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Best Cheap Skateboards With Street Cred
Some of the earliest skateboards go back to the ’50s when surfers wanted to find a way to “surf” on the sidewalk. Those early boards were very basic and were often built by attaching roller blades to flat wooden boards. As interest started to spread, skateboard companies started popping up overnight to create better skateboards to meet the demand.
Skateboards have certainly come a long way, too. My dad was quick to remind me of his experiences with loose ball bearings on older skateboards. It was sort of a dreaded event when your axel nut would shake too loose, and the ball bearings would spill out of the wheel, making it completely lock up — basically the skateboard equivalent of blowing out a tire on the highway at top speed. The rider would get launched to the pavement next to their ball bearings scattering across the street.
Of course, this would eventually lead to ball bearings being enclosed and sealed between an inner and outer ring to prevent them from falling out. Today, you might still take a spill just like the old school skaters, but at least it won’t be the ball bearing’s fault.
Today you can find skateboards of all shapes and sizes and some are even equipped with electric motors that can get you around town and climb small hills.
Skateboards are also endlessly customizable. Many skate shops will even sell you just the deck, allowing you to build the rest of the board with your preferred hardware. Always try talking to your local skate shop too, because no one will be better able to help you pick out the right parts. But if you are new to skateboarding and aren’t comfortable building it from the ground up, we suggest buying it complete. “Complete” means that it arrives fully assembled and with all the necessary parts.
But, if you are thinking about buying a new skateboard or want to upgrade your old skateboard, it can take a lot of time and research to pick the one board that is right for you. Thankfully, we are here to help make your search roll along smoother than ever (and certainly without any ball-bearing-related accidents!)
Types of Skateboards
There are many different types and variations of skateboards, and each one is designed for a specific style of skateboarding. In addition, there are different deck shapes, deck lengths and wheel placements to enhance a skateboard’s abilities. It would be a pretty long list if I were to name each one, but here’s a quick rundown of the most popular types:
- Double-kick Popsicle: This is probably the type of board that comes to mind whenever you think of a skateboard. This type is also referred to as a standard deck. The term “double-kick” comes from the upward curved edges on both the nose-end and tail-end of the skateboard, and “popsicle” comes from the popsicle stick shape of the deck. These skateboards are built for quick maneuvers, tricks and navigating obstacles around town and in the street.
- Longboards: As the name suggests, longboards are a much longer type of skateboard that is meant to travel long distances. Its longer size and wider wheels mean it’s a very comfortable ride and is easy to control, but sharp turns can be tricky. This is not a skateboard to use for tricks, but is commonly seen in downhill racing.
- Old School Skateboards: This style is making a comeback and is based on the skateboard styles of the 80s. The shape of a deck resembles a fish with a wide kicktail and a nose that comes to a point. This style is great for cruising and trick skating.
- Cruisers: This type of skateboard has a very similar shape to longboards but is much shorter. They offer you better maneuverability thanks to it’s smaller size and can navigate cramped areas easily. Best of all, it’s lightweight and smaller sized meaningyou can easily take it anywhere and it fits in most backpacks.
“The street style popsicle decks are the most common,” says Dan Pheos, owner of the new Pheos Skate Shop in Massapequa, NY. “Lately, you’re seeing old school shape decks from the 80s making a big comeback.”
Best Overall
Minority Maple Skateboard
So you’ve worked with your beginner-level skateboard, and you are feeling pretty confident in your new skills. It sounds like it’s time for an upgrade. A beginner’s skateboard generally has larger, heavier wheels to help you maintain balance and lessen your chances of taking a nasty fall. The downside to a larger and heavier board is that it is less responsive and reduces your ability for quick turns. The deck is 32 inches and is made of 100% maple, which can easily hold up to 220 lbs. The wheels and bearings are lightweight and responsive, so you can switch easily between the sidewalk, ramps and half-pipes.
Benefits: This Minority Maple deck is tough, can handle a lot of weight and can take a lot of damage. There is also a wide variety of designs for the bottom of the deck, too.
Things to Consider: Many users experienced trouble with the grip tape separating and starting to pull up so make sure to keep an eye on the grip tape.
Promising Review: “For the price, this board is phenomenal. Sturdy deck, pretty decent wheels and bearings and pretty good trucks. Grip tape chipped off in some small spots on the edge of the deck when it hit concrete, but other than that I never had any issues from any other part of the board, and I personally don’t think you’ll find one better this cheap.” – Brennan
$36 at Amazon.com
Best for Beginners on a Budget
Amrgot Skateboards Pro
Like anyone starting a new hobby, you have to start somewhere. So while it may be tempting to drop a lot of money on the highest quality skateboard you can find, it might be worth buying a good-quality board that doesn’t cost as much while you learn the basics. The Amrgot Skateboards Pro is popsicle-shaped, matching style with affordability. Depending on the type, these skateboards can range from $20 to $50 and are a great way to introduce beginners to skateboarding with a quality board that won’t break the bank.
Benefits: Cost is the most significant benefit with this skateboard, and the unique designs on the bottom of the deck really stand out.
