If you're looking for a new skateboard to hit the streets, ramps or parks, you might be overwhelmed by the number of brands and options available.
Whether you're a beginner or a pro, a street skater or a vert skater, a cruiser or a carver, we'll guide you through the factors that you should consider when buying a skateboard.
Deck size and shape
The deck comes in different widths, lengths and shapes, depending on the type of skating you want to do. Generally, wider decks are more stable and suitable for vert skating, while narrower decks are more agile and ideal for street skating. The shape of the deck also affects how the board turns, pops and flips.
Deck material and construction
The deck is usually made of layers of wood like maple, birch or bamboo, that are glued and pressed together. The number and quality of the layers affect the strength, weight and flexibility of the deck.
Most decks have seven to nine layers, but some have more or less, depending on the desired feel and performance. Some decks also have carbon fibre, fibreglass or plastic reinforcements to increase durability and reduce weight.
Trucks, wheels and bearings
The trucks are the metal parts that connect the deck to the wheels. They have two main components: the baseplate, which attaches to the deck, and the hanger, which holds the axle and the wheels.
The trucks affect how the board turns, grinds and responds to your movements. The bearings are the metal parts that fit inside the wheels and allow them to spin. They’re rated by a scale called ABEC, which measures their precision and speed.
Higher ABEC ratings mean faster and smoother bearings, but they also require more maintenance and are more expensive.
We’ve rounded up all of the best skateboard brands
Venom Core Skateboards Complete Skateboard
Venom offers quality, affordable and customisable skateboarding products for all levels and styles of riding. Venom skateboards are made from 7-ply Canadian maple, which is durable and strong and the brand's trucks are lightweight with high rebound bushings for smooth turning and stability.
The Venom Core Skateboards Complete Skateboard comes ready to ride with a blank deck, raw trucks, logo wheels and bearings. Its deck is available in different sizes and colours, and has a medium concave for optimal control and pop. The wheels are 52mm and 99a, which are ideal for park or street skating.
Buy now £54.95, Amazon
OXELO Big Yamba Cruiser Skateboard - Blue/Coral Gradient
OXELO offers a wide range of products for different skating styles, from street to park, from beginner to pro. OXELO also designs innovative and eco-friendly skateboards, using recycled materials that do their bit to reduce environmental impact.
The Big Yamba Cruiser Skateboard is designed for touring and fun rides around town. It's longer and wider than the classic Yamba and has 59 mm wheels with a hardness of 78A, which provides good acceleration, manoeuvrability and grip, even for beginners. It's made of 83 per cent recycled plastic and has a very short curve radius, which makes it perfect for city riding and weaving through the crowds.
Buy now £44.99, Decathlon
TONY HAWK 180 Signature Series - Golden Hawk Complete Skateboard
This skateboard brand was founded by the legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk, who's widely considered the most influential and successful skater of all time.
The TONY HAWK 180 Signature Series - Golden Hawk Complete Skateboard is a top model from the brand and offers a high-quality and affordable setup for beginners and intermediate skaters. The skateboard features a 7.75-inch wide maple deck with a concave shape and a double kicktail, which provides stability, durability and versatility for different tricks and styles.
It also comes with 5-inch Hawk trucks with high rebound 85a bushings, 54mm 95a urethane wheels, and Abec 3 bearings, which ensure smooth and responsive riding and turning.
Buy now £38.08, Decathlon
Santa Cruz Surfskate Factory Complete Skateboard Screaming Hand Check Carver Multi 30.2"
Santa Cruz has a long history of producing high-quality skateboards and is known for its iconic Screaming Hand logo, designed by Jim Phillips, and its durable and innovative decks made of 7-ply North American maple.
This Santa Cruz board features a custom 80s street-inspired shape and Cruz Missile II concave for excellent stability. It comes with a Carver C5 street surf truckset, which allows for smooth carving and pumping and Santa Cruz branded 60mm 78a OJ Super Juice wheels, which offer great grip and speed on various surfaces.
