Types of Longboards

Longboarding is a great sport. You can move around leisurely, you can bomb down hills, or you can do freestyle tricks. But, when it comes to longboards, the world is your oyster. With that being said, just like there are different bicycles for different purposes, there are different types of longboards for various purposes.

Longboards are designed for specific purposes, and this is what this article discusses. There are five main types of longboards, and we’ll cover them here.

The Carving Longboard

One of the most challenging types of longboarding is carving. Carving most closely resembles ocean surfing. It looks very artistic and elegant, yet is also extremely hard. It’s a very technical type of longboarding.

This type of longboarding is all about curves and speed. One thing about carving is that riders can maintain high speeds without pushing much, even on flat ground. Therefore, a primary feature of a carving longboard is that they have ample wheel clearance to allow them to take turns at high speeds.

This type of longboard has a pretty decent amount of flex in the deck, allowing for energetic follow-through and impact absorption. A good length range for this type of longboard is between 32 and 42 inches. Keep in mind that carving longboards must be responsive and maneuverable.

The Downhill Longboard

As you can probably tell, this longboard is designed to bomb downhill at incredible speeds. Did you know that the fastest of longboarders can get close to 100 miles an hour? This type of longboard is all about speed and stability. Moreover, they are also high in terms of turning ability.

The downhill longboard allows riders to maintain great speeds even when taking downhill turns. Of course, it might be somewhat difficult to turn, but after all, they’re about speed.

Some people prefer lower mounts to allow for greater stability, but more advanced riders usually prefer smaller boards with top mounting decks that are very easy to turn. However, they’re not quite as stable.

A primary feature of this longboard is that it’s generally large enough to provide you with a lot of foot space. So if you like speed and bombing down hills, this is the type to go with.

The Cruising Longboard

One of the easiest types of longboarding is known as cruising, which could be compared to a leisurely walk. This type of longboarding is all about riding on flat ground and for leisurely purposes; it’s definitely not about speed. Generally speaking, the leading choice for this type of riding is the pintail longboard.

One of the primary features of the cruising longboard is that it tends to be quite large for ample foot space, so you don’t have to worry too much about foot placement. Moreover, another feature is that it generally has a moderate to high flex, allowing for excellent impact absorption and comfort.

This type of longboard may also come with large wheels that are relatively soft. They will provide good traction on various surfaces and still allow for stability and impact absorption. Make no mistake, this type of longboard is not designed for speed or for stability at high speeds; it is all about leisure and pleasure.

The Drop Through Longboard

Suppose you want to carve at low speeds or cruise at high speeds. If so, the drop-through longboard is the board of choice. One of its primary features is that the board has a cutout in the deck, so the trucks can effectively fit on the board without causing wheel bite, which is essential for tight turns.

Moreover, because of that cutout, this longboard features a much lower deck than other types. If you are very low down to the ground, you have a low center of gravity and, therefore, excellent stability when moving at high speeds.

However, although these boards are designed for speed and stability, they still have a good bit of flexibility. So, they’re more stable than most types of longboards, but not quite as much as downhill longboards. Thus, a drop-through longboard is a great middle-ground between strength, flexibility, speed, maneuverability, and control.

Drop Down Longboards

The drop-down longboard is kind of like a drop-through on steroids. The deck of a drop-down longboard is even lower down than that of a drop-through longboard. The deck is at about the same height as the wheels with a drop-through longboard, whereas with a drop-down longboard, the deck is even lower down than the wheels.

This makes the drop-down longboard an ideal choice for moving at extremely high speeds because of its very low center of gravity. It allows you to maintain stability at high speeds while also preventing wheel bite from occurring. This is a type of longboard that is best reserved for the more advanced riders.

Conclusion

Now you know everything you need to know about the five main types of longboards. But, first, decide what kind of rider you are, as this will determine the best kind of board for you.