Palace Skateboard Decks Review: Shape, Graphics & Honest Opinion

If you are considering buying a Palace Skateboard deck, you are probably already half sold due to Palace's cult following and loud graphic design. Palace has that rare aspect where the branding feels true to skateboarding, but they also carry the energy of a brand that reaches beyond skateboarding. Loud graphics, London humour, strong team riders and a clear visual identity all make Palace stand out. Our Palace Skateboard Decks review will help you make the call 

But are Palace decks actually good to skate?

From our experience, yes. I skated a couple of Palace boards around four or five years ago, and the thing I remember most is the shape. They felt quite flat, with a mellow nose and tail, and they were easy to get used to. A Palace Skateboard does not feel like the steepest, most aggressive board in the world, like a Hockey deck for example. It feels mellow in kicks and concave, but has the shape and dimensions to complement that build well.

Palace is one of the biggest brands to ever come out of UK skateboarding. The brand started in London and grew into a skate and streetwear heavyweight, while still keeping a proper skate team and skate video identity. That matters because a Palace Skateboard is not just a fashion item with trucks attached. It comes from a brand with real skateboarding behind it.

Palace has always done things slightly differently. The graphics are weird, the references are funny, and the whole brand has that chaotic London feel that makes it instantly recognisable, yet still premium. Sometimes you want a clean board. Sometimes you want a Palace Skateboard that feels louder and raises a few eyebrows.

Palace Skateboard graphics are rarely plain. The bottom graphics are often abstract, strange, colourful, funny or just completely Palace. That is one of the main reasons people love them. A Palace Skateboard tends to look like it has been uniquely designed, not just filled with a safe logo graphic or safe graphic design.

The graphics are not for everyone, and that is kind of the point. If you like plain and classy boards, Palace Decks might feel a bit much. But if you like skate graphics with proper personality, Palace is one of the best brands to look at.

A strong graphic will not make you skate better, but it can certainly be used to express a bit of personality.

The Palace Skateboard shape is the part I can speak about from actual experience. The two I skated felt flatter than some other brands, with a mellow nose and tail. Although I don't usually skate decks that flat, I actually really enjoyed skating both of them. The nose/tail length, as well as the wheelbase, complements that mellowness really well.

A mellow shape can be nice if you do not want your feet locked into a deep concave. It can feel good for ledges, manuals, flatground, cruising and all-around skating. If you are used to very steep boards, a Palace Skateboard might feel a bit relaxed at first. But if you already like mellow shapes, you're in for a good time.

This is the biggest deciding point. Palace Decks are good boards, but shape preference is personal. If you want a flatter, more mellow skateboard deck, Palace makes sense.

One of the coolest details with Palace is the top ply of their boards. Palace often uses loud, interesting top graphics, not just a tiny logo on a plain stain. It is a small thing, because most of it gets covered by grip, but it makes the board feel more premium and unique when you first set it up.

That first moment with a fresh deck matters. A Palace Skateboard usually gives you that bit of extra excitement before the grip goes on. The top ply designs suit the brand perfectly: bright, graphic-heavy and interesting. It makes you question: why aren't more brands doing it?

Palace Skateboards are qualiry skateboards, not just hypebeast boards made to sit on a wall. Palace Decks are built using standard 7-ply maple construction, which is exactly what you would want and expect from a good-quality skate deck. That means they have the usual mix of strength, pop and board feel needed for street, park and regular skating.

How Durable Are Palace Skateboards?

From my experience, Palace Skateboards feel solid underfoot. They do not feel flimsy, soft or cheap. Like any deck, they can still chip, razor tail or snap if you put them through enough abuse or put a lot of impact on them before they've had time to flex a little, but that is true of every skateboard brand. For normal street skating, ledges, flatground, manuals and park sessions, Palace Decks should hold up just as well as other top skateboard brands.

Do Palace Skateboards Have Good Pop?

The Palace boards I skated had decent pop and felt responsive enough for regular skating. They were not insanely steep or overly aggressive, but had a mellow kick tail that felt nice and snappy. That tail also helps avoid 'ghost pop' on tricks like tre flips, referring to where your tail doesn't make a solid connection to the ground when you pop.

What Is the Expected Lifespan of a Palace Deck?

A Palace Deck should last a similar amount of time to most good-quality 7-ply maple skateboard decks. For a regular skater, that could be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on how often you skate, how heavy you land, and whether you are doing high-impact tricks. A Palace Skateboard is built to be skated properly, but like any deck, its lifespan depends more on your skating style than the logo on the bottom. I usually either snap or write off a deck in around 2 months, and both of those decks lasted around that time span.

Woodshop information can be messy because brands do not always publicly confirm every factory for every season. Some skate shop woodshop guides and online lists have linked Palace to DSM or Dwindle wood production, but this can change, so it is best not to treat it as a permanent guarantee.

The safer point is that Palace decks are commonly listed as 7-ply maple skateboard decks. A Palace Skateboard is made as a quality, industry-standard skate deck, with the usual construction you would expect from a proper board brand.

At around £65, Palace decks are in the mid-price range of a quality skateboard deck. It is not a budget deck, but it is not considered expensive either. Current UK Palace decks are usually around the same price as other premium skate brands, so the value feels pretty fair.

You are paying for the board, the graphic, the brand and the Palace name. If you are only chasing the cheapest deck possible, you can always find sale boards. But if you want a Palace Skateboard, £65 feels like a nice price point.

A Palace Skateboard is a good choice for skaters who like mellow shapes, bold graphics and indulge in UK skate culture. They suit street skaters, ledge skaters, manual skaters and anyone who wants a board that feels mellow in kicks and concave.

Palace Decks look exciting without feeling cheap or compromising performance. They have that collector appeal, but they are still made to be skated.

Yes, Palace decks are worth it. The graphics are strong, the top plys are cool, the construction is standard and reliable, and the price point is fair for a premium deck.

The main thing to remember is the shape. From our experience, a Palace Skateboard feels quite flat and mellow. That will be perfect for some skaters and not quite right for others. For us, that mellow feel is part of the appeal.

Palace Decks Main Points:

1. Good price point
2. Mellow concave
3. Top-ply graphics
4. Hypebeast clout

If you want a Palace Skateboard with personality, proper skate backing and a comfortable shape, Palace is a very solid choice. You can shop the latest Palace Skateboards at The Vines Supply Co, or browse our full skateboard decks collection if you want to compare Palace with other brands. Building a full setup? Check out our skateboard trucks, skateboard wheels and skateboard hardware too.