Buy now £224.10, Amazon
Wasteboards BLUE CAPS
Wasteboards creates designer skateboards from recycled plastic bottle caps and each board from the brand is handmade with a distinctive color pattern that reflects the origin of its plastic caps.
Wasteboards' BLUE CAPS is an ocean-themed, high-quality cruiser board that can withstand more than 400 kilos of pressure, contains more than 200 anti-slip studs, and has a small concave for extra grip. It's the perfect skateboard for cruising and for performing simple tricks.
Buy now £227.00, Wasteboards
YOW Skalle Christenson x Yow 34.0" Surfskate
YOW is a European surfskate brand that utilises eco-friendly processes and uses sustainable materials to produce some of the best surfskates in the world. YOW surfskates are designed to simulate the feeling of surfing but on the street, thanks to the spring-loaded truck that moves the board forward at each turn.
The YOW Skalle Christenson x Yow 34.0" Surfskate is made especially for bowls and ramps, with new rockers on the nose and tail, and a pronounced concave while keeping your feet well gripped to the board.
Buy now £299.08, Snowboard Asylum
Flip Completo HKD Team Combat Green Skateboard 7.5 Inch
Indie UK-born label Flip has a long history of producing high-quality skateboards and supporting some of the most influential skaters in the industry.
One of the top models from Flip is the Flip Completo HKD Team Combat Green Skateboard 7.5 Inch. This skateboard is suitable for skaters of any level of ability, especially those who want to skate with more stability in skateparks, ramps and bowls. The board has a medium concave and classic logo deck with a single-colour stain and the Flip logo. It comes equipped with 5.0 HKD trucks, ABEC 7 bearings and 52mm 99a wheels, so it’s ready to ride.
Buy now £98.63, Amazon
Palace Ville Pro s34 9" skateboard deck (multi)
Palace combines quality, style and innovation in its products and culture and is known for its collaborations with Adidas, Reebok and Ralph Lauren.
The Palace Ville Pro s34 9" skateboard deck features a colourful graphic of a cityscape with the Palace logo and is made of 7-ply Canadian maple with a medium concave for optimal control and pop. The deck is also 9 inches wide, which is ideal for skaters who prefer a wider board for stability and comfort.
Buy now £58.86, Skatedeluxe
Birdhouse Stage 1 Full Skull 2 Complete Skateboard
Birdhouse was founded by Tony Hawk and has been producing high-quality skateboards, apparel and accessories for over 30 years. It's also supported by a diverse range of pro skaters including Lizzie Armanto, Jaws, Felipe Nunes and Elliot Sloan.
The Birdhouse Stage 1 Full Skull 2 Complete Skateboard is suited for all levels of skill, from beginners to intermediate skaters. It features a 7.5" wide deck made of 7-ply hard rock maple and has a double kick-tail and a medium concave, which allow you to perform tricks with ease. The skateboard comes with Birdhouse logo raw trucks, 52mm 95A wheels, and ABEC 5 bearings, which offer a smooth and stable ride.
Buy now £42.96, Amazon
GLOBE G2 Dot Grain Rose Complete Skateboard
GLOBE skateboards are suitable for skaters of all levels, whether it’s your first time on a board or it’s permanently affixed to your feet, and offer a wide range of skateboard types, including cruisers, longboards and street completes.
The G2 Dot Grain Rose Complete Skateboard is our top choice from the brand and has a deck width of 8.125 inches and a medium concave, providing the perfect balance of stability and control. Its deck is made from Resin-7 hard rock maple and has striking colour-dyed veneers and raised ink art. The skateboard also has 5.25-inch Tensor Hollow Kingpin trucks, which offer excellent stability and response, and 53mm 101a wheels, which are designed for a smooth, fast ride.
Buy now £130.00, Amazon
Verdict
The perfect mix of speed, precision, quality and durability, Venom is our top choice when it comes to the best skateboard brands.
