Cruising around on a skateboard is cool and beneficial. This way of transporting within distances is quite safe for Earth and economic for you. Let’s think about it!
No traffic jams. No need to find a parking slot. No fuel cost. And, worry-free about parking tickets.
See also:
- 16 Best Skateboards For Beginners Adults In 2019: Selected By Me
- How to Choose Best Beginner Skateboard for Kids: The Definitive Guide [2019 Update]
- Top 24 Best Skateboard Deck Brands Reviews In 2019
However, to choose the best cruiser skateboards for your cruising style, it’s a time-consuming task but once you’re here, congrats, you are in the right address!
I’m going to give more free time and effort on your hands by rounding up the best cruiser skateboards on the market. Plus, there’s an ultimate buying guide listing all must-considered features and also, are some frequently asked questions for novice riders. Read on!
Table of Contents
- Best Cruiser Skateboards For Beginners – Comparision Chart 2019
- Top 14 Best Cruiser Skateboards For Beginners Review 2019
- 1. The Quest Super Cruiser Longboard Skateboard – ideal for beginners and pros
- 2. Ten Toes Board Emporium Zed Bamboo Longboard Skateboard Cruiser – cheap cruiser boards
- 3. Cal 7 Complete Mini Cruiser 22-Inch Micro Board
- 4. Skatro Mini Cruiser Skateboard. 22x6inch Retro Style Plastic Board Comes Complete
- 5. Ridge Skateboards 27″ Cruiser Board
- 6. Landyachtz Dinghy 28″ Complete Skateboard
- 7. Sunset Skateboards 22″ LED Light-Up Complete Skateboard with Trucks, Wheels, and Bearings
- 8. WALNUT CRUISER- DUSTY ROSE
- 9. Landyachtz Dinghy Emboss Black Mini Cruiser Longboard Skateboard
- 10. Quest Fishtail Cruiser Board Skateboard (27-Inch)
- 11. Penny Skateboards The Simpsons El Barto 22″ Cruiser Complete Skateboard – 6″ x 22″ – mini cruiser skateboard
- 12. Penny Graphic Complete Skateboard – mini cruiser skateboard
- 13. Penny Nickel 27″ Complete Skateboard – penny boards for girls
- 14. Skitch Premium Complete 22″ Mini Cruiser – girls penny boards
- How to Choose the Best Cruising Boards – The Definitive Buyer Guide
- How to Choose The Cruiser Decks – The Definitive Buyer Guide
- Frequently asked questions
- 1. What is the difference between a longboard and penny board?
- 2. What is the difference between a cruiser board and a longboard?
- 3. Should I get my first penny boards at Zumiez?
- 4. What is the main function of a shortboard and skateboard?
- 5. What size Penny board should I get?
- 6. What is faster a penny board or a longboard?
- Conclusion
Best Cruiser Skateboards For Beginners – Comparision Chart 2019
Before digging more into every single review, it’s better for you to take an overview at this table.
| PRODUCT | SIZE | DECK | TRUCKS | BEARINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 Inches | 7 Ply Super-Flex Bamboo and Hardwood Maple Deck | 7-inch aluminum | ABEC 7 |
| 44 Inches | 8-ply Canadian maple and sustainable bamboo | 7-inch aluminum | ABEC-7 |
| 22 Inches | 22.5 X 6-inch plastic | 3.125-inch aluminum | ABEC-7 |
| 22 inches | 22x6-inch plastic | 3-inch lightweight aluminum trucks | ABEC-7 |
| 27 inches | 27 x 7.5-inch plastic | 4-inch Metal trucks | ABEC-7 |
| 28 inches | 28.5 x 7 inch 7 ply maple | Polar Bear 4-inch metal trucks | ABEC-7 |
| 22 inches | 22x6-inch High strength molded polycarbonate deck. | 3" aluminum signature aluminum trucks | ABEC-7 |
| 22 inches | 22x7 ¼-inch maple combined walnut deck | 4-inch Tracker Dart metal trucks | ABEC- 9 |
| 28.5 inches | 28.5" x8" 7-ply maple deck | 4-inch Polar Bear metal trucks | ABEC 7 |
| 27 inches | 27x8-inch 7 ply all Hardwood Maple deck | Rugged 6-inch aluminum trucks | ABEC 5 |
Penny Skateboards The Simpsons El Barto 22" Cruiser Complete | 22 inches | 22x6 Classic waffle top non-slip deck | 3-inch aluminum powder coated trucks | ABEC 7 |
| 22 inches | 22x6-inch strong, durable plastic deck | Strong 3″ aluminum trucks | ABEC 5 |
| 27 inches | 27" Plastic Deck | 4-inch aluminum trucks with powder-coated finish | ABEC 7 |
| 22 inches | 22x6-inch plastic deck | metal trucks | ABEC-11 |
Top 14 Best Cruiser Skateboards For Beginners Review 2019
1. The Quest Super Cruiser Longboard Skateboard – ideal for beginners and pros
Start off this collection is a super cruiser longboard from Quest.
