SpiceSkate Okto Review
But is it worth it? That’s the question I’ll try to answer for you in this review.
If you’re trying to find the best surfskate for you, then check out my free Surfskate Selector app. It includes all models from the top 10 surfskate trucks. Just answer 8 quick questions and it reveals the best models for you.
Bottom Line Up Front
The SpiceSkate Okto is a functional and viable surfskate truck. In terms of feel, I believe the Okto compares most to the Carver CX and YOW Meraki because it has high rebound.
However, when you hit the extreme edges of a turn, it has a slight folding or buckling sensation that is uncomfortable.
I find the price relative to the performance to be outlandish. I personally much prefer the Carver CX and YOW Meraki over the Okto. So even if the prices were comparable, I’d still choose either of those over the Okto.
I’m also not a fan of either of the complete Okto models because the wheelbases are narrow and the foot placement for both feet is not great.
For these reasons, I do not include the SpiceSkate Okto in my list of the top 10 surfskate trucks, and I would recommend a lot of other surfskate trucks over it.
How is the SpiceSkate Okto Built?
The SpiceSkate Okto swivel mechanism is driven by what they call “capsules,” which are two round metal pieces suspended by eight small tension springs between them.
They have three capsules with different torque strengths to give you a different feel. These are swappable, which is how you adjust the Okto.
How Does the SpiceSkate Okto Feel, Perform, & Compare?
Here’s my bottom line: I like how the Okto feels and performs. However, I just don’t think that it performs any better than most of the other top surfskate trucks, and it’s far more expensive.
In terms of feel, I would say that it most closely compares to the Carver CX and the YOW Meraki. And I’d say it’s more like the CX than the Meraki because it’s tighter and snappier than the Meraki and it has less range of motion.
If you look at the capsules up close, you can imagine how, when it goes too far, those springs will kind of just fold into each other just a touch. And that’s a minor sensation, but you do feel it and it’s just a little bit uncomfortable.
Comparing the Okto on 15 Variables
To give you a better idea of how the Okto feels and performs, let me walk you through the 15 different variables that I measure when I test surfskate trucks.
Variable #1: Truck Feel
The first variable is what I call truck feel. By that I mean, is it more on the loose fluid and flowy side, or does it feel more tight, sharp, and snappy.
On that point, I would say it probably depends on the model you get. I can’t speak to the softest yellow capsule because my model didn’t come with that. But I have the red and blue capsules and those two are definitely on more of the tight, sharp, and snappy side, because the Okto is built to have a lot of rebound.
That’s why I say it feels more like the CX as opposed to say the SmoothStar Thruster D or the Carver C7.
Variable #2: Flexibility/Range of Motion
I would say it has less flexibility and range of motion than any of the other top 10 surfskate trucks except for the Slide V3.
Variable #3: Rail-To-Rail Lean
I would put the Okto about in the middle compared to all the other top 10 surfskate trucks. I would say it has less rail-to-rail lean than the Carver CX, Carver C7, YOW Meraki, or Waterborne Surf Adapter, and it has more rail-to-rail lean than the Slide, Curfboard, and the Aquilo.
Variable #4: Stability
The Okto is on the more stable side, along with trucks like the Carver CX, Slide, and Curfboard.
Variable #5: Suitable Skill Level
I believe the Okto is suitable for all skill levels. Because of its stability, I think that it works well for beginners, and because of its function, I think it works great for advanced riders as well.
Variable #6: Forward Momentum
The next variable I consider is how much forward momentum does it generate as you pump, versus just kind of giving you lateral side-to-side motion.
The Okto generates quite a bit of forward momentum. Out of my top 10 surfskates list, I would say it’s probably only second to the Carver CX and the Waterborne Surf Adapter on that point.
Variable #7: Best Use
By this I mean, is this a pure surf trainer or is it something more versatile that you can use as a street cruiser, surfskate bowl riding, or other applications?
If I were to include it in my list of the best surfskate trucks, it would go right in the middle as a hybrid. The reason for that is because it generates a lot of forward momentum, so you can pump it over longer distances.
However, SpiceSkate says that it was engineered for specifically bowl riding, wave ramps, and pump tracks. So I think you could use the Okto for any of those things, but it’s kind of more of a specialized truck, as opposed to like a widely versatile truck like the Carver CX.
Variable #8: Suitable Riding Distance
Can you ride this for long distances, or is it just best used for short distances?
I would say you can actually ride the SpiceSkate Okto for long distances because it does generate a lot of forward momentum. However, I wouldn’t use it for that because I think you just have a lot better options for that that are a lot cheaper.
So for me, the Okto is definitely not something that I would use for cruising through town, riding from point A to point B over long distances. I just don’t see the need for something so complicated and heavy to do that.
Variable #9: Suitable Riding Surfaces
The next variable is suitable riding surfaces, whether you can ride it on smooth surfaces or rough. You can ride the Okto on either because of its stability.
If you hit large cracks, bumps, and pebbles, its’ not going to squirrel out on you like, say, the SwellTech will. So it is stable for rougher surfaces, but as I said, it’s actually designed for smooth surfaces for surfskate bowl riding, wave ramps, and pump tracks.
Variable #10: Versatility
The Okto can absolutely can be versatile. You can use it to do pretty much anything you’d want to do, from pure surf training to bowl riding to street cruising. However, I think you have so many other better and cheaper options, so for that reason I wouldn’t use it either.
Variable #11: Wheelbase Offset
The way surfskate trucks are built, the front axle hangs back behind the pivot point. The more that axle hangs back, the longer the deck that you have to have to accommodate your same stance width.
