In a perfect world, your skateboard would always be under your feet. But this world ain’t perfect and there are a lot of times you’ll end up carrying your board, whether you like it or not. When it comes to carrying a skateboard, it’s really just about keeping your board, yourself, and others safe. Sometimes,

When skaters talk about how to hold their boards, it’s usually about how to look like a “real skater” or avoid looking like a “poser.” Which is all very well and good if that matters to you. But there are actual right and wrong ways to hold a skateboard that have nothing to do with

If you ride a longboard of substantial size, you know it can be a bear to haul around. Ideally, you could always keep your board beneath your feet, but that simply isn’t realistic. Whether you’re moving through pedestrian traffic or reach an impossible hill, there will be times you have to pick up your longboard

TSA regulations permit skateboards in both carry-on bags and checked luggage, which is good news if skating is your passion. However, though skateboards are TSA approved, don’t expect to be able to keep your board in the cabin with you. Skateboards are too big for most airlines’ baggage policies. Some airlines will allow you to

Razor tail is a condition that affects the kicktails of a skateboard. It is most commonly caused by dragging a skateboard’s tails against the ground. When your skate deck develops razor tail, it affects your board’s pop and can lead to more serious issues, like the plies of the deck splitting, over time. While razor

Skateboards might look like there’s not a lot to them – they are basically pieces of wood balanced between two metal supports – but these diminutive set-ups can actually withstand an incredible amount of force. A 150-pound person performing tricks and landing from height can put hundreds of pounds of pressure on a board each

Carbon fiber is an insanely strong material that weighs less than traditional materials of the same strength. Skate decks that incorporate carbon fiber are stronger than traditional wooden decks, both in their abilities to support weight and their abilities to withstand bending without breaking. Makers of carbon fiber composite skate decks sometimes bill their decks

Longboarding is a Zen form of skateboarding that is less about performing tricks and more about cruising and transportation. If you’re just getting into longboarding, or simply harbor some curiosity about the sport, you probably have some questions. Here, we try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about longboarding to help you

Longboards are similar to skateboards in the way they respond to movement and the actions skaters use to make them go, turn, and stop. Like skateboards, longboards require some coordination and a fair amount of balance to ride. However, the larger a skateboard is (the bigger its base), the easier it is to balance on.

When you’re searching for a longboard, a lot of things matter over price. A sturdy 8- or 9-ply deck will last longer than a cheaply-made, low-ply deck. The quality of your trucks will determine how well, and how smoothly, your longboard steers. Soft, quality wheels and good bearings will keep you rolling safely and comfortably.

Longboarding can seem a bit intimidating. You’re controlling a large board with only the movements of your body, while also trying to maintain your balance. I’m not going to lie to you, balance on a longboard is a learned thing. You will have to put in a little effort to be comfortable when you first

When you first start to longboard, you have several essential techniques you have to learn. The first of these techniques – balance, pushing, stopping, and turning – are the same techniques used to ride a skateboard or a cruiser. The design of longboards, however, makes them good for another basic skating technique – carving. What

All longboards – drop-throughs, pintails, drop-downs, dancers and long cruisers – have a lot of the same things going for them. They are longer and wider than standard skateboards or shortboards, making them more stable and easier to ride. This makes them ideal for cruising and commuting and great boards for beginners. Most longboards also

Nickel skateboards are just a little more than penny boards. It sounds like a joke, but it’s actually a spot-on definition. Nickels are exactly like pennies in a lot of ways. In the case of a nickel, though, you get a bit more deck, bringing nickels closer to standard skateboard size without quite getting there.

The Penny Board Longboard, released in 2015, is a 36-inch pintail that bridges the gap between the boards that made the Penny brand famous – their 22” cruisers – and the wider skateboard commuter market. The components of a Penny longboard are exactly what you would expect of a Penny – a sturdy, molded plastic

If you’re looking for a new way to commute that saves wear on your feet but doesn’t make you a menace to other pedestrians, penny boarding might be the answer. Penny boarding is an ideal way of skating through congested areas, like city streets and college campuses. Due to their small sizes, penny boards are

Penny boards have some advantages in skateboarding. They are small and lightweight, making them highly portable, and have good weight capacities for their size. Penny boards are also cheaper than many comparable wooden skateboards. If one of the most important factors for you in choosing a penny board is its lower price point, these value

Penny boards get a bad rap in skateboarding. Some of the complaints are valid (their plastic decks are bad for the environment). Others are subjective (they’re just not good skateboards). As far as we’re concerned, penny boards are neither inherently bad or good. They are just one more option for skaters. But penny boards do

Skateboards are made up of numerous components that come in a variety of sizes, styles, and materials. Since there is no standard skateboard build (even completes can be wildly different), there is no standard skateboard weight. Instead, a skateboard’s weight is a total of all its parts. A skateboard’s components also determine how much weight

When your skateboard’s griptape gets dirty, it’s more than just an eyesore. Dirt and debris in griptape can actually interfere with your tape’s grip. When griptape has less grip, your feet are more likely to slide on the board and it’s harder to get lift for jumps and tricks. The solution to dirty griptape, of

Griptape is the abrasive covering on the top of a skateboard deck that helps your shoes cling to the board. It’s essential for most skating and can help you perform tricks. Most skate decks come with griptape already applied. But if you somehow end up with a naked deck or are refurbing an old deck,

