Best Longboards

Are you looking for the best longboard? Are you confused about which longboard is the best for your riding style? A board that is best for carving would be absolutely horrible for downhill longboarding and vice versa.

Novice longboarders usually have no idea where to start when it comes to selecting a board that is appropriate for them. For these reasons, we have designed this guide to help you make the best decision when it comes to your longboard purchase.

Best Complete Longboards and Best Longboard Brands 2022

Best Longboards for Beginners

When first thinking about getting a longboard, there are certain characteristics you should expect the board to have.

One of the first things to look at is how durable the board is. Next, you want to examine the wheels. Big wheels that are soft and have smooth, durable bearings will help lower the learning curve for beginners. A good longboard for beginners will typically be on the longer side and somewhat wider than other boards.

Also, while the temptation exists to purchase the most expensive board out there, it may be wise for beginners to look at a longboard that is an average, or low price. These boards are guaranteed to get a new skater out of the garage and skating down the road with ease.

Best Carving Longboards

Carving longboards are designed for individuals who are looking to do more technical moves on the board. They are designed to allow the rider to curve and make tight turns in a way that simulates how surfers are able to turn and make tight curves on the water.

Best Cruising Longboards

Cruising longboards are an all-around general purpose skateboard, designed as a good source of transportation and a good way to have a little fun.

Best Downhill Longboards

These boards have been designed to allow the rider to have the most exhilarating experience while on the board. Speed is the number one characteristic that these boards bring to the table. Downhill longboards are considered to be an advanced board and may pose a challenge for newer skaters. They will work best on racetracks, skateboarding areas, and on larger hills.

Best Freeride Longboards

If you are interested in doing some of the more technical tricks that can be done on a board, you may be interested in looking at a freeride longboard. These boards are designed to allow the rider to do multiple tricks in quick succession. The tricks performed on these boards often are made up of a series of slides that are done at differing speeds.

Best Freestyle Longboards

Technical tricks can be performed with freestyle longboards. Many of the tricks that riders perform on these boards are offshoots of some of the most traditional skateboarding tricks out there. Included in this would be popping the board up off the ground and forcing the board to do multiple flips or spins while in the air.

Best Longboard Brands

Up until now in our guide, you have seen that there are many different types of longboards. Each longboard has situations that it works ideally in and others that they do not work so well in. The same principle applies to the longboard brands that are out there.

There are many good longboard brands available. Each brand of board is made for individuals of different skill levels. There are brands of longboards that are ideal for those who are starting out, and there are brands that are better for individuals who are skating at an advanced level.

Our Top 10 Most Popular Longboard Brands

• Sector 9
• Loaded
• Arbor
• Santa Cruz
• Atom
• Landyachtz
• Surf One
• Gold Coast
• Globe
• Krown

Sector 9 – Affordable and Attractive Longboards for Beginners

Sector 9 started out with a bunch of good friends hanging out in their La Jolla backyard. One of the guys would teasingly refer to the others as nine balls and the area where they all hung out as “Sector 9”. The name stuck, and a revolution in longboards began.

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Landyachtz Longboards – Unprecedented Quality and Stunning Diversity

Diversity is the name of the game where Landyachtz Longboards are concerned. These boards are so popular because just about any rider can find a suitable style of board, at a price that matches your budget.

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Loaded Longboards – A Higher Class of Longboard

When a person thinks of a high-end vehicle, one of the first names to pop into their minds is Lamborghini. They are expensive, well-built, and are known for having over-the-top features.

Well, when a person thinks about the Lamborghini equivalent of longboards, Loaded Longboards would be that board.

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Arbor Collective Longboards – a dollar spent on Arbor is a dime donated to Mother Earth

Not only does Arbor make exceptional longboards but it is also one of the most active ”green environment” brands in the world. The Arbor Day Foundation is the biggest non-profit membership organization in the world with over a million members. The goal of the Arbor Day Foundation is to promote and preserve the growth of trees and forests all over the world. Which I think we can all agree is an admirable goal. On top of their own organization, they also donate heavily to the Surfrider Foundation and Grades of Green. Surfriders aim to protect the oceans and the Grades of Green aim to educate young people on environmental issues.

