Best Skateboards For 7 Year Olds: Finding the perfect skateboard for a 7-year-old involves considering both the safety and skill level of young riders. At this age, children are often ready to progress beyond basic skating, so it’s crucial to choose a skateboard that supports their growing abilities while maintaining a focus on safety.
A skateboard designed for 7-year-olds should be sturdy enough to handle increased activity and provide the right balance between stability and maneuverability. This helps young skaters build confidence and improve their skills on a board that meets their developmental needs.
Additionally, the right skateboard should be age-appropriate in terms of size and features. Boards with softer wheels, wider decks, and adjustable trucks can make learning easier and more enjoyable for a 7-year-old.
As they begin to explore more advanced tricks and terrains, having a skateboard that offers good control and durability will enhance their overall experience. In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the best options available, ensuring that you can find a skateboard that not only fits your child’s size and skill level but also adds a touch of fun to their skating adventures.
What Size Skateboard for 7 Year Olds?
For 7-year-old kids, the ideal skateboard width typically ranges between 7.25″ and 7.75″. A 7.75″ wide skateboard is particularly suitable as it provides ample space for growing feet and allows for continued use as children approach their early teens.
Wider skateboards, up to 8.0″, can also be a viable option, but anything beyond that might be cumbersome for younger skaters. At this stage, it’s crucial to choose a skateboard that balances both ease of use and longevity.
Boards wider than 8.0″ can be challenging for younger kids to maneuver comfortably, as they may need to adjust their stance and posture significantly, which can affect their learning curve.
From a practical standpoint, opting for a slightly larger skateboard like a 7.75″ or even an 8.0″ can be cost-effective, as it extends the board’s usability over several years. This approach minimizes the need for frequent replacements, allowing for adjustments in components such as wheels, trucks, and bearings as needed.
While a smaller skateboard may facilitate easier learning, especially for beginners, selecting a board that can grow with the child will offer better long-term value and adaptability. The table below provides general guidelines for skateboard sizes based on age and height, offering a useful reference while considering individual preferences and needs.
1. SkateXS Complete Skateboard
- Brand: SkateXS
- Color: Black Grip Tape / Black Wheels
- Age Range (Description): Kid
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Material: Bamboo
- Wheel Size: 53 Millimeters
- Durometer Hardness: 90A
About this item:
- Personalization Options: Explore various designs including Panda, Pirate, Starboard, and Unicorn.
- Custom Assembled: Made by Skateboarding Parents specifically for kids and custom assembled in the USA.
- Top Quality Components: Features only top name brand components for durability and performance.
- High Performance Deck: Bamboo skateboard deck is properly sized for kids, enhancing safety, ease of use, and fun.
Let’s start with the standout choice: the SkateXS complete skateboard. Despite not being the priciest option on our list, it excels in delivering top-notch performance and features tailored for young riders.
One of the key highlights of this skateboard is its high-quality lightweight trucks, which are specifically designed with bushings suitable for younger skaters.
These bushings provide an ideal amount of flexibility, making it easier for kids to maintain their balance and control the board, especially during turns. This thoughtful design enhances the overall stability of the skateboard, making it a reliable choice for beginners.
Another significant advantage of the SkateXS skateboard is its softer wheels. These wheels ensure a very smooth ride by effectively rolling over small obstacles like cracks, twigs, and pebbles without getting blocked.
This feature is particularly beneficial for young riders who are still mastering their balance, as it reduces the amount of pushing required and minimizes interruptions during their practice.
The wheels’ ability to keep rolling smoothly allows children to focus more on learning to balance and control their movements, rather than being hindered by bumps and uneven surfaces.
Additionally, the SkateXS skateboard boasts an environmentally friendly construction, featuring a deck made from durable bamboo and maple. This choice of materials not only contributes to the skateboard’s longevity but also has a lower environmental impact compared to other materials.
The customization options available, such as choosing kid-friendly graphics, colorful wheels, custom grip tape, and even adding a personal name, make this skateboard a fun and personalized choice.
These features ensure that the SkateXS skateboard is not only practical and eco-friendly but also exciting and engaging for young skaters.
2. Santa Cruz Complete
- Brand: SANTA CRUZ
- Color: Black
- Age Range (Description): All Life Stages
- Deck Length: 31.25 Inches
- Deck Width: 8 Inches
- Item Weight: 4.15 Pounds
- Material: Maple Wood
- Load Capacity: 250 Pounds
- Wheel Size: 53 Millimeters
- Ply Rating: 7 Ply
About this item:
- Wheel Base: 13.75″
- Size: 8.0″ x 31.25″
- Construction: Traditional 7-ply Maple
- Features: Medium Concave, Slime Balls 95A Wheels, Steel ABEC 5 Bearings, 90A Bushings
- Best For: Ages 10-14
- Brand Legacy: Known for innovative skateboards and artwork for over 40 years.
