NEIGHBORHOOD x Ballistics: The Deck Built to Be a Table
Some skateboards are made to be ridden until the tail chips and the graphic disappears. Others are made to be kept. The NEIGHBORHOOD x Ballistics deck sits in a rare space between the two: a fully functional skateboard, a collectible piece of Japanese streetwear history and, thanks to a clever design decision, a piece of outdoor furniture.
At Rare Inventory, we love objects that tell a story, and this one tells a very Japanese one: two brands from very different corners of the culture meeting halfway to celebrate an anniversary. Here is everything you need to know about it.
NEIGHBORHOOD x Ballistics Skateboard Deck
This limited-edition skateboard set brings together two forces in street culture. NEIGHBORHOOD, the iconic Japanese streetwear label founded by Shinsuke Takizawa, teams up with Ballistics to produce a co-branded deck set built for display and cultural significance.
Two Brands, One Shared Language
To understand why this collaboration makes sense, you need to know who is behind it.
NEIGHBORHOOD needs little introduction to anyone who follows Japanese streetwear. Founded in Harajuku in 1994 by Shinsuke Takizawa, the brand’s identity is built on American vintage motorcycle culture, rugged workwear, military details and a dark, graphic aesthetic, all executed with the obsessive attention to quality that defines Japanese craftsmanship.
Ballistics comes from a different angle. It is a Japanese outdoor equipment brand, active since 2002, with a devoted following among hardcore campers and military gear enthusiasts. Its design philosophy combines the modification culture of classic American motorcycles with military styling, resulting in outdoor equipment focused squarely on practicality and function. Think rugged cases, tool bags, mess tin kits and modular camp furniture, all built to take a beating and look good doing it.
The overlap is obvious once you see it. Both brands draw from vintage American motorcycle culture, both share a military-inspired visual vocabulary, and both have a deep connection to the outdoors. In retrospect, a collaboration between them felt almost inevitable.
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NEIGHBORHOOD and the Ura-Harajuku Legacy
To appreciate a NEIGHBORHOOD piece, it helps to understand where the brand comes from. In the early 1990s, the backstreets of Harajuku in Tokyo, known as Ura-Harajuku, became the birthplace of a new kind of fashion. Small independent labels, tiny shops and a close-knit group of designers created a scene that mixed American subcultures, punk, skateboarding, motorcycles and military surplus into something entirely new. Releases were tiny, lines outside the shops were long, and scarcity became part of the appeal.
NEIGHBORHOOD emerged from that scene and became one of its pillars. While many brands chased trends, Takizawa stayed loyal to a clear vision: clothing and objects inspired by motorcycle clubs, workwear and military gear, made to last and designed with a strong, almost rebellious graphic identity. That consistency is a big part of why the brand still commands so much respect three decades later.
Over the years, NEIGHBORHOOD has also expanded far beyond clothing. The brand has developed a strong outdoor and lifestyle line, from camping equipment to plant pots and incense chambers. This move into the outdoors is precisely what made a partnership with Ballistics so natural. It was not a streetwear brand borrowing credibility from a camping label, but two brands that already spoke the same language.
A 20th Anniversary Release
The skateboard is part of a small capsule created to mark Ballistics’ 20th anniversary. For the occasion, Ballistics asked NEIGHBORHOOD to design a set of commemorative pieces. Besides the deck, the capsule included a multi-purpose quilt blanket and a waterproof ground sheet, both designed with matching grommet holes so they could be layered and pegged down together for a comfortable, floor-style camping setup.
The skateboard set carries the model number BSPC-NH01, and it is arguably the most striking piece of the collection. Its original retail price in Japan was 15,000 yen before tax, and like most NEIGHBORHOOD collaborations, it sold through quickly at launch. Today, it mostly surfaces on Japanese secondhand marketplaces, and finding one in good condition outside Japan is far from easy.
What Is in the Set
This is not just a deck. The collaboration was released as a complete set of three pieces:
- The skateboard deck, made of Canadian maple, measuring 8.5 inches (22 cm) wide by 31.75 inches (81 cm) long.
- A matching grip tape, printed with the same graphic as the deck.
- A black cotton storage case to carry and protect the board.
The colorway pairs a denim-effect finish with black: the deck in denim x black, the grip tape in denim, and the case in black. Bold, recognizable branding from both labels serves as the main graphic, which is exactly what collectors look for in a piece like this.
At 8.5 inches (22 cm), the deck sits in a very popular width range for modern street and transition skating, so it is not a novelty size. It is a real board, built from the same type of maple used by serious skate brands.
The Design Twist: A Graphic on the “Wrong” Side
Here is the detail that makes this deck genuinely unusual, and the reason it deserves its own article.
On a normal skateboard, the main graphic is printed on the bottom of the deck, while the top is covered with grip tape. On the NEIGHBORHOOD x Ballistics board, the main graphic was deliberately placed on the opposite side from usual. Why? Because the deck was designed from the start to be used with Ballistics’ own SBS KIT, a leg system that turns a skateboard deck into a chair or a table.
Once mounted on legs, the side you would normally cover with grip tape becomes the visible surface, so that is where the artwork lives. It is a small decision with a big impact: the board is designed to look its best as a camp table or a stool, not just as something to ride.
