Best Skateboard Decks of 2023

JUMP TO: REAL CLASSIC OVAL | POWELL PERALTA FLIGHT | REAL RENEWAL DOVES | STOKED RIDE SHOP BLANK | ANTIHERO CLASSIC EAGLE | POWELL PERALTA SKULL & SWORD | BAKER BRAND LOGO | SANTA CRUZ VX | BAKER BRAND LOGO 7.3 | BUYING ADVICE

Author: Brent Herman | Updated: Aug 12, 2023
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The Short Version

The Long Version

The deck of a skateboard is simply the part that you stand on while riding, and yet it is so much more than that.

Like how a seasoned captain controls his ship from atop the deck, as does an experienced skater control his skateboard.

Beyond that, skateboard decks are iconic pieces of ridable art that come in countless colors, shapes, sizes, and designs.

Some skateboard decks are simply blank boards, while others feature every color imaginable and are covered with intricate designs. These designs are mostly on the bottom of the deck since the top is often covered with grip tape.

As far as performance is concerned, the image or lack of image on the bottom of the deck has no actual impact. The things that matter for performance when it comes to skateboard decks are the size of the board, the shape of the deck, the concave style, and the quality of the raw materials used in the deck’s construction.

In this article I look at a selection of the best skateboard decks – many of which have awesome artistic designs, but that are also solid performers in the street, park, or on vert.

If you love reading this review of the best skateboard decks, then you'll likely love reading some of our other skateboarding related content:

 

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

The world of skateboarding is a wide one without a doubt, and unfamiliar terminology can make that world especially difficult to navigate for beginners.

If you want some tips on what to look out for when shopping for your next deck, be sure to check out our buying advice.

 

Best Overall: REAL CLASSIC OVAL

MATERIALS: 7-ply maple

DIMENSIONS: 7.75” x 29.5” through 8.5” x 31.8”

SHAPE: Twin popsicle

CONCAVE: Not Listed

STYLE: Park/Street

Real skateboards is a company that has been manufacturing high quality decks since they were founded in 1991. For 30 years, the Real Skateboards team has featured some of the most talented skaters to ever push wood. Its parent company, Deluxe Distribution, is responsible for some of the most iconic brands in the industry like Spitfire Wheels and Thunder Trucks.

All of this success throughout their history has led Real Skateboards to be one of the best brands of decks around. Their boards are durable and poppy, with a classic shape and concave that has stood up to the test of time.

This particular deck — the Classic Oval — from Real is great for those who are just starting out in skateboarding, as well as for any of the talented pros on their team. This particular size and shape is best suited for street or park skating since it doesn’t have a steep nose or tail like vert decks usually have.

MATERIALS: 5 plies of maple and 2 plies of fiberglass

DIMENSIONS: 8” x 31.45” through 9” x 32.95”

SHAPE: Twin popsicle

CONCAVE: Medium

STYLE: Street/Park

The Powell Peralta Flight Deck may well be the future of skateboard deck tech – and if so, the future is now! These decks are constructed with 5 plies of maple and 2 plies of fiberglass, rather than the standard 7-ply maple. And it works. These decks are the real deal when it comes to performing well and being incredibly resistant to breakage.

What makes the Powell Peralta Flight Deck so impressive is the fact that it is somehow thinner, lighter, and stronger all at once. The deck also has a great pop factor that makes it easier to perform tricks that go into the air like kickflips and ollies. Although, one downside of the thinness is that they can develop razor tail sooner than other decks.

They come in a range of sizes and shapes – from “oldschool” shapes to contemporary street shapes. Our preference for park and street use are the popsicle shapes with a full and round nose and tail (shapes 242-249).

The only thing keeping this deck from the top of our list is the high price tag. For beginners it might be an investment that is hard to justify, but for more experienced skaters the performance and durability are likely worth it.

Best Value: REAL RENEWAL DOVES

MATERIALS: Part new maple, part recycled wood

DIMENSIONS: 7.75” x 31.25” through 8.5” x 32.25”

SHAPE: Twin popsicle

CONCAVE: Not Listed

STYLE: Park/Street

The Renewal Doves is another board from Real Skateboards. The main difference with this deck is that the price point is significantly less than many others.

