THE BEST LONGBOARDS FOR BEGINNERS - 6 EASY SUGGESTIONS
There's a whole load of choice on our longboard racks these days - it can be confusing deciding which one you want, especially if you're a beginner!
We've put together a quickfire list of easy suggestions to help you choose.
- Lush Freebyrd
- Arbor Drop Cruiser
- Lush Mako Pintail
- Hackbrett Longboards Krokodil
- Loaded Mata Hari
- Lush Minnow
If you want to know more, here's a list of the questions we get asked the most by skaters like you!
Lush Freebyrd
The most popular board in our shop right now, with good reason... the Lush Freebyrd represents seriously good value for money!
The deck
The Freebyrd is a rockered-drop-through - which makes it very low to the ground (more stable, easier to push), and very beginner-friendly. Pressed from Canadian maple, this is a quality board and no mistake. Comes with die-cut griptape, natural wood veneer finish and a choice of understated graphics.
Wheels, Trucks, & Bearings
Lush do not muck about when it comes to components, and the Freebyrd features a choice of two builds - the "Pro" and "Elite" completes. Both are fully stacked out with aftermarket components from Sabre Trucks and Cult Wheels.
Both the Elite and the Pro builds come with Sabre Standard trucks, which are some of the strongest, best turning trucks available right now. Super-strong gravity cast construction, Sabre's aftermarket pivot cups and bushings as standard - longboard trucks don't really get any nicer than this.
The Elite setup is rolling on Cult Road Warrior Race wheels - race proven, super grippy and super fast - a real step up compared to most completes at this price point. Rolling on Sabre's new Built In Labyrinth bearings, this is a premium complete and no mistake.The Pro setup is rolling on cheaper ABEC5 metal shielded bearings with Cult Emperor freeride wheels - not quite a grippy or fast, but still on a par with other drop-throughs in the £170-£200 price point, making this very competitive for the money.
This is a fully specced complete, loaded with aftermarket components - perfect for all levels of skater.
How does it ride?
Ideally suited to total beginners, the low ride height of the Freebyrd is a great board to get started with. It's easy to master the basics of longboarding on: pushing, footbraking and sliding. Awesome value, the Freebyrd is a great board to start your longboard journey!
| The Lush Freebyrd is good because... | A Lush Freebyrd might not be right for you because... |
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Arbor Drop Cruiser
Need to get low? The Arbor Drop Cruiser is a primo drop-down, dropped-through cruising longboard. A lowered deck works in conjunction with the drop-through trucks to create a super low ride height, perfect for pushing longer distances.
The deck
The Arbor Drop Cruiser deck is longer than a lot of other longboards out there, which gives plenty of room for your feet. It's fairly stiff, making this a good choice for bigger skaters, or those who don't want a lot of flex.
Wheels, Trucks, & Bearings
The most important part of any longboard is the trucks, and the Drop Cruiser cuts no corners in this department with aftermarket Paris Trucks. Arbor's own ABEC7 bearings are well shielded and roll well, and Arbor spec their own 69mm "Easyrider" wheels. Poured from a decent urethane, at 69mm this is a good compromise between rollover and keeping the whole setup nice and low.
How does it ride?
The Drop Cruiser feels very planted and comfortable. It's a great choice for longer distance journeys, or for bigger skaters. Lots of space for your feet and a low ride height means that it's also really well suited to beginners.
| The Arbor Drop Cruiser is good because... | A Arbor Drop Cruiser might not be right for you because... |
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Lush Mako Pintail
A full-size pintail shape from Lush Longboards, the Mako is a great board if you looking for the classic surfy vibe, without the narrower standing platform that pintails sometimes suffer from.
The deck
The Lush Mako is significantly less "pointy" than other pintails out there, which equates to much more space for your feet. Sounds like a minor detail, but if you're just starting out you will appreciate the extra space and stabilty!
There's two graphic finishes to choose from, both with a "surfy" feel.
Wheels, Trucks, & Bearings
Like a lot of Lush boards, you can choose your setup to suit your budget, and you'll always be rolling on Cult Wheels and Sabre Trucks. Higher-end setups get super-smooth Sabre bearings too!
How does it ride?
The Mako is long by today's standards, which means long mellow carves and a relaxed, stable ride. Perfect for a longer cruiser where you have a little more space to play with.
| The Lush Mako Pintail is good because... | A Lush Mako Pintail might not be right for you because... |
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Hackbrett Longboards Krokodil
The Krokodil is Hackbrett's sliding and freeirde shape, hand crafted in the Black Forest for some of the most technical descents out there.
The deck
Pressed from locally sourced black forest pine, stiffened with fibreglass and finished off with a walnut veneer, the Krokodil is built for stiffness and response.
Hackbrett is renowned for very technical concaves, and the Krokodil is no exception. With a mild drop-down, "gas pedals," CNC flat truck seats and big wheel wells, it's low, confidence inspiring and grippy underfoot - perfect for high-speed standup slides.
Symmetrical in shape, ideal for technical freeride and moments of confusion.
Wheels, Trucks, & Bearings
We build these up into custom completes using Sabre trucks, Cult Wheels and Sabre bearings - the finest components we can find in the shop. You can also buy the Krokodil deck only if you want to put your own hardware on there.
How does it ride?
