across the pavement, rather than gripping or wearing down. This feel is often described as a midpoint between chalky and icy, or an “icy wheel that thanes.”
abuga toeside slide dragonskin wheels
Edge Grip and Slide Initiation
The wheels offer significant edge grip before transitioning into a slide, providing a form of feedback that allows the rider to feel when the wheels are about to break traction. This consistent feeling at various speeds increases confidence, especially during faster slides. However, this prominent edge grip can be less ideal for slower-speed maneuvers like 360 slides. Some riders have also noted that the edge grip can be too intense, creating an undesirable feel depending on the setup.
Consistency Across Pavements
The Dragonskins maintain a consistent slide feel across diverse pavement types, from smooth, new roads to older, rough surfaces. Though some slight variations may occur, especially on slurry seal, the overall experience remains consistent. They also perform well on rough, gravelly roads, minimizing the edge grip while maintaining the slide quality.
Forgiving Nature and Setup Sensitivities
These wheels are very forgiving, maintaining slides even when the rider is not in an optimal position. This forgiving nature adds a layer of safety for riders of varying skill levels. However, the feel of the wheel can be significantly influenced by the setup. When ridden on different trucks such as the Aera RF-1 and Gen 6 Bears, the feel can vary from having a smooth transition to feeling like an edge-grip focused wheel.
sp8boards bullet standing picture
Durability and Wear
While a long-term assessment of the Dragonskins’ durability is pending, initial feedback suggests that they are exceptionally long-lasting, potentially offering three to four times the lifespan of Snakes, depending on the riding surface. The wheels do thane, leaving light marks on the road, but show minimal wear. Though they are more resistant to chunking, they can exhibit some small flaking on the lips when pushed on very rough surfaces.
Temperature and Chunking Considerations
The Dragonskins perform differently based on temperature, with warmer temperatures enhancing grip and colder temperatures increasing the slide. They are also more resistant to chunking than the softer Powell wheels.
Ideal Use Cases
The Dragonskins are exceptional for fast freeriding due to their unique edge grip and consistent slide. They allow riders to feel the slide initiation more clearly, boosting confidence. This makes them suitable for advanced riders seeking to enhance their freeride capabilities.
powell peralta dragonskins
Limitations and Considerations
- Setup Sensitivity: The varying feel across different truck setups suggests that the best performance may be achieved with specific setups, which is something that may not appeal to all users.
- Slow-Speed Maneuvers: The strong edge grip can be less ideal for slow-speed maneuvers.
- Limited Testing Conditions: The review primarily focuses on warm weather conditions, and long-term durability testing was limited, so further testing is required for a complete understanding.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Buy the Dragonskins
Ideal for:
- Riders seeking high-performance, fast freeride wheels.
- Those wanting to explore innovative wheel technologies.
- Enthusiasts excited by the hype surrounding the product.
- Riders who prioritize speed and consistent slides.
- Those looking to try a wheel that does things a bit differently from the rest of the market.
- Experienced riders seeking to elevate their fast freeride performance.
Not recommended for:
- Riders primarily engaged in slow-speed skating (below 20 mph).
- Those who prefer traditional wheel feel without significant edge grip.
- Skeptics of product hype who want proven performance.
Conclusion
The Powell-Peralta Dragonskin wheels live up to a large portion of the hype, offering unique sliding characteristics and impressive performance. They stand out with their blend of roll speed, edge grip, and smooth, forgiving slides. While they may not be the ideal choice for every rider due to their setup sensitivity, their unique feel, consistency, and performance benefits make them a top contender in the freeride wheel market.
Landyachtz Cheesegrater,Gen 6 Bear trucks, Dragonskin wheels
Further Exploration: If you’ve ridden the Dragonskins, we’d love to hear your experience. Please share your thoughts and help us create an even more comprehensive resource for longboard enthusiasts.
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Disclaimer: While the pre-production wheels were provided for free, this review has been conducted without bias or influence from Powell-Peralta. Our commitment is to provide honest assessments of all products.
