Razor RipStik Caster Board

Purchased to replace my son's Ripster that he finally outgrew. Purchasing a RipStik was one of the best toy purchases I have ever made! Both my kids (boy and girl now ages 15 and 16) have one and have used them since they were 10, first using the smaller Ripster, and now the full-sized RipStik. (If your kid is under the age of 13, I highly recommend starting with the smaller Ripster so they don't have to stretch their legs quite so far!) This was one of those toys I said would either be a total flop or the best thing ever. Well, happily, the latter is true! So popular, now our whole youth group has one because they were so enthralled watching my kids on theirs! Both kids learned inside (I have hardwood floors) by going around and around my kitchen table, holding on when needed. No marks on my floor either! Then they practiced going down the hallway, where walls were available for support when needed. After a few weeks, they were unstoppable anywhere! So much more fun than a skateboard! My son can turn on a dime in the tightest of spaces, and can propel himself on even flat surfaces with no need to push off with one foot. They love riding it in our church basement, which is smooth concrete! I'm still amazed watching them on this thing! Reminds me of surfing! Upper body is nearly motionless as feet and legs discreetly maneuver the foot plates by merely shifting weight. Great for any paved surface, but the smoother the better. Surfaces with random pebbles or rocks should be avoided, as hitting one can stop you in your tracks. Get one!

The Ripstik arrived promptly on the expected date. This skateboard alternative is AWESOME! I had already practiced on my friend's Ripstik and gotten good at it, so I already knew what to expect and could use the Ripstik right out of the box. The Ripstik is really fun because you can carve on it, go down hills really fast, and steer really well. However, Ripstiks are not that fun until you practice a lot and get good at Ripstiking. Also, even if you are good at it, it is nearly impossible to go up a hill on a Ripstik, there is no way to stop on a Ripstik other than jumping off or not going forwards at all, tricks are hard, and large cracks in the street or sidewalk will cause you to fly off. Despite all of this, the Ripstik is AWESOME for $70 and is AMAZING overall.

I've had the chance to try the "DLX" version as well as the Regular Ripstik version and there is a big difference in the way that they ride. The main difference is the tightness of the torsion bar on the DLX. It has a tighter spring so you're less likely to scrape the bottom of the Ripstik on turns. The tighter spring also puts less strain on your ankles because it springs back on its own a lot easier in stead of relying on ankle-strength. This makes the board a breeze to use. Both are still about the same weight, the DLX version being SLIGHTLY lighter and thinner -- although you'll be hard-pressed to tell the difference. The all-black version looks a lot slicker, less like a toy and more like a wicked, futuristic skateboard. On Amazon there is a "Deluxe" DLX version, however, in my research I have found no difference between this version and the Regular DLX version, or the "Toys 'R' Us" DLX Version -- they're all the same. The Ripster: The Ripstik Ripster versions are a different riding experience altogether because they take a different set of muscles to operate. Where the larger Ripstik version uses more hips, the smaller version uses more of your ankles and knees. The tighter turning radius of the smaller Ripster makes it more maneuverable in tight spaces (like around the house or garage, basement, etc.) but the larger version is better for cruising on the roads and sidewalks, and the cost of maneuverability. I'm not sure the difference between the Ripstik Ripster and the RR DLX, but there's a $30 difference, so it's probably lighter and tighter like the regular DLX. Back to the DLX: The only con I can think of is that Razor made a huge improvement with the torsion bar in this version, and it's a shame that they charge you more for such a cheap-costing change that should be in the Regular version as well. Apparently they shaved off a little weight by using aluminum instead of steel but the difference is minimal. The other problem with this product is that it is really hard to find information about the differences in riding experiences without riding them (so far I'm the only one I know with such a review). If you're looking to get a Ripstik (and I highly recommend you do -- they're really fun to ride), I would say save up an extra $30 and get the easier-to-control DLX version. You'll ride this thing for hours at a time, and the last thing you want is for your ankles to be really sore. Good luck, and be careful around cars!

My 12 year old had been wanting one of these caser boards for some time, and I had wondered how sucessful he would be in learning to ride it. After a bit of research and checking out the different models at local stores we ordered him the DLX from Amazon. He has taken to this thing "like a duck to water" and rides the thing every day. The engineering of this board is really quite interesting. It is well made and seems as if it will last a long time. My only recommendation is this...if you buy one and enjoy riding it, go ahead and stock up on some extra wheels. As I mentioned he has been riding this thing like mad...mostly on concrete and asphalt. After about 6 weeks the rear wheel is completly gone! The front wheel is worn a bit, but not nearly as bad. The wheels and bearings for the DLX are uique, and are not everywhere on the internet, but I did find them at the Razor web site. Overall, we think it is a great product!

