|
|  |
| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 101 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 52 found the following review helpful:
 Remember the 'Back to the Future' hoverboard. Aug 26, 2005
By Richard Kelly
Until we get anti-gravity, this will have to do.
When I first saw this board, I didn't believe it could be rideable. Only two wheels instead of four, and they're on swivels. And the board is split in the middle, and pivots around a rod? I rounded up the owner, my 7-year old nephew Taigen. "Show me." I demanded. When he did, it was like I was watching a magic trick.
So I studied it awhile, and took one ride while supported by a helpful shoulder. Then I kicked off by myself. As soon as you pivot once, and feel the board actually propelling you, you "get it." I was hooked.
Never have I seen a recreational toy where the disparity between perceived and actual difficulty was so great. If you kick off hoping for the reassuring support of four wheels, you're not going to make it. If, however, you kick off, and believe you're surfing/snowboarding/whatever, you will do fine. It's faith-based boarding! It's all about active balance.
I showed it to a friend. When he saw the swiveling casters, he said, "That's death-on-wheels!" I give him the prep-talk ("balance") Three kicks later, he's going around the parking lot.
The smoother the movements (swivel those hips!) the better. It's like riding a wave a couple of inches off the concrete.
34 of 35 found the following review helpful:
 A hit with kids from 6 to 99!!! Nov 12, 2006
By C.E. Lopes
"C.E."
My daughter saw this when we were visiting F.A.O. Schwarz in NY. She is 8 and wanted one, bad. I ended up finding it for $99 with free shipping at Sports Authority (a long time ago, your mileage may vary!).
Adults will love it!!! It took me 10 minutes to get the hang of it, and about 3h to master turning at full speed. I used to skateboard a good deal as a kid, and that probably helped. I want one for myself now!
My daughter had to practice a bit more, but she never had any kind of skateboard; it took her about 5h total (and she still doesn't turn all that well). A kid from our street that is always skateboarding got it very quickly, she was turning and in full control of the board in about 2h.
These are, obviously, non-contiguous hours of practice. Who would do "the wave drills"? Not us, thanks!!! :-)
Every single kid in our street just wants one. They are always after us asking if they can try it. The other adults, when they see me riding, are split in two camps: "Are you trying to break your neck?" and "How is that even possible?"; but they all ask about it and some even are brave enough to try. Quite a conversation piece!
My only complaint is already very common in other reviews: the wheels... They almost melt against the street. We have rode for less than 40h, and we can already see cracks on them and feel some resistance while riding. Hence 4 stars!
Other than that: what a great board. And what great fun.
25 of 26 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Ride! Aug 25, 2006
By Patrick A. Ochs
"patrick_a_o"
Got the wave board about 5 months ago. Took me about an hour to get the hang of riding it. Was a bit daunting at first, but after using a wall for a few runs, I got the hang off it. One tip: I found the "advanced" launch method easier than trying to do the "beginner" technique. In the beginner you push off with your back foot. The problem is that with only 2 wheels you need to move your back foot into position quite fast. Makes it hard to get your feet properly placed, which is key to a good ride. In the advanced you start off with both feet on the board and then start twisting to gain momentum. I found this a much more controlled way to launch.
It has a great smooth ride and allows tight carving. I can already do 360s. Probably the best feature is that it is self-propelled, so you never need to touch the ground after you get going.
Some of the other reviewers complained of wheel problems, but I have had no excessive wheel wear. I have been riding 2 to 3 days a week for 5 months, and while I have worn the shiny cover off the wheels, they are still perfectly usable. Just this week the bearings in my back wheel have worn out, but given the amount of riding I have done and that I weigh 225lbs, I would not consider this excessive wear. Maybe the pavement they are riding on is more rough than where I ride.
All in all, a great board at a very fair price. Have had more fun on it than my $300 long board.
------
UPDATE
------
Found a good alternative to caster boards. Check out the Thruster 385. It is a skateboard with a special front truck that allows it to carve like a wave board but is stable through turns and smooth over bumps like a skateboard. VERY COOL.
14 of 14 found the following review helpful:
Notes for new buyers [UPDATED Dec. 08] Oct 07, 2008
By Satoru Isaka
I've been riding a StreetSurfing's Wave for a month, and I'm really having a great time with it. I thought to share my experience in some areas that new buyers may find useful.
Wave vs. Ripstik:
I chose Wave over Ripstik because I heard that it's easier to learn.
The claim was supposedly based on Wave's wider deck plate and shorter caster height. I tried my friend's Ripstik, and my conclusion is that it does not matter which. They are both good and easy to learn.
Having said that, there are noticeable differences in riding feels more than cosmetic. I felt that Ripstik was a bit more responsive, perhaps faster too. But it could be the ground surface or the wheel condition that made me feel that way. I liked the narrower deck plate on Ripstik, as it felt easier to position my feet. But I am very happy with the Wave, and these differences won't make me switch to Ripstik.
Wheel tread wear: *** UPDATED Dec. 8, 2008 ***
My rear wheel lost its tread 1/8" after 2 months, and the front wheel lost 1/16". I weigh 180lb, and used the board on sidewalks and blacktops for 1 hour/day on average for 60 days. When the wheel loses more than 1/8" in tread, it catches tiny debris on the ground, making it difficult to maneuver sometimes. I switched the front and rear wheels for a few weeks, and then replaced them both with new ones.
