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Longboard Purchasing Handbook - Selecting the Ideal Longboard for Your Needs
Whether you seek a complete longboard for starting out, or if you are a seasoned longboarder aiming to find the appropriate parts to upgrade and elevate your riding adventure, this guide holds all the essential information on longboards for you!
Reading this guide from beginning to end isn’t mandatory (we know you’re more excited about longboards than long readings). Instead, our product pages provide ample information to support you in choosing the perfect longboard. Don't hesitate to jump forward to our range of complete longboards.
If you have specific interests concerning longboarding gear, you can directly navigate to the desired section by clicking on the content list below:
Overview
Overview
Varieties of Longboards - Which Longboard Type Suits You?
The assorted types of longboards cater to various longboarding styles. Understanding the basics of longboards and longboarding disciplines is particularly advantageous when purchasing a complete longboard.
If you've chosen a longboard over a skateboard, you probably desire a sleek cruising experience or you're interested in one of the performance-driven longboarding disciplines, such as longboard dance or downhill longboarding.
Your choice of longboard should align with your preferred longboarding style. The subsequent sections will explore the fundamental elements of distinct longboarding disciplines and the corresponding types of longboards. Continue reading for more insights into the different longboard types. We've organised them into six distinct categories to simplify finding the right longboard for you!
Cruiser Longboards & Carving Boards
Cruising and carving longboards frequently exhibit similar features. Cruising simply involves riding your longboard, whereas carving involves steering from side to side to manage speed, similar to a snowboarder carving down a slope.
Sharing numerous traits, cruising and carving longboards serve those who delight in cruising and wish to carve occasionally. Pintail shapes are common amongst cruiser longboard decks, making them ideal for commuting or leisurely neighbourhood rides. Longboard cruisers prioritise stability and a smooth ride rather than tricks.
Cruiser longboards are an excellent option for beginners, while carving on a longboard might be the progression from cruising.
Downhill Longboards & Freeride Longboards
Downhill longboards necessitate stability for preventing speed wobbles. This requires rigid decks and wide trucks. To achieve high speeds and lessen the chance of mishaps due to road bumps or unforeseen slides, the finest downhill longboards come with large, wide, and soft wheels.
What defines a freeride longboard? Freeride longboards are more adaptable compared to downhill longboards. Designed for high-speed downhill runs, they also cater to nimbleness for technical sliding. Thus, freeride longboards share many attributes with downhill boards. However, while downhill boards emphasise speed and stability, a proficient freeride board incorporates greater agility and manoeuvrability, particularly for sliding and carving.
Protective gear is essential when engaged in freeride and downhill longboarding.
Freestyle Longboards
Freestyle longboards focus on technical moves and artistic trick lines rather than speed. Longboards designed for freestyle typically possess symmetrical shapes with kicks on both ends, facilitating tricks and bi-directional riding—hence, they're designated bi-directional. As freestyle longboarding is not centred on speed or distance, freestyle setups generally feature harder and smaller wheels compared to other longboard configurations.
Freestyle longboarding is all about artistry and testing the limits of what can be done with a longboard. If you already enjoy skateboarding, you are likely to find freestyle longboarding appealing.
A freestyle longboard is a fantastic choice if you want to perform tricks and possibly cruise a bit too.
Dancer Longboards
Dancer longboards are meticulously designed for those who take pleasure in combining graceful movements and rhythmic skill on a longboard. These boards are crafted for the art of longboard dancing, seamlessly weaving fluid movements, intricate footwork, and expressive flair.
The optimal dancing longboard decks are symmetric, bi-directional, and they're the longest type of longboards available. They provide ample room for showcasing dazzling moves and include kicks at both tips.
Executing dance moves on a longboard necessitates a well-rounded setup, particularly featuring moderate flex and responsive trucks, ensuring a proper equilibrium between stability and agility, perfect for performing spectacular footwork.
If the allure of dance and the thrill of surpassing limits intrigues you, a dancer longboard is your perfect partner on the pavement for self-expression. Embrace the rhythm, unleash creativity, and let your feet dance to the pavement’s beat with the finest dancer longboard.
When you view our lineup of complete longboards, you have the option to filter based on riding style.
How to Determine the Appropriate Longboard Size for You
Your ideal longboard size is closely linked to your riding style. While typical skateboarders often consider shoe size when determining deck width, for longboarders, the focus is more on riding style rather than height or shoe size. For example, downhill longboarders usually favour significantly shorter decks compared to those used in longboard dancing. Therefore, instead of relying on physical measurements, focus on your preferred riding style when determining the ideal size of the longboard you need.
