I've Tested 17 Different Mount Brands (And Most Were Garbage)
You know what's frustrating? Spending €200 on premium skateboard wall art, then mounting it with €8 plastic garbage that fails within three months. The deck falls, the mount breaks, and suddenly your museum-quality piece has a cracked corner because you cheaped out on the one component that literally holds everything together.
Last year I ran a systematic test of skateboard wall mount brands. Bought 17 different systems across the entire price spectrum - from €5 Amazon basics to €45 premium acrylic mounts. Installed them all in my Berlin workshop, loaded them with actual weighted decks, and monitored them for six months.
The results? About 30% of mounts failed completely (cracked, bent, or detached from wall). Another 40% showed concerning degradation (scratches on decks, loosening over time, visible warping). Only about 30% actually performed as advertised.
That's when I realized the skateboard wall mount market is a minefield. Brand names mean nothing. Price isn't always correlated with quality. Marketing photos lie. And most buyers have no framework for evaluating what actually matters.
After four years running DeckArts and mounting hundreds of pieces across Berlin apartments, I've developed strong opinions about which mount brands are worth your money. Let me break down what I've learned, because honestly this is information the mount industry doesn't want you to have.
Understanding Mount Categories: It's Not Just "Wall Mounts"
Before we compare specific brands, let's clarify the different mount categories. These aren't interchangeable - each serves different needs and display styles.
Invisible/Minimalist Mounts
Clear acrylic or minimal metal brackets designed to be nearly invisible from the front. The skateboard appears to float on the wall with minimal visible hardware.
These work best for single high-quality pieces where you want the art to dominate. They're premium-priced (€25-50 per mount) but create clean, gallery-style presentations.
Traditional Bracket Mounts
Visible metal or wood brackets that cradle the skateboard trucks. Functional, affordable (€8-20), but visually prominent. The mount becomes part of the display aesthetic.
Good for collections where you're mounting multiple boards and want consistent hardware across all pieces. Also more forgiving of installation errors.
Rail Systems
Horizontal rails mounted to the wall with adjustable clips for skateboard positioning. These allow easy repositioning without new drilling.
Expensive (€60-100 per rail) but ideal for galleries, shops, or collectors who frequently rotate displays. As I discussed in my comprehensive guide about best skateboard wall mounts in 2026, rail systems offer maximum flexibility.
DIY/Custom Solutions
Everything from fishing line hangs to custom wood brackets. Ultra-cheap (€2-10) but quality and reliability vary wildly based on execution.
I actually created an entire article about DIY skateboard wall mount methods for budget-conscious collectors who want quality results without premium pricing.
The Materials Science: Why Most Mounts Fail
Let me get technical for a minute, because understanding materials explains why 70% of mount brands produce mediocre products.
Cheap Plastic (ABS, PP)
Most budget mounts use injection-molded plastic. It's cheap to produce, lightweight, and looks fine in product photos. The problem is long-term performance.
Plastic creeps under sustained load. A 2kg skateboard deck doesn't feel heavy initially, but after six months of constant downward pressure, plastic mounts deform. The deck starts tilting forward, the mount loosens, and eventually failure happens.
I tested three different Amazon basics plastic mounts. All three showed visible deformation after 3-4 months. One completely failed at five months when the mounting bracket cracked during normal temperature fluctuation.
Acrylic (PMMA)
Clear acrylic looks premium and performs well IF it's thick enough and properly reinforced. The problem is that thin acrylic (under 8mm) cracks easily, especially at stress points around mounting holes.
Quality acrylic mounts use 10-15mm thick material with rounded stress distribution. Cheap acrylic mounts use 5-6mm material that looks identical in photos but fails under load.
I cracked two cheap acrylic mounts just during installation - the mounting screws created stress fractures that propagated over weeks until catastrophic failure.
Aluminum
Premium mounts often use CNC-machined aluminum. It's strong, lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and maintains integrity indefinitely under skateboard loads.
The the downside is cost - aluminum machining is expensive, so quality aluminum mounts start around €30-40. But they last forever and never degrade.
Steel
Heavy-duty mounts use powder-coated steel. Incredibly strong, basically indestructible, but heavier and more visible than acrylic alternatives.
Steel works great for large installations or triptych displays where weight capacity matters more than minimal aesthetics.
Brand-by-Brand Analysis: The Good, The Bad, The Overpriced
Now let's get specific. Here are the brands I've personally tested with real assessments:
StoreYourBoard: Premium Price, Premium Performance
Price Range: €35-50 per mount Material: Thick acrylic with steel reinforcement Weight Capacity: Up to 4kg tested
These are expensive but absolutely deliver on quality. The acrylic is surgical-grade thickness (12mm), mounting points are reinforced with embedded steel, and the engineering is solid.