The reason behind the more attractive price point is that part of the wood for this deck is recycled - a nice bonus for the ecologically proactive. Real does not go into detail as to the specific amount of each deck that is made up of new wood versus recycled wood, but the fact that this deck can save you some money and potentially save a tree is pretty cool.

As far as performance goes, these decks have the same classic shape that has made Real one of the best-selling board companies over the decade. Some skateboarders have mentioned that they feel as though this deck loses pop and durability faster than other Real products – likely attributable to the combination materials – while others say they cannot tell a difference. When it comes to breaking skateboards there are a lot of factors at play and one anecdote does not translate into the same experience for all.

If you are on a budget, are somebody that breaks boards quickly anyway, or are someone who wants to support Real’s environmental efforts, the Renewal series from Real is definitely worth checking out.

Best on a Budget: STOKED RIDE SHOP BLANK DECK

MATERIALS: 7-ply maple

DIMENSIONS: 7.75” x 31.65” through 8.5” x 33.03”

SHAPE: Twin popsicle

CONCAVE: Medium

STYLE: Park/Street

Stoked Ride Shop’s Blank Decks are a great product for the price and come in a variety of sizes. With sizes ranging from 7.75” to 8.5” in width, this deck can fit many different needs for a more affordable price than other decks.

The deck is available in several different colors including blue, red, purple, green, and natural wood, allowing for a degree of personalization that some blank deck retailers do not offer.

The shape of the deck is a classic popsicle with a medium concave. The shape and concave make this deck ideal for flip tricks or ramp skating, but it could also be a lower cost option for simply cruising. This board performs well and does not take long to get used to if you have skated boards of similar size and shape.

This board is great for beginners that want to get the experience of a pro deck without having to pay a premium price. It is also suitable for experienced skaters on a budget. Finally, this deck could be a good option for those that want to try out a different sized deck than they are used to, without investing too much into that experiment.

Best for Park Skating: ANTIHERO CLASSIC EAGLE

MATERIALS: 7-ply maple

DIMENSIONS: 7.3” x 29.25” through 9.0” x 33.25”

SHAPE: Twin popsicle

CONCAVE: Medium

STYLE: Street/Park

Antihero is another classic skateboarding brand that has lasted through the decades thanks to the high-quality construction of their decks.

They are made by the same parent company as Real Skateboards, Deluxe Distribution. And their Classic Eagle graphic is about as iconic as it gets in the skateboard world.

Antihero decks are incredibly well rounded when it comes to performance. They have enough concave for riders to carve around bowls with ease while still allowing riders to do more technical flip tricks. This makes this deck ideal for skating parks that have a little bit of everything to offer.

Our preferred size for park skating is the 8.5” x 31.8” deck. However if this particular width and length aren’t ideal for you, don’t worry! Antihero offers a wide range of size options, as well as an assortment of colors.

MATERIALS: 7-ply maple

DIMENSIONS: 8.5” x 32.08”

SHAPE: Twin popsicle

CONCAVE: Deep

STYLE: Vert/Park

Powell Peralta was among the very first skateboarding companies ever created and they have remained a force in the industry since their inception in 1978.

As skateboarding itself has evolved and changed throughout the years, Powell Peralta has done the same – to not only remain relevant, but also to do their part in the progression of the sport. The company has had many high-level pros ride for their team. The most famous being The Birdman himself, Tony Hawk.

This particular deck – the Skull & Sword 249 Shape – from Powell Peralta is ideal for those that like big air and high speeds!

With a more pronounced concave, this deck is more responsive to turning and it is easier for the rider to feel where their foot is on the board. This is really important when skating bowls, halfpipes, or other forms of vert. Vert riders also tend to ride larger decks because they are more stable – and this deck is just that.

Best for Street Skating: BAKER BRAND LOGO

MATERIALS: 7-ply maple

DIMENSIONS: 8.0” x 31.25” through 8.5” x 32”

SHAPE: Twin popsicle

CONCAVE: Mellow

STYLE: Street/Park

Baker Skateboards are almost synonymous with street skating. Some of the greatest street skating pros from the last 20 years - like Andrew Reynods and Erik Ellington - are examples of the top-tier talent this brand has attracted and cultivated.