That created a problem, of course. If you want to actually skate it, applying grip tape would cover the graphic completely. Ballistics solved this elegantly by including a grip tape printed with the same design as the deck. Ride it, and the graphic is still there under your feet. Mount it on legs, and it becomes a centerpiece at the campsite. Hang it on the wall, and it becomes art.
The SBS KIT: From Skateboard to Furniture
The SBS KIT deserves a closer look, because it explains the whole philosophy behind this collaboration. Ballistics designs gear that is modular and multi-purpose, and the SBS KIT is a perfect example: a set of legs that attaches to a skateboard deck and transforms it into a piece of furniture. Depending on the setup, the board becomes a low table for a campsite, a bench or a stool.
The idea taps into something skaters have always done informally. Retired decks have long been turned into shelves, benches and wall art. Ballistics simply took that instinct and turned it into a proper product, built with the same rugged approach as the rest of its outdoor range.
The concept has proven popular enough to appear in other NEIGHBORHOOD projects. The brand explored the same modular idea in a triple collaboration with LOCKFIELD EQUIPMENT and Ballistics, combining a multi-purpose stool with the Ballistics SBS kit, laser-engraved with the brand logo.
Note that the leg kit is a separate Ballistics product and is not part of the deck set. If you want to use the board as furniture, you will need to source the legs on their own.
Explore the full collection
Figures, art toys & limited editions, shipped across Europe from France.
Ride It, Display It or Camp With It?
One of the most common questions we get about collectible decks is simple: should you use it?
There is no wrong answer, but here are the three ways people typically enjoy this piece.
As a display piece. For most collectors, this is the obvious choice. A deck is essentially a canvas, and a Japanese collaboration deck with bold dual branding looks fantastic on a wall, especially in a room with other NEIGHBORHOOD pieces or outdoor gear. Displaying it keeps it in pristine condition, which matters if you ever want to resell.
As outdoor furniture. This is how the designers intended it to be used. Paired with a leg kit, the board becomes a low table or bench for camping, a balcony, a garage or a studio. It is a conversation starter wherever it ends up.
As a skateboard. It is a real maple deck in a real size, and the matching grip tape means you can ride it without losing the graphic. Just keep in mind that riding will naturally wear the deck and reduce its collectible value over time.
Our advice: if you are buying it as an investment or as part of a NEIGHBORHOOD collection, keep it complete and unused, with the grip tape and case. Complete sets always command a premium over loose decks.
Why This Deck Is Worth Collecting
Several factors make the NEIGHBORHOOD x Ballistics deck a strong collectible.
It is tied to an anniversary. Commemorative releases are, by definition, one-offs. Ballistics will not turn 20 again, and this design is not coming back.
It was a limited Japanese release. Like much of NEIGHBORHOOD’s collaborative output, it was distributed mainly through Japanese retailers and sold out quickly. Outside Japan, it is genuinely hard to find.
It bridges several collector communities. Streetwear collectors want it because of NEIGHBORHOOD. Outdoor and camping gear enthusiasts want it because of Ballistics. Skate collectors want it because it is an unusual, well-designed deck. That broad appeal supports demand over the long term.
The concept is unique. The reversed graphic and the matching printed grip tape make it a design curiosity, not just another logo on a board. Objects with a clever idea behind them tend to age well among collectors.
NEIGHBORHOOD’s track record. Pieces from the brand, and especially its collaborations, have a long history of holding their value on the secondary market.
Caring for Your Deck
If you are adding this deck to your collection, a few simple steps will keep it in top condition:
- Keep it out of direct sunlight to prevent the print from fading.
- Avoid humid environments: maple is wood, and wood reacts to moisture.
- Store it in its cotton case when it is not on display, to protect it from dust and scratches.
- Keep the printed grip tape unapplied and flat if you want to preserve the set’s full value.
- If you mount it on a wall, use a dedicated deck display bracket rather than screws through the board.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NEIGHBORHOOD x Ballistics skateboard deck?
It is a limited collaboration set released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ballistics, the Japanese outdoor gear brand. It includes a Canadian maple deck, a matching printed grip tape and a black cotton case.
What size is the deck?
The deck measures 8.5 inches (22 cm) wide by 31.75 inches (81 cm) long, a standard size for street and transition skating.
Why is the graphic on the top of the deck?
Because the board was designed to be mounted on the Ballistics SBS KIT and used as a table or chair. In that configuration, the top side is the visible one.
Can I actually skate it?
Yes. It is a real maple skateboard, and the included grip tape is printed with the same graphic, so the design stays visible when you ride.
Is the SBS KIT included?
No. The leg kit is a separate Ballistics product.
Is it still available in stores?
The set was a limited release in Japan and is no longer available at retail. Today it is mostly found on the secondary market.
Get Yours at Rare Inventory
At Rare Inventory, we specialize in sourcing collectible items directly from Japan, from trading cards to streetwear and lifestyle pieces that rarely leave the Japanese market. The NEIGHBORHOOD x Ballistics skateboard deck is exactly the kind of object we love to bring to collectors in Europe and beyond: limited, thoughtfully designed and rooted in Japanese culture.
You can find it now in our shop: NEIGHBORHOOD x Ballistics Skateboard Deck. Stock is extremely limited, so if this piece belongs in your collection, do not wait too long.
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