What to Look For in a Longboard

Longboarding offers a unique blend of transportation, sport, and art, providing a smoother, more stable ride than traditional skateboards. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a comfortable way to cruise around town or an experienced rider seeking a board for downhill racing or freestyle tricks, understanding what to look for in a longboard is crucial for an enjoyable and safe experience.

The sheer variety of shapes, sizes, and components can be overwhelming, but by focusing on a few key elements, you can find the perfect longboard to match your riding style and aspirations.

The world of longboarding is diverse, catering to a wide range of activities from relaxed cruising and commuting to high-speed downhill runs and intricate freestyle maneuvers. Each style of longboarding demands a specific board design, emphasizing different characteristics like stability, maneuverability, deck flex, and componentry.

Choosing the right longboard isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about selecting a tool that will enhance your riding, allow you to progress, and keep you safe on your adventures.

Key Takeaways

Deck Shape and Size: Consider the intended use (cruising, downhill, freestyle) and your shoe size when selecting deck length and width. Pintails are great for cruising, while symmetrical shapes excel in freestyle and downhill.
Deck Material and Flex: Maple is common for its durability and pop, while bamboo offers flexibility and a lighter weight. Flex affects ride comfort and stability; stiffer decks are better for speed, while flexier decks are more forgiving for cruising.
Trucks: The width of the trucks should generally match the width of the deck. Reverse Kingpin (RKP) trucks offer more stability and turning radius, ideal for longboarding, while Traditional Kingpin (TKP) trucks are more common on trick skateboards.
Wheels: Larger, softer wheels (durometer 75a-85a) provide a smoother ride over rough surfaces and better grip, ideal for cruising and downhill. Smaller, harder wheels offer more speed and are better for tricks.
Bearings: ABEC ratings indicate precision, but for longboarding, durability and smoothness are key. Consider ceramic bearings for a premium, low-friction experience.
Bushings: These rubbery components influence how your trucks turn. Softer bushings make turning easier, while harder bushings increase stability at higher speeds.
Riser Pads: Used to prevent wheel bite and absorb shock, their thickness depends on wheel size and truck setup.

Understanding Longboard Deck Types

The deck is the heart of your longboard, dictating its overall feel, performance, and suitability for different riding styles. From its shape and size to its material and flex, every aspect of the deck plays a role in your experience.

Understanding these variations is the first step to choosing a board that aligns with your intentions.

Cruising Longboards

Designed for relaxed rides and transportation, cruising longboards prioritize comfort, stability, and ease of turning. They typically feature a wider deck for stability and a slightly concave shape to keep your feet locked in.

Pintail Shape: The classic cruising longboard shape, characterized by its wider nose and a pointed tail, resembling a surfboard. This shape helps prevent wheel bite (when the wheel touches the deck during a turn) and offers a stable platform for carving and pumping. Their directional nature makes them less ideal for tricks.
Drop-Through Decks: In this design, the truck mounting holes are routed through the deck itself, lowering the ride height. This significantly increases stability, making them excellent for commuting and beginner downhill riders. The lower center of gravity reduces the chance of toppling over.
Top-Mount Decks: The trucks are mounted directly to the bottom of the deck. This provides a more responsive feel and allows for deeper carves, but the higher ride height can make them less stable for absolute beginners or at high speeds compared to drop-throughs.

Downhill Longboards

For those who crave speed and the thrill of descending hills, downhill longboards are built for maximum stability and control. They are typically stiffer and often feature symmetrical shapes to allow for riding in both directions.

Stiff Construction: Downhill decks need to be rigid to prevent wobbling at high speeds. This is often achieved through thicker maple plies or the incorporation of materials like carbon fiber.
Concave and W-Concave: Deep concave locks your feet into place, providing crucial grip during high-G force turns. W-concave (a raised ridge down the center of the deck) offers even more foot lockdown, preventing unwanted foot movement.
Symmetrical Shape: Many downhill boards are symmetrical, meaning they have a similar shape at both the nose and tail. This allows riders to switch stances easily during a run and provides a balanced feel.

Freestyle And Dancing Longboards

Freestyle and dancing longboards are built for versatility, allowing riders to perform tricks, step on and off the board, and glide with style. They often feature larger, flatter decks with kicktails.

Larger Deck Size: These boards are generally longer and wider than cruiser boards, providing ample space for footwork, dancing, and performing tricks like shuvits and manuals. A length of 40 inches or more is common.
Kicktails: Similar to traditional skateboards, kicktails allow riders to pop the board off the ground for tricks and pivot turns.
Flexibility: While some freestyle boards are stiff for better pop, many incorporate a moderate amount of flex for a more comfortable and forgiving ride, especially for dancing.

