THE BEST LONGBOARDS FOR BEGINNERS - 4 EASY SUGGESTIONS
Longboards are great for skaters of all abilities - especially beginners! With so many different boards to choose from, things can get overwhelming pretty fast... so we've put together a quick "six of the best" list of our recommended longboards for beginners to help you out!
We see a lot of beginners here in the shop, so it's easy for us to answer the questions that you probably have before you decide which board is best for you. Have a read and remember - we're only a phone call/WhatsApp/email away with way more advice!
- Why are longboards good for beginners?
- What kind of longboard should a beginner get?
- Are longboards easier to ride than skateboards?
- Are drop-through longboards good for beginners?
- What size longboard is best for beginners?
- How do you stop on a longboard?
- How much should I spend on a beginner longboard?
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!
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.
To be frank, these up the game in a massive way when compared with similarly priced brands. If in doubt, go for the Lush board and it'll roll smoother and turn better.
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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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 made of 9 plies of Canadian maple - skateboards are usually only 7. This means its strong! Definitely a top recommendation for anyone 100kg+ who want a stable and solid ride. For everyone else it's still great - low, easy to push, stable. It's only missing a kicktail - so it's not a board for tricks.
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, which are totally fine.
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 Minnow
The Minnow is essentially a "mini pintail"... but yes, it's not so pointy. That's because mini pintails suffer - by trying to keep that surfy outline, there's almost no room left for your feet at the back of the board, and they tend to flex and twist a lot making them less stable, and unpredictable.
Hence the Minnow has been "squashed" - it keeps a fairly surf-inspired outline without sacrificing important standing platform. And it rides great.
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 built-in bearings.
It's quite the package.
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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Loaded Mata Hari Dancing Longboard
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 Dancing Longboard is good because... | A Loaded Mata Hari Dancing Longboard might not be right for you because... |
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Why are longboards good for beginners?
Longboards are perfect for beginner skaters:
- They have more space to stand on than regular skateboards or cruiser boards
- They are more stable than regular boards
- They are much smoother on rough surfaces thanks to bigger, softer wheels
Put these things together and you have a more forgiving ride that's going to put a smile on your face way faster than a regular skateboard!
What kind of longboard should a beginner get?
As a beginner, there are three main categories of longboard to check out: pintails, drop throughs and cruiser boards.
The most functional of these are drop-throughs - low, stable and easy to push. Pintails combine classic surfy looks with a mellow, easy ride, and cruiserboards are great for nipping around town and good if you already skate.
Are longboards easier to ride than skateboards?
Yes - way easier! Originally designed for cruising and getting around, longboards are also perfect for learning on with an eyen to progressing to other forms of skateboarding. A longboard gives you more room for your feet, an easier turn, more stability, a much faster roll speed, and a much smoother ride than a regular skateboard.
Are drop-through longboards good for beginners?
Drop-through longboards 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 size longboard is best for beginners?
Bigger longboards have more room for your feet, and are generally a lot more forgiving to skate. Smaller boards and cruisers are quicker to turn and more manoeuvrable, but probably less suited to beginners. For a beginner's longboard, we recommend something between 36" and 46" long.
For more info check out our Choosing the right longboard size guide.
How do you stop on a longboard?
You can stop on any longboard - footbrake, slide or carve your speed off. All of these things are easier to learn on a drop-through longboard first though - so if you plan on hitting the hills, we'd recommend a drop-through over a pintail or a cruiser board.
How much should I spend on a beginner longboard?
Ever heard the saying "buy cheap, buy twice?"
A cheaper board may seem appealing, at first. Perhaps you're unsure about longboarding, and you want to try it out without spending too much. Maybe you can buy something better later...?
We are of the opinion that super-cheap longboards are no good for beginners - you can read more about our testing here.
We only stock decent stuff that skates well at Vandem - we believe that super-budget boards are not worth the money. A reasonable beginner budget is £130-£200 to get yourself rolling on a board that'll last, with room to upgrade later.
Modern complete longboards are really well thought out, and a decent setup will be a lot more fun to skate - especially if you're a beginner.
