Longboard riding is getting more and more popular all the time. The speed of a longboard can’t be beaten by standard skateboards, which makes them a fantastic option for people who love going fast or who want to commute on their longboard.
If you want to get into skating, longboards are one of the best options. More stable and often more durable than a standard skateboard, longboards are easy to ride but difficult to master. Depending on the style you get, you can even use your longboard as training for other board sports like snowboarding and surfing!
Here are some of the best longboards for beginners.
Our Top 7 Longboards for Beginners in Each Category
Best Overall: Retrospec Zed Longboard Pintail Bamboo
Best Durability: Volador 42inch Freeride Longboard Complete Cruiser
Best Stability: Junli 41 Inch Freeride Longboard
Best For Cruising: Magneto 44 inch Kicktail Cruiser Longboard
Best Versatility: PINESKY 41 Inch Longboard
Best Maneuverability: Volador 40inch Maple Longboard – Basic Cruiser
Best For Rough Terrain: Atom All-Terrain Longboard
Best Overall: Retrospec Zed Longboard Pintail Bamboo Longboard
DECK: 44 inches long 8-ply Maple deck.
TRUCKS: Smooth gliding reverse kingpin trucks.
WHEELS: 70x51mm 85A PU wheels.
BEARINGS: BEC-7 tolerance bearings.
The Retrospec Zed is one of the best longboards for beginners thanks to an adaptive combination of features that all help make longboarding easier and more comfortable.
It’s lightweight and highly maneuverable, which helps make this a longboard that can grow with you as your skill level grows.
This longboard also comes with high grip wheels that give you a much smoother ride. The grip also improves stability, but without slowing you down or limiting the ways you can ride this longboard.
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Best Durability: Volador 42inch Freeride Longboard Complete Cruiser
DECK: Rock maple 42 inch by 9-inch deck.
TRUCKS: Aluminum 7-inch kingpin reverse trucks.
WHEELS: PU wheels
BEARING: ABEC 9 bearings
Volador is one of the more popular brands for beginners thanks to their affordable pricing and effective but easy-to-ride design. The adjustable trucks and easily replaceable wheels are both designed to let riders customize the board if they want to.
As a free-rider this longboard is suited to a wide range of riding styles. Customizing the longboard further helps you create exactly the kind of riding experience you want.
At 42 inches long this board is great for beginners of all heights and gives you plenty of room to find the best riding stance and style for you.
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Best Stability: Junli 41 Inch Freeride Longboard
DECK: 41-inch multi-ply maple.
TRUCKS: Aluminum trucks.
WHEELS: 70mm PU wheels.
BEARING: ABEC-11 high-speed bearings
The Junli Freeride Longboard does a good job of balancing stability with speed, maneuverability, and grip. That combination is perfect for someone who is looking for a great beginner longboard.
Plus, the Junli Freeride Longboard has a maximum capacity of 330 lbs. That’s far higher than a lot of longboards. That makes this a good choice for riders of all sizes, as well as commuters or anyone who wants to carry a backpack while riding.
A shock absorption ring built into this design also works to improve the overall stability, making it easier to ride.
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Best For Cruising: Magneto 44 inch Kicktail Cruiser Longboard
DECK: Layered bamboo and maple ply, 44-inch board
TRUCKS: Gravity cast aluminum
WHEELS: 70mm soft PU wheels
BEARING: ABEC-11 high-speed bearings
This cruiser is a little different from most longboards, with a design that rides a bit like a surfboard or a snowboard.
Its design is durable and lightweight, with the strength of maple but the lightweight and flexibility advantage of the bamboo.
Fast bearings help reduce friction and make it work more effectively for different riding styles.
The board shape itself works for a wide variety of styles as well, though it isn’t perfectly optimized for anything but cruising.
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Best Versatility: PINESKY 41 Inch Longboard
DECK: 8 ply maple 41-inch deck
TRUCKS: 8-inch aluminum trucks
WHEELS: 70mm PU wheels
BEARING: ABEC-11 high-speed chrome steel bearing
The low-profile design helps make it easier to keep your balance on this longboard, which makes it suitable for almost any skill level or riding style. Its design is varied and works like a combination of different kinds of longboards.
The 41-inch length is good for beginners, but the aggressive adaptations make this a board that can keep up as its rider gains more skill.
A highly effective PU shock absorption system helps make this longboard ride more smoothly than most. That smoothness makes this longboard a good option for long-distance riding and greater speed, especially without making your knees or ankles sore.
