Some people believe that skateboards are simply that skateboards. They ignore the technical details, the fact that one skateboard appears smaller compared to the other, and the fact that many skateboards have varying lengths, widths, noses, tails, and other characteristics. On the plus side, it is why I am here.
We’ll examine the type of skateboard available. You don’t need to seek further if you’re wondering what kind of skateboard to buy because this article will provide you with all the information you need. There are many various components that make up a skateboard, but as a prospective skateboarder, you should be aware that the skateboard deck is the most crucial component. From its beginnings, skateboarding has advanced significantly.
Surfboards or wooden boards were used as wheels by the earliest skateboarders. They could then surf on land during calm beach days. A skater utilizes a skateboard, which is a section of wood or synthetic material mounted to the second pair of axles with a maximum of four wheels, to get about or do tricks. Skateboarding uses your feet to propel it, however, there are also electronic skateboards that don’t need to be kicked or pumped. Therefore, let us assist you in identifying the kind of skateboard that best suits your requirements.
But first, let’s look at the components of a skateboard before we explore the many sorts of skateboards.
Components of a Skateboard
1. Deck:
Your feet rest on the skateboard deck, which is made of wood or composite material and on which the trucks are mounted. The top side of both the deck often features grip tape, which is put in various ways depending on the skater’s taste, to guarantee that your shoes don’t slip off the board. Skateboards typically include artwork or simple designs on the bottom. The skater’s height, weight, shoe size, and preferred style of riding all affect the deck size.
2. Trucks:
The trucks are the axles that support the wheels, and each truck is fastened towards the board having four bolts. You may control how freely or firmly the trucks travel by altering the kingpin and the pressure applied to the bushings. This is calibrated towards the board and rider and then used to determine how simple or difficult it is to make turns. The size of your wheels and the way you wish to ride will decide the height of our Skateboard.
3. Wheels:
Each skateboard has two wheels upon every truck for a total of four wheels. Street and trick skaters utilize smaller (50–53 mm) wheels. Big wheels (60 mm or more) are really for longboards and tougher terrain; medium wheels (54-59 mm) operate well on longitudinal (vert) ramps and are ideal alternatives for novices.
The wheels are measured using the ABEC rating sizes 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, well with higher numbers denoting better quality and precision—and revolve through bearings (two each wheel for something like a total of eight per board). Additionally, skateboard wheels come in a variety of toughness ratings, with light wheels being preferable for faster skating and downhill skating while hard wheels seem to be better for tricks.
4. Grip Tape
Do you remember the skateboard’s top layer of sandpaper? Your grip tape is that. And the increased traction you get when riding comes from this sticky sandpaper. There are many boards that function just fine without grip tape, even though it’s essential for some types of skateboarding. It becomes little from the type of board users ride.
5. Risers
Skateboards may include a rubber or plastic pad in between trucks as well as the deck. Risers are useful even if they are not necessary for every board arrangement. You may install risers to our skateboard to keep the wheels from contacting the deck’s edges. Additionally, risers provide extra cushioning to absorb shock when doing feats.
20. Different Type of Skateboard.
When you start searching for the best new skateboard, you’ll soon realize how many different kinds of skateboards are available. With each variety serving a particular function.
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Which of the several skateboard varieties is best for you? Even while you may appreciate the way one board looks, it might not be the right choice for you. And knowing that is crucial before you compete for a new arrangement. So, to assist you in making a decision below is a list of 20 distinct types of skateboards. Everything from the common street skateboard to an egg-shaped skateboard to off-road models.
Skateboarding comes in a lot of varieties. If you’ve visited a skate park, you’ve probably seen that many people use street boards to perform skateboard stunts. A cruiser board or longboard is likely being used by anyone you see cruising down the street while riding a bike or strolling through a park. The only significant difference in a skateboard’s anatomy is its specification.
We won’t get too far into the many varieties of skateboards. We will simply deal with the essentials. As a novice, there aren’t many things that might pique your attention or affect your choice of board. The majority of new skateboarders are either drawn to longboards, cruisers, or popsicle skateboards.
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1. Street Skateboards
Nowadays, when people think of skating, they probably picture street skateboarders stair-jumping, grinding park benches, etc. Additionally, we may thank Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game series for making street skating popular.
However, you cannot utilize any skateboard you come across if you are seeking one that is ideal for the concrete jungle. You must choose the ideal configuration. And the size of your deck comes first.
You need a normal deck that is between 7 and 8 inches long. You must ensure that your board is the right length and even from end to end. Due to the equal distribution, which resembles a popsicle stick, these boards are sometimes referred to as “popsicle skateboards.”
