As a beginner skateboarder, getting a suitable longboard without regrets and buyer remorse is a challenge. This review was written to take out the guesswork and conjectures you might be having. Our expert review team has distilled the relevant information to present to you the best Longboard brands for beginners.
If you don’t find what you are looking for in this article, simply give us a shout and we will respond to your questions quickly.
Meanwhile, here’s the rundown!
Comparison Table of Best Longboard Brands for Beginners
Last update on 2023-07-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Last update on 2023-07-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Comparison Table of Best Longboard Brands for Beginners
- Best Longboard Brands for Beginners
- Atom Longboards
- Hana Longboard Collection by Magneto
- Quest Longboards
- Magneto Boards
- Yocaher Skateboards
- Landyachtz Longboards
- Loaded Boards
- Kebbek Skateboards
- Sector 9 Longboards
- Rayne Longboards
- Arbor Longboards
- Retrospec Longboards
- Prism Skate Co.
- DB Longboards
- Santa Cruz Skateboards
- Conclusion
Best Longboard Brands for Beginners
The following is a breakdown of the major and best longboard brands for beginners, curated by our expert review team. most of them are American brands, with some foreign brands too.
This article contains affiliate links. Please note that qualifying purchases will earn us a little commission on Amazon. This is to support the work we do for our readers.
Atom Longboards
A truly American brand with a solid reputation for quality…
Atom is a brand that has established its reputation as a manufacturer of extreme sports equipment, including longboards and electric longboards. They are based in Colorado and have been in the business since 2005.
The company prides itself as a producer of quality longboards that are actually designed by riders, at honest prices. They are able to produce these boards with the consumer in mind, eliminating middle-men, thereby making the product quite affordable for every budget.
They produce 3 types of boards including Drop through boards, drop down boards, and pintail longboards. They also manufacture electric longboards.
For support, Atom has phone and email channels, apart from their website, for customer support. Should you have any issues, simply dial them up or email them for support.
Atom Longboards sure is a great company producing quality longboards for every budget. We specifically chose their drop-deck longboard for beginners.
Atom 41-Inch Drop Deck Longboard
The Atom 41-inch Drop Deck Longboard is made of premium maple hardwood deck and tough steel trucks. Every aspect of this board screams “quality”. The drop deck feature is perfect for beginners because it provides maximum stability.
Riding a longboard for the first time is quite tricky. You need a good and stable board for this. Atom is a great choice because they have a solid reputation as a longboard company.
This longboard is great for downhill riding. It also offers relative ease while pushing it around. You’ll discover it’s a great companion for both long-distance riding and just kicking around the neighborhood/school.
This board is easy to push and has a unique shape that gives 9.6-inches of leverage into every turn, while also eliminating wheel bite. We found this board great for beginners and experienced riders alike.
Something you should note though: if you are going to be using this board for sliding downhill, then you will need a new set of wheels. The installed wheels are perfect for cruising, not for downhill sliding.
Features of the Atom 41-Inch Drop Deck Longboard
- Ultra-low riding deck for maximum stability
- Full maple laminate deck
- Reverse King Pin (RKP) longboard trucks
- 245-millimeter axles
- Wide-Lip 70-by-51-millimeter super high rebound (SHR) urethane wheels
- ABEC 9 bearings with high-speed lubricant
- 80S grip tape
- Limited one-year warranty
PROS
- Great grip
- Good trucks with a decent turning capability
- Strong and flexible deck
- Low center of gravity for better stability
- Soft wheels for comfortable rides
CONS
- Doesn’t glide for too long in-between pushes
Hana Longboard Collection by Magneto
Magneto’s Hana Collection, a longboarders dream board
The Hana Longboard Collection is a Magneto brand. Magneto prides itself on “designing and manufacturing high-quality products with game-changing technologies”.
The company is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, where its manufacturing facility is also located. They’ve garnered over 50 years of experience in the game.
Magneto takes customer service seriously. They’ve got contact channels on their website for customers who are in need of support for purchased products.
Hana Collection 42-inch Longboard
Inspired by the dark sand beaches en route to Hana, Maui, this is a beautiful board made from laminated stained bamboo.
The deck is 42″ long and can be utilized for different styles of riding including cruising, carving, dancing, and freestyle. It is made up of 8 layers of laminate with a hard maple core and a beautifully stained striped bamboo top and bottom, with laser-etched graphics inscribed on the surface.
The grip tape is replaced with a sandy grit finish which shows off the beautiful bamboo while still providing enough grip for your feet. Also, the classic pintail shape is perfectly streamlined for cruising the streets. It draws inspiration from the regular surfboard with respect to the design.
