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Best Longboards of 2023

JUMP TO: LANDYACHTZ DROP HAMMER / GLOBE THE ALL TIME / ARBOR FISH BAMBOO / SECTOR 9 MONKEY KING PARADISO / LANDYACHTZ ATV / ARBOR MISSION PHOTO / LANDYACHTZ EVO SPECTRUM / LANDYACHTZ RIPPER POSTCARD / BUYING ADVICE

Author: Brent Herman

The Short Version

The Long Version

It is no wonder that longboarding is becoming more and more popular with people of all ages.  Cruising along a smooth asphalt path has a uniquely exhilarating, yet mind-clearing effect.

Gliding and turning on the smooth terrain can feel like you are floating, yet in total control of where you’re going. As your surroundings become a blur of scenery, it liberates your mind from worries and stress as you take a moment and simply enjoy the ride.

Of course, before you can live that dream – of floating effortlessly down a path, bombing a hill, or cruising across campus in style – you must first get the tool for the job… a longboard.

Selecting the right longboard for your needs can be a dizzying experience to the uninitiated. The worlds of skateboarding and longboarding are so chock full of technical jargon, not to mention an array of brands, designs, and colors. It is hard for dedicated skaters to even keep up.

But never fear, with the help of this guide, you will be on your way to making an informed decision on what longboard is best for you!

If you love reading this review of the best longboards, then you'll likely love reading some of our other skateboarding and longboarding content:

 

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

The interplay of components on a longboard isn’t always obvious to a beginner. If you are unsure about the different specs related to longboards and what you should look out for — and why — then be sure to check out our buying advice.

 

Best Overall: LANDYACHTZ DROP HAMMER

DECK: 36.5” Canadian maple with slight concave, drop through shape

TRUCKS: Bear Grizzly 181mm mounted in a drop-through style with heat treated hangers and an enlarged bushing seat

WHEELS: Hawgz 78a 70mm Fatty urethane wheels

BEARINGS: Space Balls ABEC 7

There are many amazing features that come standard on the Landyachtz Drop Hammer, making it a clear choice for the best overall complete longboard available.

Landyachtz is known as a standard-setter in the world of longboarding. They are also known for their efforts in sustainability. For every board they sell, Landyachtz will plant a tree.

Beyond their ecological commitment, Landyachtz is also committed to producing great longboards for riders of all skill levels. This particular board is great for daily use commuting, as well as downhill bombing and carving.

The Landyachtz Drop Hammer is designed to go fast while still being easy to control. The large and soft wheels provide a cloud-like riding experience while the premium trucks allow for ultimate control and stability.

Best Value: GLOBE THE ALL TIME

DECK: 35” Canadian maple, single kicktail with mellow concave and sanded wheel wells

TRUCKS: 150mm Slant with reversed kingpins and super high-rebound bushings

WHEELS: 83a 65mm urethane

BEARINGS: ABEC 7

Globe has been involved in skateboarding since 1985, making it one of the older brands on this list.

And “The All Time” from Globe has been awarded our best value award because it has a lower cost than the other longboards on this list while still being made up of quality parts.

As far as longboards are concerned, this one is on the shorter side at 35”. For reference, a traditional skateboard is usually around 32”. Some people prefer shorter boards, but longer boards generally offer more stability when it comes to performing tricks or bombing hills.

However this board’s trucks, wheels, and bearings make it fast, maneuverable, and responsive. The Globe “The All Time” is therefore ideal for cruising and learning tricks due to its kicktail and shorter length, but it is not designed for steep hills.

Best for Cruising: ARBOR FISH BAMBOO

DECK: 37” deck made up of 7 layers of Canadian Maple and 1 layer of Bamboo, pintail shape

TRUCKS: 150mm Reverse kingpin

WHEELS: 78a 65mm Arbor Mosh

BEARINGS: ABEC 5

Longboards from Arbor Collective are known for using natural wood grain as a part of their aesthetic, which is understandable given their name and their dedication to preserving forests.

Besides looking rustic, Arbor longboards are thoughtfully made with attention to detail on their craftsmanship. This particular cruiser deck – the Arbor Fish Bamboo – is made with a layer of bamboo. This adds both strength and flexibility to the board, and makes for a unique riding experience.

The wide trucks and large, soft wheels make this board ideal for rolling over rough terrain with stability and control.

The Arbor Fish Bamboo is therefore ideal for commuting across town or for cruising hills with friends. But it’s worth noting that this board is not ideal for bombing huge hills or performing more advanced tricks.

Best for Downhill: SECTOR 9 MONKEY KING PARADISO

DECK: 40.5” 9-ply Canadian Maple, drop through shape

TRUCKS: 10” Gullwing reverse kingpin

WHEELS: 78a 70mm 9balls

BEARINGS: ABEC 5 Greaseball

If you are looking for the unparalleled thrill of bombing a massive hill and laying down some smooth slides, then the Sector 9 Monkey King Paradiso is the board for you.