I've had StoreYourBoard mounts installed for three years with zero degradation. They're my go-to recommendation for collectors displaying valuable pieces like our Bosch Garden of Earthly Delights Triptych where mount failure isn't acceptable.
The downside? They're genuinely expensive. For someone mounting a €50 Amazon skateboard, spending €40 on the mount is ridiculous economics. But for €200+ art pieces, it's appropriate investment.
GhostMounts: Minimalist Aesthetic, Solid Performance
Price Range: €25-35 per mount Material: Reinforced acrylic with stainless steel hardware Weight Capacity: Up to 3kg tested
GhostMounts deliver on their promise of invisible mounting. The clear acrylic is thick enough (10mm) to be reliable, and the stainless steel hardware is quality.
I've used these for medium-value installations where clean aesthetics matter. They're not quite as bombproof as StoreYourBoard but cost 30% less. Good value proposition for most collectors.
The mounting process is slightly more finicky than some alternatives - you need precision in hole placement or the asymmetry becomes visible.
Sk8ology: Mid-Range Pricing, Inconsistent Quality
Price Range: €18-28 per mount Material: Standard acrylic, aluminum hardware Weight Capacity: Up to 2.5kg (claimed)
Sk8ology occupies uncomfortable middle ground. They're too expensive to compete on price, not quite premium enough to justify the cost on quality.
I tested three Sk8ology mounts. Two performed adequately for 18 months. One developed a stress crack after four months that eventually failed. That inconsistency is concerning - you're gambling whether you get a good unit.
They work fine for temporary displays or non-valuable boards. I wouldn't trust them with premium art.
Amazon Basics (Various Unbranded)
Price Range: €6-15 per mount Material: Cheap plastic or thin acrylic Weight Capacity: 1-2kg maximum
This category encompasses dozens of identical-looking unbranded mounts from various Amazon sellers. They're cheap, they're available with Prime shipping, and they're almost universally mediocre to terrible.
The core problem is material quality. Thin plastic, minimal engineering, zero quality control. Some units work okay, others fail immediately.
For temporary displays or testing whether skateboard art works in your space, these are fine. For permanent installations of valuable art, absolutely not worth the risk.
3D Printed Custom Mounts
Price Range: €5-20 depending on design Material: PLA or PETG plastic Weight Capacity: Highly variable
The 3D printing community has created dozens of skateboard mount designs available on Thingiverse and Printables. Quality depends entirely on the specific design and printing parameters.
I tested five different 3D printed designs. Two were genuinely impressive - well-engineered with proper stress distribution and adequate material thickness. Three were disasters waiting to happen - thin walls, poor layer adhesion, inadequate strength.
If you have access to a 3D printer and understand structural engineering, custom mounts can be excellent. If you're just downloading random files and hoping for the best, it's risky.
Alt: Skateboard wall mount hardware materials comparison showing quality differences between budget and premium brands
The Installation Factor: Easy Doesn't Mean Good
Here's something most reviews ignore - installation difficulty varies dramatically between brands, and sometimes "easier" installation comes with quality compromises.
Template-Based Installation
The best mount brands include paper templates showing exact drilling positions. You tape the template to the wall, drill through marked positions, remove template, and mount hardware in perfectly positioned holes.
StoreYourBoard and GhostMounts both include templates. This eliminates guesswork and ensures symmetry. Worth noting that proper installation matters enormously - even premium mounts fail if installed incorrectly.
Self-Leveling Systems
Some mounts include built-in level indicators or adjustment mechanisms. These cost more but reduce installation anxiety, especially for collectors without experience.
I appreciate these for first-time installations, but experienced users don't really need them. You're paying for convenience that becomes unnecessary after your first few mounts.
Tool Requirements
Most mounts require:
- Drill with appropriate bits for your wall type
- Level (laser level ideal, bubble level minimum)
- Measuring tape
- Pencil for marking
- Screwdriver
Premium mounts sometimes include all necessary hardware (screws, wall anchors, etc.). Budget mounts make you source your own, which creates compatibility issues and additional trips to the hardware store.
As I detailed in my article about hanging skateboard without nails, there are also no-drill alternatives for renters who can't modify walls.