The Santa Cruz micro skateboard stands out as an excellent choice for young skaters due to its impressive stability, durability, and thoughtful design.
This skateboard is particularly well-suited for kids, offering a combination of features that enhance both safety and learning. The maple deck is intentionally shorter and narrower than those typically used by adults, making it easier for children to push and control the board.
This design choice facilitates a smoother learning process as kids can more comfortably maneuver and balance on a deck that fits their smaller stature.
Another key feature of the Santa Cruz micro skateboard is its softer wheels. These wheels provide a forgiving ride over various surfaces, effectively handling pebbles, cracks, and gritty asphalt without making excessive noise.
Softer wheels are crucial for young skaters, as they offer better shock absorption and reduce the risk of sudden stops that can disrupt balance.
In contrast, hard wheels can make it challenging for children to maintain stability and can be quite jarring on rough surfaces, making the softer wheels on this skateboard a significant advantage.
The skateboard’s trucks and bushings are also designed with young riders in mind. The trucks, which are the metal components that enable turning, are adjusted to be neither too tight nor too loose, providing a balanced feel.
The bushings, which are the cone-barrel shaped components within the trucks, are made of softer materials for improved maneuverability. For micro-sized boards intended for ages 7 to 9, Santa Cruz uses 83A wheels and 90A bushings, which enhance the board’s turning ability and overall control.
For larger boards, typically over 8.0”, Santa Cruz incorporates 95A wheels and bushings, still maintaining a soft enough feel to cater to a range of skater needs while ensuring durability and performance.
3. Powell Peralta Golden Dragon
- Brand: Powell Peralta
- Color: Flying Dragon
- Age Range (Description): Youth
- Skill Level: All
- Deck Length: 31.63 Inches
- Deck Width: 7.63 Inches
- Item Weight: 4.7 Pounds
- Material: Wood, Metal
- Wheel Size: 54 Millimeters
About this item:
- Dimensions: Width 7.625″, Length 31.625″, Wheelbase 13.75″
- Target Audience: Sized for smaller riders, ideal for beginners and advanced skaters on a budget
- Endorsement: Backed by Steve Caballero, emphasizing its quality and value for beginners
- Quality Assurance: Powell Peralta provides a warranty against manufacturer defects
- Production: Created in a Chinese factory with AirLam presses and high-quality glue, ensuring top production standards in Asia
The Powell Peralta Golden Dragon skateboard is a popular choice for children aged 7 to 10 years old, offering a compelling combination of style and functionality. Featuring a dragon-themed graphic, this skateboard appeals to young riders with its eye-catching design and reliable performance.
With a width of 7.625″, it strikes a balance between being wide enough for stability and narrow enough for maneuverability. This size makes it an excellent fit for 8-year-olds and ensures that the board can accommodate growth, potentially serving the rider until they are about 10 years old.
With proper care and storage in a dry place, the Golden Dragon skateboard is durable and capable of lasting for several years.
One of the standout features of the Powell Peralta Golden Dragon is its 54mm wheels, which are slightly larger and harder than those found on many other boards. This makes it particularly well-suited for riding in skateparks, basketball courts, and other smooth surfaces where a harder wheel can provide a better grip and control.
The skateboard also comes equipped with standard trucks that are robust enough to handle typical riding activities, though it’s important to avoid excessive tricks or high-impact moves that could stress the board.
This makes the Golden Dragon a solid choice for kids who are beginning to explore more dynamic skateboarding environments.
As a budget-friendly option, the Powell Peralta Golden Dragon provides good value without compromising on essential features. It’s designed to be a reliable entry-level skateboard that can handle regular use.
However, it’s crucial to check the skateboard upon arrival to ensure that all bearings are functioning correctly and that there are no rattling noises, which could indicate issues with the components.
This skateboard offers a great mix of performance and affordability, making it a commendable choice for young skaters who are just starting out.
4. Magneto Mini Cruiser
- Brand: Magneto
- Color: Heart Beat
- Age Range (Description): Kid, Teen, Adult
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Deck Length: 27.5 Inches
- Deck Width: 7.5 Inches
- Item Weight: 6 Pounds
- Material: Maple Wood
- Load Capacity: 275 Pounds
- Wheel Size: 60 Millimeters
About this item:
- Design and Inspiration: Created by skaters with inspiration from Southern California surf culture; prioritizes aesthetics and customer service.