Sector 9 is among the most popular longboard companies, and for good reason. They make many different boards that specialize in the different styles of longboarding, but this one is undoubtedly ideal for downhill riding.

With a solid 9-ply deck and drop through truck mounting, your center of gravity will be lowered. This makes it easier to remain in control of the board as you reach high speeds.

The reverse kingpin trucks make for tight and efficient turning. The large and soft wheels will grip the asphalt enough to stay in control, but still have enough give to permit high-velocity sliding.

Best for Tricks: LANDYACHTZ ATV

DECK: 31” Canadian maple with a kicktail and sanded wheel wells

TRUCKS: Polar Bear 155mm

WHEELS: 60mm lil EZ’s

BEARINGS: Not Mentioned

When it comes to performing tricks on a longboard, if you are creative enough, the possibilities are endless!

This is my favorite part of the sport due to the freedom of expression performing tricks can grant you. That being said, it can be incredibly frustrating and risky to add to your bag of tricks. That is why it is important to have the right kind of longboard for the job.

Tricks are possible on all longboards, but they are definitely much easier on boards that have a kicktail. This allows the rider to perform tricks that get airborne with much more ease.

And at 31 inches and with a kicktail, the Landyachtz ATV is definitely designed with tricks in mind.

The Landyachtz ATV deck is shorter than any other longboard on this list and might technically be classified as a cruiser. Nonetheless it is still capable of many things that its longer counterparts are capable of.

The trucks and wheel on this board are larger than those on most traditional skateboards, but are still significantly lighter than many of the others on this list.

Best for Beginners: ARBOR MISSION PHOTO 35”

DECK: 35” 8-ply maple and walnut with a single kicktail and sanded wheel wells

TRUCKS: Paris 150mm

WHEELS: 78a 65mm Mosh

BEARINGS: ABEC 5

For those just starting out in the world of longboarding, the Mission Photo 35” from Arbor Collective is a very good choice.

The deck features a medium-length deck with a kicktail for learning tricks, as well as a top ply made from durable walnut. The sanded wheel wells make for hard turning without worrying about “wheelbite” (which is when your wheels are stopped by the deck of your board while turning).

This board features soft and smooth-riding wheels that are big, but not huge, as well as trucks that are not extremely wide. The reason that I recommend this board for beginners is that it is kind of in the middle of the road (no pun intended) of several categories. It is possible to do tricks on, ride down hills, and simply cruise around comfortable and stylishly.

As you progress on your longboarding journey, you will likely find that there are certain things that you enjoy more than others about the sport. For instance, perhaps you love the thrill of racing down hills more than performing tricks.

This longboard will give you a high-quality board that can do it all, but as you discover your riding style you may want to get a board that is more specifically suited to what you enjoy most.

However, you may also find that you enjoy doing a little bit of everything and this is definitely a board that will allow you to do just that!

Best for Speed: LANDYACHTZ EVO 40” SPECTRUM

DECK: 39.25” 10 ply Canadian maple, drop through shape

TRUCKS: Bear 180mm

WHEELS: White Hawgs

BEARINGS: Spaceball

Whilst all the boards on this list are longboards, this board from Landyachtz – the Evo 40” Spectrum – is particularly long, wide, and (fairly) heavy.

For certain applications, some may find this board a bit too cumbersome. However, when it comes to gaining and maintaining some serious speed, these attributes work in its favor.

With drop through trucks as well as a 10-ply deck with a lowered riding platform, this longboard is great for not only going fast, but giving the rider stability and control while doing so, which is quite important! This board comes assembled and ready to ride with quality Landyachtz factory parts and components.

This board is capable of handling long trips through scenic pathways as well as some serious hill bombing and racing. But note that this board does not have a kicktail, so performing tricks like ollies and manuals is not its strong suit.

Best for Versatility: LANDYACHTZ RIPPER POSTCARD

DECK: 36.9” 6-ply Canadian maple, medium concave with a single kicktail and sanded wheel wells

TRUCKS: Polar Bear 155mm

WHEELS: 63mm EZ Hawgs

BEARINGS: ABEC 7 Space Balls

Yet another entry on this list from Landyachtz is the Ripper Postcard. This board is another board that has high quality components and is a jack-of-all-trades type of board.

The deck is flexible and lightweight while still being resilient. The shape of the deck is reminiscent of a retro surfboard. It has a kicktail and is thin enough that the wheels clear the deck, so there are no worries when it comes to wheelbite.

The trucks are top mounted, responsive, and durable. They are good for grinds or simply cruising around town. The wheels are big and soft enough to provide a smooth ride, but are still relatively lightweight, making them optimal for performing tricks as well. The ABEC 7 bearings result in more cruising and less pushing no matter what your style of riding.

This board is great for most kinds of longboarding. Whether you are learning tricks like manuals or shuvits, or getting used to riding down steep hills, this board will stand up to the challenge.