As an illustration, a short longboard rider with smaller feet might favour a more compact board, whereas a taller individual with larger feet might opt for the extended version of the identical longboard deck. Finding the right match and equilibrium for your body dimensions and riding style is crucial.
Understanding Longboard Wheelbase
The wheelbase of a longboard is the space between the front and back wheels. Though the deck's length provides clues about the wheelbase, they aren’t directly proportional. This is because features like kick tails may contribute to the deck’s total length without necessarily influencing the wheelbase length.
A lengthier wheelbase offers a larger turning radius, whereas a shorter wheelbase provides a tighter turning radius.
- Extended Wheelbase: Creates a more stable setup with slower turns, simplifying control and predictability during slides. However, this stability comes at the expense of agility.
- Compact Wheelbase: Results in a more agile but less stable setup due to the reduced turning radius.
Note that some longboard decks boast adjustable wheelbases. These decks come with eight or more holes for mounting the trucks, allowing flexibility in positioning them closer together or further apart.
Shapes of Longboard Decks
Comprehending the differences between various longboard deck shapes and features is beneficial, as it influences your choice of longboard deck. Understanding how specific deck shapes and features may aid or impede your riding style is critical for making informed choices.
Pintail Longboards
Pintails are a common sight on cruising longboards designed for surf-inspired rides. The distinct pointed shape of the pintail derives its name from the tail of pintail ducks, and its widespread appeal is likely influenced by its resemblance to authentic surfboard designs. Though pintails may not be the best choice for freestyle longboarding, they provide plenty of fun for those seeking an agile board for cruising and carving the streets.
Drop Down Longboards
Drop-down longboard decks have a lowered area between the trucks, creating a reduced centre of gravity. This lowered stance benefits beginners, as pushing requires less energy and steering is less sensitive. Additionally, riding a drop-down longboard extends the wheelbase since you cannot stand directly over the trucks. An additional feature of drop-down decks is the simpler initiation of slides.
Drop-down longboard decks are favoured by beginners as well as those who enjoy cruising, carving, or freeriding. Conversely, a deck without the drop is recommended for speed-centric downhill longboarding.
Double Drop Longboards
Double drop longboard decks combine a dropped deck platform with drop-through truck installation, resulting in an exceptionally low centre of gravity. This design offers superior stability, facilitating pushing, sliding, and balance maintenance at moderate velocities.
Opting for a double drop deck is beneficial if you prioritise being as close to the ground as feasible. It excels in cruising, freeriding, and sliding. Double drop longboards are an outstanding choice for novices due to their stability and for experienced riders seeking excellent sliding skills and the thrill of freeride stunts.
Wheel Wells in Longboards
Wheel wells are concave indentations made into the deck's surface near the wheels, present in some longboard decks. They afford clearance for the wheels during sharp turns or deep carves, effectively reducing the probability of wheel bites.
Cutouts on Longboards
Cutouts signify portions of the deck that are removed to accommodate larger wheels and avert wheel bite. Longboards featuring cutouts have no wood obstructing the wheels, completely eliminating the risk of wheel bites.
Kicks & Double Kick on Longboard Decks
Longboard kicks are raised sections at either end of the deck, commonly featured in dancer boards as well as freestyle and trick-oriented longboards. These allow riders to execute moves such as ollies, manuals, and kickturns, thereby broadening the array of achievable tricks. Double kick longboard decks are vital for dancer and freestyle setups.
Understanding Drop-Through Longboards
Drop-through longboards have truck mounts that pass through the deck, resulting in a lower ride and a decreased centre of gravity. This configuration enhances stability, makes pushing and sliding simpler, and mitigates fatigue during lengthy rides. Drop-through boards are popular for freeriding, cruising, commuting, and carving.
The holes in drop-through decks allow you to "drop" the baseplates from the deck's top side. Assembling trucks on a drop-through deck necessitates dismantling the hanger from the baseplate.
When choosing trucks for drop-through set-ups, opt for genuine Reverse Kingpin (RKP) Longboard Trucks instead of typical street skateboard trucks, as this will ensure the utmost performance.
Comparing Drop-Through and Top Mount Longboards
Grasping the distinctions between top mount and drop-through setups is imperative since they significantly influence your riding experience.
```htmlMounting the trucks by placing them directly underneath the deck is known as top-mounting, allowing the deck to sit above the trucks. This configuration enhances leverage and responsiveness, making it ideal for carving, freestyle, and achieving maximum manoeuvrability.
