In cruising, stability and comfortable standing space are the keys. The more stable the board, the better cruising.
That’s why when it comes to choosing the best cruiser board, my top choice is always longboards. They nail up three vital things: Length, Heft, and Wheelbase which are also the must-consider factors, at least in my standard, if you want to get the best longboards for cruising.
If you’re struggling in finding out a good one, my ultimate guide here will give you a hand.
See Also:
- Top 18 Best Longboard For Beginners In 2019 Review – Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide
- The 20 Best Longboard Brands Reviews In 2019
- 16 Best Skateboards For Beginners Adults In 2019: Selected By Me
Table of Contents
- Best Longboards for Cruising – 2019 Edition Review
- 1. The Quest Longboard – Best overall
- 2. VOLADOR 42inch Longboard – Eco-friendly design
- 3. Ten Toes Board Emporium Zed Longboard – Nice Graphics
- 4.Atom Pin-Tail Longboard (39-Inch) – Best for beginners
- 5. Playshion 39 Inch Longboard – Best for Heavy riders
- 6. Atom 40” Longboard – No wheel bite
- 7. SCSK8 Blank & Stained Longboard – All-terrains
- 8. Santa Cruz Youth Land Shark Cruzer – Good turns
- 9. Yocaher Punked Longboard – Ride smoothly
- 10. Sector 9 Fractal Skateboard – Tight turn radius
- 11. Loaded Boards Tan Tien Longboard – Best Bamboo Cruiser
- 12. GoldCoast Skateboard – Best Classic Cruiser
- 13. Landyachtz Chief Longboard – Lightweight
- The Ultimate Guide To Choosing Best Longboards for Cruising
- FAQ
- Wrap up
Best Longboards for Cruising – 2019 Edition Review
1. The Quest Longboard – Best overall
For a versatile longboard that any riders (in any age range) can ride on, my pick of all the time is the Quest Super Cruiser. It’s fast and good at maneuverability for the professionals whilst stable and easy-to-ride enough for newbies.
You can see it clearly through the board’s construction, especially the 44” 7-plywood deck made of maple and bamboo. Such that material wise delivers a perfect compromise between decent flexibility and superb stiffness.
Plus, are the ABEC-7 bearings which speed up the board significantly to cruise stably but quickly whilst ensure to make a good turn. Actually, I’ve tried many Quest longboard versions before, like the California Native, the Zero Dark 40 and the Native Spirit but this one is unbeatable.
Its deck length is the most worth mentioning – 44 inches – perfect for heavy, tall skaters to stand on comfortably and control the board more easily. I’m 200 lbs. in weight, and this one can bear such that load pretty well. Cruise easily. Turn sharply. No signs of slow speed here.
On the other hand, beginners should consider this Quest longboard as well if you intend to stick your life with longboarding. It’s a little bit difficult to ride for the first time, though. I believe that once you get used to it as well as find your suitable stance, you don’t want to leave it anymore.
Pros
- Highlight with a perfect compromise of flex and hardness in the deck
- Good price for the quality
- Stable, easy to ride
- Good bearings
- 44” length for more standing space -> control and feel the board better
- Three choices of designs
- Great kick nose and tail for good grip
- Can make sharp turns with a small radius
- Decent finish
- Light camber
Cons
- A bit difficult to learn for beginners
- A bit heavy
2. VOLADOR 42inch Longboard – Eco-friendly design
My next pick is the Volador 42” Longboard, for its decent maneuverability. If you prefer to struggle yourself in different terrains, from flat ground to rough, rocky surface, this is the best go-to.
The 7” reverse kingpin trucks and ABEC-9 bearings excel its freeride performance whilst 42” deck gives enough comfort and control for riders. In fact, it’s more than just a cruiser board as you can freeride, board-walking and longboarding downhill.
I’m here to prove that. This Volador has stuck with me for 4 months now, riding on many nearby slopes, over cracks, rocks, and grass, its performance is phenomenal. But what amazes me the most is its stability and superbly fast speed that I found no wobbles during any ride downhill. Incredible!
If you’re also an environmentalist, pick this. Its maple deck includes 8 plies and each veneer is utilized the eco-friendly epoxy glue – nontoxic and very safe to the environment.
Pros
- Good construction and high quality
- Provide enough standing space for control and monitor the board
- Highlight shock absorption and good flex
- Durable, long-lasting and sturdiness
- Heavy skaters can consider this
- Eco-friendly
- Perfect choice for longboarding downhill and board-walking
- Make a good turn
- Catchy graphics
- Various color options
Cons
- Deck has a lot of tilt
- Not good bearings
3. Ten Toes Board Emporium Zed Longboard – Nice Graphics
The Ten Toes Board is more biased toward novice riders with friendly construction that you can easily stand on and learn to ride.
