For any skater you ask, Bones Bearings are the gold standard. They're known for their speed, how long they last, and how well they perform. But they're much more than just a few bits of steel inside your wheel. They were born from a deliberate move away from old, outdated industrial rules, built from scratch to handle the unique, high-impact world of skateboarding.
The Unmatched Legacy of Bones Bearings
To really get why Bones are the top pick for skaters here in New Zealand and all over the world, you have to go back to a time before skate-specific gear even existed. In the early days, skaters had to make do with generic industrial bearings that were never meant for the sideways forces, constant impacts, and grimy conditions of street and ramp skating. That all changed thanks to the vision of George Powell and the engineering brain of Lynn Cooper.
A New Standard Born from Necessity
The story kicks off in the early 1980s under the Powell-Peralta banner, a company co-founded by George Powell. Back then, the industry used the ABEC rating system, a scale meant for the precision of bearings in electric motors humming away in clean, perfect environments. Powell, an engineer by trade, quickly realised this was almost completely irrelevant to skateboarding. A high ABEC rating was useless if a bearing couldn't survive landing a trick down a ten-stair or grinding a rough ledge.
This sparked a simple but powerful idea: why not create a bearing designed and tested only for skateboarding? The result was Skate Rated™, a new benchmark that threw the ABEC scale out the window and focused on what actually matters:
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Impact Strength: The ability to handle the force of landing tricks without shattering.
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Durability: Resistance to getting gunked up with dirt, dust, and moisture.
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Speed & Roll: A design that maximises glide and keeps you rolling longer.
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Serviceability: Making them easy to clean and re-lube.
Bones Bearings weren’t just a small improvement; they completely changed the way people thought. By ditching the flawed ABEC system, they made a product that solved real-world problems for skaters, putting practical performance ahead of pointless industrial numbers.
The Bones Brigade Proving Ground
To prove their new bearings were the real deal, Powell-Peralta got the world's best skaters to push them to the absolute limit. Enter the Bones Brigade, one of the most legendary skate teams ever. Icons like Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain, and Rodney Mullen didn't just ride for the brand; they gave crucial feedback and showed off what Bones could do on a global stage. This team was instrumental in shaping modern skateboarding.
Their mind-blowing video parts and contest wins were undeniable proof that Skate Rated™ technology worked. This history of legendary performance is a huge reason why so many skaters, from pros to newbies, trust the Bones name. For a deeper dive into the influence of brands from this era, check out the history of Santa Cruz Skateboards in our other guide.
From California to New Zealand's Coast
This legacy of performance quickly found a home in New Zealand's buzzing skate scene. Bones bearings have been a staple here since the 80s, a perfect match for the diverse needs of skaters from the steep banks of Gisborne to the surfskate flows on the cycle track to Wainui Beach.
Their precision build means way less friction than standard bearings, which translates directly to faster roll speeds. This reliability has made them a dominant force. By 2010, NZ skate shops were reporting that Bones powered over 65% of competitive longboard setups at events like the NZ Longboard Championships.
More recently, the surfskate boom, fuelled by Aotearoa's huge surf community, saw Bones sales jump 18% in local shops like Blitz Surf Shop, as riders discovered just how well they hold up on NZ's rugged terrain.
How to Choose Your Perfect Bones Bearings
Picking the right bearings can feel like a bit of a mission, but it's simpler than you think. It's a lot like choosing tyres for your car—what you need really just depends on how you plan to use your board. This guide will sort you out, breaking down the whole Bones lineup so you can find the perfect match for your setup, whether you're cruising the Gisborne waterfront or hitting the local skatepark.
We'll look at everything from the legendary Bones REDS® right up to the top-tier Swiss Ceramics. Once you get the real-world differences, you'll know exactly which ones to grab for your style of skating.
The Foundation: Bones REDS®
Let's be honest, for most skaters, the conversation starts and pretty much ends with Bones REDS®. There's a damn good reason they're the best-selling skate bearings on the planet: they deliver awesome performance without hurting your wallet. They're built to Bones' Skate Rated™ specs over in China, focusing on solid speed and reliability right out of the box.
REDS® come pre-lubed with Bones Speed Cream® and have a single, removable rubber shield that doesn't make contact with the bearing. This design is genius—it makes cleaning and re-lubing your bearings dead simple, which is a massive plus for us skaters in NZ dealing with coastal grit and dust. They are the absolute workhorse of the bearing world, perfect for your first board or your tenth.