Highlight many elite features that act just like the name, such as the 7-ply wooden deck combining of hardwood maple and super-flex bamboo, or the 70mm polyurethane wheels with a hardness 80A.
Though I can’t promise you a phenomenal performance such as jumping and bouncing on the street like Tom Cruise or any action actors did in their movies, it does bring the key feeling of adventurousness, fastness, and freedom in the roll.
This cruiser board is the best choice for both beginners and professionals due to its superb stability and controllability whether it’s a ride down hills, around the city full of foot traffic or in your campus.
However, I want to notice that its wheels are not robust enough to bear harsh terrains like rocks or cracks or even abuses. So, ride it in easy, flat surfaces only.
Pros:
- Various color options
- Cool pintail style
- Easy to ride on easy terrains
- Reasonable prices
- Great controllability
Cons:
- Slow bearings
- Trucks need to be tightened
- Not suitable for abuses and obstacles
- Hard to do tricks
2. Ten Toes Board Emporium Zed Bamboo Longboard Skateboard Cruiser – cheap cruiser boards
Next up, another perfect option for all riders, whether you are an expert or just a beginner – the Ten Toes Cruiser Longboard.
Featured a cool and eye-catching sleek design, its outlook is even polished significantly when riding on sunny days.
But to talk about what impressed me the most, it must be the durability. Unbelievable that this small bad boy can hold a weight limitation up to 150kg whilst giving skateboarders smooth and comfortable rides.
Besides, it can do a thing that the Quest’s can’t – rolling over cracks, stones, and debris – thanks to the hard wheels. In other words, its versatility gets no remorse.
Another big bonus that I bet any environmentalists will fall for is its eco-friendly materials. Not only are they toxic-free to the environment, but also considered to be stronger than the traditional wood.
All in all, really highly recommend it!
Pros:
- Friendly-environment material
- Suitable for all riders
- Best for cruising around on a warm day
- Reasonable price
Cons:
- Some slacks in performance
3. Cal 7 Complete Mini Cruiser 22-Inch Micro Board
In my mind, the biggest selling point of the Cal 7 Complete Mini Cruiser is its colorful, bright and unique design. It is also one of the trendiest in my collection. Whenever riding on this board, I feel like this micro board is an artifact left of an energetic and hot summer. That’s how fantastic the design is!
Sizing 22 inches with ABEC 7 grade bearings, that means it works perfectly on all ages. Plus, the lightness and portable design make this board super easy to carry around. Just strap it to your backpack and there you go.
Whether it’s crossing your school campus, going to a nearby store or weaving in and out a foot traffic, you hardly notice it’s on your back.
But, this board turns out to trouble in the same weakness as the Quest’s skateboard – soft wheels. It means rocks and cracks are going to be your biggest enemies.
Pros:
- Perfect for all ages
- Compact and versatile design
- Eye-catching look
Cons:
- Can’t be used for bumping or rocky road
- Spare parts quality need more improvement
4. Skatro Mini Cruiser Skateboard. 22x6inch Retro Style Plastic Board Comes Complete
Now, here comes another incredible cruiser skateboard!
It’s a well-built model from Skatro brand, highlight the signature Skatro Flexy Technology that I must say it deserves every single penny (no pun intended).
Can’t deny that in the very first moments, beginners might find a little bit struggling to keep balance on it. However, once finding out the right footing, you will see the ride can’t be more comfortable.
Compared to the Penny Boards, I love this model more for its price and its performance.
But I won’t say that the Skatro Mini Cruiser Board is going to be ready out of the box. In other words, you need to make some adjustment to get it loose and nice for smoother turns. That’s why they included a T-tool inside of the package.
Besides, due to its lack of stability, rocks or cracks might disturb your rides. From that point, make sure you’re confident with your cruising skills when rolling this board on the roads.
