A Beginner's Guide to Buying a Cruiser Skateboard
2023 Edition
Looking to buy a cruiser board? They’re perfect for running to the store, ripping down your local hill, commuting to work and even carving around the skatepark.
There are many different kinds of cruiser boards available, some more like traditional skateboards while others are longer and feature different truck configurations. If you’re starting out, choosing the right skateboard can be overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for.
To keep things simple we’ve broken down the cruiser board genre into five categories; Top Mounts, Drop decks, Surf Skates, Mini Cruisers and finally Old school Cruisers. Each category has a slightly different ride and potentially different use – although they all share the same characteristic of rolling as smooth as butter.
In this guide, we'll go over the different types of cruiser skateboards and highlight some of their strengths to help you make the right choice.
Top mounts
-
Top mount longboards are a popular choice for downhill and freeride skating – perfect for riders who are new to the sport and looking to learn the basics. They are usually longer than traditional skateboards and have a flat deck with raised trucks, allowing for more stability and control at high speeds. The deck is mounted on top of the trucks, hence the name "top mount.”
Top Mounts come in a variety of shapes, from Pintails, kicktails, downhill boards and more. Choosing the right top mount will come down to a riders preference in features, ie. some have kick tails, noses, more flex, less flex ect. We recommend getting into your local skatshop, get your feet on some boards and see what feels good.
Strengths: Top mount longboards are excellent for downhill and freeride skating, providing stability and control at high speeds. They are also versatile and can be used for cruising and carving.
Drop decks
-
Drop deck longboards are similar to top mounts in terms of length and stability, but the trucks are mounted through the deck, lowering the center of gravity and making the board easier to push.
Drop Decks can be broken down into three styles; Drop Thrus, where the truck is dropped through a mounting hole in the deck to allow for a lower centre of gravity but still allow for a flexy-bouncy ride. Standard Drops, where the truck is still mounted under the deck but the board features a drop within the concave that lowers the standing platform, and finally Double Drops which is the lowest of the three, offering an extremely low riding platform making this style a complete breeze to push.
Strengths: Drop through longboards are ideal for cruising and commuting, offering a smooth and comfortable ride. They are also easy to control, making them a good choice for beginners.
Surf skates
-
If you’re a well-versed ocean addict this might be the perfect cruiser option for you. Surf skates are designed to mimic the feeling of surfing on land. They use a unique pivoting truck system that allows the board to pump, wiggle and carve – mimicking the movements of a board in the water. Surf Skate Cruiser Boards have proven to be incredible cross trainers for Surfer who can’t be in the water as much as they’d like to.
When choosing a Surf Skate the most important factor to consider is the deck size. With the truck system of Surf Skate Cruiser Boards being so agile the size of the board dictates the performance even more so than regular longboards and cruisers. Longer Surf Skate Cruiser Boards tend to have a much ‘floatier’ carve and ride whilst smaller surf skates tend to have a much ‘snappier’ carve and ride.
Strengths: Surf skates are great for improving your surfing skills and are suitable for cruising and carving. They are also compact and lightweight, making them easy to transport.
Mini cruisers
-
These small compact cruiser skateboards are the perfect corner-store trekker, beer-runner or campus cruiser, ideal for cruising and commuting. They are easy to carry and have a lightweight design, making them a good choice for riders who need to transport their board frequently.
Usually under 32″ in length these cruisers generally feature a kick-tail and have a tight turning circle. The most important thing to take into consideration when buying a mini cruiser is width – make sure it’s wide enough for your feet to feel comfortable.
Strengths: Cruiser skateboards are easy to carry and manoeuvre, making them a great choice for commuting and cruising. They are also suitable for light tricks and urban skating.
Old school cruisers (aka filmer boards)
-
Old school 80s shape skateboards, also known as "filmer boards," are a nostalgic nod to the classic skateboards of the 1980s. These skateboards feature a classic, rounded shape and often come with traditional truck and wheel setups.
These boards offer a retro look that appeals to many skaters who grew up during that era and filmers due to the big smooth wheels that can roll over the roughest surfaces, cracks and stones with ease. They are similar in design to traditional cruiser skateboards, suitable for tricks and urban skating, but with a smoother roll and a unique retro aesthetic.
Strengths: Old school skateboard cruisers are fun and stylish, making them a great choice for cruising and commuting. They are also suitable for light tricks and urban skating.
Final thoughts
-
In conclusion, the type of skateboard chosen should depend on it’s riders personal preferences and what they want to use the board for. Whether cruising, commuting, or hitting the hills, we have a skateboard for it all. Check out our huge range of cruiser boards based on category below.