BUYING ADVICE FOR LONGBOARDS

When it comes to longboards, there are several individual components to consider. For a newcomer to the sport, the sheer amount of options when it comes to decks, trucks, wheels, and bearings can be intimidating. This section of the article is meant to demystify some of the technical jargon involved with the sport and its equipment.

Deck Size & Thickness

The deck of a longboard is the part that you stand on and is perhaps the most important factor when it comes to what is possible when riding. Most longboards are between 35” and 40” in length, but the number of plies that they are made up of, and the shapes of longboards decks vary greatly.

Generally if you are taller, you will have an easier time with a longer board. However many people figure out what best suits them through experimentation. If you are a heavier rider, you should probably opt for at least 7 plies in thickness. Some flexibility in a deck is a good thing, but stability and durability is more important, especially for beginners.

Deck Shapes

KICKTAILS: Longboards with kicktail decks are designed with the tail sloping upward. This makes it easier to perform tricks that require pushing down on the tail. Kicktails are best for tricks like ollies, shuvits, and manuals.

PINTAILS: Pintails are decks that have a tail that come to a point and are not slopped upward. Pintails make great cruising boards that allow wide turns and sharp carving.

DROP THROUGH: Drop through decks have almost no discernible nose or tail because the trucks are almost at the very end of the board. Drop through boards are designed for hills and high speeds.

Deck Styles

TOP MOUNT: This is the style most similar to traditional skateboards. As the name implies, the trucks are attached to the deck by bolts that pass through the plies of the deck to the underside of the board.

DROP THROUGH: Drop through decks are designed with slots that allow the base plate of the truck to be on top of the deck instead of the bottom of the deck like with traditional top mount decks. This lowers the height off of the ground for the longboard. Why does this matter? Well, when the riding platform is lower to the ground, it grants more stability for the rider, especially at high speeds.

DOUBLE DROP: Double drop decks feature slots designed for drop-through truck mounting as well as a lowered riding platform that sits below the base plate of the truck. These boards are great for performing downhill slides and are more capable of standing up to high speeds without speed wobbles than other deck styles.

Trucks

The trucks of a longboard are what attach the wheels to the deck and allow you to turn. They are made up of a metal axle that goes across the width of the board with wheels on each side, bushings that are usually made from urethane that allow the truck to turn, and a metal base plate that actually attaches the trucks to the deck.

There is a metal bolt called a kingpin that is attached to the base plate which holds the bushings. There is a nut on the top of this bolt that can be loosened or tightened to give more or less turning ability to the rider.

TRUCK TIGHTNESS (KINGPIN ADJUSTMENT): The nut on the top of the kingpin bolt is adjustable because of personal preferences as well as other factors such as where you are riding your longboard. For example, if you are cruising around a parking lot doing wide turns, you would most likely want your trucks to be looser than if you are hitting high speeds going down a steep hill.

REVERSE KINGPINS: Some longboards feature “reverse kingpin” trucks. This simply means that the trucks face the opposite way that they usually do on traditional skateboards. The purpose of this is to give more responsive turning at lower speeds and more control at higher speeds.

Wheels

WHEEL MATERIAL: Longboard wheels are almost always going to be made of urethane. This is a type of artificial rubber material that makes everything from gripping the pavement to doing high-speed slides possible on your longboard.

WHEEL SIZE: Longboard wheels are larger than regular skateboard wheels and are usually softer as well. The number that you most often see is the diameter of the wheel given in millimeters.

WHEEL SOFTNESS (DUROMETER): The softness of longboard wheels is measured on a scale called the durometer scale. This measures how stiff rubber-type materials are. Longboard durometer scores are noted by a number followed by “a”. For example, a common durometer for a longboard wheel is between 65a and 80a.

The higher the durometer of a wheel, the harder the wheels are. Softer wheels are great for ensuring a smooth ride over rough surfaces, but harder wheels are generally faster and better for sliding. The softest longboard wheels are around 65a, while the hardest wheels are 101a. If having a superbly smooth ride is most important to you, aim for wheels around 65a. If you are all about bombing hills and laying down serious slides, you will want wheels around 80a.

Bearings

The bearings are small circlets that contain ball bearings that go inside the wheels of your longboard. These are incredibly important to providing a smooth and fast ride. There are 2 bearings in each wheel on the board. One in the front side and one in the back.

Skateboard bearings are rated on the same scale as bearings designed for several different purposes. This scale is called the ABEC scale. ABEC stands for Annular Bearing Engineers Committee.

ABEC RATINGS: Most skateboard bearings are going to be ABEC 5 or ABEC 7 rated. This number is not incredibly valuable to skateboarding. Some people believe that the higher the ABEC rating, the faster the bearing, but this is not necessarily true. As long as the bearings are designed for skateboarding and are properly maintained by keeping them clean and lubricated, most brands should get the job done.

MORE INFORMATION

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