But in turns, its significantly small dimensions are a great helper for you to maneuver easily through sharp turns.
In brief, for those who are finding a cruiser skateboard as a mean of transportation across blocks or in your college campus, I highly recommend this.
Pros:
- Great flex
- Quality board, really durable
- Compact and lightweight to easily carry around plane, campus, train, bus, and subway with ease
- Easy to ride through sharp turns
Cons:
- Come very stiff out of the box to ask for some adjustment with T-tool
- Not as stable as the longboard
5. Ridge Skateboards 27″ Cruiser Board
From the Ridge Skateboards brand, here comes an ideal model of a mini-cruiser skateboard that’s manufactured outside of China. If you want to stay away from Chinese junks, this UK-made model is the best bet.
It’s offering a perfect combination of portability, durability, smooth ride, style, and price.
Its deck has a length of 27inch and although that size is more suitable for professionals, novice riders can give it a try with no worry thanks to its bigger wheels and a wider deck for superb stability. That also turns out to another bonus – easy to learn.
However, take notice of the PU wheels. Despite their good quality (approved by me), in comparison to other cruiser skateboards, I feel it’s a little bit softer. So, you should ride this board only on flat surfaces such as skateparks and school campus.
In a short story, I will recommend this for both beginners and professional as a great cruiser skateboard. Plus, if you’re a fan of Penny Board or 1970s skateboard look, this model can’t go you wrong!
Pros:
- Compact, lightweight and easy to carry around
- Very stable, easy to learn for beginners
- With appreciable performance and suitable features, also perfect for professionals
- Build quality to bear abusing
- Stylish
- Affordable price
- Good bearings for smooth and fast rides
Cons:
- Soft wheels are a limitation on terrains
6. Landyachtz Dinghy 28″ Complete Skateboard
This is another lightweight and portable cruiser skateboard for stashing in college campus or around town. It’s made by Landyachtz – the most respected brand names in skateboarding world for their top-knot products that are built to last.
The spotlight of this Dinghy 28inch Complete Skateboard is its maple deck which is nearly a typical choice for riders through decades for the best durability and performance. Or you can say, it’s far superior to the plastic boards.
Other than the deck, wheels are also finely finished with significant precision. All these parts join together to maximize its maneuverability optimally. Besides, the making of this skateboard (with nose and tail) is rather suitable for getting up-and-over obstacles or doing flip tricks.
No wonder this is the best of both worlds. But keep in mind that it’s only for professionals. So, as long as you’re confident with your skating skills, just go for it.
Pros:
- Multifunctional – a good use for both cruising and doing tricks
- Superior wheels
- Precise engineering
- Good looking to perfectly hang on the wall
- Wooden board for better stability
Cons:
- Heavy bushings
- Not suitable for novice riders
7. Sunset Skateboards 22″ LED Light-Up Complete Skateboard with Trucks, Wheels, and Bearings
This product from the Sunset Skateboards is exactly what I expected it to be – an awesome, good-performance penny board for the price.
This is a complete product so that you don’t need to assemble it at all. Or, in other words, the moment when taking the board out from its box, you can step on it immediately to surf around your neighborhood.
Speaking of strengths, the Sunset 22” Skateboard nails up its durability and robustness to bear the weight up to 220lbs. To reach such that amazing limitation, it is partly thanks to the well-constructed deck and high-quality wheels. Plus, its aluminum trucks are completely made with custom molds to get ready out of the box.
Besides, with attached LEDs on the wheels, this is a fantastic downhill board to ride for fun at night.
Pros:
- Affordable board for its great performance
- No assemblage required
- Durable and robust to reach the weight limit of 220lbs
- Smooth and quiet
- Have fun to ride with the attached LEDs light on the wheels
Cons:
- LEDs light inconsistently at a starting-roll
- Heavy
8. WALNUT CRUISER- DUSTY ROSE
Truth to say, at first, I thought this Walnut Cruiser Board would be super heavy due to its wooden materials. However, it’s far more lightweight than my expectation – only 4.5lbs – perfect to carry around without straining down your shoulders or arms. Score!
Besides, its “Made in California” tag is like an appreciable thing for me because I’m nearly fed up with too many Chinese poor-quality junks out there.
With this one, you can get ease in mind for its quality, from the real walnut veneer to the artisan maple sandwiched in between. Not saying that there’s a light kick in its tail (like the Landyachtz’s) for extra management when you try to do some turns.
