Best Longboard Decks Buyer’s Guide

Custom longboards can make your performances even better since every element suits your taste and comfort.

If you’re about to build your own longboard, the choice of a deck is one of the first things to think about.

Different types will provide you with certain qualities, so choose wisely, with at least a little bit of research.

We know how tiring it might be to surf the Internet on a quest for the best longboard decks and information about them. That’s why here we have a comprehensive buyer’s guide and our selection of TOP decks for you to consider.

The right deck will influence your longboarding in the best way. First of all, decide what you want to achieve in your performances. Got it? Then let’s continue.

Top Pick

Loaded Boards DECK Fattail

• For All Longboarding Styles
• 3 Grades Of Flexibility
• Bamboo & Fiberglass

Check Price

Longboard Decks Comparison Chart

5 Best Longboard Decks (as of April, 2024):

1. Loaded Boards DECK Fattail Longboard Deck Review

This Loaded Boards DECK Fattail modernized deck was created for all longboarding styles.

You can adapt it to your way of riding easily, in a couple of sessions.

Pumping, carving, freeride, freestyle – all of these are fine for the Fattail.

Its design line will also suit almost any style. It won’t be the brightest highlight of the outfit, but a solid addition for sure.

If you’re after a major fresh-up of your style and way of riding, this deck might become the best pick.

Features

With this longboard deck, you get such qualities as:

• High flexibility.
  The deck offers 3 grades of flexibility. You can choose whichever suits you best – all the options are equally strong and durable;
• Lightweight deck.
  It’s heavy enough to provide stability yet lightweight enough for you to carry it and not feel like you’re stapled to the ground when riding it.
• Durability.
  The materials used for the deck are of high quality, and the design promotes a longer lifespan. The bamboo is vertically laminated and fiberglass is added for material improvement. These are responsible for a smooth, convenient ride, along with the design;
• Convenient design.
  Mild concave helps you make gravitation your ally while riding, and the platform offers a very responsive behavior. You literally communicate to the board with your feet. Just make sure the shoes are appropriate. The deck has an upturn kicktail to help you master any road.

This deck can save beginner longboarders who have no idea what board to buy.

Any style where you need extra support for energetic moves and sharp turns can be conquered with this stylish, flexible, and multifunctional deck.

Main Features

• For All Longboarding Styles
• Elegant & Convenient Design
• Durable & Lightweight
• 3 Grades Of Flexibility
• Vertically Laminated Bamboo & Fiberglass
• Tapered Shape & Mild Concave
• Upturned Kicktail
• Size: 38″ Long x 8.6″ Wide
• Wheelbase: 26.5″-27.4″

2. Loaded Boards DECK Bhangra Longboard Deck Review

This Loaded Boards DECK Bhangra deck is of premium quality and suitable for high performance.

It’s quite expensive, but you get a luxurious, high-end board with unique design and build for a smooth urban ride.

It’s spacious, convenient, and classy.

There are two types of design available, both look quite natural and can become a rich addition to your longboard.

You can choose the dark or light one – the quality of materials and flexibility are equal.

Features

With this premium deck, you get:

• Stability.
  Grip tapes help you feel the board better and be more stable on any terrain;
• Durability.
  The deck consists of three layers: two of bamboo and one of cork. It comes as a sandwich with cork inside. Bamboo is extremely durable and strong, yet provides high flexibility. Perfect material for a longboard deck;
• Two flex options.
  You can choose Flex 1 if you’re a frequent longboarder and ride at long distances. This flex will provide you with enough qualities for the most responsive ride. Flex 2 should be your choice if you’re a lighter rider and need a lot of response from your board;
• Lightweight.
  The deck itself is very lightweight due to the materials used. It’s easy to carry where you can’t ride and move on it when you need a lot of response from the board.

This is a nice board for an alternative mode of transportation, urban riding, freestyle, etc. Push, dance, slide on it without worries as to its integrity.

The cork sandwich is very long-lasting and works with vibration to provide you with the smoothest ride.

Epoxy bio-resin used instead of common glues promotes durability and is safer.