If you're looking for the single biggest upgrade you can make to a pre-built complete with generic, no-name bearings, Bones REDS® are easily the most effective and affordable improvement you can make.
Stepping It Up: Super REDS® and Big Balls REDS®
For skaters wanting to squeeze a bit more speed out of their setup without a huge jump in price, Bones has a couple of great options that build on the classic REDS®.
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Bones Super REDS®: These are made with higher-quality steel races and better-grade balls. The surfaces are also polished to a much finer finish, which cuts down on friction. The result is a bearing that's noticeably faster, quieter, and lasts longer than the standard REDS®.
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Bones Big Balls REDS®: These take a different track. They use six larger balls instead of the usual seven. This design gives them a higher top speed and makes them tougher against dirt and big impacts, making them a solid choice for rough street skating.
This flowchart from Bones nails their whole design philosophy. It shows exactly why their Skate Rated™ approach beats the old ABEC system for actual, real-world skateboarding.
The key takeaway here is that Bones intentionally ditched the ABEC rating. Why? Because it just doesn't measure the things that actually matter for how a bearing performs on a skateboard, like impact strength or how well it handles getting grime inside it.
The Swiss Precision Difference
When you see the "Swiss" name on a Bones package, you know you're getting into the top shelf of bearing performance. Bones Swiss are the bearings that built the brand's legendary reputation. They're manufactured in Switzerland to incredibly tight tolerances using far superior materials compared to the REDS® line.
This obsessive level of detail in the manufacturing process gives you a bearing that is just plain faster and smoother, right from the first push. They get up to speed quicker, roll for longer, and are built to last for years if you look after them. For dedicated skaters who can feel the difference and demand that extra bit of performance, the investment in Swiss is a no-brainer. If you're serious about your skating, you won't be disappointed.
If you want to dive deeper into how different parts of your setup work together, you can learn more about bearings and other skateboard hardware in our comprehensive guide.
The Ultimate Upgrade: Bones Swiss Ceramics
Sitting right at the top of the pyramid are the Bones Swiss Ceramics. These bearings are in a league of their own. They swap out the traditional steel balls for ceramic balls made from a high-tech material called Cerbec®.
So, why does that matter? Well, ceramic balls have a few massive advantages:
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Lighter: They weigh a lot less than steel, which means you can accelerate faster.
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Harder: They are way harder than steel. When grit gets inside, the ceramic balls actually help to re-polish the steel races, basically "self-healing" the bearing from minor contamination.
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Waterproof: They don't rust. This makes them a killer option for skaters in humid or coastal spots like we have here in New Zealand.
Put all that together and you get the fastest, longest-spinning, and most durable bearing you can buy. They do come with a premium price tag, but for competitive skaters or anyone who just wants the absolute best performance possible, Bones Swiss Ceramics are the pinnacle.
Matching Your Bearings with the Right Bones Wheels
Think of your Bones bearings as the engine of your setup. They give you the spin and speed that makes a board feel truly alive. But your wheels? They’re the tyres. They’re your direct link to the ground, deciding how all that speed turns into grip, slide, and the overall feel of your ride. Pairing your high-performance bearings with the right Bones Wheels creates a perfectly tuned machine, making sure every ounce of speed is put to good use.
Just like they did with their Skate Rated™ bearings, Bones threw out the rulebook for wheels. Instead of some one-size-fits-all urethane, they cooked up specific formulas engineered for the different ways we all skate.
Getting your head around these formulas is the secret to unlocking your setup’s true potential, whether you’re hitting ledges in town or carving the smooth concrete at the Gisborne skatepark.
STF for Predictable Street Sliding
For any street skater, control is king. You need a wheel that’ll slide when you kick it out but grip when you need to stick a landing. That’s precisely why Bones came up with their Street Tech Formula (STF).
STF is a high-rebound urethane that’s specially designed to fight off flatspots—those cursed patches that wreck a set of wheels after a bad powerslide. More importantly, it gives you a predictable and consistent slide across all sorts of surfaces, from waxed-up ledges to rough-as-guts asphalt.
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Flatspot Resistance: STF wheels are legendary for their durability. They hold their shape even after countless slides and grinds.
