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The Best 8 Skateboards for All Levels
Skateboarding has long been a favored pastime for many people and has even recently been added as an official sport for the Olympics. With the right skateboard, you can awaken your hidden talents and take on the world one street at a time. However, if you have an inferior board that isn’t quality, you could have a hard time genuinely enjoying skateboarding, and you may never realize your true athletic potential.
With the many different skateboard brands out there, finding a skateboard that suits you and your experience level can be incredibly challenging. Fortunately, there are many boards that are perfect for all levels, from beginner to expert.
Numerous factors go into evaluating what makes a great skateboard. You will want one that is durable and lightweight with the right level of rigidity while still maintaining its flexibility. The skateboards we have listed in this article all possess these important features and many others that allow you to master various tricks.
Ultimately, we want to help you find the perfect skateboard, so we have conducted intensive market research to bring to your attention eight of the best skateboards we believe are worth your attention. All you have to do is exert minimal effort and keep reading as one of the below skateboards is likely meant for you.
Best Buy
1. Santa Cruz Screaming Hands
The Santa Cruz Screaming hands medium concave skateboard is made to last. The bright yellow and blue graphic design immediately grabs your attention, and its quality construction makes learning new tricks a foolhardy experience. The Screaming Hands board is 31.4″ long and 7.75″ wide and has a traditional 7 ply maple wood construction which allows it to be durable and sturdy.
It features 130 mm bullet rucks that the brand guarantees are manufactured to withstand extreme conditions without breaking. These trucks also afford skateboarders a great turn with a no-slip axle. This means you won’t need to worry about ruining your board when learning or executing complicated maneuvers.
The Santa Cruz Slimeball 52 mm 83a soft wheels offer riders an enjoyable, fast, and smooth ride. Additionally, the special formula used in creating these wheels allows skateboarders to ride over rough terrain while experiencing less chatter and more grip, which guarantees less sliding. This board also features AVEC 3 bearings which are not the fastest you can get, but they are incredibly durable and dependable.
2. Arbor Axis Flagship
If you require an environmentally friendly skateboard, the Arbor Axis Flagship board fits the bill. Unlike other longboards, the Arbor Axis Flagship has an eco-friendly construction because of the brand’s use of wood by-products. This board has been manufactured with a water-based sanding sealer and final finish that allows the board to circumvent air pollution.
Additionally, the 69 mm 78a wheels are made using an uber environmentally friendly sucrose-based bio-urethane formula. Their ecologically friendly nature doesn’t take away from their performance as they are perfect for carving, commuting, and pushing without sacrificing on-roll speed. If you’re planning to ride downhill, the 180 mm Paris trucks will be beneficial as they are made with a purer metal that provides greater strength and faster turns.
Taller riders and those who want a board for cruising might prefer a longboard. The Arbor Axis Flagship perfectly symmetrical 8 ply mild concave longboard is 40″ long and has a width of 8.8″. It has a drop-through mounting style that provides riders with a lower center of gravity, allowing for an overall more responsive and stable ride.
The deck itself is made from a blend of maple and palisander construction which grants the board longevity and resistance against decay which is excellent if you live near the coast. Additionally, the deck features cutouts around each of the wheels that prevent wheel bite and ensure rider safety.
3. CCS Skateboard Complete
Sometimes a classic skateboard is ideal as it can provide you the necessary features you need without breaking the bank. The CCA Skateboard Complete is made by a brand you can trust and offers riders a fully assembled board at a great price. This board also comes in more than five different colors and has CCS stickers offering riders a creative choice. With this board, you will be ready to ride as soon as you take it out of the packaging.
The CCS Skateboard Complete is manufactured with a classic shape that riders recognize and love because of its ability to be used for cruising and tricks. Its 27.75″ long and 7″ wide deck is made with traditional Canadian 7-ply maple wood, which gives the perfect blend of stiffness and flexibility.
If you’re planning on spending hours riding on smooth surfaces, you’ll enjoy the 52 mm 100a wheels, ABEC 7 bearings, and high-quality trucks that have a sturdy steel base plate. Additionally, this board also comes with several other components that make it attractive to beginners and expert skateboarders, like the CCS skate tool and customizable options.
4. Enjoi Heart
The Enjoi Heart skateboard is perfect for casual riders looking for a lightweight board designed to be durable with maximum performance potential. Unlike other boards, the Enjoi Heart skateboard has a resin deck that allows it to pop for longer when compared with traditional water-based decks.
This single press 31″ longboard is made from 100% 7 ply hard-rock maple. It has carbon steel bearings and an improved wheel manufacturing formula that gives riders a smooth and sturdy ride. Additionally, the Tensor trucks and 55 mm 95a wheels are perfectly installed to give riders the opportunity to learn and perform technical-based tricks.
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5. Sector 9 Combo Bamboo
Bamboo-constructed skateboards are becoming increasingly popular. The Sector 9 Combo Bamboo kicktail skateboard is environmentally friendly and visually pleasing with its minimalistic black wave artwork.
