Landyachtz Switchblade Review

The legendary Switchblade is back with a major facelift in the world of high-performance longboarding. One of the most popular and well appreciated mid-range longboards, the Landyachtz Switchblade features a drop down deck and a vibrant deck design that changes from year to year. The Switchblade 40, inspired largely by its 2014 Landyachtz downhill line, now features 8 plies of maple sandwiched between a top composite layer and a bottom fiberglass layer that create a super stiff deck. With a deck measuring 10″ and a 31″ wheelbase, this free-ride deck is perfect for a large rider who wants to pop in and out of slides with ease. The symmetrical dropped-deck with drop-through mounting makes the Switchblade very stable and easy to ride.

Heavy to the hand and with a 1.75″ dropped platform, the Switchblade feels incredibly secure and natural under your feet. The eye-catching graphic is pretty distinctive as well – It’s a little bolder but it does grow on you. Although the green wheels would have been reconsidered, but the graphic has no bearing on the way the Switchblade rides. The truck choice combined with the lowered platform makes this feel incredibly secure even at high speeds, while retaining good control. The deck is made out of fine Canadian maple which leaves it quite heavy and stiff with no real flex, just a very slight bounce. This eventually makes for a beautifully smooth ride and even draws you into a sense of security at high speeds.

Features & Specifications

• Length: 40″
• Width: 10″
• Wheelbase: 31″
• Weight: 8.4 pounds
• Construction: Maple/Fiberglass
• Trucks: Paris V2 180mm X 50° Reverse King Pin Trucks
• Wheels: Divine 72mm X 78A Street Slayer Wheels
• Graphic: 2016 Chimera
• Bearings: Mini Logo (Skate Rated)
• Concave: Medium
• Flex: Stiff

Pros

• The longboard features 8 plies of maple sandwiched between a top composite layer and a bottom fiberglass layer that creates a super stiff deck to hold onto. The symmetrical dropped deck with drop-through mounting makes the board very stable and easy to ride.
• The length feels absolutely perfect regardless of your riding style. The slight drop lets you know where your feet are at all times and the hips allow you to really lock your feet in position for those big slides.
• The aggressive W-concave in the middle of the deck creates some comfortable pockets to dig your feet into securely. It feels great to ride and is slightly adaptive to your stance over time.
• The width of the deck feels just right for the biggest of feet.
• It’s not actually the cheapest on the market, but a great investment with longevity and versatility like few others on the market.
• The truck combined with the lowered platform makes the board feel incredibly secure even at high speeds, while retaining a good amount of control.
• The deck itself is quite heavy and stiff with no real flex, which makes for a really smooth ride and even draws you into a sense of security at high speeds. The Switchblade uses Canadian maple which gives it a little heft and provides a firm structure for the other components.
• The new V2 hangers have a newly designed kingpin hole for deeper carving, and come with factory faced hangers for perfect bearing alignment from day one. At 180mm wide with 50-degree turning geometry, the Paris V2s are a perfect balance of stability and maneuverability.
• The Divine Street Slayer Wheels can handle cruising, carving, downhill and freeriding. At 72mm in diameter, the Slayers are sized perfectly between dedicated downhill and freeride wheels.
• The symmetry makes it riding in switch and pulling 180s seem second nature as there’s no difference between the front and the back of the board.

Cons

• Pumping and dancing are some weak points for the board despite the large standing platform.
• Sliding requires a little bit more effort and practice than a standard top mount board, but once you’re used to it, it won’t let you down.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a great cruising and carving board or something to hone your downhill and freeride skills, the Switchblade will inspire confidence in all your longboarding endeavors. However, sliding requires a little effort and practice, but once you’re used to it, riding becomes a breeze. However, it more than makes up for its flaws with the unparalleled stability at high speeds and capability to do both free-riding and downhill quite well. That being said, this is a great board for those looking for an excellent free-riding board that is also suitable for a multitude of other purposes such as cruising and downhilling.

Related: Best Landyachtz Longboards