What Is A Grip Tape & It's Purpose | Is Grip Tape Necessary|

Last Updated on July 4, 2024 by BoardsRiding

What is a Grip Tape? Grip tape can help skaters stay secure also on ice. It can also help you avoid injuries and falls in other sports like football and basketball. Griptape is sandpaper or emery that’s glued to the upper side of a skateboard deck.

What is grip tape on a skateboard? It gives you stable footing and allows you to perform a number of tricks. Grip tape is a type of tape which skateboarders use to increase the traction on their skateboard deck. It’s basically sandpaper with a glue backing. If you really wanted to, you could use it as sandpaper, but we suggest shredding instead.

Griptape is also required if you want to perform any modern street skateboarding tricks. Best Grip tape for skateboards are: Mob Skateboard Grip Tape Sheet, Jessup Skateboard Griptape Sheet, Black Diamond Sheet Grip Tape, ZUEXT Skateboard Grip Tape Sheet, Black Widow Griptape.

What Is A Grip Tape?

Grip tape is a gritty, a sandpapery layer put on the top of the skateboard deck to aid in shoe grip. The shoes may slide off the board if you didn’t use grip tape. You want the board to stick to your shoes so you can skate with more control. Even the simplest basic skateboard tricks would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, without grip tape.

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So, in order to stay safe on the board, you must have grip tape and keep it clean. The most common color is black, However, other colours and styles are available. To personalize and customize your skateboard, you might draw upon it, cut it, or perform any other thing you want.

That’s which makes it fun! Griptape is also required if you want to perform any street skateboarding trick. It’s required to perform an ollie and other flip tricks. Griptape was invented in the 1990s with the advent of street skateboarding, so skateboards in the 1960s and 1970s did not have it. A common sheet of grip tape measures 9′′ x 33′′ (22.8cm x 83.8cm) and can be trimmed to fit any skateboard size.

You can create a variety of grip tape patterns to suit your needs. A grip tape pattern requires no special tools other than paper and a pencil or pen.

What Is Skateboard Grip Tape Made Of?

Silicon-carbide is the most common material used to make it. It’s made from the same material as regular sandpaper; however, grip tape has a significantly lower grit level compared to regular sandpaper. It creates friction and resistance between the deck as well as your shoe soles. Without this friction, getting your deck into the air would be extremely difficult.

Aluminum oxide is also used for less expensive options Although aluminium oxide is less expensive, Its grip does not last longer as silicon carbide. The silicon-carbide or aluminium oxide coating is put on an epoxy-topped piece of polyester film. This coating ensures the top of the film is then dried with a grit-like surface using a heat lamp.

After that, a machine applies an adhesive to the bottom of the polyester film, which acts as the sheet’s glue. Backing To make sure that the item doesn’t really stick to any undesirable materials, paper is applied to the adhesive. Another cut the sheets into the final product, 33′′ x 9′′ sheets. Griptape comes in a wide range of colours, prints, and graphics, as well as brand logos and small cut-outs.

Transparent grip tape is gaining popularity as certain brands produce decks with more elaborate graphics and designs. What is grip tape? a standard sheet of grip tape determines 9′′ x 33′′ (22.8cm x 83.8cm), which is large enough to fit almost any deck. Larger sheets with varying degrees of granularity are available for wider decks & longboards.

However, You should not use ultra-rough longboard grip tape for usual skateboarding unless you’re willing to buy a new pair of shoes each week. Griptape is much more flexible and waterproof nowadays than it was in the past. It’s also very inexpensive and simple to apply to the skateboard, cruiserboard, or longboard.

What Is The Purpose Of Grip Tape?

What is grip tape for skateboards & What is a grip tape? this is a type of tape that skateboarders use to increase the traction on their skateboard deck. It’s basically sandpaper with a glue backing. If you really wanted to, you could use it as sandpaper, but we suggest shredding instead.

The History and Evolution of Griptape

Griptape was invented in the mid-1990s in California. Griptape arose as a result of the introduction of street skateboarding, and this permitted street skateboarding to grow into what it is today. Earlier grip tape was less flexible & did not have a waterproof coating.

Griptape is required for nearly all of the most famous street skateboarding tricks which we know today, so the impact of grip tape on skateboarding cannot be overstated.

When Do I Need to Clean My Grip Tape?

When your grip tape becomes dirty, you should clean it. No, seriously- if you notice dust accumulating on the board or you’re tracking mud even as skating in the rain, it’s also time to do a quick cleaning before your next serious session. The sticky design of grip tape does more than just make the shoes stick to this. It also grabs dirt quite well, so it’s a two-edged sword.

What Supplies Do I Need to Clean Grip Tape?

You do not require much to get your skateboard back in working order. It’s all about technique, not tools. Before you begin, ensure you have the following tools:

Brush with a soft wire.
Water
Towels, either paper or cloth.
Rubber cement eraser or Grip Gum.
To clean your board, you do not require anything fancy.

