The Powell-Peralta Snakes are arguably one of the most hyped freeride wheels in the longboarding world today. But is the hype justified? This review dives deep into the performance, characteristics, and drawbacks of these popular wheels to help you decide if they are the right fit for your riding style.
Powell-Peralta Snakes: An In-Depth Look
Overview
The Powell-Peralta Snakes have earned a reputation as a go-to slide wheel for many longboarders, and for good reason. They’re known for their smooth, consistent slides, durability, and resistance to flat spots. They also offer a decent roll speed and don’t feel sluggish when accelerating.
For beginners looking for their first set of slide wheels, the Snakes are often a top recommendation. However, like any product, they also have some downsides, such as a tendency to chunk and frequent stock shortages.
Powell-Peralta Snakes Review
Note: Newer versions feature updated graphics.
Specifications:
- Diameter: 66mm
- Width: 45mm
- Contact Patch: 38mm
- Durometer: 75A
- Lip Profile: Round
- Surface: Stoneground
- Core Placement: Centerset
Hype vs. Reality
It’s easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding the Powell-Peralta Snakes, fueled by effective marketing. However, it’s important to approach these wheels with an objective perspective. Consider the actual performance and your specific needs rather than solely relying on opinions, especially from those without much technical riding experience.
Speed and Roll
The Snakes offer a pretty decent roll speed for a 66mm wheel, especially given its soft 75a durometer. While they might not be the fastest wheels in this size range, they’re certainly not sluggish and provide a good balance between speed and slide-ability. Compared to the faster 83a Powell Dragonskin wheels, the Snakes prioritize slide control over raw speed.
Sliding Performance
These wheels are exceptional when it comes to sliding. They transition smoothly into a slide, even at lower speeds. The slide is often described as being more buttery than icy, meaning they slide predictably and don’t suddenly break traction. This makes them forgiving, even if you make a mistake.
Stoneground Surface
The stoneground surface means these wheels are ready to slide right out of the box. You don’t need to wear off any skin to get them to break free, making them an easy option to slide.
Forgiving Hook-up and Release
The Snakes offer a very forgiving hookup and release. When you come out of a slide, they gently regain traction, without the suddenness that could throw you off balance. This “lazy” hookup allows for more control and confidence when sliding.
Confidence-Inspiring
The forgiving nature of the Snakes can be confidence-inspiring. They allow you to attempt bigger slides with more confidence, even if your technique isn’t perfect.
The Satisfying Hiss
One of the best-loved aspects of the Snakes is the satisfying hissing sound they produce when sliding. It’s a small detail that adds to the overall enjoyable riding experience.
Beginner-Friendly Slide Wheel
The easy break-in, resistance to flat spots, and forgiving nature of these wheels make them a top recommendation for beginners who want to learn to slide. They are easy to skate, predictable, and reliable.
The Slide is Too Easy?
Some skaters find the ease of sliding with Snakes to be detrimental to their technique. The forgiving nature can mask mistakes, potentially leading to bad habits. It’s important to note, this is just part of the wheel’s performance and adapting is part of being a skater.
The forgiving nature can mask mistakes and potentially lead to bad habits.
Consistent Slide
A key benefit of the Snakes is their consistent slide, regardless of the road surface. While different pavements may feel slightly different, the wheels will reliably slide on almost any surface. This consistency also applies to speed, with the wheels feeling the same regardless of whether you are sliding fast or slow.
Performance on Rough Roads
The Snakes perform reasonably well over rough roads. They can absorb some road vibrations and roll over cracks and small pebbles without losing speed.
Chunking
One notable drawback is their tendency to chunk. Chunking refers to when pieces of the urethane chip off, which is common in soft durometer, high-density wheels. This can occur from riding over rough surfaces or from sliding improperly.
chunked powell-peralta snakes
Impact of Chunking
Chunking primarily affects the wear pattern of the wheels. The chunked area becomes narrower and will wear more quickly. While it can affect the roll, most chunks aren’t bad enough to make a big difference.
Some skaters find that chunking makes the wheel oval over time.
heavily chunked 74a venom magnums
Is Chunking Acceptable?
Despite chunking, most longboarders accept it as a drawback of high-performance wheels. Many skaters have noted that their chunked wheels still work fine.
A variety of chunked longboard wheels
Chunking is common and usually doesn’t affect performance.
Super Glue Fix
Some skaters have had success fixing chunked wheels by super-gluing the chunk back into place, though results may vary.
Powell Peralta snakes chunked
Super glue can be a temporary solution for chunked wheels.
Slowing Down
The Snakes do not slow you down much at all, you can slide for a long time with them.
Durability and Flat Spot Resistance
The Snakes are known to be quite durable and they don’t show significant wear quickly. They are also resistant to flat spotting. They can withstand multiple slides at 90 degrees without immediately losing their shape, but can flat spot over time with continuous improper slides.
Value for Money
Despite their drawbacks, the Snakes are considered a worthwhile investment due to their performance, durability, comfort, and slide capabilities. However, if you’re only interested in cruising, wheels with more grip and less chunking might be a better option. Check out the Supreme Hawgs or Orangatang Love Handles as alternatives.
Who Should Ride Powell-Peralta Snakes?
These wheels are ideal for:
- Beginners learning to slide.
- Riders who want to perform fast stand-up slides.
- Those looking for a comfortable cruiser wheel that also slides.
Cruising with Snakes
The Snakes can be a great fit for a cruiser setup because of their quick acceleration, good roll speed, and comfortable ride. Plus, they can still be used for powerslides. The wheels are also featured on the Comet Cruiser which is one of the best cruisers ever made.
Riding Styles
The Snakes are best suited for freeride, stand-up slides, and some cruising. They are not ideal for serious downhill where maximum grip is essential. They also aren’t optimal for dancing or freestyle, where hard slams might cause them to chunk.
Size Differences: 66mm vs 69mm
The 69mm version of the Snakes is grippier and rolls faster than the 66mm version. The difference in grip is subtle. Most riders may prefer the taller wheel for the increase in speed. The smaller wheel is generally better for cruisers to avoid wheel bite.
Color and Performance
The color of the urethane can slightly affect the sliding performance. However, this difference is negligible for most riders, so choosing a color comes down to personal preference.
Where to Buy
Powell-Peralta Snakes can be purchased on Amazon.com.
Drawbacks
Impact on Riding Form
The forgiving nature of the Snakes can mask errors in form, leading to reliance on their forgiving performance. This can make it difficult to adapt when using other wheels.
Chunking
Chunking is an unavoidable problem with these wheels, and it can be annoying.
Speed
While not slow, they are not the fastest option and can become too slow as they wear down.
Stock Availability
Due to high demand and limited production, Powell Snakes are frequently out of stock and can be hard to purchase.
out-of-stock screenshot of skateone corp
The high demand for these wheels often leads to stock shortages.
Wear
Once the round lip wears down, the wheel’s characteristics change, impacting their sliding performance. They can also become too small to skate as they wear.
Graphics
The graphics on these wheels wear off quickly.
Powell-Peralta Snakes longboard slide wheels
Powell-Peralta Snakes Review
The graphic wears off quickly, a minor drawback for many.
Unexplored Testing
This review didn’t include testing in wet weather or very cold conditions.
Conclusion
The Powell-Peralta Snakes are great longboard wheels, known for their exceptional sliding performance, consistency, and forgiving nature. While they do have some drawbacks, such as chunking and limited stock, their benefits generally outweigh the negatives. Whether you’re a beginner looking for an easy slide wheel or an experienced rider wanting a reliable option, the Snakes are certainly worth considering.
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downhill skateboarding longboard longboarding sliding slide wheels
