What Are The Best Longboards for Cruising? | 2020

When cruising, stability and a comfortable standing space are essential. 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 address up to three vital things: Length, Heft, and Wheelbase which are also the factors you must always consider if you want to get the best longboard for cruising.

If you’re struggling in finding a good board, this ultimate guide will give you a hand.

See Also:

• Top 18 Best Longboard For Beginners In 2020 Review – Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide
• How to Choose Best Longboards for Heavy Riders In 2020: The Definitive Guide
• 47 Best Skateboards For Beginners In 2020: Selected By Me

Top 19 Best Longboards for Cruising Reviews In 2020

Retrospec Zed Bamboo Longboard

(For Beginner)

Retrospec Zed is the best example of the saying “Good designs don’t need to cost the Earth”.

While being one of the cheapest longboards on my list, it comes with many high-quality components for beginners. Firstly, the deck, which is a good mix of sturdy maple wood and flexible bamboo.

For beginner riders, stability is a top priority when looking for aboard. This board has some flex from 2 plies of bamboo, but this only makes the unit more versatile to use later. On top of this sturdiness and self-balance make this board a good choice.

Another highlight is the wheels with extended width – 70 x 51 mm, which deliver more ground-contact for smoother riding. Each board has a rock finish for extra-durability to stay intact against heavy use and high impact riding

Reverse kingpin trucks address two important things – Reactive and smooth gliding that beginners need.

White Wave Bamboo Longboards

(For Heavy Riders)

The first-and-foremost feature making a good cruiser longboard for heavy riders is the high weight capacity. With White Wave, this is up to 250 – 270 pounds. And the board’s width is also extended to 9.5 inches to that helps those with bigger feet.

What makes this unit stand out from other counterparts is its ability to ride fast even under a heavier load while keeping the ride ultra-smooth and well-balanced.

This is due to to the mixed-material deck that balances stiffness and flex in the board and also the soft wheels and good bearings.

While using ABEC-9 bearings which are insanely fast, the wheels are crafted from high rebound urethane to capably hold a heavier load while giving a smooth ride over gravel patches. Combined with full grip tape, the self-balance ability of riders is assured

VOLADOR 42inch Freeride Longboard

(On City Streets & Campus)

My next pick is the Volador 42” Longboard, for its superb maneuverability. If you prefer to challenge yourself on different terrains, from flat ground to rough, rocky surfaces, this is the best go-to board.

The 7” reverse kingpin trucks and ABEC-9 bearings improve 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-walk, and use it for longboarding downhill.

This Volador has been with me for 4 months now, riding on many nearby slopes, over cracks, rocks, and grass and its performance is phenomenal. What amazes me the most is its stability and superbly fast speed that I found had no wobbles during any ride downhill.

If you are concerned about the environment, choose this board. Its maple deck includes 8 layers and each veneer is stuck in place with eco-friendly epoxy glue – non-toxic and very safe to the environment.

Playshion 39 Inch Drop Through Longboard

(On rough terrains)

If a multifunctional longboard is what you are looking for, the Playshion Drop Through Longboard is worth a try. It’s designed for both adults and kids with great performance in various skateboarding styles, no matter whether it is cruising, curving, sliding, freestyle or freeriding. The board is also super affordable.

I love riding it with my son when he needs me to teach him more longboarding skills. For kids, its 39” length is reasonable for their height whilst the weight is light enough to carry the board around and it is very easy to learn to ride as well.

For tall, heaver beginner riders, this longboard might be a little bit narrow and uncomfortable to start with. But, for an experienced skater, it surely could be your favorite because of the fast speed, durability, and huge weight limit.

For 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 board can stay with you for years.

Quest QT-NSC44C Longboard

(Take exercises)

Longboarding has been known for its health benefits so but when looking for a true board for exercising, I recommend Quest QT-NSC44C.

Its combination of ABEC-7 bearings and moderately soft wheels boost its speed-chasing capability to the extreme, which encourages you to kick more. This regularly repeated movement will naturally exercise your entire body, burning more calories.

Another compliment is its multi-ply deck of bamboo and maple wood.

This combination gives the deck a nice blend of stiffness with little flex, making your kicking posture more natural from left to right. With this support, you can improve your body’s flexibility.

The Quest QT-NSC44C is quite budget-friendly and anyone can easily afford it.

Slendor 42 inch Longboard

(Relaxing Cruise With Effortlessly)

To cruise around with less effort, you should look for a board that easily reaches as well as retains speedwell.

