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Skates

The 10 Best Cruiser Boards of 2024: Reviews & Buying Guide

Skateboards used to be just a toy for teenagers to do tricks like ollies,180, shuvit, kickflip, power sliding, grind and slide on the ramp or park – you name it. But over the years they have become so much more since grown adults have adopted them as a new way to get to college, work, or from point A to B to replace the bicycle, bus or scooter.

A cruiser skateboard is there just for this purpose. Easier on the asphalt, rough terrain, and being easy to carry, it’s a great way to enjoy an extended yet smooth ride for commuters. These boards are longer than traditional skateboards while shorter than longboards.

If you’re planning to hunt out the best cruiser boards, we’ve got your back! We carefully reviewed today’s most exclusive models that today’s cruiser lovers are dying for. Check them out …

Best Cruiser Boards – Top 10 Reviews

01 Playshion Drop Through Freestyle Longboard Skateboard Cruiser (Top Choice)

Playshion Drop Through Freestyle Longboard Skateboard Cruiser

Only a newcomer would be unfamiliar with the brand name “Playshion.” Playshion has been in the game for a long time with a variety of skateboard products.

Playshion Drop Through Cruisers are so popular in the longboarding community! The deck’s length is 39 inches with a 9.1-inch width that allows for proper footing for all ages. The length is just what it should be, neither too big nor too small like a mini cruiser.

The Drop Through Freestyle Cruiser is made of the 8-ply flex hardwood maple wood. A slight concave, symmetrical design, a drop-through shape, and the multi-color graphic options make this a fantastic longboard that’s hard for you to resist.

This board comes with 90A red bushings and 70mm 78A wheels that are large and soft enough to run efficiently on rough terrain and good for cruising and carving. The wheels have less contact patch that allows for a more stable and safer ride. The deck has adequate flex and a sturdy build that’s enough to give you just the perfect trip. We couldn’t make any complaints about the trucks or the quality of the bushings when we tested it ourselves.

The stock bearings of Playshion Drop Through are ABEC-9 grade and made of the bearing steel. This bearing material is of higher quality than the common aluminum ones aside from being harder and less noisy when compared to regular bearings. The bearings have nylon ball cages that help reduce friction during their rotation.

Supporting the teens to adults of any height, it can bear up to 250lbs of weight quite easily. The 7-inch reverse kingpin trucks are fairly easy to adjust. The board is pretty fast and you can easily make precise turns, thanks to the flexible trucks and bushing. The trucks come in black and silver colors that are simply amazing.

Specifications

  • Color: Coconut Tree
  • Deck Size: 39? Long × 9.1? Wide
  • Material: 8 ply Maple
  • Kicktail: Flat
  • Flex: Camber
  • Concave: Light radial
  • Trucks: 7?, Aluminum
  • Bearing: ABEC-9, bearing steel
  • Wheel: 70*50mm, PU
  • Wheel Durometer: 78A
  • Weight: 7.2lbs
  • Weight Limit: 250lbs

Pros

  • Quality bearing
  • Quality trucks
  • Quality design
  • Quality build

Cons

  • A bit pricey

Our Verdict

The Playshion Drop Through Cruiser is super fast and holds up well after rough use. The board is well-tested and you won’t have to adjust it to your setting right out of the box. We would recommend using safety gear and your kids should be under supervision when using this since the board is really fast. Once they get used to it, you will have nothing to worry about. This can be a bit pricey but you won’t get less than what you’ll be paying for.

02 VOLADOR 42inch Freeride Longboard Complete Cruiser (Best for Smooth Rides)

VOLADOR 42inch Freeride Longboard Complete Cruiser

The symmetrical shape and 10 graphical design options are great in the VOLADOR 42inch Freeride Longboard. One of the best of its kind, this is especially suitable for commuters looking for a decent entry-level longboard. This classy longboard comes with a naturalistic design with a unique material – epoxy.

VOLADOR Freeride’s quality build efficiently manages to provide a superior cruiser ride. The 42-inch length offers enough space for any height but it doesn’t support a lot of weight. It isn’t a heavy-duty board either, but you can still expect it to carry up to 250 pounds of weight without a hassle.

It has a flat design, no kick tails, and a camber flex. The stock grip tapes are grippy and good enough to provide a lot of traction so you won’t fall easily. The camber flex build allows for stability for downhill rides that’s excellent but you may miss kicktails when making turns as there is none. You’ll need a little bit of time to get the hang of it if you’re a new rider.

The 45-degree reverse kingpin trucks are great with shock absorbent capabilities that can be adjusted to 50 degrees. The deck is springy without bending enough for you to worry about breaking it. But after a certain period, it could crack near the kick tails.

