8€ Hardware: Wrecking Your 200€ Setup

Level: Beginner

The invisible part everyone neglects

Nobody writes about hardware. No hype drops, no Supreme collabs, no Thrasher cover. It's eight black metal bits you toss into the cart at checkout without thinking.

Except hardware is what keeps your truck glued to your deck when you land a nollie heelflip down a ten. A screw that loosens mid-line means your truck pivots, your tail kicks into thin air, and you end up face-planting in front of three guys filming. It's happened to you, at some point. It happens to everyone.

The problem is, crappy hardware doesn't break all at once. It slowly loosens. It eats away at the wood around the holes. It eventually strips because low-end Phillips heads round out after three disassemblies. And you're left with a €200 setup stuck because of a €1 screw you can't remove without a drill.

1. T-TOOL — Must-have — Build & adjust it all.
2. VISSERIE — Hardware — Allen or Phillips bolts.
3. CLÉ — Compact — On-the-go fixes.

The size — 4 lengths for 4 setups

All skateboarding hardware is sold in packs of 8 screws (4 per truck) with matching nylock nuts. The only real choice is length. And it's simpler than what forums want you to believe.

7/8 inch — pure street setup, no riser

The minimum size that does the job. Truck mounted directly on the deck, nut just barely sticking out enough to screw. Ideal for those who want a low-rider, close-to-the-wood setup, Koston-style in 2003. If you use 50-52 mm wheels without a riser, this is your size.

1 inch — the universal standard

If you're unsure, get this. 1 inch gives you 2-3 mm of wiggle room to add a thin riser if you put one on later. It's what 80% of skate shops sell in packs, it's what pros use as a default setup. Compatible with almost all modern street setups.

1 1/4 inch — thick riser or 56+ mm wheels

As soon as you add a 1/8 or 1/4 inch riser to gain ground clearance, or if you ride 56-58 mm for transition, switch to 1 1/4. Otherwise, your nut won't bite enough on the threads, and you risk the screw ripping out on the first big landing.

1 1/2 inch and up — cruisers, longboards, surfskates

For setups with large shock pad risers, Penny decks, longboards, or high-volume cruisers. It's rare in street skateboarding, but if you've switched to a cruiser for grocery runs, you need this.

Allen or Phillips — the false debate

You'll find ten forums telling you "Allen is better, Phillips is old school." You'll find ten others saying the opposite. The truth is two lines long.

Phillips (crosshead): tightens with any screwdriver you find at your mom's. More forgiving if you tighten like a brute (it "cams out," it slips before breaking). Vintage look that perfectly matches a Powell reissue setup or an 80s shaped deck. Downside: the head rounds out after a few disassemblies, especially on no-name packs.

If you disassemble your setup twice a year to change a truck, go Phillips. If you change your wheels every six weeks because you skate raw concrete and eat grip tape like bread, go Allen. There. End of debate.

The 3 packs worth it in 2026

We scoured Amazon.fr and French skate shops for two days. Here's what stands out, from cheapest to pro. No mercy for no-name brands.

Generic Skateboard Hardware Pack 1 inch — Allen or Phillips

The bare minimum for a clean build. 8 screws, 8 nylock nuts, universal 1-inch size. Not glamorous but it holds. Keep it for your secondary setup or emergency cruiser.

See best price🛒

Fast shipping · 30-day returns

Shake Junt Bag-O-Bolts Allen 1 inch

Lizard King and Andrew Reynolds' brand. Allen head that doesn't wear out, pack of 8 1-inch screws with one colored screw to mark the nose. The good price-durability compromise we recommend for 90% of street setups.

See best price🛒

Fast shipping · 30-day returns

Independent Genuine Parts Hardware Allen 1 inch

The same brand as your trucks. Treated steel, industrial nylock nuts, impeccable finish. If you skate Indys, don't ask questions, get Indy hardware. Setup consistency and guaranteed hold.

See best price🛒

Fast shipping · 30-day returns

The 30-second check that saves your setup

Once a month, pull out your skate tool and check all 8 screws. Not to tighten them like a brute, just to make sure none have come loose. If you find one that spins freely or sticks out 1 mm more, change it. Don't re-tighten, change it.

Why change rather than re-tighten? Because a screw that has come loose has already eaten away at the wood around the hole. The nylock nut's threads are worn. You can re-tighten it three times, but on the fourth, it'll pop out mid-session. And then you'll take a slam on the rough granite of Trocadéro on a Sunday afternoon.

A full set of hardware for €12 every 12 months. That's cheaper than a Starbucks coffee a month. It's the most cost-effective part of your setup.

What are you running for hardware right now? Drop your brand and why. Drop a comment ↓