When you’re passionate about longboarding, sourcing quality gear becomes a priority. For riders in Kenya, this often means looking beyond local options to international suppliers. I’ve found that the vast majority of my longboard equipment—from helmets and slide gloves to wheels and trucks—comes from abroad. I initially brought a large amount of gear with me after finishing my studies in the UK, and since then, I’ve been gradually updating my collection piece by piece. While replacing or adding to your gear collection can be smooth, there are also moments where it can become challenging with items getting lost or taking longer to arrive. Here’s how I manage to get my longboarding gear in Kenya.
Two Main Methods for Importing Gear
I primarily use two methods for bringing my longboard gear into Kenya. The first is the most straightforward and often the most cost-effective, while the second involves more planning but ensures a more reliable delivery.
The ‘Friends and Family’ Method
Whenever friends or family travel abroad, I take advantage of the opportunity to purchase gear from other countries, if I have the budget and gear prices in their location are reasonable. This approach is incredibly convenient because it means no tax or customs fees and you avoid the risk of items getting lost. The only cost you incur is usually a small thank you like a meal, coffee or a small token of appreciation. It’s a win-win situation, you get your gear and your friends get a nice gesture of appreciation! However, this approach is entirely dependent on whether someone you know is traveling.
Navigating Local Shipping Challenges
The most obvious alternative is to use local postal services for deliveries, however, this can often be a frustrating experience due to inflated pricing and unreliable service. The local post office is known to sometimes overcharge for items, adding extra fees that are often unnecessary. Unfortunately, this can be very common, with some individuals trying to get a cut of the money for themselves, which I’ve learnt is something you have to be firm about. Additionally, even standard shipping costs can be quite expensive. Fortunately, some freight forwarding companies have made reliable and reasonable shipping more accessible.
The second method I use involves freight forwarding companies, which, while having costs and waiting periods, provide a more reliable solution for bringing items into the country. Here are the two main companies I rely on for my longboard gear:
Longboarder riding downhill
Freight Forwarding Companies: Vitumob and MySomethingRandom
Both companies offer unique advantages and disadvantages, and I’ve found that they’re each better suited for specific types of orders.
Vitumob
Vitumob is very user-friendly and offers a seamless ordering process, especially for Amazon purchases using their web browser extension. This extension allows you to order directly through them once you’ve added your items to your cart. Vitumob also accommodates other websites; you can send them a link for them to buy for you if you buy from a website they don’t directly support.
If you buy using their browser extension, they charge you tax, VAT, and a flat shipping fee of $15. For example, a $44 item might end up costing between $60 and $65, which isn’t too bad when you consider the convenience. You can pay through multiple methods such as Paypal, Mpesa, or card, making it incredibly easy and accessible. The total you pay is inclusive of all charges, and they will deliver your items directly to your door.
They also offer an alternative where you buy the items yourself and ship it to their address. This option means they only charge by weight, potentially saving you money. However, I’ve yet to try this option and therefore am not entirely sure how much you can save. I bought my Abec 11 wheels using their service.
Their pricing for US items is as follows:
- Up to 2kg: $25 total
- 2kg to 20kg: $11.50 per kg
- 20kg or more: $10 per kg
Vitumob is more cost-effective when it comes to heavier items from the US, particularly if you can ship to their address. However, their shipping time can be around a month, which can be a bit lengthy.
MySomethingRandom
MySomethingRandom tends to be more cost-effective for smaller, lighter items. When ordering items like wheels, gloves or other small parts, I usually go with them. They only charge for shipping, making it a very cheap option when you only have a small order.
They charge 750 Ksh per pound (16 ounces) for goods from the US and 850 Ksh per kg for goods from the UK, which is approximately $7.5 and $8.5 respectively. These rates are incredibly cheap when you consider the distances involved. Their shipping time is also significantly shorter, at around two weeks. Although they once lost an item of mine and delivered it a month later with terrible customer service, I am still willing to use them for small items and I hope their service has improved. My only concern is that they don’t deliver, so you have to pick up your order from their offices, which is fine for me as I don’t live too far.
I’ve used MySomethingRandom to purchase my Paris trucks and Randal 35 degree baseplate. For larger, heavier items, the costs can quickly add up, making Vitumob the better option for things like multiple wheels or boards.
Both companies use shipping addresses in Delaware, which they claim doesn’t have sales tax or VAT. Therefore, you can ship items there without those added costs. While I cannot confirm this, my invoices have not included those taxes (except when I paid through Vitumob’s extension). Interestingly, both companies share the same street address.
The Real Challenges: Costs and Exchange Rates
While getting gear isn’t too difficult, there are still challenges, such as needing to have patience, money, and a little bit of luck. Fortunately, these two companies have been a real help when it comes to shipping items into Kenya.
The real challenge is the exchange rate and overall pricing, as products made overseas are priced based on the economies they were designed for. Someone living in the West, or most MEDCs (more economically developed countries), earning a minimum wage would be able to afford these things, while it would be significantly harder for someone earning the same amount in an LEDC (less economically developed country).
Luckily, I live at home and all my bills are taken care of, allowing me to use any money I save towards my skateboarding passion. (Thanks Mum).
Conclusion
Navigating the world of international shipping for longboard gear in Kenya can seem complicated at first, but with the right strategies, it is manageable. By using freight forwarding companies and taking advantage of travel opportunities of friends and family, I have been able to get the gear I need and continue enjoying the sport. It’s all about finding a balance of cost, convenience and patience. If you’re also a longboarder in Kenya, I hope these insights help you get the gear you need.
