How to Choose a Longboard – 7 Key Factors to Consider

Before you actually purchase a longboard a question will stick into your mind about how to choose a longboard as there are several factors to consider, such as shape, size, many types of deck, a variety of wheels, speedy and smooth bearings, and how everything will affect the ride. They are very different from each other in terms of construction and features. Longboards are designed to showcase different riding styles and skills.

Furthermore, a frequently asked question is which longboard is best for us. This question is very difficult to answer. Because everyone is different, buying a ready-made longboard or buying parts and building it yourself is exciting. Here are some guidelines to help you choose the best ride for you. It determines the correct riding style. Before buying a longboard, you should be fully informed about how to buy one that suits your skill.

Different Styles of Longboards

Before you know how to choose a longboard you must know the different types of it so that you can choose the best one that suits you the best. 

Freestyle/Dancing

Did you know that dancing longboards should be more open and wide? The answer is quite clear. You need an even longer deck for dancers.

These boards start from around 45 to 47 and up to 60 to 65. These boards are slightly longer and larger. Slightly and longer boards make it easy to flip tricks. Footwork can be easily done on larger boards. Freestyle longboards are designed in the style of skating and longboarding. Because these are all kinds of longboards, these longboards are very medium-sized in a symmetrical shape.

These are made in a flexible construction along with a crochet tail on both sides. It creates a lot of creativity in the riders and helps them perform flat-ground tricks and freestyles. It’s perfect for those who want to learn a little about everything, from carving and sliding to conquering mountain peaks. That is why it is called an ideal board for beginners.

Cruising /Commuting/Carving

Beginners should use these longboards(Cruising /Commuting/Carving) first. These longboards come in many shapes and styles. If you want to move around the city, we recommend you use these longboards.

Technically you can ride on any longboard, but some features make them easier. Drop-through longboards and top mounts with smooth cocktails are also great options for longboard setups. Drop-throughs are closer to the ground, which makes pushing them simpler. Easy to move from one longboard to another longboard 

Downhill/Freeride

The DownHill Longboard is not at all suitable for beginners. While riding it, you have to jump over the hills and turn very quickly. You must bend and frequently turn on your board to increase stability and reduce wind resistance. In freeride, you have to practice the same thing again and again. Therefore, it is not appropriate to free-ride new riders if you want to go downhill fast and race with friends.

Remember a freeride longboard like a snowboard, whether it’s conquering mountain peaks or sliding trails. It is made of a symmetrical shape and is deep set to hold your feet firmly. Due to this shape, the free-rider can perform well in turns and overcome sliding and drifting. Its wheels are usually small and medium(60 to 70 mm).

Each of these types requires a different type of board.

How to Choose a Longboard

Consider Board dimensions and shape 

• Once you’ve chosen your board’s riding style, it’s time to pay attention to the shape and size of your board. Different types of boards have different shapes and sizes. Due to their different characteristics, their riding style is also designed differently. Generally, there are two forms of board.
•  Directional
•  Symmetrical.

One is directional, and the other is symmetrical.

And both these forms are very beneficial for the novice and the expert.

The famous Pintail design is built to go in one direction just in front of it. Carver, cruiser, and downhill have almost their examples, but not all fall on top of them.

You can play this symmetrical board better if you like to do 180 slides. Freeride and Freestyle are the best examples of this longboard.

Select the best deck

Beginners should use a low-high deck because it is easier to handle and ride. It shows how easy it is to push and footbrake on flat ground. Generally, there are three types of decks, camber, flat, and rocker. The cambered deck is raised in the middle like a camel’s hump and is beneficial for touring.

The flat deck is perfectly smooth and straight. It is perfect for freestyle.

The rocker deck is bent inward and is better for freeride downhill. The longboard deck is made of bamboo and several layers of maple. That makes it strong and healthy for riders.

Select the Right Trucks

The truck is one of the most important longboard parts; it keeps the wheels in place and provides stability. Three main things help us when choosing a truck.

•  Width
• Meight
• material 

The first thing that is very important to know is the truck’s width. The width of the truck gives you stability and strength. Another thing you need to know is the height of the truck. The height should be normal and not so high that you cannot handle the longboard. The truck’s material plays a huge role in the strength of the truck. Aluminium and steel are used in its construction. Aluminum provides flexibility, and steel provides strength. Two trucks are included with a longboard, and each type has a particular function influencing your ride. These two varieties are reverse kingpin trucks, or RKPs, and traditional kingpin trucks, or TKPs.

Select the Proper Wheels

Wheels are an essential part of the longboard. These provide firmness and grip to the ride. 

• Size
•  Stiffness
•  Material

 are three important factors when buying wheels. A large wheel is needed to provide traction but not so large that it becomes difficult to handle. Wheel stiffness is a consideration and is measured with a durometer. The Durometer displays numbers from 1 to 100. Soft wheels are best for rough roads and hard for smooth roads. In the end, you should think about the wheel’s substance. Polyurethane (PU) and urethane are the most often used substances. Although PU wheels are lighter than urethane wheels, they are less gripping. Although urethane wheels are heavier, they have less grip than PU wheels.

Choose smooth Bearings

Bearings are in the form of small balls that are mounted around the wheel and help it to rotate. Each longboard uses the same 8mm 608 size bearings. How fast your longboard spins depends on your bearings. It is very important to look at the size and material of the bearing while choosing it. Firstly you should check the correct size of the bearings. The size of the bearings should be such that they fit perfectly in the truck. Another thing is the material of the bearings. Ceramic and steel bearings are mostly used, ceramic bearings are lighter, and steel bearings are heavier.

Ride-testing and adjusting

Take your longboard, try it out, and see what other important components it needs based on your experience. Then adjust the ingredients accordingly.

Construct the board

Similarly, the construction of the board is very important. You want a board made of high-quality material that gives you better stability and can meet your goals, budget, and needs.

Final verdict

The stage of buying a longboard is very complicated and considerate. There are many things you need to pay attention to before buying longboards. While buying, you will see only the simple plank of the longboard and the wheels. But you must be careful with what you buy and consider its length, width, thickness, deck, bearings, and all the other things you need. You want a longboard with features that match your riding style. So that when you invest, it will be beneficial for you. This article lists all the features of the longboard bought with your hard-earned money.