Loaded Poke Longboard Review
Continuing the legacy of its equally efficient predecessors Fish and Ceviche, the Poke is the next iteration followed by a long lineage of fun decks by Loaded. In plain sight, this nimble, performance bamboo composite longboard is a moving picture of progression. Designed to be used both like the surfy carver Fish and the more technically-oriented Ceviche, this highly pumpable, freestyle friendly board will have you carving and slashing through the urban landscape. Whether you’re shredding around campus between classes, navigating your way through streets, or slaying your neighborhood hills, the Poke is there to satisfy your craving to ride.
Let’s start with the outlook. The Loaded Poke flaunts a fuller, more streamlined shape than that of its predecessors. The deck’s fish profile is reminiscent of a flounder, however, the standing platform is quite generous. Unlike the usual narrow cutout tail, both extensions of the Poke’s deck are wide enough to make a solid standing platform, making it a really fun thrasher to hit some lower speed freeride with. Featuring highly functional kicktail and a comfortable platform with concave, rocker and wheel well flares, this versatile urban explorer will get you shredding and make each outing a creative, dynamic adventure. The small size of the board paired with its sizable kicktail lets you play with the terrain, like all those sidewalks on your neighborhood hills.
The functional concave seems deep enough for the job plus the flared wheel arches are a nice touch too as they look more modern, and the cutouts in the tape, the rails and bottom of the deck effectively show the Poke’s bamboo construction. Not only the old-school organic shape looks so refreshing, but the graphics and a rather monochromatic color scheme demand a sense of appeal. The finishing net of its good looks is the attention to detail which shows even in Loaded’s choice of a subtle clear cut honeycomb print for the underside. It also offers a very nice tactile experience for the gloveless hands.
Specifications
- Length: 34” / 86 cm
- Width: 9.125” / 23.18 cm
- Wheelbase: 20.75” / 52.71 cm
- Tail: 7.625” / 19.37 cm (tip to inner bolt) @ 18°
- Nose: 5.625” / 14.29 cm (tip to inner bolt) @ 13°
- Concave: 0.5” / 1.3 cm (radial)
- Rocker: 0.1” / 0.3 cm (centered)
- Weight: 2.8 lbs / 1.3 kg (deck only)
- Construction: Bamboo/Fiberglass
- Concave Style: Radial
- Concave Depth: Medium
- Grip Tape: Medium-grit Black
- Flex: Stiff
Pros
- The Poke is made out of a vertically-laminated bamboo core with triaxial fiberglass top and bottom skins and a bamboo base veneer which allows for a strong, lightweight deck with responsive flex.
- The bottom bamboo veneer is sealed under a thin layer of hydrogenated bee pollen cured in a honeycomb pattern that lends a unique tactile quality to this board and can fight allergies.
- The board features 0.5” of concave radial for solid and quick transitions from rail to rail while pumping, carving, and slashing.
- The stiffer construction and slightly rockered profile makes the pumping feel closer to surfing than most boards on the market.
- The Loaded Poke is designed with a nominal rocker to promote a lively and responsive ride and comfort in a broader range of riding styles. 0.1” of rocker in its standing platform allows for a more subtle flex for both leisurely and aggressive riding.
- The perfect combination of the extremely maneuverable CX.4 front truck and the tail standard geometry of the C2 back truck creates a fluid and energetic turning sensation.
- The Poke on Paris delivers a lively yet linear turning response that encourages versatility and accommodates speed more readily than the Carvers. The true 50° reverse kingpin geometry of the Paris 150mm truck lends itself to a wide variety of styles.
- The Poke sports an ample tail for assertive surf-style slashing and plenty of freestyle trickery. The nose has also been widened to create a more comfortable platform for manuals and shuvits.
- The kicktail really cradles your foot at all times which makes it very easy to pump from your tail, drop a curb, manual, and then hit a nice little wheely slide without ever having to re-position your foot.
- The grip tape pattern is cut with an aqueous outline to subliminally instill an unhealthy obsession with the sea in the mind of the rider, thereby inspiring a fluid and smooth surfing style.
Cons
- The extra-grippy tape, unlike what’s mostly used on small decks, will have you spending more money on your shoes.
- The wavy die cut pattern, though interesting enough, isn’t particularly pretty.
The Bottom Line
The Loaded Poke would make an ideal sole board for the surfer that cares less about going very fast and sliding all over the place, all things considered. It’s a gnarly little thrasher that you would really enjoy. So, if you’re looking for fast freeride or downhill, look somewhere else, but if you’re in for a fun little thrasher that can handle a variety of situations then the Poke is just the thing for you.
Related: Best Loaded Longboards