how to know what size longboard you need

Are yous in the market for a new longboard and considering your options?

There are various factors to weigh up when thinking virtually how to choose the right longboard. Sometimes it seems like there are a 1000000 dissimilar choices. You need to decide on so many things, from what shape and size of the deck are most suitable for you, which wheels meet your demands and which types of trucks are advisable for your skill level.

But where do you lot start? A lot does depend on which longboarding style y'all are interested in and what standard of rider you are now. Some longboards are more than suited to beginners, for instance, while others are intended for experts.

Making the right choice is vital if yous plan to go the maximum enjoyment out of your new longboard. Whether you are interested in cruising, carving, downhill or your intention is merely idling around town, impressing friends with tricks, or using your board for travel, the perfect choice for you is out there!

Read on for descovering all the unlike options and help yous make up one's mind what is the right longboard in 2020.

Contents

• What Are the Differences Between a Skateboard and a Longboard?
• What Should Yous Look At When Buying a Longboard?
• What Types of Longboard Deck Styles and Shapes Can You Cull?
  • What material should I choose?
  • What shape of a deck should I choose?
• Final Thoughts on Choosing the Correct Longboard

What Are the Differences Betwixt a Skateboard and a Longboard?

Nosotros should brainstorm with the basics and first look at the differences betwixt a skateboard and a longboard. Skateboarding is considerably more mainstream than longboarding, for a start. Before the COVID-xix pandemic changed the world, skateboarding was due to appear at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games for the first fourth dimension.

Deciding if a skateboard or longboard is what you need depends on what yous plan to use it for. Longboards are perfect for riding long distances and cruising effectually all day. Skateboards are meliorate if you are more interested in performing tricks and impressing people with your prowess in the streets and parks.

At that place is no specific way to use a skateboard. Some folks practise use information technology as a ways of send as well every bit for sport. Skateboards come in unlike sizes and are oft around xviii to 27cm broad and 71 to 94 cm long. The lath volition commonly be covered in grip tape to enable better friction between board and rider. As well, the olfactory organ and tail are often curved upwardly. Both of these features make performing tricks easier.

For skateboard wheels, there are once more many choices, and the cycle is measured by the size of their diameter. Usually, skateboard wheels are betwixt 52-58mm. Generally speaking, smaller wheels are better for tricks, and bigger wheels are best for a faster, smoother ride. Hardness and softness are an essential cistron besides.

A longboard is different all together than a skateboard. Arguably, information technology is easier to employ, but information technology gives you an excellent sense of freedom and the ability to cruise all twenty-four hour period. It is more than just a long skateboard, the wheels are bigger and softer, and information technology is a more comfortable and smoother ride. In that location are various types of longboard bachelor, including, driblet-through, cruiser, downhill, and freeride.

Most longboards are 22.8 to 25.4cm broad and between 84 to 150cm in length. One goal is to requite a similar feel to surfing, so a sizeable stable feeling board is considered best.

Longboard wheels are often betwixt 60 to lxx mm and are softer than skateboard wheels.

One time you lot have decided that a longboard is what you are looking for, you can beginning to run through the many types of boards, trucks, and wheels to find the perfect combination for your needs.

What Should You Look At When Ownership a Longboard?

There is a right type of longboard for everyone, so information technology is essential to await through the key features before deciding what to buy. Here are some things for you to consider:

• The superlative of the deck

This refers to the size of the distance between the ground and the deck. The master event between different heights is how the longboard feels when riding. Lower decks (likewise known every bit dropped decks) are more stable and easily pushable, whereas higher decks tend to be less stable, but a more than exhilarating ride. You should brand your option based on whether your priority is excitement or practicality.

• The type of profile

There are ii types of profiles to cull between. The rocker profile has a downwardly bend, and the camber profile has an upward curvature, and each has a dissimilar kind of bounce and flex. Y'all will get a feel for which type is meliorate for you lot with riding experience.

• The flex of the deck

More than flexible decks are built less for speed but are first-class at pumping and etching. A more solid lath is perfect for utilise at college speeds.