Bonus, it arrives in a complete board so, you can take it out of the box to explore around your neighborhood right away.
Pros:
- Lightweight and compact
- Made in California to assure the quality (plus, fast shipping if you live in the vast majority of America)
- Durable
- Easily control when doing some turns
- No need to assemble at all, the board can be used right away when taking out of its box
Cons:
- Might be hard to keep the balance at first
9. Landyachtz Dinghy Emboss Black Mini Cruiser Longboard Skateboard
While many companies try to cut down the cost of their cruiser skateboards for high competing, Landyachtz still keeps their high price tag to assure their products’ quality is always in the peak.
It’s perfect for people like me who prefer investing a “bang for buck” board to use in a long-term rather than anything else. I say hello to the Landyachtz Dinghy Emboss Mini Cruiser Board, a versatile model with cool outlook and probably the most durable skateboards in this list.
It’s much faster than other counterparts to ride with less effort in long distances.
Plus, the board arrives in full assemblage so that skateboarders can take a ride immediately with no need of spending time and afford to set it up.
This is a good use for cruising, skating skill practicing or simply riding around your college campus.
Overall, for its performance and versatility, this is the best investment ever in the long term.
Pros:
- High-quality material and well-constructed
- Come in as a complete product to ride right away without assemblage required
- Ride smoothly and fast
- Make great turns
- Versatile
Cons:
- Expensive
10. Quest Fishtail Cruiser Board Skateboard (27-Inch)
For many years, Quest Fishtail Cruiser Skateboard has been dominating the market despite for all the right reasons.
Why? – You might ask.
Well, in a pinch, I would say there are two major reasons.
First up, it’s a perfect combination of great products and clever marketing. No wonder this 27” Fishtail Cruiser Board has been preferred by many riders worldwide for its cool, stylish design and phenomenal performance in person.
But moreover, its build quality is utterly pleasing with premium materials utilized throughout the construction, from bearings, wheels, to trucks.
The highlight is its 7-ply hardwood maple features a strong deck that not only helps you stand with confidence and maneuver with pleasure but also offer long-lasting usage.
Opposite to the Ridge Skateboards above, Quest’s wheels are quite hard to ride smoothly on many terrains, especially the rocks and cracks whilst providing the best stability. To get extra control as well as aesthetics, they attached a fishtail with a slight kick to the board.
In conclusion, this is a perfect option for people who are looking for the best cruiser skateboard under $60. It’s nice looking, inexpensive, has a lot of features and durable.
Pros:
- Cool, stylish design
- Affordable for the quality
- 7-ply hardwood maple for the best durability
- Hard wheels to rock on many rough terrains
- Included fishtail with slight kicks for extra control
Cons:
- The trucks aren’t tightened properly and start squeaking. Might need some adjustment
11. Penny Skateboards The Simpsons El Barto 22″ Cruiser Complete Skateboard – 6″ x 22″ – mini cruiser skateboard
If you are looking for the best cruiser skateboard for flex, Penny Board will worth the bill.
Though it’s one of the priciest models in this collection, and while I normally keep my determination to test such items, it intrigued me to the Simpsons image on the underside.
It’s a great conversation starter, guys!
In my case, there was a girl stopping by my skateboard and asking me where I bought it. She also gave a compliment for that funny Simpson printing as well.
Okay, go back to the major matter of this very day – authentic.
Yeah, this is guaranteed to be 100% real Penny Skateboard that you can feel ease in mind to drop your money on.
And for such that price tag, reputation, and guarantee, its performance great. Not only cruising around fast and smoothly, but this board is also durable enough to serve you for years.
And like the Quest’s or the Lanyachtz’s, this one comes in full assemblage to ready to skate immediately. In brief, I have no remorse on it!
Pros:
- Funny and nice looking to nail up your style
- 100% authentic
- Durable
- High-quality
- Long-lasting
- No assemblage requiring
Cons:
12. Penny Graphic Complete Skateboard – mini cruiser skateboard
To me, Penny Graphic Complete Skateboard is like a timeless piece.
It, in reality, becomes very popular and mainstream over the years.
Amongst three major sizes of Penny boards, this is the smallest (22inch) to give the best controllability during a turn or a ride.