Things to Consider: This deck is great for beginners but not meant for any major tricks or jumps. If you are already an advanced skateboarder then this isn’t the best choice for you.
Promising Review : “Great skateboards! I purchased this for my younger sister who is now slowly starting to get into skateboarding…If you are a beginner and are looking for a decent skateboard to begin learning, then I suggest getting this board. Highly Recommended!” – J
$20 at Amazon.com
Best Electric Skateboard
RazorX Cruiser Electric Skateboard
I don’t know about you, but during the early 2000s, I remember Razor scooters being everywhere. They were instantly recognizable and were a fun way to get home from school. Well, after all these years, Razor is still finding new ways to help you get around. In addition to scooters and their Hovertrax brand of hoverboards, Razor also has their own electric skateboard. This RazorX Cruiser electric skateboard is 29.7 inches long and features a 125-watt motor that lets your skateboard travel up to 10 mph for close to an hour on a single charge. In addition, this skateboard has a cruiser-style deck and comes with a remote (and handy wrist strap so you don’t drop it) that can control your speed and even turns the motor off.
Benefits: The remote control helps you regulate your speed and not go too fast. For beginners learning to ride and balance on a skateboard, this model is a great learning tool.
Things to Consider: While the motor allows you to travel uphill, the energy needed to move the skateboard uphill can really drain the battery. This skateboard is great for flat terrain and the sidewalk but not the best choice if you live and commute in an area with many hills.
Promising Review: “It is an interesting contrast to the traditional skateboard and works wonderfully. Easy to get used to and doesn’t go too fast, but fast enough. Highly recommend. Very durable, but not recommended for heavier adults because the motor is not as powerful.” – J. C. Reed
$279 at Amazon.com
Best for Kids
RIMABLE Complete Skateboard
This Penny-style skateboard is great for kids (and even college students) who need a cheap and easy way to get around campus. The RIMABLE Complete deck is made of lightweight plastic and its compact size makes it great for navigating smaller spaces and stopping quickly if you encounter a crowded area. In addition, because the deck isn’t made of wood, the cost is substantially lower and also makes for a nice alternative board if you are on a budget. Also, its small size means it is lightweight and can easily be carried in a backpack.
Benefits: Lightweight and the perfect size for kids. It also comes in tons of different brightly colored styles, as well as a few trippy galaxy patterns.
Things to Consider: Because of its plastic deck, this skateboard can’t take the kind of damage that wood decks can. If you plan to use your skateboard for anything other than cruising around town, this may not be the best fit for you.
Promising Review: “Lightweight but durable, nice fat tires to help prevent crashes from tiny rocks and great color…If you’re just a regular family with a kid interested in skateboarding and you don’t want to break the bank, this is your board.” – Anderson
$20 at Amazon.com
Best for Customizing
Element Complete Dispersion
If you grew up skating (or, in my case, playing Tony Hawk’s Pro-Skater 1 & 2), then Element skateboards need no introduction. But in case you are unfamiliar, Element Skateboards have been around since the early 90s and became one of the premier manufacturers of skateboards. Element is still going strong, offering high quality and time-tested skateboards. The Element Complete Dispersion, in particular, arrives disassembled so you can learn how to build your skateboard and can swap out and customize any of the parts you want while you’re building it.
Benefits: Classic Element design and the ability to learn how to build a skateboard (in case you don’t already know) is a great way to upgrade from your beginner board.
Things to Consider: You will want to triple-check the instructions to make sure that you assembled everything correctly (if it’s your first time assembling a board) to avoid any accidents.
Promising Review: “Cool little board. Bearings are a little stiff but not even close to Walmart stiff…That is a huge nod to sturdiness.” – Greg Curry
$85 at Amazon.com
Best Longboard
APOLLO Longboard Skateboards
If you are looking into a comfortable board that can take you long distances (and you aren’t planning on any tricks or quick turns) you might want to look into a longboard. Where a traditional popsicle style skateboard is meant for tricks and quick manuevers, a longboard is built for cruising and long rides. Longboards are much longer (obviously) than most skateboards and generally have larger wheels, which makes your ride smoother and more stable. The APOLLO Lonboard model is made primarily of bamboo and fiberglass (some Apollo longboards are made of bamboo and maple) and is available in several lengths ranging from 36 inches to 43 inches and comes with a no-questions-asked two-year warranty.
Benefits: Designed with comfort and cruising in mind, these longboards look great and offer some great designs. It also comes with a T-tool so you can adjust or tighten your board as needed.
Things to Consider: Given the lightweight nature of this board, it’s essential to keep an eye on weight maximums, as some users had their longer boards snap if there was too much weight on the board.
Promising Review: “Great for cruising through the neighborhood! I love that it came with the skate tools too! I’ve ridden a few times, the board definitely flexes under my weight. So I recommend for small/med size people. Overall good value for a complete board.” – JasonG8R
$109 at Amazon.com
Best Old School Skateboard
Moose Old School Complete Skateboard
This skateboard sports the classic, old-school shape with a couple of great modern updates. With a longer kicktail and scooped nose, this natural wood design really stands out. The Moose Old School deck measures 25 inches tall and is made from Canadian Maple. You can purchase it complete or just the deck. This skateboard works great for cruising or for quick trick maneuvering and gives off some great 80s vibes, too!