This board also features wheels cut fairly well into the bottom of the deck to prevent wheel bite, which is a common phenomenon with longboards when making turns.
The deck is quite flexible for better turning, but not too flexible to the extent the rider feels like it’s going to give way under his/her feet.
This board also features a 31-inch wheelbase, the shortest in the entire Hana collection. Because of this, it is quite responsive and easy to maneuver, and also super-stable on the road.
The deck is 9.5 inches wide, providing a nice, wide platform you stand on while cruising. It also has a very subtle W-concave that comfortably locks your feet while cruising, but is not too deep to make you uncomfortable.
The Hana Pintail board is great for newbies and experienced riders.
Features of the Hana Pintail Longboard
- Can carry a maximum weight of 275 pounds
- Weighs 7 pounds
- The dimensions are 42 in length and 9.5 inches in width
- A deck made from Bamboo & Maple, a width of 11 mm
- Trucks made from Gravity Cast Aluminum, 7 inches in width
- Bushings: SHR – Medium Stiffness
- High Rebound Urethane wheels
- Wheel size: 70mm x 53mm
PROS
- Soft wheels for smooth riding
- Sandy surface for maximum grip Great for newbies
- Well-built and flexible
CONS
- No option to customize wheel colors before purchase
Quest Longboards
Great graphics, top-grade materials, and a friendly price…
Operating straight outta California, Quest is a longboard brand that promises to “add excitement and find adventure regardless of where life is taking you”. They boast of a range of products including classic Longboards, “do it all” Cruisers, old school banana boards, and even open-wheel downhill Bombers.
Quest longboards employ premium materials in manufacturing their products. You’ll find products graced with style, quality, and attitude, catering to all cadres of riders and thrill-seekers.
Their boards feature great graphics, natural artisan wood finishes, and composite materials. Their prices are also quite pocket-friendly.
In their words, “We are stoked to be a part of your journey by providing a source of stylish expression, that each person can use to create and define their own unique experience”.
We present to you our Quest Longboard of choice…
The Quest Super Cruiser 44” Artisan Bamboo Longboard
This beautiful 44″ Longboard from Quest features Multi-Ply Hardwood Maple and a beautiful artisan bamboo deck, shaped for high performance at a great price. Seriously, you won’t find such a quality Longboard at this price.
The Quest Super Cruiser features genuine ABEC 7 speed bearings, 7 Ply Super Flex Bamboo and Hardwood Maple Deck, and 7-inch aluminum trucks.
Beginners may find this board a little unstable, due to the design. It isn’t a drop-down deck design. It is a top-mount board. But once you get familiar with it, you are going to enjoy every bit of it. The top-mount design is perfect for making quick turns, allowing you to maneuver the board better.
In addition, the deck has a slight convex design and isn’t that flexible. This means the board can hold more weight without depressing in the middle.
One thing we would like to mention: out of the box, this board is a little wobbly. What you can do to mitigate this effect is to tighten the truck bushings. This will correct the wobbly effect. Otherwise, this is one of the best longboard brands for beginners and seasoned riders alike.
Features of the Quest Super Cruiser Longboard
- Slight convex deck design
- 44-Inch Artisan Bamboo Longboard
- Multi-ply hardwood maple and beautiful Artisan bamboo deck
- Rugged 7-Inch aluminum trucks
- Durable 70mm PU wheels
- ABEC 7 speed bearings
- Kicktail
PROS
- Great kick nose and tail
- Good finish on the deck
- Great price
CONS
- Bearings harder to clean and maintain
- Not that flexible for some riders
- A bit slow bearings for some riders
Magneto Boards
Design Style, performance, and aesthetics are Magneto’s strong points
As a relatively new longboard brand operating out of Carlsbad, California, Magneto has carved a niche for itself in the outdoor and extreme sports industry. They produce quality Longboards and Electric Skateboards for all classes of riders.
Magneto is one of the best longboard brands for beginners. The company is committed to producing high-quality, complete Longboards at really affordable prices. Don’t let the prices fool you; Magneto packs quite some serious premium materials into their boards, with cool innovative shapes, designs, and graphics.
The company takes style and aesthetics seriously. They have managed to incorporate these values into their range of boards, which include the following:
- Magneto Bamboo & Fiberglass Drop
- Magneto Tesla downhill Longboard
- Magneto Carbon
Their range of boards has just about any type of board for cruising, down-hilling, carving, dancing, and free-styling. The range of materials they use in their boards includes maple, bamboo, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. Our board of choice in their lineup is the Magneto Bamboo & Fiberglass Drop-through Longboard.