• The wheelbase and size of the deck

Larger boards are harder to modify direction equally they have a big turning radius, but a long wheelbase and bigger deck will mean the deck can handle college speeds without wobbling and feel more stable.

• The blazon of mount

There are 2 styles of mounts to decide between. Driblet-through blazon has trucks that you mount through the deck that are more than stable due to existence lower to the ground. Topmount means the deck is mounted above the trucks and is idea to be more than responsive while riding and allow for more than wheel leverage. It is a affair of gustatory modality which type is improve for you.

• Kicktails

Kicktails are essential if you lot are interested in street cruising and freestyle.

• The concave on the deck

Foot pockets which are fabricated by having a concave shape on your deck let you to lock-in your human foot. It hinders dancing and cruising but is dandy for freestyle, freeriding, and carving.

• The blazon of trucks you choose

You tin can choose between traditional kingpin trucks (TKP) that are suitable for downhill riding or freestyle tricks, or opposite kingpin trucks (RKP) that are neat for general riding styles and take fantabulous flexibility for turning.

• The type of bushings y'all get for

Bushings are crucial when you consider turning flexibility and intermission. Your weight should factor into the hardness you choose. Harder bushings are suitable for tricks and softer for pumping and carving.

• The bending and width of the trucks

You lot can typically choose between 150 or 180mm width depending on the size of your deck.

The baseplate bending (between pin and deck) affects the amount the deck has to lean in order to make the wheels turn; this is an essential consideration for freeriding, pumping, and carving.

• The hardness (durometer) of the wheels

The theory is that soft wheels are ameliorate and roll easier on rough surfaces, while hard wheels curl quicker on smooth surfaces.

Choosing softer wheels means better suspension, and better grip and hard wheels get in easier to slide. Over again, it is a affair of preference for how y'all intend to use your longboard.

• The diameter of your wheels

The advantage of bigger and wider wheels is that they whorl faster, but be careful to check your deck'due south wheel clearance is sufficient.

• The wheel's lip profile

Rounded lips on your wheels hateful y'all will find it easier to slide, whereas square lips are meliorate at gripping the road. Is sliding that important to you?

• The bearings you lot choose make a big difference

Your bearings are essential. Regular bearings tin can be excellent every bit long as you maintain them well and keep them lubed and clean. However, meliorate bearings are constructive at keeping your wheels rolling for longer from a single push button. Ceramic bearings are an fantabulous, simply expensive, frictionless option. It depends on how meaningful it is to y'all as to whether it justifies the extra expense.

Now that we've been over some of the features that you need to consider, we can motility on to looking at types of decks that volition adapt your needs. Style is an essential factor, but at that place are other things to consider.

What Types of Longboard Deck Styles and Shapes Can You Choose?

There are many factors that you accept to consider when choosing your longboard deck. You need to ensure that the shape, textile, length, width, etc. are suitable for the type of longboarding that you lot make up one's mind to do.

Here we will look at some of the virtually disquisitional factors to make information technology easier for you to decide what is right for you.

What material should I choose?

Y'all will have many choices when it comes to the material your deck is made from. Here are a few adept options:

• Bamboo

Bamboo decks are becoming increasingly popular. That's because bamboo is a highly flexible textile, and the fact that it is lightweight makes it a perfect choice for riding and for conveying around. It is a perfect option for cruising, transportation, or etching.

• Maple

Maple is the nearly commonly used material for longboard decks. Information technology is extremely strong and long-lasting. It is a fantastic choice if yous are looking for a beautiful deck that will last your years.

•   Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber has a foam center to subtract the weight of the deck. It is an first-class material for fast starts, slides, and turns. It is an expensive option, and it is idea of similar the pro'south option.

The material you lot should choose depends on what yous intend to utilize the board for and your budget. However, all of the above will serve you well.

What shape of a deck should I choose?