I’m not talking about the “easy management” that its narrow deck brings up to you (because it’s an obvious thing!). I want to mention to its extra grip tape that’s ONLY in the small-size Penny Boards. And, if you’re a novice rider, this feature is going to be very useful. It helps to slow down when you feel you’re riding too fast.
Many people might say that Penny Board is hard for beginners to ride. I won’t deny it! However, once getting used to this buddy, you will feel very comfortable and convenient to upgrade some more skills.
I mean the Penny Graphic Board is really worth investing if you plan to be a professional skateboarder because aside from cruising around your college campus or on the street, it’s possible to do flip tricks as well.
Such a versatile piece!
Pros:
- Arrive in a complete board to ready to skate right out of the box
- Smooth and fast bearings
- Soft wheels
- Grip tape for better controllability while doing turns or riding
- Portable and lightweight
- 100% authentic
Cons:
- A bit costly, which is not suitable for a tight budget
13. Penny Nickel 27″ Complete Skateboard – penny boards for girls
Gals, if you’re a beginner, looking for the best Penny board for both price and performance, I really highly recommend this model.
Compared to the Penny Graphic Board above, it’s a bit larger – 27inch – that is considered as the easiest size for any riders, both professionals and novices. Along with that, its wheels are freakily forgiving and smooth for an easy start, even if you are not good at other balance-related sports like riding bikes.
Equivalent to a larger size, its width is also expansive for a bit more foot space over other straight Penny boards. In my opinion, this makes the product just so good for adult beginners.
Plus, combined with a portable design, you can easily strap it into your backpack and hardly notice it because this board just weighs around 5.5 pounds.
All in all, if you’re a newcomer with no idea of how to skate or cruise or ride a board, get one!
Pros:
- 100% authentic
- Various color options
- Lightweight and portable
- Versatile, easy to ride for both professionals and novices
- Smooth and forgiving wheels
- Good at balance
Cons:
- Expensive
- Painting might get scratched easily
14. Skitch Premium Complete 22″ Mini Cruiser – girls penny boards
The last skateboard on this list is rather awesome for professionals.
That’s because it is one of the best models delivering a decent buttery-smooth ride feel that regular skateboards can’t beat.
Crafted from top-quality materials, especially its wheels and bearings, this board doesn’t limit age ranges of riders, whether that’s an adult, teen or kid, as long as he/she is skillful in skating and cruising, the Skitch Premium Complete Board will be the best choice.
Moreover, if it’s a Christmas or birthday present for kids or teens, I bet they are going to love it like crazy because of the cool, fantastic galaxy graphic on the outside. Other than a skateboard, there is also a tote bag and a skate tool included – even more meaningful and practical for the gift receiver.
Those it’s designed particularly for professionals; the good news is beginners also can give a try on this board as well due to its fully adjustable system for safer speeds. Plus, its 22inch size is quite portable for a kid to carry around, even if he/she is just 4 years old.
And, did I tell you about its satisfaction guarantee?
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Full adjustment to reach the safest speed
- High-quality bearings
- High traction gel wheels
- Cool looking
- Give good flex
- Can make sharp corner turns
- Warranty
Cons:
- The paint might chip off
How to Choose the Best Cruising Boards – The Definitive Buyer Guide
Unlike other sports, the right equipment of skateboarding does matter!
Learning and practicing are surely counted, but once the board you choose isn’t suitable, it’s hard to show your real talent no matter how professional or laborious of training you are.
From that point, never underestimate the importance of purchasing the correct skateboard as well as considering every single of these four elements.
They are wheels, trucks, bearings, and decks.
Wheels
Speaking of wheels, there are four common types: the 48mm, the 52mm, the 56mm, and the 60mm arranged from small to larger. But the most common for cruising is the 52mm and the 56mm.
Keep in mind this basic rule of thumb when it’s about choosing wheels:
The small the wheels, the slower the speed, and the faster the acceleration.
Besides, there are three main things deciding how small or big of the wheels. They are the deck’s width, your body weight and the terrains you’re going to cruise on.
First is the deck’s width.
Many people make mistakes of selecting larger wheels for narrow decks and smaller wheels for more expansive decks.
In reality, it must be the opposite.
You should go for wheels that are as small or big as the deck is. Otherwise, they will wear off soon because of getting bitten quickly during rides.
Body weight
It’s easy to guess the relation between one person’s body weight and the longboard wheels’ size, isn’t it?
The heavier the skater, the larger the wheels.
