The Best Longboards for Beginners To Really Feel the Adrenaline

Finding a High-Quality Longboard for Beginner: A Buying Guide

You may like the look of our recommended longboards, but we understand that you may not feel confident purchasing one until you do a little research. So, continue reading to learn about the types of longboards available and some information on choosing an excellent board for beginners.

Know Your Parts

Before we discuss the types of longboards, it will be beneficial for you to learn the names of the board parts. This will also help you better understand product descriptions when searching for a longboard.

Deck

The deck is the main bulk of the wooden board.

Grip tape

Grip tape is the textured tape that allows your feet to stay on the board.

Truck

The truck is the large metal part that the wheels sit on either side of.

Truck bolts and nuts

These attach the truck to the deck.

Hangar

The hangar is the large triangle part of the truck.

Axle

The axle is a large pin that runs through the hangar and attaches to the wheels.

Riser

A riser can be placed between the truck and deck to raise the deck. This prevents wheel bite for larger turns.

Kingpin

The kingpin is a large pin that also holds the truck in place.

Bushings

Bushings are placed around the kingpin and can have different levels of tension. They stop the parts from grinding against each other.

Bearings

Bearings allow the wheels to spin on the truck axle. Good bearings let the wheels spin faster.

Axle nut and spacer

The axle nuts and spacers attach the bearings and wheels to the axle.

Types of Longboards

There are many types of longboards, some with obvious differences and others with subtle differences. So first, consider what you want from your longboard to decide which type will be best for you.

Carving longboards

Carving longboards are designed to let the rider easily move from left to right down a hill. This zigzagging motion is not as easy on other types of longboards. The carving longboard is concave, allowing you to stay firmly on the board as your turn.

The trucks on a carving longboard are set loosely to allow easy turning. There are sometimes spacers between the trucks and the board, so the wheels don’t catch. The board tapers in, so the wheels lie on either side. The board is often set a little higher than other longboards, so you can complete large turns without scraping the ground.

Cruiser longboards

Cruiser longboards are great for beginners. They let you easily glide downhills and will run smoothly along the promenade or park. They do not turn as easily as a carving longboard but are much more stable. This type of board is often shaped like a surfboard. The board sits on top of the trucks.

Freestyle longboards

Freestyle longboards are great for sliding down hills and sliding at a slow pace but are also intended for flat ground riding. This is an excellent board for doing tricks. This type of board is almost always a drop-through style, which means the trucks are dropped through the deck, lowering the rider’s center of gravity and offering more control.

Push longboards

Push longboards are designed to travel long distances. They are perfect for the school or work commute. They do not turn very easily and are not great for tricks, but if you want a longboard to get from A to B, this is the one for you.

Dance longboards

Dance longboards are large enough to twirl and dance on. They have a kicktail and a primarily flat deck. This board is for flatland riding and more so for flatland tricks.

Freeride longboards

Freeride longboards are made to go down hills and slide. Sliding is when a rider wears gloves and uses their hands to make a sudden turn and go horizontal to the slope. Freeride boards come in various styles but have small wheels, and the deck is usually low to the ground.

Downhill longboards

Downhill longboards are designed to go down hills at fast speeds. Some downhill longboarders reach speeds of up to 70-MPH. For obvious reasons, a lot of safety gear is required for this type of longboarding.

Consider the Grip

The grip on the deck is an essential feature. This allows you to remain firmly on your board when traveling downhill or turning. In addition, some decks have a rough surface that offers enough friction to stay on the board, whereas others use grit tape or an emery surface. Think about which you would prefer.

What Are Good Skating Wheels?

You want a soft wheel for rough roads as this offers better grip. However, if you want to slide, harder wheels are best. For beginners, we recommend using a board with medium-soft wheels. Wheel softness is measured by numbers followed by the letter “a.” The higher the number, the harder the wheels. Look for wheels with a softness of between 78-82a.

Long decks suit large wheels, and small decks suit small wheels. A well-manufactured board will come with the right-sized wheels. However, if you want to change the wheels in the future, you will be able to. For this reason, the quality of the deck is probably the most important feature of a longboard.

Under Deck Designs

Longboards often boast a beautiful design on the underside of the deck. By searching for the type of longboard along with a theme you want to see in the artwork on the underside of the deck, you will find your perfect longboard in no time.