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Santa Cruz – Urban Kings

Santa Cruz is well known for making excellent, yet inexpensive urban longboards for tricks and carving. It is unlikely that you will ever go to a major skate park anywhere in the world without seeing at least a few Santa Cruz boards. They are not as well-known for high-end quality boards, but they are masters of their own particular niche. Which is affordable, urban skateboards.

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Atom Longboards – Best value for money brand

Atom was founded by actual longboarding enthusiasts, which provide them with expert knowledge of how to craft a fantastic longboard. Knowing where it is okay to cut corners and where it definitely isn’t is what makes Atom such a phenomenal brand for longboard beginners or people on a budget.

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Surf One – Embodiment of the California coastal lifestyle

This brand is the real-life depiction of the California coastal culture. Based out of Santa Barbara, California, which is one of the skateboarding capitals of the world, it really shows in their products. Famous for their unwavering quality and expert knowledge of the craft, few brands are as reliable as Surf One.

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Gold Coast – Unique & Personal

Gold Coast in Australia is not just one of the biggest cities down under, but also one of the top travel locations for longboarders in the entire world. As someone who traveled to the Gold Coast for that exact reason, it is easy to see why. The city is filled with awesome skating facilities and parks, while the surrounding landscape is beautiful and has just about any kind of terrain you could possibly wish for. So it should come as no surprise that Gold Coast is also among the best longboarding brands in the world.

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Globe – The old guys on the block

Founded in 1985, Globe is definitely one of the most experienced brands on the block. Which is why they don’t really specialize in one particular type of board, but rather have something for everyone.

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Krown – The budget-friendly

Krown has never hidden the fact that they aim to make quality skateboards for people on a budget, and they do that very well. They are pretty much the budget version of Gold Coast, as they make every single accessory and gimmick related to longboarding themselves, but are more budget-friendly.

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Longboards for Girls

Cori Schumacher, Jennifer Smith, and a whole host of other female longboarders have proven one thing. When it comes to bombing the big hills, cruising through the neighborhood and shredding, girl longboarders are just as dominating of a force as their male counterparts.

Because of this, they are looking for longboards that fit their style, fit the attitude they bring to the sport, and feel right under their feet.

With more and more girls becoming interested in longboarding the question could be raised, is there a girls’ longboard?

Breaking the Myth of the “Longboards for Girls”

So, are there longboards that are better for girls? Absolutely not. In the same way, that guy boarders have their own style and wish to achieve differing goals while on their board, female riders are going to have their own style and different objectives they wish to achieve while on their boards.

This means that no board is going to be the perfect board for girls who are first starting out. That being said, there are some characteristics that all longboarders, including the gals, are going to want to look at when selecting a board.

If you are looking for the best overall longboard for girls, stop your search here because you will not find it. However, if you are looking for the best longboard for you, “seek and ye shall find”.

Look for a board that matches your style, your attitude, and your experience level, and you will find it.

Best Longboards Reviews

Quest Super Cruiser 

Atom Pintail Longboard

 Volador Freeride Longboard

Minority Downhill Maple Longboard

BOCIN Freeride Longboard

Quest Totem Longboard

Atom Drop Deck Longboard

LAKVEE Longboard

YOCAHER Aluminium Drop Through 

DB Longboards Dagger Longboard

Magneto Longboard

Arbor Genesis Premium Board

Arbor Longboard Complete Axis KOA

Loaded Tan Tien Flex 2 Complete Longboard Skateboard

Loaded Dervish Sama Flex 1 Complete Longboard Skateboard

Krown Rasta Freestyle Elite

White Wave Bamboo Board

Things To Consider When Choosing a Longboard

Up until this point, we have briefly reviewed the different styles of longboards available, their usage, and the different companies that produce these longboards. Now we are going to focus our attention on how you, as a customer, can choose the right longboard setup for yourself. The following are things you may want to consider.