Specifications

  • Deck Size: 42? Long × 9? Wide
  • Material: 8 ply Maple & Epoxy
  • Kicktail: Flat
  • Flex: Camber
  • Concave: Flat
  • Trucks: 7?, Aluminum
  • Bearing: ABEC-9, aluminum
  • Wheel: 70*51mm, PU
  • Wheel Durometer: 78A
  • Weight: 7.3lbs
  • Weight Limit: 250lbs

Pros

  • Quality build
  • 10 graphic design options
  • Well balanced
  • Beach friendly
  • Multi-purpose use
  • Quality bearings
  • Strong tucks

Cons

  • Weaker near kick tails

Our Verdict

We believe the VOLADOR 42inch Freeride Longboard offers the best value for money. You won’t find it too useful for freestyling, but it can still offer a decent experience. The trucks, decks, wheels are all just flawless. It’s pretty light on the pocket too.

There’re a lot of boards that need to be adjusted right out of the box. But with this one, you won’t have to do too much tinkering. The VOLADOR 42inch Freeride Longboard serves you the perfect cruiser ride for hours; you can surely depend on it for an unsurpassed smooth ride.

03 Retrospec Zed Bamboo Complete Cruiser (Best Bamboo Cruiser)

Retrospec Zed Bamboo Complete Cruiser

Retrospec originated in Hawaii in the 1950s and inspired by surfers, the Retrospec Zed features a super classic beach-friendly graphic design with a surfboard shape.A unique feature of the Retrospec Zed Bamboo is that it comes with Reverse kingpin trucks. These trucks sit lower, allow for a stable ride, and are more shock absorbent than standard trucks.

The board comes in 3 graphical design variations to choose from. Designs are just the perfect thing beach lovers are looking for. Sadly, the trucks are China-made. The lower quality aluminum trucks were a bit weaker than we expected.

Though it comes with pre-installed 12mm riser pads, you will face wheel bite while making super sharp turns. The wheel cut below the deck isn’t deep enough, and the manufacturers should have provided a truck with more height rather than the stock one. But this is not a serious issue because it doesn’t happen frequently.

The 85A soft wheels provide a smoother ride even on rough terrains while the black 90A soft bushing assists in making curves. If you want a much smoother performance then we recommend that you soak the bearings in alcohol and then lube them up. You will notice a significant difference immediately!

Retrospec Zed is one of the cheapest longboard cruisers on our list that provides an eccentric ride for small to tall riders.

Specifications

  • Deck Size: 44? Long × 9.5? Wide
  • Material: 8 ply Bamboo & Canadian Maple hybrid wood
  • Kicktail: Light raised nose & tail
  • Flex: Camber
  • Concave: Radial
  • Trucks: 7?, Aluminum
  • Bearing: ABEC-7, aluminum
  • Wheel: 70*51mm, PU
  • Wheel Durometer: 85A
  • Weight: 8lbs
  • Weight Limit: 330lbs

Pros

  • Strong deck
  • Quality build
  • Well balanced
  • Beach-friendly design
  • Multi-purpose use

Cons

  • Minimal chances of wheel bite

Our Verdict

Though The Retrospec Zed gives an optimal riding experience for entry-level riders, it is better to have some knowledge before riding this. The longer size allows for a lot of space for small to large riders.

This longboard is an excellent choice that easily impressed us with its eye-catching design. Not only is this the nicest looking board for sale, but this board rides smoothly for the price tag. Also, it’s a stiff board; you won’t have a lot of flexibility with this one. We would recommend this to anyone wishing to start cruising.

04 Magneto Mini Cruiser Skateboard Cruiser (Best for All Ages)

Magneto Mini Cruiser Skateboard Cruiser

The best part about the Magneto Mini Cruiser is that it comes with no pre-installed grip tape! Rather than the grip tape, it chooses to show off the maple wood going naked with a sand grit finish. For the flawless shape and compact size, you can easily stash it anywhere in your class or home, making it the perfect cruiser for college commuters.

The deck comes with a clear coat paint job to stay safe from water. The manufacturer’s idea to show off the deck is simply fantastic! The sand grit is supposed to give you traction, and it does. But after a while, you may miss having a grip tape. We recommend applying a grip tape if you want superior traction.

Magneto is a well-known brand in the skateboarding community. They have tons of expensive skateboards as well. But in order to keep the price low, they provided lower quality trucks. It doesn’t affect the riding experience or anything, but we expected better from them. The pre-installed 1/8? riser pads above the trucks smoothen your riding experience.

The only thing we didn’t like about the Magneto Mini Cruiser was the bearings. Even though these are ABEC-11 bearings, they performed somewhat similar to lower quality ABEC-3 grade bearings. Just change these right out of the box and you’ll be good to go.

The double kicktail design nods to traditional skateboarding, which allows for freestyle, cruising, and a little bit of downhill as well. The well-constructed design is mostly suitable for youngsters and teens. If you are heavy and tall then we’d recommend going for a more durable board like the Quest QT-NSC44C.

