OT anyone's kids have a ripstick?

[zoemurr]

Lots of kids in our neighborhood have them and DS was asking for 7th birthday. He is very coordinated, so I don't think him being able to use it will be a problem. Anyway, I thought I read somewhere that there are different sizes? Where (besides amazon) do I get this thing? Is it worth $70?

 

[swkmom]

My son who is 8 almost 9 got one for Christmas, just recently he has gotten the hang of it. He's not as coordinated as he would like to be. He enjoys using it and has enjoyed learning to use it. Not sure it's worth $70 but he thinks it is! I have not heard if they come in different sizes or not.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

DD9 just got this for her birthday last week. She is still trying to get the hang of it (hampered by it being 100 degrees outside!). I got hers at Target for $68. She was thrilled - most of her friends have them and it was what she wanted most. Time will tell if it gets a lot of use.

There is a ripstick deluxe or something like that. It is supposed to be easier to ride, but it is $130 on Amazon and I was not willing to pay double. If she loves her Ripstick, I'll consider upgrading her in a few years and she can pass hers down to her sister.

Here is the link to the deluxe:

http://www.amazon.com/Razor-1505509...e=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1213048123&sr=8-3

We do know a sixth grader who broke her wrist falling off the ripstick, so we require a helmet, wrist guards and closed toe shoes. I don't know if it is inherently more dangerous than a regular skateboard, but it looks harder!

 

[java]

My 14 year old has one of the original ones(it's big) He wrecked last week and has a wicked road burn on his arm- leg and shoulder.
He loves it but it encourages them to be slightly more daring and it doesn't move like a skateboard so if you are using it like one you get hurt.

 

[momatater]

My three boys have them also. It took them a little bit to get used to it, but now they are pretty darn good at it. DH dared to try it and almost broke his neck so he won't go near it again. I have stood on it....wow, it's really takes balance! I do require my boys to wear helmets and closed toe shoes!

We got all of ours at Walmart....think I saw the regular ones there recently for around $60. The new deluxe ones were more expensive, but I don't remember how much exactly.

 

[bellebud]

ds6 got one in february. he got the hang of it in about an hour. he actually does better on it than on his skateboard. He never touches his skateboard anymore. I paid around $70 in target.

 

[Cindy B]

In terms of skaters:

Skateboards for real skaters

Ripsticks are for posers (or posuers --depending on how you spell it)

My son was having this conversation yesterday. Ripsticks have come and gone here and are on the way out. Little kids tend to have them and anyone over the age of 8 is considered weird or strange.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

In terms of skaters:

Skateboards for real skaters

Ripsticks are for posers (or posuers --depending on how you spell it)

My son was having this conversation yesterday. Ripsticks have come and gone here and are on the way out. Little kids tend to have them and anyone over the age of 8 is considered weird or strange.

Guess it is a regional thing. It is very popular here among upper elementary and middle schoolers. Everyone I know who has them around here is at least 8, and I doubt any of those kids have ever heard the term "poser". They don't seem like they are trying to impress anyone - they are just having fun. Almost all also have skateboards, including my DD. They don't tend to determine whether a kid is weird or strange by what toys they have around here. We've even seen some of the "big kid" teenagers use them at the beach and the skate park - they didn't seem to be too concerned that someone might think they are "posing".

 

[Cindy B]

Guess it is a regional thing. It is very popular here among upper elementary and middle schoolers. Everyone I know who has them around here is at least 8, and I doubt any of those kids have ever heard the term "poser". They don't seem like they are trying to impress anyone - they are just having fun. Almost all also have skateboards, including my DD. They don't tend to determine whether a kid is weird or strange by what toys they have around here. We've even seen some of the "big kid" teenagers use them at the beach and the skate park - they didn't seem to be too concerned that someone might think they are "posing".

It must be a regional thing. They are definetely considered a "baby" or "little kid" toy around here.

In fact, there was a 7th grader today at the library with a ripstick.. and people were yelling out "poser" to that person.

It's basically a fad that has come and gone here, just like Webkinz.

ETA: There are a lot of kids into skateboarding here with the gear, expensive boards, skate parks, ramps and such.. Since it is pretty intense here, I can see why ripsticks are considered babyish.

 

[IDoDis]

I asked my DS (9) who love to skateboard if he would ever want a Ripstick. He said "No way" and waved his hands in front of me. I asked him why and he said he'd get laughed at if he took it to the skate park. I always thought they looked harder to use than a skateboard, but I guess not.

 

[Cindy B]

I asked my DS (9) who love to skateboard if he would ever want a Ripstick. He said "No way" and waved his hands in front of me. I asked him why and he said he'd get laughed at if he took it to the skate park. I always thought they looked harder to use than a skateboard, but I guess not.

Kids with ripsticks are laughed out of skateparks. (Unless they are little kids)

 

[bellebud]

Anyway, I thought I read somewhere that there are different sizes? Where (besides amazon) do I get this thing? Is it worth $70?

