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How to Choose Skateboard Bearings: Buying Guide

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Skateboard bearings are as important as any other major part in your skateboard, choosing the best one is really very crucial step while assembling a skateboard.

We have already reviewed the Top Skateboard Bearings, you may also checkout if you want to cut off the hard work.

Alright, so you want to know the important things to consider while buying a skateboard bearing.

Go Ahead…

Skating Style and Experience Level

The most important thing to consider while buying the skateboard bearing is your style and experience level. The beginners may not need to go with the toughest and fast bearings and need to go with a bit slower bearings which can be upgraded later. If you are an experienced skateboarder then the quick and the harder bearings are good for you.

ABEC Rating

The next important thing in considering the bearings is the ABEC rating. Not all brands follow this rating but most of the brands follow this. The system was created to rate the tolerance of the bearings in the industries but has been used in action sports as well. Normally higher the ABEC rating, the tougher the bearing is and provides a high speed. So beginners are advised to go with the bearings on the lower side of the ABEC rating

Steel vs. Ceramic

Material is the most important factor to consider while buying the skateboard bearings. There are mostly 2 manufacturing materials available for the bearings, steel, and ceramic. These are referred to the material of the ball inside the bearings but then generalized to the bearings themselves as well. Both high-end and entry-level steel bearings are available in the market for the user’s choice. The quality determines how fast the bearing will move and the durability.

Ceramic Bearings on the other end are more toward the lighter side and much stronger than the steel bearings. Ceramic offers less friction so can go at high speed. The cleaning and maintenance are also much easier for ceramic as they have a self-cleaning mechanism to save from dust. Normally Ceramic is the top-rated bearings and is available in different price ranges as per the quality offered. In general steel, bearings are at a lower price comparing to Ceramic.

Conclusion

Bearings are very small but a very important component of the Skateboard and we have enlisted for your help the most important models considering all kinds of users and different price ranges. Hope this will help you along with the buying guide things to consider when buying your next skateboard bearings. We will be glad to hear from you about your experience the next time you go to the shop and the things you considered while buying the bearings for your skateboard wheels.

Also Check:

Skateboard Wheels Buying Guide

Skateboard Trucks Buying Guide

Skateboard Complete Buying Guide

Skateboard Deck Buying Guide

Skateboard Trucks Buying Guide

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A skateboard is an important part of your board. There are many factors that you need to consider when to choose a right skateboard truck.

This guide can help you find the way which skateboard truck is right for you and what features you should consider while buying a skateboard truck.

You should observe the width of the skateboard. The width of the trucks’ axle should match with the width of your deck. The précised width is the most important factor but there is lot more to consider.

Follow me…

Moreover, you should know exactly what and where you need to skateboard?

The toughness of the trucks’ bushings, base plate type, pivot cups and even the washers can make a huge difference.

Thus, you carefully need to consider each feature carefully.

In majority of the cases, a standard skateboard truck works fine, but if you have low budget, then hollow or titanium truck can be good option.

Also, what level and type of skateboarder are you?

Whether you are a technical street skater, transition or just cruising skater?

There could be a possibility that you are all-rounder and looking for the one that is best for all levels of skaters.

There are lots of questions. Honestly speaking, it is impossible to answer all your queries in a single place. But I have tried to mention the prime features that you should know while buying the skateboard trucks!

Skateboard Trucks Size

There is no standard size for a skateboard truck. They come in multiple sizes.

You need to carefully read the specification before buying, and should keep in mind that the width of the truck should match with our board.

The brands selling the skateboard trucks list the details in product description, so read carefully.

Helpful, right? Let’s move on to the next feature!

Skateboard Trucks Width

Skateboard Truck Size Chart

As mentioned above, you need to ensure skateboard deck should match with the width of trucks’ axle.

Don’t make a mistake to pick the exact match trucks.

But, if you able to stand on skateboard wheels and on the side of the board, then width, probably does not make a huge difference.

But it should never be wider than the deck, because it will reduce responsive and will cause the wheel bite.

You might also like: Skateboard Wheels Buying Guide

Skateboard Trucks Height

skateboard truck height

The truck height is the distance between wheel and deck. It is measured between the baseplate and hanger of the truck.

Height is the personal preference, but the general rule of thumb is that the more you are close to the ground, the more stable you are.

There are high, medium and low trucks but most of the brands sell only high and low trucks. The height of different brands varies differently.

The high tucks some brands are same as low trucks of some other brands. So, height is something you should not bother much.

You will find out what you like along the way with time. Pick the high height skateboard trucks if you need to cruise around or want to skate mini ramp or bowls.

But, choose the low trucks when you need to skate street, and want to do technical stuff only.

