Before buying a skate deck, you should also consider some emergent facts. The type of terrain you can skate, your riding style, your height-weight, show right skateboard size, and other necessary components( wheels, etc.) are all related to a good skateboard deck that you want to choose.
You are a beginner at skating and decide to buy a new skateboard. But a few questions come to your mind like- how to choose skateboard deck! Which skateboard is best for me? Which one deck should I get?
Ups! Don’t panic too much! You can find all the answers to these questions here. Maybe you want to be the next champion or ride in the street or park. So, whatever it is, all you have to do is buy the skateboard.
We are here to give you the best guide. So look no further and stay with us. Trust me, after reading this, indeed, you will be an expert in it.
What you will Need to know to Pick up the Right Skateboard
You should envisage several things so you can select the right skateboard deck according to your requirement.
1. Choose the right skateboard “deck.”
2. Perfect shoe size
3. Riding style and terrain type
4. Body height
5. Body weight
6. Skateboard length
7.Skateboard concave
1. Choose the Right Skateboard “Deck.”
Usually, a skateboard consists of many parts; among them, the “deck” is the most crucial part of it. It is a flat board made of Canadian maple wood.
It is not just a wooden board, during skateboarding, you stand on it. So it is the main foundation of a skateboard. That is why you must be careful to choose the best one.
Different deck types are available in the market depending on your body size and riding style. They are-
Micro deck–
- Size- 6.5 – 6.75 inches.
- A micro deck is perfect for you if you are less than 3.5 inches and wear size three or smaller shoes.
Mini deck-
- It is just the next size up to a micro deck
- Size- 7.0 – 7.50 inches
- Mini decks suit those between three feet five and four inches and wearing a shoe about four to six sizes.
Mid-size deck-
- Size- 7.5 – 8.0 inches
- Best for skaters four feet five and five feet two inches and shoe sizes between seven and eight.
Full-size deck-
- It is a standard size and perfect for most adults.
- Size- 8.0 – 8.5 inches.
- Perfect for five feet 3 inches or taller and wearing a shoe size nine or more.
- Best for various technical tricks and street skating
Full size-
- Size- 8.0 and up
- If you want to skate in the park, swimming pool, and ramps, it will be your best skateboard.
2. Perfect Shoe Size
It is imperative to choose the skateboard deck according to your shoe size. Because if your feet are too short or too long than your deck, you will not get comfortable with it.
But many skaters are unconscious of shoe size. As a result, the ride will not be so fun for them. So selecting the right deck that matches your shoe size is significant for safe and enjoyable skating.
Here are some recommendations for choosing the right size for your shoes.
| Shoe size (Men ) | Shoe size (Woman) | Deck size ( width) |
| 6.5 to 9 | 8 to 10.5 | 7.5 to 8.0 ideal |
| 9.5 or larger | 11 or larger | 8.0 to 9.0 is the way to go |
3. Riding Style and Terrain Type
If you want to skate in a pool, park, vert, or any stable surface, you need a deck that is a little wider.
On the other hand, if you want a lighter-weight setup and love to flip tricks, then you should go for a narrow board.
So, at the end of the day, riding style is also essential when you decide to get a new skateboard.
| Deck width | Size | Recommended for | Terrain |
| 7.00-7.50” | Narrow | Best for young riders | |
| 7.50-8.00” | Medium | Teen or adult rider | Stree r or technical skating |
| 8.00-8.50” | Full size | For all | Transition terrain like- street, park, pool etc |
| 8.50” and up | Wider deck | For all skaters | Bigger street parks, transition terrain etc |
4. Body height
When considering buying a new skateboard deck, a question comes to your mind- how to choose right skateboard deck?
A perfect skateboard means that it will match your body type. The general rule is that if you have a low height, you need a small board, but if you are tall, you will need a wider one.
However, most street skateboard deck lengths are similar, but their width is usually individual. Even a slight difference in width can make a noticeable change to skateboarding.
Below is a list of heights that match skateboard sizes; you should follow that-
| Height | Board width |
| 3 feet 4 inches to 4 feet 4 inches | 6.75 inches to 7.25 inches |
| 4 feet 6 inches or shorter | 7.25 inches to 7.75 inches |
| 4 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 6 inches | 7.75 inches to 8.00 inches |
| 5 feet 6 inches or taller | 8.0 inches to 8.50 inches |
5. Body Weight
Make sure you pick up a new skateboard according to your body size. Moreover, heavy skaters need a more expansive deck to distribute their weight correctly.
