Orangatang In Heat 75mm Longboard Wheels

The bigger if Orangatang's original race wheels, the 75mm In Heat is still a solid choice if you're looking for a larger (but not too large!) grip wheel.

Released at the same time as the 70mm 4President in 2008, in it's day the In Heat was a killer downhill race wheel. These days things have moved on a bit, and with it's smaller "slalom" core and mass of unsupported urethane, this isn't the grippiest wheel going anymore. However, the smaller core provides a very plush ride compared with new-school bigger cored wheels, making the In Heat an ideal longboard cruiser wheel.

This is definitely a grippier, rollier wheel than the 4President. Sharp lips and a wider 56mm contact patch, combined with all that unsupported urethane, gives a very plush and smooth ride that;s only really matched by the 85mm Caguama for comfort, despite being 10mm smaller.

They're heavy too - not so great for sliding, but very cool for the "steamroller" effect if that's what you're into.

Available in three duros:

• 77A (Blue). Orangatang's new Blue 77A isn't the fastest, but it's really given this wheel a new lease of life. At 77A the In Heat gives a crazy smooth ride and has enough grip for most things. Definitely a good shout if you want the feeling of a Caguama but you can't fit 85mm of wheel on your board.
• 80A (Orange). The timeless classic grip wheel, now it's a slightly faster alternative big cruiser wheel to the Blue 77A. Maybe better if you're a heavier skater.
• 83A (Purple). At the harder duro the In Heat has a good bit of support and rolls relatively quickly, but it's still not a great choice for rougher surfaces. Something of a specialist choice, but if it's what you're looking for then go for it.

Our experience with Orangatang grip wheels (the 4President, In Heat and Kegel) is that Orangatang's "Happy" urethane isn't the greatest for maximum grip - all the grip comes from the wheel shape and lips, and to be honest once those lips have gone there's not really a lot of grip to be had from these. Happy urethane is fast, plush and sugary, but it's not the most durable so it struggles to hold an edge for very long. That said, if your focus is more on cruising, the In Heat is a solid 75mm choice, with decent roll speed, lots of inertia and a super-plush ride.

We'd recommend these to skaters looking for the most amount of comfort available in a 75mm wheel - the smaller core makes them at least as smooth as the giant 85mm Caguama, but without worrying about wheelbite.