Best Longboard Bushings
What Are Bushings?
Bushings are basically colorful rings made out of urethane that are inserted into your longboard trucks to enhance your skating experience and increase control, rebound, and responsiveness. Most longboards and skateboards will have two bushings on each truck.
Why Would I Want To Buy Them?
Bushings serve two functions: One bushing controls the flexibility and springiness of the truck and make it easier to turn and steer, and the other smaller bushing helps you tighten or loosen the truck. A tight truck is better for doing tricks, whereas if you just want to cruise around a looser truck will be better.
You have to change your bushings now and then because they become less springy and responsive as time goes on, which can ruin your general longboarding experience. Luckily replacing your bushings is cheaper than most other aspects of longboard management, so it’s not a big sacrifice and will make your longboard more comfortable, easier to adjust and generally more fun to use.
Different Types of Bushings
The two most important factors when it comes to Longboard bushings is durometer (or hardness), and shape.
Shape
Longboard bushings come in two main shapes; cone and barrel. Cone bushings come in cone-like shapes and are typically used for cruising because they have a smaller mass and provide less resistance when you make a turn. They are best suited for lighter users.
Barrels come in ‘barrel’ like shapes (the top and the bottom will have the same width), they provide greater stability and they are popular for most longboard riding styles.
Durometer
The durometer refers to the amount of resistance your bushing can give you. Harder bushings provide the most resistance and are better suited to larger users, whilst softer bushings have less resistance and are better for smaller individuals. It is very important to use the right durometer for your weight, or the longboard will be harder to control and could even be dangerous. Most bushings come in at least three levels of durometer, and can be selected based on the weight they support.
Let’s Buy Some Bushings!
If you’re new to long boarding, or you just don’t want to waste time researching different bushings, don’t worry. We’ve reviewed some of the best longboard bushings with all the information you need, so read on to make a more informed choice.
Our Top 5 Picks
Bones Wheels Hardcore Bushings
Bones bushings differ from other bushings for several reasons. Whereas with most trucks only one side of the bushing is typically being used at any one time, Bones double-action truck bushings connect the two sides by harnessing a chemical bond through the HardCore insert, which makes your ride more resistant. This should make your trucks more responsive, your ride smoother, and your trucks performance generally better.
Bones HardCore bushings come in three sizes. The softest bushing has a durometer of 81A, medium size is 91A, and the hardest bushings are 96A. Bones work with all standard trucks, but you may want to check the specifics of your own trucks to make sure they’re compatible. The bones come in two sets for two trucks.
Bones HardCore bushings have positive reviews, with a 4.5 out of 5 average and 77% 5-star rating on Amazon. Customers praise these bushings smoothness and durability, with several people saying they are still working years after the initial purchase. They are particularly good for older people who may be a bit out of shape and are just getting back into longboarding, because the high-quality resistance makes it easier to learn without fear.
Riptide Cone Bushings
Riptide Cone Bushings come in a variety of colors and durometers. We are reviewing the green 97.5A, but you can also buy these bushings red, blue, and black. APS stands for Animated Polymer System, which is a type of compound bushing that gives you a solid rebound with greater predictability and is ideal for quick turns. These cones are in the top 144 longboard bushings, and they are made out of urethane which is designed to increase your trucks performance.
The bushings are .602, which means they are a great fit for Randals, Paris, Bear Grizzly 852, Calibers, and other reverse kingpin trucks.
The Riptides aren’t as well known and popular as the previous brands, but they still have generally positive reviews and a high 5-star rating on Amazon. One thing to note is that the bushings are a bit softer than they test, so if you want greater stability perhaps go a bit harder than normal. These cones are perfect for cruising, but don’t work as well as some when it comes to complicated tricks or downhill rides.
Shorty’s Blue Doh-Doh Bushings
Shorty’s Doh-Doh’s are made from high-quality urethane to increase their durability. They are made with round edges, which stops them from chipping and helps make them last even longer. Doh-Doh’s come in a variety of colors, including blue and white, and different sizes depending on your individual weight.
You can buy these Doh-Doh’s in two sizes (88A and 98A). These bushings are very firm and are great for skaters who weigh a little bit more, and they are also great for anyone who wants to do some hardcore tricks with minimal impact and maximum comfort.
Shorty’s Doh-Doh’s come in a pack of two, with each pack containing a top and bottom busher. One pack can only be used for one truck, so if you need to replace the bushings in both trucks you will need to buy two packs. These bushings generally have positive ratings, with a 63% 5-star rating on Amazon, and users praise the Doh-Doh’s toughness and stability. Shorty’s are great for cruising, but are not ideal for tricks or downhill rides, so keep this in mind before you buy and make sure your bushings match your longboarding style.
Shappy 20 Pieces Longboard Bushings
Manufactured by Shappy, a leading brand in the industry, we are happy to present a versatile and high-quality bushings kit that is comprised of 20 pieces. It comes in three different color combinations, so you shouldn’t have a tough time finding the right look for your skateboard.
This set consists of four top skateboard bushings, eight cup washers, four bottom skateboard bushings, and four truck cups. This single set will be enough for two different skateboards. Shappy bushings offer fantastic stability and will support freerides and high-speed downhill riding.
This is a perfect choice for anyone who is starting out, as these are crucial to the overall stability of the skateboarding platform. In addition to that, the 88a durometer rating ensures long-term use and resistance to bumps and cracks. It doesn’t sacrifice maneuverability, and it is great for lighter riders.
Most importantly, the installation of these bushings is a straightforward process and doesn’t require any fancy tools. Also, it includes a handy storage box in which you can put away all of the unused pieces. The only issue that we have with it is that the pivot cup is quite squeaky.
You can solve this with a few coatings of soap shavings, though. Overall, this is a set of skateboard essentials that you should consider!
DreamFire 92a Longboard Bushings
If you are looking for a versatile product that can be installed on both a skateboard and a longboard, then DreamFire has got you covered. You are looking at a set of 12 regular pieces, plus two extra that serve as replacements. The kit is available in several colors, including Blue Clear, Purple, Green, Orange, Black, Red, Red Solid, Sky Blue, White, Yellow, and Yellow Classic.
You will get four bushings (two top, two bottom), four cup washers, and two large pivot caps, as well as two medium pivot caps. In addition to that, the two extra cups will come in handy if anything goes wrong with the original ones. Keep in mind that all the pieces are made for 7-inch trucks.
The biggest advantage of this product is that it comes with a 92a durometer rating. You shouldn’t have to worry about any bumps or cracks that you may encounter on a downhill ride or long-distance cruise. Similar to the product above, it is beginner-friendly and the setup process will only take a few minutes.
Judging by our experience, the DreamFire 92a set is perfect for enthusiasts who are looking to engage in a more aggressive riding style. The only issue is that the cylindrical bushing is a bit too tall, but you can modify this.
Overall, we think of this set as a great long-term investment for anyone who rides a skateboard or a longboard with 7-inch trucks. It is perfect if you want a product that is built to last, even through the roughest and toughest tricks and stunts.
Final Thoughts
That brings us to the end of our longboard bushing reviews. We hope you have found this information helpful and you are now able to pick the right longboard bushings for your personal weight and preferred longboarding style. Want more information, or know of a great brand we haven’t mentioned? Let us know in the comments below.