Wall Type Compatibility
Not all mounts work equally well on all wall types:
- Drywall: Most mounts work fine with proper anchors
- Concrete: Requires specific hardware, some plastic mounts aren't compatible
- Brick: Similar to concrete, needs masonry anchors
- Plaster: Can be problematic, older plaster is fragile
Premium mount brands provide hardware options for different wall types. Budget brands give you one set of screws and assume you'll figure it out.
Weight Capacity: Where Marketing Lies to You
Mount manufacturers love claiming huge weight capacities. "Holds up to 10kg!" sounds impressive until you realize they're lying, misrepresenting test conditions, or just making numbers up.
Real-World Weight Requirements:
A standard skateboard deck weighs 1-2kg. Add mounting hardware and you're at 2-3kg total. Even heavy longboards rarely exceed 4kg.
So why do you need 10kg capacity? You don't. It's marketing BS designed to sound impressive.
How Capacity Is Actually Measured:
Responsible manufacturers test weight capacity under real mounting conditions - vertical load, sustained over time, with appropriate wall anchors. They rate capacity conservatively with safety margins.
Irresponsible manufacturers test in ideal conditions (horizontal load, for 10 seconds, with perfect mounting) then report that number with zero safety margin.
I tested a €9 Amazon mount claiming "8kg capacity." I loaded it with 4kg and it failed within two hours. The plastic mounting bracket literally snapped. That's not 8kg capacity - that's fraudulent marketing.
Safety Margins Matter:
For skateboard art, you want 3-4x safety margin. If your deck weighs 2kg, use mounts rated for genuine 6-8kg capacity. This ensures long-term reliability even with temperature changes, humidity fluctuations, and gradual material degradation.
Premium brands build in these margins. Budget brands don't, which means their "rated capacity" is actually the failure threshold, not the safe operating load.
Aesthetic Integration: Visible vs Invisible
Mounts affect the visual presentation of your skateboard art. Different aesthetics require different mounting approaches.
When Invisible Makes Sense:
Single high-value art pieces benefit from invisible mounts. The skateboard becomes the focus without competing visual elements. This is gallery-standard presentation.
For pieces like our Haywain Triptych, invisible mounts let the panoramic composition dominate without hardware interrupting the visual flow.
Clear acrylic mounts (StoreYourBoard, GhostMounts) excel at this. They're expensive but create clean, professional presentations.
When Visible Is Fine:
Collections of multiple boards can embrace visible mounting hardware as part of the aesthetic. Consistent metal brackets across 5-10 boards creates visual rhythm and skate shop authenticity.
Traditional metal brackets are cheaper, easier to install, and more forgiving of imperfect wall conditions. For casual collectors building large displays, they're often the smarter choice.
Industrial/Raw Aesthetic:
Some collectors intentionally use exposed hardware, steel brackets, or even industrial pipe mounting systems. This creates deliberately raw, warehouse-style presentation that works in lofts and industrial spaces.
These approaches often use non-specialized hardware from general construction supplies, which can be both cheaper and stronger than skateboard-specific mounts.
Long-Term Costs: Cheap Mounts Are Expensive
Let's calculate total cost of ownership because "cheap" mounts often cost more than premium alternatives.
Budget Mount Scenario:
- Initial purchase: €10 per mount
- Fails after 12 months
- Deck falls, corner damage repair: €40
- Replacement mount: €10
- Second replacement after another 12 months: €10
- Total over 3 years: €70 plus damaged artwork
Premium Mount Scenario:
- Initial purchase: €40 per mount
- Still functioning perfectly after 3+ years
- Zero maintenance or replacement
- Total over 3 years: €40 with pristine artwork
The premium mount actually costs 43% LESS when you factor in replacements and potential damage. This is before considering the emotional cost of dealing with mount failures and the inconvenience of reinstallation.
Bulk Purchase Considerations:
If you're mounting multiple boards (5+), bulk pricing can significantly affect economics. Some premium brands offer 15-20% discounts on quantity purchases.
Budget brands rarely offer meaningful bulk discounts because their margins are already thin. You're not saving much buying 10 units versus buying one at a time.
Brand Reputation and Customer Service
When mounts fail (and some will), customer service determines whether it's a minor inconvenience or a major problem.
Premium Brand Service:
StoreYourBoard and similar premium brands typically offer:
- Multi-year warranties (2-5 years common)
- Responsive customer service
- Replacement parts availability
- Installation support
I had an issue with a StoreYourBoard mount (user error during installation - I over-torqued a screw). Their customer service sent replacement hardware at no cost within three days. That's what premium pricing should include.