Ability Level

The first question you going to have to ask yourself is, where is my skill level at? As you have seen in this guide, there is an endless variety of boards when it comes to styles and setups. Each setup is designed to match the skill level of the rider, with the hope of making their riding experience enjoyable and easy.

This means that a newer rider is going to want to make sure that the shape of the board they purchase, the mounting type, and the flex of the board is suited to their skill level.

Riding Styles

Something that hits new riders as a surprise is that even with longboarding, there are different styles of riding a board.

For example, someone might just want to cruise around their neighborhood or skate around their school campus to and from class. Or another individual might want to skate on a drainage ditch, at a park, or dive down a hill at full speed.

Each one of these approaches is going to be made easier by using a different style of board. So prior to purchasing a board, you need to take into consideration where you live. For example, a person who lives in Apple Valley, Minnesota is not going to be bombing too many hills. Conversely, an individual who lives in Arizona might find themselves hitting a mixture of hills, flatlands, and everything in between.

Carving/Cruising: Carving and cruising are all based on the ability to carve your way down streets that slope gradually.

Hustling your way at full speed through the crowd on your way to class, and going the distance using pushes on flat land or ground that has a very slight slope.

This type of boarding is what most beginners do when they borrow their friend’s board for the first time.

Downhill: Downhill longboarding is about one thing. That thing is speed. The goal is to bomb down the hill as fast as you can and at the same time maintain your control over the board.

Usually, downhill riders are going to be crunched up or in a tucked in position in order to minimize wind resistance. Controlling your speed while you are going downhill can be a challenge.

If it is not done correctly, it can actually damage your board. So this style of riding is not best for newbies.

Freeride: The goal here is to ride in a semi-hilly environment with a lot of speed, while at the same time performing tricks up slides, on curbs, and other parts of the sidewalk.

It takes a lot of control to be able to freeride, and so this style is usually reserved for expert riders.

Freestyle: When it comes to freestyle, everything is an open game. Freestylers will use technical skills like sliding, while at the same time doing board tricks, dancing around, and just being goofy.

This style of riding is perfect for anyone who is just learning how to ride a board and who wants to get a better mastery of the board. This is extremely enjoyable for advanced riders.

Board Shapes

Most boards fall into two basic shapes. Both can be used by experts and novices at the same time.

Directional: These boards are designed to just go in one direction. The best example of a directional board is a Carver/cruiser board, downhill board, and freestyle boards.

Twin (Symmetrical): These boards are designed to look and to feel the same regardless of the direction that they are being used in. They are perfect for 180 degrees slides and are often used in freeriding and freestyle.

Deck Styles

Deck styles greatly influence the stability of the board. It also dictates how easy it is to stop the board and how easy it is to push along on flat ground.

A general rule of thumb is that the higher the board is off the ground, the less stable it will be, and the more work it will require in order to push the board and to foot break. The reverse is true with a lower board. The following are examples of deck styles:

Top Mount: Top mount is the traditional shape for longboards, and it is the least expensive to purchase. While having less stability due to the top mount design, these boards are more nimble and have increased turn leverage. They are good for cruising, downhill, freeride, and carving.

Drop Through: On these boards, the trucks are mounted on the board, and as a result, the deck height is lower. The boards are more stable, and riders experience less fatigue while pushing the board and breaking. This style is excellent for long-distance riding.

Drop Deck: The decking of these boards is nontraditional in that through the molding process they are designed so that the rider’s feet sit below the truck areas on the board. As a result, the board’s center of gravity is lowered and the rider has less fatigue when braking and pushing. These boards are perfect for downhill and freeride.

Double Drop: These boards are designed to get the rider’s feet as close to the ground as possible. This is done by incorporating both drop through and drop deck styles. These boards are used for downhill.

Board (shape) Features

Every single board has some of the basic features, including wheels, cutouts, and kick tails. The following is a description of these:

Kick Tail: These are what you are going to see on the end of both sides of a regular skateboard. It is a slightly inclined area that allows the rider to lift the board off the ground and do tricks. These are a must on all freestyle boards.