2. Double Kick Skateboards
Search for the double-kick skateboards if you want to accomplish stunts that lift their board off the ground. When we say a skateboard has a double kick, we indicate that these ends of something like the deck are raised rather than flat.
You can grind rails, execute tricks that a fully flat board cannot, and pop your board off of the ground by adding curves at the ends of your board.
Double-kick skateboards come with either flat or steeply concaved decks. When performing tricks, you’ll have more leverage on boards that have a steep concave.
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3. Electric Skateboards
How about a skateboard with which you can ride with ease? i.e., don’t push your board much. Then an electric skateboard could be the right choice for you.
Electric is the thing to choose if you travel on your board or like to feel the wind in your hair. These skateboards might be more expensive, but they are made to endure longer than regular skateboards. However, you don’t usually ride electric skateboards around the park or pull off tricks. Consequently, you won’t have to stress as much about damaging your vehicle.
4. Classic Longboard Skateboards
Classic longboards are really a great option for people looking for a skateboard that is simple to ride and entertaining to use.
Longboards are broader, and have so much more flexible trucks, but aren’t longer than other shorter varieties of skateboards – it’s in the name! Longboards also seem smoother when riding since their wheels are softer.
The goal while creating the original longboard skateboard was to create a board that felt as similar to surfing as possible but without the waves. Classic longboards are quite a flexible choice for both inexperienced and experienced skaters due to their easy riding style. You could even hang ten from them since they are that sturdy.
5. Slalom Skateboards
Different types of skateboards are required for various skating techniques. Additionally, some board types work better for slalom skating than others. But if skating is new to you, you might not know what slalom is.
In the 1960s, slalom skating emerged as a downhill racing discipline. In an effort to reach the finish line first, these skaters would compete over steep hills and mountainside routes.
Skaters race through an obstacle course while for while each run to every obstacle they encounter to make it more difficult. Slalom skateboards must be quick and simple to control a result. This calls for decks that are roughly the size of longboards, but with larger, softer wheels, and flexible trucks.
6. Pintail Longboards
It’s not just aesthetic; you may change a debt’s performance by changing its shape. The deck layout of pintail longboards maximizes cruising and carving performance. So you can cruise about town, go at fast speeds, and even blast steep slopes.
Wheel biting is one of the drawbacks of various skateboards. Additionally, pintail longboards include features that help avoid tire contact with the surface. As a result, the deck comes to a point.
Pintail boards feature trucks that are positioned near the front and rear of the board in addition to a distinctive deck design. When cycling, this feature enables more fluid mobility. Consequently, if you desire a flexible longboard that has a surfboard-like feel and appearance
7. Twin Tip Longboards
Try out such a twin-tip longboard when you desire to really push in the carving or get up speed. Skateboards with twin tips have a large center and nearly identically small tails and noses. You can carve deeply without being concerned about wheel bite if your tail and nose are small. Additionally, when traveling at high speeds, the broad center keeps you steady.
Twin tip boards get a truck configuration that installs by passing through the deck in addition to the deck form. Unlike other board designs, which have trucks attached to the deck’s underside. Twin-tip longboards seem to be the ideal sort of skateboard among speed freaks because of all these qualities.
8. Double Drop Longboards
Skateboard decks may be lowered for increased stability and speed. The finest downhill longboards, therefore, enable the skater to possess a reduced center of gravity. The only issue is that when the deck becomes too low, the wheels will be struck. Additionally, slowing down implies striking the wheels.
Double-drop longboards exist to address the issue. The nose and tail of double drop longboards are raised over the middle of the deck. Your center of gravity is also lower as a result of the greater drop, which gives you an advantage for a more stable ride.
9. Fishtail Skateboards
The fishtail is one of the skateboards that are more widely recognized. You may significantly lower the likelihood of wheel bite by shaping the tail into a fishtail. The breadth of a fishtail deck is an additional advantage. You can ride more steadily if the board is broader. Therefore, skaters using fishtail skateboards benefit from improved heel and toe control.
10. Cruiser Skateboards
The cruiser skateboard is unquestionably one of the most adaptable forms of skateboarding. They differ from many ordinary boards in that they feature wider decks. They do, however, also feature larger, softer wheels. Therefore, combining those two elements results in a really comfortable riding experience.
The best way to get around town is to ride a cruiser board since they are simple to store when not in use. And they can easily transport you to your desired location.
While starting on a cruiser board, beginning skaters may discover their balance and develop their confidence.