Specifications

  • Deck Size: 27.5? Long × 7.5? Wide
  • Material: 7 ply Canadian Maple wood
  • Kicktail: Light raised nose and normal tail
  • Flex: Rocker
  • Concave: Radial
  • Trucks: 5?, Aluminum
  • Bearing: ABEC-11, aluminum
  • Wheel: 60mm, PU
  • Wheel Durometer: 80A
  • Weight: 5.5 lbs
  • Weight Limit: 275lbs

Pros

  • Quality build
  • Quality design
  • Compact size
  • Lightweight
  • Strong deck
  • General-purpose board

Cons

  • Poor quality bearing

Our Verdict

Magneto Mini is an excellent board for the entry-level riders. The board is affordable for everyone. From kids to adults, anyone can ride this board. The fantastic rocker flex allows for precise control even when cruising in a crowded area.

The unique design, sturdy deck, abstract graphics – everything is just excellent. The double kicktail enables you to perform tons of tricks smoothly. If you like tinkering your boards, just upgrade the bearings and there will be nothing to hold you back from buying this board. Trust us; both you and your kids will love this board!

05 Quest QT-NSC44C The Super Cruiser

Quest QT-NSC44C The Super Cruiser

If you’ve been looking for a longboard that could also double as a cruiser board, you’re in luck! The 44″ long x 9.5″ inch wide QUEST QT-NSC44C is a piece of art. The board mainly falls under the longboard category that’s more suitable for taller riders. The board is super flexible with a rocker flex, thanks to the bamboo combined material. However, the absolute beginner might face difficulties getting the hang of it.

The rough and tough build is a result of the weather-treated production system. This ensures that it’s less likely to get damaged by minor falls, water, reduce cracking, peeling, wear, and tear. It can effortlessly withstand average drops or falls, thanks to the 7-ply composite bamboo and maple wood materials. Quest QT NSC44C has the highest weight limit on any board that we’ve tested so far.

We personally don’t like carbon made bearings because they’re not so long-lasting. The carbon bearings can’t withstand rough pressure as well. Surprisingly, the ABEC-7 carbon-bearing didn’t disappoint us. The manufactures would’ve done a better job if they could provide aluminum ones.

But honestly, these aren’t bad at all. Though carbon made, they are good enough to endure rough use. The rugged, matching colored, 7-inch high aluminum trucks perform well and look great. On the other hand, the transparent colored stone ground wheels, stock wooden body with abstract graphics, and the Q logo on the grip tape truly give it a unique look.

100A bushings help make smoother curves. One thing that we frowned upon was that even with the help of 80A soft PU wheels, we couldn’t make full radius turns.

Their design, where the wheels hang out of the deck, reduces wheel biting chances. To top it all, they took an extra to make wheel bite cuts below the deck. Let’s not forget the pre-installed 4mm riser pads that help increase the truck’s flexibility and reduce the possibility of wheel bites.

Specifications

  • Deck Size: 44? Long × 9.5? Wide
  • Material: 7 ply Bamboo & Maple
  • Kicktail: Light raised nose & tail
  • Flex: Rocker
  • Concave: Radial
  • Trucks: 7?, Aluminum
  • Bearing: ABEC-7 Carbon
  • Wheel: 70*51mm, PU
  • Wheel Durometer: 80A
  • Weight: 7.6 lbs
  • Weight Limit: 380lbs

Pros

  • Quality build
  • Highest weight limit
  • Unique design
  • Bamboo & Maple material
  • Premium OS780 Grip Tape
  • Quality, high-speed bearings

Cons

  • Difficulty making full radius turns

Our Verdict

The Quest QT-NSC44C is made in the USA – a wonderful board for downhill riding and cruising. Due to the long deck, it is heavier to do tricks and you can’t use it for freestyle riding. But this really is a top-notch board with the right amount of flex and a unique design. The grip tape provided is water-and wear-resistant that allows for sensible traction and stability while the affordable price and guaranteed quality make it a good value for money product.

06 ReDo Skateboard 28.5″ x 8″ Zodiac Premium Cruiser

ReDo Skateboard 28.5" x 8" Zodiac Premium Cruiser

The Redo Skateboard Zodiac Premium Big Wave Cruiser Skateboard is a classic cruiser skateboard. Consisting of a semi popsicle shaped deck with unique deck art, it truly stands out of the crowd.

The ReDo always ensures a smooth ride with the 60mm wheels with 80A durometer, while the 80A soft brushing allows natural curves and maneuvering. The polyurethane wheels also come with matching colors based on the deck’s design. The 8-inch wide shape adds to the ease of control and stability, enabling a tighter turning radius.

It can be considered a general-purpose board due to it being lightweight. The design below the deck completely eradicates the possibility of wheelbite, thanks to the precise cuts. The 1/2″ soft rectangular risers come pre-installed above the baseplate of the truck. It also helps remove wheel bite and enables smoother turns. Besides, the riser pads come with matching colors based on the deck art design you pick.

Though they advertise it to have full concave, it actually has light radial concave. That actually is a good thing because you can use it as a general-purpose board. The flat is excellent for downhill riding while the full curve is for freestyle, but a light curve is a fusion between these two; enabling utmost comfort to have a speedy ride and enjoy stability when doing tricks.

