Penny vs. Wittleboardz
Updated: May 4, 2018
The key differences in size, material, and manufacturing.
When people see Wittleboardz for the first time, they often make a comparison to Penny Boards, who also produce a smaller-than-average skateboard. What we tell them is that there’s actually no comparison. Wittleboardz surpass their competitors in several crucial ways.
Size: It does matter.
Whether you’re a kid learning to skate for the first time, or a life-long skater, Wittleboardz offer greater stability due to its dimensions.
Penny Boards measure 22” long and 7.5” wide. The length creates a disadvantage related to portability in that it will NOT fit completely in your backpack. A few inches will ultimately be exposed, prohibiting you from zipping your backpack fully. Wittleboardz, on the other hand, measure 18” by 9”, allowing the entire board to fit inside your backpack and close it right up: Ride ‘em and hide ‘em, as we say! Wittleboardz also offers greater stability due to the additional 1.5” in width, due to the surface area available to stand on as you maneuver the board. Tons of Penny Board riders will tell you those boards are NOT for beginners who are just learning to skate due to the minimal deck width. #sizematters
Materials: Quality Over Quantity
One of the biggest differences between Wilttleboardz and Penny Boards is the material. Penny Boards are made of plastic. More specifically, they’re made of polyurethane, with a plastic core. Because plastic is so cheap, Penny Boards are mass-produced and come with a smaller price tag (at first glance). They say you get what you pay for, and with skateboards there’s no exception. Wittleboardz are made of 100% sustainable bamboo! Most skateboards are made of maple, which lacks the flexibility offered by plastic decks. Bamboo, on the other hand, provides greater flexibility than maple, and greater strength and durability than plastic! Using bamboo to craft our handmade Wittleboardz was a no-brainer. Not to mention the vastly contrasting impact each material has on our environment.
Plastic Penny Boards start out by depleting the ozone layer and ultimately end up adding to our landfills.
The burning of fossil fuels, required to produce even the smallest amount of plastic, releases carbon dioxide into the environment, which contributes to climate change. Why does this matter? Well, depends if you like an increase in hurricanes, melting polar ice caps (destroying habitats for humans, plants and animals alike) and damage to natural wonders of the world, like the Great Barrier Reef. Bamboo; on the other hand, does none of the above; as it does not require the use of fossil fuels to be produced into a material ready for commercial use. Bamboo is more sustainable than other wood, as well, since it grows exponentially faster, fully regenerating in 6 months as opposed to 30 years.
Manufacturing: We’ve Got The Sweet Concave!
We’ve got better trucks, better maneuverability, and the American edge.
While Penny Boards have extremely small (3”) aluminum trucks, Wittleboardz offer 9” cast trucks and a concave shape that blows Penny Boards away when it comes to maneuverability. Wittleboardz are keenly responsive to your movements and perfect for quick turns, allowing you to weave in and out of crowds with ease. Penny Boards offer zero concave, which, combined with the tiny wheel-base, result in decreased speed and agility.
As if that weren’t enough differences, let me just point out that Penny Boards are mass-produced by machines in Australia. There’s just no comparison Wittleboardz, carefully crafted by hand right here in America! Southern California, to be precise. Buying Wittleboardz not only benefits the environment, but our economy as well. Who knew skateboards could be so progressive?