Stiga Carbonado 145 Review: A Stiff, Fast TeXtreme Carbon Blade With Wood-Like Feel

By UltraSpin · 2026-06-07 · blade

The Stiga Carbonado 145 sits in the middle of Stiga’s TeXtreme carbon family, a lineup that runs from the soft Carbonado 45 up to the very fast 290. The pitch is carbon speed and stability with the natural touch of wood, and over the years it has built a loyal following among offensive players. This review brings together a hands-on equipment review, an instrumented lab test and real player feedback to lay out what the 145 does well and where it asks more of you.

Performance

Every source reaches for the same description: a stiff, fairly fast blade in the low OFF range that you can push toward OFF+ with effort. Stiga publishes speed and control values of 144 and 44, and Tabletennis11’s testing backs it up, slotting the blade between the gentle Carbonado 45 and the much faster 290. The construction is a 5+2 composite with medium-density TeXtreme carbon laid at a 45 degree angle, which Stiga says increases torsional bendability and lifts the throw angle. Its most distinctive trait, confirmed in the TTGearLab lab test, is that the lengthwise vibration of the X45 Carbonado blades stays close to a plain 5-ply wood blade. That is why players keep calling it woody despite the carbon.

On loops the 145 sends out a flatter, longer, faster ball that carries less spin than the softer 45, and reviewers note you have to work harder for top pace than on a slow wooden blade. Blocking is where it shows off. Tabletennis11 calls it more aggressive and dangerous than the 45, and it carries the same edge into mid-distance power drives, flat hits and aggressive service returns. The lab measured a primary elasticity around 1.95 and a central elasticity near 1.40, both lower than rivals like the Butterfly Freitas ALC, so the blade is fast and stiff without being the springiest one out there. What you get is a controllable carbon blade that feels direct and linear, with a large sweet spot that keeps off-center hits consistent.

What Reviewers Agree (and Disagree) On

Sources line up on the basics: a stiff, fast, communicative carbon blade with a wood-like feel and a large sweet spot, strongest at blocking and mid-distance attacking. The debate is who it suits. Equipment reviewers and the lab frame it as a balanced middle-ground blade for mid-level to advanced players, while several Reddit users warn it is too fast and demanding for anyone still building consistency. Opinions on spin diverge a little too, with the lab and Tabletennis11 noting the 145 trades some loop spin for speed against the softer Carbonado 45.

Who Should Buy It

Buy the Carbonado 145 if you are an intermediate to advanced two-wing attacker who wants a stiff, fast carbon blade that still talks back like wood. It fits players who block aggressively, drive at mid distance and want a large, consistent sweet spot, and it takes both tacky Chinese rubbers and grippy tensors well. It is the wrong blade for beginners or anyone dialing back to a forgiving training blade, since the speed and stiffness will outrun developing technique. The model is discontinued, so buyers may have to hunt for remaining stock.

FAQ

Is the Stiga Carbonado 145 a carbon blade?

Yes. It is a 5+2 composite: five wood plies plus two layers of TeXtreme carbon. The carbon runs at a 45 degree angle, which Stiga says adds torsional bendability and raises the throw angle while holding a wood-like feel.

How fast is the Carbonado 145?

It is a stiff, fast blade in the low OFF range that reaches OFF+ with effort. Stiga lists speed and control values of 144 and 44, and it sits between the slower Carbonado 45 and the much faster 290 in the series.

Does it feel like a typical hard carbon blade?

Not entirely. Lab testing found its lengthwise vibration stays close to a 5-ply all-wood blade, so the feedback is woody and communicative rather than the harsh, deadened feel of many carbon blades.

Who should not buy the Carbonado 145?

Beginners and players still grooving their technique will find it too fast and stiff. Reddit users warned it outruns developing consistency, and the softer Carbonado 45 or 90 is the more forgiving option.