Credit: deviateboardco.com

Deck Materials And Construction

The material used to construct a longboard deck significantly impacts its weight, durability, flex, and overall feel. Most longboard decks are made from maple wood, but other materials like bamboo, fiberglass, and carbon fiber are also used, often in combination.

Maple Wood

The most common material for longboard decks is Canadian Maple. It’s favored for its strength, durability, and consistent flex. Decks are typically constructed from multiple plies (layers) of maple veneer, pressed together with strong adhesive.

Number of Plies: Most longboard decks are made from 7-9 plies of maple. More plies generally result in a stiffer, stronger, and heavier deck. Fewer plies can lead to a lighter, more flexible deck.
Durability: Maple offers good resistance to wear and tear, making it a reliable choice for all types of longboarding.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a popular alternative to maple, known for its lightweight nature, flexibility, and eco-friendliness. Bamboo decks often have a unique, surfy feel.

Flex and Pop: Bamboo naturally has a lively flex, which can be very comfortable for cruising and dancing. It can also provide a good “pop” for freestyle tricks.
Weight: Bamboo decks are often lighter than their maple counterparts, making them easier to carry and maneuver.
Sustainability: Bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource, appealing to environmentally conscious riders.

Composite Materials (fiberglass, Carbon Fiber)

Often used in conjunction with maple or bamboo, composite materials can enhance a deck’s performance characteristics.

Carbon Fiber: Adds significant stiffness and strength without adding much weight. It’s often found in high-performance downhill or freeride boards where extreme rigidity is desired.
Fiberglass: Can be used to add flex, strength, or a specific feel to a deck. It’s common in hybrid constructions.

Deck Flex Ratings

Deck flex refers to how much a board bends under pressure. It’s a critical factor that influences ride comfort, stability, and maneuverability. Manufacturers often categorize flex into three main levels:

Stiff (Flex 1): These decks offer maximum stability and power transfer, making them ideal for downhill racing and heavy riders. They are less forgiving and offer less shock absorption.
Medium (Flex 2): A good balance of stability and flexibility, suitable for a wide range of riders and disciplines, including freeride, carving, and commuting. They offer decent shock absorption.
Soft (Flex 3): These decks are the most flexible, providing a comfortable, surfy ride and excellent shock absorption. They are best for lighter riders, cruising, and carving. However, they can be less stable at high speeds and are more prone to wheel bite.

Pro Tip: When choosing flex, consider your weight and riding style. Lighter riders (under 150 lbs) may find medium or soft flex boards more enjoyable, while heavier riders (over 180 lbs) will benefit from stiffer decks.

Understanding Longboard Trucks

Trucks are the T-shaped metal axles mounted to the underside of the deck that hold your wheels and allow your longboard to turn. The type, width, and setup of your trucks are crucial for stability, turning radius, and overall ride feel.

Truck Types: Rkp Vs. Tkp

Reverse Kingpin (RKP) Trucks: These are the most common type of trucks found on longboards. The kingpin (the bolt that holds the bushings) faces outwards, away from the deck. RKP trucks offer a wider turning radius and greater stability at speed, making them ideal for cruising, carving, downhill, and freeride.
Example: Caliber, Paris, Bear trucks are popular RKP brands.
Traditional Kingpin (TKP) Trucks: These trucks have the kingpin facing inwards, towards the deck. They are more commonly found on standard skateboards and offer a more responsive, snappy turn. While some freestyle longboarders might use TKPs for specific tricks, RKP trucks are generally preferred for their stability and turning capabilities in longboarding.

Truck Width

The width of your trucks is measured from the outside of one axle nut to the outside of the other. It’s important to match your truck width to your deck width for optimal performance and stability.

General Rule: The axle width of your trucks should be roughly the same as the width of your deck. A common guideline is that the truck axles should extend about half an inch to an inch inwards from the edge of the deck on each side.
Consequences of Mismatch:
Trucks too narrow: Can lead to twitchy steering and instability.
Trucks too wide: Can make the board feel sluggish to turn and increase the risk of wheel bite.

Example Truck Widths for Deck Sizes:

Deck Width (inches)	Recommended Truck Axle Width (mm)
7.5″ – 8.0″	149mm – 159mm
8.0″ – 8.5″	159mm – 169mm
8.5″ – 9.0″+	169mm – 180mm+

*Note: Deck width is often measured at the widest point, while truck width is typically measured in millimeters.*

Bushings

Bushings are urethane cylinders that sit around the kingpin and control how your trucks turn. They are a highly customizable component that can drastically alter the feel of your ride.