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Controlled Slide: The formula delivers a smooth slide without that sketchy, icy feeling, making it way easier to lock into and hold your grinds.
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High Rebound: This just means the wheels roll fast over cracks and dodgy footpaths, keeping your speed up as you push between spots.
If your skating is all about ledges, rails, and manual pads, then pairing your Bones bearings with a set of STF wheels is the ultimate combo for street performance.
SPF for Speed and Grip in the Park
When you roll off the street and into the smooth, flowing concrete of a skatepark or bowl, what you need from your gear changes. Here, speed and grip are everything. Bones cooked up their Skatepark Formula (SPF) to tackle these demands head-on.
SPF wheels are made from a specialised, high-rebound urethane that’s incredibly resistant to abrasion while giving you massive grip on smooth surfaces. They are engineered to hold speed through tight turns and carves, letting you build up momentum without having to constantly push.
Think of SPF as the high-performance track tyre of the skateboard world. It's designed to grip hard, roll fast, and handle the friction and side-loads of transition skating, making it the perfect choice for bowl riders and park skaters.
The harder durometers you can get in the SPF line are ideal for keeping your speed and getting that crisp, responsive feel on polished concrete—something every Gisborne park local will appreciate. For any park enthusiast in NZ, a set of SPF wheels is a game-changer.
X-Formula for All-Terrain Dominance
Let's be honest, not all skate spots are perfect. A lot of the time you’re rolling on rough footpaths, cracked roads, or weathered asphalt. For these less-than-ideal surfaces, Bones introduced the game-changing X-Formula (XF).
The X-Formula is a true all-terrain urethane that perfectly bridges the gap between hard street wheels and soft cruiser wheels. At a durometer of 97A, it’s soft enough to soak up vibrations and roll smoothly over rough ground but still firm enough to resist flatspotting and let you slide when you need to.
The impact of quality gear like Bones has been felt in New Zealand's skate scene for decades, especially here on the East Coast. With our 15,000km of coastline, a huge number of NZ's 300,000 surfers and 40,000 skaters are getting into surfskating. When Bones Super Swiss first landed here in the 1990s, they instantly became the go-to for groms wanting smoother carves that felt like Gisborne’s legendary waves.
X-Formula wheels carry on that performance legacy, giving you a fast, soft ride that’s perfect for filming, cruising, or just getting around town on our rugged NZ terrain.
Proper Installation and Maintenance for NZ Conditions
Think of your Bones bearings as the engine of your skateboard. They're what give you that smooth, fast roll, so looking after them is key to keeping your board dialled. Getting the installation right from day one and keeping them clean is especially important for us skaters here in New Zealand. Salty air, fine beach sand, and humidity are the natural enemies of any bearing.
This guide will show you how to install your bearings like you've been doing it for years and give you the confidence to service them yourself. Nailing these simple steps will massively extend the life of your Bones, making sure you get that legendary performance every time you step on your board.
Installing Your Bones Bearings Correctly
A proper install isn't just about cramming the bearings into the wheel; it’s all about getting them perfectly straight and aligned. This prevents damage right from the start and lets your wheels spin as freely as they were designed to.
Grab your skate tool and let's get started.
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Prep Your Wheels: Give the inside of your wheels a quick check. Make sure the core is clean and free of any gunk or old lube residue. A wipe with a clean rag is all it usually takes.
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Press in the First Bearing: Pop a wheel on a flat, solid surface. Take your first bearing and press it firmly and evenly into one side of the wheel's core. The rubber shield should be facing outwards to block dirt. A proper bearing press is best for a perfect fit, but you can also carefully use your truck's axle to apply even pressure.
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Insert the Spacer: Now for the spacer – that small metal cylinder that sits between your two bearings. Do not skip this step. This little part is vital; it stops the bearings from being crushed when you tighten your axle nuts, which is crucial for a free spin under load.
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Press in the Second Bearing: Flip the wheel over and press the second bearing into place, again with the shield facing out. You should feel a solid click as it seats snugly against the spacer.
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Add Speed Rings and Assemble: Slide one small washer, known as a speed ring, onto your truck's axle. Then slide on your complete wheel, followed by the second speed ring. These rings stop your bearings from rubbing against the truck hanger or the axle nut, which kills your speed.
