This article may contain affiliate links.
We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
If you don't already know, longboards are essentially longer versions of the famous skateboard. Perfect for those starting out, the longboard's extra length makes it easier to ride, a lot faster, and generally much friendlier for beginners. They are also a fun way to travel from A to B.
However, finding the right longboard can be difficult. But, what are the best longboards for beginners? The market is over-saturated with both high-quality and poor-quality longboards, making it quite overwhelming if you don't know what you're looking for.
To give you a helping hand, we've compiled a list of the 5 best longboards for beginners available right now! We have ensured the longboards we researched are perfect for beginners, so if you're looking to take up longboarding, you've come to the right place.
Let's jump straight into the list!
The first longboard on our list is the stylish Volador Freeride Longboard. Available in a range of neat styles, the Volador is a great option if you want to experience the fun of longboarding without having to master any sliding or freeriding skills.
Featuring a spacious 8-ply Hardrock maple wood shock-absorbent deck, this board is incredibly durable and stable. It is capable of holding up to 250 lbs.
When we reviewed the Volador Freeride board, we found it to be an easy-to-use board, brilliant at getting us from A to B effortlessly. We were also pleased with how easy it was to perform a variety of basic tricks on the board.
This is great because it allows newbies to crack the basics and enjoy their riding experience.
This longboard also features 70 mm strong and durable wheels. These wheels are pretty standard on any longboard, giving you a better grip and a smoother ride over bumpy terrain.
As if that wasn't enough, Volador has made sure your board arrives fully assembled to make life even easier for beginners. This lets you ride straight out of the box.
Pros:
Cons:
The beauty of the MBS all-terrain longboard is that it suits a wide range of riders. Whether you're 16 or 66 years old, this longboard allows you to get out there and give longboarding a try.
Effortless gliding from A to B, impressive maneuverability, comfort, good grip and control, and, most importantly, safety are the main benefits of this longboard.
One of the most impressive features the MBS all-terrain board comes with is its awesome all-terrain wheels.
The enormous 100 mm wheels will ride over literally any surface with ease. This includes awkward surfaces like asphalt, gravel paths, and woodchips.
MBS has designed the wheels with a sharp lip and large contact patch to offer good control and grip, even when traveling at top speed.
In terms of the board's design, we were pretty pleased with what we saw. The MBS all-terrain longboard looks clean, modern, and very pleasing to the eye.
In our opinion, if you're a beginner looking for an attractive board that offers all the key features you need, the MBS all-terrain longboard could be a real hidden gem.
Pros:
Cons:
Also available at:
Designed in Los Angeles, the Zed longboard from Retrospec has been wonderfully crafted from sustainable materials to create a more classic-looking artisan board that comes complete with the typically Californian style.
Made from ethically sustainable materials like bamboo, this longboard takes longboards back to the 1950s but comes with all the features we expect from a modern-day board.
With a traditional surfboard shape, the bamboo used to make the deck is combined with durable maple wood to give us an 8-ply construction. Aside from making the board look great, this also gives us more security, control, and grip while riding.
Perfect for riding in urban areas, Restrospec has made the board even easier for beginners to ride by, including lightweight yet 7-inch solid aluminum tucks in the board's design.
These trucks reduce vibrations and provide a smoother, more stable ride.
If all of that hasn't persuaded you yet, maybe the 70x51 mm 85a PU wheels will. These sturdy wheels have a rock finish, making them incredibly long-lasting and durable.
Available in 14 different styles, we fail to see how you could go wrong with this longboard.
Pros:
Cons:
Also available at:
The next longboard on our list is the Minority Downhill maple longboard. Weighing 7.5 lbs and with dimensions of 40 x 10 x 4 inches, this longboard is considered to be one of the best examples of ultimate longboard engineering.
This board has a classic downhill drop design, a great option for those of you who see yourself riding your longboard downhill quite a lot.
With a low center of gravity, solid 100% maple deck, and 70x51mm 78A high rebound wheels, this Minority board is designed with speed and downhill riding in mind.
Thanks to the 37-inch wheelbase and large, spacious 10-inch wooden deck, we can rest assured that the board will give us more than enough endurance, stability, and durability to keep riding at speed time and time again.
In terms of its appearance, this board was designed by graphic designers from all over the Atlantic; therefore, designs range from avant-garde to wonderfully vintage.
When we took a look at this board, we were most impressed with the board's wheels and bearings. The rebound PU wheels and ABEC-9 precision bearings make it easy to carve the board and ride smoothly.
Pros:
Cons:
Also available at:
Minority.skateboarderguider.com
The final longboard on our list comes from one of the sport's leading brands. Atom has been dominating the longboard world for many years now.
We can always expect stylish boards that offer awesome durability, stability, and maneuverability from their boards.
The Atom Drop-Deck longboard is no different. Designed with beginners in mind, Atom has ensured that this 41-inch board offers all the support, grip, and security any beginner needs.
Though the official weight limit for the board is 220 lbs, anybody up to 300 lbs will be fine.
When it comes to performance, for beginners, this Atom longboard is arguably the best.
Thanks to the ABEC-9 bearings, sturdy maple wood deck, 70 mm wheels, and low center of gravity, this board will give you the opportunity to ride with complete smoothness, stability, control, grip, and most importantly, enjoyment.