I often describe this thing to folks who haven't seen it as a fun new way to break an ankle. That's what I thought when I first saw an ad. Luckily for my son who asked Santa for one this year (he's 8) I actually saw & played with one first hand this summer when a teen brought one to unicycle practice. Don't assume I'm all that coordinated & athletic- I sit on a uni well if I'm next to a wall, and I roll slowly on the ripstick the same way! But my 8 year old got the hang of the stick in just a few sporadic trips outside this winter & he can't wait for warm weather. I'm not even worried about broken bones anymore (though I'll try to keep him off hills for a while longer yet- but he's only 8.) My brother & I (an out of shape 35 year old band geek chick) have a blast fooling with the thing too. I have no illusions of carving all over town- but I find it very fun. My brother & son have a blast on it & I figure it's well worth the money. I hear you'll want extra wheels if you ride hard (especially if you are grown... the kids don't seem to wear the wheels down as fast- less weight must make them last longer.) Eventually I may check into using old roller blade wheels like another poster suggested as a cheaper heavy duty replacement. If you're interested in this thing (or your kid is) go ahead & give it a spin. You have to work at it & I heard plenty of frustration for a day or two, but then it is fun, and the uniqueness of the ride is worth all the effort. Everyone should learn a super power. Try a ripstick.

I first bought the Ripstik Ripster on sale at BigLots for 50 bucks (Incidentally, am I the only one who gets confused by the naming of their products?). The Ripster I am referring to is the short, light version with the smaller 66mm wheels. I wanted something I could cruise around on while my wife jogs around the park and I'm a little too lazy to actually jog. I snowboard on occasion and thought this would be a great product to improve my balance and provide me a mild workout as well. Anyway, it turned out to be a lot of fun and the feeling of "sliding" down a mild slope was is a rather sublime one and it does kind of feel like snowboarding. I was able to balance and propel myself after an hour or so by myself (I practiced alone because I was too macho to let my wife see me make a fool out of myself). Anyway, after about a month of ownership, I finally had my first fall when the front wheel got caught in a groove and I landed hard. That started me thinking that I should try the larger model with bigger wheels for better stability and faster speed (these things don't go very fast on the flats). I ordered the DLX a few days ago and have been riding it for not too long but here are my first impression of the DLX: It looks a lot cooler but it weighs more by a couple of pounds which makes a difference. It feels like I have to "work" more to get where I want to go and more bulky when I have to lug it around areas I can't ride on when I go to the park with my wife. The bigger wheels are a mixed blessing because they feel more stable and I can go over bumps and grooves with more confidence than the ripster. I can also go downhill with more confidence because of the bigger 76mm wheels. The trade-off is that the DLX has less "feel" to it because it isolates you more from the road and consequently feels less fun. I'm a little saddened that the DLX does not seem to propel me significantly faster than the ripster on level roads. Overall, I'd say that I would suggest the DLX if you want the 220lb weight support, or if you travel over mixed roads, or longer distances (The DLX makes less road noise as well). Take the ripster if you want better feel, lighter weight and a cheaper price tag. Amazon is selling the Wave Board with even larger 77mm wheels for 84 bucks but I picked the ripstik because the DLX looks more streamline and a newer product (I was hoping newer meant more advance and better but I don't have a wave board to compare). I also ruled out the 80mm WhipTide because it didn't look enough like a board for me and there were not enough reviews on Amazon and youtube on the product for me to try another product. I may post another review later on if my opinion of the DLX changes or if I try the other products.

I still have this going strong !!

Recently for Christmas we purchased the RipStik for my daughter. It is a great outdoor activity, she LOVES it. As you can see it is a board activity, so it is imperative that you buy protective wear for your kids, especially as they are figuring out how to balance on it. It is made well, seems to be very sturdy, some of the adults in the house or who have come and visited have given it a go. It is different than a skateboard, it has two caster wheels on it. The kids had a bit of a hard time the first day they tried their RipStiks out, but then we went online and watched a few tutorials on how you distribute your weight and balance and they had a blast the second day. I highly recommend this item. It has a sturdy construction, and is a great activity to encourage kids to work on core strength and balance.