Concerning wheels, low trucks require – 50 to 53-millimeter wheels, medium trucks can do with – 53 to 56-millimeter haggles up to 60 mm wheels. Riser cushions can adjust the height to adjust into bigger wheels.

Higher trucks don’t offer all the more pop contrasted with lower trucks.

According to experts, higher trucks make your tail further away from the ground, which is technically true. But, according to theories, this thing doesn’t generally make you skate better.

Most significant is your popping procedure and two or three millimeters won’t actually give you all the more pop. But, if you think, it might help you, then it is fine. Most significant thing is to skate the way you like and prefer.

Loose or tight skateboard trucks?

Loose skateboard trucks mean less strength and stability but they have better turning capability. It’s up to you; simply try a little what feels right.

Generally, transition skateboarders like to ride the trucks tight in light of the fact that skating a small incline or vert requires more stability.

Bowl/pool skaters require looser trucks for better cutting the bowl’s thrilling surface.

Road skaters ride comfortable with looser trucks on the grounds because they need a responsive board for specialized trucks. Your board should be lenient when landing scrappy stunts.

There are consistently special cases obviously!  You can begin by riding free and gradually fix them to discover what turns out best for you.

More Helpful Buying Guides

How to Choose the Right Skateboard Trucks – Warehouse Skateboards

CHOOSING YOUR FIRST SKATEBOARD TRUCKS – CCS

CHOOSING SKATEBOARD TRUCKS – Tactics

How to Choose an Electric Skateboard

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Electronic skateboards are definitely a must have, well… at least for now until they learn how to make them fly. These boards allow you to travel as fast as an average 25 to 68 miles per hour.These bad boys also have the capability of speeding up hill as well as breaking gently downhill. These are arguably the lightest, fastest people movers around today. Unlike the Traditional skateboard the four wheels on the electronic skateboards are created to be a lot more stable so the need to self-balance is becoming a thing of the past while quicker movements, easier rides and a much lower chance of face planting is becoming the future of skate boards. I’m sure this sounds exciting to you as well, but there are a few thing you should consider before you purchase your fist electronic skateboard.

Choosing an Electric Skateboards

[Video] Expert Tips For Buying

or

Building an Electric Skateboard

By:  Enertion Electric Skateboards

Quality Vs Price

Electric skateboard choosing guide buying how to

Be sure that you’re getting what you pay for?

Lithium is more expensive than lead acid, if you want professional branded skate parts to be ready to pay more. You’d be paying for the quality and you know you’re getting a better product than the off-the-shelf boards from China, if you get a board with longer range this usually means you’re paying for a more expensive battery.

Where was the board produced?

Some companies in china perform mass production so they might not have taken the time to assure you a super high-quality product. Some smaller companies are more likely to show their boards a little more TLC, so you can expect a more well put together board with better parts.

The Performance

You should compare the differences in electric skateboards the same as you would with other modes of transportation. i.e.  Bikes, Cars, Planes, Boats etc.

Is it build for luxury?

Is it made for simple transportation, just to get from A to B?

If there was no electrical set up how would that electric skateboard performs?

These are the some simple question that you should be asking while buying an Electric board.

And be sure to check the wheels and trucks being as these are very important features when it comes to overall ride performance.

Size and Weight

You should always consider the length and weight of an electronic skateboard prior to making a purchase.

A massive and super heavy electric skateboard would certainly end up being an annoyance. And can become a problem if you should run out of juice and end up having to carry it the rest of the way. But when you have an electric board with High performance, battery and range etc then Size and weight should not be on of the priorities.

Usually Lighter boards do not have that much features and flexibility. So, if you ride e-board for short distance and need to travel in public transports and carry it, only then go for a light weight and under sized Electric board.

Capacity

Capacity of an electric skateboard is about the amount of weight it can support. This is sometimes overlooked when purchases are made.

If you do happen to be a bit on the heavier side, be sure to purchase an electric skateboard that can support your weight.

Range and Speed

fastest electric skateboard how to choose

One thing to consider is the activities you plan on doing with your board.

Will it be used for long distance travels?

Will it be in constant use?

 You don’t want to purchase a board with a low mileage expectance when you plan on extended consistent usage. Unless you have the money to buy another one in a relatively brief period, you should think about buying an electric skateboard that can withstand the full load of what you intend to do with it.

For some people speed does not matter much, but for some It matters a lot. So Choose and appropriate speed which is safe and fits your requirement. Always riding a Fast e-board wear safety gear.

The Warranty

Skateboards can have a pretty tough career constantly being exposed to a variety of terrain moving at high speeds. So, wear and tear are common.It’s no different with the electric skateboards.