Due to being a weaker board, it has the lowest weight limit on our list. But it can easily be overlooked for offering a fantastic build quality and design targeted for kids.

Specifications

  • Deck Size: 28.5? Long × 8? Wide
  • Material: 8 ply maple
  • Kicktail: Flat
  • Flex: Flat
  • Concave: Radial
  • Trucks: 5?, Aluminum
  • Bearing: ABEC-3
  • Wheel: 70*51mm, PU
  • Wheel Durometer: 80A
  • Weight Limit: 110lbs

Pros

  • Wide, stable deck
  • Quality deck art
  • Quality design
  • Sturdy trucks

Cons

  • Weaker board

Our Verdict

The ReDo Skateboard easily wins our hearts with its quality design, wider stable deck, and the super-grippy grip tapes pre-applied on the board. If you’re looking for a definitive cruiser well suited for lightweight riders and kids, you have to look no more! Just buy it for your children and thank us later.

07 DIYUSI THMEX Pro Skateboard Standard Skateboards Cruiser

DIYUSI THMEX Pro Skateboard Standard Skateboards Cruiser

Here comes another high-quality classic skateboard. The DIYUSI THMEX Pro features a laminated maple deck that’s so well-structured and grippy as well.

ABEC-9 precision bearings are of the standard quality. Though these are not too fancy bearings made of stainless alloy, they are really fast. This general board supports users of all age groups and can easily carry up to 220lb without any hint of breaking apart.

The thirty one inch deck is long enough for comfort and assists users for intense riding. The deck has a great double kicktail, offering a smoother landing. The grip tape enables sufficient control and traction to do some eye-popping tricks.

Many users like the option to apply designs below their deck based on their own preferences. The DIYUI THMEX Pro board really allows you to do that! They have an utterly base deck option for you to choose from and show off your artistic nature.

The trucks are not of the best quality though. These are not unusable, but the manufacturer could’ve provided better trucks. We noticed that the trucks were stiffer to turn. With a little tinkering, they did become much smoother. Changing the bushing and applying oil to appropriate places did the trick for us.

DIYUSI THMEX Pro comes with a 52*30mm, rounded wheel. The rounded wheel has less contact patch – something we don’t prefer. This is because a wider contact patch provides more grip and is less stressful on the wheel while covering a larger area. We would’ve preferred a larger wheel, but this worked well.

Specifications

  • Deck Size: 31? Long × 8? Wide
  • Material: 7 ply Canadian maple wood
  • Kicktail: Raised nose and tail
  • Flex: Flat
  • Concave: Flat
  • Trucks: 5?, Aluminum
  • Bearing: ABEC-9
  • Wheel: 52*30mm, PU
  • Weight Limit: 220lbs

Pros

  • Quality build
  • Quality grip tape
  • Flat design
  • Fast bearing
  • Strong deck

Cons

  • Rounded wheel

Our Verdict

We believe this board will exceed your expectations in every way possible. The board has sturdy wood. The grip tape is waterproof and built with anti-skidding diamond emery paper. The trucks, bushings, wheels, and bearings all ensure a remarkable performance. After a bit of tinkering, it becomes the best cruiser board that money can buy.

08 Sangde Easy_Way Complete Skateboard

Sangde Easy_Way Complete Skateboard

The Sangde Easy_Way comes with a lot of perks. But that doesn’t always translate to a happy customer unless the board has something really extraordinary. Well, this is overall a great skateboard. The Sangde Easy_Way also has the ideal popsicle shape. Giving the nod to retro skateboard design, this board suffices to be modern as well.

The 95A durometer wheels paired with ABEC-11 grade bearings performed really well. 95A grade wheels tend to be harder. A harder wheel translates to higher in speed but lower stability for rougher terrains. But it seemed to hold up pretty well on the rough terrains as well. The kicktails will allow you to have more fun than ever to perform various tricks, such as flips, ollie, and hops.

The trucks felt like non-branded but the coated-paint aluminum body was hard enough to endure rough pathways quite satisfactorily.

The stickers provided might be a disappointment to you. When testing, we abused the heart out of the Sange Easy-way board and then we concluded that the 7-ply Maplewood was much better than most skateboards.

Specifications

  • Deck Size: 31? Long × 8? Wide
  • Material: 7 ply maple wood
  • Kicktail: Raised nose and tail
  • Flex: Flat
  • Concave: Light Radial
  • Trucks: 5?, Aluminum
  • Bearing: ABEC-11
  • Wheel: 65mm, PU
  • Wheel Durometer: 95A
  • Weight Limit: 220lbs

Pros

  • Quality deck
  • Unique Carry bag
  • Adjustment tool
  • 4 pcs backup bearing
  • One painting set

Cons

  • The graphical design isn’t that attractive

Our Verdict

The Sangde Easy_Way is slick and great for beginners; everyone can enjoy riding it right out of the box. Because of the well-balanced design, it is quite easy to learn and have fun. The only thing we didn’t like was the graphical design and the stickers. Apart from that, the bearings, trucks, and wheels are all just great. The bag is a nice touch that you can carry around comfortably when you travel. All in all, we’d say this is a great purchase.

