Orangatang Kegel 80mm Longboard Wheels

The Orangatang Kegel is Orangatang's bigger downhill wheel. At 80mm it's often compared to the even bigger 85mm Caguama.

If the Caguama is designed more with an eye to cruising and stupid rollover, the Kegel is a more performance-orientated grip wheel.

Lessons learned from a few years of racing the 70mm 4President and the 75mm In Heat lead to a bigger core and larger diameter - the intention being smoother slides and higher roll speeds. A lot of downhill wheels have bigger cores these days, and in many ways the older Orangatang grip wheels are no longer really competitive.

The Kegel is an interesting wheel for downhill. Orangatang fans will know that their "Happy" urethane is fast, dumpy, and not all that grippy, especially once it's broken in. The Kegel is probably the grippiest of all of Orangatang's wheels, with sharp lips and a super-supportive core - but these days it's out-gripped by smaller, wider big-cored downhill wheels from other brands.

However, the Kegel does have a major advantage - diameter. At 80mm this is one of the largest grip wheels available, which means that if the track suits it, it's often the fastest option going.

For cruising applications, the Kegel is a great choice. Offering faster roll speeds and better rollover than either the 4President or the In Heat, without the crazy weight and wheelbite issues inherent in the 85mm Caguama, the Kegel is a solid performer on any longboard you can fit it on.

The Kegel is available in three duros:

• 77A (Blue) - this is the grippiest wheel Orangatang make. It gets close to Caguama and In Heat levels of plushness, and the supporting larger core negates a lot of the disadvantages inherent in such a soft durometer. The Blue gets eaten up quickly whilst sliding though. If you're buying this wheel to cruise, this is the one you want.
  
• 80A (Orange) - a great all-round cruise wheel, also a very good option for very high speed downhill tracks. Longer lasting and faster rolling than the 77A, with slightly better definition in the transition between grip and slip. If you're buying the Kegel to skate downhill, this is probably the one to go for.
• 83A (Purple) - awesomely fast on smooth surfaces - if you are lucky enough to have a super smooth, super long downhill run near you, these are killer. For everyone else though, they can be a bit harsh, so we can't recommend them to everyone. The harder duro is possibly a better choice for heavier skaters though.

Watch out for wheelbite with the Kegel - it's a big wheel and might not fit on your board. Get in touch if you're not sure!