WhitePolar vs Martlet: Which Fingerboard Brand Should You Buy?
WhitePolar (WP) and Martlet are both dedicated fingerboard brands rather than generic toy manufacturers, and the practical difference between them comes down to what's actually in the box: WhitePolar splits its lineup into a bare-deck option and a full complete kit, so you can upgrade just the deck on hardware you already own, while Martlet leans into a wider entry-level deck shape and colourway-driven customisation. Neither is objectively "better" — the right pick depends on whether you're buying your first setup or upgrading an existing one.
WP Pro 5-Ply Maple Complete — TYLER
Deck construction
Both brands build on 5-ply maple decks rather than the solid moulded plastic used in toy-grade boards — this is the single biggest jump in feel and durability over a starter board, regardless of which brand you pick.
WhitePolar's "Hard Bone" deck is sold two ways: as a bare deck (for riders who already have trucks and wheels they like) or as a full kit with hardware included. Martlet's decks in our catalog come as complete, ready-to-ride kits only — there's no bare-deck option currently.
Width and who it suits
Martlet's entry complete uses a 32mm deck that's wider than most beginner setups in the same price bracket, which gives a more stable, planted feel that's easier to learn flip tricks on. It's a deliberate choice for riders who found narrower decks twitchy to control early on.
WhitePolar's TYLER complete runs 32mm as well but with a shallow concave profile tuned for a mix of flip tricks and grinds — a slightly more "technical" feel out of the box than a pure stability-first shape.
Wheels and hardware
Both brands ship bearing wheels on their complete kits rather than solid-axle plastic wheels — the upgrade that most changes how a board rolls and spins compared to a toy-store setup.
WhitePolar's Hard Bone Complete Kit adds a mini tool in the box, useful if this is your first real fingerboard and you don't already own fingerboard-specific tools.
Customisation
Martlet's colourway options run deep — its wider decks come in many numbered colourways, and the brand also offers fully custom pattern/graphic orders at a variable price depending on what you choose (not a fixed catalog price, since it's made to order).
WhitePolar's catalog options in our store are more fixed: a small number of named decks (TYLER, Hard Bone) rather than an open colourway menu.
Which one should you actually buy
If you already own trucks and wheels and just want to try a better deck: WhitePolar's deck-only Hard Bone option is the more direct upgrade path.
If you're buying your first complete and found narrow decks hard to control: Martlet's wider 32mm entry complete is built for exactly that.
If you want a specific colourway or a fully custom graphic: Martlet's customisation range goes further, at the cost of a fixed catalog price (see our Custom Builds page for made-to-order options).
Quick comparison
| WhitePolar (WP) | Martlet | |
|---|---|---|
| Deck material | 5-ply maple | Maple |
| Bare deck available | Yes (Hard Bone) | No — complete kits only |
| Wheels | Bearing wheels | Bearing wheels |
| Customisation | Fixed named decks | Colourways + made-to-order custom pattern |
| Best for | Upgrading an existing setup | First complete, wider/stable deck feel |
Frequently asked questions
Are WhitePolar and Martlet made by the same manufacturer?+
No — they're separate fingerboard brands with their own deck shapes and hardware choices. We carry both because they suit slightly different riders, not because they're variants of the same product.
Can I mix a WhitePolar deck with Martlet trucks or wheels?+
Yes, as long as the truck width matches your deck width — see our truck-to-deck width compatibility guide before mixing brands.
Which is better for a first fingerboard?+
For a genuine first board, we'd lean toward Martlet's wider 32mm entry complete — the extra width makes early flip tricks more forgiving to land. If you're upgrading an existing setup rather than starting from scratch, WhitePolar's deck-only option is the more targeted purchase.
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