11. Mini Cruiser Skateboards
There are even smaller varieties of skateboards available, though cruiser skateboards are enjoyable to ride and convenient to carry. The small cruiser skateboard is interesting. A cruiser has all its charm but in a more compact package. Now, don’t be fooled by the size; they aren’t toys. And they have a lot of punch. Mini boards might be more difficult to ride because they lack the additional stability of a larger board.
Mini cruiser boards are generally harder to ride than regular cruiser boards because they are more reactive. A micro cruiser board, however, is perfect for kids who are just learning to skate because of its modest size.
12. Onewheel Skateboard
The Onewheel skateboard is one of the newest styles of skateboarding on the market. Although it appears to be self-balancing from a distance, the physics of its design is dubious. The Onewheel board has an electric motor that propels users forward and backward in accordance with their balance.
The board will therefore drive you in the direction you are leaning, assuming it is the way you wish to go. Larger wheels also eliminate the need for balancing maneuvers. This is not a unicycle. The wheel skateboard makers also provide a new skateboard design.
13. Off-Road Skateboards
An off-road skateboard might grip a variety of surfaces by having huge wheels with thick treads. Off-road skateboards are excellent for riding through trails, dirt, grass, and even BMX tracks even if you won’t be able to do standard skateboard tricks on them. Finally, you may change your wheels if you wish to return to skating on the streets. So, with minimal effort, you may choose between two different types of skating.
14. Skateboards with carving
Have you ever witnessed a surfer turning quickly on a surfboard? The same trick can be done on a carved skateboard, but no waves are required. Carving might well be accomplished in a pool or up a slope using an old-school skateboard. But today, you might carve on the majority of boards owing to advancements in wheels.
However, longboard skateboards as well as other boards with huge wheels as well as a large deck area are the greatest options for carving skateboards. You may apply the action to various kinds of boards once you’ve gotten the hang of it.
15. Dollar-store skateboards
The moniker “penny boards” originated with the current rebirth of this skateboard type, even though the plastic skateboard’s shape goes back to the 1970s. The Penny Skateboards firm produced the penny boards which are famous to us today in 2010. Consequently, the name came to represent the board. The diminutive size and plastic technicolor boards are what distinguish penny boards. 22″ is what we mean by little.
The top of penny boards’ decks has a “waffle” texture. You may thus ride them without using any additional grip assistance. These boards, however, are slender and compact. i.e., they are at best unstable. Therefore, more energetic skaters have the option of increasing their penny setup’s grip to secure their footing. The penny board style continues to be popular despite the fact that many hardcore skaters debate its position within the greater skating community.
16. Nickel Skateboards
There is a fix for individuals who like plastic penny boards but dislike how little they are. The nickel skateboard is now available. The nickel board measures 27′′, making it somewhat taller than a cent. All the characteristics of something like a penny are there along with a bigger frame, including the crazy colors, plastics deck, and waffles grip.
Furthermore, the extra length doesn’t cost a fortune. In fact, nickel skateboards are available for less than $100. Nickel boards are well-liked on college campuses due to their affordable pricing. Nickel boards are indeed the best option for plastic skateboards if you’re just starting out in skateboarding.
17. Freestyle Skateboards
Then, freestyle skaters frequently add skid plates to the ends of something like the nose and tail. You may add skid plates for additional safety because so many tricks call for hopping and sliding on the board’s tips. The size of the wheels is another way that freestyle skateboards differ from street skateboards.
The wheels on a freestyle board are a little broader in order to accommodate two bearings for each wheel. To prevent the trucks from making touch with the ground, such bearings remain offset from the center. Many tricks in freestyle skating call for the skater to turn the board on its side. As a result, the board makes touch with both the ground in places that other skating techniques avoid.
18. Steep Kick Skateboards
When completing ground tricks, a skateboard with a sharp kick tail produces a powerful “pop.” However, a steep kick requires more work since it is delivered from a greater distance off the ground, resulting in a weaker pop. Therefore, some skateboarders like steep kick skateboards, while others would prefer a flatter board.
However, when traveling at high speeds, riders can feel where they are on the board thanks to sharp kick tails, which makes tracking simple. A steep kick will be useful if you’re looking for a pool skateboard.
19. Eggboard Skateboards
Eggboards, which measure 9 inches, are some of the smallest tiny boards available. However, the egg board’s breadth makes them sturdy and a good option for skateboards. Even downhill skating can be done on egg boards because of the added stability the width offers.