Magneto Bamboo & Fiberglass Drop through Longboard
This is one solid cruising Longboard from Magneto. It is also perfect for carving and tricks. It’s the ultimate cruiser with nice camber, subtle kick tails, and just about the right level of flexibility. It’s also perfect for long smooth rides and dancing.
This board features a drop-through truck design that creates a low center of gravity and an incredibly stable ride. This is especially beginner-friendly, because of the increased stability during rides.
This board has some impressive specs. For starters, it can carry up to 275 pounds of dead weight. The deck measures 42 inches in length and 9 inches in width, and it’s made from bamboo and fiberglass. It is flexible in just the right proportion, with a subtle concave shape which makes it quite solid
It also features the Magneto brand boldly and beautifully laser etched directly into the bamboo with a sand grit finish for extra grip on top of the board. This means you don’t need a grip tape to ride it.
Its trucks are 7″ gravity cast heavy-duty aluminum trucks made for carving, and sharp turns, with wheels measuring 70mm x 53mm High Rebound Polyurethane 78A wheels.
We would like to mention that the wheels don’t roll as long as other boards in this price range. So you are better off getting another set of wheels and bearings along with the board. Otherwise, this is a great board for the price.
Features of the Magneto Longboard
- 42″x9″ Bamboo & Fiberglass deck
- Concavity: Subtle U-Shape
- 7″ Precision Gravity Cast Aluminum Trucks
- 73 mm x 53 mm – 83A High Rebound Wheels
- Subtle kick tails on both sides of the board for tricks and more fun
- Beautifully laser etched logo on the deck
PROS
- Great for beginners
- Maneuverability
- Great customer support
CONS
- Average bearings and wheels
RELATED ARTICLE
Best Longboards for Cruising
Here’s our review of the best Longboards for Cruising. Click here
Yocaher Skateboards
They’ve got variety, style, and great prices too
Yocaher is an American Longboard brand that began business in 1997, producing only skateboards and Longboards. They have quite a haul of products, which at the last count is over 50! Nevertheless, they are not all about quantity, but quality also.
Their products are all assembled from premium components, all in the US (they operate out of Southern California).
Their products also cater to different levels of riders such as beginners and experienced skateboarders and Longboarders. They also feature heavy graphic design on their boards, which we found appealing.
Apart from aesthetics, they produce different designs of skateboards and Longboards for various purposes, whether for cruising, down-hilling, carving, dancing, or just free-riding.
For support, they have a toll-free line to call, should you have any issues. They’ve also got email channels on their website, apart from a contact form, for support. In addition, they’ve also got a Facebook page, an Instagram page, and a YouTube Channel for their fans and user base.
All in all, we think this is one of the best longboard brands for beginners in the USA. We picked up one of their products for a review, the Yocaher Professional Speed Drop Down Complete Longboard.
Yocaher Professional Speed Drop Down Complete Longboard
This is one well-built board from Yocaher. It is great for beginners, has good construction, and can handle cruising quite well. This board is also fast. We’ve had speeds of up to 35 miles/hour.
If you’re a beginner to Longboards, you might consider this brand. It is quite easy to maneuver and doesn’t suffer from wheel bite. It also comes fully assembled and ready to go.
The deck is quite sturdy and is made from 9-Ply Maple hardwood boards. Its flexibility is quite minimal, as such, it can carry heavier folks. The board just bends a tad on heavyweights.
The board measures 41.25 inches in length and 9 inches in width, which is just the right size for maximum maneuverability. It has a slightly concave design, which helps the rider to stay balanced and well-grounded on the deck.
It also features a Black Widow Premium Grade 80A Black Grip tape, 70x52mm Wheels with 78A hardness, and HD7 heavy-duty trucks.
This board has some issues though; you might want to upgrade the wheels and bearings to better ones. The stock wheels and bearings don’t offer the best performance, otherwise, it’s still ridable to a large extent.
Features of the Yocaher Drop Down Complete Longboard
- Deck: 41.25″ x 10″, 9-Ply Maple, High Concave, None Flex
- Wheels: Q-Ball 70 x 52mm Wheels, 78A Hardness
- Trucks: 9.675 HD7 Heavy Duty Trucks, 180mm Hanger, Aluminum Alloy
- Bearings: Abec 7 Chrome Bearings
- Can carry weights up to 275 pounds
PROS
- Beautiful artwork
- Sturdy deck
- Great for beginners & heavier folks
CONS
- Bearings and wheels need upgrading
Landyachtz Longboards
An environmentally aware brand that makes great boards
From humble beginnings, this Canadian Longboard brand has risen to global visibility. Landyachtz began as a DIY Longboard business between 2 friends sometime in 2008 in a warehouse, to a global brand with visibility in up to 30 countries, an eclectic team of over 60 enthusiasts, and churn out over 2000 boards per week.
