A-RT (Alternate - Return Tops) Alternatives

Yo-Yo Reviews Looking for Help/Recommendation
1

So let’s say you want an A-RT-esque yo-yo but don’t want an A-RT for one reason or another, what are some alternatives for each yo-yo? Let’s crowdsource a list :slight_smile:

Gap width is listed for A-RT yo-yos where that information was provided and this list excludes their wooden yo-yos at this time.

The “Dad Pads” used in a lot of A-RT yo-yos are 21mm pads like CLYW Snow Tires

Each yo-yo + alternatives is in a collapsible section so to see the details you need to click on the name of the yo-yo.

420

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
47mm 63mm 65.5g C 21mm?

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
RSO Bowl XL 51.5mm 66mm 64.7g C CLYW Slim/G-Grip Not as relatively slim, but close-ish in size and weight
420 Light

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
47mm 63mm 63.5g C 21mm?

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
Atmos Pomelo 55mm 65.3mm 61.3g C 19mm? Lighter and not as relatively slim, but close in diameter
CLYW Sasquatch (2022) 54mm 71.4mm 62.4g C 21mm much larger but dimensional proportions seem about the same, should feel lighter though considering it’s 62.5g at 71.4mm diameter
OPYOYOS Balloon 50mm 66mm 63g C 19mm? slightly larger and lighter => floatier feel
Dale

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
42.9mm 53.4mm 62.5g D flowable (13mm ID x 19mm OD reported to fit)

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
GWAY Daredevil 44mm 53.5mm 62.32g D RSO x YoYoLab x Freshly Dirty a bit wider and pretty different shape
HSpin Pyro 45.5mm 55mm 71.7g D Dif Pads (some accept silicone)
YoYoFactory 888 (small bearing) 41.4mm 50.55mm 60g/64g (w/o / w/ hubstacks) A CBC 21mm
Diptych

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
42.3mm 55.5mm 64.9g C 21mm

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
Unspoken Murmur 41.88mm 54.2mm 63.2g C 19mm
DK (SFyoyos collab)

The signature here is the hollow body capped design so specs aren’t as important as finding something similarly hollow.

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
48.9mm 54.43mm 62.8g C 19mm

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
Atmos Fruitloop 47mm 53.7mm 65.2g C 19mm
Duncan Freehand One AL 40.25mm 56mm 65.59g C 19mm
SPYY Pure 40mm 52mm 67g D silicone stickers
SuperYo Samurai 34mm 56mm 63g A friction stickers
Turning Point Bacchus 40.5mm 53mm 66.8g C 19mm hollow feel is more subtle due to the extra ~4g of weight
Fe/urn

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
42mm 46mm 60.2g D flowable

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
CLYW Wooly Marmot 41mm 50mm 63.8g C 21mm
Dressel Designs Assassin 41mm 46.5mm 59.5g D Freshly Dirty?
YoYoRecreation CLASHcube 44mm 44mm 68.3g D YYR Size D a clear inspiration for the Fe/urn, but much heavier
YoYoRecreation Six 42.43mm 48.01mm 68.4g D YYR Size D also much heavier like CLASHcube
Garrett

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
43.4mm 55.1mm 63g C 21mm

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
CLYW Sasquatch (2010) 43mm 55.6mm 68.2g C 21mm
UNPRLD Elevation 46.3mm 56mm 64.7g C 19mm a bit wider and heavier
Garrik

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
?? ?? ?? C 21mm

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
TBD
Grail

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
44.8mm 56.6mm 63.5g C 21mm

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
Heaven Sent Creep 43.71mm 56.47mm 65g C 21mm
Luftverk 000 TI7068 43mm 56.5mm 63.8g C 19mm
Markmont. Classic 45.06mm 56.13mm 63.5g (w/ AL Markmont. SEs) C flow groove
Markmont. Classic Magnum Opus 45mm 56.13mm 63.19g (w/ Markmont. flat cap SEs) C flow groove
One Drop Overture 45mm 57.9mm 66.9g C flow groove a larger, heftier Grail
Rain City Skills Show Pony 45.3mm 55.2mm 63.55g C 19mm A pretty darn fine grail substitute
RSO Bowl 7068 45mm 56mm 64g C 19mm
Grail B7