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Best Maneuverability: Volador 40inch Maple Longboard – Basic Cruiser
DECK: 40-inch drop-through rock maple deck
TRUCKS: 7-Inch reverse kingpin trucks
WHEELS: 70mm PU wheels
BEARING: ABEC-7 precision bearings
This Volador longboard is a similar design to the first one we discussed, but with a slightly different design for different kinds of riders. It’s a good choice if you’re looking for a smoother, more maneuverable, and more relaxed kind of ride.
While this design won’t reach the high speeds of some of the longboards we’ve listed, that’s a perfect option for beginners.
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Best For Rough Terrain: Atom All-Terrain Longboard
DECK: Maple 39-inch longboard
TRUCKS: Reverse kingpin aluminum trucks
WHEELS: 100mm PU wheels
BEARING: Shielded ABEC 9 bearings with high-speed lubricant
If you’re looking for an all-terrain longboard that’s suitable for beginners, this is a good option. The larger wheels hold up incredibly well to different terrain types. This longboard works even for off-roading with your longboard.
However, the all-terrain design does come at the slight sacrifice of uphill performance. The Atom All-Terrain longboard works best on flat terrain or a slight downhill slope.
An improved grip tape also makes it easier for beginners to keep their feet under them on rougher terrain. The tape really helps make this a beginner-friendly all-terrain design
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Helmets and Protective Gear For Longboarding
Longboarders are often shown without protective gear, but realistically protective gear is incredibly important while you’re riding, especially if you want to ride at speed. After all, the fastest longboards can reach highway speeds, so you need extra protection in case you get thrown.
Here’s what we recommend:
- Helmets: Probably the most common and most important piece of protective equipment, helmets protect you from concussions and worse in the middle of a bad fall. Landyachtz and Sector 9 both offer some high-quality helmets for longboarders. We also like the protection and features from Triple 8.
- Elbow and Knee Guards: Likely the next most important protective gear, elbow and knee guards provide extra support while you’re riding and also help cushion and protect you from falls. Sector 9 has some great elbow and knee guards, but you should also consider Pro-Tec, G-Form, and Triple 8.
- Gloves: Longboarding gloves are important for certain riding styles, and always great for protection. Loaded Boards offers some great gloves, so does Andux Land, Sector 9, and Triple 8.
If you really want to go all out, you can also invest in spine protectors, eye shields, and grip soles, but most longboarders don’t use this extra equipment. As a beginner, as long as you don’t take too many risks, you shouldn’t need these.
However, as you start to get more skilled, or are willing to take more risks, it’s a good idea to get some additional protective equipment.
Many of the brands we’ve already listed carry the full line of longboarding protective gear. Their gear is a great starting point when you’re ready for more.
Board Styles
There are 19 different kinds of longboards, but most people stick to only a couple of different styles. While we don’t have room to cover all the different types of board, here are some of the most popular and what each style does best.
- Drop board – Dropboards have a cutout in the deck around the trucks. That gives improved maneuverability and a lot more flexibility in the trucks, for maximum maneuverability. That can make these boards a little more technically challenging, but also gives riders a lot more options.
- Downhill Longboard – Downhill Longboards are designed to make the most of slopes, packing impressive acceleration on anytime the slope works in their favor. These boards are known for hitting maximum speeds as high as 90 mph but aren’t usually recommended for beginners because of that high speed.
Downhill longboards are also less common for e-boards since motors can’t keep up. - Carving – Carving boards are another type that’s technically challenging but a lot of fun to ride. These boards have a smooth flow and shred through curves with a motion that feels more like surfing than most longboarding or skateboarding.
While difficult to master carving boards can be safe for beginners. Just don’t try to be too aggressive when you get started. - Cruising – Cruising boards are commonly recommended to beginners because of their more relaxed pace and style. Cruising longboards don’t tend to offer the speed of other kinds of longboards, but they are better for taking in the scenery or learning how to ride.
- Bamboo – Bamboo boards are less about the specific style of the board and more about the strength and lightweight of the material. Bamboo offers a lot of strength and durability, while still flexing and offering a good performance. Plus, since bamboo is a lot lighter it’s a lot easier to propel these boards to impressive speeds and they put less drag on the wheels.
Overall, while bamboo still isn’t the most popular material for longboards, it certainly makes for an interesting and fun ride!
The Most Popular Longboard Brands
Beginner longboards should be just as reliable and durable as their more advanced counterparts. Here are some of the most popular and reliable brands for beginners.
