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Cruiser Skateboard Overview - Selecting the Perfect Board for Cruising
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on cruiser skateboards. We'll equip you with all the essential details needed to select the perfect cruiser board, whether it's for you, your child, or a friend eager to join you on your cruiser escapades.
You’re invited to proceed directly to the section that piques your interest, or, if you're certain of what you need, jump ahead and browse our collection of cruiser skateboards.
Overview
Overview
Defining a Cruiser Skateboard
Sitting between a standard (trick) skateboard and a longboard, cruiser boards are explicitly crafted for a comfortable, seamless cruising experience. Although any skateboard may be used for cruising, these boards are notable for their design focus on smooth and enjoyable rides, setting them apart by not being geared for covering vast distances, hill-bombing, or performing complex tricks at the skatepark. Their primary purpose is simply cruising around.
A cruiser board is composed of a deck, two trucks, and four wheels. The deck acts as the surface for your feet, while the trucks are vital in determining how the board turns. The wheels, combined with bearings (two per wheel), aim to deliver the smoothest ride achievable. Even though the components of a cruiser skateboard echo those found on a longboard or standard skateboard, their specific dimensions and features are selected to maximise cruising efficiency.
Selecting the Optimal Skateboards for Cruising
The ideal cruiser skateboards should glide effortlessly across diverse terrains and surfaces. They should also offer agility and manoeuvrability to adeptly navigate sharp turns and avoid obstacles with ease.
For superior cruiser boards, larger and softer wheels are generally favoured over those typically found on standard skateboards. While having kicks on both ends isn't crucial, possessing a kick tail is indispensable for executing quick movements such as kick turns or ollies.
A well-designed cruiser board should be effortlessly portable, making it easy to bring onto a train or take into a lecture hall without encountering logistical issues. As cruisers are frequently employed for commuting, the perfect board should seamlessly serve as a reliable travel mate for journeys from one place to another and remain convenient even after reaching your destination.
That's truly the beauty of cruiser boards — when compared to other travel options, they are compact, effective, and refreshingly simple.
If you're looking for an excellent cruiser for yourself, a child, or a partner, check out our selection:
Mini Cruiser Skateboards – Always On-the-Go
In recent years, mini cruiser boards have gained significant popularity. These compact variations of traditional wooden cruiser boards offer superior convenience for active use. Although they might not be ideal for extensive rides, they are perfect for brief skates or a bit of fun in the drive. Bear in mind, their narrower and shorter size may suit individuals with smaller feet and shorter legs better than a traditional cruiser.
Usually measuring under 30" long, some mini cruisers have a flat nose, allowing the trucks to be positioned further forward, thus extending the wheelbase for improved stability.
If you're eager to experience the fun and practicality of a small skateboard cruiser, explore our wide range of cruiser skateboards for youngsters. You can also sort our adult cruiser board selection by size to find the smallest available boards.
Cruiser or Longboard – Which One Should I Choose?
In weighing the benefits and drawbacks between acquiring a longboard cruiser versus a cruiser board, consider these points:
- Cruiser boards: They are more agile and easier to manoeuvre than longboard cruisers, with a reduced turning radius from a shorter wheelbase, making them more portable.
- Longboard cruisers: They offer more stability and ease of control than a standard cruiser setup. They provide a smoother ride on rough routes, and require less pushing for covering extensive distances.
The table below helps you clearly distinguish the pros and cons of cruiser skateboards compared to longboards, enabling you to align them to your personal needs and preferences:
| Aspect | Cruiser Skateboards | Longboards |
|---|---|---|
| Maneuverability | More manoeuvrable due to shorter wheelbase | Less manoeuvrable due to longer wheelbase |
| Agility | More agile | Less agile |
| Stability | Less stable | More stable |
| Portability | Easily transportable on public transport | Less portable, consumes more space when idle |
| Terrain | Less suitable for rough terrains | Better for rough grounds |
| Distance Riding | Not ideal for long rides | Perfect for covering long distances |
Refer to our Longboard Buying Guide if longer boards capture your interest:
Plastic Penny Board vs Wooden Cruiser Skateboard
Classified under cruiser skateboards, penny boards are remarkable for their compactness and portability. While not known for being the simplest or swiftest to ride, their unmatched convenience is a significant upside. Since these boards don’t incorporate classic grip tape, they avoid scratching items they come into contact with, unlike regular boards.
A plastic deck, as seen on penny boards, carries the advantage of remaining unaffected if saturated. Wooden decks, on the other hand, can become soft and lose their bounce when wet. Nonetheless, parts like nuts, bolts, and bearings may rust, and the decks can become slippery when exposed to moisture. Therefore, cruising with a penny skateboard in the rain is not recommended, though you needn’t stress about the deck becoming absorbent if you find yourself caught in a rainstorm.
Wooden cruiser skateboards generally offer more space for your feet, enhancing the ease of balancing by allowing a wider stance.