09 Junli 41 Inch Freeride Skateboard Longboard

Junli 41 Inch Freeride Skateboard Longboard

This 41-inch Junli Freeride Longboard is perfect for riders of all ages. But we would recommend it for you if you‘ve some riding experience with skateboards.

Junli calls it the “complete cruiser board” because it’s great for all types of riding styles, such as cruising, carving, freestyle, and downhill. It does hold up well for cruising and downhill. Sadly, it’s not so great for freestyle use to perform tricks. Due to the large size, it is heavier in weight, causing it to be harder to lift and you can barely do a slide as a result.

In terms of durability, the 80A PU of this board is shock-absorbent and highly durable. When testing, we noticed it held up well on its end for rougher terrains. Technically, the ABEC-11 grade bearings are supposed to perform better than ABEC-9s.

But we found the ABEC-11 bearings used in Junli were closer to the high-quality ABEC-9, and the wheels rolled pretty fast and smoothly on bumpy roads. These bearings are also less noisy. The deck is designed well with a cold press 8-ply maple material that can withstand heavy weights and pressure.

In addition, the sturdy build and the anti-slip grip tape also allow for extra traction and control of the board. The quality of the grip tape was not okay though; it wore out pretty faster than other boards. But this is not a big issue considering this can easily be changed and the grip tape’s longevity also depends on the user. So, unless you’re a rough rider, you’re good to go.

Specifications

  • Deck Size: 44? Long × 9.5? Wide
  • Material: 8 ply natural maple
  • Kicktail: Flat
  • Flex: Light Rocker
  • Concave: Flat
  • Trucks: 5?, Aluminum
  • Bearing: ABEC-11
  • Wheel: 70*51mm, PU
  • Wheel Durometer: 80A
  • Weight Limit: 330lbs

Pros

  • Quality design
  • Strong deck
  • Free adjustment tool
  • Abec-11 grade bearing
  • Fairly fast
  • Low noise bearing & wheel combination

Cons

  • Lower quality grip tape

Our Verdict

This Junli 41 Inch Freeride longboard is an excellent value for money. The shape that it comes in doesn’t usually include kicktails. Having kicktails is sure great, but you won’t miss that when riding this board once you’ll get the hang of it. The spectacular design and top-notch deck can attract both you and your kids’ attention immediately. If you’re looking for a longboard that can be used for downhill riding and cruising, this is the one for you.

10 Flybar Skate Cruiser Boards

Flybar Skate Cruiser Boards

Flybar has been in business since 1918. Being in business for over 100 years has made them well-renowned in the skateboarding community. The Flybar Skate cruiser comes in two sizes and four vivid graphics design variations. The board is a fusion of a classic feel with a modern design. The cool graphics fit right in with beach-style boards.

The Flybar Skate Cruiser Board comes in great shape right out of the box and this means no tinkering from your end. The board’s narrow head with a slightly raised nose looks similar to a penny board. It offers a significant radial concave for starter boards and provides the perfect footing for quick turns.

The well-thought-out design includes fine cuts below the deck, leaving almost no room for wheel bites to occur. The wheels and trucks on this board are pretty durable. Even though the trucks are not of pro-grade materials, they’ll last throughout the board’s lifetime easily.

It has 6mm riser pads while the 24-inch version has 4mm riser pads. The bearings are not precisely the best for that. The wheels don’t spin as freely as they should for being brand-new, but some WD-40 lube will fix that. The board is relatively light and easy to carry around the campus and guarantees to provide a lot of fun along the way.

Specifications

  • Deck Size: 24” Long x 6.25” Wide/ 27.5” Long x 8” Wide
  • Material: 7 Ply Canadian Maple
  • Kicktail: Light raised nose, Raised tail
  • Flex: Light Camber
  • Concave: Radial
  • Trucks: 5?, Aluminum
  • Bearing: ABEC-9 Chrome
  • Wheel: 60*45mm, PU
  • Wheel Durometer: 80A/78A
  • Weight Limit: 220lbs

Pros

  • Durable Design
  • Quality Canadian material
  • Good grip tape
  • 1-year warranty, Manufacturer

Cons

  • Lower quality bearing

Our Verdict

The Flybar cruiser board has impressive longevity that’s really something to talk about. Throughout the time we tested, we never felt the board would break. With rough use, it held up just fine. The only thing we had to do is change the bearing. Whether you are an absolute beginner or a pro, the fly board will have your back. The boards offer you a great design that might suit your own style and skill set.

Best Cruiser Boards: Buying Guide

Best Cruiser Boards Buying Guide

1. Size

The cruiser board’s deck length is usually between 25″ to 32″ inches while the width is around 7 to 9.5 inches.