My suggestion is Slendor 42” Longboard with the emphasis on the unbeatable ABEC-11 bearings and an ultra-stiff 9-ply maple deck. Why should you want a stiff deck? – Might you ask?

Under insanely high speed, your board MUST be ultra-stable and a stiffer deck will meet this requirement perfectly. The drop-through silhouette supports your self-balance ability well.

The 85A wheels are harder than the average (which is 75A) for good wheel bite and the additional PU rings provide decent shock absorption adding comfort to your riding experience.

If you are a speed lover, I believe riding it downhill can’t be more satisfying. But of course, ensure your riding skills are and that you use longboarding safety gear.

Atom Drop Deck Longboard

(Versatile)

The Atom 39” Drop-Deck Longboard is the most versatile model in this list that aside from cruising, can carve, downhill, or be used for commuting. Over different terrains, from skateparks to concrete trails, or bumps and cracks, it offers an incredibly smooth ride.

Want to know the secret?

The secret lies on the board’s mini-drop groovy deck. While the drop silhouette raises the center of gravity, its mini size gives you more capacity for control and handling.

Combined with medium-hardness extra-wide wheels, that not only absorb shocks well but it also delivers extra-smooth riding experience. Additionally, quality fast bearings also play a role.

For such phenomenal performance, I think the price is quite reasonable.

Retrospec Rift Drop-Through Longboard

(For Long Distance)

Differing from the previous examples, this Retrospec longboard features a drop-through feature to lower board height, hence, making kicking easier and helping with balance.

For long-distance cruising, the most important things in your board are an easy ride deck and good shock absorption and Rift provided these for a bargain price. The wheels come with high-speed ABEC carbon bearings that are pre-lubricated while the wheels have a soft texture, which results in a superior smooth and fast ride.

This agile board also has a sturdy, long deck and the Retrospec Rift is crafted from Canadian Maple for stiffness and stability. At 41 inches with good quality grip tape, you also gain a better stance for riding

SANVIEW 42inch Longboard

(For short distance)

A longboard for short distances is usually needed to cruise around the school campus, skate parks, from/to work office or neighborhood and it should be fast and easy to turn.

The SANVIEW Longboard is my recommendation.

It’s constructed using a perfect combination of ultra-hard 83A PU bushings, speedy ABEC-9 bearings, and lightweight 7” trucks. This longboard also gives you great control to easily weave in/out of a crowded corridor, which is my favorite part of this board.

The 42” length makes the board a good choice for people with more experience in handling bigger decks with large feet. Other than that, I appreciate how lightweight the board is compared to other similar boards, which makes is a better board for general transport.

MINORITY Downhill Maple Longboard

(Budget-friendly)

The Minority 40” longboard is the cheapest unit in this collection, priced at under $59 while the quality is undeniably good. The good features of the board are its effective drop concave that locks the rider’s feet firmly to keep the balance at high speed.

Like other drop-deck longboards, this board is built very low to the ground to leverage your center of gravity, hence, giving better stability and control.

Another highlight is the capability to make sharp turns easily that usually only shorter boards can do. Contrary to what people may think you can handle this board with ease despite its size and large wheelbase.

It a good choice for beginners who intend not only to learn to ride but also to cruise and carve.

Ten Toes Board Emporium Zed Longboard

The Ten Toes Board is ideal for novice riders and has a good construction that you can easily stand on and learn to ride.

Though it might not be as smooth a ride and shock absorption not as good as the Volador’s, this Emporium Zed longboard focuses on lightness, stability, and good feel even when riding downhills. It doesn’t go too fast so you can maintain control.

I recommend that you take your first rides on flat surfaces before challenging yourself on slopes.

If you’re a heavy rider, you can have peace of mind with this board because its weight limit is up to 300 lbs while the deck is 44” long and very comfortable to stand on.

In general, a good choice for both kids and adults!

Atom Pin-Tail Longboard

(Best for beginners)

The Atom Pintail Longboard is my recommendation for the best cruiser for beginners due to its ease to ride.

I bought this one for my 10-year-old boy who has just started his first steps in his longboarding life. The 39” size of the deck is reasonable for his height while the weight is light enough to carry around.

It is worth mentioning the classic pintail shape that not only delivers better grip with lots of control for beginners but is also easy to learn. My child just needed roughly 1 hour to gain confidence in his stance to be ready for a good cruise.