Landyachtz surely deserves a place in the list of best Longboard brands for beginners, as they cater to diverse and varying levels of experience in skateboarding and Longboarding.
Also, over the years they have managed to garner lots of traction in the industry, leading to over 500 plus locations where their boards are sold. This is impressive. I would say they dominate the market in the North American sub-continent.
Their team is made up of enthusiasts and hard-core skateboarders who are passionate about the sport. As a result, they produce boards that they themselves are proud of and want to ride. Their focus is on quality and innovation first.
The brand is also environmentally aware. They are contributing their own quota to keeping the earth green by ensuring that, for every board bought, they plant one maple tree. This is exemplary for a skateboard company.
Landyachtz Switch Longboard Complete
This super-solid board for all classes of riders incorporates design with functionality to produce a great product. It has two variants, the 35-inch, and 40-inch Longboards.
The construction of the deck is a solid 9 Plies of Maple hardwood boards, with a 2-inch drop. This affords riders more stability for better balance.
This board is great for riders of all levels as it is easy to push while relatively stable. The deck is quite sturdy with low flexibility, perfect for commuting from place to place. It can also carry heavy riders weighing up to 280 pounds without breaking a sweat.
Overall, we think the Landyachtz Switch is one great downhill longboard. This board is also great for cruising due to its low-ride height. In addition, it is super stable and can be made to go as fast as you’re comfortable with. It also slides super easily and is great for freerides.
Features of the Landyachtz Switch Longboard
- Dimensions: 36 x 10 x 6 inches
- Can carry a maximum weight of 280-300 pounds
- Weighs up to 9 pounds
- Deck construction: 9 Plies of Maple hardwood, 2″ Drop
PROS
- Stable and fast
CONS
- Not flexible for most riders
Loaded Boards
Great company, great products though pricey
As stated on their website, Loaded is “dedicated to the growth of board sports through performance, community, and creative expression”. This skateboard and Longboard producer deserves a place in our list of best Longboard brands for beginners.
The company started as a dream and took its first baby steps into the skateboard arena in the mid-’90s. After much experimenting with materials and different production methods, out came their first board, “Vanguard” in mid-2002.
According to them, they are “passionate about materials, are committed to environmentally conscious design and production, appreciate the subtleties of the process (the devil’s in the details), and are devotees of functionally driven design”.
A lot goes into the design and production of every product Loaded turns out. They go as far as involving their ambassadors; these are people that are involved in their promotions and product outreach, online or offline. At the end of the day, you have a product that everyone wants to ride, both the designers and the customers.
Their crew is diverse and passionate as well. They have a wide network of distributors in the States and worldwide. Besides, the company supports a number of charities. They operate out of Culver City, California. To back up a diversity of great products in their kitty, they also offer great support through their website, and there’s also a dedicated phone line to reach their customer care.
Here’s our Loaded Longboard of choice – the Dervish Sama Bamboo Longboard
Loaded Dervish Sama Bamboo Longboard
The Loaded Dervish Sama Longboard is a performance Longboard designed for those who crave top performance combined with great design. It is perfect for carving, pumping, freestyle, freeride, and urban commuting/alternative transportation. The board features drop-through deck mounts for stability and easy pushing.
The Dervish Sama is low and easy to ride for both the beginner looking to cruise around town and also the expert rider seeking a soulful, snowboard-inspired ride and the ability to explore longboard dancing and freestyle.
It is quite user-friendly, with its drop-through truck mounting that effectively positions the deck lower to the ground for easier, more efficient pushing and enhanced stability. Its lightweight and ample standing platform make the Dervish Sama comfortable and easy to handle for carving, freestyle, freeride, and commuting.
Its performance-enhanced features such as large cutouts for maximum wheel clearance are perfect for deep carves and tight turns, while nose and tail kicks help you navigate your neighborhood while dancing and showing off your freestyle trickery.
Its deck design features a cambered profile and mild concave for a responsive yet comfortable platform perfect for carve-oriented longboarding.
Available in 3 flex options, the deck is made from laminated bamboo and fiberglass construction, providing a tough and flexible platform to ride on. The lower flex option is best for heavier and more aggressive riders, while the high flex option is great for lighter riders. It can carry a maximum of 280—300 pounds for the low flex option.