No matter how well-built an electric skateboard is, there is always a chance they can break down. Be sure to read the fine print within the warranty so that you can understand what is really being covered. the longer the warranty the better.

You can also extend the warranty at the time of purchase.

Wheels

choose electric skateboard wheels to buy

Apart from having a durable board, the durability of the wheels are also extremely important. Good wheels provide a smooth and stable ride.

It is not uncommon for an individual to pay a great deal of money on an electric skateboard and end up having to replace the wheels after only a few rides. Wheels made from urethane are always recommended for any kind of skateboard because they have the potential to last a lot longer.

The Motor

How to buy eletric board motor

Hub motors do not compare in acceleration, hill climbing or braking abilities as the geared/pulley motor systems.But the hub system allows for less drag, better brakes, lighter weight, they’re quieter and require less maintenance.

Whereas, Belt drive motors provides you more torque, better acceleration and regenerative braking but requires more maintenance and difficult to ride without the battery use.

Is it Waterproof or Water-resistant

Rain can most certainly be unpredictable, so if you plan on riding your electric skateboard far distances or even if not, you should consider purchasing a waterproof or at least a water-resistant electronic skateboard, be sure yours comes with environmentally sealed enclosures to protect the components inside.

Fully Waterproof electric skateboards can’t be expected because none of the major manufacturers provide waterproof boards. It is always recommended to avoid riding directly into water.

Customer Support

Customer support for electric board buying

Last but not the least.

When making the purchase of an electric skateboard be sure to ask the seller about their post-sales services. This is important because you will have to contact them in case the electric skateboard malfunctions or doesn’t keep up to its standards. It would be extremely frustrating to have to speak to someone about replacing a malfunctioning electronic skateboard and your only option is an automated system as opposed to a real life human being.

It is recommended to ask people who already own that board on social media or forums that how is the response and attitude of their customer support assistants.

This short list of considerations should give you a few things to think about before buying your first board. Remember to always check the warranty, Know what you intend to do with it, don’t buy one to get you from A-B when you plan to go to Z and back… a few times. And be sure that you’re getting what you pay for.

How to choose Skateboard Wheels? (Best Buying Guide)

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Skateboard wheels are one of the most important parts of your skateboard, that allow you to move/roll your skateboard. You are reading this because you want to know " How to choose a skateboard wheel".

Skateboard wheels are usually made of Polyurethane and it comes in variety of Size, Colour and Durability levels. You will have to choose skateboard wheels based on the preferred size, durability and or your Skateboarding styles and usage.

When assembling your own skateboard, Wheels are very important to choose. After you have chosen Deck, Trucks, Grip tape.

Two main measuring factors to measure the wheels of your skateboard are 'Diameter' and 'Durability'.

Durability determines to softness and hardness of the wheels and Diameter determines the size of the wheels.

​​Choose Skateboard wheels by diameter

choose skateboard wheels

Diameter of a wheel is measured from one end to another end, the measuring scale must touch the center of the wheel.

If we measure its size from the center then it will be its radius (1/2 Diameter). Wheel's diameter is measured in millimeters (mm).

Some Companies list the width of wheels, but in general a wider wheel is meant to be providing more balance, speed, and a smoother ride.

You will be getting more detailed information which will help you to choose a good skateboard wheels for your skateboard.

Let's see what size is suitable for you:

48-50mm Smallest size wheels, Used in pro skateboard for technical street riders. It needs skills to balance on these wheels, not recommended for beginners.

50-52 mm Small size and slow wheels ; suitable for trick riding and smaller riders skating street, skate parks, and bowls, Not suitable for beginner due to less stability it needs more skills.

53-60 mm A good, all purpose wheels; most commonly used, Average wheels size, for beginners, bigger riders skating streets, skate parks and bowls.

60 mm+ For longboards, dirtboard, Old school and downhill ; made specially for rough surface and not suitable for tricks.

Choose skateboard wheels by durometer

Durometer is a scale that determines the hardness of a wheels. The higher the number is on durometer the harder that wheel is and lower number is for softer wheels.
Mostly durability is measured on A scale. But Some of the manufacturer use B scale to determine the hardness of the wheels.

The Difference between A and B scale is that, B scale is 20 points harder than A scale ( which means that 70B wheels are as hard as 90A Wheels).

The harder your wheel is the faster it is and Softer wheels are slower in speed while skateboarding. But Soft wheels have more grip and good for rough surface/street riding and Harder wheels are for smooth surface/ground like Skatepark and bowl.

How to buy/choose skateboard wheels durometer/durability hardness

75A-85A Softer wheels ; good for rough surface riding, for longboards, hill, cruising. Easily rolls over cracks and pebbles. Best for street riders.