Arbor – Arbor is one of the best-known names in skating, longboarding, and snowboarding. Their models have some of the best durability out there and are designed to handle whatever you can throw out them. Plus, since Arbor really gets skaters and the desire to push the limits, their boards are designed for thrill-seekers and to withstand a lot of punishment on the roads.
If you’re looking for a durable design, Arbor is a great longboard brand to go with.
Sector 9 – Another all-in-one skating company that offers both traditional skateboards and longboards and spends its research dollars on pushing the industry forward. That means that they’re looking for ways to make your board do more, do it better, and last longer doing it.
In addition to boards and boarding accessories, Sector 9 offers protective equipment to help keep you riding longer.
Plus, Sector 9 is environmentally conscious and a responsible member of the community, giving back through charity and working to make their products as sustainable and low-footprint as possible.
Landyachtz – This 22-year-old company is well known among boarding enthusiasts. Their designs are durable, fast, versatile, and ready to shred. More importantly, Landyachtz focuses on creating boards that can handle whatever you want to attempt safely. With a focus on durability and sustainability both, Landyachtz has looked to improve the quality of longboards and skateboards since they first launched.
One of the things that makes this company a little different is that they look at all the different aspects of their boards. If one component isn’t quite right, they change it. Their goal isn’t just to produce a functional longboard, they want to make longboards that work synergistically with all their components. The result is boards that sing on the road, hold up to the extremes of the sport and tackle a wide range of terrain in a way that boarders love.
Which Type Of Longboards Are Best For Beginners
Choosing the best type of longboard for a beginner is a lot trickier than you might expect. There are a lot of factors to think about, like the rider’s riding preferences, their experience with similar sports like skateboards, snowboards, and surfing, as well as their weight and the kinds of terrain they want to ride.
The simple answer is that there is no one right board type for beginners just like there is no one right longboard for everyone.
That said, consider what your goals are for your first longboard.
Are you looking for a board you can use to figure out if you like the sport?
Do you want something that will grow with you and help you push and refine your skills?
Do you need a board that will help you get from point A to point B and don’t want to worry about the bells and whistles?
Those questions will all help you answer what kind of board is right for you as a beginner.
Here are some general recommendations though.
We don’t recommend downhill boards to beginners. While downhill boards are a lot of fun and can be a huge thrill, they’re also hard to control and can reach speeds that run serious risks of injury in inexperienced riders.
Freeriders are a great option for beginners that want a little more speed, but also want to have control and be able to slow down for cornering and other more difficult moves.
Cruisers are great if you’re looking for a relaxation board but may not be fast enough for speed lovers. That said, cruisers are a frequent recommendation for new boarders since they are slower, easier to control, and offer a smoother and less technically difficult ride than a lot of alternatives.
Starting with an electric longboard might be a good idea as well, as long as you choose a board that is suitable for beginners. Check out our 5 Top Electric Longboards
Is A Longboard Better Than A Skateboard For Beginners?
Both longboards and skateboards can be suitable for beginners, but most experts and riders agree that longboards are better for getting started. That’s partly because the softer wheels of a longboard are easier to balance and control, but it’s also about the responsiveness and balance of the board itself.
Longboards are also good for users that are still learning how to brake, especially since braking techniques do cross over into both styles of boards.
Longboards are also better for relaxation riding since they tend to be smoother and easier to control and move.
What Is The Best Size Longboard For Beginners?
Most riders recommend mid-size cruising boards for newbies. These boards range from about 32”-42” long and are also fairly wide for riding comfort. That’s true regardless of the height and weight of the rider.
However, if you have the opportunity, riding a range of lengths inside the beginner range is a good idea before buying a longboard. That way you’ll be able to tell whether the short or long end of the range is right for you.
Still need more info? Check out our complete guide for the “Way to Choose the Right Longboard Size”.
How to Choose a Longboard For Beginners?
Here’s a quick list of questions to ask yourself before choosing a longboard:
- Am I looking for extreme speed, or do I want a more controlled ride?
- Is smoothness important to me, or can I handle some rough riding?
- What do I weigh, plus the weight of any backpacks or cargo I’m likely to carry?
- Do I like longer boards for balance or shorter boards for maneuverability?
- Do I want a directional longboard (forward only) or a board that can go in both directions?
- How many shocks can I handle? Do I need a soft or hardboard style?
Some of those questions might seem difficult to answer as a beginner. If you find yourself unsure what kind of board would be right for you, talk to friends and see if you can try their boards to experiment with different styles.