There is no standard rule that determines the exact size a rider should get. But depending on the shoe size the rider wears, you’ll get an idea of which size would be most suitable.

Shoe Size – US Deck Width Inches
4 to 6 7” – 8”
7 to 9 8″ – 9″
10+ 8.5″ +

Getting the size based on width helps.

The length of the board depends on the rider’s height.

Rider’s Height cm Deck Length Inches
Below 140 28? – 30.5?
140 – 150 30.5? – 31.5?
150 – 175 31.5? – 31.875?
160 – 185 31.75? – 32.00?
170 – 195 31.875? – 32.25?
180 – 210 32? – 32.5?
Above 190 32.5?

 2. Weight Limit

There are no weight limit interims of choosing the board. But if you are on the heavy side and weigh more than 220lb then, there’s a higher chance of your board breaking if you don’t land with your feet directly when performing tricks. In this case, we would recommend the 8-ply construction deck structures.

3. Shape

Cruiser boards come in a variety of shapes, including squared nose and tail, pointy noses, fishtails that taper in and bow out. There are also custom shapes. But the main three shapes are –

  1. Popsicle
  2. Old School Pool / Bowl Deck
  3. Modern Deck

Also known as the street skateboard deck, the popsicle is the classic shape. Most cruiser boards do not come in the popsicle shape though.

4. Deck Width

The width of a cruising board is around 7 to 9.5 inches. The deck width helps determine the rides to choose the size that suits them best.

You can also pick a board depending on the type of skateboarding you want to do. Between “transition” and “street,” the transition is more for riding up 90 degrees, wave-like obstacles or for going airborne.

  • For transition, we would suggest going with a wider deck width, such as 8.38 inches and more.
  • For the street, a narrower board from 7.5 to 8.25 inches will be a better choice.
  • For general-purpose use, which consists of a little of everything, 8 to 8.38 inches would be perfect.

5. Deck Concave

Depending on the skating you want to do, you need to know your deck length, wheelbase, and deck concave. The concave of a skateboard deck affects how it feels under your feet, primarily affecting your balance. The curve of the concave responses to your movements and gives you the ability to do flips, ollie & tricks easily.

Deck concave is the longitudinal curve across your deck’s nose to tail in an upward or downward manner. If you look at it from the side, it’s the way the wood curves and flattens from nose to tail, and bows in from side to side. There are multiple types of deck concave.

  • Radial
  • Progressive
  • W-concave
  • Tub/Flatcave
  • Asymmetrical
  • Convex
  • Flat

A mild concave allows your feet to move freely whereas a deeper concave will enable you to exceptionally position your feet frequently, giving you the feel to stay in balance to do tricks.

6. Flex

The flex indicates the stiffness of a board. There are three types of flex profiles.

  1. Camber      – Upward middle bend. Good for cruising
  2. Rocker       – Downward middle bend. Good for free ride & downhill
  3. Flat             – Moderate, freestyle use

These subtle differences actually greatly influence your riding experience.

A beginner rider can travel at 5 to 15mph speed, whereas an experienced rider can go up to 25mph. The flex depends on the material and thickness of the board. To avoid any accident –

  • If you plan on speeding then choose a stiff board
  • If you plan to go on rough terrain, go for a flexible board

The flex can be categorized into three types depending on the correct usage.

Soft Medium Stiff
Suitable for cruising Suitable for freestyle Suitable for downhill
Excellent shock absorption Moderate shock absorption Less shock absorption
Lowest stability Moderate stability at speed Best stability at speed
Comfy board feel Spring-like feel Enhanced board feel
Not easy for tricks Great for tricks Avoid tricks

 7. Kicktail

The bent tips on the board facing upwards are the kicktail. Cruiser boards have a nose on the front and tail on the back. The nose-tail is also known as kicktail. Usually, the cruisers consist of one kicktail. Since they’re used mostly for cruising and not for tricks, having one kicktail helps keep the stability in check and maintain those quick turns. A kicktail allows you to make quick turns, slow down, and do tricks.

8. Terrain

Any board can run effortlessly on a smoother road. Not all boards can handle rough terrain. Any cruiser board can moderately handle rough terrains. Since cruiser boards are short, it becomes easier for you to avoid bumps on rough terrain.

The size and softness of wheels are what smoothes out the bumps.

9. Material

The thickness, layers of the materials determine how much flex, or how heavy or light the board will be. The message is simple; pay higher to get better quality. Cheaper materials are plastic, bamboo. High-Quality materials are Maple wood, cherry wood, Canadian Maple. There are also composite materials and well as other types of carbon fiber, resin.

10. Deck Mounting Holes

The two sets of four holes used to attach trucks below the deck of your skateboard. There are two categories of mounting holes.

  1. Old school – mounting holes are 2.5″ Length x 1.635″ Width
  2. New school – mounting holes are 2.125″ L x 1.625″ W. Popular with skateboards.