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
44.8mm 56.6mm 62g C 21mm

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
Atmos Noah 48.4mm 54.3mm 62.3g (w/ al ultra lights) C 19mm
Luftverk 000 43mm 56.5mm 63.2g C 19mm
MK1 Contact 45.3mm 56.9mm 62.6g C 19mm
Mowl Q 45.1mm 57mm 61g C 19mm
Inhaler

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
42.92mm 53.83mm 62.2g/63.2g (“nominal/heavier dose”) C 21mm

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
Heaven Sent Creep 43.71mm 56.47mm 65g C 21mm
Rain City Skills Show Pony 45.3mm 55.2mm 63.55g C 19mm grail sized w/o schmoove grooves
Life (G2 collab)

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
44.5mm 56.7mm 64.8g C 21mm

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
G2 Afterlife ?? ?? ?? C ?? unreleased, a more G2-inspired variation of the Life
Heaven Sent Creep 43.71mm 56.47mm 65g C 21mm
Markmont. Classic 45.06mm 56.13mm 63.5g (w/ AL Markmont. SEs) C flow groove
Quail

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
42.2mm 53.2mm 61.5g A flowable

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
Duncan MayheM (2009) 40mm 52mm 62g A Duncan Silicone Stickers
Duncan Metal Drifter (2010) 39.3mm 52.6mm 62.2g/58.4g/61g (1st/2nd/3rd run) A Duncan Silicone Stickers (small-bearing)
Sparrow

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
41.3mm 50.3mm 60.5g C 21mm?

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
CLYW Wooly Marmot 41mm 50mm 63.8g C 21mm
Duncan Raptor (2016) 40.28mm 52.82mm 58.6g C Duncan SG Stickers
SPYY Spyder 2 42.4mm 49.6mm 66.3g C 19mm heftier sparrow
Sucction (UNPRLD collab)

Signature feature here is the 7075 body with 6061 caps

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
44.5mm 54.8mm 64.4g C 19mm

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
Duncan Freehand AL 41.3mm 55.9mm 65.5g C 19mm
UNPRLD Motif ?? ?? ?? C 19mm unreleased Daniel Kim signature
Triptych

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Gap Bearing Pads
43.1mm 56.2mm 62.1g 3.9mm C 21mm

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Gap Bearing Pads Notes
CLYW Canvas 41.29mm 54.59mm 66.1g ~4mm C 21mm heavier, good luck finding one for a reasonable amount
RSO The End Part II (Finale) 39mm 52mm 65.5g 4.4mm C 19mm
Throwing Sideways Sistine 45mm 55mm 63g 4.45mm C 19mm much larger gap
VI IX aka 69 (Old School Throws collab)

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads
46mm 52.7mm 64.3g C 21mm

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Bearing Pads Notes
CLYW Wooly Marmot 2 45.1mm 51.7mm 65.3g C 21mm
Old School Throws Quint 36.6mm 52.3mm 63.1g C 19mm much slimmer
▉▉▉▉▉▉▉▉ aka Unnamed Bi-Metal

Specs

Width Diameter Weight Gap Bearing Pads
42mm 57.98mm 67.2g 4.44mm C 19mm

Alternatives

Brand Name Width Diameter Weight Gap Bearing Pads Notes
YoYoRecreation Inevitable 42.51mm 55.95mm 65.69g 4.45mm C 19mm
YoYoRecreation Tone 44.6mm 56mm 65g 4.52mm C 19mm a bit wider, smaller, and lighter
23 Likes
2

The only a-rt I’ve been fortunate enough to try is the Quail but I thought it was pretty great. In my opinion the old A bearing Metal Drifter is a pretty solid comparison to it, and a bit easier to find/cheaper than an og Mayhem. A bearing, 61-62g 52x39 dimensions.

6 Likes
3

“Dad Pads” are an A-RT thing. They were just used in the G2/A-RT Life, and are using the CLYW 21mm Snow Tire standard. I know some of the older G2s also used the 21mm well for flowable, however G2 these days are on the 19mm standard.