On that point, the Okto is not great. Relative to the Carver C7, Slide, and Waterborne Surf Adapter, which really don’t offset your wheelbase, the SpiceSkate Okto actually has a two-inch wheelbase offset.
That’s actually one inch more than the SpiceSkate SpicePilot, which only has a one-inch wheelbase offset relative to the Carver C7, Slide V3, and Waterborne Surf Adapter.
This means you have to have a longer deck to accommodate your same stance width, which makes your set-ups heavier and less nimble.
This is an important detail when it comes to the Okto because of the options you have for their complete models, which have relatively narrow wheelbases.
Variable #12: Weight
If you have a heavy surf adapter on the front of your board, that definitely affects your versatility. And on that point, the Okto is not good either.
Weighing 2 pounds 5.2 ounces, it’s actually heavier than all of the other top 10 surfskate trucks except for the SpiceSkate SpicePilot.
As I’ve said, Ithink it most closely compares and feels to the Carver CX, and the Carver CX is only 15 ounces.
It’s interesting because SpiceSkate actually calls this a lightweight truck on their website, and I have no idea why they say that.
Variable #13: Quality
I believe SpiceSkate products are very high quality and I think they’ll last you a long time.
Variable #14: Maintenance
Since I haven’t had my Okto for a long time, I can’t speak to whether or not you’ll have any breakage or maintenance issues over time.
But if you compare it to the Carver CX, you can see how it has a lot more moving parts that can break.
Variable #15: Cost
This is a big one for the Okto, because it is by far the most expensive surfskate truck on the market. You’ll spend either $489 or $519 getting an Okto.
SpiceSkate Okto Models Review
For their Okto models, SpiceSkate has a 765 series and an 810 series with different models within those series.
The difference between the 765 and 810 is simply a matter of wheelbase. The 765 has a shorter wheelbase, the 810 has a longer wheelbase.
Within each of those series, the differences between the models are for each model they offer different capsules. So you can get either models that come with the softest and the medium spring, or models that have the medium and the hardest springs.
If you want more rebound, you want to go with the blue and red capsules. If you’re lighter and you want more fluid, loose, and flowy feeling, then you want to go with the models that have the yellow and the blue capsules.
Okto 765 Model
SpiceSkate Okto 810 Model
My natural stance width is 18” wide and so I can ride the Okto 810 model, but it’s not comfortable. It narrows up my stance width, especially when you look at the foot placement of the front foot. It means I have to ride this deck high up and the further up you get on the nose of this deck, the less width you have.
Here’s what this means: If you have a stance width wider than about 17”, then neither of these models are going to work for you. This means you’ll spend either $489 or $519 on essentially a surfskate truck that you’re going to put on a different deck.
And as I already kind of alluded to, I don’t like the foot placement on either of these models because like a lot of other surfskate decks that you see, they actually narrow on the front and rear where you’re placing your feet, which doesn’t make any sense to me.
Assembly Required with SpiceSkate Models
The final point I want to make about the Okto complete models is that, like all of the other SpiceSkate models, it doesn’t come to you pre-assembled. It comes in a box all separated into parts and you have to assemble it yourself.
What frustrates me about that is that SpiceSkate tries to sell it as a benefit to customers, and it’s really not.
I have no idea why they would say that because they’re not compensating you for that in the price. Even though you have to assemble yourself, they’re still the most expensive surfskates on the market.
Maybe you could say that it’s good for people to learn how to put their boards together, to learn all the different parts. But I would argue that you’re going to have to learn all that stuff anyway.
I think it’s fine if SpiceSkate wants to do it that way. But I think they should be compensating their customers for the additional time and hassle with a reduced price.
Why the SpiceSkate Okto Does Not Make My Top 10 List
With that big-picture overview, let me give you my bottom line of why the Okto doesn’t make my top 10 list.
The first and most important thing I would say is that it’s the price relative to the performance. The Okto feels and performs good, but it just in my mind, doesn’t perform any better than any of the others and it’s far more expensive. So I don’t know what you’re paying for.
The next thing I would say is that it’s complicated, but you don’t really get any additional benefit for that more complicated engineering.
SpiceSkate’s motto is, “Unthink It.” But in my opinion, in the case of the Okto, what SpiceSkate has actually done isn’t unthink it, but they’ve actually overthought it.
You simply don’t need this complicated of a surfskate truck to get similar feel and performance. I believe you can actually get better feel and performance out of some of these other ones, especially the Carver CX, which is nothing more than bushings.
The next point is that it’s less versatile than some. So why would you spend $489 to $519 on a board that’s limited in function, as compared to something that’s a lot cheaper that gives you more versatility?
The final reason why it doesn’t make my list has nothing to do with the truck, but the models. Since they don’t sell the truck separately, you’re forced to buy one of their complete models. And if their complete models don’t fit you, it’s complete waste of a deck that you don’t need.
Here’s what would have to happen for me to replace something on my top 10 list with the Okto:
The first thing I would say is that they need to sell complete models that are built better and that compare and price to say the Smoothstar and the YOW Meraki. And what I would want out of those models is more wheelbase options and better foot placement.
Or if they’re not going to do that, then they could sell the truck separately, again, for a price that compares to say the YOW Meraki, which you can get for $150.
And as I’ve said, I actually like the Meraki a lot better than the Okto. So even if they were the same price or even if the Okto is a little bit cheaper, personally, I’m still going with the Meraki over the Okto.
For more help with choosing the best surfskate for you, check out my free Surfskate Selector app.