The Hackbrett Krokodil is a premium setup - hand crafted by skateboarders from the finest materials for the smoothest and most controllable ride in the shop. You will be able to feel the difference - we guarantee it!
| The Hackbrett Longboards Krokodil is good because... | A Hackbrett Longboards Krokodil might not be right for you because... |
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Loaded Mata Hari
Loaded's mid-sized dancing board is a great entry into dancing and freestyle longboarding.
The deck
Pressed from Bamboo and Triaxial Fibreglass, the Loaded Mata Hari features a mild rocker, mellow concave and some decent kicks. A symmetrical shape is perfect for flips and shuvits, and there is plenty of room for dancing footwork. Loaded's custom griptape cut gives you grip where you need it and slip where you don't, perfect for dancing around the length of the deck.
Wheels, Trucks, & Bearings
You can choose your build spec to suit your budget. These boards are built up with premium Sabre trucks and bearings, and rolling on Cult Wheels. Quality aftermarket gear whichever spec you go for!
How does it ride?
As a dancer, the Mata Hari is quite a bit longer than the other boards on this list - but that extra space makes dancing tricks a lot easier. It makes a good cruiser, too - if you are ok with the length!
| The Loaded Mata Hari is good because... | A Loaded Mata Hari might not be right for you because... |
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Lush Minnow
The Minnow is Lush's "Mini Pintail" - combining the advantages of a smaller cruiser board with the larger standing platform and easy skate of a full-sized longboard.
The deck
The Minnow is a simple and effective surf-inspired shape, pressed with a comfortable mellow rocker concave. There's no kicktail and the wider shape creates a surprisingly large standing platform considering the deck size.
At 36x9.75", it's a great size for kids and adults alike. We really dig this size of board, it's a great middle ground that suits a lot of skaters.
Wheels, Trucks, & Bearings
Like other Lush boards, you can specify your setup to meet you budget. The "Elite" is probably the best value - killer Cult urethane, strong and turny Sabre Trucks, and fast-rolling Sabre built-in bearings. To see bearings with built-in spacers at this pricepoint is unique.
How does it ride?
The Minnow is pretty much spot on as a cruiser for beginners. At 36", it's not too long, but long enough. There's a nice flex to the deck, not too much concave and the setups are responsive - all the ingredients you need for a great cruising longboard.
| The Lush Minnow is good because... | A Lush Minnow might not be right for you because... |
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How do I choose the right longboard?
The term "Longboarding" covers a huge range of different kinds of skateboarding. As such, there are a lot of different kinds of longboards out there, all optimised for different things, with a lot of features to choose from.
This can make it quite difficult to choose which board to get, so as well as the six quickfire suggestions above, we've distilled the basics of longboarding for beginners to digest and understand.
The more you understand about longboarding, the better suited your board will be to you when you buy it - and the more fun you'll have.
And that's what longboarding is about - fun!
What different kinds of longboards are there?
Longboards come in all shapes and sizes. The most common are pintails, drop-throughs, drop-downs and dancing longboards. Beyond this there are many other more specialised varieties, like downhill and freeride longboards, pumping/long-distance boards, oversized skateboards and more. These are more optimised for certain types of longboarding.
Want to understand different sizes of board? Check our guide on choosing the right size longboard deck.
Which longboard should I get?
If you're just starting out, then the simple choice is between a pintail or a drop-through. If you have skated before, then a longboard with a kicktail is worth a look. If you are getting into a certain style of longboarding, then get the most suitable - eg for dancing, get a dancer, for downhill, get a downhill deck.
What is a pintail longboard good for?
Pintails are timeless, surfy shaped longboards that are great for all kinds of cruising. Whilst perhaps not as functional as drop-throughs and drop-downs, they have that classic look that is synonymous with sidewalk surfing. Pintails are great for cruising around the streets in style!
Pintails are "top-mounted," in other words the trucks are mounted on the underside of the deck like a regular skateboard. As long as a pintail has a quality pair of trucks, it'll give a mellow, cruisy turn that feels much nicer than a drop through.
Pintails also have more deck space than a drop-through, which makes them a bit easier to stand on for total beginners.
The downside of a pintail is that it's higher than a drop-through - so less stable, and harder to push, brake and slide.
Is a drop-through longboard good for beginners?
Drop-through boards are functionally the best for beginners. They are super-low to the ground, which makes them easy to push, footbrake and slide. Drop-through longboards are a great place to start longboarding, as they make it easy to learn all the basics of longboarding.
Compared to a pintail, a drop-through will not turn as nicely - although this is a very subjective thing and can be largely remedied with a quality pair of trucks.
Drop-throughs can have less deck space than pintails, which makes them less suitable for dancing and tricks.
What is the best longboard for dancing?
Dancing longboards are longer than other boards to allow room for footwork and dancing steps. They are often symmetrical, and have kicks at the nose and tail to make flips, manuals and shuvits easier. Dancing longboards sometimes have composite construction to make them lighter, tougher and stronger.
Should I get a cruiser board or a longboard?
If you are skating shorter distances and value portability, we'd recommend you look at cruiser boards rather than longboards. They are harder to skate, but the ability to ollie up and down kerbs and carry around a bit more easily makes them very suited to inner-city environments. For longer distances and a mellow, cruisier ride, a longboard is the way to go!
Check out our cruiser board buyer's guide for more, or view all our cruisers in one place right here!