Let’s look at a chart of skateboard sizes up to body weight.
| Body weight | Deck size |
| 45 lbs and under | 6.5 to 6.75 |
| 46 lbs to 59 Ibs | 7.00 to 7.50 |
| 60 lbs to 101 lbs | 7.50 to 8.00 |
| 102 lbs to 152 lbs | 8.00 to 8.50 |
| 153 lbs and over | 8.50 and up |
6. Skateboard Length
Another main factor is board length when choosing a skateboard deck. Depending on riding style, there are different types of board lengths. Skaters who love cruising can choose a longboard, and street skaters may select a shortboard deck.
According to the riding style, these boards allow them to cover up all the tricks. So it’s good to know overall measurements, and it will be helpful for all skaters, including technical skaters.
We have listed some board length measurements to get an idea of these. We also include the wheelbase, as a bowl and transition skaters often love to know it.
| Board width | Recommended board length | Wheel base |
| 7.25” | 29.50” | 12.50” |
| 7.50” | 31.12” | 14.00 |
| 7.75” | 31.12” | 14.00 |
| 8.00” | 31.38” | 14.00 |
| 8.25” | 32.00” | 14.38 |
7.Skateboard Concave
It is considered to be the curvature over the surface of the deck. You can provide more pressure on the deck depending on the high curvature.
There is a different kinds of curvature, you can choose according to your need and comfort. Three types of concave are recommended for skaters.
Low concave-
- Contain little curvature
- Suitable for a stable ride
- Difficult to flip
Medium concave-
- Most of the decks are medium concave.
- Best for beginners.
- If you are confused about choosing the deck, you can go for the medium deck.
High concave-
- They have high curEasy to flip
Parts of the Skateboard
Here are some skateboard parts, and you should learn how they work together technically.
Deck-
It is the fundamental part of a skateboard where you stand.
Wheels-
a set of wheels (4). It helps the board to roll and provides a destination for the bearings.
Trucks-
a set of trucks (2). It allows the board to turn on and give axles to the wheels.
– different heights of trucks are available here, and each is suitable for different riding styles.
Low–
- Best for beginners
- Provide extra stability
- Work better for flip tricks
- This truck height perfectly goes well with smaller wheels and helps to decrease “”wheel bite.”
Mid
- Best for street or park skating
- They have the most common height and are perfect for all skateboarding.
High
- This height is suitable for those who are interested in cruising or curving.
Bearings-
A set of bearings ( 8 total or two per wheel). It is placed inside both sides of the wheels and helps them to spin quickly.
Gripe tape-
it’s a material like sandpaper, used on the top of the skateboard. It provides a grip for your feet.
Hardware-
a set of 8 nuts and bolts. It helps to hold the truck on the board.
Riser pad-
For one per truck, 2 total. It’s optional.
Features of the Skateboard
- Nose and tail-
The nose is the front part of a skateboard, and the tail refers to the back part. There are many skaters for which it is hard to differentiate between nose and tail.
That’s why most decks have a graphic design by which you can mark the nose and tail. Even many skateboards have bigger kicks on the nose and lower kicks on the bottom.
- Mounting holes-
These are pre-drilled holes used for attaching the truck to the board. A skateboard includes 2 sets of 4 holes. One group is placed on the nose, and another location is on the tail.
- Wheelbase-
The distance between the inner mountain holes of the board. Usually, the wheelbase allows you to understand how far apart the front and back wheels will be.
However, it varies from 13 to 15 inches (33.02-38.02cm). Many decks provide one set of mountain holes, where some skateboard decks have multiple holes.
In fact, adjustment of the wheelbase can highly affect the board’s performance.
- Ply-It is a thin layer of wood used to make the board. Instead of using a strong solid piece of timber, Most manufacturers use a wood layer in a cross-giant pattern.
It is far better than the solid piece and helps to make the board stronger.
Generally, most skateboards are 7 poly, whereas some are not more than 9 poly.
- EFP-
The complete form of EPF is an Effective Foot Platform. It is used to measure the distance and indicates the top side area of the deck where the rider stands.
It even helps to determine the deck part placed between the front and back truck.
- Rail-
they are the edge along the board length, which is responsible for the ride of your board. They have different shapes, which can significantly impact the ride.
Rails come in three shapes-
- Round shape– suitable for flip tricks, and they are prevalent.
- Sharp shape: During slides, they help to secure shoes in place.
- Gas pedals rail: Also known as GPs, which provide you better control and comfort during the slide.
How to Choose Skateboard Deck? Types of Skateboard
Skateboards come in different shapes, and they are fun and functional for various types of riding. If you want to know- How to choose skateboard deck then you should get an idea about its types.