Main Features

• Spacious Dancing Platform
• Functional & Unique Design
• Durable & Lightweight
• 2 Grades Of Flexibility
• Bamboo & Cork
• Epoxy Bio-Resin
• Functional Wheel Wells
• Grip Tapes
• Size: 48.5″ Long x 9.5″ Wide
• Wheelbase: 32.75″

3. Yocaher Drop Through Longboard Deck Review

The first aluminum deck on the list, Yocaher Drop Through longboard deck, offers the best deal for the price.

It provides high-quality performance, flexibility needed for a nice turn, and cutouts for wheels to lower the board and get rock-solid stability, no matter the speed.

Features

With this deck you’re getting:

• High-quality materials.
  The deck is made from aluminum and has front and rear bumpers from polyester. The materials are durable, sturdy, and lightweight, which are the qualities you want to look for in a longboard deck;
• Griptape included.
  Bllack grip tape adds points to your stability on such a deck. Aluminum with a protective coat wouldn’t be enough since you would slip, especially if the shoes are a bit slippery or it’s rainy outside;
• Cutouts.
  This deck allows for the top mount of the wheels. This makes it closer to the ground, which isn’t the best for uneven terrain but is great for improving stability, which is so important in cruising and downhill riding.
• Concave.
  You also get a convenient radial concave in the middle of the board. It’s great for turns and overall maneuverability. Keep in mind, though, that it might be difficult for a beginner to ride such a board.

The manufacturer recommends adjusting wheels and trucks before every ride to make sure they are stable and intact.

It’s also noted that the colors of the deck(s) you eventually get might slightly vary from the ones presented on the images. Due to different screen settings and lighting, the colors might look different.

Keep in mind that you can get a deck only or opt for a complete longboard. If choosing the second, you’re also getting:

• The same two color options (gold or black);
• Speed Cruiser wheels (size 62mm, durometer 78a, great for cruising);
• Aluminum alloy trucks with a 180mm hanger;
• Bearings with adequate ABEC-7 rating;
• 80a grip tape to avoid slipping on the board.

Main Features

• Size: 36.25″ Long x 9″ Wide
• Wheelbase: 26.75″
• Aluminum Deck, PE Front & Rear Bumpers
• Convenient Radial Concave
• Cutouts For The Top Mount Of The Wheels
• Premium Grade 80A Black Grip Tape
• Heavy Duty Aluminum Alloy Truck
• Abec-7 Chrome Bearings

4. Rayne 653559352542 Review

The Rayne 653559352542 deck has a rather deep meaning behind its name.

Having similar pronunciation with the words “reign” and “rain,” which can be connected in the philosophy of the company – creating top products with thoughts about the environment.

These guys are all about innovation, and their Darkside deck reflects the vision accurately with its durability and weather/damage resistance.

Features

With this deck, here’s what you get:

• Great construction for freeriding.
  This is a top-mount deck with a three-stage rocker, a radial concave, and functional kicktails. This is a wonderful set for those who enjoy freeriding most of all styles;
• Environment-friendly materials.
  All products created by the company are eco-friendly. They are made using recycled, reclaimed, and upcycled materials. The process of manufacture doesn’t harm the environment either;
• Damage resistance.
  The deck resists environmental and mechanical impacts, which contributes to its durability.

These decks are works of art. Some riders buy these for their wall collections since they are almost custom-made.

There’s a massive team of riders, artists, and engineers working on every model, including Darkside.

Main Features

• Great Construction For Freeriding
• Size: 38″ Long x 10″ Wide
• Wheelbase: 25.5″ – 26.5″
• Top-Mount Deck With 3-Stage Rocker
• Radial Concave & Functional Kicktails
• Narrower Width & Built-in Wheelwells
• Environment-Friendly Materials
• Durability & Weather/Damage Resistance

5. Loaded Boards Poke Deck Review

This Loaded Boards Poke Deck longboard deck isn’t only for regular riding.

It’s smaller than the other decks on the list and offers more possibilities for carving, sliding, pumping, etc.

You can also commute using this deck and make it fun due to a mild concave.

Freestyle riding can also be mastered with it, and the durability of the materials won’t disappoint.