Conversely, drop-through mounting involves fitting the trucks through cut-outs in the deck so they sit below its top surface. This lowers the centre of gravity, providing greater stability and facilitating easier pushing by bringing your pushing foot closer to the ground. It is also conducive to sliding.
Longboards with drop-through designs feature cut-outs near the wheels to ensure adequate wheel clearance, crucial because of the deck's lower positioning. These cut-outs prevent wheel bite and allow for smoother turning and manoeuvres by letting the wheels align perfectly with the deck's underside.
Choosing between drop-through and top-mount setups ultimately depends on your riding style and preferences. Should you prioritise stability and speed, opting for a drop-through deck may be advantageous. However, if you're inclined towards agility and responsiveness, a top-mount deck could be more appropriate.
As you explore our range of longboard decks, you'll recognise drop-through options by the sizeable holes where the trucks are mounted.
Longboard Trucks
The most suitable longboard trucks for you will complement your unique riding style. Different truck features can greatly affect how your setup performs. Key specifications to keep an eye on for longboard trucks include the kingpin direction, baseplate angle, and hanger width.
Reverse Kingpin Trucks Versus Traditional Kingpin Trucks
Abbreviations such as RKP and TKP are commonly seen, referring to the distinct kingpin placements on longboard trucks. Here is what they signify:
- Reverse kingpin trucks (RKP) are often synonymous with longboard trucks due to their versatility in longboarding, though seldom seen on skateboards. RKP trucks direct the kingpin away from the setup's centre, offering stability along with smooth, agile turns. In their design, an RKP truck stands taller than a TKP truck.
- Traditional kingpin trucks (TKP), also known as classic or vertical kingpin trucks, are typically linked with skateboarding and hardly used in longboarding. These TKP trucks, with a kingpin positioned lower than the hanger, excel in grinding capabilities.
The choice between RKP and TKP trucks primarily involves turning characteristics. Reverse kingpin trucks are prized for their ease of control at higher speeds and are seen as more "predictable" for swift turns in comparison to traditional kingpin trucks.
Influence of Baseplate Angle on Longboard Trucks
The baseplate angle on longboard trucks refers to the angle between a line parallel to the baseplate and another following the pivot from the pivot cup towards the hanger.
The impact of the baseplate angle is substantial on how your longboard performs:
- Lower baseplate angle: Results in a wider turning radius, meaning less sharp truck turns, which requires more leaning to initiate a turn. This attribute provides stability and minimises wobbling at high speeds. For enhancing your setup’s stability, opt for a lower baseplate angle.
- Higher baseplate angle: Leads to a more responsive truck with a tighter turning radius, allowing sharper turns with ease. Such angles aid in easier initiation of turns, facilitating smoother longboard steering. For novices still mastering basic skills like pushing and turning, a larger baseplate angle is often more suitable as a learning tool.
Browse Longboard Trucks by baseplate angle, simplifying your search for the perfect fit.
Understanding Longboard Bushings
Longboard bushings are small, donut-shaped components composed of polyurethane found inside the truck’s hanger. Their key role is in affecting the board’s responsiveness and stability. Bushings come in diverse shapes, sizes, and hardness levels, letting riders tailor their board’s feel and performance to personal preferences.
Bushing hardness:
- Softer bushings: Enhance turning and carving ability.
- Harder bushings: Improve stability at high speeds.
Bushing shapes:
- Cone bushings: Available in both short and long formats, these conical bushings are known for their responsiveness and are ideal in cruising and carving setups.
- Barrel bushings: Features a design that lends the trucks greater stability, making them less prone to turning.
- Eliminator bushings: Remove any chance of excess movement in the trucks. These are perfect for those seeking a steady setup for high-speed runs or need extra support from bushings. Their design fills out entire bushing seats and extends over the top edges, allowing control even at higher speeds.
Switching between different bushings can significantly change your setup’s characteristics, so they should not be ignored when tweaking your board.
Longboard Truck Dimensions & Width
Ideally, the width of your trucks should match the widest point of your deck. Should the trucks or wheels extend too far, issues such as wheel contact during pushing could arise.
The best way to choose a suitable truck width for your longboard deck is to focus on the axle width instead of hanger width, as axle width specifies the total truck width. At SkatePro, we help by listing the axle width in the truck specifications.
- Narrower trucks: Offer increased agility and responsiveness.
- Wider trucks: Provide greater stability and are easier to control at speed.