Though it might not be as smooth riding and good shock absorption as the Volador’s, this Emporium Zed longboard emphasizes its lightness, stability, and good feeling that even when riding downhills, it doesn’t go too fast to lose control.
Still, I advise you to spend your first rides on flat surfaces before challenging yourself on slopes.
If you’re a heavy rider, just feel ease in mind to start with this one because its weight limit is up to 300 lbs. whilst the deck is 44” long – very comfortable to stand on. In general, a good choice for both kids and adult!
Pros
- Very affordable price and various color options
- Provide generous standing space
- Nice graphics
- Lightweight, sturdy, durable, and easy to ride
- Good control
- Reverse kingpin with ABEC-7 bearings -> perfect for cruising, board-walking, and downhills
- Durable wheels
Cons
- A bit difficult in some terrains to build speed
- Need to push more often than riding on other boards
4.Atom Pin-Tail Longboard (39-Inch) – Best for beginners
The Atom Pin-tail Longboard is my top recommendation of the best cruiser for beginners due to its ease to ride.
Bought this one for my 10-year-old boy who has just started some first steps to his longboarding life. 39” size of the deck seems reasonable to his height whilst the weight is light enough to carry around.
But what’s worth mentioning the most here is its classic pintail shape. It not only delivers better grip with lots of control for beginners but also easy to learn. My kid just needs roughly 1 hour to get confidence in his stance to be ready for a good cruise.
If you’re a big guy, it’s still okay to stand on and ride around, but take notice that your heft might limit the speed. This is somehow a big bonus for beginners because you can easily handle the board as well as control it while riding, even when longboarding downhill. On the other hand, is a con for experienced riders who prefer faster speed and sharp turns.
Whatever, at least, one thing for sure that you will receive after spending nearly $100 on this board is its decent quality and durability. An Atom Longboard can last 4-6 years, which is worthily a good investment in the long term, don’t you think?
Pros
- Easy to learn and ride -> Good choice for beginners
- Sturdy and long-lasting maple deck
- Wood material is soft enough to make dents in
- Nice and strong grip tape to ride greatly in the rain
- Lightweight, easy to carry around
- Control the board well
Cons
- There’s some wheel bite if you hit a tight turn
- A bit difficult to do manuals
5. Playshion 39 Inch Longboard – Best for Heavy riders
If a multifunctional longboard is what you’re all about, the Playshion Drop Through Longboard is worth a try. It’s designed for both adult and kids with great performance at various skateboarding styles, no matter that is cruising, curving, sliding, freestyle or freeride. Plus, super affordable.
That’s why I love riding it with my son when he needs me to teach him some more longboarding skills. For kids, its 39” length is reasonable with their height whilst the weight is light enough to carry around. Very easy to learn as well. And my son, he loves this buddy a lot that if he could bring it to bed, he definitely would.
For tall, heavy starter riders, this longboard might be a little bit narrow and uncomfortable to start with. But, for an experienced skater, it surely turns out to be your favorite because of the fast speed, durability, and huge weight limit.
Compared to the price, this Playshion longboard provides good wheels, bearings, and trucks, at least in my opinion. As long as you don’t do tricks on it, this can stick with you for years.
If you want to get a joyful weekend with family, this is an excellent pick. I and my son can assure that.
Pros
- Multipurpose and versatile
- 250 lbs. weight limit and sturdy deck -> Good choice for heavy skaters
- High maneuverability
- Durable and soft wheel -> better shock absorption and smooth riding
- Fast speed with stability
Cons
- Grip tape isn’t durable
6. Atom 40” Longboard – No wheel bite
If installing things isn’t your strength, the Atom Drop-through longboard is surely your go-to. Come in a fully assembled longboard, all you need to do is just jumping on and start a ride immediately. Besides, it is beautiful, unique, and so cool.
This Atom longboard is a little bit costlier than those models above, so, everything about it does give a different feeling. From the curved wide deck with huge weight limit, to the grippy deck tape.
Its smooth-riding is also worth mentioning as well because you don’t need to push this board too many times to catch the needed speed. Might be around 2-3 times of paddling are enough and then, you can start cruising or carving.
Because the board itself is built as a drop-through, the additional kicking is even more useful to lower its height efficiently for stable riding and easy paddling.
The only drawback of this board might be its radius – a bit wider than other counterparts, which requires some lean to affect a 180-degree turn. But in turn, there’s no wheel bite at all.
Overall, a good choice for beginners.
