What is a Cruiser Longboard?

The general definition for a cruiser longboard is one that is shorter than a standard longboard and also very lightweight.
This allows the board to be more responsive and also to move around more easily.

This is in comparison to a full-size longboard that’s designed for stability at high speeds but sacrifices some of the easy movement in the process. 
Cruisers are great for getting where you need to go when you need to get there. And they’re great for heading out on a long commute or even riding downhills. These boards are going to help you move. 

How to Choose the Best Longboard for Cruising

The specific type of cruiser that you want depends on several factors, but the first is what type of riding you’re doing.
If you’re planning on commuting you may want a long deck, upwards of 42-Inch, but you want it to be very low to the ground.
In general, you may want a drop deck and drop-through board in combination.

These boards offer great stability and keep your center of gravity near the ground. Also, they give you slow turn and good lean in the process. 

Next, make sure that you have soft, large-diameter wheels. These will give you a combination of shock absorption and speed (respectively) add-in quality bearings for improved distance and you’re going to have everything you need to get going. 

Longboard Wheels for Cruising

There are a number of different considerations when it comes to choosing longboard wheels, so we’re going to break it down.

• Wheels Size:
  Your wheels should be designed for longboards, which means they’re going to be larger than standard skateboard wheels. 
  For decks that are over 40-Inch, you’ll want wheels between 70-75MM.
  For decks between 34-Inch and 42-Inch, you’ll want wheels between 68-72MM.
  For decks under 34-Inch, you’ll want wheels between 60-67MM.
  Wheels that are closer to the small end of these ranges will give you better acceleration. Wheels closer to the high end will give you higher speeds.

   

• Wheels Softness/Hardness:
  Next, you want to look at the overall softness vs. hardness of the wheels, which is based on your weight and what you’re looking for out of the wheels.
  If you weigh over 175 pounds, you’ll want wheels that are 83A to 86A. 
  If you weigh less than 135 pounds, you’ll want wheels that are 78A to 8A. 
  And if you are between 135 and 175 pounds, you’ll want wheels that are 80A to 83A.
  Remember also that softer wheels offer more grip and less slide and wear faster while harder wheels offer better slide and less grip as well and last longer.

   

• Wheels Core:
  The core of the wheels will vary based on what you want from the wheel. 
  Center-set wheels are great for cruising because they have a great grip on the surface.
  Side-set wheels are great for freeriding more than cruising because they slide easily and don’t have a lot of grips.
  Offset wheels are great for drift and still slide, which makes them somewhere in the middle of the other two.
  Also within this category is the contact patch, which refers to the number of wheels on the ground. You’ll find two different options here.
  Sharp-lip wheels have a wide contact patch and work well for cruising. 
  Round-lip wheels offer better slides and have less grip on them.

   

• Top Options:
  Cloud Longboard Wheels – These wheels are very fast and offer plenty of grip. They’re also resilient and durable for just about any purpose and work great for both cruising and freeriding. 
  Blank 83MM Longboard Cruiser Wheels – These wheels are quite hard for cruisers but they offer great stability and balance over obstacles, move fast on rougher terrain, and make easy corners and turns. 

Best Longboard Bearings for Cruising

If you’re putting together your own longboard for cruising you may want to look at some of the best options for bearings to get a great custom board.
There are several things to consider here, but we’ve found the top options for longboard bearings to make your board the best.

• Budget:
  Because the wheels and trucks are generally more important longboard parts than the bearings and have a bigger impact on your overall abilities, budget is one of the first things to think about.
  Don’t worry about getting anything too expensive as you can upgrade other areas and get a bigger bang than by splurging on bearings.
• Durability:
  Next up, look at the durability of the bearings. You want something that’s going to last a decent amount of time.
  So, consider what the bearings are actually made of in deciding just how long they’re going to last and whether they’ll do what you want them to do. 
• Top Options:
  Yellow Jacket Premium Skateboard Bearings – these offer a super smooth ride and are made with high-quality materials.
  They have minimal friction and they are a good balance on warranty (a lifetime) and price for the features. 
  Bones Ceramic Super Reds Skateboard Bearings – These bearings are a great option for performance and have quality construction with ceramic throughout.
  They’re also waterproof and have minimal friction, lightweight ball casings, and an overall smooth ride.