Features

By buying this deck, you get:

• Durable and lightweight construction.
  Bamboo with a fiberglass coat provide enough flexibility for a convenient, stable ride, as well as a couple of tricky turns;
• Great design.
  The design was inspired by snowboards and offers lots of chances to have fun while commuting;
• Mild concave.
  This type of concave provides comfortable transitions from one edge to another when slashing, carving, and pumping. If you’re after a rather surfy riding, this might be the best choice;
• Ample kicktail.
  A strong element for everyone who likes freeride, the kicktail will make your ride much more comfortable.

If you like to make every ride a creative adventure, this deck will help you with the goal. The platform is convenient to stand on, even though it has a mild concave.

Kicktails with great functionality, rockers, and a set of trucks, wheels, and bearings of your choice will make your inner explorer proud.

The manufacturer recommends 150mm, 50-degree reverse-kingpin trucks, and 65mm to 80mm wheels, depending on your goal.

Main Features

• Great Design
• Durable & Lightweight
• Compact & Comfortable
• Rockered Profile & Subtle Flex
• Size: 34″ Long x 9.125″ Wide
• Wheelbase: 20.75″
• Vertically Laminated Bamboo & Fiberglass
• Mild Concave
• Ample Kicktail & Subtle Nose

Best Longboard Decks Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Deck

Here are some bits of knowledge that will make the research process easier. You need to find out a lot of information before purchasing a longboard deck.

While we encourage you to read different resources to become knowledgeable, here you can find brief facts about most of the things you need to know.

Choosing a Longboard Deck

Longboards go back to the 1950s when they were just a piece of wood with wheels attached to them. With time, of course, they were studied, and lots of different models were created.

Nowadays, there are different decks for better speed, maneuver capability, turns, or just a calm, spacious ride. Wheels are also different, as well as trucks, bearings, etc.

With the variety comes choice difficulty. You should know what you need to get the best deal.

Deck Shapes

One of the most important things is the shape of the deck. This is responsible for the difficulty and comfort of your ride. Some of these also apply to skateboards, some – in both. The sizes and functionality might overlap at times.

There are:

• Pintail.
  This is a classic deck that looks like a small surfboard. There’s little concave or none at all. This shape works best for regular carving and cruising. Remember that you need the right wheels for that as well. Such boards are usually mounted on top of the trucks.
• Downhill.
  While pintail boards only include one shape, this section has a lot, yet all of them are deemed “blunt nose.” These are stiffer and incredibly stable. There’s everything you need or downhill riding, including the grip tapes. Freestyle riding is also great with this type of deck.
• Cut out.
  A relatively new shape, this one has cut-outs around the wheels for better turn clearance. The sizes of cut-outs may vary. Such boards are great for downhill riding, freestyle, cruising, and carving, given you have proper wheels.
• Mini cruiser.
  These may be of different shapes, but one thing unites them all – the mini size. These aren’t the best for beginners but work perfectly when you need to do sick turns. In case you’re in need of a more stable board, it’s better to choose another shape since these aren’t stable when it comes to riding at high speed. They are great for light carving and cruising.
• Dancer.
  Such decks are usually longer than the average. This is very convenient when you need to perform a dance as a part of your performance. Such decks often come with two kicktails for more opportunities for freestyle ride. Due to their length, dancers are quite stable because dance moves often require you to put uneven weight on the sides of the board.
• Concave.
  Concave decks are curvy from one side to another. A lot of beginners find it difficult to master riding these at first. You can find concaves of different depths. The deeper ones aren’t very comfortable to stay on, but it’s easier to handle them. The shallower ones will provide a more convenient ride and more flexibility.

A lot of longboarders have all of these. You can buy them as separate decks to create your own boards, depending on the goal you’re after at the moment.

Deck Material

Another important point is the materials used to create your deck. There are usually several plies, sometimes of one material, but often of several. This provides enough flexibility and more strength to the construction.