I forgot to say, besides where we got ours in Target, I also saw the exact same one (and same price) in Modells Sporting Goods (so I'd guess most sporting goods stores would have them). Is it worth $70... I don't really know. My ds enjoys it, and it's well built so it seems it will last. I also asked ds last night which he liked better, his skateboard or ripstick. He said both, because he can do different things on each. We don't have skateboard parks around here, so there's no 'getting laughed out of them'... maybe that's why ripsticks are popular around here - skateboarding popularity probably isn't on the same level as it would be if we had skateboard parks, knim? No one takes it *seriously* because there's no where to really do it (we're more out in the country).

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

It must be a regional thing. They are definetely considered a "baby" or "little kid" toy around here.

In fact, there was a 7th grader today at the library with a ripstick.. and people were yelling out "poser" to that person.

How sad that kids can't be kids without people yelling ugly things to them. I dread the day that my girls are surrounded by such judgmental people, but I'm sure it will get here eventually. I guess they are just too young to be made fun of for their toys. Sounds like the kids need a lesson in manners and tolerance.

 

[Cindy B]

How sad that kids can't be kids without people yelling ugly things to them. I dread the day that my girls are surrounded by such judgmental people, but I'm sure it will get here eventually. I guess they are just too young to be made fun of for their toys. Sounds like the kids need a lesson in manners and tolerance.

Poser isn't that ugly compared to what others "could" have said. Yes, still wrong, but poser well, is a common word around here.

We are talking about 13-14 year olds, adolescents, teenagers, teenage boys. I don't think any teenage boy is/was always good and pure.

FWIW, toys go out around here at around age 7 or 8. Nobody buys toys here.. it's more sports equipment or video games.

Wait until your kids get older.. adolescent girls are the worst.

Ripsticks are considered baby toys or a fad toy around here. It is a very big skateboard town with three different skate parks within a 1/2 hour.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Wait until your kids get older.. adolescent girls are the worst.

I know - that's why I dread those days. We were fortunate this year, but I hear from other moms that 4th and 5th grade can be bad for girls. I don't even want to think about middle school - I remember the cliques and meanness from when I was a kid! We have a very small school, but it only takes one kid to determine that someone doesn't have the right clothes, hair, whatever.

My 12-year old nephew still uses his ripstick, but he has the strongest sense of self of any preteen I have ever seen. If someone called him a poser, he would give them a long, cool stare and say something to the effect of "like I care what you think". This is a kid who routinely joins adult pick-up hockey games and skates circles around the adults, who are too polite to say anything when he shows up but soon discover he is very tough. On his first day of middle school, some 8th grader said he had to give him his french fries or the 8th grader was going to hit him. He said "Go ahead, but make it good, because I am not giving you my french fries!" I can only hope my girls will develop that string sense of self and self-confidence as they get older!

 

[abeyst]

DS9 didn't want one.... til he went to his friend's house and rode his, then he had to have one! He rides it almost daily now. Way more than he rode his skateboard when he got that.

Is it worth $70? I'm not sure. I figure if he uses it it is, and considering it's not much more than a video game and it gets him outside I'm all for buying it.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

My DD9 got one for her birthday in January. She and DS13 ride it almost daily. It was some of the best exercise equipment made for $70 - and it gets them out of the house and moving in a different way.

In our area (midwest), they are perfectly acceptable "toys" and none of the kids are laughed at. I always see a bunch of the Boy Scouts riding around the church parking lot prior to the BSA meeting.

I say give it a shot.

 

[Kimmumum]

CindyB, where are you located?

On the south side of Chicago, "skateboards" are generally viewed as druggies. The kids who use the ripsticks are kids that don't want to be associated with the skaters. My DS14 has a ripstick as uses it daily.

 

[zoemurr]

I didn't mean to start a debate. He's only going to be 7.. no skateboarders here that I know of at all anyway.. just want to use around our quiet neighborhood. The "cool" kids here all have mini motorcycles.. and they think it's ok to ride them through our backyard.

So my original question was answered I guess.. there are no sizes, just the original and the deluxe?

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I didn't mean to start a debate. He's only going to be 7.. no skateboarders here that I know of at all anyway.. just want to use around our quiet neighborhood. The "cool" kids here all have mini motorcycles.. and they think it's ok to ride them through our backyard.

So my original question was answered I guess.. there are no sizes, just the original and the deluxe?

There seem to be several models on Amazon with different weights. There is the Mini DLX that weighs 12 pounds and is $130 - it says it is for smaller kids. There is the Ripstik Caster board (weighs 8 pounds) for about $70, the Ripster DLX Deluxe (6 pounds) for $100, and the Ripster Delux DLX (10 pounds) for $126. Some of the weights are shipping weights, so I am not sure how each product actually compares. You might read the reviews - one reviewer said the Delux DLX is easier to control than the original Ripstik, but the original is better for cruising on roads and sidewalks. Target onlyhad the original, but Toys R Us might have more styles and might have someone who can actually explain the differences.

Here is the link to the Razor website - it might explain all the differences:

http://www.razor.com/products/ripstik-caster-board.php

Edited to add: It looks like the Ripster is smaller than the Ripstik, with smaller wheels.