Features of the Dervish Sama
- Dimensions: Length 42.8”, Width 9”, Height 6”, Wheelbase 31.5”
- Weight Capacity: Flex 1: 170-270+ lbs, Flex 2: 100-185+ lbs, Flex 3: 75-150+ lbs
- Orangatang wheels
- Loaded Jehu V2 bearings
- Laminated bamboo and fiberglass construction
PROS
- Fast
- Great bearings
CONS
- Pricey
Kebbek Skateboards
Quality plus affordability
Kebbek is not a well-known Longboard brand, but they’ve come a long way and are doing fine. The company has been in the outdoor sports equipment business for up to 28 years, and is operating out of Montreal in Canada. For a company that has been around this long, you bet they’re getting it right to a large extent.
These guys make Longboards that are both high-quality without burning a huge hole in your pocket.
Most riders don’t really care about exotic materials, as long as the board is well constructed, able to hold itself together during rides, and feels good. These are enough to keep them satisfied.
If you are all for affordability and reliability, this brand is worth checking out. However, they have a handful of Longboard models made with fiberglass and bamboo which might interest you. At the time of publishing this article, their website was down. We don’t really have a clear and definite statement about their support system, but there should be one on Amazon.
Kebbek Skateboards Juergen Gritzner Longboard
This is Kebbek’s Longboard we recommend for beginners. The board measures 9.75inches in width and 38 inches in length, with reverse kingpin trucks and 73mm wheels.
The deck is slightly concave and is made of 9-ply construction. This allows for more control while turning. With the kicktail, you can easily ollie over curbs and perform some tricks while at it.
Though this board is perfect for down-hilling, it’s also great for free-riding and carving. This deck gives you absolute freedom to move around on the board and cruise however you want.
One observation though: the truck isn’t the best out there, so you might consider upgrading to a better option.
Features of the Juergen Gritzner Longboard
- Deck Size: 38″ Length x 9.75″ Width
- Wheelbase: 23.8″ – 27″
- Effective Foot Platform (EFP): 26″
- 9 Ply Construction, 0.5 Micro Drop, Flush-mounted Trucks
- Opalescent Paint
- Caften Reverse Kingpin Trucks
- Kebbek Takawan 73mm 78a Wheels (43mm Contact Patch)
- Kebbek bearings and spacers
- Factory assembled by Kebbek and ready to skate
PROS
- Great Handling
CONS
- Trucks need upgrading
Sector 9 Longboards
They’ve managed to garner quite a reputation for quality products
Sector 9 began with a group of friends with a passion for skateboards. They came together and started producing skateboards. After 26 years, they’ve become a force to reckon with, and they are one of the biggest and most reliable brands around.
Headquartered in San Diego, California, the outfit produces and stocks the highest quality Skateboard Decks, Completes, Wheels, Trucks, Tools & Accessories for the surf and skate lifestyle.
To date, they have scores of products under their kitty. Since they kicked off business in 1993, Sector 9 Longboards have consistently relied on US-made materials, and are assembled in Sector 9’s own San Diego factory.
Sector 9 Longboard decks are tough and well-constructed and are great for pools, parks, and bombing downhills. Sector 9 longboards are durable, beautiful, and hand-crafted. They stand out with distinction with respect to a variety of shapes and graphics in Longboard design and production.
Sector 9 has solid customer support channels including a dedicated phone line, email, and website.
Sector 9 Men’s Pinnacle Lookout Complete Longboard
According to Sector 9, this is their best-selling board. The Lookout is designed with classy lines and vibes, and it’s been made even more appealing with some spanky new Nate Reifke artwork inspired by the work of MC Escher.
The deck is made from 5 ply vertically laminated Taco Mold Bamboo with drop-through trucks, with a beautiful green Hawaii wave graphic on the bottom and clear grip tape on the deck. The design of the deck is perfect for beginners, because of the low center of gravity. What you have is a more stable and easy-to-push board anyone can enjoy.
This board also comes with 69mm Nineballs to keep you rolling easily over cracks and any stray rocks that get in your way. The bearings are ABEC 5 Greaseball Bearings.
The Pinnacle Complete Longboard is a great option for carving and shuttling here and there. Its length is 42 inches while the width is 9.6 inches. It’s a nice option if you are looking to start longboarding. It surely deserves a place on our list of best longboard brands for beginners.