11. Trucks

Trucks are the mechanical aluminium part that attach the boards with the wheel. Turn, ollie, grind everything related to your movement depends on the trucks. Depending on height, there are three types of trucks.

  1. Low – For 50 to 53mm wheel size. Designed for smaller wheels. Provides stability for tricks
  2. Mid – For 53 to 56mm. Great for park and street
  3. High – For 56mm+. Best for carving & cruising. Suitable for longboard cruisers.

The Trucks body consists of 7 parts

  1. Base Plate
  2. Kingpin
  3. Bushings
  4. Axle
  5. Hanger
  6. Speed Rings
  7. Top Washer

The trucks are made in two categories hollow and solid, which are light and heavy. Materials used are –

  • Steel
  • Brass
  • Aluminum
  • Titanium
  • Magnesium
  • Composite – A combination of different materials

For a cruiser board, you’ll need looser trucks. It helps to turn and to carve, which is necessary on narrow streets. Loose trucks can’t handle speed, so we would recommend you not to speed up.

12. Wheels

You have to keep three things in mind when choosing a wheel.

  • Diameter size
  • Durometer
  • Contact patch

Also, keep the truck height in mind; whether you don’t buy oversized ones.

a) Diameter Size

The diameter size ranges from 48 to 60mm+ sizes. The diameter can affect your speed & stability.

50 to 53mm 54 to 59mm 60mm and above
Small size Average size Large size
Stability for tricks Moderate overall stability Adequate stability
Less speed, quick acceleration Moderate speed, slow acceleration Highest speed, slower acceleration
Small young riders Average riders Specialty riders
Skate park, street, bowl street, skate parks, bowls, and vert ramps. Rough terrain, cruising, dirt roads

And the wheels above 70mm are all downhill longboards. To have a general wheel that can cover almost everything, we recommend going for 53 to 56mm wheels.

b) Durometer

The cruiser boards need large wheels of 65mm++ and lower on the durometer scale. Manufacturers include durometer measures to identify the skateboard wheel’s hardness. A Scale Durometer is a 100-point scale that determines how hard a wheel is. The higher the number, the harder the wheel.

78A to 87A 88A to 95A 96A to 101A 83B to 84B
Soft, well grip Harder, faster Harder, faster Hardest
Best suited for cruisers Lightly handles rougher terrains Street, park setting Technical street, park setting
Beginner, light riders Average riders, general-purpose Average riders Suited for experienced riders

We would recommend sticking with A scale until you go pro. B scale is 20 values less than the A scale:

101A = 81B

102A = 82B

103A = 83B

c) Contact patch

The amount of area that makes contact with the pavement is the contact patch. It affects the performance of the wheel.` In case of a large contact patch, your weight will be well distributed throughout the area. It reduces the compression of the urethane in your wheels while decreasing your rolling resistance to slow down the wheel.

There are two types of contact patches –

  • Rounded – make less contact with the pavement than square wheels.
  • Large/Flat – make maximum contact with the pavement.

13. Wheel Bite

Wheel bite is when the wheel touches the deck while riding. It is common to see wheel bite in many skateboards. You should only worry about wheelbite when it’s significantly reducing your speed or stopping you in your tracks when you turn.

To prevent wheelbite, buy higher trucks, or tighten it. If not, then you can also install riser pads above your truck’s baseplate to avert wheelbite.

14. Bearings

The bearing is the circular mechanical device that allows the wheel to spin. Each of your wheels requires two bearings, so you’ll need eight bearings when replacing. Skateboards wheels require 22mm size bearings with 8mm holes and 7mm height.

Bearing Build

The skateboard bearing build consists of 4 main parts—the shield, race, ball & retainer.

  • C-ring: Locks the shields in place.
  • Bearing Shield: Protects the ball bearings from dirt.
  • Outer race: the round metal exterior that all of the other parts fit into.
  • Balls: Stays within the two races. Enables the bearing casing to spin.
  • Inner race: It fits inside the outer ring. The axles fit through the inner rings.
  • Ball Retainer: Holds the ball bearings in place, while allowing the casing to spin.
  • Rubber seal: The soft rubber ring on the outside of the bearing that assists in shielding the bearing interior against dirt and debris.

Bearing Material

The bearings come in two types of materials.

  • Steel – Commonly used. Have lower to high-end quality. Price ranges from 8 to 70$.
  • Ceramic – Lighter, more durable than steel. A self-cleaning mechanism, superior quality. Price ranges from 50 to 140$.

We recommend going for a ceramic bearing if you can afford it. There are also carbon, aluminium material as well.

Bearing Rating System

The ABEC rating system is created by the manufacturers to measure skateboard bearings. The five classifications signify tolerance. Higher rating translates to tighter tolerances precision, efficiency, and the possibility of speed capabilities of the bearing. Some companies resort to false marketing tactics by naming their bearings ABEC-11. In reality there’s no real grade such as that.

