Loving these reviews! Thanks for doing this. Crisloid has been making backgammon boards for more than 75 years and if you ever get a chance to visit their factory in Providence, Rhode Island they will happily take you on a tour of the facilities. The checkers, as you noted, are produced in house and the manufacturing process is both fascinating and old school. The resin colors are mixed and poured into long metal tubes which are brought up to temperature until they set from the heat. Then they’re hand cut into the proper widths by a chop saw and then put through a smoothing process in turning barrels filled with walnut shells. The checkers can be smoothed like this for 48 hours and then they washed and polished before shipping out. I own at least five Crisloid boards and my first board purchase was a Crisloid in 2007. Definitely a favorite. When I was learning to play in Manhattan, all of the backgammon hustlers (yes, such a thing exists) used Crisloids because of the combination of quality, low price, and durability. My suggestion for future board reviews are TT Gammon, Gundez Gunes. Backgammon Galaxy, Gammoner, P-40, Vitor Hollanda, Erhan 869, and Zaza and Sacci.
Thanks for the video. Just ordered mine tonight, can’t wait to get it. Excited for a nice board, and really like the idea of an American company handcrafting items for so many years.
You’re right it is really hard to find good backgammon board information online, especially with review videos. Thank you so much for all the great information. Now I am reconsidering Crisloid in my search. Just not sure about the cork plying surface.
Thanks for watching! Definitely try the Crisloid - the cork really is fun to play on and it is exciting to pull out something different from my other boards. And I really think the Crisloid is the best value of all my collection - it’s so well made, unique, and perfectly finished.
@ Now that I got your attention (lol), I was wondering if you have a larger size FM Backgammon board you could review? Also if you had a preference between the Mini boards from FM and a leatherette board from Manopoulos? I am surprised I don’t hear more people talking about Manopoulous in general, maybe because their largest board isn’t tournament sized. Do you happen to know if there is a brand of checkers that fit better then the ones they provide? Oh and Crisloid is definitely in the running for a bigger sized candidate. But I am leaning towards an FM backgammon. They have a new Ali board in green that I love the look of.
I have the Brooklyn slate in this same size, and essentially this exact "Brooklyn Silver" style layout, only on the travel size, non-magnetic board. Great products! My larger board still smells of whatever chemical is used to seal or gloss the top of the playing field, but I am gonna just leave it open until it doesn't. Their checkers and dice cups are absolutely unmatched IMO...
Hey Jordan, Love the channel and it's just what I as a backgammon fan have been looking for, it has been great for me to see different types of boards from different companies with differing construction methods as I turn 40 at the end of the year so I'm looking to treat myself to a board that I'll buy only once and hand down to my nephews. With that in mind I was wondering if when funds permit if you could look into reviewing a P-40 board as that is the manufacturer I have my eye on at the moment but there are virtually no in depth reviews online. Love the channel, keep up the great work and I can't wait for the next review.
The only coach you’ll ever need is XG. Just XG and time will get the job done. Nice reviews. I can’t afford most of these boards but I would love to play on them.
Completely agree with the lack of content on backgammon boards. I recently got into backgammon after learning how to play it on the Nintendo Switch Clubhouse 51 Games. Trying to research boards, checkers, dice is tough on YT. Thank you for your reviews, I’m really enjoying them.
Nice review! Their anchor red with red and black points and checkers looks like a really nice off the shelf board as well. The only thing that I didn't like is the white checkers in your set. I personally hate having clear marbling in my checkers. I don't want to see the points under my checkers. Also I personally think that a butterscotch yellow color would have looked even better than the white checkers. It would have toned down the brightness of the case and the cups. I need to wear 😎 playing on that board.
I own a Crisloid Championship sized board. Totally agree with the excellent quality of workmanship and attention to detail. Mine is blue and white and I had them put an earth logo in the field. They have good customer service as well as you mentioned. The board is light too. I find the cork surface to be a little to easy for the checkers to be moved when on the points, but that is my only quibble with he board. Do you own a board that is just wood? P 40 boards look interesting too, but they are pretty expensive.
Very cool. Love the colors. On my list for future purchase.❤
Thank you for another outstanding video. Crisloid boards are high quality and great value. Their customer service is exceptional.
Loving these reviews! Thanks for doing this. Crisloid has been making backgammon boards for more than 75 years and if you ever get a chance to visit their factory in Providence, Rhode Island they will happily take you on a tour of the facilities. The checkers, as you noted, are produced in house and the manufacturing process is both fascinating and old school. The resin colors are mixed and poured into long metal tubes which are brought up to temperature until they set from the heat. Then they’re hand cut into the proper widths by a chop saw and then put through a smoothing process in turning barrels filled with walnut shells. The checkers can be smoothed like this for 48 hours and then they washed and polished before shipping out.