What Types of Boards are the Best for Cruising?

In general, you want the right longboard size for your height and weight. Longer boards are good for taller or larger individuals, while smaller boards can do well for taller individuals.

Most boards are going to work for those up to 250 pounds, so height is going to be a bigger determining factor.

Also, the length of the deck is going to influence your air pressure and stress on your knees.
You’ll typically want a board that is approximately 40-Inch to get the best balance and the best features overall. 

A board that is durable and made with sturdy materials is going to be extremely important as well. You want something that’s made with some form of wood to get the strength and longevity you’re looking for. That way you can continue to use the same board for an extended period. 

Your board should have wheels that are somewhere around 75MM unless you fit any of the height or weight aspects we discussed above. In that case, your wheels may vary slightly to get the best fit for you. Otherwise, 75MM wheels offer great weight-bearing and shock-absorbing features. 

Cruiser Board Size and Length

The overall size and length of a cruiser board can vary depending on the height and weight of the user. In general, however, these boards are between 25-Inch and 32-Inch in length and between 7-Inch and 9.5-Inch in total width. The sizes are typically chosen based on shoe size.

Women with a shoe size between 6 and 8 and men with a shoe size between 4and 6 should opt for a board that is approximately 7-8-Inch in width. 

Women with a shoe size between 9 and 11 and men with a shoe size between 7 and 9 should opt for a board that is approximately 8-9-Inch in width.

Women with a shoe size of 12 or larger and men with a shoe size of 10 or large should opt for a board that is approximately 8.5-Inch in width or more. 

Once you’ve decided on the width of the board the length will generally be decided for you because it is a standard with set widths. 

Are Pintail Longboards Good for Cruising?

Pintail longboards are actually good for a lot of different things, including cruising. They are considered one of the best versatile boards and because of the top-mounted deck, they are great for things like carving as well. 
Keep in mind that the board needs to be set up properly and it needs to be the right size for you in order to get the best results out of it. 

Can You Use a Cruiser for Tricks?

If you’re looking for a board that you can do tricks with then a cruiser isn’t exactly what you’re looking for. Rather, you’ll want a typical longboard or skateboard for that type of riding.
If you really need something that you can use around town but also want to be able to do tricks look for a cruiser with a kicktail.

While a cruiser is not meant for tricks, that doesn’t mean they can’t do them. It’s just going to be more difficult if you try to use a cruiser that doesn’t have a kicktail. With the kicktail, you’ll be able to do a little more.
Keep in mind that you’re not going to be the master of tricks with a cruiser, however. You’ll want another board for that. 

Can You Cruise on a Downhill Longboard?

For those who are looking to get the most versatility out of a single board, a downhill longboard can be a good option. This type of board is meant for speed and stability, which is great for going downhill, giving you a rush of speed. 

With this board, you’re also going to have a lot of agility and some great capability for carving. All of that means you’re going to have a board that can absolutely be used for cruising.
The only thing you need to do is hop on and head off wherever you want to go. 

How Much Should You Spend on a Cruiser Longboard?

The truth is there’s no set amount you should spend on a cruiser longboard. That’s because these boards come in all different styles and all different features go along with them.
You’ll find good boards at low price ranges and you’ll find good boards at high price ranges. It’s all about deciding what works best for you.

The first thing you should do is think about the budget you have and just how much you want to spend.
You’ll be able to find some great boards no matter what price range you decide to go with so make sure that you’re not breaking the bank because you think it’s the only way to get a good board. You can find something no matter what you have to spend.

Once you have a budget in mind you can start looking at boards. Now, that’s not to say that you can spend very little on a board and expect it to perform like a high-end board.
You need to consider your budget, your skill level, and just what that kind of board would be able to do.

For a beginner, you can find a decent quality board to get you started for anywhere from $60 to $250. This gives you a wide range to work with and you can get into the sport for a very small amount.
That way you can try it out and get started without splurging too big. 