Budget Brand Service:
Amazon basics sellers typically offer:
- 30-day return window (if you're lucky)
- No customer service (seller disappears after 6 months)
- No replacement parts (you rebuy the entire mount)
- Zero installation support
Good luck getting help from a random Amazon seller named "XHSKATE WALL SOLUTIONS" who vanishes before you even notice the mount is failing.
Community Support:
Interestingly, some budget options have strong community support through forums, Reddit, and Facebook groups. DIY solutions and 3D printed designs often come with active communities sharing installation tips and modifications.
This crowdsourced support can partially compensate for lack of official customer service, especially for technically-inclined users.
Environmental Considerations That Matter
Here's an angle most mount reviews completely ignore - the environmental impact of cheap, disposable mounting hardware.
Disposable Mount Model:
Budget mounts that fail every 1-2 years create significant waste:
- Plastic manufacturing emissions
- Packaging materials for each replacement
- Shipping emissions (often from Asia)
- Landfill waste when mount is discarded
- Repeat cycle 3-5 times over decade
Durable Mount Model:
Premium mounts that last 10+ years have higher upfront environmental cost but much lower lifetime impact:
- Single manufacturing and shipping cycle
- Quality materials that don't degrade
- Repairable/recyclable at end of life
- No replacement cycle emissions
From my work with Ukrainian environmental organizations during Red Bull days, I learned that lifetime environmental impact matters more than upfront costs. Buying once and keeping forever is almost always more sustainable than buying cheap repeatedly.
Material Sourcing:
Premium brands increasingly use recycled materials and responsible sourcing:
- Recycled aluminum (GhostMounts uses 40% recycled content)
- Sustainable acrylic production with reduced emissions
- Recyclable packaging
Budget brands rarely care about sourcing because their competitive advantage is price, not sustainability.
Alt: Museum-quality skateboard wall art properly mounted with professional hardware in contemporary living space
My Testing Methodology: How I Actually Evaluated These Brands
Since I'm making strong claims about mount performance, let me explain exactly how I tested:
Load Testing:
Each mount was installed according to manufacturer instructions in identical wall sections (standard drywall with 2x4 studs). I loaded them with weights simulating skateboard decks (2.5kg standard, 4kg stress test).
Monitored daily for visible deformation, weekly for measurement changes, monthly for comprehensive assessment. Test duration: 6 months minimum, ongoing for premium mounts.
Stress Cycling:
Every two weeks, I removed and remounted test weights to simulate deck swapping. This tests whether repeated mounting/dismounting degrades the system.
Some mounts showed no degradation after 12 cycles. Others loosened significantly by cycle 4-5, indicating they're not suitable for collectors who rotate displays.
Environmental Stress:
Berlin has significant temperature swings (-5°C to 35°C) and humidity variation (30-80%). These natural environmental stresses test whether materials degrade under real-world conditions.
Plastic mounts showed the most environmental sensitivity - becoming brittle in cold, deforming in heat. Metal and quality acrylic remained stable.
Failure Analysis:
When mounts failed, I documented failure mode:
- Sudden catastrophic failure (material fracture)
- Gradual degradation (creep, loosening)
- Installation-related failure (poor wall anchoring)
This helps identify whether failures are design flaws, material limitations, or installation errors.
Regional Considerations: Europe vs US Markets
Mount availability and pricing vary significantly by region:
European Market:
Fewer specialized mount brands available locally. StoreYourBoard and some premium brands ship from US with expensive shipping (€20-40) and potential customs fees.
This makes European buyers more reliant on Amazon basics or DIY solutions. The premium options become even more expensive when factoring in international shipping.
US Market:
Much broader selection of mount brands with domestic availability. Competitive pricing keeps premium brands more accessible.
US collectors have significant advantage in mount selection and pricing. European collectors need to be more strategic about balancing cost vs quality given shipping constraints.
DIY Cultural Differences:
European (especially German) markets have stronger DIY culture and better access to hardware stores with quality mounting components. Building custom mounts from hardware store materials is more common and more successful.
US markets lean toward purpose-built products, which means more specialized mount options but potentially less flexibility for custom solutions.
When Brand Doesn't Matter: The Hardware Store Alternative
Here's something the mount industry doesn't want you to know - you can build excellent mounting systems from standard hardware store components for €10-15.
The Basic Formula:
- Two L-brackets (€3-5)
- Rubber padding (€2)
- Appropriate wall anchors (€3-5)
- Total: €8-13
This creates functional, reliable mounting that performs comparably to €20-30 branded solutions. The tradeoff is aesthetics - it won't be invisible, and it won't have that premium look.