There are three most common longboard deck materials:

• Maple.
  Maple is most frequently used to create skateboard and longboard decks. It’s very strong and durable, and with a special finish, it can last for years, no matter the shape of the deck. No matter how frequently you ride, this wood will last for a long time.
• Bamboo.
  Bamboo is incredibly sturdy yet quite flexible. This is a perfect material for a longboard. This is a relatively new material in the skateboarding industry, and it’s becoming very popular due to its lightweight and other qualities. Such decks work ideally for cruising, carving, and commuting.
• Carbon fiber.
  This is the most expensive material at the moment. Fiber makes longboards very lightweight. Professionals often use these since they are easy to carry and make a longboard very speedy.

Some additions include cork and synthetic materials. These are usually placed as a middle ply to provide extra flexibility or other qualities the make a deck unique.

The shape is the most important thing to consider when buying a longboard deck.

While materials, flexibility, additional elements like special coats and grip tapes, and price can also make a difference, if you get the wrong shape, it will be extremely difficult to learn how to ride.

And if you want to be a master like in movies, you have to practice first. For that, a simple wide longboard will work just great!

Longboard Deck Maintenance

Whether it’s the first longboard of an 8-year-old or a professional board for a competition, they all need maintenance. There are three things that damage longboard decks the most:

• Too much dirt;
• Too much water;
• Too much UV exposure.

When the deck is too dirty, the particles may get inside the plies and break them over time. If the board is soaking wet all the time, the wood will become weak and can be damaged easily.

If it’s exposed to the sun for a very long time without protection, the materials become fragile.

Use mild cleaners and brushes to get the dirt off your longboard deck. Dry it completely after washing or if you’re riding in the rain. And make sure it gets enough shade when it’s sunny outside.

These three simple rules will ensure a long life for the deck from any material.

There are lots of DIY recipes for making skating wax, cleaners, and other necessary things, so if you don’t have access to professional solutions, you can use these.

Longboard Deck Choice FAQ: The Importance of the Length, Shape, Weight Limits, Etc.

What should my first longboard be?

A beginner’s longboard should be well-balanced: not too short yet not too long, and not too narrow.

The perfect length for the first longboard is around 28”-35”. If you need extra stability, aim for about 40”. Such length will suit all types of longboarding.

What board should I get for cruising?

The twin-tip deck will be the best if you’re just learning. It offers premium stability for cruising on the streets. Also, aim for the decks that don’t have a kicktail.

Should I clean the deck often?

Clean your longboard as frequently as you see fit. Some manufacturers will give you guidelines as to the maintenance.

Is it OK to practice tricks if I have a drop-through longboard?

Skateboards are usually used to master tricks and flips. There are a lot of great options for you. But longboards are mostly used cruising and downhill riding.

You can master a couple of 180/360 turns and such, but not skateboard tricks; just as you can’t use a skateboard for long-distance downhill riding or races.

Drop-through longboards are more difficult to ride, so if you’re a beginner, consider a board that will be easier to control. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to get a fancier, more professional board once you learn how to ride.

What’s the deal with the size of the deck of my longboard?

The size of the deck should be one of the top points to consider when choosing a longboard. As the name implies, such boards a longer than skateboards.

However, the longer deck you have, the more space and stability you get. Such boards are suitable for beginners or if you’re using it as a commute.

Is there a weight limit for my board?

They do, but the limit depends largely on the style.

Dancing boards can be around 9-12 lbs, while downhill ones should be around 8.7-10 lbs. Cruising boards should be between 6.5 and 9 lbs.

What is a nice choice for downhill riding?

Drop-through and top-mount decks are the best for downhill riding since they provide a lot of control and promote stability. If you’re asking about the size, the best downhill longboard go from 37” to 43”.

Let a Proper Deck Change Your Riding Quality Forever

A nice longboard deck can make it much easier for you to master the art. If you choose one considering your talents, strong sides, and goals, the way won’t be as harsh.

Whether creating a custom board or buying a full one, make sure you pay attention to the details. Even a small concave will make your experience different.

If you’re a beginner, opt for larger longboards that are stable enough for a newbie, provide sufficient support, have anti-slip coating or grip tapes.

Your first experience has to be pleasant so that you can continue and have fun while already knowing what a good grip and stability are.