Skateback
Grove, makers of bamboo cases for iPhones and MacBooks, have introduced a new environmentally friendly add-on for the iPhone 4/4S. The SkateBack uses waste material from a skateboard factory to give a unique -- although not particularly protective -- look to the iPhone. Grove has partnered with MapleXO, a company that makes recycled skateboard jewelry, to make the case.

The SkateBack makes a short journey from raw skateboard waste at skateboard factory PS Stix, to eye-catching ply with Lindsay at Maple XO, to cell phone accessory at Grove. PS Stix owner Paul Schmitt, of Costa Mesa, CA, has been designing and producing skateboards for nearly three decades. A skateboarder himself, his products are known worldwide for their quality, performance, and durability. PS Stix makes more than 4,000 skateboards every day, 200 per hour, almost three per minute! Thanks to Paul and Lindsay, we’re repurposing those scraps.


SkateBack comes in three color schemes and are available on Grove's website for $49 each.

Top Rated Comments

Cheerwino Avatar
173 months ago
Cool look. But, are our landfills really overflowing with skateboard scraps?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2 Replies Avatar
173 months ago
Weakest use of the term "case" I've EVER heard.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antman2295 Avatar
173 months ago
What I love is they are taking scraps of skateboards, sawing them down, slapping some "glue" on them, and then selling them for $49 each... Wow I love the mark up on cases...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
laserbeam273 Avatar
173 months ago
Well that could have been a little more tactful.



I'm confused by this as well.

4,000 skateboards per day / 200 skateboards per hour = 20 working hours

That still seems a bit high. To check my work,

4,000 skateboards per day / 20 working hours = 200 skateboards per hour
200 skateboards per hour / 60 minutes per hour = 3 1/3 skateboards per minute

Even at 20 working hours, they are still producing over three skateboards per minute. So at what point (how many working hours) do they produce equal to or less than three skateboards per minute? (Note that the 200 skateboards per hour rule must be disobeyed to calculate this.)

4,000 skateboards per day / 21 working hours = 190.47619047619 skateboards per hour / 60 = 3.1746031746 skateboards per minute. Nope!

4,000 skateboards per day / 22 working hours = 181.81818181818 skateboards per hour / 60 = 3.0303030303. Pretty close to 3!

4,000 skateboards per day / 23 working hours = 173.91304347826 skateboards per hour / 60 = 2.89855072464. Bingo!

Or, to be exact,
3 skateboards per minute * 60 = 180 skateboards per hour
4,0000 skateboards per day / 180 skateboards per hour = 22.22 (repeating 2) working hours per day!

They would have to work over 22 hours a day for them to produce 4,000 skateboards per day at three skateboards per minute. :eek:

This doesn't add up! :confused:

Haha how on earth has a post about skateboard cases attracted so much maths. Brilliant.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmgregory1 Avatar
173 months ago
I went a slightly different direction with my iP4s, although it's currently just the sides. I've wrapped it with a extremely thin, natural cherry, that is just .009" thick, that has a pressure sensitive adhesive on the back.

The wood itself is made using a proprietary process that uses no chemicals or sanding and offers both a unique look and just enough grip to make it easier to hold the phone or pull it out of my pocket. The process for making the wood is so green and efficient that a single log, 15" in diameter by 8' long generates 10,000 square feet of wood. The logs are all hand-selected and sustainably grown and harvested.

All the off-cuts and bark are pelletized and used to fuel a high-efficiency wood fired boiler that heats the building using an in-floor radiant heat system.

I'll do the back as soon as I can create an accurate template.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nohaver Avatar
172 months ago
The concept is awesome, however what's up with the rainbow?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Coming Next Week: Eight Reasons to Upgrade

Thursday September 4, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
We're only days away from Apple's "Awe dropping" fall event scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 9 – and along with the new iPhone 17 series, we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023. By the time the Ultra 3 is unveiled, it will have been two years since the previous model arrived. The intervening period has left plenty of room for...