85-89A Slightly harder than last one, it also has lower grip but it is still good for street riding.

90-97A If you ride everything a bit then you should get wheels between this range; faster, decent grip, Good for beginners, cruising, street, skatepark, ramps, pools. These are best skateboard wheels for Cruising and tricks as well.

  98A+ The hardest and the fastest wheels. It has less grip and it is a pro wheels which needs a good skill to balance/manage it, It is suitable for Tricks.

While choosing durability of your wheels, choose wisely according to your riding style and need. As a beginner if you choose very hard wheels then their might be chances of falling and you can stop it easily.

Beginner ? Learn Basics

 Want a Pre-Assembled Skateboard? Check out:

​Best Complete boards for kids

Best Complete boards for Girls

Best Complete boards Under $100

Sector 9 Boards

Choose skateboard wheels by riding style


skateboard wheels choosing buying guide

Still Confused about how to choose skateboard wheels that suits your skateboarding style?

No Problem:

Now we will recommend best wheels size and durometer for you riding style and need.

For Technical Street Skaters

wheels for street skateboarder

If you are a street skater with technical skating skills like Tricks and you want responsive wheels that are easy to get off the ground. Responsive wheels also helps in grinds, ollies and flip tricks. Consider choosing following wheels:

Durometer : 97A and above

Diameter : 48-52 mm

These wheels are for professional and skilled riders because these are harder and smaller enough  to handle for a beginner.

These are best skateboard wheels for concrete park and its hardness makes it unsuitable for cruising.

For Vert Skating

best skateboard wheels for vert skateboarding

You need mid sized and hard wheels if you are a vert skater. Hard and medium sized wheels provide speed that you need while riding on ramps and half pipes. Harder wheels gives good control over tricks.

Recommended wheels for vert skaters are:

Durometer : 90A - 97A

Diameter : 54mm-60mm

You can also go for bigger wheels if you are comfortable enough.

For Transportation/Cruising

best skateboard wheels for cruising

​Large wheels are faster and needs less pushes and softer wheels absorbs bumps and strokes to make your ride more comfortable.

Mostly larger wheels are also wider that makes your board more stable.

​Durometer : 75A-85A. 78 is the standard size used commonly

Diameter : 65-75mm

The above given skateboard wheels description is best skateboard wheels for cruising. Skateboard wheels width is responsible for its stability.

Some Companies offer special for purpose wheels, which means you don't need to worry about the hardness and softness of the wheels just buy that skateboard wheel which suits your style.

Some Wheels like STF FORMULA and Spitfire F1 Street Burners are designed specifically for street terrain, while Bones SPF Formula and Spitfire F1 Park Burners are designed for park terrain. So just choose best skateboard wheels for you based on  all of the above criteria and you will get a decent wheel that suits your need and style.

How to choose a Skateboard deck for you? Quick Buying guide

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A skateboard Deck is a flat board usually made up of Maple wood or Birch. It is the most important part in a skateboard. A skateboarder puts their foot or stand on it while skateboarding.

If you wan't to assemble your own skateboard and cant't decide what type of "Deck" is suitable for you to buy. Then some of the questions might run to your mind, like: What skateboard size do i need?

what material to choose for a skateboard deck?

or ​

How to choose a deck according to your riding style?

Wait, Wait:

Here i will try to answer all your questions.

Also if you already have a skateboard, then you might be thinking that When should i replace/change my skate deck? or something like that.

You might also wonder that how often should you change your skateboard? but it is totally up to you, It depends upon your riding style or how hard you skate and in what place you skate.

Lets move on to the guide:


​​Choose Skateboard deck style first

This is the first thing you should consider before buying a skateboard deck. Skateboard decks come mainly in four shapes.

Each shape has its own style of skateboarding. These Styles of skateboard decks are:

Shortboards:

A Shortboard is the smallest type of skateboard. Its shape and size is mainly designed for performing tricks and air tricks. If you want to skate park and or street skating then this kind of skateboard is that you need.

Cruisers:

Cruisers are designed for cruising around. It has Kicktails but it's not suitable for Tricks and street skating. There are also Short cruisers available(Like: Penny) but the specially designed for cruising purpose.

Old School:

Old school boards have asymmetric shape, It have broad & flat nose and kicktails. It is suitable for Carving the streets, Skating Ramps and Pools.

Longboard:

Longboards are the longest among all the boards. It provides great stability. It is suitable for Cruising around and transportation purpose. You can't perform tricks on it. Some Longboards are specially designed for downhill racing,for downhill riding it is made symmetric.

choose Skateboard deck style

Choosing the right size

What should be the ideal size for me to get a skateboard?

