More people than ever before are getting into longboarding and it’s becoming more popular every year.
Some riders only want to cruise around. It’s the perfect way to commute throughout the city. Others like performing tricks and real thrill seekers will speed down hills at great speed.
If you’re getting started you’ll need a good beginner longboard before you do anything else, so we’re going to look at some top boards today.
Best Longboard For Beginners On The Market
Unless you’ve been longboarding before you might find it hard to choose the right beginner board. There are so many to choose from and you don’t want to pick the wrong one. Let’s look at a few longboards that will definitely satisfy your needs at this point in your journey.
Please Note: We’re only going to look at a few features for each longboard to save you lots of time. If you like the look of any particular boards please click on the links to research them in more detail.
- Quest Original Longboard
- Retrospec Zed Longboard
- Volador Freeride Longboard
- Atom Drop Through Longboard
- Magneto Bamboo Cruiser Longboard
1 – Quest Original Longboard (44 Inch)
Quest longboards were designed on the boardwalks of California and they’ve become huge over the years. Maybe it’s because they only use the best materials and components even though the boards are very affordable. Let’s look at why you should start with the original bamboo longboard:
- Super fast ABEC 7 bearings
- 44 inches long
Super fast ABEC 7 bearings – Even when you’re just starting out you don’t want a slow board because you’ll soon crave more speed. Luckily the super fast ABEC 7 bearings inside the Quest longboard wheels will give you all the speed you want right from the start.
One big push off the ground will allow you to travel much further, which comes in handy when you want to focus on carving. Think about all the energy you’ll save every day too. The trucks are 7 inches wide so even beginner longboarders will have lots of control.
44 inches long – When you’re learning how to longboard I’m sure you’ll want to practice multiple styles. If cruising is your number one priority it’s an ideal length to commute around the city. At the same time it’s also a good length for speeding down steep dangerous hills too.
The deck itself is constructed from multi-ply hardwood maple, so the deck length and strength are a great combination for beginners. The right amount of flex and grippiness is essential when you’re constantly learning new maneuvers and tricks every day.
2 – Retrospec Zed Longboard (44 Inch)
You weren’t alive in the 50s when surfers took to the streets on makeshift longboards because the waves weren’t good. These days boards have come on leaps and bounds, but Retrospec still want adrenaline junkies to always feel alive. Here are a few ways the Zed board accomplishes it:
- Anti-bite technology
- Shock absorbent wheels
Anti-bite technology – A combination of extreme running accuracy and precision ABEC 7 ball bearings means you’re going to reach high speeds. When longboarders experience wheel bite it basically means the wheels rub against the deck. I’m sure you can see why it’s a huge problem.
If you stop suddenly when moving at high speeds you’ll come flying off the board and hurt yourself. Retrospec Zed longboards stop that from happening thanks to anti-bite technology. One of the reasons it’s such a great beginner feature is because it gives new riders peace of mind.
Shock absorbent wheels – Surfers would have loved the Zed back in the 50s because it’s so smooth and reactive. It almost feels like you’re carving back and forth on waves when on land. A big part of the reason why is the quality 70mm 85A PU shock absorbent wheels.
Shift your bodyweight to one side and you’ll carve in the right direction. Even if you accidentally run over something it’s not going to throw you off course. It’s ideal on roads that aren’t exactly smooth too. Plus the maple and premium bamboo deck offers you the right amount of flex.
3 – Volador Freeride Longboard (42 Inch)
Volador has worked hard over the years with the aim of engineering the ultimate collection of longboards. Although they are forged using the top materials they are still very affordable for beginner longboarders. Here are a couple of reasons why they won’t disappoint you:
- Symmetrical longboard shape
- Adjustable aluminum trucks
Symmetrical longboard shape – So far we’ve only looked at directional longboards, which means they’re designed to go in one direction. Symmetrical boards are different because you’ll feel perfectly safe riding them any way you want. It’s ideal when you’re performing tricks.
Doing tricks on a directional board is obviously possible, but it’s hard to do anything when you end up rolling the wrong way. Take a close look at where the wheels are positioned. No matter how close your longboard comes to the ground when turning you won’t fall victim to wheel bite.
Adjustable aluminum trucks – This Volador longboard is amazing whether you’re cruising or freeriding. The latter involves attacking hills at slower speeds, but perofrming stylish power slides and spins. As you get better there are lots of technical maneuvers you can try to master.
The aluminum reverse kingpin trucks are adjustable, so you’ll be able to set them to 45 or 50 degrees. In other words, your turning accuracy and responsiveness can be changed at a moment’s notice. Even though you’re a longboard beginner you’ll be cutting corners like a professional.
4 – Atom Drop Through Longboard (40 Inch)
Atom longboards are designed by riders who know exactly what they want. Longboarding is one of those industries that offers affordable boards without compromising on quality. This model is excellent for beginners and we’ll look at a few reasons why Atom might be the right choice for you:
- Really comfortable ride
- Coarse 46 grit grip
Really comfortable ride – There is actually more than one feature that makes the Atom longboard very comfortable to ride, so we’re going to talk about the main ones. Atom Area 51 wheels are pretty big at 71 mm by 51 mm, which helps add to your comfort levels when riding.
The 78A wheels are soft enough to handle any kind of rough terrain. You’ll feel good rolling over cracks and pebbles on straight roads and hills. A 2 ply bamboo / 7 ply maple hybrid laminate deck also gives you so much flex it’s well-suited to a number of different terrains.
Coarse 46 grit grip – When you’re carrying the Atom drop through board under your arm it might hurt a little, which is actually a pretty big compliment. The coarse 46 grit grip is so good you won’t fall over no matter how aggressive you turn even if you weigh 275 pounds.
5 – Magneto Bamboo Cruiser Longboard (42 Inch)
Magneto might be a relatively new brand in the industry, but they have over 50 years of experience in product development. It’s understandable why so many longboarders love their creations. Let’s look at why the Magneto cruiser longboard lives up to customer expectations:
- Low center of gravity
- Subtle kick tails
Low center of gravity – Drop through truck designs are underestimated because they come with a huge benefit. When you’re riding along at high speed you’ll be much closer to the ground than normal. Once you bend your knees you’ll end up with an extremely low center of gravity.
A lower center of gravity equals much more stability when you’re on the longboard. It’s an especially helpful feature when you’re a beginner. You’ll be able to learn moves like sharp turns quicker than you think. Extra stability also offers you simple joys like long smooth rides when commuting.
Subtle kick tails – The Magneto longboard has subtle kick tails, which means you’ll find it much easier to perform cool tricks. It’s a great compromise for longboarders who love traditional skateboards. Don’t worry about landing hard because the bamboo and fiberglass deck is rock solid.
So you know the Magneto longboard is good for cruising and tricks, but it’s ideal for carving and dancing too. Even though you’re a beginner you’ll want to mess around with as many styles as possible. The 73 mm by 53 mm 83A high rebound wheels will give you all the speed you’ll ever need.
Best Longboards For Beginners Right Now
We’ve covered a wide range of beginner longboards today, so everyone should be able to find one that fits their individual needs. Each model is hugely popular with a massive amount of people all around the world. Look through the listed features to see which one sounds best to you.
If you want to know much more about each longboard you can click on the links to do more research. You’ll also be able to read hundreds of unbiased reviews from past customers who use these boards every day. It’s always a good idea to see what multiple people think before coming to a final decision.