- Portability: Compact and easy to carry; ideal for cruising and on-the-go use with dimensions of 27.5″ length, 7.5″ width, and 18.5″ wheelbase.
- Double Kicktails: Features front and back kicktails for versatility in tricks and a surf-style design.
- High Quality Deck: Made from 6 plies of Canadian Maple with a sand grit finish for durability and grip.
- Sturdy Trucks: Crafted from gravity cast aluminum with a 55-degree kingpin angle; equipped with high-quality SHR polyurethane wheels and bushings, avoiding plastic parts.
Magneto provides an appealing range of skateboards for kids, striking a balance between affordability and functionality. Among their offerings is the Magneto Mini Cruiser, a budget-friendly option priced at just $80.
While it may not compete with high-end cruisers, it delivers solid performance for beginners and younger riders. The Mini Cruiser features large, soft 60mm wheels that excel in handling small rocks, cracks, and other minor obstacles that might otherwise disrupt a rider’s balance.
This makes it an ideal choice for kids learning to navigate different surfaces and environments.
One of the standout features of the Magneto Mini Cruiser is its large contact patch, which enhances stability and provides a smoother ride. The cruiser’s trucks come set up relatively loose, which is manageable given the lower weight of young riders.
This setup allows for easy turning and maneuverability, but can be adjusted for tighter turns as needed by tweaking the kingpin nut. Despite its initial looseness, the board remains controllable and effective for young skaters who are still building their skills.
In addition to the Mini Cruiser, Magneto offers regular skateboards at an even lower price point, around $50. Although we haven’t tested these regular boards personally, the positive experience with the Mini Cruiser suggests that they likely provide good value for their cost.
Magneto’s skateboards are designed to be easy to carry and use straight out of the box, making them a convenient choice for families looking for an affordable and reliable entry-level skateboard.
Read This Also: Best Skateboards For 5 Year Olds: Safe and Perfectly Sized
5. Enjoi Skateboard
- Designed for Younger Skaters: Tailored for smaller and younger riders with its compact size and easy handling.
- Easy Turning: Features soft bushings and well-calibrated trucks for smooth and responsive turns.
- Versatile Performance: Ideal for both street and park riding with a balanced combination of stability and maneuverability.
- Quality Build: Constructed with high-quality materials for durability and long-lasting performance.
- Compact Size: Deck measures 31.2 inches in length and 7.75 inches in width, providing a comfortable riding experience for beginners.
One of the standout features of Enjoi skateboards is their range of super cute graphics that appeal to kids of all ages. The brand excels in creating vibrant and playful designs, making their boards visually exciting for both boys and girls.
Whether it’s adorable pandas, colorful logos, or whimsical animal themes, Enjoi’s graphics are sure to capture a child’s imagination and make skateboarding even more fun.
In addition to their eye-catching aesthetics, Enjoi skateboards are designed with young skaters in mind. The boards come equipped with soft bushings that provide smoother turning and enhance maneuverability, which is crucial for beginners learning to navigate their boards.
The trucks are thoughtfully designed to ensure ease of use, allowing kids to make adjustments that suit their personal preferences. This combination of easy-turning trucks and soft bushings makes the learning process less intimidating and more enjoyable.
Furthermore, Enjoi’s skateboards feature soft wheels that perform exceptionally well on rougher terrain, such as cracked sidewalks and uneven surfaces. These wheels also offer a smooth ride in skateparks, striking a balance between comfort and performance.
The high-quality components ensure that the skateboards are not only visually appealing but also safe and functional. Enjoi’s commitment to both style and safety makes their skateboards a fantastic choice for young riders.
Conclusion
When choosing the best skateboard for a 7-year-old, it’s essential to prioritize safety, stability, and ease of use. Boards designed specifically for younger skaters, such as those from SkateXS and Santa Cruz, offer the ideal combination of durable construction, manageable size, and smooth performance.
Features like softer wheels and adjustable trucks enhance control and comfort, making the learning process enjoyable and less intimidating.
Investing in a well-made skateboard not only supports a child’s skill development but also ensures a safer and more rewarding experience.
Whether opting for a skateboard with custom graphics or a trusted brand like Powell Peralta, selecting the right board can significantly impact your child’s confidence and enjoyment in skateboarding.
