Benefits of Scooter Grip Tapes: The Best Pro Scooter Grip Tapes in 2022

Whether you’re a beginner who loves to ride your scooter occasionally, or a pro scooter with years of experience under your belt, there’s no denying that scooter grip tape can play a huge role in how you perform tricks and how you ride. Performing tricks with a scooter takes a lot of practice and courage, and grip tape can make it slightly safer and easier to perform the tricks you want. Fortunately, thousands of different pro scooter grip tapes are available, and most are pretty affordable.

So, if your grip tape is worn down and needs replacing, you won’t have to worry about spending a ton of money just to be able to perform the tricks you’d like. Pro scooter grip tape wears down every time you rub your shoes against it. Basically, you’ll smoothen the grain, and as a result, tricks can become imprecise and slightly more difficult. The best way to remove your worn-down grip is with the assistance of a hairdryer. The hot air helps loosen the adhesive enough, allowing you to peel off the worn grip tape easily. You can use a hobby knife to scrape off any leftover adhesive before you apply the new grip tape.

In order to make the most out of your new pro scooter grip tape, make sure your shoes are free from grime and dirt before jumping on the scooter. Otherwise, you’ll leave unsightly marks on it and reduce the resistance and friction of the tape. However, you’ll still get the tape dirty eventually, especially if you ride outdoors, in which case you can use a shoe cleaning brush to clean up the board and reduce damage.

Are All Scooter Grip Tapes the Same?

As aforementioned, there are literally thousands of different pro scooter grip tapes available, in various colours, graphics, prints, logos and cut-outs. And since many brands have introduced scooter decks with elaborate graphics, transparent products have also become very popular. Grip tapes are also available in a variety of sizes, with some fitting decks perfectly, while others having to be cut in shape to fit the deck. On top of that, some grip tapes have the ability to absorb shocks, and are water-resistant, making them ideal for new riders and pros who want to get more use out of the grip tape.

What to Look for in Scooter Grip Tapes?

It’s important for the scooter tape you get to be of decent quality, so that you can land securely when performing tricks. For that to be possible, you need to keep a few factors in mind.

Ease of Application and Removal

Removing your old tape can be quite tedious and time-consuming. However, using quality tape can make it slightly less so. Generally, well-known companies manufacture tapes that are easier to apply and easier to remove.

Grittiness

Some products come with a very strong grip, which is preferred by some scooter riders. However, since these tapes wear out shoes quicker, some riders avoid them. That being said, a less gritty tape will prevent your shoes from wear and tear, but may reduce your ability to stay on the scooter when performing tricks. Therefore, it’s important to choose a tape that’s strong, but doesn’t damage your shoes too much.

Style

Gone are the days when grip tapes were exclusively black. There’s a myriad of designs and patterns to pick from, skeletons, pizza, cats, dogs, memes, and everything else in between. It allows riders to customise their scooters completely, making them one of a kind.

How to Maintain Grip Tapes?

A dirty grip tape not only makes your scooter less attractive, but can also make it more difficult to ride. If you have layers on top of layers of grime and dirt, the level of resistance on the grip surface, as well as the traction of the grip will be reduced, making it more difficult to perform stunts and tricks. Keeping your deck clean helps the grip, and the overall shape of the deck, last longer. Some people think that maintaining the grip tape is a taxing process, but it’s actually quite simple.

You can spray a bit of window cleaner on the deck and scrub with a toothbrush from one end to another, going from one section to another. This will easily remove the dirt from the surface. Don’t push the brush too hard, as that may damage the tape. After scrubbing, place pepper napkins of a microfibre cloth to absorb the extra moisture.

Keep repeating the process until there are no visible dirt spots on the deck and tape. Make sure the surface is completely dry and moisture-free. There are hundreds if not thousands of videos online that can show you how it goes, what to use and how to safely scrub off dirt. Take the time to watch a few of them so you know what you’re doing. Otherwise, you risk damaging not only the tape, but the deck as well.