Juice Wheels Logo, Pretty Sweet Right?! |
I was skeptical when first testing out the Cosmo wheels. The floor on which I was going to first test them was known for being super sticky, so I wondered if they would be too sticky, but I ended up skating 27 laps in 5 minutes. That's only one lap fewer than my personal best and I had just returned from taking a couple months off from skating so I was quite pleased. I was also pleased that it only took about 7 laps before the Cosmos were broken in. That's the quickest I've ever experienced wheels breaking in, and I've tried out a lot of wheels!
After trying them on a sticky floor, I needed to see how they performed on a slick floor. The track I found was not only slick but dusty as well, so I was prepared to be sliding all over the place. Boy was I wrong! Not only was the roll still incredibly fast and smooth, but they had amazing grip and a controlled slide. It's almost impossible not to go fast when skating on these wheels, and as a big girl who is used to having to really work to get some speed, I have no problem with that. These wheels are really giving my previous favorites, Crazy Play Slim 59mm, a run for their money! (If you are interested in reading more about my experience with the Crazy Play wheels, check out my article on them, Crazy at Play.)
Juice Wheels got their website and FaceBook up and running a few weeks after sending me the tester wheels, so I was finally able to acquire the rest of the wheels they make in their Martini, Spiked, and Jolt series of quad wheels.
Juice Cosmo 93a |
I have been recommending the Juice Martini series to many of my fellow skaters for them to try out. The Sapphire wheels have hit it off with my clients who don't weigh much or who need extra grip, while the Appletinis are working better for skaters who want less grip, are heavier, or skate on extremely sticky surfaces. For skaters who are just looking for an all around great wheel that works on many surfaces, the Cosmos have been a hands-down favorite.
Juice Monster 95a |
Juice Wheels also offers two other wheel lines, Spiked and Jolt. The Spiked line of wheels include AMP (91a), NRG (93a), and Monster (95a). Spiked wheels retail at $100 for a set of 8, so they are more affordable, and while they still have the radial designed core, they don't have the dual poured urethane.
Juice Jolt 80a |
Jolts are Juice's hybrid offering with a durometer of 80a and they come in two sizes, 62mm and 59mm. They are $80 for a whole set and have worked well for skaters on super slick/dusty floors. I haven't yet had the pleasure to try out any of the Spiked or Jolt wheels, but if they perform anywhere near the Martini series, I know I'm in for a treat!
One final note about Juice Martini Wheels: their marketing is genious. They named the wheels after drinks, their packaging has a picture of a martini glass on the front, and on the back of their package they have "Supplement Facts" that read like nutritional information. It all ties together quite nicely and has a theme I can get behind. The only issue I have is that they didn't continue this theme with their Spiked and Jolt wheels and instead went with electricity inspired names. At least the Spiked wheels have the Juice martini glass logo on the surface area.
To summarize my experiences and those of my fellow skaters who have tried the Juice Martini series of wheels, here is a list of pros and cons:
Pros:
- Excellent speed (can't say that enough)!
- Amazing grip that doesn't interfere with speed.
- Nice and lightweight.
- Great on many different surfaces.
- Pretty sweet marketing and packaging design.
Cons:
- Only comes in 59mm.
- Cost could be a little steep for some skaters.
If you are now interested in trying out some of the Juice Martini series wheels but want to try before you buy, you can check them out from the 2N1 Skate Shoppe Wheel Library for a $20 deposit. If you aren't sure which ones might work best for you, send me an e-mail at 2N1SkateShoppe@gmail.com and I'll do my best to help you out.
For my next giveaway, I have 5 packs of KT Tape Pro to give away. These KT Tape Pro packs come in 10 cool colors and include 20 pre-cut strips which makes applying them super easy. You can use this stuff for just about every injury and the website has tons of video instructions which makes applying the strips super easy.
If you want to be in the running to win some, all you have to do is go to the 2N1 Skate Shoppe FaceBook page and write a review about anything related to 2N1. You can write it on a product, service you have received, or even the 2N1 website, up to you. I'll announce the winners in my next G Spot post.
Until we skate again!
Shocker
Hey, I have the Jolts and I LOVE them. Our team skates on a super slippery floor that a lot of skaters use poisons on but the Jolts actually hold corners a little bit better on the slick floor. And since they're hybrids, I actually use them outdoors too (on, like, basketball courts or outdoor rinks, not trail skating. I'm sure I could use them trail skating too but I don't want to risk beating them up too much).
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that the Jolts are working well for you. I can't wait to find a super slick floor on which to try them out. If any of your teammates are looking to get some for themselves, 2N1 is having a special where you can get FREE Shipping in the US (including APO/FPO) on any wheels and bearings until the end of the year.
DeleteAre you using the 59mm or 62mm? If you don't mind, could you give me a short description of yourself as a skater? Things like how long you have been skating, your skill level, what body type you have, position most played, etc.? That way, other skaters in a similar situation could see that the Jolts might also work for them.
-Shocker
I tried a set of 4 Cosmos and a set of 4 Sapphires. The Cosmos were too slick for me since our floor is quite dirty. I changed them out for another set of 4 Sapphires and I love this combination. I believe they are comparable to my Atom Jukes but they seem like they are wearing better than my Jukes. The Jukes chip from our track but the Juice wheels aren't showing any wear like that. I also agree that they break in fast. They have great stick but it doesn't affect my speed.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear they are working out for you as well!
DeleteI tried a set of them from the wheel library but found them to be way to slippery for the gym floor we skate on when used under my 200 pound weight. Glad I was able to rent them before buying them as I would have been disappointed. I will likely try a set again when I have a better surface to try them on.
ReplyDeleteMy team just started practicing on a tile gym floor (that at times may be dusty) and a big majority of our bouts tend to be skated on slick concrete surfaces. Our first practice I tested out my 93 Jukes and the floor was dusty so I was sliding quite a bit plus the wheels have a lot of wear. The second practice I changed over to all 88 Poisons and the floor was cleaned up so they were way too sticky!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking I should go with the Sapphires, but as I read that the technology of these wheels give you the grip when you need it and the slide when you want it I'm not sure. I'm about 5'7" 145lbs and am a Jammer. I grew up a rink rat and took speed lessons. My crossover is very deep and my push off can make me slide if the wheels aren't grippy enough in the corners esp! Any suggestions???
Hey Jessica,
DeleteI think the Sapphires would be perfect for you and should give you the grip you need without sacrificing speed. I'm a bit heavier so I prefer either the Cosmos or Appletinis, depending on the surface, and it's nice to at least have a 4-pack of another hardness just in case the floor is dustier or stickier than expected. If you think the Sapphires are going to be too grippy for you, I think having a set of Cosmos and 4-packs of Sapphires and Appletinis just in case would work out really well for you.
You can always check the Sapphires out of the 2N1 Wheel Library to try them out before you purchase them just to make sure they are what you need... http://www.2n1skateshoppe.com/2N1-Wheel-Library--Try-Before-You-Buy_p_537.html
Let me know if you have any more questions :)
Shocker