Once again, yous have various choices when choosing a longboard deck shape. Each shape is suited to a unlike blazon of longboarding. The images below should give you an thought of how each shape can look like, but please note that there are many different options for each shape out there. Let's have a look at the best picks:

• Downhill shape

Downhill boards need to exist stable due to the high speeds which can be reached, then they have longer wheelbases and a flat shape to provide farther stability. This kind of board is more suitable for an experienced passenger, and wipeouts are to be expected – so be certain to ask your dealer for a combination that provides the best possible stability.

• Cruising shape

Cruisers are the most popular shape of the deck for longboards. The reason for their growing popularity is that they are quite fast and perfect for maneuvering. The big deck ways information technology allows proper weight distribution, and information technology is seen as a standard, reliable board shape.

• Drop down shape

Drop downward boards are a stylish choice, and they are perfect for a relaxing ride. It features a lowered deck and a nose and tail design that makes pushing easier. If you want to enjoy a long ride and cruise, you should consider this option as it gives a stable and prophylactic ride.

• Pintail shape

Pintails have a snarky-shaped nose and tail and a wide center. The shape makes them perfect for making sharp turns and directional riding as they are first-class for maintaining balance.

• Fishtail shape

These are similar to pintail boards but feature a split up tail. It is reminiscent of a dissever tail surfboard. It is an ideal option for smooth sharp turns and taking long rides.

• Blunt shape

The blunt shape is considered platonic for beginners to longboarding. It features a fuller nose and tail, which leads to greater stability. Experienced riders may not savor this style every bit the ability to make sharp turns is limited.

• Cut out shape

Cut out longboards have the best bicycle clearance of any shape available. Another feature is that they are bi-directional, which allows the rider to switch around easily. It commonly comes with drop-through trucks, which lowers the deck and gives impressive stability when riding at high speeds. They have big wheels and can make deep turns without skidding. These boards are excellent for downhill, freeride riding manner and freestyle.

• Speed lath shape

As the name speed board alludes to, these are specifically designed for speed. With prophylactic in mind, they are designed to exist extremely stable at high speeds.

• Twin longboard shape

Twin skateboards were pop during the 90s and were designed for multi-directional riding. They became so popular that a longboard version was introduced featuring widened sides. These are considered perfect for freestyle riding due to their high level of stability, and they are also useful to acquire more than advanced techniques. It is a perfect lath when combined with soft larger sizes of wheels for performing impressive lath tricks.

• Mini cruiser longboard shape

These mini cruiser boards are only effectually 90 to 110cm long, so some people might non even recognize them equally existent longboards.

Even if a short "longboard" sounds crazy, the one sure matter is that they are great fun! They take a distinct shape compared to skateboards and characteristic reverse kingpin trucks, and softer and larger wheels.

They are agile and fast, and most people enjoy their maneuverability. They are as well cheaper and more portable than regular longboards, and then they are a popular selection.

So, we have been through some of the all-time types of longboards, and you must now make up one's mind which lath type is perfect for you to go the virtually enjoyment out of this exciting sport.

As nosotros mentioned earlier, you should know your ability level and choose something suitable to it. You should also consider features like a kicktail, wheel wells, the length of your board, and other features that will enrich your experience.

The longboard trucks, wheels, and bearings that you choose will all influence what your longboard is most suited for, then spend fourth dimension looking at the options and don't be agape to enquire for advice as to what is all-time for your needs.

Final Thoughts on Choosing the Right Longboard

Before you make up one's mind on which longboard is right for you, you need to know what exactly you will be using it for. Nosotros have outlined the diverse options above, which we promise you have constitute useful and volition help y'all make up your listen.

You need to make up one's mind on the best deck size and shape, which trunks, wheels, and bearings are well-nigh suitable for your needs, and, perhaps, the most of import of all, how far your budget tin can stretch. You demand to choose the perfect combination for your own riding style and goals.

At that place are pros and cons for all the various types of decks, trucks, wheels, and other features when you come to choosing your perfect longboard. You can fifty-fifty go with some fun modern options like an electric longboard.

Whatever choice you determine to buy, it will likely give you a lot of enjoyment, whether you are using it to increase your skills, as transport, or just as a fun new hobby.

Enjoy the earth of longboarding!

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Source: https://www.altriders.com/how-to-choose-the-right-longboard/

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