We cater to all your longboard truck needs, featuring parts, risers, bushings, and more:
Longboard Wheels
For many longboarders, finding the ideal wheels is a top priority. These wheels not only shape how your setup performs but are also available in an array of colours and stunning designs, fuelling a sense of commodity fetishism among enthusiasts.
Let us delve into the vital aspects and explore how longboard wheel specifications affect your ride experience.
Longboard wheels are predominantly made from polyurethane, a versatile plastic with various applications. Manufacturers craft unique formulas tailored to create longboard and skate wheels with characteristics that elevate the riding experience.
When selecting longboard wheels, focus on key specifications like wheel size, hardness, and shape.
Size of Longboard Wheels
In selecting the size of your wheels, understanding its influence on speed, momentum, ride quality, and manoeuvrability is crucial:
Speed and momentum:
- Larger wheels: Provide higher top speeds and better speed retention.
- Smaller wheels: Yield lower top speeds but allow for faster acceleration.
Ride quality:
- Larger wheels: Feature mellower curves and larger surface areas to absorb surface irregularities for a smoother ride.
- Smaller wheels: Encounter ground irregularities more acutely and are more likely to stop abruptly over obstacles or cracks.
Manoeuvrability:
- Larger wheels: Typically less manoeuvrable but contribute to increased stability.
- Smaller wheels: Offer greater agility and ease of movement, enhancing overall manoeuvrability.
Weight:
- Larger wheels: Heavier than smaller counterparts.
Sliding properties:
- Larger wheels: Harder to initiate sliding and trickier to control during slides
- Smaller wheels: Easier to start sliding and maintain control when sliding.
To select the appropriate wheel size for your longboard, these elements should be considered, ensuring compatibility with the rest of your setup to avoid issues like wheel bite. Should you be worried, a pair of risers could be considered:
Understanding Longboard Wheel Hardness
Longboard wheels are defined by their hardness rating, known as durometer, applicable to all skate wheels. A higher durometer signifies harder wheels. The significance of wheel hardness is paramount, hence always review the durometer rating when selecting new wheels or purchasing a complete longboard with pre-fitted wheels.
Here’s a succinct comparison of hard and soft longboard wheels:
- Harder wheels: Less grip, glide easier, inefficient at absorbing vibrations.
- Softer wheels: More grip, not as prone to sliding, absorb vibrations more effectively.
Typically, longboard wheels range from 78A to 85A, generally softer compared to standard skateboard wheels. This softness is vital as longboarders often ride on rough terrains at higher speeds.
Longboard Wheel Width & Shape
The width and shape of a wheel impact the contact patch, the area of the wheel contacting the ground:
- Wide contact patch: Offers more grip.
- Narrow contact patch: Results in less grip, making slides easier.
The edges, or lips, feature prominently in wheel design, affecting wheel performance as they define the contact patch. Wheels with sharp edges provide a wider contact patch than those with rounded or bevelled lips.
- Longboard wheels with sharp lips offer a larger contact patch, boosting grip and stability during swift manoeuvres
- Wheels with rounded or bevelled lips provide narrower contact patches, enabling easier sliding and lighter weight, offering heightened agility.
Selecting the Optimal Longboard Wheels
By considering crucial factors like size, hardness, and shape, you can identify the wheels best suited for your setup. What works in theory might not always meet your practical needs, and experimenting with different wheels could become an occasional necessity as you continue to longboard.
Below are a few commonly asked questions about specific longboard wheels:
Which Wheels Are Ideal for Longboard Sliding?
To find suitable wheels for sliding, choose smaller sizes at the firmer end of the durometer scale (up to around 85A), ideally with a narrower contact patch (rounded or bevelled lips).
How to Select the Best Longboard Wheels for Cruising?
```When it comes to cruising, give precedence to wheels that roll smoothly, efficiently absorbing the vibrations from uneven surfaces. Choose wheels that are softer (74A - 78A) and comparatively large (65 - 70 mm). If you wish for ultimate grip, go for those with sharp edges; for better agility and fluidity, select options with rounded or bevelled edges. This choice will ensure you have the ideal wheels for commuting or cruising.
Choosing Optimal Longboard Wheels for Dance and Freestyle
For performing dance techniques and tricks, prioritise wheels that are manageable and lightweight. In the realm of longboard dancing and freestyle, agility and manoeuvrability are more important than speed and stability. Select wheels with a diameter of approximately 65 mm, featuring rounded or bevelled edges, and a soft durometer rating.