Baker has continued to set the bar in the world of Street skateboarding and is one of the best selling brands in the world.

Their decks have remained largely unchanged as far as their design for quite some time. They are purposefully made to be flatter than other decks. This mellow concave allows riders more maneuverability and control when setting up for different flip tricks.

That being said, these decks are also suitable for park skating. They still have enough concave to comfortably carve around milder transition with ease. There is a reason that the classic style of Baker decks has lasted as long as it has. That reason is that it simply works.

Best for Durability: SANTA CRUZ VX SERIES

MATERIALS: 5 plies of maple and 2 plies of Quad X Technology

DIMENSIONS: 8.0” x 31.6” through 8.5” x 32.2”

SHAPE: Twin popsicle

CONCAVE: Not Listed

STYLE: Park/Street

If you thought that Powell Peralta had some incredible staying power in the skateboard industry, allow me to introduce you to the longest running company in the game. Santa Cruz began making skateboard decks in 1973 and has grown with the sport. But being the oldest running skateboard company doesn’t mean that they are stuck in their ways.

The VX Series from Santa Cruz is a prime example of how the company is endeavoring to keep moving forward and create great products. This series of decks are made of the traditional maple, but also reinforced with 2 plies of their patented “Quad X Technology” material.

These decks are simultaneously thinner and stronger than the typical all-maple deck. Whilst Santa Cruz also claim that these decks keep their pop longer than other decks.

If you are the type of person that goes through skateboard decks like tissues during allergy season, you may want to check out the “VX” line from Santa Cruz. The only way to figure out if these boards are as amazing as they are said to be is to try one out for yourself.

Better yet – they are only slightly more expensive than regular decks, so if it does turn out to last longer, you have made a wise investment!

Best for Young Skaters: BAKER BRAND LOGO 7.3

MATERIALS: 7-ply maple

DIMENSIONS: 7.3” x 29.49”

SHAPE: Twin popsicle

CONCAVE: Mellow

STYLE: Street/Park

The Baker Brand Logo 7.3 has all that the legendary Baker company has to offer, except in a fun-sized package.

Many different companies offer youth sizes for their decks, but Baker decks have the added advantage of being designed with flip tricks in mind.

Usually, youth skaters are learning how to perform tricks like kickflips and heelflips, so it makes sense for them to use the same type of boards as some of the best street skaters in the industry.

This particular size is ideal for riders aged 9-12 or shoe sizes 6-8 (USA), but it really depends on individual preferences. Using sizing guides is a great place to start for kids, but as they continue to learn how to ride, and start developing a particular style, they may want to experiment with different sizes.

BUYING ADVICE FOR SKATEBOARD DECKS

Types of Decks

There are countless skateboard deck brands, shapes, and designs, all with unique purposes.

However, skateboard decks can be broken up into 3 major categories: pro decks (either classic popsicle or shaped), longboards, and cruisers.

POPSICLE (PRO) DECKS: A popsicle deck is what all of the decks on this list are. They have a “popsicle” shape with an upturned nose and tail that makes it easier to perform tricks in which the skateboard comes off of the ground. These are the skateboards that are specifically made with tricks in mind, with comfort and ease of riding not being huge factors in how they are designed or intended to be used. Pro decks are usually around 8” wide and 32” in length.

SHAPED (PRO) DECKS: Shaped decks have become more popular recently and come in a variety of, well, shapes. Some deck companies have decks that are made into unique shapes that are the same as some of their pro riders use. Other companies have several unique shapes to choose from, based off their own creations. Shaped decks usually still have a double kicktail, but they might have an irregular concave, differently shaped nose and tail, or any combination of modifications.

LONGBOARD DECKS: A longboard deck is longer, as the name implies, but that is far from the only difference. Longboard decks have many different shapes but their length is what classifies them. Longboard decks are 34” or longer. Longboard decks can be designed to go down hills, do some tricks that pop into the air, or simply cruised around on.

Many people opt for a longboard because the larger board and larger wheels makes it easier to learn how to ride and can be a better option for the purpose of transportation.

CRUISER DECKS: Cruiser decks are a bit of a hybrid between pro decks and longboard decks, and they are more loosely defined. Cruiser boards almost always have at least one upturned tail, if not an upturned nose as well. This makes it so that tricks are possible, but usually more difficult than on a pro board.