Durometer (Hardness): Bushings come in various durometers, indicating their hardness. Lower durometers (e.g., 80a-85a) are softer and allow for easier, deeper turns, making them great for cruising and carving. Higher durometers (e.g., 90a-96a) are harder, providing more stability at speed and resistance to turning, which is beneficial for downhill.
Shape: Bushings come in different shapes, primarily cone and barrel.
Cone Bushings: Tapered shape, offering a looser, more responsive turn. Often used on the top (roadside) bushing for increased agility.
Barrel Bushings: Cylindrical shape, providing more stability and resistance. Typically used on the bottom (board-side) bushing for support.
Cones and Barrels Combination: A common setup is a cone bushing on top and a barrel bushing on the bottom on each truck. This provides a balance of turnability and stability.

In my experience, experimenting with different bushing combinations is one of the most effective ways to fine-tune your longboard’s feel without buying entirely new trucks.

Choosing The Right Wheels

Longboard wheels differ significantly from traditional skateboard wheels. They are generally larger and softer, designed to roll over cracks and debris smoothly while providing ample grip.

Wheel Size (diameter)

Wheel diameter is measured in millimeters (mm) and directly impacts how the board rides.

Smaller Wheels (58mm – 65mm): Lighter and accelerate faster. They are less affected by gravity, making them suitable for freestyle tricks where quickness is key. However, they roll slower over rough terrain and don’t carry momentum as well.
Medium Wheels (65mm – 70mm): A versatile range that offers a good balance of acceleration, rolling speed, and momentum. Excellent for cruising, carving, and general all-around riding.
Larger Wheels (70mm – 80mm+): Roll faster, carry momentum longer, and roll over cracks and obstacles more easily. They provide a smoother ride but are heavier and slower to accelerate. Ideal for downhill, commuting, and long-distance pushing.

Wheel Durometer (hardness)

Durometer measures the hardness of the urethane, typically on an A-scale. Softer wheels offer more grip and a smoother ride, while harder wheels are faster and slide more easily.

Soft Wheels (75a – 85a): These wheels absorb vibrations and terrain imperfections exceptionally well, providing a comfortable and quiet ride. They offer excellent grip, reducing the likelihood of sliding out unintentionally. Ideal for cruising, commuting, and rougher pavement.
Medium Wheels (85a – 90a): A good compromise between grip and speed. They offer a smoother ride than hard wheels but are still capable of controlled slides. Suitable for freeride and some downhill.
Hard Wheels (90a+): These wheels are faster on smooth surfaces and are preferred for trick-based longboarding and downhill racing where controlled slides are essential. They transmit more vibration and can be less comfortable on rough surfaces.

Wheel Shape And Contact Patch

The shape of the wheel and the width of its contact patch (the part of the wheel that touches the ground) also influence performance.

Contact Patch Width: A wider contact patch generally provides more grip, while a narrower one can feel more agile and slide easier.
Lip Profile: Wheels can have sharp or rounded lips. Sharp lips offer more grip, while rounded lips facilitate slides.

Bearings: The Unsung Heroes

Bearings are small, circular components that fit inside your wheels, allowing them to spin freely around the truck’s axle. While often overlooked, good bearings are essential for a smooth and fast ride.

Abec Rating

The ABEC (Annular Bearing Engineering Committee) rating system (e.g., ABEC-3, ABEC-5, ABEC-7, ABEC-9) indicates the manufacturing tolerance of a bearing. Lower numbers mean looser tolerances, while higher numbers mean tighter tolerances, suggesting greater precision.

Myth: Higher ABEC ratings don’t always equate to faster or better bearings for skateboarding. For longboarding, durability and smoothness are often more important than the absolute highest ABEC rating.
Practicality: ABEC-5 bearings are generally considered a good standard for most longboarders, offering a balance of precision, speed, and durability. ABEC-7 and ABEC-9 can be faster but may also be more fragile and expensive.

Other Bearing Considerations

Materials: Most bearings are made of steel, but ceramic bearings are available. Ceramic balls are harder, lighter, and require less lubrication, resulting in lower friction and potentially higher speeds. However, they are significantly more expensive.
Built-in Spacers: Some bearings come with integrated spacers, which help align the wheel and bearing correctly, improving performance and reducing the risk of damage.
Maintenance: Keeping your bearings clean and free of dirt and debris is crucial for their longevity and performance. Regular cleaning and re-lubrication (with skate-specific lubricant) will extend their life.