I own at least five Crisloid boards and my first board purchase was a Crisloid in 2007. Definitely a favorite. When I was learning to play in Manhattan, all of the backgammon hustlers (yes, such a thing exists) used Crisloids because of the combination of quality, low price, and durability.
My suggestion for future board reviews are TT Gammon, Gundez Gunes. Backgammon Galaxy, Gammoner, P-40, Vitor Hollanda, Erhan 869, and Zaza and Sacci.
I bought a second hand crisload that was made around 1960 and the surface is still great.
Thanks for the video. Just ordered mine tonight, can’t wait to get it. Excited for a nice board, and really like the idea of an American company handcrafting items for so many years.
Hope you enjoy it!
You’re right it is really hard to find good backgammon board information online, especially with review videos. Thank you so much for all the great information. Now I am reconsidering Crisloid in my search. Just not sure about the cork plying surface.
Thanks for watching! Definitely try the Crisloid - the cork really is fun to play on and it is exciting to pull out something different from my other boards. And I really think the Crisloid is the best value of all my collection - it’s so well made, unique, and perfectly finished.
@ Now that I got your attention (lol), I was wondering if you have a larger size FM Backgammon board you could review? Also if you had a preference between the Mini boards from FM and a leatherette board from Manopoulos?
I am surprised I don’t hear more people talking about Manopoulous in general, maybe because their largest board isn’t tournament sized. Do you happen to know if there is a brand of checkers that fit better then the ones they provide?
Oh and Crisloid is definitely in the running for a bigger sized candidate. But I am leaning towards an FM backgammon. They have a new Ali board in green that I love the look of.
Love my Crisloid!
Another awesome review! Now I’m leaning towards Crisloid for my next set. A good upgrade from a basic Silverman & Co.
I have the Brooklyn slate in this same size, and essentially this exact "Brooklyn Silver" style layout, only on the travel size, non-magnetic board. Great products! My larger board still smells of whatever chemical is used to seal or gloss the top of the playing field, but I am gonna just leave it open until it doesn't. Their checkers and dice cups are absolutely unmatched IMO...
I agree! I think it’s my favorite board, even though I’ve spent more on other boards. It’s just so well made, so unique.
I have this same board. I love it. Classic look and feel. Cheers mate!
Hey Jordan,
Love the channel and it's just what I as a backgammon fan have been looking for, it has been great for me to see different types of boards from different companies with differing construction methods as I turn 40 at the end of the year so I'm looking to treat myself to a board that I'll buy only once and hand down to my nephews.
With that in mind I was wondering if when funds permit if you could look into reviewing a P-40 board as that is the manufacturer I have my eye on at the moment but there are virtually no in depth reviews online.
Love the channel, keep up the great work and I can't wait for the next review.
I have both a P-40 and a Crisloid. I kind of like the Crisloid more, haha. But I love both of them.
The only coach you’ll ever need is XG. Just XG and time will get the job done. Nice reviews. I can’t afford most of these boards but I would love to play on them.
Great high quality review. Thanks for all the effort.
Much appreciated!
Completely agree with the lack of content on backgammon boards. I recently got into backgammon after learning how to play it on the Nintendo Switch Clubhouse 51 Games. Trying to research boards, checkers, dice is tough on YT. Thank you for your reviews, I’m really enjoying them.
nice review! i'd love to add a crisloid to my collection but the import fees from the US to the EU really bumps up the price.
Nice review! Their anchor red with red and black points and checkers looks like a really nice off the shelf board as well. The only thing that I didn't like is the white checkers in your set. I personally hate having clear marbling in my checkers. I don't want to see the points under my checkers. Also I personally think that a butterscotch yellow color would have looked even better than the white checkers. It would have toned down the brightness of the case and the cups. I need to wear 😎 playing on that board.
Would like reviews on the earth board, void board, p40, crisloid felt (soon to be release, Alan master travel board and gammoner. Thanks
I own a Crisloid Championship sized board. Totally agree with the excellent quality of workmanship and attention to detail. Mine is blue and white and I had them put an earth logo in the field. They have good customer service as well as you mentioned. The board is light too. I find the cork surface to be a little to easy for the checkers to be moved when on the points, but that is my only quibble with he board. Do you own a board that is just wood? P 40 boards look interesting too, but they are pretty expensive.
Hmm.. isn't starting with a double illegal..? 🤔😊👍🏼
Haha well that “game” was just for demo purposes. Thanks for watching!
You can't start a game with a double... :)
Haha well that “game” was just for demo purposes. Thanks for watching!