You can also go to a skateboarding store. Most stores will let you at least step on the board and see how it feels under your feet. That might not be a long test run, but it is enough to help you choose between different styles and board types. An experienced salesperson can even help direct you to a few different boards that demonstrate the most important characteristics.
The Benefits Of Longboards?
There are a couple of different ways to think about the benefits of longboards, one is longboards over skateboards, and the other are the health benefits of longboards.
Benefits of Longboards Over Skateboards:
Longboards are a great option for beginners and have some notable advantages over skateboards for the right kind of rider. That doesn’t mean that longboards are better, just that they work better for some purposes.
For instance, longboards have a smoother ride and are designed for distance. Skateboards tend to be better for short-distance riding and performing tricks.
Longboards are also great for relaxation cruising. They’re faster than walking, but offer a very different experience than riding a bike. The speed and control of a longboard feel a lot more visceral and raw than other modes of transportation because there is less between you and the environment around you.
While longboards aren’t as good for tricks as skateboards, there are a few tricks you can pull that look impressive on a longboard, making them a reasonable learning tool even for people who want to learn tricks.
Health Benefits of Longboards:
Skating might not seem like a sport with a lot of inherent health benefits, but they are better than many people would expect. In fact, longboarding can help improve muscle tone and endurance and is a good form of cardiovascular fitness.
Plus, the need for balance on a longboard improves your overall balance as well as core strength and muscle.
Longboarding can even help improve flexibility and reflexes since you’ll be making a lot of micro-movements and adjustments while riding.
While this might seem like a strange benefit, longboarding can also help reduce stress and depression. It’s a great way to relax, and cruising can be almost meditative. Some longboarders even report additional benefits like weight loss, better quality sleep, and better critical thinking!
What Else Do Beginner Longboarders Need To Know?
While this might seem obvious, one thing we haven’t addressed in this article is the need for practice. The more you practice the better you’ll get, and the safer it will be when you take your first long ride.
- Start small. Choose the right board for you and your chosen riding style, and then start with practicing rolling. That way you’ll get used to the rolls and bumps of your board and can help improve your starting balance.
- You should also experiment with a wide variety of different stances. How you place your feet makes a big difference in how the longboard feels and performs. If you want to be a more aggressive rider or perform longboarding tricks you may also need to switch stances while riding. Learning how to switch stance at slower speeds is a lot safer than learning at speed.
- Then practice braking. Practice braking a lot. Braking is one of the most important skills for longboarders, especially if you want to hit top boarding speeds.
- Next, practice your turning stance. Like braking, this is one of the most important skills for longboarders, especially if you want to ride a drop board or another of the more flexible and maneuverable styles.
- It’s also important to start on a flat surface somewhere you don’t have to worry about traffic. That makes old, abandoned parking lots a perfect training ground, but any reasonably flat area will do. Some skate parks might even have a good area for beginners, but not all. You can always use an unused basketball court as an alternative.
What Else Do Beginner Longboarders Need To Know?
While this might seem obvious, one thing we haven’t addressed in this article is the need for practice. The more you practice the better you’ll get, and the safer it will be when you take your first long ride.
- Start small. Choose the right board for you and your chosen riding style, and then start with practicing rolling. That way you’ll get used to the rolls and bumps of your board and can help improve your starting balance.
- You should also experiment with a wide variety of different stances. How you place your feet makes a big difference in how the longboard feels and performs. If you want to be a more aggressive rider or perform longboarding tricks you may also need to switch stances while riding. Learning how to switch stance at slower speeds is a lot safer than learning at speed.
- Then practice braking. Practice braking a lot. Braking is one of the most important skills for longboarders, especially if you want to hit top boarding speeds.
- Next, practice your turning stance. Like braking, this is one of the most important skills for longboarders, especially if you want to ride a drop board or another of the more flexible and maneuverable styles.
- It’s also important to start on a flat surface somewhere you don’t have to worry about traffic. That makes old, abandoned parking lots a perfect training ground, but any reasonably flat area will do. Some skate parks might even have a good area for beginners, but not all. You can always use an unused basketball court as an alternative.
Final Words
We’ve covered the best longboards for beginners, some of the most common styles of a longboard, the most popular brands and why they are fantastic for longboarders, and some tips for beginners.
Now, you’re ready to choose a longboard and start riding.
We recommend investing in a good helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads before you start. Always practice with a friend or an experienced boarder. If you do go out to ride on your own, make sure someone knows where you are when you should be back.
And, most importantly, have fun!