Wheel Cut-Outs/Wheel Wells: Both of these features are designed to prevent wheel bite. This is when the wheel comes into contact with the board when the rider cuts corners too hard. Cut-outs provide the most versatility because there is no way for the board to make contact with the wheel.

Concave: In addition to the grip tape, the concave is what helps the rider stay on the board. The edges or rails of the board are a little higher than the board center. This allows the rider’s feet to have the greatest contact with the board. This feature will be seen prominently in downhill and freeride boards.

W-Concave: Similar to the concave, this feature helps the rider keep their feet on the board. Because of the shape of the concave, it is like having two concaves on the board. This feature will be found on expensive downhill and freeride boards.

Board Length/Wheelbase

This feature plays a role in the stability of the board. Boards with a longer wheelbase will have more stability at higher speeds. The disadvantage is that they cannot turn as fast as boards with a shorter wheelbase.

Board Construction

Veneer: The most common and the least expensive style of board construction is where multiple thin sheets, referred to as veneer, are glued together and stacked on top of each other. Then they are pressed into the shape of the board. The number of veneers that are used is going to differ depending on the styling and maker of the board. However, it is generally thought that the more veneers the board has, the stiffer and less flexible it will be.

Bamboo: Some boards are constructed using bamboo laminates. In this process, a sheet of bamboo is put in between fiberglass or some other composite material. The result is a board that is medium to lightweight and has medium flex.

Carbon fiber: The third style of construction is boards that are made of composite materials, such as carbon fiber. These boards are more expensive, but they are extremely lightweight and extremely stiff. They are perfect for downhill riders.

Board Flex

Soft Flex:

• Excellent shock absorption
• Loss of stability at high speeds
• Perfect for mellow cruising and some tricks

Medium Flex:

• Spring-like feel that adds energy to tricks
• Relatively stable at high speeds
• Good shock absorption
• Perfect for carving and for commuting

Stiff Flex:

• Extreme stability at high speeds
• Unforgiving on bumpy roads and cracked pavements
• Perfect for bombing hills and riding very fast

Longboard Trucks

Longboard trucks are the part of the board that attaches the wheels to the decking.

Unlike normal skateboards, the kingpin on the longboard trucks is inverse, allowing the longboard to have improved side to side movement and better stability.

The nut on the kingpin can be adjusted in order to provide a stiffer or looser feel when turning.

The longboard truck is broken into four different parts, including the kingpin. The remaining parts are:

• Base Plates: This is the part of the truck that is connected directly to the board using hardware bolts.
• Hangers: This is the part of the truck that acts as an axle by pivoting on the base plate. It is also what holds the wheels in place.
• Bushings: Bushings are rubber pads that sit between the kingpin, the base plate, and hangers on the truck. Each truck is going to have two bushings. The harder the bushing is, the more difficult it is going to be for the rider to turn. However, stiffer bushings will provide more return energy.

Check out our longboard trucks buyers guide.

Longboard Wheels

The wheels on a longboard are one of the most important components when it comes to the performance of the board. They are between the rider and the road. They affect the speed and the cornering ability of the board. The different factors that affect the performance of the wheels are the following:

Shape: Longboard wheels come in two shapes. They can have lips that are round or lips that are square. Rounded lips are usually seen on a normal skateboard. They provide less traction through turns. This equates to a faster ride, and it is easier to slide using these types of wheels. Freestylers and freeriders usually install these on their boards.

The second style is square lip wheels. The edge of the wheel is squared at a 90-degree angle. This means that the wheel has improved contact with the road and has increased traction and sliding resistance. These wheels are perfect for bombing downhill or for cruising/carving.

Width and Height: Oftentimes referred to as the diameter of the wheel, this is the distance between where the wheel touches the ground and the top of the urethane. This distance is often measured in millimeters. The larger the wheel, the smoother the ride is going to be and the less amount of effort the rider will have to use. Conversely, acceleration with larger wheels is slower.

Durometer: This is the gauge of how hard the wheel is. The hardness of a wheel is going to be listed in its name. For example, the name of the wheel will be listed followed by a measurement in millimeters, which will be followed by the letter A or B. The letter A signifies a softer wheel, while the B signifies a wheel that is made of a harder plastic.