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Tighten the Axle Nut: Last, tighten the axle nut. The sweet spot is just tight enough that there’s no side-to-side wobble or "slop" in the wheel, but not so tight that it slows the spin. Give it a flick; it should spin for several seconds without any grinding noise.
A correctly installed wheel with bearings, a spacer, and speed rings creates a solid, unified unit. This structure is designed to handle the massive side-loads from carving and turning without putting stress on the delicate inner workings of your Bones bearings.
Cleaning and Maintaining Your Bearings for NZ Conditions
For any skater near the coast in places like Gisborne or the Mount, maintenance is non-negotiable. Salt spray and sand can seize up even the best bearings in no time. Learning to clean and re-lube them is the single most important skill for keeping your gear in top shape.
Just listen to your board. If your bearings sound gritty, feel sluggish, or make a rattling noise, it’s definitely time for a service.
The Cleaning Process Step-by-Step
Following this process can bring even the grimiest bearings back to life. To make the job a whole lot easier, we highly recommend the Bones Bearing Cleaner Unit, which is purpose-built to make this process quick and mess-free.
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Remove Bearings: First, take the wheels off your deck. Use the edge of your truck axle as a lever to carefully pry the bearings out of each wheel.
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Remove the Shields: Grab a small pin or the tip of a paperclip and gently pry off the rubber shield from each bearing. Go easy here—you don't want to bend or damage it.
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Clean the Bearings: Place the unshielded bearings into the Bones Bearing Cleaner Unit, or a small, sealed jar will do the trick. Fill it with a citrus-based cleaner or isopropyl alcohol, just enough to submerge them, and give it a good shake for a minute or two. This will break down the old lube and knock out any trapped grit.
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Dry Thoroughly: Take the bearings out and lay them on a clean cloth or paper towel to air dry. It's critical that they are 100% dry before re-lubing, as any leftover moisture will cause rust. A hairdryer on a low setting can speed this up if you're in a hurry.
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Re-Lubricate: Once totally dry, apply two small drops of Bones Speed Cream® into each bearing. Don't go overboard; too much lubricant will just attract more dirt and actually slow you down.
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Reassemble: Gently spin the bearings to spread the new lubricant around. Pop the rubber shields back on, and you’re ready to put them back in your wheels and get rolling.
Understanding the complete build of your board can help you see how everything works together. Following these steps will ensure your Bones bearings deliver the speed and longevity they were built for.
Why Choose Blitz Surf Shop for Your Bones Gear
Top-tier skate gear deserves top-notch local service. When you decide to run with the legendary performance of Bones bearings and wheels, where you get them from is just as important as the gear itself. Choosing Blitz Surf Shop means you’re not just buying a product; you’re tapping into over 40 years of hands-on, local expertise and our commitment to the New Zealand skate scene.
We’ve been a family-owned and operated shop right here in Gisborne since 1983. We're not some faceless chain store. Our team lives and breathes skating and surfing. We actually ride the gear we sell, so when you hit us up for advice, you're getting real-world feedback from people who are just as obsessed with nailing the perfect setup as you are.
Expert Advice and a Full-Range Inventory
Trying to figure out the difference between all the Bones bearings, wheel formulas, and sizes can feel like a mission. That’s where we come in. We can help you match the right bearings to the perfect set of wheels for what you’re doing—whether that’s setting up a surfskate to carve up the Wainui beachfront or a street deck for shredding the local park.
We make a point of keeping a full stock of Bones gear ready to roll. From the go-to Bones REDS® to the top-shelf Bones Swiss Ceramics, plus a complete range of STF, SPF, and X-Formula wheels, we’ve got you covered.
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Bones Bearings: We carry the entire lineup, so you can find the perfect sweet spot between price and performance.
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Bones Wheels: Our selection has all the formulas and popular sizes you need to build a dialled-in setup from the ground up.
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Bones Accessories: We also keep essentials like Speed Cream®, bearing tools, and cleaning kits on hand to keep your setup running fast and smooth.
By stocking the full range, we make sure you can get exactly what you’re after, backed by advice you can actually trust. No more guesswork or settling for second-best—just the right gear, every single time.
As you think about where to get your gear, remember that Blitz Surf Shop is part of the fabric of Kiwi surf and skate culture. We back the lifestyle that’s all about freedom and community, a culture filled with iconic surf culture vehicles like a 1962 Volkswagen Kombi Flower Power Classic Bus With Surfboard.
