This review is provided by Loaded Boards (loadedboards.com).
Length: 38.4" or 97.5cm
Width: 8.6" or 22cm
Wheelbase(s): 28.25″ or 71.76cm
Concave: Mild concave with camber.
Symmetrical DK: Small, slightly upturned noses.
Weight & Construction: 2.9lbs, or 1.3kg. 5-part vertically laminated bamboo core with two fiberglass skins top/bottom + additional fiberglass layers on the nose and tails, and a cork graphic bottom veneer.
Retail Price: $215.00 USD
In the recent years, it seems like the longboarding scene has “moved on” from cruising and carving, from mashing slides on their Dervishes, and from pure, unadulterated fun. Some things never really grow old, and we never really lose the need to to truly let loose and flow, so Loaded has brought the original DT-cutout design back and updated it with today’s modern flair.
Some of the defining features of original Loaded boards, the “Carving Systems” were a healthy amount of camber, ample cutouts to reduce wheelbite, and the classy drop-through mounting holes that extend towards the center of the board to alleviate tension in the neck.
All these features make an updated comeback with the Icarus to stand up to the rigors of modern-day skating. The prominent wheel flares are a welcome feature, feeling similar to the Tesseract.
These flares are achieved through separate, molded bamboo pieces or “biscuits” as they’re described on the official Loaded Boards website. By having these “biscuits” separate from the core, combined with the extended drop-through mounting cutout hole, they create a balance between the stiffness of the biscuits and the thin neck of the core of the board. This makes it possible to have both dramatic concave curvatures, and a strong, yet flexible board.
Now to talk about how the Icarus feels. Mine was set up as Loaded recommends you do; 180mm 50° Paris trucks and 80a Orangatang Kegels, 85a Orangatang Nipple bushings, a cup washer roadside and a flat washer boardside.
I found that for the best experience, super loose trucks (barely engaging the bushings), and grippy wheels were the way to go. I’m not going to tell you how to ride your board, but pushing and then pumping into the board’s flex really feel energetic and alive. Grippy wheels are a must for the flex to push back on in the apex of your carves and pumps.
The flares are definitely hard not to notice, but I found are somewhat strange to use. I found myself using the front flare with the ball of my foot to carve toeside, and my back foot didn’t use the back flares at all. I stand at around 5.6′ and the flares are placed just over shoulder-width apart, so having both of my feet on each flare with such a wide stance felt weird when pumping. The Icarus is fully symmetrical, so I suppose you don’t have to utilize the back the same way you do the front.
While the flares a a prominent feature, the standing platform is not particularly crowded, and you can definitely fit some cross-stepping and board walking on it.
Looking at this little graphic here, we get a clear picture of how the concave profile of the Icarus looks. The concave in the middle of the board stiffens the center point of the board (the apex of the flex) in order to give a more consistent flex pattern across the deck as a whole. If you’re into fast, aggressive pumping and surf-style skating, the concave in the center of the board is great for your back foot to get more leverage out of the front trucks.
Pressed into the bottom cork veneer is a ridged, feather-like pattern that gives the board an “organic” feel to the touch and provides a bit of texture when early-grabbing or just simply holding in your hands.
The graphic, artistically speaking, says to me “flight” and makes me think about macaws with the light red/yellow/blue colors, but the lines and griptape pattern gives an “abrasive” and rocky feeling, kind of like looking at the Grand Canyon or maybe even those turquoise/purple Jazz paper cups.
My complaints and gripes are few with the Icarus, but I must mention them. The kicks are very small and slightly angled. While I had the trucks mounted through the drop-though mounting, the kicks were awkward to use for tricks, but were fine for getting the board up and out of the way when commuting.
Top mounted however, the kicks worked great with good leverage and usability.
So should you buy an Icarus? The $215 price tag is a difficult to justify, but also keep in mind that if you’re a go-getting slayer of hills, this board may not be marketed to you and your budget. If you skate to and from school, work, Pokemon GO-ing, the Icarus is a great high-end option for maximum durability, comfort, and fun while you’re at it. Also know that this board is best enjoyed with loose trucks, not trying to tell you how to have fun on your board, but a lot of the fun lies in pushing fast, then carving and pumping, riding the twitch and feeling the rebound of the board.