The softer the wheel, the more traction you get. However, the ride will be slower. The harder the wheel, the less friction you have. You can travel faster, but the road will be bumpy.

Core: The core is the center of the wheel. They can be divided into three different categories, center set, offset, and side set.

• Center set is the most common core on skateboarding wheels. It is symmetrical and allows the rider to flip the wheels once one side becomes worn down.
• Offset cores are a little off-center and a little closer to the inside of the wheel. This allows the wheel to have a good balance between grip and slide ability.
• Sideset cores are located very close to the upper-lip of the wheel. Because of this, the rider can slide easily. The only downside is that these wheels cannot be flipped once they get worn down.

Check out our longboard wheels buyers guide.

Bearings: The bearings are what make the wheels spin. The standard rating for bearings is ABEC. The higher the rating, the faster your wheels are going to spin. Proper maintenance on bearings is essential because they play an important role in the performance and durability of your board. Bearings should be cleaned and lubricated after every 50 hours of riding.

Check out our longboard bearings buyers guide.

Longboarding vs Skateboarding: What’s the difference?

A lot of people write of longboarding and skateboarding as the same thing and it is easy to see why. To the untrained eye, it seems incredibly similar, but the truth is that there is a lot of important differences between the two. Allow me to explain.

Shape & Size

This is the most obvious way that longboards differentiate themselves from skateboards. Whereas a skateboard is usually between 28-34 inches in length and 7-10 inches wide, a longboard is much bigger and is typically between 35-60 inches long and 9-10 inches wide. The difference is size is more than just a visual difference as it creates very different boarding experiences. The longer and wider design of the longboard make it a lot better to balance with and easier to maintain control at high speeds. While the more compact skateboard makes tricks and carving a lot more manageable.

Skateboards also have a very distinct upwards design on both ends, which is also with the intention of making tricks such as kickflips and ollies easier to perform. Whereas longboards have many different shapes such as pintail, drop deck, etc. All of which have one thing in common, 2 narrow strips at each end which makes the board easier to freestyle cruise and balance on.

Wheels, Trucks & Deck

Longboards have softer and more flexible wheels and trucks, which makes them much more efficient at absorbing cracks and obstacles on the road. The deck is also broader and more flexible which makes cruising a lot more comfortable and sharp turns a lot easier. The wheels are also bigger which again add to a smoother ride.

Skateboards have smaller and harder wheels and trucks, while this makes it very vulnerable to holes and cracks in the road. It also makes the board much easier to do tricks with.

Bottom Line

Skateboards are far superior to performing tricks and carving but longboards are superior in almost any other way. They are more comfortable and create a much smoother experience. Longboards also handle high speeds and obstacles much better, which is why it is the choice of most professional downhill skaters. So if you want to master tricks such as the ollie, you are most likely better off with a shortboard, but if you want to cruise, commute, and everything in between, the longboard is the right choice for you.

Longboard Protective Gear

Because of the inherent safety concerns connected with using a longboard, it is wise for all riders, but especially newer riders, to use safety gear.

Full-Face Helmet: This type of helmet is designed for high impacts and will protect the entire head. Individuals use this helmet when downhill racing.

Helmet: Designed to protect the rider’s head, the helmet is an essential part of longboard equipment. If not the most important one.

Check out our longboard helmet buyers guide.

Leathers: Individuals who are serious about doing downhill racing will need to purchase a leather suit. In fact, the majority of professional races require the use of racing leathers.

Pads: There is protective padding that is designed to protect every part of the skater’s body. It is a good idea to get padding to protect your elbows, your knees, your wrists, and the palms of your hands.

Pucks: These durable pieces of plastic are designed to be attached to slide gloves and provide your hands with additional protection.

Slide Gloves: These gloves will protect the rider’s hand and allow them to actually put their hand on the ground while riding at high speeds. There are many tricks that can be performed using these gloves.

Check out our longboard slide gloves buyers guide.

Q&A

Frequently asked questions by our community.

Q: Which longboard is your absolute favorite overall?