Here I will provide you with detailed guidelines about how to clean skateboard grip tape and explain all the tips & tricks you can apply to clean your skateboard’s grip tape.

Is Grip Tape Necessary On A Skateboard?

There’s much debate over whether skateboard grip tape is essential. Some say it helps you stay on the board, while others say it’s just irritating and makes skating extra difficult. There’re numerous other options for maintaining your hands safe on the skateboard if Grip Tape isn’t for you.

What is a grip tape? This is a kind of adhesive that is commonly used on skateboards to avoid slippage & improve grip during falls. It also helps you maintain your balance while skating, improves your safety and control on the board, and also can reduce your risk of injury if you fall.
Grip tape comes in a variety of sizes to fit every individual’s hand, making it simple to find What you’re searching for.
Grip tape is made of durable materials like rubber or latex, which makes it resistant to wear and tear.
Grip tape, when properly applied, helps to prevent slipping and provides greater stability when skateboarding, making it easier to maintain control regardless of skill level or terrain conditions.
Gripping the skateboard correctly will also improve your chances of preventing injuries in the event that something goes wrong- by keeping yourself stable, you’ll be less likely to lose balance as well as fall off the board entirely.

Size Of Skateboard Grip Tape

Skateboard grip tape and longboard grip tape are made from the same material, but they are sold in various sizes to fit different skateboard deck sizes. Grip tape for shortboards is typically sold in 9„X 33“ sheets. Longboard grip tape could be up to 12„X 4′ in size. When gripping a longboard, cruiser, or old-school skateboard, pay close attention to dimensions & ensure you have enough grip tape to completely cover the skate deck.

Step By Step Guidelines OF Grip Tape Installation Method:

Organize

Locate a suitable location for your skateboard deck. The surface should be smooth but not scratch a graphic. On a table, we suggest using a towel. The towel won’t stick to the adhesive too much, as well as the table will provide a great work surface.

Take off the Sheet

Remove the entire backing from your grip sheet.

Alignment and adhesion

Align a grip with the nose or tail of the skateboard and utilize that as a guide when pressing the grip down on the board. Take note of the concave & upturned nose & tail.

Edges Must Be Pressed

Press your hands along the edges of the skateboard deck to find the rails.

Scrape The Exteriors

Scrape the grip tape along edges of skateboard deck with an old screwdriver. This will be the cutting path, so scrape off as much grip material as possible.

Chop Chop

Come under the grip with a new razor blade & cut the grip tape using the deck, then flip it and do the other side.

Grip Tape Removal Instructions:

It can be difficult to eliminate skateboard grip from a deck, particularly if the deck is old. It’s, however, not impossible, and we have some tricks to assist you.

Utilize A Heat Gun

A heat gun, if you have one, is extremely useful for removing grip tape. It melts a adhesive that holds the sandpaper to a deck, allowing it to be peeled off more easily. If you don’t have a heat gun, you can use a hairdryer.

Allow Plenty of Time

It may take some time to loosen the grip. Accept it and proceed with caution. Don’t try to cut into the deck with a razor, for example. You will cause damage to the deck.

Don’t Be Concerned About Any Leftover Glue

There will be a lot of glue left on the skateboard deck. It will take a tremendous amount of effort to eliminate it all, so we suggest simply gripping over it. A new grip will easily adhere to the glue.

Can You Skate Without Grip Tape?

Your shoes might slide off the board if you didn’t use grip tape. You would like to have the board to stick to your shoes so you can skate with more control. Even the simplest basic skateboard tricks would be significantly more difficult, if not impossible, without grip tape.

FAQs:

Griptape is sandpaper or emery that’s attached to the top of the skateboard deck. It gives you stable footing and allows you to execute a number of tricks.

Your shoes might slide off the board if you didn’t use grip tape. You wish the board to stick to the shoes so you can skate with more control. Even the simplest basic skateboard tricks would be significantly difficult, if not impossible, without grip tape.

Grip tape provides excellent traction here on board, however when wet. However, Grip tape’s adhesion may deteriorate over time.as a result of repeated drying and wetting. If this happens, a tape will begin to peel away from the deck.

However, Depending on how often you skate, grip tape can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. It’s up to you to replace your grip tape. If you notice that the grip tape is beginning to slip, change it out with a new sheet.

One possibility is to use a current tape for the clubs. This is an option, but it is most likely the least favourable of the three. After all, the tape is unlikely to form as powerful a bond with grip as it did the first time. Option number two is applying new grip tape over the old.

Final Thoughts:

What is a grip tape? Griptape is essential for every street skateboarding, as it’s required to perform an ollie or even any flip tricks. It’s also essential for simply riding the board because it provides you more control and stability. Griptape was created in the mid-1990s and consists of four simple components. Please share your suggestions in the comment section. Thank you!

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What Is A Grip Tape | Grip Tape Installation Method In 2024|