The main reason for a kicktail on a cruiser is to grant the rider the ability to perform an ollie up a curb if the need presents itself while riding the board for transportation. Cruiser boards can be the same size or shorter in length than pro boards and longboards, however they are usually wider for the purpose of increased comfort and stability while cruising.

Deck Size

This is easily one of, if not the most important things to consider when buying a skateboard deck. While there is no one true answer as to what size deck is perfect for any given rider, it can have a huge impact on your ability to perform tricks or ride comfortably on your board.

LENGTH: Traditional pro skateboard decks are usually between 30” to 33” in length. The reason for this is that at this size, the skateboard is solid and stable while still being lightweight and maneuverable.

WHEELBASE: The wheelbase is the distance between the front and back wheels and is usually between 13” and 15”. A longer distance between the wheels makes the board more stable, but the trade off is that the board will weigh more and can be harder to perform tricks in which the board goes into the air.

WIDTH: The width of a skateboard deck is usually between 7” and 9”. Most skateboarders ride sizes in the 8” to 8.5” range. Generally, vert and park skaters ride wider boards for more stability, while street skaters prefer slightly narrower boards because they are lighter and easier to flip. Taller and larger riders also tend to ride wider boards because of the added stability as well.

Deck Shape

The shape of a skateboard deck is also a crucial factor to consider when buying a skateboard deck. In general, a skateboard deck has a nose and a tail. This just means a front and a back part, respectively.

DOUBLE KICKTAIL: Most modern skateboard decks have a double kicktail or “popsicle” shape. This simply means that both the nose and the tail of the deck slope upwards and are farther off of the ground than the middle part of the deck. The reason for this is that it makes tricks like ollies and kickflips easier to perform since more force and leverage can be applied when popping off of the ground.

SINGLE KICKTAIL: There are also skateboard decks with a single kicktail or none at all. This is fine for riding, but makes performing even simple tricks much more difficult.

Skateboard decks sometimes also come in irregular and creative shapes, such as a classic surfboard or even a person’s head. These decks are usually used for cruising rather than for performing difficult tricks. Different brands also feature different shapes of their decks that are often imperceivable to the uninitiated.

Deck Concave

The concave of a skateboard deck is a detail that will likely go unnoticed to most beginners. Concave is the curvature of the deck's riding surface and how far the nose and tail dip and rise. Concave can be best seen if you look at a skateboard deck from the side.

Different brands and manufacturers use slightly different concaves. Professional riders sometimes have their own signature concave styles that they have honed over years of experience with different decks.

DEEP: Generally skateboarders who ride big ramps and transitions prefer their skateboard deck to have a steeper and more pronounced degree of concave. This makes it easier for the rider to feel where their feet are on their board when carving around a bowl or on steep transition.

MEDIUM / MELLOW: Street skaters usually prefer decks with a medium or slight concave, in order to better position their feet for the large variety of flip tricks they perform.

Deck Materials

HARD MAPLE: Almost all skateboard decks are made from 7 plies of hard rock maple. This has been how modern skateboard decks have been made for decades and for good reason. This construction gives the board enough sturdiness without being too heavy.

ALTERNATIVES: Many different companies have tried to reinvent the skateboard deck using materials like bamboo, carbon fiber, and even aluminum, however it is really hard to beat the responsive pop of the traditional maple. Some relatively successful recent attempts include combinations of maple and fiberglass ply, like on the Powell Peralta Flight Deck, and polymer compounds, like on the Capsule Unconventional Series.

DURABILITY: Skateboard decks are not meant to last forever, but depending on the style of skateboarding you do and the care you put into keeping your deck away from water, you can extend the life of your deck. Some skateboarders break several skateboard decks in a single day, but this is often due to incredibly high impact tricks down large drops and gaps. For the casual skater, a deck will last a few months at least.

If deck durability is a real concern then perhaps consider decks like the Powell Peralta Flight Decks or the Santa Crux VX Series. These use combination materials such as maple and fiberglass to try and increase the lifespan of the deck. Although, they aren’t a silver bullet — by increasing the strength and preventing snapping, you might still end up wearing down the edges of the deck and be left with razor tail.

MORE INFORMATION

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