Essential Components: Grip Tape, Riser Pads, And Hardware

Beyond the core components, several smaller parts contribute significantly to your longboard’s performance, safety, and overall ride quality.

Grip Tape

Grip tape is the sandpaper-like material applied to the top of the deck to provide traction for your feet.

Coarseness: Longboard grip tape is typically coarser than skateboard grip tape, offering more secure footing, especially important during aggressive riding or when standing on the board for extended periods.
Application: It’s usually applied before the trucks are mounted. Ensure it’s applied smoothly without air bubbles for optimal grip and aesthetics. Some riders opt for clear grip tape to showcase the deck’s graphics.

Riser Pads

Riser pads are plastic or rubber spacers placed between the trucks and the deck. They serve two primary purposes:

Preventing Wheel Bite: By increasing the distance between the deck and the wheels, riser pads help prevent the wheels from touching the deck during hard turns, which can cause the board to stop abruptly and throw the rider. This is especially important with larger wheels or looser trucks.
Shock Absorption: Rubber riser pads can help absorb vibrations from the road, contributing to a smoother ride.

Thickness: Riser pads come in various thicknesses, typically from 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch. The required thickness depends on your wheel size, truck height, and riding style. Larger wheels generally require thicker risers.

Hardware

Hardware refers to the nuts and bolts used to attach the trucks to the deck.

Length: Hardware comes in various lengths, usually ranging from 7/8 inch to 1.5 inches. The appropriate length depends on whether you are using riser pads.
No Risers: 7/8 inch to 1 inch hardware is typically sufficient.
With Risers: You’ll need longer hardware to accommodate the thickness of the riser pad. For every 1/8 inch of riser, add about 1/4 inch to your hardware length.
Material: Most hardware is made of steel. Some specialized hardware might use lighter materials, but standard steel hardware is durable and cost-effective.
Type: Phillips head and Allen (hex) head bolts are common. Allen heads are often preferred as they are less likely to strip.

Assembling And Customizing Your Longboard

While many longboards are sold as complete setups, understanding how to assemble or customize your board can lead to a more personalized riding experience. You can purchase individual components and build your dream longboard from scratch.

Building A Longboard From Scratch

This process involves selecting each component individually: deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, hardware, and grip tape.

Choose Your Deck: Based on your intended riding style (cruising, downhill, freestyle).
Select Trucks: Ensure they are compatible with your deck width and riding style (RKP for most longboarding).
Pick Wheels: Consider size and durometer for your desired ride feel.
Get Bearings: ABEC-5 steel bearings are a solid choice for most.
Assemble: Mount the trucks to the deck using appropriate hardware and riser pads (if needed). Install bearings into the wheels, then mount the wheels onto the truck axles. Apply grip tape to the deck.

This approach allows for ultimate customization. For instance, if you are looking for a board similar to a popular brand but want to tailor it, understanding skateboard manufacturers guide can help you find companies that offer custom options or similar construction methods.

Customization For Performance

Truck Bushing Tuning: As mentioned, swapping bushings is a common and effective way to adjust turning and stability. This is often the first modification riders make.
Wheel Swaps: If your complete board feels too slow, too grippy, or too prone to wheel bite, changing the wheels is a relatively easy upgrade.
Bearing Upgrades: Switching to ceramic bearings can offer a noticeable difference in speed and smoothness for those seeking peak performance.

Real-world Examples And Considerations

To illustrate how these components come together, let’s look at a couple of common longboard setups.

Example 1: The Commuter/Cruiser

Deck: A 38-inch pintail or a drop-through deck with a slight concave. Material: 7-ply maple with a bamboo layer for a bit of flex.
Trucks: 180mm RKP trucks (e.g., Paris V2 180mm) with medium-hard bushings (around 88a) for stability during commutes.
Wheels: 70mm, 78a durometer wheels (e.g., Orangatang Stimulus) for a smooth ride over varied pavement and good grip.
Riser Pads: 1/4 inch rubber risers to prevent wheel bite and absorb vibrations.
Bearings: Standard ABEC-5 steel bearings.

This setup prioritizes a comfortable, stable ride that can handle minor imperfections in the road, making it ideal for getting from point A to point B.

Example 2: The Downhill/Freeride Board

Deck: A symmetrical, top-mount or drop-through deck, around 36-38

What to Look for in a Longboard

Key Takeaways