Pros
- Beautiful graphics
- Fully assemble to readily start a ride out of the box
- Ride smoothly, solidly and stable
- Huge weight limit
- Good grip tape, great wheels, and bearings
- Not require much effort to paddle
- No wheel bite
Cons
- Not careful packaging
- A bit wide turning radius
7. SCSK8 Blank & Stained Longboard – All-terrains
For about $33, truth to say, I initially didn’t expect much on this SDSK8 Natural Longboard. Just hope its quality was good enough to ride for fun. However, after opening the box, all my vestiges of doubt went away.
Arrive in fully assembled so, there’s no setup needed. The board is ready to cruise right away and it goes fast, smoothly with lots of control and stability. Even a novice rider only needs to spend roughly 30-60 minutes to readily cruise around.
Two months sticking with the SCSK8 Natural Blank & Stained and it acts no different than a $100 board. Though in reality, the wheels, trucks, and bearings might need some adjustment for the best performance, such that effort is well-worth spending because, in the end, it rides smoothly without wobbles.
Now, I can understand why this cheap longboard gains so many good feedbacks like that. Except for the price, there’s nothing cheap at all.
Pros
- Durable, sturdy deck
- Fully assembled to readily start a cruise right out of the box
- Ride smoothly without speed wobbles
- Paintable wood
- Can handle rough terrains and cracks
- Easy to get the hang of
- Good grip tape
Cons
- Noisy trucks
8. Santa Cruz Youth Land Shark Cruzer – Good turns
This is the best cruisers of Santa Cruz Skateboards. As other fully assembled boards, it’s ready out of the board to start a ride. My first impression on this mid-tier longboard is very good. The trucks are loose enough for sharp turns in a small radius with minimal wheel bite. Cruise as smoothly as butter.
The biggest bonuses are their extra nose and kicktails to assist riders to lift the back wheels more easily with their feet on the nose. For beginners, it’s also a good choice because the board is very grippy and stable. Might it be around 1-2 days that you can get used to your own stance for a true cruise?
The only part that I decided to replace is bearings. They are good but because I cruise a lot, so, a more durable pair of bearings is a better option for me. If you use it to commute from home to work/school or around your campus, replacement isn’t essential.
Pros
- Ready to ride out of the box
- Smooth and sturdy board
- Strong deck
- Cool design with a bottle opener at the bottom of the deck
- Make good turns with great balance
- Have kick tails and nose
Cons
- Wheels are a little bit tight
9. Yocaher Punked Longboard – Ride smoothly
Another ideal option for beginners. It’s super easy to ride that you can feel like an experienced rider. Though they advise novice riders to go for a lowered board whilst this one is a little bit high off the ground, its smooth wheels, nice grip tape, and stable deck are the best offset.
The board rides stably with good control but for a turn, you might need to do some adjustment on their trucks for easier performance.
To me, $60 of a longboard is quite affordable, not saying that the trucks and wheels of this Yocaher are quite outstanding with decent quality and smooth roll. Get neither remorse nor feeling to replace them in the near future.
Overall, this is the best bet for those starter riders who want to get a new, interesting hobby for a nice summer.
Pros
- Decent stain quality at the bottom
- Ride smoothly
- High-quality trucks and bearings
- Good shock absorption
- High-quality, sturdy deck
- Good choice for beginners
Cons
- Need some adjustment for better turning
- Cheap looking plastic rubber risers
10. Sector 9 Fractal Skateboard – Tight turn radius
Actually, what drew my attention to this longboard was its stunning graphics and after copping it, I received a lot of compliments as well as some questions from random about where I bought it from.
This Sector 9 was shipped rapidly, and right out of the box, I could jump on and start a ride without fine turning anything needed. So, if you’re a beginner and have no idea of setting up a board, this is your best bet.
If your concern is about its quality, due to my 8 months of experience on the Fractal Skateboard, everything is nearly perfect with super flexible deck, pleasure Gull Wing reserve kingpin trucks and grippy wheels. A great board for agility and speed. (Also, a good conversation starter as well.)
Pros
- Fast shipping
- Nice, cool graphics
- Easy to ride
- Durable, sturdy and super flexible deck
- Pleasure trucks for carving and cruising
- Grippy and smooth wheels
- Amazing turn radius
Cons
- Not good bearings
11. Loaded Boards Tan Tien Longboard – Best Bamboo Cruiser
I particularly love this board for both its versatility and multifunction. This is the longboard for everyone, from kids to adults, from beginners to professionals.
And everything reaches the maximum sophistication, even the smallest detail that you don’t need to consider replacing anything or find a way to keep its graphics printing last longer.