An eggboard is one of the smallest skateboard varieties with the most distinctive design, but it also has the most comprehensive feel. You can quickly put your egg board away in a bag or beneath your desk after using it to drive about town.
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20. Vert Skateboards
Everything about skating vert revolves around the air. Additionally, the more and more air you can achieve on a vert skateboard, the greater the skate ramps are. Additionally, you move faster on slopes that are steeper. A vert skateboard also has wider decks and bigger wheels to prevent crashes.
By practically elevating you to greater heights, vert skateboarding allows you to advance flip techniques. Vert ramps are seen at skate parks. Although park skateboarding might be difficult to locate, vert ramps are often only seen in dedicated skate parks.
21. Downhill longboards:
The dimensions of a downhill longboard are the same as those of a conventional longboard, but the deck’s height is reduced. These boards include slots to allow for higher wheels that employ shorter trucks and rise over the deck height. Many feature drop-through decks, which have holes so that the truck’s top may rest higher than the board, further reducing the overall height.
With this combo, you can go forward to 45 miles an hour on something like a downhill track while keeping it down to the ground.
22. Twin tip longboards
Downhill longboards and twin tip longboards are almost similar. These skateboards are designed with down stances and wheel cutouts. A downhill board might have a nose and tail that are formed differently from the opposite end, in contrast to a twin tip board that is similar on both sides.
23. Mini cruiser skateboards
These boards combine the features of a cruiser with a mini, giving you larger, softer wheels and a smaller, narrower deck. Additionally, because of the stability provided by the bigger wheels and the appropriate size for younger riders, they are useful for learning to ride, especially for kids.
24. Nickel- or penny-sized skateboards
These plastic shortboards are portable, lightweight, and shorter than typical short boards. While there are street and mini cruiser varieties, most are in the shape of an old school board.
25. Carve Skateboard
Due to the deck’s resemblance to a little surfboard, this style of skateboard is very well-liked among surfers. Skateboarders may achieve any desired speed because of the carved skateboard’s similarity to a surfboard in behavior. To accomplish that, push the board forward and backward as though you were surfing the waves.
The front trucks’ ability to tilt and the wheels’ capability to shift directions more than a normal skateboard’s make this mobility feasible. Since you must first learn how to keep balance on the board, these are not the greatest boards for beginners.
How Should I Select a Skateboard?
There are several considerations to take into account when selecting your skateboard because there are so many various types and designs available. 1. Riding style: Distinct boards are required for various skating techniques. Begin with something like a shortboard and then focus on your options if you enjoy performing tricks they’re at the skatepark with your pals. A longboard is ideal if you want to go great distances and engage in more street carving.
2. Shoe size:
Choose a deck that is 8 to 8.5 inches broad if your shoe size is 9.5 or greater. A full-sized regular skateboard with something like a 7.5-inch deck width will fit you if your adult shoe size is at least 8. A deck that is 7.25-7.375 inches broad can be used with shoes in sizes 6 to 8. And a 7-inch-wide deck may fit shoes with a size 2 to 5 sole. A deck of 6.5–6.75 inches should be used for a size 1 or less.
3. Usage:
Consider how frequently and where you will ride your skateboard before purchasing one of the many boards available. Consider a tiny board or another travel-friendly option if you’re taking a vacation and want to ride a skateboard when you get there.
4. Your height:
If you are 5 feet, 3 inches, and taller, a full-sized normal skateboard is ideal for you. Skaters between 3 feet, 5 inches to 4 feet, 4 inches high can purchase a mini-sized skateboard with something like a deck that is 7 inches wide, while those under 3 feet, 5 inches tall can purchase a micro-sized skateboard with a deck that is 6.5 to 6.75 inches wide.
Which Skateboard Type Is Best for Beginners?
If you’re a newbie and want to learn more about a particular board, this is the place to look. Before you can decide what is best for you, there are far too many elements to consider, considerations to make, and minutiae to sift through.
Your choices, as well as your finances and environment. Before moving on to the technical considerations, you should first choose what you want. Choose a longboard if you enjoy casual cruising. The Popsicle board is perfect for you if you enjoy doing risky acts. Not a huge thing, really. Skateboarding is meant to be enjoyable. Have fun determining your goals.
Final Thoughts
There are skateboard varieties for every style, whether you’re searching for a downhill skateboard, old school board, or a park skateboard. Finding a board that works for you is now possible since you are aware of the several distinct varieties available.
Do you skate frequently or are you unfamiliar with the sport? In the comments section below, let us know which sort of skateboards you like most. We value reader feedback greatly.