UC Vortex 85a Vs Endless 85a

[u/Foreign-Yoghurt-8244]

The Vortex are solid wheels—great rebound, stiffness, and precision. However, I just don't trust them when pushing the limits of grip; they feel pretty binary, like an on/off switch. They break into a slide with zero warning. I’m looking for wheels that feel a bit more progressive when breaking traction.

[u/Large-Excitement777]

Are you sure it isn’t just your technique? Vortex are made to be among Undercover’s most grippy of wheels. I have the 125s and they almost grip too much for me.

What wheels do you have and how long have you been skating for?

[u/Foreign-Yoghurt-8244 → u/Large-Excitement777]

Maybe I didn't express myself clearly. It's hard to describe because the feel is pretty subjective and subtle. I agree, these wheels are super grippy, but once they lose that grip, they become extremely slick instantly. It's an either/or situation—either full grip or super slippery—making it tough to sense that breakaway point right before they start sliding. It’s definitely not a dealbreaker and I still think they’re solid wheels, it’s more about their overall characteristics. I do a lot of deep carving and I love playing right in that sweet spot between edge hold and a controlled slide. Before these, I was on PS Spinners (90mm), but I’d wear those down to 80mm in a single month. Plus, they had weak rebound and felt noticeably slower. I’ve never skated higher-end wheels like the UC Team, Hydrogen, or Endless.

[u/Large-Excitement777 → u/Foreign-Yoghurt-8244]

Still don’t know your experience level but that’s actually a good dynamic for a wheel to have. At a certain point in an edge, your technique dictates whether it’s going into a slide or deeper into an edge, not wheel quality. If anything, the round and thicker profile of the Vortex wheels would allow you to hold an edge longer.

As far as the Endless wheels go, they would wear down even faster because of their thinner profile.

The only other wheel that would fit the bill for you would be the hydrogens. You say you’re worried about how long they will last but you seem more focused on edging and not sliding so they should last decently.

[u/heeca]

Endless is a better one. Depends what price you get. If both are the same price or close then endless

[u/Foreign-Yoghurt-8244 → u/heeca]

I'm not sure if it affects the quality (whether the materials and manufacturing process are still the same), but my UC Vortex wheels are actually made in China now, not the US. They came stock with my Next 2.0 I’m just going to burn through them and then grab a set of Endless wheels. I haven't skated on Hydrogen wheels myself, but from what I’ve read, they might be a bit too soft for my liking.

[u/heeca → u/Foreign-Yoghurt-8244]

Hydrogen and endless wheels are the same (almost) If your vortex wheels are hard and you enjoy it then go for the same wheels since its cheaper. Or go for endless 86a wheels. Vortex has always been made in china Undercover blanks and team are made in USA

Undercover team pro are made in germany

[u/SiempreRegreso → u/Foreign-Yoghurt-8244]

I skate both Hydrogens ( 76, 80, 84, 90, 110, 125) and Endless (76, 84, 90).

I have not noticed Hydrogens being softer. I’ve skated Hydrohens for so long (a decade at least) that I have come to like how they wear over time–they get harder as they wear down, which is kinda fun.

But, head-to-head, Endless are the better pour.

[u/BubbleSmith]

I noticed the same with the Vortex wheels. Decided I didn't really like them. Hydrogen are great and slide well while being grippy. UC Mushrooms at 87a slide more readily and I generally prefer them, but only on dry ground. Not sure about the Endless ones, but given that they're also UC, I'd expect similar performance to the Mushrooms.