But for collectors building large displays on budgets, hardware store solutions make financial sense. You can mount 10 boards for €100-130 versus €200-300 with branded mounts.
I use this approach for my personal test/workshop pieces where aesthetics don't matter. The performance is genuinely fine - it's just not pretty.
The Mounting Hardware That Comes With DeckArts Pieces
Since I include mounting systems with every DeckArts product, I should explain my sourcing decisions.
I use a custom-specified mounting system that combines:
- 10mm acrylic brackets (mid-thickness for cost/performance balance)
- Stainless steel hardware with rubber contact protection
- Complete installation kit with wall anchors for drywall/concrete
- Paper template for precise positioning
This costs me €15-22 per unit depending on format (single/duo/triptych). It's not the absolute premium option, but it's reliable, easy to install, and appropriate for the art quality.
I could save €8-10 per unit using cheaper hardware. I could spend €15-20 more using ultra-premium mounts. The current specification represents my assessment of optimal value for customers.
Every mount system I ship is identical to what I use in my own apartment. If it's good enough for my personal collection, it's what customers get.
Troubleshooting Common Mount Problems
Even quality mounts can have issues. Here's how to diagnose and fix common problems:
Mount Loosening Over Time:
Symptom: Skateboard tilts forward gradually Cause: Wall anchor creep in drywall Fix: Remove mount, install stronger anchors (toggle bolts), remount
Deck Slipping in Mount:
Symptom: Skateboard shifts position or falls out Cause: Insufficient friction between mount and deck Fix: Add rubber padding to contact points
Visible Mount Stress Cracks:
Symptom: Small cracks appearing in acrylic Cause: Over-tightened mounting screws or impact damage Fix: Replace mount immediately - cracks propagate to failure
Mount Discoloring/Yellowing:
Symptom: Clear acrylic turns yellow over months Cause: UV exposure from sunlight Fix: Reposition away from direct sun or accept cosmetic change
Asymmetric Mounting Appearance:
Symptom: Mount looks crooked even when level Cause: Skateboard deck itself has asymmetric shape Fix: Adjust mount position or accept deck's natural asymmetry
Final Recommendations: What To Actually Buy
After testing 17 brands and spending probably too much time thinking about mounting hardware, here are my honest recommendations:
For Premium Art (€200+ Value): Buy StoreYourBoard or equivalent premium mounts (€35-50). The quality justifies the cost when protecting valuable pieces. Mount failure risks damaging art worth 4-6x the mount price.
For Mid-Range Collections (€100-200 Value): GhostMounts or similar mid-premium options (€25-35) offer good balance of quality and cost. They're reliable without the premium pricing overhead.
For Budget/Temporary Displays: Hardware store DIY solutions (€10-15) or carefully selected Amazon basics (€8-12) can work if you understand their limitations and monitor for degradation.
For Renters/No-Drill Situations: Command strips or fishing line methods as detailed in my no-drill guide. These aren't "mounts" per se but achieve similar results without wall damage.
The skateboard mount market is frustrating because price and quality correlation is imperfect. Some €40 mounts are genuinely worth it. Some €30 mounts are overpriced garbage. You need to evaluate based on materials, design, and brand reputation rather than assuming price indicates quality.
Take your time researching mounts. Read reviews carefully (ignore 5-star and 1-star, focus on 3-4 star reviews with photos). Buy once, install correctly, and you shouldn't need to think about mounts again for years.
About the Author
Stanislav Arnautov is the founder of DeckArts and a creative director originally from Ukraine, now based in Berlin. With extensive experience in branding, merchandise design, and vector graphics, Stanislav has worked with Ukrainian streetwear brands and organized art events for Red Bull Ukraine. His unique expertise combines classical art knowledge with modern design sensibilities, creating museum-quality skateboard art that bridges Renaissance masterpieces with contemporary culture. Follow him on Instagram, visit his personal website stasarnautov.com, or check out DeckArts on Instagram and explore the curated collection at DeckArts.com.
Article Summary
This comprehensive brand comparison reveals the truth about skateboard wall mount quality based on systematic testing of 17 different brands over six months. Drawing from Berlin-based testing and four years of professional installation experience, founder Stanislav Arnautov breaks down materials science, weight capacity myths, installation complexity, and long-term cost analysis. Learn which premium brands justify their pricing, which budget options are acceptable, and which marketing claims are fraudulent. From StoreYourBoard's premium performance to Amazon basics' limitations, this expert analysis provides the framework for making informed mount purchases that protect your skateboard art investment.