Caster problem (and the great customer support):
My Wave's rear caster became too wobbly to ride after 3 months of use. I wrote an email to info@streetsurfing.com the day before Thanksgiving. I got a reply the following Monday. They gave me two new replacement casters for free with a purchase of one wheel set, plus 15% discount. I received the shipment one week later. The problem is resolved.
This is an excellent customer support by StreetSurfing.
*** End of UPDATE ***
Exercise value:
My heart rate doesn't go up much even on up hills, so I can't say that it's a great aerobic exercise. I feel that my sense of balance has improved. My lower body (hips, knees, ankles) seem to be a bit more flexible now than before I started caster boarding.
I did have one big discovery. The mechanics of generating power to drive the caster board are similar to the ones to throw punches correctly.
I discovered this when I was struggling to drive the board on the first day. When I recognize the effective body moves, it became easier for me to drive it. I heard somewhere that the origin of caster boards comes from martial arts training tools. Whether it is true or not, I do see a connection between the two.
Ripple and Ripster for kids:
I saw a 6-year-old comfortably riding the Ripster one day. He told me that he started with Ripstik but he had trouble riding it, so he got the smaller board, i.e. Ripster. If a child is below 4 feet and weighs less than 50lb, Wave may be too big, too heavy. I'd consider Ripster or Ripple instead.
Protection gears to learn fast:
I highly recommend wearing a helmet, knee/elbow pads, and gloves/wrist guard when you first try to ride the board. They give you protection of course, but also the sense of security that allows you to overcome your fear. Once you get on the board a few times, you will quickly realize that it is not as hard as you think. Some people who tried my board without protection gears seemed to be too fearful of falling to actually get themselves on board in a proper manner.
Subsequently they gave up quickly, saying it was too hard.
You don't need to be young, fit or coordinated to ride a caster board.
Enjoy!
13 of 13 found the following review helpful:
Wave skateboard review Nov 23, 2006
By Geezer
I found the Wave to be in intimidating at first especially when I mistakenly tried to ride it with the back facing front. Going down a very slight grade really helps too. Follow the instructional DVD.
Once you get the hang of moving your hips to make it go, it quickly becomes addictive and so much fun.
It is an excellent way to improve balance skills and it provides a strenuous workout. I feel it's a lot safer than conventional skateboarding since it doesn't squirt out from under you and dump you as easily as a regular skateboard. I'm a 64 year old geezer in fairly good shape and using the Wave is a great addition to my retired routine.
See all 101 customer reviews on Amazon.com
|
The
Importance Of Lighting In Interior Design
by Jessica Ackerman
Everyone knows how important
paint color, furniture choices and artwork are to
interior design. One aspect of design that is often
overlooked, however, is lighting. Lighting not only
affects the brightness of the room, but it can also
change the way a paint color looks, cast shadows in ways
that make the room seem smaller and have an impact on
the presentation of art work.
There is no light like
natural light. If you are buying, building or
remodeling, opt for as much natural light as possible.
Oversized windows and skylights are two ways to get the
most natural light. Of course, not everyone is in the
position to be able to do that, so you'll have to work
with what you have.
How much natural light do
you get in your room? If the room in question faces
north, you won't get as much natural sunlight as you
would in a southern facing room. Rooms that face south
get bright, natural light throughout the day. Rooms that
face east will only have good natural light in the
morning hours and western facing rooms will have the
most light during the afternoon.
Once you are familiar
with how much natural light is in each room, you'll be
able to make informed choices about what additional
lighting may be necessary. Keep in mind that rooms with
little or no natural light will need artificial lighting
- even during the day - in order to look their best.
Here are some types of lighting to consider.
1. Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is
perfect when you want to showcase a piece of art or a
special piece of furniture or other item. Since light
draws the eye, it will bring attention to the features
in your room that you wish to highlight.
2. Hanging Light Features
Chandeliers and smaller
hanging lamps can be beautiful as well as functional. A
trip to the local home improvement store will quickly
show you how overwhelming the choices can be. You'll
want to select lighting that blends in with your
existing dÃÂécor. For example, a crystal chandelier in a
country themed dining room probably isn't the best
option. If you don't choose carefully, your lighting may
stick out like a sore thumb and become more of an
eyesore than a lovely accent.
3. Recessed Lighting
Recessed lighting is a
good choice for a room that needs extra light throughout
the day. Because the lighting won't interfere with the
existing decor, it can work in almost any room. It
provides abundant light without taking up a lot of space
or interfering with other aspects of the room.
4. Lamps
Using lamps are a way to
add not only additional lighting, but also punches of
color. If possible, see how much light the lamp gives
off before leaving the store. Many lamps serve as
decoration more than as a light source and give off very
little light. If you love the lamp, but it doesn't give
off quite enough light, consider changing the shade
which will usually solve the problem.
When decorating your
home, remember how important lighting is, and give it
the same thought and attention you give to the other
details of decorating your home.
About the Author
Jessica Ackerman is the
featured author at Wall DÃÂécor and Home Accents. Shop today
for great deals on
metal wall sculpture ,
home
accents and more unique wall dÃÂécor products.
|
|
| | |
|
|