Features of the Pinnacle Lookout
- Dimensions: Length: 41.125”, Width: 9.625”, Wheelbase: 31.5
- 10.0” Gullwing Charger Trucks
- 69mm 78a Nineballs
- ABEC 5 Greaseball Bearings
- 1.125” Truss Head Steel Bolts
- Beautiful green Hawaii wave graphic on the bottom and Clear Grip tape
- 5 ply vertically laminated Bamboo & Maple Hybrid Drop Thru deck
PROS
- Beginner-friendly
- Great for cruising
CONS
- None
Rayne Longboards
The brainchild of Graham Buksa is still kicking strong since 2004
The Rayne brand is a Canadian Longboard brand that has been in the business since 2004, producing a variety of Longboard skateboards for downhill, freeride, dancing, carving & freestyling. Their decks are built tough to withstand the most challenging conditions.
Rayne puts together the best materials, and works closely with its team of riders to produce functionally sound and beautiful boards that only the best riders want to ride.
Graham Buksa, the founder of Rayne, pioneered the original design for their Longboard. He still continues to contribute to the growth of the brand by participating in races, design, and development of their mainstream Longboards.
According to Rayne, their core value is “to make the best products and to respect the environment while doing so”. To a large extent, they have succeeded in this aspect. They ensure that their products are produced from eco-friendly materials and processes. According to them, “we use reclaimed, recycled, or upcycled materials whenever possible”.
The company has support channels such as phone and email through which they provide after-sales service to customers.
Rayne Longboards Demonseed
This board makes longboarding feel easy and look good with double-drop through mounting and a low platform that makes pushing quite easy. It’s great for beginners because of its drop-through design, making it ultra-stable at any speed and ready to slide.
It has a slightly concave deck for added stability. The deck is made of maple, and it features a double-drop through mounting.
Furthermore, this double-drop through mounting (drop deck + drop through truck mounting) has a .75” linear drop that effectively lowers the standing platform of the board. This low platform makes pushing super easy, makes the whole Longboard very stable at any speed, and really helps initiate slides.
The Demonseed has a 3-stage rocker and deep tub concave. The 3-stage rocker makes rotating and sliding quite seamless through ergonomics while adding pockets for your feet to grip on slides.
The concave has a wide flat center and aggressive cups for your toes and heels. This is the perfect concave for a double-drop deck which will keep your feet firmly in place during slides and making turns with the board. The flat center is quite comfortable for pushing the board.
This is quite a longboard, measuring 42 inches in length, and 10 inches in width, and has a wheelbase of 33.08 inches. It also features Atlas 180mm ultralight trucks and 70mm 77a Rayne Envy Wheels.
Here is a summary of its major features.
Features of the Rayne Demonseed
- Dimensions: Length: 42”, Wheelbase: 33.08”, Width: 10″
- Atlas 180mm Ultralight Trucks
- 70mm 77a Rayne Envy Wheels
- Maple Deck
PROS
- Beginner-friendly
- Great for cruising
- Easy to ride
- Great for taller riders
CONS
- None
Arbor Longboards
Another environmentally-aware brand that makes great boards
The Arbor brand has come a long way, first starting out with snowboards in 1995, with Bob Carlson as the founder. Since then, they’ve managed to build a brand that can compete with the best in the industry.
Arbor makes it clear in its mission statement, “blend innovative design and traditional craftsmanship, with sustainable materials and construction methods”. They live true to their goal by creating great products that deliver quality and performance at a fair price.
They produce snowboards, skateboards, longboards, apparel, footwear, and bags. In addition, they are an environmentally aware brand, having been involved in various organizations such as the Conservation Alliance, the Surfrider Foundation, and Arbor Day Foundation. Also, they partner with the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative, which is heavily involved in reforestation through tree planting.
The company has a responsive support system through web channels, email, and phone, through which customers can always reach them. Our favorite Longboard from Arbor is…
Arbor Dropcruiser Longboard
This is a great option for beginners. It features a double-drop with a lower platform. Of course, this makes it quite easy to push on long commutes, cruising, and freeride.
The deck is made from 9 Ply Canadian Hardrock Maple with a Premium Red Gum Wood Finish Ply, and it measures 38 inches in length, 9.75 inches in width, and a wheelbase of 29.25 inches. The wood is produced from sustainable forests, as the brand is involved in reforestation.
The Dropcruiser has a concave deck for enhanced balance, due to the lower center of gravity. Its wheels are 70mm Arbor Easyrider Series wheels, fitted with ABEC 7 Bearings with Spacers. There are also Paris Reverse 50° 180mm trucks.
Features of the Arbor Dropcruiser
- 9 Ply Canadian Hardrock Maple with a Premium Red Gum Wood Finish Ply
- Paris Reverse 50° 180mm trucks
- Arbor Easyrider Series – Outlook wheels
- Wheel size: 69mm // Durometer: 78A
- ABEC 7 Bearings with Spacers
- Recycled Glass Re-Grit
PROS
- Beginner-friendly
- Larger wheel shape increases rolling speed
CONS
- None
Retrospec Longboards
They manage to produce great boards at rock-bottom prices. The Heck…
Inspired by his grandfather’s love for the outdoors and the high cost of obtaining a decent bike at the time, Ely Alexander went ahead to launch Retrospec in 2009 while still a sophomore at the University of Southern California.