When we took a closer look at this board, aside from everything we have just mentioned, we were also thrilled with the overall appearance of the board and how any size of rider can use it.
This longboard isn't too boring or too flashy. It sits perfectly in the middle, offering an attractive, no-nonsense board.
Thanks to the versatile design of the board, both tall and short riders can enjoy the Atom Drop-Deck longboard without any discomfort or loss of stability.
Pros:
Cons:
Also available at:
To ensure you find the best beginner's longboard for you, it is crucial to consider the key things that will give you what you need.
While you have to do this for any type of longboard, it is even more important when looking for a beginner's board.
To help you out, we have put together this useful buyer's guide. In this buyer's guide, you'll find some of the most significant things to consider when making your final decision.
Take these things into account if you want to make a final decision you don't regret later.
It is super important to take into account the type of longboard riding you will be doing. This is critical because different longboards are suited to different styles of riding.
For example, cruiser longboards are better suited to individuals who want to travel long distances every day. These boards distribute weight more evenly, making them better for beginners.
On the other hand, downhill longboards are designed with speed in mind. These boards will help you go faster and travel further. While these boards aren't ideal for beginners all the time, if you plan on progressing your riding, you might want to take the plunge.
It is also important to look at what the longboard is made out of. This can be essential because different types of materials offer different riding experiences.
Natural materials such as bamboo and maple wood are lightweight and durable, giving riders a reliable, sturdy, and stable riding experience.
More expensive models are even made out of super lightweight materials like carbon fiber.
These carbon fiber longboards offer even more speed, stability, and durability; however, they aren't generally beginner-friendly.
When looking for a longboard, you will see plenty of brands offering you the opportunity to build your own custom-built board. While custom-built longboards look great and give you exactly what you want, we recommend looking for a pre-built board.
The reason we recommend this is that you are still a beginner who has a lot of learning to do. Until you know what a board feels like to ride, you can't possibly know how to design the perfect board that suits your style.
For now, and until you have plenty of longboarding experience, consider sticking to a ready-made board.
Wheels and bearings can make a massive difference to your longboarding experience. Wheels range from soft to hard, so it is important to decide which wheels suit you best.
While it is down to personal preference when choosing the right wheels, we always recommend looking for a type of wheel that offers plenty of flexibility, durability, and of course, smoothness as you ride.
You will also have to take the terrain you'll be riding on into consideration.
When it comes to bearings, most of them are the same, generally affecting your riding in the same ways. Having said that, bearings are rated by an ABEC rating system. Some companies decide not to use this rating, but if one does, you should always look for higher ratings.
The higher an ABEC rating, the more precise and accurate the bearings will be.
When buying any product, you have to take your budget into account. Without considering your budget, you could easily spend money you don't have or waste time looking at longboards that you have no chance of affording.
To avoid spending too much money or wasting time, first think about how much you have to spend on your longboard. When you know this, you can head straight for the longboards that fall nicely into your budget, helping you make a positive decision a lot quicker.
You'll also stay out of trouble with your partner, who would be shocked to see how much you've spent on the joint account otherwise.
Despite many people thinking skateboards and longboards are the same things, they are actually very different. Skateboards are traditionally very small and light, making it a lot easier to perform tricks.
They also have harder wheels and tighter trucks to increase overall speed and stability.
On the other hand, longboards are usually longer than skateboards (hence the name!) They also tend to have looser trucks and softer wheels, so they can provide much more comfort when riding.
Longboards are also designed to make turning a lot easier while riding.
The longboard size you choose ultimately comes down to your personal preferences. Having said that, different-sized boards are better suited for different riding styles.
Shorter boards allow you to travel quicker and make sharper turns. However, longboards make it easier to carve at high speeds.
A board ranging from 28 inches to 32 inches is probably a good choice if you're a younger rider. It is worth noting that taller riders can also ride these longboards if they wish.
The most popular longboards for beginners tend to be 32 inches to 42 inches in size. This size of board suits a wide range of riders who ride in many styles, making them a great entry-level choice.
These are the boards we would recommend the most.
In our opinion, yes, longboards are totally worth it. Whether you want to enter the skating world or simply want a fun way to get from A to B, longboards are a great choice.
Thanks to their longer design, longboards are perfect for beginners who want to ride with greater stability, control, grip, and over longer distances.
While longboards are great in their own right, they can also be seen as a good way into skateboarding.
Try a longboard out first if you want to take up skateboarding but don't feel comfortable yet. These easier boards will help you come to terms with how to ride a skateboard in a safer, more comfortable manner.
That concludes our list of the best beginner longboards that are on the market right now. Longboards are a fun way to travel no matter what level you find yourself at.
Having said that, their larger deck, bigger wheel, and a sturdier design make them the perfect choice for beginners who are looking to get into the world of skating and riding.
Whether you're a 17-year-old looking for their first entry-level board, or a 50-year-old looking to try something new, there is a beginners longboard on our list for you.
Some boards on our list are designed with downhill speed in mind, while others are designed solely with stability and easy maneuverability in mind.
While finding the best longboard for you can be difficult, thanks to our list and useful buyer's guide, you should now be able to pick out the board that suits you best.
Now you've been through our guide, take some time to narrow down your options until you have found the longboard that gives you exactly what you want. Good luck!
Related: How To Get Creases Out Of Shoes [Goodbye Pesky Wrinkles]
© THE X BEST TM 2020 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |
