Riding skateboards is always fun and it gets even better if you can use your skateboard for commute. Aside from minimizing your carbon footprint, this gives you the opportunity to avoid traffic and save a lot of your precious time.
But since you’ll be using your commuter skateboard on a regular basis, you need a good one that won’t wear out anytime soon. Our pro scoo
ters reviewed the most popular skateboards today commonly used for transportation and championed the top 5.
Top 5 Skateboards for Commuting Reviewed
01 Meketec Complete 22 Inch Mini Cruiser Retro Skateboard (Editor’s Pick)
Why It Stands Out to Us
This is an excellent skateboard when it comes to color combination, color variation, durability, and functionality. Even though made for kids and youths, adults can experience a fun time with the skateboard from Meketec. It has been a great addition to skateboard enthusiasts recently.
Kids are more into this stuff simply because it offers vibrant colors that seem like too good to be true. Besides, with this in the arsenal, the beginners can grasp the pro-zone very soon.
Our Experience with It
- We got a smooth experience and gained agility real quick. The fact that it accelerates and reaches its top speed fast actually moved us. Besides, since it was light in weight, our pro skaters could perform new tricks without much of a problem.
- As our first choice, we wanted something durable and sturdy. And that’s what we’ve got here. It is well-built and pretty heavy-duty. In fact, we think that Although for kids, you can try riding it if you’re an adult too (unless you’re really overweight).
- We’re just talking about the weightlifting capacity here. The makers say that the skateboard can handle 200 lb of weight. However, to our surprise, it actually could take 240 lb of weight.
- Assuming you’re taking it for your kid, the skateboard is wide enough to give him/her enough space to accommodate. The 22 inches long and 6 inches wide deck will have you covered.
Besides, the fact that your kid can keep their feet pretty stable on it is a cherry on top. Overall, we don’t have any complaints when it comes to the space it offers. - Next, we had to check the wheels. You may have seen hundreds of skateboards that come with great built-quality teaming up with low-end wheels. That’s not the case for this mini cruiser skateboard though.
- The wheels are strong enough to take a beating, and they can give you a smooth riding experience from what we can tell. You don’t have to slow down.
- Even though we thought we’d talk about this at first, but since we gave the most priority to functionality, now comes the outlook.
- The vibrant color will leave you awe-stuck. Even though we tested only one skateboard, we noticed that the model offers not just 2, 3, or 4 but as many as 26 vibrant colors to choose from. The color won’t chirp. We tried rubbing it hard and it didn’t wear off.
What We Didn’t Like
- The truck was a bit noisy. If you’re not fond of sounds much, this can get on your nerves.
- The wheels usually are pretty smooth but they can get slippery at times based on the road condition.
Who Is This Great for
Made for kids, it’s pretty apparent that it’s perfect for your little ones, especially if they’re above seven years to in their teen years. But adults can try riding it since it can take a lot of weight.
What Could Be Improved
- The manufacturers need to get rid of the noisy truck that could get annoying at times.
Specifications
- Material: Polypropylene, Aluminum, Plastic
- Deck Length: 56 Centimeters
Pros
- Durable and sturdy
- Supports 200 lb of weight
- Spacious
- Sturdy and smooth wheels
- 26 vibrant colors
- Great for beginners
Cons
- Noisy skateboard-truck
- Wheels get slippery sometimes
02 WhiteFang Skateboards for Beginners
Why It Stands Out to Us
This particular skateboard from WhiteFang is great for both beginners and pros. If you want to commute on roads while keeping your balance and stability secured, this one is your perfect catalyst.
Besides, with this skateboard, you can learn new tricks in no time.
Our Experience with It
- As we rolled our eyes on the WhiteFang skateboard, we had to raise our thumbs. Hats off to the designer. The design is very minimalistic. You can see the ‘WhiteFang’ logo, which we think gives a very classic vibe.
- The diamond, geometric pattern, and arrow prints underneath will make you go wow. Thanks to the makers, they’ve used the thermal-transfer printing process. No matter how hard you rub it, the colors won’t come off.
- It was time to give it a test drive. We’ve read the labels. Team WhiteFang says the skateboard can support up to 330 pounds of weight. However, the team member who rode the skateboard was about 400 pounds. He didn’t have much of a problem.
- If you ask about the built quality, we have to admit that this WhiteFang skateboard is one hell of a heavy-duty one.
- In fact, at some point, it felt it was sturdier than the Meketec Store 22 inch mini Cruiser skateboard we’ve just reviewed earlier.
- Thanks to the Canadian maple deck, you won’t have to worry about the skateboard withstanding the toughest abuses. Plus, the maple deck has got seven layers to take the durability and strength to a whole new height.
- You can’t say it’s too small or too big, the size is just perfect to perform tricks.
- As for the wheel, the 52 mm size seemed pretty good. Since we’ve got 95A PU Bushing, that too with High Rebound, the skateboard took the wow out of our mouth as we performed a smooth commute. The wheels were good enough for riding on rough surfaces, pools, and ramps too.
- If you’re a beginner who experiences a hard time keeping your feet stable, the skateboard will back you up. How? The asymmetric concave has joined hands with customized emery sand-paper, which will make you feel that your feet are locked and stable enough to keep up the balance. With this, you’ll be able to learn new tricks in no time.
What We Didn’t Like
- The trucks are too big and soft
- Relatively pricey
Who Is It Great for
This WhiteFang skateboard is actually for beginners who want to learn new tricks. No wonder it keeps your feet feel locked as you ride it. However, even pro-riders can experience a fun time with it.
What Could Be Improved
- We think the trucks need to be replace
Specifications
- Material: Aluminum, Maple
- Deck Length: 79 Centimeters
- Color Variations: 8
- Wheel Size: 52 mm
Pros
- Minimalistic Design
- Thermal-transfer printing process
- Supports up to 400 pounds (approx.)
- Perfect size
- Sturdy and durable
- Smooth riding experience
- Great for beginners and pros alike
Cons
- Trucks are too soft and big
- A bit expensive compared to its features
03 Retrospec Zed Longboard Pintail Bamboo Skateboard
Why It Stands Out to Us
Enough with skateboards for kids and teenagers. Let’s see real ‘adult stuff.’ The longboard from Retrospec is something you’d want to get your hands on if you want flexibility, durability, and aesthetics packed in one thing. The thing that makes it stand out is the high-speed riding experience.
Our Experience with It
- The Retrospec Zed Longboard skateboard is a pure ‘beast.’ The sturdiness and strength it comes with will leave you spellbound. With its 8-ply Canadian Maple combined with sustainably sourced bamboo, what you get is a pure beastly hybrid.
- Besides, the shape of the skateboard is more like a surfboard. If you look at it, you’ll love how the blue color fades away while blending in with the wooden finish.
- Not just the shape, though, our riding experience with this longboard reminded us what it feels like to surf. It was super smooth. Thanks to the Anti-Bite Technology, you can say goodbye to wheel bites once and for all.
- While riding, you’ll know what it feels like to commute with high speed, accuracy, and precision. All the credit goes to the 7-tolerance grade precision ball bearings. If you want speed at its best and you have a long distance to cover, this one’s got the game.
- But here comes the disappointment – the bearing seemed a bit faulty after a few days of use that prompted us to replace them. According to our research, a lot of customers faced the same problem. But here’s the silver lining – once you replace them, you’ll get the smoothness you’ve been longing for.
- As for keeping yourself stable, you won’t have to bat an eye. We commuted for a long time on uneven and rough roads.
- Luckily, the 70 mm polyurethane wheels absorbed all the shocks for us, and keeping the stability was just a piece of cake.
- Besides, there’s a rock finish with the wheels that allows you to have a superior grip. Riding with wind-like speed won’t be a problem from now on.
- Getting the comfort won’t be much of a problem. The skateboard is quite big with enough space for your feet to fit in.
What We Didn’t Like
- The bearings are not up to par and may require replacement.
- The lift on the board might give you a hard time pushing it a bit.
Our Recommendation
- This is mainly for pro adults and teens, and beginners will have a hard time riding this.
Specifications
- Material: Wood
- Deck Length: 44 Inch
- Color Variations: 16
- Wheel Size: 70 mm
- Weight: 7.65 Pounds
Pros
- Durable and strong deck
- Surfboard-like shape
- Anti-Bite Technology
- High-speed accuracy
- Absorbs shock
- Superior grip
- Comfortable and spacious
Cons
- Ball bearings are not up to the mark
- Difficult to push
04 Cal 7 22″ Complete Mini Cruiser Plastic Skateboard
Why It Stands Out to Us
The 22 inches Cal 7 is the perfect choice for those who want to go compact. Slender shape, compact design, lightweight body, you name it, it’s an ideal addition for mobility.
Besides, compared to other plastic Penny Boards out there, it’s a bit on the firmer side.
Our Experience with It
- The very first thing that will pop inside your mind when you’ll see this skateboard is the word ‘Cute.’ Well, that’s what we thought first when we saw this. Super portable and lightweight, the 22.5” x 6” plastic deck will perfectly fit your backpack.
- Don’t frown your eyebrows when we say ‘plastic.’ We tried cruising on it, and yes, it didn’t disappoint us with its strength.
- The only catch is you can’t be above 80 kg and we ended up breaking one when one of our teammates weighing 110 kgs tried to ride it. It can be a bit disappointing, but for a mini-cruiser, you can’t expect much.
- Here’s good news though. Our skaters that weighed way over 80 kgs had a smooth skating experience. It was pretty obvious.
- This time the skateboard comes with a premium upgrade from ABEC 7 bearings.
- The 60 mm wheel was pretty much good, but it didn’t seem much durable to us. Even though it didn’t break, we recommend replacing it with something better.
- As for the deck, compared to other plastic skateboards, we think this one is pretty durable. Of course, it’s not even close to skateboards like Retrospec Zed or WhiteFang, but you’ll pass.
- Besides, the deck is 65 centimeters, so we think it’s pretty much okay!!!
- We had this Black colored skateboard which the manufacturers call ‘Rebel.’ But you can also find 21 different colors in total to choose from.
What We Didn’t Like
- The wheels weren’t as durable as they seemed. They’re most likely to break after few months.
- It’s pretty disappointing that this skateboard is meant for both kids and adults. Unfortunately, it can’t lift more than 80 kgs while most adults are more than 80 kgs these days.
Who Is This Great for
- First off, we don’t think it’s ideal for adults even though you can use it if you’re under 80 kg. The space is relatively small too. We think it’s great for kids.
Our Recommendation
- You might want to replace the wheels with more durable ones.
Specifications
- Material: Plastic
- Deck Length: 57 Centimeters
- Color Variation: 21
- Wheel Size: 60 Millimeters
- Weight: 3.59 Pounds
Pros
- Small and compact
- Looks cute
- Portable and lightweight
- 21 different colors
- Durable plastic material
Cons
- The wheel isn’t that strong
- Can’t lift much weight
05 WOOKRAYS Electric Skateboard for Adult, Teens, and Kids
Why It Stands Out to Us
Usually, electric skateboards are very expensive. But this one, compared to others, is relatively cheap. Besides, the features it offers are quite good as well. It has got great speed, needs minimal charging, and has a durable structure.
Our Experience with It
- We had our hands on both the Black and Orange variants of this skateboard, and we must say they both look pretty dope. When we say Black and Orange, we mean just the color of the trucks and the wheels, though. The deck has some serious ‘hipster design’ sprayed on it.
- The deck is made of 7 Ply Maple, and we found it quite rock hard. We’re getting better flex and stability while commuting.
- Unfortunately, during our test, we faced some stamping collisions, but to our surprise, the skateboard didn’t get deformed. Bad things happen for a reason, eh?
- After unboxing it, we found that it has got a Lithium Battery worth 29.4V, 2000 mAh.
- It took us 2 hours to fully charge it. When the skateboard was full of juice, it was time for the ride. We had to stop after riding 5 miles until the battery died.
- During gliding, we didn’t experience any problem whatsoever. It was pretty smooth and fast.
- Now, during the first session, we did ride at the highest possible speed because we had to measure how far it goes with full throttle. Later as we took it for a ride again, we tried to adjust the speed settings.
- The skateboard has 3-speed levels, and you’ll find them very comfortable to adjust. The 350 W motor will let you know what power really feels like.
- As for extras, you’ll get a 24 GHz wireless remote control. No, it’s not rocket science to operate it.
- The interface was straightforward and user-friendly. While you’re on the run, you can always keep an eye on the LED indicator to see if the battery is dying or not.
What We Didn’t Like
- After our test, we’ve asked few fellow skateboarders whether they’ve found any issue with this electric skateboard because we didn’t. They said the remote usually stops working after two months.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 25.4 x 6.8 x 5.5 (inches)
- Wheel Diameter: 2.76 inches
- Range: 5 miles
- Power: Single motor 350W
- Charge time: 2 hours
- Weight: 8.6 lbs
Pros
- Great design
- Heavy-duty construction
- Great battery life
- Needs minimal charging
- It covers a great distance range
- 3-levels speed
- Powerful motor
Cons
- The wireless remote may get damaged after two months
What to Look for in a Quality Commuter Skateboard?
1. Size of Board
The size of the board depends on the age and height of the rider. If your height is 5.3 ft., then go for a skateboard with a size of 7.5″.
But when it’s 4.5 to 5.2 ft., pick the one with 7.3″. In case it’s between 3.5 – 4.4 ft., grab the one with 7″ and for below 3.4 ft. choose between 6.5″ to 6.75″.
2. Length
You better choose the correct length for pulling off all the tricks you’ve got in mind. But make sure it’s between 22″ – 32″. Below 22″ will be just too short, and above 32″ will be too long for you.
3. Stability
The stability of the skateboard has to be good enough. This will allow you to stay up on it even on curvy roads.
Make sure that the structure itself is supporting you while rolling on the skateboard. Go for something that keeps your feet locked on it.
4. Mobility
Indeed, this part is important to make the ride a fun one. Plus, it also determines how much speed you’ll be able to achieve. Go for something high on mobility yet not so much that you struggle to control it.
5. Materials
a) Carbon Fiber
Lately, this material has been rocking the world of rides almost everywhere. The reason is nothing but its lightweight nature and superior sturdiness.
On top of that, they’re great at boosting up the overall speed as the total weight goes down.
b) Bamboo
Skateboards made of this material are usually lighter, cheaper, and more flexible – the reason you can rely on boards made of this material with your eyes closed. But compared to the durability of carbon fiber, they’re a bit low.
c) Canadian Maple
Another name of the Canadian Maple is Hard-Rock Maple. With the name itself, it’s clear that you won’t have to struggle with the strength of the skateboard.
6. Wheelbase
To get flexibility on truck installation, you should never compromise on the wheelbase. Before you buy a skateboard, check out if it got the ideal wheelbase size of 13″-15″ or not.
And if you’re more into changing truck position, go with the one that has multiple mounting holes to take in your trucks.
7. Bearings
The smoothness of a skateboard usually stays at its peak only when the bearing is good. Never think about taking this one lightly, as the wrong one can simply spoil the fun.
As the number of balls determines the smoothness, make sure the bearing has at least 6 to 7 balls in it. Also, check if the balls are made of high-quality steel/ceramic or not.
8. Other Accessories
The remaining two parts that you’ll have to focus on are the wheels and the trucks. Usually, large but softer wheels do better on skateboards to give you a flexible ride.
On the other hand, the trucks have to be good as they make the turning and pivot smoother. Go for the trucks with stronger but flexible material.
9. Portability and Easy Storage
You can’t go everywhere with a skateboard under your feet, right? For those areas, you need to grab a board that you can carry easily and can also store when you’re in the mood to take a walk.
10. Price
You won’t have to dig too deep in the pocket to get a good skateboard as it’ll be available within a price range of $100 to $500.
Types of Skateboards for Commuting
- Penny Boards
If you love skateboarding but you’ve got small feet, penny boards are the perfect catalyst for you. Plus, they’re usually compact and small in shape. Their lightweight and portable design have made them an ideal ride commute in the city.
A fair share of thanks for that goes to its large but soft wheels, too, which also makes them good enough for mid to short-range commute. These plastic-made skateboards come with a kicktail that makes quick turning a piece of cake even if the street is crowded.
- Longboards
If you’re looking for something to commute on a flat yet long route and there’s light on the traffic, then this is what you better grab in the first place. As longboards are often made of plywood, durability is unquestionable as they last longer as well.
The interesting fact about this kind of skateboard is the longer the size of the boards, the riding gets not only smoother but faster too.
- Cruisers
We don’t know if the route you’re planning to take is long or short, but if it’s a short one, then you better go for cruisers. They’re amazingly useful for short distances and crowded cities, especially the mini ones.
Besides, these wooden-made boards are small but easy to control. Plus, with solid construction, they won’t get damaged anytime soon. They come in both kicktail and no-kicktail editions that you can pick from for having better control in the turning.
- Electric Skateboards
The name says it all – these skateboards run on the power of an electric motor and come with heavy and bulky construction.
But the good thing is you don’t need to do much by yourself to have a smooth cruising with better road conditions. The only part that pulls them down is their higher price.
When/Where to Use Different Types of Skateboard?
- Short Distances and Crowded Cities: Mini Cruiser
In case you’ve got a plan to cover short distances and crowded cities, don’t think twice before going for mini cruisers.
The reason for picking up something like that is that they require less effort due to larger, softer, comparatively stable wheels, which you’ll need more than ever in those places.
On top of that, they’re easy to carry. That means you can pick the skateboard up and start walking if you feel like there’s no room for skating.
- Long Distances on Flat Surfaces: Longboard
We can’t think of a better name than the longboard for having a flawless staking experience on a flat surface with long distance. Longboards usually come with longer construction that makes them smoother and faster on those routes. Plus, the bigger wheels make controlling and balancing the ride smooth as butter.
- For Small Feet: Penny Boards
We know the struggles of having smaller feet when you’ve got a ton of love for skateboarding. In such cases, penny boards can be nothing but the perfect catch. Due to being smaller and lightweight, they’re pretty comfortable for skateboarding.
Plus, the soft but larger wheels make it a breeze to roam on any kind of street out there regardless of the road condition.
FAQs
1. Do electric skateboards come with brakes?
Ans. Yes, they do have brakes. Rather than controlling the speed with your feet manually, you can rely on the electric brake for that. Plus, trying to stop them with feet can be dangerous as well.
2. Is it a good idea to use an electric board for traveling?
Ans. Sure. As they’re rechargeable, you can put the plugin anywhere, even if you’re traveling on a plane. But if you’re really carrying it in a plane, make sure the airport authority approves the skateboard’s battery.
3. Will it be a problem if I use a skateboard for commuting in wet conditions?
Ans. We suggest not to. As skateboards are a combination of different parts, rainwater can get a few of them damaged. Plus, wet roads are often considered dangerous for skating.
4. Is it really necessary to wear any protective glass while riding my skateboard?
Ans. Yes, it is. As skateboards depend on the skill of the rider, any drop in concentration can cause accidents. You better use protective gear to save yourself.
5. Will I get fined or get sued if I skate on roadways and sidewalks?
Ans. Skateboarding on the sidewalks is not illegal, but it’s illegal to use electric skateboards on roadways in California.
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