A: Well, that is a hard question to answer really. Firstly, it would depend on which type of boarding I am looking to do on that particular day. With a personal collection of almost 50 boards, it is hard to name one specific longboard. However, I do ride my Icarus Longboard from Loaded a little more often than any other. It is a bit on the pricey side but well worth the cost without a doubt and has been with me for a very long time.

Q: What are pintail longboards good for in particular?

A: The pintail shape is basically just a way to avoid wheel biting, but if I had to name one type of longboarding where I personally enjoy pintails, it would be for regular cruising.

Q: What is your favorite spot for longboarding in the world? 

A: That is an excellent question, but not one I can give just one answer to. I am in love with the Gold Coast in Australia and I try to go there at least once a year, it truly has everything one could wish for. I also love California, the culture at Santa Monica and Santa Barbara just screams ”longboarding”. However, my favorite adrenaline filled downhill adventure has been in Austria, you simply cannot compete with the hills and mountains there. If I had to recommend just one, it would probably be the Gold Coast, as it has something for every type of skater.

Q: What type of board sport is your favorite, outside of longboarding?

A: Definitely surfing! Surfing is actually how I got started with longboarding, as I needed a way to practice my board control and didn’t live nearby any good surfing spots at the time. However, I quickly found myself enjoying my time on a longboard more than I ever thought I would, and the rest is history. Kitesurfing is also hella fun!

Q: My son wants a longboard for his birthday, do you have any recommendations and how do I make sure he is safe when riding it.

A: Totem from Quest is always a sure-fire hit among beginners, and won’t set you back too much financially. Safety-wise, it is simply important to at least get a helmet and maybe also some knee pads and gloves. As long as you don’t let him ride down very steep hills those things will be more than enough to keep him safe.

Q: Which material do you think is the best for longboards?

A: Personally I prefer bamboo boards, the mixture between fiberglass and bamboo makes them incredibly sturdy while still being decently flexible and lightweight. Carbon fiber is probably the strongest and is better for more high-pressure situations, such as downhill racing.

Honorable Mentions – Other Boards Worth Considering

When making a buying guide such as this, there are bound to be a couple of great products that don’t quite make it onto the list but still did very well in the testing phase.

Ten Toes Emporium Zed Bamboo Cruiser

A very nice beginner board that almost made our list. However, it is ultimately a budget board and roughly in the same price class as the Quest Cruiser, which it simply cannot compete with. I would say that this is a little better looking but overall it performs slightly worse than the Quest Cruiser. By no means does this mean that I wouldn’t recommend this longboard, it is a very inexpensive beginner board with a fantastic look. I would recommend the board from Quest first, but if you really like the look of this one (which I wouldn’t blame you for) it is still a great option for the novice boarder looking for a great deal.

Aeroactive 45-inch Cruiser

A very unique looking longboard made of decent quality maple. This is once again a budget board, which is why it didn’t quite make our list. It was just a better fit for our list of the best inexpensive longboards. This cruiser is suited for you if you are on a budget but still want a very fast board. While the quality is not comparable to many of our other picks, it is one of the fastest budget boards on the market and deserves an honorable mention.

Xtreme Free Drop Through

While ”Free” are not exactly a famous longboard brand or even among our favorites, this one was a pleasant surprise. The upside to buying from smaller brands is that you sometimes get a lot of value for your money, which is really the case here. Both deck and bearings are extremely durable and the board is decently smooth to ride. However, the big downside is the lack of flex in the deck which is really apparent when riding it on bumpy terrain. It suddenly goes from being very smooth to a very rough ride. So whether I can recommend this board really comes down to where you plan on using it. If you live in an area with bad infrastructure it is probably not a good choice for you. Still, a great value for money purchase that is worth considering.

Final words

As you can see, there is a lot to take into consideration when selecting the proper longboard. However, if a rider finds the right board, they are going to have an experience that is beyond compare.

The joy and the sense of freedom that a rider experiences while on their longboard cannot be compared to anything. Our final words of advice would be, take your time, do your research, stay safe, and most of all, enjoy the ride.