He was piqued when he had to buy a used bike for as much as $600! So he decided to make his own bikes and sell, them at affordable rates, such that college kids can easily get one. His daring venture paid off, with retailers trooping in droves to get his bikes.
Since then, the business has expanded to include other products like paddleboards, snowboards, and Longboards. Something that began with an everyday bike for college students, Retrospec soon developed a collection of bicycles to match a variety of needs. Beach cruisers, rugged hybrids, track bikes, and Dutch-style city bikes were added to their collection.
Their mission is encapsulated in this statement, “We believe that no one should be barred from enjoying the outdoors due to price. We are committed to providing accessible prices for long-lasting, high-quality products for years to come”.
Who knows, Retrospec may just be your choice! Anyways, it deserves a place in our list of best Longboard brands for beginners, what with their rock-bottom prices and popularity of their products, coupled with product quality.
They maintain customer support channels including phone, email, and their website.
Retrospec Zed Bamboo Longboard
The Zed is a reasonably priced, functional, and beautiful longboard from Retrospec. Its deck is constructed from 8-ply Canadian maple and sustainable bamboo to create an infallible hybrid of strength and pliability.
Zed masters both suburban streets and beachside boulevards with durable 70x51mm PU wheels, lightweight aluminum trucks, and 44 sturdy inches of sustainably sourced bamboo and solid Canadian maple.
Also, reactive, smooth gliding reverse kingpin trucks with precision ABEC-7 bearings offer full movement and control over your board. With this board, you can cruise effortlessly around the neighborhood and perhaps bomb hills around.
This board isn’t flexible. This means it can carry heavier folks. It’s rated to carry up to 220 pounds, but it has been reported to carry as high as 260 pounds.
However, we found out that the trucks need to be tightened as it comes loose somewhat. Please make sure of that. Also, we discovered that the bearings are quite average. You might need better ones if you plan to use this board for long. Also, the deck isn’t super strong as advertised, and we’ve received some reports of breakages.
The Zed is a nice beginner board you might want to check out. It’s quite cheap and affordable.
Features of the Retrospec Zed
- 41″ x 9.5″ artisan bamboo longboard
- Rugged 7-inch aluminum trucks – Reverse Kingpin w/ ABEC-7 Bearing
- Deck: 8 multi-ply with Bamboo deck
- Heat-transferred Logo/Graphics on Bottom
- Griptape: 80AB, Black, with logo
- Durable 70x51mm 85a PU wheels with rock finish
- Recommended Weight Limit: 220 LBS
PROS
- Rides smooth
- Light
- Cheap
- Solid maneuverability
CONS
- Trucks need adjusting before riding
- Deck is not super strong
- Bearings are not the best. Need upgrade
- Deck is not as strong and sturdy
Prism Skate Co.
They ain’t that popular, but they still cut it…
Just like many brands out there, Prism started with a group of friends that got together and decided to carve their own niche in the skateboarding industry. The driving motive was that “they felt there wasn’t a company out there that reflected their style and vision, so they chose to go down their own road and make it themselves”.
Though the brand hasn’t the exposure and reach of the major brands, they are still a formidable force to reckon with. According to them, they produce skateboards “perfect for those taking their first step on a skateboard or for the seasoned mountain rat”. They’ve managed to live up to that ideal with a couple of models to their name.
As a skateboard company, Prism states on its website, “we believe that skateboards should be designed by skateboarders, not accountants”. Their boards are designed from high-quality materials, by those that matter, the very enthusiasts and seasoned skateboarders. In the end, you have products that anybody can ride, and that can stack up with competitors in the industry.
Their range of products includes the Liam Ashurst Collection, the Mulga collection, the Space Bat Killer collection, the Core Series, Trace Series, Artist Series, and Resin Series. As is common in the industry, they operate out of California. They also have support channels on their website, including phone and email.
Prism Revel 39 – Artist Series
From Prism comes this 39-inch speed machine, the Revel 39. It is designed especially for carving, but it can still be used as a cruiser. Its deck features a drop-through design, with stiff bamboo construction.
This board is also responsive. You can slide easily with less fatigue on your legs. It’s a bit heavier than most other brands in this category, weighing 9 pounds. Apart from that, you won’t even notice that when riding it.