Easy Shopping and NZ-Wide Shipping
We’re proud of our Gisborne roots, but our mission is to get quality gear to skaters all across Aotearoa. That's why we’ve made our online shop super easy to use, so you can browse and buy with total confidence. You can check out our whole collection of Bones products online from anywhere in the country.
We offer reliable NZ-wide shipping to get your gear straight to your door. Plus, we sort you out with free shipping on eligible orders over $150, making it even easier to get a full new setup dialled in.
A Legacy of Trust in the NZ Community
For more than four decades, we've built our name on trust, quality gear, and a genuine love for what we do. Skaters and surfers from Gizzy and right across New Zealand know they can count on us for honest advice, great products, and fair prices. Being part of this community isn't just our business; it's who we are.
This deep connection is what really sets us apart. If you want to know more about our story and why we’re so dedicated to the NZ surf and skate community, you can read about why Blitz Surf Shop is New Zealand's go-to online surf store. When you choose Blitz, you’re supporting a local, family-run business that’s here to help you push your skating further.
Common Questions About Bones Bearings
Even after digging into all the details, you’ll probably still have a few questions floating around about Bones bearings. That’s all good. We get asked about this stuff all the time, so we’ve put together some straight-up answers to the most common queries we hear from skaters right here in New Zealand.
Think of it as the final check before you pull the trigger on an upgrade. We’ll clear up any last doubts so you can be confident you’re getting the right gear for your ride.
Are Bones Swiss Bearings Really Worth It?
For any skater who’s serious about performance, the short answer is a definite yes. Don't get us wrong, Bones REDS® are a fantastic, affordable bearing that get the job done for most people. But Bones Swiss are just on another level. They're made in Switzerland using far superior materials and built to much tighter engineering tolerances.
You can really feel the difference under your feet. From the first push, you get a faster, smoother roll that lasts a whole lot longer. It's like the difference between a tuned-up daily driver and a purpose-built race car. If you're competing, pushing your limits, or just want the absolute best feel you can get, the extra cash for Swiss or Swiss Ceramics is an investment that pays off every single time you step on your board.
How Often Should I Clean My Bearings in NZ?
This really comes down to where you’re skating. Here in New Zealand, especially in coastal spots like Gisborne, the salt and sand in the air mean you'll need to be on top of your maintenance game.
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Coastal Skating: If you're often skating near the beach or in humid, salty air, we’d suggest giving your bearings a clean every 1-2 months.
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Park and Street Skating: For those sticking to clean indoor parks or dry urban spots, you can probably stretch it out to every 3-6 months.
The best advice is to just listen to your board. If your roll starts sounding gritty or you feel your wheels slowing down way too quickly, it’s 100% time for a clean and a re-lube with some Bones Speed Cream®.
What Does Skate Rated Mean If There's No ABEC Rating?
Bones came up with the Skate Rated™ standard simply because the industrial ABEC scale is pretty useless for what we do. The ABEC rating only measures the precision of a bearing in a perfectly clean, lab-like environment, spinning in a straight line with no side loads.
That’s not skateboarding, is it? We put our gear through hell. Skateboarding involves massive sideways forces from carving, huge impacts from landing tricks, and constant exposure to dirt and dust. Skate Rated™ means the bearings are designed and tested from the ground up for these real-world conditions. It puts strength, durability, and serviceability ahead of an industrial number that just doesn't apply to skating.
Can I Use Bones Bearings for My Surfskate or Longboard?
Absolutely. Bones bearings are an awesome upgrade for both surfskates and longboards, and we see heaps of riders in NZ running them for exactly that.
For surfskating, their smooth, fast roll is perfect for generating and holding speed when you’re pumping and carving. It helps deliver that fluid, surfy feel that’s so crucial.
For longboarding, especially if you're into downhill, the high-speed stability and toughness of models like Bones Swiss are hard to beat. The Skate Rated™ design ensures they can handle the intense side-loads from deep carves and slides, making them a go-to choice for any longboard or surfskate rider chasing better performance.
Ready to feel the difference for yourself? At Blitz Surf Shop, we stock the full lineup of Bones bearings, wheels, and accessories to get your setup perfectly dialled. Check out our complete collection online and get the right gear backed by local expertise.
Shop the Entire Bones Bearings Collection at Blitz Surf Shop
