Stiga Carbonado 145 vs Stiga Carbonado 45: Which Should You Buy?
| Stiga Carbonado 145 | Stiga Carbonado 45 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | stiff, direct and rather linear with a large sweet spot, but the very thin TeXtreme layers keep the vibration close to a 5-ply all-wood blade | Moderately stiff with deep reverberating vibrations; more wood-like dwell than typical carbon blades; high throw angle |
| handle | FL/ST (also offered as Legend and penhold) | Straight/Flared/Anatomic (coal-grey dyed wood) |
| plies | 5 wood plus 2 TeXtreme carbon (5+2 composite) with the carbon fibers laid at a 45 degree angle for torsional bendability | 7-ply with TeXtreme carbon (5 wood + 2 carbon at 45-degree angle) |
| speed | OFF+ | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.7 | 5.7mm |
| weight_g | 85 | 85-91g |
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The Carbonado 145 is a stiff, fast OFF+ carbon engine designed for aggressive two-wing attackers and power-first play, preserving wood-like vibration through ingeniously thin TeXtreme layers. The Carbonado 45 is a gentler, loop-specialized carbon that prioritizes topspin and spin consistency over raw power, with higher throw and softer feel. Both deliver lab-confirmed wood-like vibration but serve opposite attacking philosophies.
The Carbonado 145 will feel direct, linear, and commanding — you get inherent pace for blocks and mid-distance smashes, with large sweet spot stability. The Carbonado 45 feels moderately stiff with deep reverberating vibrations, prioritizing loop-height and topspin consistency; smashes lack pace. The 145 is faster (OFF+), heavier (85g vs. 85-91g range), and better for aggressive, close-to-mid-distance offense. The 45 is slower but better for loop-dominant specialists playing close to the table with heavy topspin. If you are a two-wing attacker finishing points with hard drives and blocks, the 145 delivers. If you loop relentlessly and need height and spin over raw speed, the 45 is your weapon. Note: the 145 is now discontinued and hard to source.
FAQ
Which is faster?
The Carbonado 145 is OFF+ speed — clearly faster than the Carbonado 45 (OFF speed). The 145 delivers more inherent pace for smashes and mid-distance power shots.
Which is better for blocking?
Both are excellent at blocking, but the Carbonado 145’s stiff, direct feel gives very strong, aggressive blocking on both wings. The 45 also blocks well with excellent stability but with slightly softer feedback.
Which is better for looping?
The Carbonado 45 is specifically optimized for looping with a high throw angle that aids heavy topspin. The 145 produces lower spin on loops and is better for flat drives and smashes.
Which is easier to find?
The Carbonado 45 is in production and readily available. The Carbonado 145 is discontinued and very hard to source new.