So, before buying a skateboard deck, please read below to understand which board will be perfect for you.
Standard skateboard
- Best for new skaters
- Work perfectly for all styles of skateboarding, including park skating, street skating, etc
- These skateboards are similar to a pop stick shape.
- They have a nose and a tail, which have the same condition.
Cruiser skateboard
- Their length is similar to a standard deck.
- They are lighter compared to longboards.
- Different shapes are available.
- Longer than a standard skateboard but shorter than a longboard
- Often ride with soft wheels, which results in a smooth and first ride on a rigid surface
Old school deck
- Best for bowl skating and transportation
- Not ideal for street skating
- They have a much broader and longer wheelbase than a standard skateboard
- Work well in skating ramps, poop, and curving street
- They have flat noses and kicktail
Longer board
- They have a broader and longer deck than regular skateboards.
- It is perfect for you if you are a beginner and looking for a stable deck.
- Ideal for transportation, mellow cruising, and downhill skateboarding
- They have a wider wheelbase to control skateboards at high
- speed.
Blank Skateboard Deck
If you are a skateboard lover and skate regularly, you can choose a blank skateboard. Branded and pro board skateboards are expensive and unaffordable, whereas blank boards are affordable and reasonable.
You will be happy to know that the best quality blank boards are made in the same factories where branded and pro boards are made. Even their material quality is identical.
You can select the best quality blank boards if you want to save money.
Custom Skateboard
If you want to update your skateboard parts and create a new setup according to your choice, then make your skateboard.There is an available skateboard shop where you can find different parts. Thus you can easily upgrade the skateboard.
What Skateboard Deck Should you Choose?
It fully depends on your preference, including your riding style, body size, shoe size, etc. Many people think of a skateboard as just a wooden piece consisting of some parts.
They don’t even care about the difference between various skateboard decks. It’s the wrong way, actually. To be a skateboard expert or ride better, you must choose the perfect skateboard. If you are a beginner, here are some tips about- how to choose a skateboard deck.
- If you want to go for a long ride, then select the longboard skateboard.
- For technical skateboarding, choose the popsicle skateboard.
- Cruiser skateboarding will be the best for you if you want a portable ride in a crowded place.
As you are in the learning period, you must learn to push, ride, go down hills, etc. So, firstly you need something by which you can easily do these. Once you have done these comfortably, you can move to another board.
Wrap up
Finding the best skateboard deck are usually laborious, especially if you are new to skating. But we have tried to make it as easy as possible through our article.
How to choose skateboard deck? Though choosing the right skateboard is a personal preference, we put a lot of facts together to give you a basic idea of how to choosing your right deck.
If you are still confused, please scroll up to the top and roll your eyes over the whole article again. I hope our tips will help you pick the perfect skateboard per your requirement.
FAQs-
What Type Of Skateboard Is Best For Beginners?
“Shortboard” is the best board for beginners due to its excellent features. This will be the exact size of board that you are looking for. When learning the basics, managing a longer and wider board is essential.
However, this type of board offers more comfort and stability than others. For a beginner, 31*an 8 inches board will be the ideal measurement. Even if you want, you can manage a 9 inches board according to your need.
For example-
If you are interested in learning kickflips, go for a narrow board. But if you are looking for cruising, choose the longboard.
Is it harder to ollie on a giant board?
It depends on the weight and stability of the board, not the size. Many people think a giant board is essential to ollie’s height. But that’s true.
However, how big a board is or not is not important. Firstly make sure your skateboard is correctly matched your height and weight. If you choose a too-small commission or too- big board, you won’t be able to control or provide enough power to jump.
So try to choose the perfect board which is fit for you. Besides, it would be best if you practiced regularly. The more you practice, the more you will be able to jump.
What is essential skateboarding protection?
It is highly recommended that beginners wear protection during learning. You may not
look good or feel uncomfortable during learning. But the truth is when you are going to
learn, falling off a skateboard is natural, but it hurts.
So if you want to enjoy skating and don want to be hurt, wear pads and helmets. It will
protect you from severe injuries. Once you learn the tricks and get more experienced, it’s
not essential to wear them.
Should I ride an 8 or 8.25 deck?
8 or 8.25 depends on preference! 8’s nimble for flips, 8.25 offers stability for grinds & bowls. Choose 8 if: shoe size ≤7, like tech tricks. Choose 8.25 if: shoe size ≥8, prefer bowls/transitions. Ultimately, try both and see what feels right!