  •   ABEC-1: The least expensive, the crudest. Lesser quality steel.
  •   ABEC-3: Budget-friendly but doesn’t roll smoothly or quickly.
  •   ABEC-5: Standard for skateboarding. A fast speed at an affordable cost.
  •   ABEC-7: Good performance and costs a bit more.
  •   ABEC-9: Great for downhill skating.

15. Experience level

Cruisers are for rolling around comfortably while being able to carry it around. These are not professional boards for speeding or doing tons of tricks, making it the perfect board for beginner level users.

16. Cruiser Tricks

It is harder to perform tricks on a cruiser board due to its build. But over time, you might get the hang of it and play a few basic hops & ollie tricks. Always avoid doing slides; the wheels on the cruiser boards are softer & have more grip. So you are prone to fall doing a slide; it also damages the wheel much faster.

17. Budget

The cruiser boards range from 150$ to as low as 25$, with average pricing around 60$.

Cruiser Board Care & Maintenance

There’s no specific rule to take care of your cruiser board. All the skateboards have the same maintenance rules.

  • Detach trucks to clean the deck
  • Use soapy water & bristle brush to clean, dry with a towel
  • Check for loose nuts on axle
  • Don’t over tighten the nuts
  • Change grip tape if worn out
  • Learn truck hardware assembly
  • Learn bearing assembly
  • Wash the bearing using isopropyl alcohol
  • Use lubes for inner parts of the bearing
  • Check for damaged balls inside the bearing
  • Check speed rings for damages

Cruiser Board Safety Tips

You are bound to fall while riding, so it is always a good practice to take safety measures. You will need additional gear to protect yourself.

  • Multi-sport helmet
  • Use a pro helmet for longboards
  • Slide gloves, wrist guards; support the wrist during falls
  • Pads – knee and elbow
  • Shoe – closed toe & a good grip sole
  • Shatterproof goggles

Other important things to keep in mind

  • Never skateboard in wet weather
  • Avoid crowded areas
  • Avoid hitching a ride from other vehicles
  • Do not wear headphones
  • Move to complicated tricks after you master the basics
  • Try rolling when falling
  • Loosen up when falling instead of going stiff

A Word from Scooterlay

We hope our list will help you find the best cruiser board for the money. We tried to cover everything you need to know before deciding on the best cruiser board for you to have and shared our hands-on experience with you. We recommend that you keep your budget and needs in mind before making the final decision.

If you’re still confused, you can consider these recommendations:

For heavy use, you can go for the Playshion Drop Through. It’s one of the best boards in the skateboarding community. You can also choose the Retrospec Zed Bamboo for an overall price and quality ratio. If you want light, compact and for general use go for the Magneto Mini Cruiser

If you’re on a tight budget, consider the ReDo Skateboard. Despite being the cheapest choice here, it offers you a wide deck, sturdy truck, and soft bushings that are enough for making smooth curves.

Don’t forget to share your experience with us in the comments section below.

FAQs

1. Are cruisers easier to ride than skateboards?

Ans. Yes, cruisers are easier to master and great for beginners. In comparison, the skateboard can be a bit harder to learn.

2. What are the differences between cruisers and skateboards?

Ans. The main difference between cruisers & skateboards is tricks. Cruisers are heavier, harder to do tricks. Skateboards are lighter, more comfortable to do tricks. Then there are specifications, size differences as well.

3. What size cruiser board should I get?

Ans. Those concerned about the size of the board should get a general sized board with a width of 8″ – 9″inch and length of 31.75? – 32.00?inches.

4. What is the difference between a cruiser board and a longboard?

Ans. There are tons of differences between cruiser boards and a longboard. The main difference is that cruiser boards are built in a manner for short commutes, handles rough paths. While the longboards are built for covering longer distances, these can’t handle rough trails well.

5. Are cruiser boards easy to ride?

Ans. Yes, these are perfect for beginners.

6. What is the main function of a shortboard in a skateboard?

Ans. The shorter boards enable you to do quick turns easily, curves, and tricks. But these are dangerous to use for downhill.

7. What is the difference between a longboard and a penny board?

Ans. Longboards are suitable for downhill riding, bigger wheels, take less push to move, longer in size, and material decks are premium quality.

Penny boards are smaller in length, smaller wheel, takes more effort to move, decks built from plastic.

8. Why should I try a cruiser board?

Ans: Cruiser boards are the best type of skateboard for traveling. These are considered the ideal board to roam around the school and college campus.

About the author

Brian G Smith

“Hey, are you out of your mind?” - this is what I often hear when people see me performing some really dangerous stunts. While most people use scooters to commute, I use mine to hone my stunting skills. Yes, that’s me, Brian Smith. I’ve a small group of like-minded people in my team that love to do all sorts of stunts with their kick scooters and skateboards. My fans also ask me to teach them a thing or two every now and then. This is why I am here. In my leisure time, I like to write about what I do with my scooters and what I am going to do next. One thing I want to say to all my fans - Don’t hit the streets without proper information and training..

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