Benefits: This blank deck allows you to customize it just the way you want and the old-school design lets you go from the street to skatepark easily.
Things to Consider: Some users have been critical of the bearings, so more advanced skaters may want to consider swapping them out if they don’t work for you.
Promising Review: “Super value. Been using this board for a while now and it is a very good product at a reasonable price.” – Robert Scott Custer
$80 at Amazon.com
Looking for a hoverboard instead? Check out these cheap hoverboard options.
What to Look for in a Skateboard
So you’ve decided to start skateboarding, but you don’t know where to start. Pheos offers this advice: “To beginners, I usually sell them company completes (that means an already pre-assembled skateboard inclusive of the deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, etc.)…Completes are a good way to start… If it’s a young kid that’s not looking to jump down steps or do anything big – completes are usually getting the job done to roll down the driveway.”
Competes are a great place to start because they have everything you need and are ready right out of the box. As you get more advanced in your skateboard skills, you can always trade out parts to upgrade your board.
Other Considerations:
- Price: If the price is too low, the quality was probably cut back somewhere to get the price that low. If you’re looking to buy the cheapest skateboard, it may not be the safest.
- Style: There are many different kinds of decks based on what you will use it for. A longboard is going to feel very different from an old-school board, so do your research before buying.
- Bearings: A beginner may not think about bearings right away, but they are a big part of how your skateboard will function. If they are too tight and don’t allow the wheels to roll smooth, your ride will suffer. When it comes to bearings, it’s worth paying a little extra to upgrade their quality.
Skateboard Accessories
There are a few key accessories to consider buying with your new skateboard:
- Helmet: This is probably the most obvious item but also the most important. If you are a beginner, you are going to fall — a lot. Especially in those early days, you’re going to want to protect your head in case you take a tumble. A skateboard helmet won’t cost you too much either, and you can usually pick one up (like this Outdoor Master Skateboard Helmet) for around $20 to $40.
- Pads: Don’t forget the pads either when you are learning to skateboard. They can be just as essential to protect your knees, elbows, and wrists while you are learning. You can pick up a set of pads (like this PHZ Protection Gear Set) for around $20 to $30.
“I tell [beginners] to wear a helmet and pads,” says Pheos. “Regarding ‘must-haves,’ there are none! That’s the best part of skateboarding – all you need is a skateboard!”
How Much Should You Spend on a Skateboard?
Finding a good price for a skateboard can be tricky, especially if you don’t know what a fair price looks like. It’s important to do your research and look around to compare prices. The more familiar you are with the skateboard you want, the sooner you know a deal when you see it. But generally speaking, you can expect to pay around $100 to $150 for a lower quality beginner board and about $200 for a higher quality skateboard. “Bearings, trucks, and wheels might not be as good quality…if a skateboard is generally cheaper,” says Pheos. “Essentially, in skateboarding, you get what you pay for.”
How to Save Money on a Skateboard
If you are looking for a good deal, always check big retailers like Amazon, Target or Walmart for the best prices, especially around big sales events. If you are looking for a beginner board, then the big stores are the way to go. But as your skills improve and you want to upgrade to a better board, you should consider visiting your local skateboard shop and talking to someone who really knows skateboards. They can point you in the right direction and even let you try the board out.
If you are ordering online, you can’t test the skateboard out and would have to rely on their return policy if it doesn’t work out. Visting a skate shop is a great way to save money in the long run because you’ll know what you are buying and won’t risk buying the wrong skateboard online to collect dust in the corner of your room.
What to Know About Warranties
The odds that you will have a manufacturing issue with your skateboard (like a wheel coming loose, the board breaking or the grip tape peeling back) are pretty low, but still, things happen, and you may get a defective board without knowing it right away. Always check the warranty in case you have any issues. Most big retail stores will have a very limited return policy (14 to 30 days from purchase), meaning you should try your skateboard out right away and don’t wait until the return window has closed before you really break in your new skateboard. If it breaks and the manufacturer is at fault, you can likely return it through an online store. If you are outside of that return window, contact the manufacturer. If a manufacturer stands behind the quality of their skateboards, they should offer a warranty of some kind. Make sure you know how long the warranty is good for so you don’t contact them after it’s too late.
How to Make Your Skateboard Last
Unless you are buying a new skateboard just to sit it on a shelf (but why would you?) it’s going to take a beating outside and be exposed to all kinds of weather conditions. The most important thing you can do to make your skateboard last is to keep it as dry as possible. Constantly getting it wet and drying it off will affect the board and cause the grip tape to come up over time.
Keep an eye on your bearings and replace or lubricate them if needed. Bearings are at the core of your skateboard’s motion, and if the bearings aren’t working right, your skateboard won’t work right either.
Finally, try to treat it with care. It’s naturally going to encounter a few crashes here and there, but the more you can treat it with care and not leave it outside during extreme weather, the longer it will last.
The post Best Cheap Skateboards With Street Cred appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
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