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SpiceSkate OKTOSURF Surfskates Review
The SpiceSkate OKTOSURF surfskate truck is version 2 of their original OKTO.
SpiceSkate has made some improvements and have fixed the main issues I have with the OKTO. But at a price of $239 for the truck system and $519 for a complete model, is it worth it? I’ll try to answer that question for you in this review.
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Bottom Line Up Front
The SpiceSkate OKTOSURF feels fantastic. It has very smooth rail-to-rail transfer and high rebound. It feels like a combination of the YOW Meraki and the Smoothstar Thruster D.
I believe it’s best used for bowl and transition riding by surfers for surf training. Based on how it feels, I also think that surfers who ride shortboards will be most attracted to the OKTOSURF.
It fixes the two main issues I have with the original OKTO. These are: 1) it has a clicking noise, and 2) it has a slight buckling sensation at the extreme edges of turns. The OKTOSURF is quiet and smooth, and is a remarkable improvement.
I do not include the original OKTO in my list of the top surfskate trucks. However, I do include the new and improved OKTOSURF on the list. I categorize it as a pure surf trainer for surfers.
SpiceSkate’s pricing model on the OKTOSURF doesn’t make sense to me. You can get a complete truck system for $239. This includes the front surf adapter with one capsule, two TKP trucks, a riser for the rear, and hardware. A complete model costs $519. This means SpiceSkate is saying that the deck, wheels, and bearings are worth $280, which feels excessive to me.
Personally, I would not buy a complete model. I would just buy the truck set and put it on my own deck.
Like the original OKTO, the SpiceSkate OKTOSURF swivel mechanism is driven by what they call “capsules.” These 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 OKTOSURF.
How to Change SpiceSkate OKTOSURF Capsules
This video walks you through how to take the OKTOSURF apart and swap out the capsules:
I love how the Spiceskate OKTOSURF feels and performs. To me, it feels like a combination of the YOW Meraki and Smoothstar Thruster D. Like the Smoothstar Thruster D, it has less rail-to-rail lean than the YOW Meraki, and more fluid side to side motion. But unlike the Thruster D, it has the quicker, snappier rebound of the YOW Meraki.
It’s designed specifically for bowl riding, pump tracks, and wave ramps. I think it’s ideal use is as a bowl-riding surf trainer.
The OKTOSURF is a marked improvement over the original SpiceSkate OKTO. It eliminates the two main issues I have with the original OKTO, which are:
- The OKTO has a clicking noise as you transfer from rail-to-rail.
- The OKTO has a slight folding or buckling sensation when you hit the extreme edges of turns.
While I don’t include the original OKTO on my list of the best surfskates, I do include the OKTOSURF.
In terms of feel and performance, it probably belongs in the hybrid category. That’s because it feels both loose, fluid, and smooth and tight and snappy. It also generates more forward momentum than pure surf trainers.
However, I categorize it as a pure surf trainer. That’s because I think its highest and best use is for bowl and transition riding to train for surfing.
As a non-surfer, I personally don’t find a use for the OKTOSURF. Reason being, I don’t need any higher performance than what I can get for much cheaper trucks.
However, if I were a surfer, I would definitely want to try the OKTOSURF and see how it compares to other surf trainers.
To give you a better idea of how the SpiceSkate OKTOSURF 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 that like the YOW Meraki, it actually feels like both. It feels very fluid and is very easy to pump and move from side to side. But its high rebound also makes it feel sharp and snappy.
Variable #2: Flexibility/Range of Motion
The OKTOSURF has less range of motion than the YOW Meraki or Smoothstar Thruster D. But it has more range of motion than the Carver CX or C7.
Variable #3: Rail-To-Rail Lean
I would put the OKTOSURF about in the middle compared to all the other best surfskate trucks.
It has less rail-to-rail lean than the YOW Meraki or Waterborne Surf Adapter. It has more rail-to-rail lean than the Slide, Curfboard, and the Aquilo.
I would say the lean feels most similar to the Carver C7 and Smoothstar Thruster D.
Variable #4: Stability
On this point, I would put the OKTOSURF right at about the middle of all the best surfskate trucks. It’s less stable than a Carver C7 but more stable than a YOW Meraki.