If a hefty rider chooses a deck with small wheels or a kid skating on too large ones, it’s obviously hard to control the turns, speed, and the rides. In some case, that might cause you to unbalance and fall off.
Terrains
Lastly, it’s terrains.
Larger wheels deliver better stability so, the more challenging the surface you’re going to cruise on (such as sandy terrains), the larger the wheels.
Also, don’t forget to choose the right hardness as well.
Trucks
They are the t-shaped parts attached to the lower side of a longboard deck with both ends for placing wheels.
Trucks take responsibility for wheels to turn while they are rolling, especially when you cruise around the corners. It’s freakily smooth without taking many pauses.
Without trucks, but just wheels attached directly to the board, it’s impossible to get such those amazing turns.
So, when it comes to choosing trucks, you should remember the deck width as well unless you prefer them to be visible from both sides.
To cut a long story short, you should go for standard size of trucks to get the best performance in cruising as well as minimize wheel bite when going downhills.
Bearings
For those who don’t know what bearings are, this part is placed inside of wheels (usually made out of metal) and allow them to mount the axle more easily.
There are various sizes of bearings which are mostly based on the size of axle and wheels.
The very first thing you should keep in mind when choosing a cruising skateboard is high-quality bearings. If they aren’t, easily, just replace them for better options.
Only when the bearings are guaranteed their quality, the performance of wheels is optimal.
How to Choose The Cruiser Decks – The Definitive Buyer Guide
Now, to find out the best cruiser deck, first thing first, you need to determine the terrain that you are going to skate. Is there some foot traffic? Or, are you going to try some hills? This element decides how long the deck should be.
For example, if you’re going to skate to work, to class or to the nearby shopping mall, it’s essential to consider a longer cruiser deck to help you weave in and out the pedestrians. On the other cases which there’s no foot traffic at all, but just the terrain, like some hills or slopes, now the deck should be more stable and shred-able but still work well for cruising, my advice is to go for a smaller one.
But that’s not all about cruiser decks, there are still many things in terms of deck length. Two other key elements to consider are kicktail and the springy-ness of the deck.
Deck length
This is the easiest element to consider amongst three.
Deck lengths are various, usually ranging between 28”-46”. But in brief, they are divided into three major kinds: the shorter, the mid-sized and the longer.
If you still have no idea of where to begin, choose the mid-sized – 32” to 42”.
As it stays between the “short” and the “long”, it inherits all advantages of both to be intendedly just right for all types of riding. And, those longboards for cruising you might see on the street these days are mostly in this range.
Now, when the surf is flat and you’re looking for a cruiser deck to practice your board-walking skills, go for the longer one (usually from 42” to 46”).
It’s also perfect for long, relaxed rides on the sidewalk as well.
BUT you should know that the longer, the heftier. If you don’t mind carrying around a heavy cruiser longboard around, just go ahead.
Lastly, the shorter deck.
It’s usually ranging from 28” to 32”. This kind of cruising deck is suitable for smaller riders or young ones. In terms of the taller, unless you’re really confident in your riding skills, don’t go for it.
Note:
Actually, you can go for a smaller deck for cruising, if you’re a pro in skateboarding in general, and in cruising in particular saying. On the contrary, it’s safer for novice riders to go within the range of 28”-46” until you get comfortable.
Kicktail
The matter is whether you should go for a kicktail or no kicktail at all.
For those who don’t understand this term, kicktail is a raised tail that can make a good use in riding positions and tricks whilst making the skateboard itself more aesthetic.
Two typical examples for a kicktail are the near symmetrical shape you can find in the Honey AMP 6 Longboard Skateboard Deck and the twin-tip shape of the Loaded Dervish Longboard Skateboard Deck.
Now, it’s not compulsory to go for a kicktail. It’s a matter of preference.
Get it, you can do tricks, make quick turns, or even pop up and down curbs more conveniently.
Without it, you can maximize your board to reach the most efficiency of wheelbase for more stability. This is a good choice for novice riders.
Note:
Wheelbase is the distance from one axle to the other.
The springy-ness of the deck
Or, in a more understandable way, it’s your choice between a stiff or flexy deck.
Again, this is a matter of preference. Each type of deck will bring you some certain benefits, so, just read the descriptions for each one below to get the feeling of deck’s springy-ness you will be suitable for.
Stiff longboard deck
It delivers better stability to your board to cruise downhill. Thus, as mentioned at the beginning of this part, if pedestrians aren’t your concern, but just the hills or slopes, go for this type. Plus, it gives you a better “direct” response from your lean and sway, which is something you hardly find in the flexy boards.