If you are a big person, it is okay to stand on and ride around, but your weight might limit the speed. This is a big bonus for beginners because you can better handle the board as well as control it while riding, even when longboarding downhill. On the other hand, it is not good for experienced riders who prefer faster speeds and sharper turns.

One thing for sure is on spending nearly $100 on the board is that you will get decent quality and durability. An Atom Longboard can last 4-6 years, which is a good investment in the long term.

Atom 40 Inch Longboard

If installing things isn’t your strength, the Atom Drop-through longboard is surely the best choice as is comes as a fully assembled longboard, all you need to do is jump on and a ride. It is also is beautiful, unique, and so cool.

This Atom longboard costs more than the models above and everything about it does give a different feeling, from the curved wide deck with a huge weight limit, to the grippy deck tape.

Its smooth-ride is also worth mentioning as well because you don’t need to push this board much to reach your desired speed.

The only drawback of this board might be that it is a bit wider than other boards and requires some lean-to affect a 180-degree turn. But in the turn, there is no wheel bite at all.

Overall, a good choice for beginners.

SCSK8 Blank & Stained Longboard

For about $33, I didn’t expect much from this SDSK8 Natural Longboard. I just hope its quality was good enough to ride for fun. However, after opening the box, I was amazed.

Arriving fully assembled no setup was needed and the board was ready to cruise right away. It travels fast, smoothly with lots of control and stability. Even a novice rider needs only to spend about 30-60 minutes to be able to cruise around.

After two months with the SCSK8 Natural Blank & Stained, I can say that it acts no differently to any $100 board. In reality, the wheels, trucks, and bearings might need some adjustment for best performance but such that effort is well-worth spending because, in the end, it rides smoothly without any wobbles.

I can understand why this cheap longboard gains have so much positive feedback. Except for the price, there’s nothing cheap at all.

Santa Cruz Youth Land Shark Cruzer

This is the best cruiser from Santa Cruz Skateboards. As with other fully assembled boards, it’s ready out of the box. My first impression on this mid-tier longboard was very good. The trucks are loose enough for sharp turns in a small radius with minimal wheel bite and the Cruise is as smooth as butter.

The best features are the extra nose and kicktails to assist riders to lift the back wheels more easily with their feet on the nose. For beginners, it’s a good choice because the board is very grippy and stable. It may take around 1-2 days to get used to your own stance for a true cruiser.

The only part that I decided to replace was the bearings, the bearings are ok but I needed  more durable pair of more durable bearings as I ride a lot.  If you just use it to commute from home to work/school or around your campus, replacement isn’t essential.

Yocaher Punked Longboard

Another ideal option for beginners as it is super easy to ride and you feel like an experienced rider. It is advised that novice riders to go for a lowered board because this one is a little bit high off the ground, its smooth wheels, nice grip tape, and stable deck counter the height.

The board rides stably with good control but for turning, you might need to adjust the trucks for easier performance.

$60 of a longboard is quite affordable even if the trucks and wheels of this Yocaher are such good quality.

Overall, this is the best bet for those starter riders who want to get a new, interesting hobby for a fun summer.

Sector 9 Fractal Longboard

What drew my attention to this longboard was its stunning graphics and after buying it, I received a lot of compliments as well as some questions about where I bought it from.

This Sector 9 was shipped rapidly, and right out of the box, I could jump on and ride without fine turning anything. 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, I can tell you that everything is nearly perfect with super flexible deck, pleasure Gull Wing reserve kingpin trucks, and grippy wheels even after 8 months. A great board for agility and speed. (Also, a good conversation starter as well.)

Loaded Boards Tan Tien Longboard

I particularly like this board for its versatility,  it is the ideal longboard for everyone, from kids to adults, from beginners to professionals.

And everything is sophisticated down to the smallest detail with nothing that needs replacing anything, even the graphic wear well.

The board is extremely responsive with less flex for better slides, the key to decent performance.

It is a bit wobbly at high speed but for cruising, carving, freeride, freestyle, and especially commuting, it is more than perfect. If you are a beginner, it might be hard to stand at first and get used to your stance. But I can assure you that after finding your sweet spot, you will never want to get off this board.

The Loaded Bards Tan Tien Longboard is also the most expensive on this list, but well worth every single penny.

Landyachtz Chief Longboard

If you’re a fan of Landyatchtz, you cannot ignore this Chief Cruiser Longboard.

I have total respect for its gorgeous graphics getting compliments each time I go out for a ride. The board is also very lightweight and easy to carry around.

