Best Longboards for Beginners - Consumer report 2023

It is good to start longboarding! However, be careful. Without choosing the best longboard for beginners, you might end up with serious injuries. Longboards are knowns for big wheels, a bit hard-to-control board, and possibly neck-breaking speeds.

No worries, we introduce you to the top entry-level longboards which are built with safety and user-friendliness in mind.

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At the entry-level, you should also keep “safety” and “ease of use” in mind because the important thing is to master the basic techniques first.

Riding styles

maybe you want to know about freeride longboarding: click here

Longboarding is way-fun because you can try various riding styles.

However, take it easy! For beginners, we recommend the cruising style and freestyle to ensure your safe riding.

• Freestyle longboards: They are playful drop-through with a large deck so that you can try tricks and move around. Also, the wheels should support the durometer well.
• Cruiser longboards: Stability and comfort are keys to cruising riding. Thus, you had better go for the drop deck or drop through. Both of them feature a low center of gravity for more stability and less fatigue.

Board shape and length

You can choose between “directional” boards or “symmetrical” boards. The earlier can just go forward - suitable for cruising or downhill style. Meanwhile the later is built for freestyle riders who want to do 180-degree slides.

In terms of board length, the entry riders should not go for too-long boards. Shorter boards offer a better balance and less speed.

Deck style

Both drop-through boards and drop deck boards are recommended.

On the one hand, the drop-through boards have the trucks mounted “through” the longboard. The deck height is lowered to enhance overall stability. Meanwhile, you will suffer less fatigue by reducing the foot contact on the ground.

On the other hand, the drop-deck longboards have a weird look because the board is molded in the way that the standing space is below the trucks. As a result, the gravity center is effectively lowered to minimize fatigue.

Wheels - Greatly important

The size and shape of the wheels really matter!

At the beginning stage, don’t choose small wheels. They support a high speed which is sometimes uncontrollable with basic skills.

Instead, choose wheels with a wide rounded-edge contact patch to the ground. Also, the softer ones will help slower the speeds and control more.

Where to Practice Longboarding?

Never ever bring your first longboard to a busy road! Also, avoid rough surfaces or big slopes.

More importantly, it might not you, but your kids who start learning longboarding. At that time, you should even more cautious when choosing the practice space.

For the very first longboarding lessons, choose a peaceful place with a flat surface without cars or other vehicles around. Some ideal recommendations are your backyard, the schoolyard on weekends, or in the park.

If possible, you can register a slot in the boarding station in your area. You can get instructed more carefully.

Then, once you get familiar with the flat surfaces and you are totally secured on the board, then you will want to speed up and challenge yourself with a small hill. But before you start, you must get rid of all items that can cause danger or distraction.

After a while, you can cruise the streets, from home to school - but always be aware of the speed.

Safety first! Put on Longboard Safety Gears

Check the list of gears you should take along with the longboard:

Helmet:

As a beginner, you can’t avoid falls sometimes. Thus, always wear a helmet or a cap to protect your head from the harsh impact on the road. Choose the helmet having safety ratings/ qualifications. Also, consider the size and shape that are comfortable.

Slide gloves:

Gloves keep your palms and wrists from hurts and breaks. A good pair of gloves have are comfortably fit, ventilate, and also breathable.

Pads and other equipment:

The pads are for your knees and elbows. Thus, to minimize crashes, the pads should be both shock-absorbent and aerodynamic.

Other equipment includes:

• Crash shorts
• Leather suite
• Spin protector

First Longboarding Lessons

A very helpful tutorial for beginners by Aero Mystic Lifestyle

And here come our additionally recommended tips to start longboarding safe and sound.

Step 1: Choose the best longboard at your level

The very first lesson is how to choose your riding style and choose a longboard. Our reviews and buying guide above will help.

Step 2: Put on the safety gears and head for a peaceful place

Buy the safety gear such as heads, gloves, and pads. And go to the backyard, schoolyard, park, or boarding station to practice basic skills.

Step 3: Find your stance and balance on the board

If you are a “regular” rider you will stand on the ground with the left foot forward and the right backward. If you do the opposite thing, then you are a “goofy” rider.

Next, step on the board. Try to keep balanced well before you get moving. It is better to put the board on thick carpet or grass to prevent it from rolling naturally.

Try standing with your feet about shoulder and close to or on the top of the bolts. Meanwhile, the back food ought to position perpendicularly to the deck. Press your toes together to turn right and press the heels to turn left.

Step 4: Practice turning stance, brake stance, and push

As you feel the deck leaning to the sides, try to shift your ankles back and forth to maintain the lean on each edge. Then, make a slow-moving with the deck just by leaning yourself forward or backward.

The basic technique for any longboard riders is to balance on one leg and let the other leg push and brake as wished. Try it and you will figure out how to combine the acts of the legs, shoulders, and hips to get stable.

Practice all the above techniques for one or two days before you take comfortable rollings and riding on a mild hill.

Related: 

• Atom Drop Through Longboard Review
• What Is Different Between Cruiser Vs Longboard?
• Are longboard good for beginners?

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Where to Practice Longboarding?