Flexy longboard deck
Despite such weakness, the flexy boards are great at shock absorption from some rough terrains you might skate through to relieve some of the stress on your knees and ankles. Besides, they allow you to skate a little bit lower to the ground than the stiff ones – a perfect helper to adjust your gravity center to push or keep balance more easily.
If a flexy board is what you’re looking for, you need to take one more step of consideration to find out the most suitable one – choosing flex levels.
You can go for a small amount of flex to get some shock dampening effects for skating on rough terrains and some extra leverage through turns.
Choosing the flex levels is based on your body weight mostly.
Many companies are very thoughtful. They offer different flex options on certain longboard decks to ease your choice more.
The thing of selecting the right flex of a board will give you a closer ride to the ground as well as a bit of a shock dampening system than the stiff ones.
Frequently asked questions
This article is about to end, but I’ll give you one last extra part, in which I have rounded up the most frequently asked questions about cruiser skateboards and related stuff. (Beginners shouldn’t ignore!)
1. What is the difference between a longboard and penny board?
The most popular question!
Two biggest differences between these two kinds of the board are their size and versatility. Obviously, a penny board is much smaller yet less versatile than a longboard. It’s mostly used for serving our daily life like cruising around or transport within distances whilst a longboard can be played as a complete sport or a competition. And, it takes the best performance at riding downhills.
2. What is the difference between a cruiser board and a longboard?
Well, there are a lot: Size, wheels, terrains, distances, speed, and effort of a rider spends on it to keep speed up. But I’ll cut the long story short in this table:
| Factors | Cruiser board | Longboard |
|---|---|---|
| Shape |
|
|
| Wheels |
|
|
| Terrains |
|
|
| Distances | Short | Long |
| Speed | Nimble |
|
| Effort to keep the speed up | Take more energy | Take less energy |
Note: All comparisons are based on general measurements and the standard double-kick tail skateboard.
3. Should I get my first penny boards at Zumiez?
My answer is “No!”.
It doesn’t mean that Zumiez penny boards are bad. They are alright but these two major reasons stopping me from encouraging you to try it for the very first penny board:
- Zumiez employees’ specializations
- Price range
Mostly, you will get no help from their employees while looking for the first board because their specializations are more about thrasher shirts and skate shoes. Even sometimes, they might lead you down the wrong path.
And the price, I personally find penny boards sold by Zumiez are much expensive than other local stores, especially the grip tape. So, it’d better go to a locally owned shop rather than getting helpless help from Zumiez. Just my opinion!
4. What is the main function of a shortboard and skateboard?
Shortboards and skateboards are both used for riding but there are some small differences.
While shortboards are specialized in vert skateboarding, city ride and trick oriented skateboarding, skateboards can cruise pretty well. As coming up with various sizes, they are also utilized for different types of riding styles, from skateboard tricks to city ride, just not as professional as the shortboards.
5. What size Penny board should I get?
This feature depends on your shoe size, your skating experience, and purpose of use.
If your shoe size is less than 13 (like young and small riders), an original penny board sizing 22 inches is alright. In the meantime, novice riders with bigger feet should for 27inch Nickel Boards.
If you’re a professional skateboarder, a penny board is a worthy try for its portability. However, if you’re okay with a hefty board, a 33” standard model will make you become a super trickster.
In terms of the purpose of use, a 22” penny board is great for short distance rides with sharper turns whilst a 27” Nickel board is better for adult beginners to ride with ease and comfort.
6. What is faster a penny board or a longboard?
Great question!
I bet that many people think a longboard will be slower than a penny board in a downhill race. However, it’s only true when we keep a penny board with 90-buck ceramic bearings versus a longboard with 8-buck ones.
If letting them glide down a hill, using the same bearings and wheels, a longboard will amazingly reach the same velocity as a penny board (proved by science).
What a surprise!
Conclusion
Yeah, it’s the end of this article!
I know this is a long article so, thankfully, you’re still here.
Did you pick the best cruiser skateboards for your demand? I’m glad if you did. Otherwise, it’s normal because your first cruiser board needs time for the best choice.
If there are any interesting models you want me to do a review, or you’ve got some useful tips and tricks related to skateboards, feel free to share them to me and other readers in the comment section below.
Again, thanks for spending time on my website.
Happy boarding!