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That being said the Heaven Sent Creep is a rather “Grail” equivalent
Diameter: 56.47 mm
Width: 43.71 mm
Weight: 65 grams
Bearing: Size C
Response: CLYW Snow Tires

7 Likes
4

Duncan raptor 2 is an underrated gem that has a very A Return Tops vibe. Also one drop overture for those who like the grail but want something a little heavier. Honestly anything organic is going to get you in the ball park.

8 Likes
5

I just assumed they were G2 commissioned since G2 is the only place I know to buy them; I know they’re the same as Snow Tires, just writing Dad Pads was shorter than writing “Dad Pads/Snow Tires” everywhere they’re used :sweat_smile: I’ll update the thread with the info though :slight_smile:

This is great and exactly why I started the thread, I had no idea there was an old A-bearing Metal Drifter!

7 Likes
6

Yeah Raptor 2016 is very underrated and with out the caps its very Sparrow/ Junior like with a similar Schmoove Groove

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Diameter: 52.82 mm / 2.08 inches
Width: 40.28 mm / 1.58 inches
Gap Width: 4.00 mm / 0.16 inches
Weight: 58.6 grams

3 Likes
7

ok who has a clear raptor to sell me.

5 Likes
8

Wouldn’t say a creep is a grail equiv, its far more narrow and highwall-y. I would say the creep is closer to the Inhaler if anything.

Also a Triptych is far closer to a Canvas due to the rimweight, although in terms of BST availability I would say an End pt II is very similar feeling.

Sucction and duncan al freehand is a pretty good equivalent feel

For a life, a markmont classic feels pretty on par, or an atmos stormberry

Inhaler is like a more centerweighted sistine, or a creep as mentioned above

Grails/B7s feel verrrry similar to me, infact Im willing to bet if you put a blindfold and earplug on someone and had em throw both that they would struggle to tell the difference–that being said, a 000, Bowl, atmos Noah with ultralights

Garrett feels like a sasquatch

Furns are like wooly marmots/WM2’s

DK is almost identical to a fruitloop, tried both one after another at a meet recently

Dale is like a small bearing 888, I would even put a pyro in as a comparison, albeit the dale is more stable than a pyro.

420 is pretty spot on with pomelo

14 Likes
9

Thanks for the extensive list, I’ll work them into the OP now!

I actually just moved the Creep to the Life alternatives b/c the specs seemed more similar and they felt similar enough to me playing them back to back. I don’t have an Inhaler so I can’t comment on it’s similarity to the Creep.

Which version of the Sasquatch did you feel was similar to the Garrett? There’s been so many versions of it that are all pretty different.

5 Likes
10

The OG that was basically like the avalanche but had rounded rims

4 Likes
11

I dunno the dk felt very different to the fruitloop. Maybe the comfort in hand element is the same but they play very different to me.

3 Likes
12

Mmm maybe the fruitloop is like a more undersized variant, but when it comes down to it it has that hollow bubble feel all the same

3 Likes
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The OD Parlay is almost an A-RT Dale with a C bearing and side effects, in my opinion.

6 Likes
14

Eh, the D-bearing is essential to the feel of the Dale imho and the Parlay being a C-bearing doesn’t really replicate that even though it’s close in weight and size. The Parlay is also more rim weighted so has a bit of a “heftier” feel to it vs the Dale (which has a more even weight distribution like the Grail) at the same weight. This does make me wish for D-bearing side effects though b/c a D-bearing Parlay sounds awesome :smile:

9 Likes
15

nice thread @Isaac , thank you for doing this!

13 Likes
16

I have a 69 and have had the pleasure of playing with a friend’s WM2, and in a way I think they are all the same except they look different.

3 Likes
17

I’ve played a Grail and Sparrow and while nothing really came close to the Grail, the Spyder 2 feels like a slightly heftier Sparrow, it’s definitely kept me sated until the day I get the smol birb. The Markmont Classic feels closer to the Grail when it’s running ultralights but even then they’re way different. From the forum input I’d say the Creep is the closer Grail soul-brother

3 Likes
18

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Although not exact in specs and I doubt it’s close in play to the 420L, but OP Balloon comes in at 66mm 50mm wide and 63g

6 Likes
19

Not that I would ever condone such a thing, but I hear that the clones play the same as the originals but with less vibe :nail_care:t2:

7 Likes
20

Let’s not forget OD…… pretty sure it was a 3some.

5 Likes