It is also stable, thanks to the drop-through truck design. This is great for beginners who need more stability while learning how to longboard. The wheels measure 69 millimeters, allowing you to navigate the outdoors with relative ease.
Its major features include the following –
Features of the Prism Revel 39
- Dimensions: L: 39″ W: 9.375″ WB: 29.5″
- 69mm/78A Prism Wheels
- Blood Orange Bearings
PROS
- Great for beginners
- Good stability
CONS
- None
DB Longboards
Making quality skateboards and longboards since 2003
DB Longboards was founded in 2003 by 3 guys, namely Richard Docter, Bryce Hermansen, and Tim Mackey. They all had a passion for skateboarding, and they quickly began making their own foam top longboards and flatland skimboards out of a garage. With time, they moved to a bigger barn and later to their present location south of Seatle, Washington.
their facility allows them to produce one-of-a-kind boards from unique molds and materials. Their processes involve prototyping on CNC machines, 3D Printers, and CAD design, to bring their wildest ideas to reality. From raw materials to finished parts, their products constantly push the limits of board design and quality construction.
DB Longboards ensures that attention to detail, best materials/components, and meticulous quality standards form the backbone of their production processes.
Its mission is captured in the following line, “create amazing products, do it sustainably, and treat customers and employees like family”. DB Longboards live up to this credo till today, which is why they made it to our list of best longboard brands for beginners.
They produce quite a range of skateboards and longboards, featuring scores of different models. They’ve got solid customer service and support channels through phone and email.
DB Longboards Pioneer Mountains Drop-Through
According to DB Longboards, this is the perfect carving board. It has good stability, thanks to its drop-through design and cambered platform. This makes it perfect for beginners who want to get familiar with Longboards.
It also features 8 Ply Maple deck construction, Lightning Bearings, Atlas 180mm Ultralight trucks, and Cloudride Cruiser 69mm 78a wheels.
The Pioneer is a good choice for anyone wanting a little more than just cruising the streets. Here’s a breakdown of its features.
Features of the DB Longboards Pioneer
- Atlas 48* RKP Black Trucks
- Cloud Ride 69mm Cruiser Wheels
- 8 Ply Maple deck
- Lightning Bearings
PROS
- Great for beginners
- Easy handling
CONS
- None
Santa Cruz Skateboards
Making quality skateboards and longboards since 2003
Santa Cruz Skateboards began in 1973 when Richard Novak and two other guys started the mother company, NHS Inc. Ever since Santa Cruz has evolved and grown into a reputable skateboard business. With time, they diversified into snowboards, surfboards, and skateboard-related kits.
The official logo of Santa Cruz Skateboards, the screaming hand logo, became tremendously popular, and it has come to represent extreme skateboarding and everything related to it. The brand is popular for applying cutting-edge graphics to its boards.
The company has a great team of talented and enthusiastic people involved in the design and production of most of its products.
The company has grown from not only selling skateboards but related merchandise for the skateboarding industry. They also provide support through email and phone for customer service. The company is located in Santa Cruz, California.
Santa Cruz Micro Drop-down Longboard Complete
This is a nice board for beginners and drop-down fanatics. The Micro Drop Down Screaming Hand Cruiser Longboard by Santa Cruz Skateboards is an excellent cruiser made from high-quality materials for the best performance.
It features a beginner-friendly drop-down deck construction, which provides a lower center of gravity for better stability during rides. Also, you’ll find out that this board gives you better slides with little effort, thanks to its quality bearings and Road Rider 180 longboard trucks with Road Rider 72mm, 78a wheels.
This high-quality cruiser features 9 plies of the finest North American Maple, which provides a smooth and sturdy platform for riding. Even at higher speeds, advanced speed freaks will be completely satisfied because this board is quieter on the road due to a lower center of gravity and butter-smooth bearings. In addition, it retains good control with little flexibility.
The Screaming Hand of Santa Cruz is one of the most popular brands of skateboarding around and now is also available in the longboard scene.
Features of the Santa Cruz Longboard
- Dimensions: Lenght 36.52 inches, Width 9.34 inches
- Road Rider 72mm Wheels
- Road Rider 180 longboard trucks
- 9 plies of Maple hardwood deck
- Great for beginners
- Smooth sliding
CONS
- Not flexible for some riders
Conclusion
For beginners, it can get pretty tough and confusing to pick your first longboard. Most of the brands we reviewed are American brands, with the exception of a few. Our list of best longboard brands for beginners may not be perfect, but we have decided to leave the floor open; if there’s a great brand out there we didn’t mention, feel free to alert us using the comment box below.
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