Compared to other longboards for cruising, this one has a higher deck, it is therefore not recommended for beginners. Even an experienced rider like myself will take some time to get used to it so, for a novice rider, it will take at least a week to get used to it. This does not mean that the build does not support all novice riders.

As an expert, this is a worthy investment because once acquainted with your stance on the board, it’s like heaven when cruising on slight inclines and straight roads.

The Ultimate Guide To Choosing Best Longboards for Cruising

If you want to pick out the best longboards for cruising on your own, consider this:

Deck styles

This is the first and most important element that you must consider because it is the foundation for the three most important things in cruising – stability, ease of pushing, and ease of foot braking.

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 ability, from easy to difficult. Along with this comes to different budgets.

To cut the long story short, take a look at this table:

Board Shapes

There are two shapes of longboard: directional and symmetrical. For cruising, I recommend choosing the first one, especially if you’re a novice rider.

The reason lies in its style which is also the key to delivering better control when riding.

*Bonus:

If you intend to cruise around for commuting, aside from considering board shape, it’s essential to choose the right board shape features because they will give you more grip for a quick, safe, and satisfying turn.

Three popular features relating to board shape are wheel cut-outs, kicktails, and concave. 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, select 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 when considering concave:

• There are two kinds of concave: The ordinary concave or the w-concave (W-concave gives a better grip, which usually comes with expensive freeride and downhill boards). The choice is yours.
• For a cruiser longboard, you don’t need to go for a concave that’s as deep and extreme as the freeride and downhill boards.

Deck Sizes

Longboards are the best choice among many types of skateboards for cruising. Most of them are around 32” to 42” – an ideal size range to cruise easily.

Choosing the right length of longboard influences other elements, such as how easy it is to cruise for beginners, extra weight, or if you want to improve other skills.

Usually, young riders should go for 32”-39” whilst an adult, especially a beginner, may find it’s much easier and more stable to cruise on 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 the deck, the better. Keep in mind that the longer the deck, the heavier it will be too, so ensure that you’re okay with carrying around some extra weight.

Flex

When it comes to flex, remember this basic rule of thumb:

The more flex -> The easier to balance on different types of terrains and the more stable the board -> The stiffer the deck should be -> The faster of speed.

Soft flex boards are usually used for certain board tricks and mellow cruising; the medium flex is best for moderate speed cruising, carving, and commuting whilst the stiff flex is good for freeriding, bombing hills, and going fast.

Flex is like a question of taste – some love turning and they opt for a soft-flex board whereas others prefer the 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 in a 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 reverse kingpin trucks whilst the standard ones are usually found on normal skateboards with kicktails as this combination 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:

Hardness is mostly based on your body weight:

• For less than 60 pounds, the ideal hardness of wheels is around 78a to 80a
• 60-80 pounds, it should be 80a to 83a
• For 80 pounds and up, 83a to 86a is great.

Finally wheel shape.

Two common types are round and square. The second option is better for cruising because instead of being round the edge of the wheels is at a 90-degree angle to deliver better contact with the ground, more slide resistance, and better traction.

However, it might take time for breaking in before giving the best performance when carving, cruising, and downhills.

Bearings

Last but not least, the bearings. Bearings keep the longboard wheels moving for easy turns without wear and tear. For cruising, the ABEC-3 bearings are perfect. If you’re an expert with a higher demand for a versatile longboard for cruising, carving, racing as well as riding fast downhills, opt for the ABEC 5, ABEC 7 and up.

*Bonus:

Always keep the bearings clean, free of grit, water, and dirt for the best performance.

FAQs

1. What is the best brand of a longboard?

Choosing the best brand of a longboard is difficult as there are a lot. But I can point out the top three must-try brands that are: Quest, Volador, and Ten Toes Board. If you want to know which is best, read above.

2. What is the best longboard for beginners?

There are many elements to consider when deciding which is the best longboard for beginners, such as budget, your riding style, body weight, and so on. So, read this article for the right answer.

3. Are longboards easier to ride?

Compared to other types of skateboards, longboards are easier to ride because of their extra length, heft, and wheelbase.

4. What type of skateboard is best for cruising?

Cruising for beginners is different from that for professionals. There is also a huge difference in terrains. I already explained the Deck Types in this article’s Buying Guide section above.

Wrap up

When choosing the best longboards for cruising, you need to be honest about your ability because there’s a huge difference between a board for beginners and the one for professionals.