Tech Deck is a fingerboard brand that’s been around for decades. These miniature toys look and feel like regular skateboards but they’re small enough to be controlled by just two fingers. Tech Deck created a niche in the skateboard industry by introducing these fun toys that you can carry in your pocket. Even popular skateboards brands like Element and Plan B have teamed up with Tech Deck to create fingerboards.
The best Tech Deck is the Tech Deck Party Bundle which includes four separate packs, each with a different fingerboard brand such as Santa Cruz, Powell Peralta or Antihero.
Fingerboards are exact replicas of actual skateboards. They include a wooden deck, grip tape, trucks, wheels and even tiny nuts that keep the wheels in place. The boards are around 96 millimeters in length and can comfortably fit in your pocket. The idea is that you take your index and middle finger which mimic your legs on a regular skateboard. Then, you can do tricks like Ollies, Kickflips and more using just your two fingers and a hard surface like a kitchen table. There are even competitive Tech Deck events where skaters will use their fingerboards on miniature ramps and half-pipes to complete tricks and earn points.
Tech Deck uses real-life skateboards brands for their boards. While they design the fingerboards themselves, they partner with other brands to use their logos and graphic designs. This gives users the same feeling of supporting their favorite skate brands as actual skaters. Santa Cruz, Blind, Element and Plan B are all examples of high profile skateboard brands that have fingerboards with Tech Deck.
It’s no surprise that fingerboards borrow their tricks from skateboards. You can also perform classic tricks like the Ollie and Kickflip, and they take just as much practice. Using just two fingers to complete can even be more difficult than your whole body. Some advanced fingerboarders can do tricks like 1080 Ollie which spins the board in three full rotations or a Triple Kickflip that spins the board three times in the air.
Having extra wheels with your Tech Deck is essential for a couple of reasons. First off, just like skateboard wheels, fingerboard wheels can wear down with long term use. This is especially true if you’re riding your board outside on concrete. Having a backup set of wheels lets you swap them out when they start to lose their shape. These extra wheel sets can also come in different colors, which adds a customized look to your Tech Deck.
Some high quality Tech Deck sets will come with a series of ramps or rails for you to do tricks on. In skateboarding, hand-built ramps like half-pipes, box jumps and wave ramps are all used in skate parks where people can go to practice their tricks. Tech Deck creates their own sets of ramps but in miniature versions. Rails are also a big part of skateboard and fingerboard tricks. In Tech Deck’s case, these rails are usually a few inches long and go down a set of stairs.
Skateboarders are very much into customization, whether it be the graphics on their decks, colored grip tape or wheel varieties. The same goes for fingerboarders as well which use similar features to customize their boards. Stickers have always been a significant part of surf and skate culture. Every brand has their own designs which riders will stick on their vehicles, laptops and of course on the deck of their skateboards. Tech Decks often come with sticker sets for similar purposes. These brand stickers are smaller in size to fit on the miniature fingerboard decks.
Tech Decks cost between $23-$50.
A. Tech Deck’s have been in production since the 1990s. Just like any toy from an older generation, they can be considered collectible if they are still in the original packaging.
A. An Ollie is one of the most basic tricks you can do on both a skateboard and fingerboard. Place your index and middle fingers on the board - both fingertips should be behind the bolts on the top. Press down with your back finger to shoot the front of the board in the air. Once airborne, slide your pointer finger towards the front of the board to level it out. If you make these motions quickly, you will complete an Ollie.
What you need to know: This is the perfect starter pack for anyone interested in diving into the world of Tech Decks.
What you’ll love: There are four Tech Deck sets included in this pack. Each pack has a fingerboard from a different brand and contains four extra wheels and a tool for swapping them out. There’s also one large sticker and four small stickers in each pack.
What you should consider: You are not able to choose which skateboard brands you receive.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Tech Deck VS Blind Skateboards Set
What you need to know: This set of Tech Decks come from their VS series which includes playing cards and two full fingerboards decks.
What you’ll love: The VS series works by using a set of playing cards that have different challenges and tricks on them. The goal is to challenge other Tech Deck users to different tricks to see who can complete them. This set uses Blind Skateboards as their partnered brand.
What you should consider: The VS set is best suited for those who already know how to complete certain tricks.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
What you need to know: The World Edition features six different fingerboards with unique artwork on the decks.
What you’ll love: Six boards are included in this set, each from various brands with limited edition artwork. There are also six different colored wheels plus tools and parts to swap out. The deck graphics include cool depictions of animals like pandas, monkeys and dragons.
What you should consider: Only two decks can be fully completed at once due to the limited parts.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan Beliles writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