Most people ask this question and they keep unanswered sometimes. Because, there is no exact answer for this. 

Deck width is a factor which should be considered while choosing a skateboard deck for you. Length is not a factor that matters much. 

A skateboard deck width that you need is based on your height, Age and Shoe size.

Here we have some data regarding size of skateboard according to you Height, Age, Shoe size.

Consider this Skateboard deck Sizing chart:


Skateboard deck size chart
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Remember, these Sizing suggestions are only indicative. you can also ride skateboard larger or smaller than the size which is recommended in this chart. But the Deck of the board must be in good quality.

​Skateboard size according to style:

7.5" to 8" - Standard board for adult riders skating streets or doing more technical tricks
8.0" to 8.25" - Skating pool, ramp, rail, and parks
8.25" and larger - Vert, pools, cruising, and just going old school

​​Deck Features

Skateboard Deck features

Width

You should buy your skateboard deck according to it's width, not length. Average size of the decks lie between 7.5" to 8.75". If you ride skate ramp or vert ramp or if your height and shoe size is large then you should go with a wider deck. If you like to perform trick or you are a street rider then you should prefer a narrow deck.

Length

A skateboard deck length is measured from its Nose to its tail. Mostly decks of a traditional skateboard are 28" to 32" long. The longer a board is, the wider it will be. So keep in mind that size is based on its width not its lenght. Except it is a longboard.

WheelBase

Wheelbase is the distance between the inner mounting holes that are drilled on the deck. It's average distance is from 13" to 15". It's distance is determined according to the riders choice or the height of the rider. The Taller a rider is, the broader wheelbase they prefer.

Nose

The Nose of the deck is the front end of the deck, it is thicker and a little longer than the tail.

Tail

Tail is the Back end of the deck. Some companies stick a sticker to differentiate between the nose and the tail.

​​Deck Shape

Skateboard size shape for tricks

There are Various Shapes of Skateboards to choose from. A skateboard Shape is not it's design. It's Deck's Shape is depended on your riding Style- Radial, progressive, w-concave, flat-cave, asymmetric, convex etc. are shapes of skateboard that is helpful for those riders who prefer doing Tricks.

​

Concave

Concave improve the riders performance and it also provides the rider more foothold than a flat deck. That's the reason why companies keep experimenting on concave to improve and invent a new kind of concave.

​Here are the Main types of concave available these days:

Radial Concave

Radial concave Subtle U shaped and most common concave. It provides a better grip to your foot and is suitable for all kind of riding styles.

Progressive

Similar to the radial concave. The steep wall on the rail combined with the wider base allows more secure footing and a more locked-in feel.

W-Concave

It makes the board more responsive. Helps in making quick and sharp turns easily.

Flatcave

It is somewhat similar to Progressive but the rails extend at a sharp angle instead of gentle curve.

Asymmetric

When a skateboard deck rail rise at different angles, it is asymmetric.

​Convex

An upward arching deck shape is called Convex. These are not common and skaters usually don't prefer it.

Flat

Flat deck has no Concave and kicktail. It is rare. Boardwalking and other showy tricks can be performed.

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Material and Quality

The material that you choose for your skateboard deck  will define the quality of the board. Choosing the right material is very important. Of course, you don't want your skateboard to be broken while you try some tricks, as it may get you injured hard.

Also if the material is not good enough then you would not experience the Stability and smoothness while Cruising around.

If you don't know what materials are ideal for each skateboard part, No worry ! We will provide all information that you need to choose a good quality skateboard.

Let's go:

skateboard deck material

Most popular and the most common material used to make a skateboard deck is Canadian Maple. Another Popular material used are Bamboo and Baltic Birch Plywood. You can go for any of these material they all are ideal materials for the deck. 

The Popularity that maple wood gain is the highest among them, This is because of the stability a experience that it provides.

Plastic is an alternative material that is used these days widely to make short cruisers. Penny started making first Plastic skateboards. Fiberglass and Aluminium deck are also available that works in a similar way.

Price Expectation

Don't ever try to buy a cheap skateboard. Never forget that you may showing of tricks on the board. Cheap Skateboards can't handles much weight and stroke.

high value and low cost

Never think that if it is Expensive it must be good. No, Sometimes you may get fooled. 

Just set a criteria and go for that criteria or you can also take Recommendation from an expert to buy your deck.

Conclusion

To choose a great skateboard deck you have to first know that style of skateboarding you want. Then choose a deck types according to your style.

Know what size is suitable for you. Consider the right shape, the right price and right material.

Once you find your desired deck, Don't think anymore, Go and Buy It.