To weigh the benefits of penny boards against those of wooden cruiser boards, one should consider whether the extreme portability of penny boards surpasses the enhanced balance, cruising pleasure, and comfort offered by the bigger surface of a regular cruiser deck. Ultimately, the choice is yours!
The following table presents a comparison of key pros and cons between wooden cruiser skateboards and plastic penny boards:
| Aspect | Wooden Cruiser Skateboards | Plastic Penny Boards |
|---|---|---|
| Maneuverability | Effortlessly manoeuvrable | Potentially more manoeuvrable given the smaller size, though the minimal distance between feet makes control challenging |
| Stability | More stable | Less stable |
| Portability | Larger than a penny, yet still transportable | Extremely portable, lightweight and compact |
| Comfort and distance | Better suited for longer journeys | Less comfortable for extended rides |
Peruse our extensive offering of vibrant plastic cruisers and penny boards:
Choosing Cruiser Skateboards for Beginners and Children
Cruiser boards are an excellent selection for beginners. Differing from skateboards focused on tricks, they deliver a smoother and more stable ride across various surfaces courtesy of their softer and larger wheels. While not intended for advanced tricks in a skatepark, learning to steer and ride a skateboard offers sufficient challenges for many novices. Therefore, a more trick-oriented skateboard might not be mandatory for many new learners.
Cruiser Skateboards for Children
Mini cruisers make superb beginner skateboards for youngsters, offering a solid foundation for mastering the basics of pushing, turning, and developing comfort with wheels underneath.
However, for older children with longer legs, a short mini cruiser could prove challenging to control due to its brief wheelbase. In such a scenario, consider a cruiser board that extends beyond 30" in length.
Cruiser Skateboards for Adults
Adults find cruiser skateboards highly appealing due to their wide-ranging applications for daily commutes and leisurely rides. When selecting a cruiser board, consider the balance between smooth rides and practicality to decide whether you prefer a larger or more compact cruiser. Additionally, determine the extent of trick capabilities you're seeking. For trick enthusiasts, a board with double kicks is ideal.
Exploring Cruiser Skateboard Decks
Cruiser skateboard decks vary in dimensions and shapes, yet they all share certain key features. Most notably, they tend to be directional. Some models omit a nose completely, while others include a nose and closely resemble standard street skateboards. Given their cruising design, cruiser decks are typically wider than regular skateboard decks, providing excellent riding platforms, albeit not particularly helpful for flip tricks (although this should not deter you from attempting flip tricks with your cruiser).
Are Old School Skateboard Decks Making a Comeback?
Cruiser skateboard decks, frequently termed as old school skateboard decks, are distinguished by their notable shape, featuring a more pronounced kicktail than the nose. This configuration distinctly pays tribute to the iconic old school decks popularised in skateboarding during the 1970s.
In contrast, today’s cruiser skateboards have evolved considerably, showcasing different grades of concave to ensure a secure foothold while skating. Numerous modern cruiser boards also integrate wheel wells, which diminish the likelihood of wheel bites and allow for a slightly lowered arrangement than would otherwise be possible.
A further advancement in today's cruiser skateboard decks is the integration of reinforcing materials between the usual wooden plies. Some cruiser decks are equipped with fibreglass or carbon layers, enhancing both the strength and the durability of the deck.
Wheels for Cruiser Skateboards
Top-tier cruiser wheels will refine your cruising journey, prioritising smooth rides across a variety of surfaces. Instead of aiming at rapid acceleration, cruiser wheels focus on retaining speed once it is achieved.
Consider these essential aspects when selecting the best cruiser skateboard wheels:
Dimensions of Cruiser Wheels
When choosing cruiser wheels, opt for larger ones for enhanced stability and a smoother ride across different terrains, though smaller wheels will provide more nimbleness, albeit with potential abrupt halts.
- Larger wheels: Offer increased stability and smoother rides but lack manoeuvrability.
- Smaller wheels: Provide greater agility but are more influenced by uneven terrain.
Hardness of Cruiser Wheels
In terms of cruiser wheel hardness, softer wheels deliver better grip and cushion against surface irregularities, whereas harder wheels afford more swiftness on smooth ground and ease of sliding. Hardness is measured in durometer, and for cruising, it's advisable to stick to below 90A hardness.
- Softer wheels: Provide better grip and better absorption of surface imperfections.
- Harder wheels: Move faster on smooth surfaces and facilitate easier sliding.
Shape of Cruiser Wheels
The shape of the wheel, specifically the lip or the contour of the sides of the wheel, influences the contact patch – the section of the wheel touching the riding surface.
- Sharp edges: Creates wider contact patch for a smooth and steady ride.
- Rounded or bevelled edges: Features a smaller contact patch, delivering a more agile and dynamic wheel with enhanced slide capabilities.
Cruiser skateboard wheels come in a variety of colours and styles, ranging from the classic old school wheels to contemporary flashy wheels with LED lights embedded within the cores.