Some boards are made to offer more flexibility than rigidity. The Sector 9 Combo Bamboo board has a 5 ply deck construction which gives riders an ultimate flexibility experience while cruising through town. If you want to learn complex tricks, this longboard might not be ideal. However, if you’re a casual rider who wants to navigate through town as you navigate through life, this board could be ideal.
Additionally, the Sector 9 Combo bamboo board is 26.5″ long and 7.5″ wide. It’s made with 61 mm 78a durable Nineball wheels with ABEC 5 bearings. Another feature that makes this board ideal for street riding is the Gullwing Mission trucks, as they provide a tighter and more streamlined feel.
6. Landyachtz Dinghy Blunt
When you’re learning new tricks, it’s important to have a skateboard that has a superior grip. The Landyachtz Dinghy Blunt skateboard features premium quality black grip tape that provides maximum coverage while letting you flex your board naturally. The grip tape also ensures riders have enhanced traction and control for sliding and pumping.
The Landyachtz Dinghy Blunt is 28.5″ long and 8.6″ wide and is made with true Canadian 7 ply durable maple wood. Its unique low cave design ensures riders have a pleasant riding experience each time as the design reduces foot fatigue, enables better grip, and allows for smoother riding.
Utilizing a skateboard with rough turn features and loads of chatter can really disrupt your ride. Fortunately, the Landyachtz Dinghy Blunt features Hawgs 60 mm 78a chubby wheels that are slightly offset to provide faster and tighter turns. Additionally, the Space balls ABEC 7 bearings ensure your chubby wheels will always be in alignment and completely chatter-free.
7. Glove G1 Ablaze
Maneuverability is key when you are learning how to skateboard or are teaching yourself more complex tricks. The Glove G1 Ablaze is designed to be easily maneuvered and to handle tricky curves. This board’s twin popsicle design also lets riders navigate steep inclines well without losing grip or traction.
Unlike other cheaper boards with a similar price range, this one has delightfully durable features, with the Glove G1 Ablaze also being incredibly aesthetically pleasing. The deck itself is a hard rock maple wood and resin construction mixture, and the trucks are tensor alloy which is guaranteed to last you a lifetime.
The turning radius is perfectly aligned in part because of its 32″ length and 7.75″ width. Additionally, the 52 mm 99a wheels and ABEC 7 bearings provide an uber smooth riding experience which nicely completes this fully functioning skateboard.
8. Element Seal Skateboard
Since 1992 the skateboarding brand Element has been striving to create skateboards that offer riders an authentic product that is ethically made. The Element Seal skateboard confirms they’ve achieved their goal of manufacturing skateboards that are quality. This board has been designed with decades of technical experience, which allows it to remain popular amongst skateboarders of all expertise levels.
The Element Seal is 8″ wide. The deck has been made with wholly natural maple wood, and it has an industry-standard black grip.
Owning a skateboard with quality trucks is crucial if you plan on utilizing your board all the time. The Element Seal complete skateboard is equipped with Elements’ very own 5.0 polished trucks with 90a bushings. Additionally, the 50 mm 101a fully shaped element wheels with ABEC 5 bearings help you make routine turns smoothly and quickly while allowing you to master all those new tricks you have in mind.
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Skateboard FAQs
Skateboarding has come an extraordinarily long way from the first initial board designs. The evolution of skateboarding has led to several different types of skateboards that are used for various purposes. There are primarily two different categories of skateboards when you consider size and shape, namely shortboard and longboard skateboards.
Often longboard skateboards are made for cruising down streets, while shortboards are used for tricks. There are different boards for different riding styles, skating preferences, and surfaces. Below we have listed a few of the skateboards most popularly used.
- The mini cruiser skateboards are made for entry-level users to intermediate users.
- Carved skateboards are made for easy pumping and speed.
- Double kick popsicle skateboards are made for all types of riding and are the most popular board design used for tricks.
- Downhill longboard skateboards are primarily made for riding down hills and steep inclines.
- Classic longboards are used for cruising down boardwalks and slow long-distance rides.
In most instances, skateboard size doesn’t matter, as the choice of which one you choose will primarily come down to your preferences and what you want to do with your board. Surprisingly the skateboard style and deck design you pick will not depend on how much you weigh or what your shoe size or height is.
You should, however, select a board type that you feel comfortable with as a skateboard too big will make handling and turns difficult, while a skateboard too small could limit your trick capabilities.
Skateboards offer riders the freedom to choose the board type they want depending on their needs and style preferences. There are, however, skateboards that are better suited to different skill levels and different terrains.
Most times, beginners would be better off choosing a longboard if they plan on using their board for cruising purposes. For younger riders, it would be best to select a mini-board as they will allow youngsters to learn skills and tricks easier.
How much you pay for a skateboard will largely depend on the type you buy, whether or not it’s a name brand and the kind of materials used in its construction. You can purchase a cheaper board for less than $100, but it will likely not last you very long.
If you want a quality skateboard with industry competitive high-quality components, you can expect to pay on average $170. However, you can find a few brands that manufacture quality skateboards with prices between $100 and $140.