Darkstar Skateboards Review (Are They Worth The Money?)

Darkstar is a skateboard brand that came out in the late ’90s. They were known as an entry-level pro board that was budget-friendly and reliable. To this day, that still holds true.

If you’re looking for an affordable skateboard that won’t let you down, Darkstar is definitely worth considering. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of the brand and its products, as well as our thoughts on whether or not they’re worth your hard-earned cash.

Are Darkstar Skateboards Good?

As we mentioned, Darkstar has a good reputation as an affordable and reliable skateboard brand. Their boards are suitable for both beginner and experienced skaters alike. That being said, the brand has received quite a bit of flak through the years.

One of the brand’s most popular products is its line of Walmart skateboards. The Walmart Darkstar skateboards are old products that didn’t sell in skate shops. Darkstar holds lines of decks and completes that didn’t sell for 3 years or so, and then sells them to Walmart. If you’re an experienced skater, you’ll probably want to avoid the Walmart boards and opt for the higher-quality boards that you can get from the skate shops.

So, should you buy a Darkstar skateboard? If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option that won’t let you down, then we say go for it. Just be sure to pick the right board for your skill level.

By The Way: All Darkstar skateboard decks come with a 30-day warranty against manufacturer defects. If the deck snaps, you can get a brand-new one. However, this doesn’t include things like water damage.

Best Darkstar Completes

A complete skateboard is the best bet for beginners. That way, you don’t have to worry about picking out each individual component. Darkstar offers a few different complete boards for different skill levels and budgets.

However, if you’re interested in building your own skateboard, Darkstar has some pretty amazing decks too. See the latest Darkstar deck collection.

7.5 – Darkstar Inception First Push Complete

The Darkstar Inception Complete is a perfect skateboard for children and beginners that prefer a smaller board. With a width of 7.5, it’s definitely on the small side of skateboards. That makes it the ideal starter deck.

Darkstar Inception is made from 7 plies of Birch held together with Super Sap Resin. Each deck is individually pressed and checked by quality control.

This skateboard comes equipped with Tensor trucks, Darkstar wheels, and ABEC 1 bearings. Take a closer look at the Darkstar Inception complete at Thank You Supply.

7.875 – Darkstar Magic First Push Premium Complete

The Darkstar Magic First Push Complete is a 7.875, a perfect width for larger children and beginners. It’s another great starter deck that comes with some basic pro-grade components.

This deck is made from 7 plies of Birch that are held together with the strongest water-based resin. Again, these decks are pressed individually and inspected for premium quality.

The Darkstar Magic First Push complete comes with a graphic grip tape, Tensor trucks, Darkstar wheels, and ABEC 1 bearings. Get a better look at the Darkstar Magic complete at Thank You Supply.

8.0 – Darkstar Anodize First Push Complete

The Darkstar Anodize First Push Complete is a well-rounded starter deck. It is an 8.0 which is typically the best width for teen and adult beginners. If you have a hard time flipping an 8.0 you’ll want to go slightly smaller with your next deck. However, if you’re having a difficult time landing, you might want to opt for a slightly wider board.

Like the other boards, Darkstar Anodize is made from 7 plies of Birch held together with water-based resin. Each deck is pressed individually and checked for quality.

This complete skateboard comes fully equipped with Tensor trucks, Darkstar wheels, and ABEC 1 bearings. All of these completes have a 30-day guarantee against manufacturer defects. Take a closer look at the 8.0 Darkstar Anodize complete skateboard at Thank You Supply.

Darkstar’s Regrowth Sustainability Mission

As part of its commitment to sustainability, Dwindle has partnered with the National Forest Foundation to help replant forests across the United States. For every purchase you make from Dwindle, a tree will be planted in one of the country’s national forests. So far, they’ve planted over 100,000 trees!

It doesn’t end there, though. They also practice fair labor and give back to multiple charities. Take an in-depth look at their initiatives.

Super Sap

Darkstar decks are made with Super Sap, a strong, lightweight, and eco-friendly resin. This resin is made from recycled and biobased materials, including tree sap. Instead of dumping these bi-products, Super Sap recycles them into an eco-friendly resin used to make skateboards.

The company’s use of Super Sap makes its boards some of the most sustainable on the market. Not only are they made from recycled materials, but they’re also guaranteed not to break. That’s right, there is a 30-day guarantee. If you break a Darkstar skateboard within the first 30 days, they’ll send you a brand-new one.

Using Super Sap also saves energy! Using one gallon of Super Sap to make 21 skateboards saves energy and resources equivalent to:

• 85 Servings of Water (16fl oz)
• 1300 smartphone charges
• 10 miles of car pollution

History of Darkstar Skateboards

Darkstar Skateboards was founded in 1997 by brothers Chet and Matt Thomas. The brand started as a skate shop before eventually evolving into the Darkstar Wheels brand and then the skateboard deck brand we know today.

In 2007, Chet saw the opportunity to sell accessible completes in Walmart and started pushing Darkstar products there. They would sell only the skateboards that didn’t do well in traditional skate shops to Walmart, maximizing their sales and profits.

Today, Darkstar is owned by Dwindle Distribution, the largest skateboard distributor on the market. The company is known for its affordable and reliable products, as well as its sustainability initiatives. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly skateboard that won’t let you down, Darkstar is a great option.

Cool Fact: Darkstar was named after the song Dark Star by the Grateful Dead.

Why Does Walmart Sell Darkstar Skateboards?

As stated above, brothers Chet and Matt found a way to increase their sales by selling to Walmart. Instead of becoming a Walmart brand, they started selling skateboards to Walmart that didn’t sell well in local skate shops.

Was it a good move? It’s hard to tell. A lot of skaters in the community have ridiculed this decision.

Although Darkstar was always a cheaper option, selling their skateboards in Walmart did leave a bad taste in some people’s mouths. However, it was profitable and beneficial for the brothers.

Are Walmart Skateboards Any Good?

Walmart skateboards are not good quality boards and are made from cheap materials. The boards are harder to ride and can be frustrating for beginners. In addition, the boards can be unsafe as the wheels can come off and the trucks can break. The decks on these skateboards also tend to chip, which can create sharp edges, known in the skateboarding community as razor tails.

Overall, we would not recommend buying a Walmart skateboard. If you’re looking for a beginner skateboard, stick to a well-known beginner brand like Blind or Darkstar.

Although you can sometimes buy Darkstar skateboards from Walmart, they are lower quality than the Darkstar boards you get from a skate shop. Take a look at quality Darkstar decks from Thank You Supply instead.

What Other Products Does Darkstar Sell?

Aside from decks and complete skateboards, Darkstar also sells:

• Wheels
• T-Shirts
• Stickers

Check out the full updated Darkstar catalogue at Thank You Supply. You can find some pretty cool shirts to rep and some wheels that will match your board.

Conclusion

Overall, Darkstar is definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re looking for an affordable and reliable board. Just be sure to pick the right board for your skill level. Either way, don’t buy your board from Walmart. Get a quality Darkstar skateboard from a local skate shop or from a reliable online retailer like Thank You Supply.