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Bones: a skateboarding components staple
Bones has a long-standing place in skateboarding, thanks to two major product families: Bones Wheels for wheels and Bones Bearings for bearings.
L’s history is closely linked to George Powell, Skate One, and the Powell Peralta scene.
Over the decades, Bones has developed different wheel formulas and bearing ranges to meet the specific demands of skateboarding.
Find the brand in our skateboard collection.
Bones Wheels
Bones Wheels is the brand’s division specializing in skateboard wheels.
The brand develops different urethane formulas and shapes to tailor wheel performance to different terrains and riding styles.
Street, skatepark, bowl, or rougher surfaces: choosing a Bones wheel depends in particular on its formula, diameter, durometer, and shape.
Also check out our full selection of skateboard wheels.
Bones Bearings
Bones Bearings specializes in skateboard bearings.
L’s Swiss bearings date back to the early 1980s, when George Powell set out to develop a bearing specifically suited to the demands of skateboarding.
Bones now offers several ranges to suit different performance levels and budgets.
Also compare them with our selection of skate bearings.
Bones REDS
The Bones REDS are among the best-known bearings in the Bones Bearings range.
They’re a particularly popular choice among skaters looking for bearings designed specifically for skateboarding, without necessarily stepping up to the Swiss ranges.
They’re designed to deliver smoothness, durability, and easy maintenance to a skate setup.
Bones Swiss
The Bones Swiss have a long-standing place in the range.
Developed from Swiss bearings and then adapted specifically to the demands of skateboarding, they’ve been part of the Bones world since the early 1980s.
They are Bones Bearings’ long-standing premium range.
Bones Swiss Ceramics
The Bones Swiss Ceramics use ceramic balls and are among the brand’s high-end bearings.
They’re aimed primarily at riders looking for a high level of performance and smoothness in their setup.
Bones Super Swiss 6
The Bones Super Swiss 6 use six larger-diameter balls instead of the more traditional seven-ball configuration.
This design is one of the distinctive features of this Bones range.
Why doesn’t Bones make ABEC the focus of its bearings?
Bones uses its Skate Rated approach rather than presenting the ABEC rating as the main criterion for choosing bearings.
L’ABEC rating refers to industrial tolerances, but it doesn’t cover all the demands of skateboarding, particularly impacts and lateral loads.
Bones therefore designs its bearings with their use in skateboarding in mind.
Bones Speed Cream
Bones Speed Cream is the lubricant developed by Bones to maintain its bearings.
After cleaning, proper lubrication helps reduce friction and maintain bearing performance.
It’s important not to skate on dry bearings after cleaning them.
Bones STF
STF stands for Street Tech Formula.
This Bones Wheels formula was developed for the demands of street skating.
It is designed to combine speed, grip, durability, and control for tricks at different urban spots.
Bones SPF
SPF stands for Skatepark Formula.
As its name suggests, this formula is primarily intended for skatepark surfaces.
Depending on the model, it is particularly well suited to riders skating relatively smooth surfaces in parks, ramps, or bowls.
Bones ATF
ATF stands for All Terrain Formula.
This wheel range is designed to provide greater comfort and better roll on less even surfaces.
This sets it apart from Bones formulas designed primarily for technical street skating or skateparks.
Bones X-Formula
The Bones X-Formula is another wheel technology developed by the brand.
It aims to combine qualities usually associated with different hardness levels: speed, control, the ability to slide, and better vibration absorption on less-than-perfect surfaces.
Bones 100's
The Bones 100's are an accessible range of Bones wheels designed specifically for skateboarding.
HawaiiSurf has listed various Bones 100's wheels, including Sidecut models in 55 mm.
They let you build a setup around the Bones world without necessarily going for the brand’s most technical formulas.
Which Bones formula should you choose?
The choice depends above all on the terrain.
For technical street skating, street-focused formulas like STF are particularly well suited.
For the smooth surfaces of skateparks, SPF is a dedicated range.
For greater comfort on uneven terrain, softer or more versatile formulas may be preferable.
What size Bones wheels should you choose?
Wheel diameter affects maneuverability, acceleration, and the skateboard’s ability to maintain its speed.
Smaller diameters are especially common in technical street skating.
As the diameter increases, the skateboard generally gets better at maintaining its speed and rolling over small bumps.
Bones 52 mm wheels
The 52 mm is a very common diameter for street skating.
It helps keep the skateboard relatively low and responsive, making it well suited to riders who spend a lot of time working on technical tricks.
Bones 53 and 54 mm wheels
Diameters 53 and 54 mm offer greater versatility.
They’re still suited to street skating while providing a little more roll, which can be useful for switching between street and skatepark.
Bones wheels, 55 mm and up
At 55 mm and up, wheels have a larger diameter and generally maintain their speed better.
These sizes can be a good choice for skateparks, transitions or riders simply looking for more roll.
The hardness of Bones wheels
Hardness directly affects how the wheels feel.
A hard wheel generally prioritizes responsiveness and slide on suitable surfaces.
A softer wheel absorbs more vibration and improves comfort on rough surfaces.
However, the urethane formula also plays an important role: two wheels with a similar hardness can feel different.
The shape of Bones wheels
Bones makes wheels in a range of profiles.
Overall width, contact patch and sidewall shape can all affect how a wheel grips, slides and responds.
The shape should therefore be chosen alongside the diameter and formula.
Bones for street skating
For street skating, look for a responsive setup that can handle repeated impacts.
Relatively compact Bones wheels paired with a formula designed for street skating make for a setup suited to tricks, grinds and slides.
Bones bearings can complete the setup for a smoother ride.
Bones for skateparks
At a skatepark, the surface is generally smoother than on the street.
Riders can choose a wheel suited to smooth surfaces and pick the diameter based on whether they skate more flatground, ramps or transitions.
The Bones SPF range was specifically developed for this type of skating.
Bones for bowls
In bowls and transitions, maintaining speed becomes especially important.
A slightly larger diameter can help maintain momentum through turns, while the wheel formula affects grip and slide.
How do you install Bones wheels?
Each wheel holds two bearings.
A complete skateboard therefore uses four wheels and eight bearings.
Bearings must be properly inserted into each wheel before mounting them on the truck axles.
Are Bones bearings compatible with Bones wheels?
Yes. Bones skateboard bearings use standard dimensions compatible with traditional skateboard wheels.
You can pair Bones Bearings with Bones Wheels, but you can also use them with compatible wheels from other brands.
Should you choose Bones Wheels and Bones Bearings together?
It’s not required.
Wheels and bearings serve different functions and can be selected independently.
Pairing the two simply lets you build a setup using several components from the Bones brand.
How do you clean your Bones bearings?
Remove the bearings from the wheels, then follow the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations.
Once cleaned and completely dry, bearings should be lubricated with a suitable product such as Bones Speed Cream before being reinstalled.
Avoid water, which can cause corrosion.
When should you replace your Bones bearings?
A bearing may need replacing if it remains very noisy, spins with difficulty, or has play or damage despite proper cleaning and lubrication.
Regular maintenance generally helps extend their lifespan.
When should you replace your Bones wheels?
Wheels wear down gradually with use.
A significant reduction in diameter, flat spots or uneven wear can affect how your skateboard feels.
Regularly rotating your wheels on the setup can help distribute wear.
Bones at HawaiiSurf
Discover Bones Skateboard at HawaiiSurf and explore the world of Bones Wheels and Bones Bearings to equip or upgrade your setup.
Wheels, bearings and components: choose your gear based on your terrain, skill level and the feel you’re after.
Explore our skateboard range, compare our skateboard wheels and discover our selection of skate bearings.