When you’re ready to upgrade, or if you’re a more advanced rider you may want something a little higher on the price line. These would be boards that are between $150 and $450.
This will give you a higher-end option that you can get a little more use and more features out of.

Keep in mind that you can find good boards at any of these price points. It all depends on what you want it to do. A $60 board isn’t going to last as long or perform as well as a $450 board.
But if you’re just getting started you don’t need all the capability of a $450 board. 

Helmet and Protective Gear for Longboarding

When you’re heading out longboarding, and especially if you’re doing tricks or going any far distance, you want to have all of the proper protective gear.
That protective gear will be essential if you fall, even at slow speeds, or if you are in any other type of accident.

Riding a skateboard on or near the road can be very dangerous and even obstacles that you come across like rocks, sticks, and cracks in the sidewalk could result in serious injuries.
Having the right longboard protective gear is going to be essential to keeping you safe and making sure that you can get where you want to go.

Longboard Helmet

The first thing you need is a helmet and you can take a look at two different types.

• The first is a half-shell longboard helmet, which will give you a decent level of protection and may be used for cruising, freestyle, street skateboarding, slalom and similar activities.
  Make sure that the half shell helmet you choose is a hard shell, which provides ABS molding over the outside to protect your head in case of impact.
  On the other hand, a soft-shell helmet is very flexible on the outside, meaning it doesn’t provide a lot of protection at all.
• Full-face longboard helmets cover your entire face and are best for downhill skateboarding and freeriding. They are going to offer a great deal more protection and make sure that not just the top of your head is protected if you are ever in an accident of any kind.

Top 5 Most Popular Longboard Brands

Landyachtz

This brand is one of the most popular around and started back in 1997. They also support the environment by planting a tree for each item they sell.
The boards are flexible but still provide durability and stability. They’re great for carving and turning and give you a super smooth ride. Not only that but they have some pretty cool designs on them as well so you can express yourself.
There are plenty of different options among these boards but what they have in common is the solid maple construction and quality accessories. 

Sector 9

Another older brand, Sector 9 was founded back in 1993. They offer some inexpensive boards that are still durable and provide a lot of great features.
They have different shapes, styles and designs to their boards that help you showcase your style.
They also have decks made with bamboo and plywood for durability without the added cost and with better benefits, You’ll get a board that has some great performance for cruising, carving, or whatever you need, and they’re stable and safe for all riders.
They have great control and they are built thick so they’re a good pick for larger riders as well. 

Arbor

This brand is known for being eco-friendly, promoting forest growth all over the world. Even more, they use bamboo for a lot of their boards, which is a sustainable source.
They also have been around for a while, since 1995, and were actually founded by snowboarders.
These boards are of excellent quality and very lightweight, which makes them easy to take around with you.
They also have a minimalistic design and work great for beginning riders.
If you’re looking to cruise or to commute using your longboard this is a great brand to start with.

Santa Cruz

There’s something to be said about older brands and this one is the oldest one we have here.
Their company has been around since the 70’s making cruiser boards and there’s a reason they’re still around.
These longboards are great for beginners, inexpensive, have great quality, can do tricks and carving while also being great cruisers, and they roll smooth.

They are sturdy boards and you will be able to learn how to ride with no problem here. They also have great-looking decks and are amazing to ride, no matter where you want to go.
You just have to choose which one you like.

Loaded Boards

This company is a little newer and was founded back in 2002, but they have some great features and are considered one of the best longboard brands on the market right now.
These are going to be higher-end boards, so if you’re just starting out, they might not be the way to go but they are definitely worth it for more experienced riders and will give you a great riding experience.

They dampen vibrations, are extremely responsive and have all the best accessories. They also have a complex contour for excellent responsiveness and they are made with bamboo and fiberglass to give you strength, quality, and eco-friendly touch. 

Conclusion 

There are plenty of excellent boards out there and plenty of excellent companies that you can choose from to get them.
You can also find something that works for you without having to break the bank in the process, which is definitely going to give you better features and better riding.
Just think about what you’re really looking for and what you want to do with your board. From there, you’ll be able to choose something that fits your budget and gives you a great riding experience.