Fingerboard Wheel Durometer Explained: Soft vs Hard Wheels
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Fingerboard Wheel Hardness Explained: How to Choose Between Soft and Hard Wheels
Here is an honest truth: fingerboard wheel durometer is one of the least-explained topics in the entire hobby. You'll find plenty of beginner trick guides, setup tutorials, and "best fingerboard" roundups — but almost nothing that actually explains what durometer means, how it affects the way you ride, and how to choose correctly.
That gap is worth filling. I've been testing wheels for years and building setups for riders across every skill level. Let me give you the guide I wish existed when I started.
What Durometer Actually Means
Durometer is a measure of hardness. In fingerboard wheels, it's expressed as a number followed by "D" — 65D, 68D, 80D. The higher the number, the harder the wheel.
This is borrowed directly from full-size skateboarding, where wheel hardness has been a critical spec for decades. The scale used for urethane wheels (the Shore A durometer scale) runs from very soft to very hard, and the number tells you where on that scale a given wheel sits.
What it does NOT tell you is everything. Durometer is one variable. Wheel diameter, urethane compound, and surface texture all interact with hardness to determine how a wheel actually performs. But durometer is the starting point.
The Three Durometer Ranges You'll Encounter
65D — The Soft End
At 65D, a fingerboard wheel has genuine compliance. It grips surfaces, absorbs micro-vibrations, and gives a noticeably cushioned feel. Soft wheels are not fast. They create more rolling resistance.
Where they shine: rough surfaces. If you're riding on textured desk materials, raw wood obstacles, or any surface that isn't polished smooth, 65D wheels maintain traction where harder wheels would skip or slide unpredictably.
Who should use them: riders who train primarily on rough surfaces, or beginners who want maximum grip while learning to control their board. The extra grip forgives small mistakes in weight distribution.
68D — The Versatile Middle Ground
This is the wheel I recommend for most beginners and intermediate riders. At 68D, you get a balance of grip and roll speed that works across a wide range of surfaces without specialising in any one of them.
68D wheels don't feel sluggish on smooth surfaces. They don't skip on slightly textured ones. They handle obstacles well — grinds and slides feel controlled without the board catching on the edge of the obstacle unpredictably.
For riders who don't have a specific surface they always practice on — and most beginners don't — 68D is the right default.
80D — The Hard End
At 80D, the wheel is fast and consistent on smooth surfaces. Rolling resistance drops significantly. Slides feel effortless because the wheel doesn't grip the surface much.
Where they shine: polished wood, glass, smooth plastics. If your fingerboard park is made of fine-sanded materials or you practice on a glass table, 80D wheels will feel alive in a way softer wheels won't.
Where they struggle: anything with texture. A rough surface under 80D wheels gives you an inconsistent, skittery ride. You'll feel every imperfection.
Who should use them: experienced riders who know what surface they train on and have the technique to work with a wheel that doesn't grip. Not a beginner wheel.
How Surface Type Should Drive Your Decision
Let me give you a simple framework.
Rough, textured surfaces (raw wood, canvas, textured plastics): Go softer. 65D to 68D.
Mixed surfaces (standard desk, wood grain, untreated particle board): 68D is the safe choice.
Smooth surfaces (glass, polished wood, high-gloss plastics): 80D will reward you. Softer wheels may feel sluggish.
The mistake I see is riders buying wheels based on what sounds impressive without thinking about what they're actually riding on. A 80D wheel on a rough desk doesn't feel fast — it feels chaotic. Get the match right first.
How I Test Wheels at My Workshop
Before a wheel goes into a Saigon Skateboards setup, I test it. Not in theory — physically. I roll it on multiple surfaces, test it through grinds on different obstacle materials, and check the urethane response by hand.
I pay attention to:
- Rolling consistency (does it track straight or drift?)
- Grind behaviour (does it lock cleanly or skip?)
- Durability markers (any flat spots or surface compression after repeated use?)
- Bearing compatibility (does the bore fit our standard ABEC-7 bearings without slop?)
I stock 65D, 68D, and 80D because different riders need different setups. I don't push one option on everyone. I push the right one for the specific rider.
What Saigon Skateboards Stocks and Why
Our standard complete setups ship with 68D wheels. For the majority of riders — beginners learning on whatever surface is in front of them, intermediate riders building a mixed trick and obstacle repertoire — 68D is the right default.
For custom builds and specialised setups, we can spec any of the three ranges. If you know exactly what you're riding on and want wheels matched to it, get in touch and we'll build it right for you.
You can also browse the complete wheel selection in the shop — all options are available individually if you want to upgrade your existing setup.
The Short Version
- 65D: soft, grippy, for rough surfaces and beginners who want maximum control
- 68D: the versatile middle ground — works well in most situations and is our recommended default
- 80D: fast, slide-friendly, for smooth surfaces and experienced riders
Match the wheel to the surface. Build from there.
1. How to Order a Custom Fingerboard: Wood, Concave, Graphics, and Everything In Between
https://saigonskateboards.com/blogs/news/how-to-order-a-custom-fingerboard
2. ABEC-7 Fingerboard Bearings: What the Rating Means and Why It Matters for Your Setup
https://saigonskateboards.com/blogs/news/abec-7-fingerboard-bearings-what-the-rating-means
3. 32mm vs 34mm Fingerboard: Which Size Is Right for You?
https://saigonskateboards.com/blogs/news/32mm-vs-34mm-fingerboard-which-size-is-right-for-you
4. Fingerboard Wheel Durometer Explained: Soft vs Hard Wheels
https://saigonskateboards.com/blogs/news/fingerboard-wheel-durometer-explained
5. What Makes a Fingerboard Truly Handmade? Inside the Workshop
https://saigonskateboards.com/blogs/news/what-makes-a-fingerboard-truly-handmade
6. 7 Fingerboard Tricks for Beginners (In the Right Order)
https://saigonskateboards.com/blogs/news/7-fingerboard-tricks-for-beginners
7. How to Do a Kickflip on a Fingerboard: Full Guide
https://saigonskateboards.com/blogs/news/how-to-do-a-kickflip-on-a-fingerboard
8. How to Ollie on a Fingerboard: A 40-Year Veteran's Guide
https://saigonskateboards.com/blogs/news/how-to-ollie