Fixed axle or bearing axle diabolo

Decide the axle before the model. A fixed axle grips the string, so you feel and steer the diabolo directly; it is the home of the classic tricks and the only way into playing two or three diabolos. A bearing axle spins much longer on a single pull, in one direction, and is what vertical play, long combos and grinds are built on. Neither is better.

Choose a diabolo for the way you want to play, not for a minimum experience level. The EVO G2 is the one we recommend at every level, beginner to expert: its stability and smoother control make learning easier from the first session. The Echo is our budget diabolo, and the price is its advantage: to get there it uses simpler materials and looser tolerances, so it wears sooner and runs a little less steady and less smooth than an EVO. Fine for trying diabolo now and then; it is not a required step before an EVO or Magforce.

Fixed axle

The string wraps around a steel axle that does not turn independently of the cups. Every pull accelerates the diabolo, and every touch of the string transmits information back to your hands.

• What it is for: the whole classic repertoire, including the string climb and suicides, wraps, slacks and knots, and multi-diabolo play such as the two diabolo shuffle, which is impossible on a bearing because two diabolos on one string need friction to be steered.
• What it costs: 45 € for the EVO G2, the one we recommend at every level; 24 € for the Echo 2.0, our budget model. Lighter (215 to 240 g), nothing to maintain.
• What it demands: the spin has to be kept up. A beginner spends the first weeks learning to accelerate without tilting.

Bearing axle

The axle holds one or more one-way ball bearings, so the diabolo keeps spinning in one direction while the string slides freely in the other.

• What it is for: vertical play (“vertax”), long combos, body moves, stick grinds, and anything where you want the spin to outlast the trick. Children often prefer it: the diabolo keeps going, so the reward comes sooner.
• What it costs: 60 € for the Falcon, 70 € for the Magforce; 32 € for the budget Echo 2.0 Bearing, whose 3-B axle is nylon around a metal centre and so wears sooner than the all-metal axles of the other Sundia models. Heavier (240 to 265 g), and the nuts want re-tightening now and then.
• What it forbids: tricks that need string friction. The elevator will not climb, and a second diabolo cannot be controlled.

Which bearing

Axle	Bearings	Character	Model
1-B	1	Noticeable friction left; the axle that fits the small cups	Micro
3-B	3	The standard; best balance of stability and durability	Falcon, Fly
5-B	5	Fastest acceleration for one-minute routines; two axles, the non-EVO one the fragile one	EVO G3 5-B, 5-B axle
Magnetic 3-B	3 plus magnets	Magnets in the hubs and the axle repel and hold a gap, so the axle never rubs; 2 mm larger	Magforce, Magforce NX

Bearing models always come with the harder or semi-flexible cups: soft cups pass the shock of a drop straight into the bearings and bend the bolt over time, so Sundia does not combine them. Sundia’s bearings need only an occasional drop of Long Spin Oil.

Who should buy which

• Classic tricks and direct string feedback: EVO G2, our recommendation at every level. The Echo 2.0 costs less and is fine for playing now and then; it wears sooner and runs a little less smooth.
• Long spins on the smallest budget: Echo Bearing at 32 €. Its nylon axle wears sooner than an all-metal one, so if you mean to keep playing, start at the Falcon.
• Premium stability and long spins: Magforce NX, including as your first diabolo if your budget allows.
• Several diabolos on one string: choose matching fixed-axle models, such as the EVO G2.

Bottom line

Both can be a first diabolo. Choose a fixed axle for direct string control and classic tricks, or a bearing for longer spins and vertical play. Choose the model within that axle type according to your budget and the feel you prefer.