Never ever bring your first longboard to a busy road! Also, avoid rough surfaces or big slopes.

More importantly, it might not you, but your kids who start learning longboarding. At that time, you should even more cautious when choosing the practice space.

For the very first longboarding lessons, choose a peaceful place with a flat surface without cars or other vehicles around. Some ideal recommendations are your backyard, the schoolyard on weekends, or in the park.

If possible, you can register a slot in the boarding station in your area. You can get instructed more carefully.

Then, once you get familiar with the flat surfaces and you are totally secured on the board, then you will want to speed up and challenge yourself with a small hill. But before you start, you must get rid of all items that can cause danger or distraction.

After a while, you can cruise the streets, from home to school - but always be aware of the speed.

Safety first! Put on Longboard Safety Gears

Check the list of gears you should take along with the longboard:

Helmet:

As a beginner, you can’t avoid falls sometimes. Thus, always wear a helmet or a cap to protect your head from the harsh impact on the road. Choose the helmet having safety ratings/ qualifications. Also, consider the size and shape that are comfortable.

Slide gloves:

Gloves keep your palms and wrists from hurts and breaks. A good pair of gloves have are comfortably fit, ventilate, and also breathable.

Pads and other equipment:

The pads are for your knees and elbows. Thus, to minimize crashes, the pads should be both shock-absorbent and aerodynamic.

Other equipment includes:

• Crash shorts
• Leather suite
• Spin protector

First Longboarding Lessons

Step 1: Choose the best longboard at your level

The very first lesson is how to choose your riding style and choose a longboard. Our reviews and buying guide above will help.

Step 2: Put on the safety gears and head for a peaceful place

Buy the safety gear such as heads, gloves, and pads. And go to the backyard, schoolyard, park, or boarding station to practice basic skills.

Step 3: Find your stance and balance on the board

If you are a “regular” rider you will stand on the ground with the left foot forward and the right backward. If you do the opposite thing, then you are a “goofy” rider.

Next, step on the board. Try to keep balanced well before you get moving. It is better to put the board on thick carpet or grass to prevent it from rolling naturally.

Try standing with your feet about shoulder and close to or on the top of the bolts. Meanwhile, the back food ought to position perpendicularly to the deck. Press your toes together to turn right and press the heels to turn left.

Step 4: Practice turning stance, brake stance, and push

As you feel the deck leaning to the sides, try to shift your ankles back and forth to maintain the lean on each edge. Then, make a slow-moving with the deck just by leaning yourself forward or backward.

The basic technique for any longboard riders is to balance on one leg and let the other leg push and brake as wished. Try it and you will figure out how to combine the acts of the legs, shoulders, and hips to get stable.

Practice all the above techniques for one or two days before you take comfortable rollings and riding on a mild hill.

What is the best type of longboard for beginners?

For your information, there are six types of longboards by functions, including Downhill boards, Drop through boards, Carving boards, Cruising boards, Bamboo boards, and Hybrid boards.

However, you should start with the drop through and cruising boards. We reveal some reason as above if you notice. But here we mentioned it in detail.

Drop through boards

The boards have a simple design that focuses on maintaining stability and comfort. All parts from the board to the wheels are made of high-quality materials to offer the best user-friendliness and safety.

Cruising longboards

The cruising board is another way to enjoy riding as a beginner. Thanks to its small construction, you can easily rid it within a shopping arcade or a school corridor.

The board offers an excellent balance and stability so that you can control the direction and speed with little effort.

Are longboards easier to ride?

Yes, we promise.

With a bigger deck, wider wheels, and longer wheelbases, you can expect a comfortable standing stance and an easy moving around. Especially, the longboards are built to turn and cruise over long distances and at high speeds.

Thus, you can ride the board for groceries, supermarkets, or to school.

More excitingly, if you used to play skateboarding before, you will find the longboard much easier.

Why are longboards so expensive?

You can find many longboards on the market, ranging from $50 to $300 - Not too expensive when thinking of the quality build.

However, for those who might still wonder why the longboards are more expensive than the shortboards or skateboards, then you must consider three main components:

• Materials: Maple boards are popularly affordable. Bamboo boards are lightweight but a little more pricey. Carbon fiber boards are the most expensive but built to last.
• Graphics: The customized creative graphics can cost some extra, for sure.
• Brands: Not only the branded boards stand for their quality, but they are also a cool way to show off your personality.

Best longboard under 100

It is the Quest QT-NSC44C The Super Cruiser.

This board is a stylish, high-quality build, easy to use, and especially, crafted for practicing cruiser boarding.

Longboard tips for beginners

Take notes now:

• Try on your friend’s longboard first before you buy one
• Buy a quality longboard (one among 10 best choices we mentioned above) rather than go for a whatever which does not ensure your safety
• Invest in the safety gears properly
• Fall several times and you can learn how to keep balanced more quickly
• Be patient and hard. Practices help you be better

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From the best longboards for beginners’ reviews, you can pick up one choice to start a new experience, can’t you? Whatever you might choose, take our buying suggestions and safety tips in mind.

We wish you to have a way-way fun longboarding trip in the near future.

Enjoy!

Further reading: bamboo material

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