Variable #5: Suitable Skill Leve
I believe the SpiceSkate OKTOSURF 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 OKTOSURF generates great forward momentum. On that point, it feels similar to the Carver CX and C7.
Variable #7: Best Use
I categorize the OKTOSURF as a hybrid on my list of the best surfskates. Functionally, it is versatile. However, because of its cost, as a non-surfer I personally don’t have a use for it.
I think the OKTOSURF is best used as a bowl-riding surf trainer. I also believe that surfers who ride shortboards in particular will appreciate this truck.
Variable #8: Suitable Riding Distance
The SpiceSkate OKTOSURF generates a lot of forward momentum. This means you can pump it for longer distances.
However, I wouldn’t use it for that. Reason being, you have a lot better options for that that are a lot cheaper and less complicated.
Variable #9: Suitable Riding Surfaces
You can ride the SpiceSkate OKTOSURF on either smooth or rough surfaces because of its stability.
Variable #10: Versatility
The SpiceSkate OKTOSURF is very versatile. You can do pretty much anything you want on it, from pure surf training to bowl riding to street cruising. However, I think you have so many other better and cheaper options.
If I were a surfer, I would use the OKTOSURF for bowl riding as a surf trainer.
Variable #11: Wheelbase Offset
On surfskate trucks, the front axle typically hangs back behind the pivot point. The Carver C7 axle does not hang back, so I use it as a baseline. The OKTOSURF has a two-inch wheelbase offset relative to the Carver C7.
This is compared to 1” on the SpiceSkate SpicePilot, 1.5” on the Smoothstar Thruster D, 1.75” on the YOW Meraki, and 4” on the Abian Pro.
This means that you want a wider wheelbase on your deck for an OKTOSURF to accommodate your stance width.
Variable #12: Weight
The OKTOSURF with a TKP weighs 2 pounds 4.6 ounces. This makes it heavier than all of the other top surfskate trucks except for the SpiceSkate SpicePilot.
For comparison, on the lighter side, the Carver CX weighs 15 ounces.
Variable #13: Quality
I believe SpiceSkate products are very high quality and I think they’ll last you a long time.
Variable #14: Maintenance
I haven’t had my OKTOSURF for a long time. So I can’t speak to whether or not you’ll have any breakage or maintenance issues over time.
However, I do find it complicated to work with.
Variable #15: Cost
The OKTOSURF is the most expensive surfskate truck on the market. They sell the truck set separately for $239, and complete models for $519.
For their OKTOSURF models, SpiceSkate has an 850 series and an 852 series. There are different models within those series.
SpiceSkate OKTOSURF 850 Series
SpiceSkate OKTOSURF 852 Series
850 Model Foot Placement
852 Model Foot Placement
SpiceSkate is now selling all their trucks separately, including the OKTOSURF. They sell complete truck systems for $239. This includes the front surf adapter with one capsule, two TKP trucks, a riser for the rear, and hardware.
They sell complete OKTOSURF models for $519. This means SpiceSkate is charging $280 for the deck, wheels, and bearings. This seems odd to me, as I would expect the truck system to cost them more than those component parts.
For this reason, personally, if I wanted an OKTOSURF, I wouldn’t buy a complete model. Instead, I would buy just the truck and build a complete model with my own deck.
You’ll have to try the SpiceSkate OKTOSURF to answer this question for yourself. Here’s what I can say for me:
I love how the OKTOSURF feels and performs. However, I can’t say that I like it that much more than other systems to justify the increased price. But I say that as a non-surfer. Surfers who are looking to find the closest feel to being on the water may disagree.
For non-surfers, I would recommend many other trucks before an OKTOSURF. This includes the YOW Meraki, Carver CX, Carver C7, Waterborne Surf Adapter.
For surfers, I think the OKTOSURF provides a distinct enough feel and high enough performance to warrant serious consideration. I think that surfers who ride shortboards in particular will appreciate the OKTOSURF.
If I wanted to add the OKTOSURF to my quiver, I would buy the truck set separately. I would build a complete model with my own deck and parts.
If I wanted a complete OKTOSURF model, I would definitely choose the 852 model over the 850 model.
For more help with choosing the best surfskate for you, check out my free Surfskate Selector app.