The board is extremely responsive, less flex but more beautiful slides. I guess that’s the key to such a decent performance.
Though it’s a bit wobbly in high speed, for cruising, carving, freeride, freestyle, and especially commuting, it’s more than perfect. If you’re a beginner, might it be a bit hard at first to stand on and get used to your stance? But I can assure you that after finding out the best positioning set, you don’t want to leave it at all.
That’s why, though the Loaded Bards Tan Tien Longboard is also the most expensive in this list, I feel well-worth every single penny spent on it.
Pros
- The lightweight but durable and great performance board
- The ideal length for all-age riders, especially heavy ones
- Easy to slide
- Multipurpose: Good at cruising, carving, freeride, freestyle, and commuting
- Extremely responsive
- Nice looking
- Grippy grip tape
Cons
- Expensive
12. GoldCoast Skateboard – Best Classic Cruiser
GoldCoast Skateboard is another expensive brand specialized in cruisers that I had wished to have one so far. Thankfully, they sell online so that I can find many better deals to save some more bucks.
The board is more than fantastic!
I’m a big guy and usually found struggling on smaller boards, but this isn’t the one. It rides smoothly with great balance and lots of control. Also, is the rare one that I feel satisfied with its graphics. Utterly my style! That’s the reason, it has been the solid pick for me to commute every day from here to there for 4 months.
Along with that, sturdy deck, flexible board, awesome steering, and great wheels are worth mentioning. I don’t get any remorse on this board at all, except for its slightly costly price tag.
Pros
- Stable and easy to ride -> good choice for starters
- Delicate workmanship
- Ride smoothly and stable
- Solid and great design
- Good quality wheels and bearings
- Great for cruising and hills
Cons
- A bit expensive
13. Landyachtz Chief Longboard – Lightweight
If you’re a fan of Landyatchtz, don’t ignore this Chief Cruiser Longboard.
I’ve got tons of compliment for its gorgeous graphics anytime going out for a ride. Also, very lightweight and easy to carry around.
Compared to other longboards for cruising, this one is a little bit higher in its deck, which is not my recommendation for beginners. Even an experienced rider like me must take some time to get used to it so, for a novice rider, it must take nearly a week to get used to it. Not saying that its whole construction isn’t biased to support novice riders.
But in the position of an expert, this is a worthy investment because once getting acquainted with your stance on the board, it’s like heaven when cruising on slight inclines and straightaways.
My guess is, its super responsiveness is the key for that.
Pros
- Lightweight, easy to carry
- Stiff and nice board with beautiful graphics
- Soft wheels to absorb shock pretty well
- Can ride on different terrains
- High-quality bearings and trucks
Cons
- A bit unstable when riding downhills
- Difficult for beginners
The Ultimate Guide To Choosing Best Longboards for Cruising
Now, if you want to pick out the best longboards for cruising on your own, keep in mind these features:
Deck styles
Due to my experience, this is the first and foremost element that you must consider because it decides the three most important things in cruising – stability, ease of pushing and ease of foot braking.
As you might know it or not, there are four main deck styles in terms of a longboard. They are the top mount, the drop through, the drop deck and the double drop. All four of them are good to cruise, HOWEVER, each one will be suitable for a certain level of the cruise, from easy to difficult. Along with that, are different budgets.
To cut the long story short, take a look at this table:
| Deck style | Characteristics | Best on | Who should choose it | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top mount | High center of gravity -> less stable, but nimbler than drop boards | Carves, cruise, downhills, freestyle, and freeride | Experts | Low |
| Drop deck | Low center of gravity -> more stable, less fatigue while pushing/braking | Downhills, freeride, and cruise | Beginners and experts | Low-medium |
| Drop through | Effectively low center of gravity and thick deck -> more stable, less fatigue to push/brake | Cruise in long distance as commuting, downhill, and freeride | Beginners and experts | Low-medium |
| Double drop | The super-low center of gravity -> the most stable deck | Delicate cruising downhill | Experts | High |
Board Shapes
Basically, there are two shapes of longboard: directional and symmetrical. But for cruising, I recommend choosing the first one, especially if you’re a novice rider.
The reason lies in its characteristic – only going forward. And that is also the key to deliver better control while ridden switch.
*Bonus:
If you intend to cruise around for commuting, aside from considering the board shapes, it’s essential to choose the right board shape features because they will deliver more grip for a quick, safe, and satisfied turn.
Three popular features relating to the board shape are wheel cut-outs, kicktails and concave. But in my opinion, the kicktails and the concave are worth considering.