Skateboards come in a variety of sizes to accommodate a variety of skaters and riding styles. The size (along with the shape) of your skateboard determines what you can do with it. Shorter, narrower skateboards (standard boards or shortboards) are better for technical riding and tricks. Wider, longer skateboards (longboards and long cruisers) are better

Skateboards can be molded into nearly any shape. As long as they have the main components of deck, trucks, and wheels, they’ll still roll the same. But the standard shapes of skateboards are standards for good reason. The most common skateboard shapes lend to different riding styles, providing the features you need for a smooth

Skateboarding is really a muscle movement, and, like any muscle movement, the earlier you start to do it, the easier it is to learn. But skateboarding also looks dangerous. When you watch competitors at the Olympics or X Games, you see a lot of spills with potential for injury. The good news is, skateboarding isn’t

If your kid wants to learn how to skateboard, one thing that can go a long way toward success is putting them on the right board. When people think about (and shop for) youth skateboards, they often put them in a completely different category than adult boards, but this simply isn’t necessary. Smaller boards may

When you first start skating, a lot of things can feel impossible. How are you ever going to do a backside tailslide if you can’t even stay on your board? But a lot of things that seem unattainable on a skateboard are closer than you think. Mastering balance on your board is the first, most

Skateboarding can look a little intimidating. Not only is it a clear skill with balance required, it’s largely done on paved surfaces where spills can prove painful. When you first learn to skateboard, you can expect to feel a bit wobbly. You might even feel somewhat nervous and take a few of those dreaded falls.

If you skate on wheels, whether those wheels are on a skateboard or roller skates, you have the potential to experience wheel bite. Wheel bite is a fairly common occurrence in skateboarding or roller skating for skaters who like to ride on loose trucks (or let their trucks get loose through poor maintenance). If you’ve

Skateboarding can look quite difficult. And the way you see it done at the X Games or skate competitions, it certainly is. But the main aspects of riding a skateboard are not complicated. To get started good and proper, beginners need only master four skills – Pushing Balancing Stopping Correcting/Steering These are the four main

It sounds strange, but turning on a skateboard really isn’t that important when you are first learning to ride. As long as you have a nice straight shot to practice on (like a driveway or parking lot), you can learn the skateboard fundamentals of balancing, pushing, and stopping without having to turn at all. However,

The trucks (the metal pieces on the bottom of a skateboard that connects the deck to the wheels) are the steering system of a skateboard. How tightly or loosely those trucks are attached to the deck determines how rigid or how free that steering system is. Skateboards with tight trucks don’t turn easily. That’s by

Riding a skateboard is tricky. The movements are simple, but they require a ton of balance and an ability to react – but not overreact – to changes in terrain and momentum. Stopping a skateboard, by comparison, is relatively easy. Though, it too demands some degree of balance. Along with balancing and pushing, stopping is

This article is specifically about the best beginner skateboards for adults and other full-size humans. You can find more options for complete boards in our Complete Skateboard Buying Guide, which has several boards appropriate for beginners. When you first step on a skateboard, you have a lot of things to think about. How to make

A “complete skateboard” is a skateboard that comes pre-assembled with pre-selected components. They are typically cheaper than custom boards – though, they also use cheaper parts – and don’t require any knowledge of a skateboard’s internal workings. A complete skateboard eases the process of selecting your first skateboard, and gives you something to ride without

Balance is the most essential skill you will need on a skateboard. Yes, pushing, turning, and being able to stop matter. (You can’t get anywhere by simply staying centered.) But, when it comes down to it, balance is the most rudimentary skill a skateboarder must have. The one that all the other skills build on.

Skateboards are not just sports equipment or hobby supply. They are vehicles. Modes of transport. And, like any mode of transport, the better their parts, the better their performance. A standard skateboard is made up of three major components – the deck, the trucks, and the wheels. Any of these components can be upgraded to

A skateboard looks simple. But, in reality, it’s a finely-tuned vehicle that can handle speed and a lot of hard knocks. That requires a sturdy build. To have a complete skateboard, you need only seven main components: A deck 2 trucks 4 wheels (with bearings) Each main part of a skateboard has additional parts built-in.

When you ride a skateboard, there are two ways you can stand – left foot leading or right foot leading. If you stand with your left foot leading, this is considered a “regular” skateboard stance. If you stand with your right foot leading, this is considered a “goofy” skateboard stance. Despite the names, “regular” is

Now that you know how to stand on a skateboard, it’s time to learn how to push. Pushing is the very first thing you will do to set your skateboard in motion. It is the impetus that drives a skateboard forward. At least, when you are first starting out. How to Start a Skateboard To

Visiting Sin City and looking for a place to work on your moves with your skateboard? Or maybe you live in Las Vegas and don’t have your own personal half pipe in the backyard. Not to worry fellow skaters, cause there is a live and thriving skateboard community in Vegas.  As a result of this

Whether you’re looking to get a complete longboard or longboard deck, there are some skate brands out there that make better longboards than others. So, we dis some research into it and we’ve found the top longboard brands in the industry. These are the longboard brands that are known for making sick gear for longboarders

Whether you’re a complete noob or a seasoned skateboarder, one thing is for sure – some brands make way better boards than their competition.  So, we looked into it and we’ve found the top brands in the industry. These are the skateboard brands that are known for making sick gear for skateboarders without compromising on