Choose a kicktail if you intend to use the board for curb hops and pedestrian dodges. Otherwise, pick the concaves for normal cruising because they raise up the rails your board a little higher than the center for better control when you stand on the board.
Just two small notes if your choice is the concave:
- There are two kinds of concave: The ordinary concave or the w-concave (W-concave gives better grip, which usually comes along with the expensive freeride and downhill boards). The choice lies with you.
- For cruiser longboard, you don’t need to go for a concave that’s as deep and extreme as the freeride and downhill ones.
Deck Sizes
Actually, longboards are the best choice among different types of skateboards for cruising. Most of them are around 32” to 42” – an ideal size range to cruise like a breeze.
However, choosing the right length of longboard also influences other elements, such as how to ease to cruise for beginners, extra weight, or if you want to improve other skills. That’s why I don’t advise you to choose this feature randomly.
Usually, young riders should go for 32”-39” whilst an adult, especially the beginners, might find it’s much easier and more stable to cruise in a 40”-42” board. For heavy riders, a 43”-44” longboard is the best choice.
For those who’d like to improve other riding skills, the longer deck, the better. But keep in mind that the longer the deck, the heavier it will be so, ensure that you’re okay with carrying around some more weight, particularly if you’re a female rider.
Flex
When it comes to flex, remember this basic rule of thumb:
The more flex -> The easier to balance on different types of terrains & the more stable of the board -> The stiffer the deck should be -> The faster of speed.
That’s why the soft flex boards are usually utilized for certain board tricks and mellow cruising; the medium flex is best on moderate speed cruising, carving and commuting whilst the stiff flex is good at freeriding, bombing hills and going fast.
Flex is like a question of taste – some love turning, they go for a soft-flex board whereas others prefer extra stability of a stiffer deck.
Beginners usually start with a soft flex board because they are easier to stand on and cruise around. But once you’ve already completed all basic longboarding skills, invest for a good stiffer deck.
Trucks
In terms of longboard trucks, their width does matter. Two common choices are 150mm and 180mm.
The narrower the deck, the narrower its trucks.
Also, consider the kingpin position.
For easier control while longboarding downhills or board-walking, choose the reverse kingpin trucks whilst the standard ones are usually caught in normal skateboards with kicktails because this combo delivers a more precise response.
Wheels
Three essential factors to remember when choosing longboard wheels are:
- Diameter
- Hardness
- Shape
In terms of wheels’ diameter, take a look at this table:
| Deck length (inch) | Wheels’ diameter (mm) |
|---|---|
| 32 - 34 | 60 - 67 |
| 34 - 40 | 68 – 70 |
| 40 and more | 70 - 75 |
And for the hardness, it’s mostly based on your body weight:
- For less than 60 pounds, the ideal hardness of wheels are around 78a to 80a
- 60-80 pounds, it should be 80a to 83a
- For 80 pounds and up, 83a to 86a is great.
Finally, is wheel’s shape.
Two common types are round and square. But the second option is better for cruising because instead of being round, as usual, the edge of the wheels now is 90-degree angle square to deliver better contact with the ground, more sliding resistance and traction.
However, it might take time for breaking in before giving excellent performance in carving, cruising, and downhills.
Bearings
Last but not least, are bearings. They keep the longboard wheels making good turns without much wears and tear. For cruising, the ABEC-3 bearings are perfect. But if you’re an expert with a higher demand on a versatile longboard for cruising, carving, racing as well as riding fast downhills, go for the ABEC 5, ABEC 7 and up.
*Bonus:
Always keep the bearings clean, free of grit, water, and dirt for the best performance.
FAQ
1. What is the best brand of a longboard?
To talk about the best brand of a longboard, there are a lot. But I can point out the top three must-try ones: Quest, Volador, and Ten Toes Board. If you want to know which of their products are excellent to try, take a look here.
2. What is the best longboard for beginners?
There are many elements to decide which one is the best longboard for beginners, like budget, your riding style, body weight and so on. So, to ensure the best answer for you, kindly take a look at this article.
3. Are longboards easier to ride?
Compared to other types of skateboards, the longboards do be easier to ride because of its extra length, heft, and wheelbase.
4. What type of skateboard is best for cruising?
Cruising for beginners are different from that for professionals. Also, it’s a huge difference between terrains. I already explained quite detail in the Deck Types of this article’s Buying Guide section, you can learn more here.
Wrap up
My thought is, to pick out the best longboards for cruising, you need to be honest about your ability because there’s a huge difference between the one for beginners and the one for professionals, which surely leads to worse performance if you go for an improper board.
With that being said, hopefully, the given short guideline, as well as my suggestion of the top models, can help you make a better decision. Thanks for reading!