Best Beginner Skateboards: Your Ultimate Guide

Best Beginner Skateboards: If you’re new to skateboarding and looking for the best skateboard to start with, it’s important to choose one that’s both easy to ride and comfortable. A good beginner skateboard will have features that make learning the basics simpler, like a stable deck and soft wheels that can handle different surfaces. Starting with the right skateboard can make your learning experience more enjoyable and less frustrating.

When picking a skateboard for beginners, consider boards that offer good control and balance. These skateboards are usually wider, which provides more foot space and stability. Also, look for ones with durable materials and good grip tape to help you stay on your board as you practice. With the right skateboard, you’ll be ready to practice tricks and enjoy cruising around in no time!

Best Beginner Skateboards

1. Best Overall: ENJOI FLOWERS COMPLETE

Shape: Popsicle Deck
Construction: 7-Ply Hardrock Maple Deck
Trucks: Tensor Trucks
Wheels: 52mm Enjoi Wheels
Bearings: Abec 5 Bearings
Width: 8.0 inches

Enjoi, a prominent skateboarding brand established in 2000, has set a high standard in the industry with its blend of quality and artistic flair. Renowned for its vibrant graphics and innovative Resin-7 construction, Enjoi employs an epoxy resin to bond the layers of wood together, rather than the conventional water-based glue. This method produces a lighter, more rigid deck that many skaters find maintains its pop and performance longer than traditional decks, making it a preferred choice for those seeking durability and consistent ride quality.

The Enjoi Flowers Complete exemplifies this commitment to excellence, featuring Tensor trucks and Enjoi’s own 52mm wheels, paired with ABEC 5 rated bearings for a smooth and reliable ride. Although its smaller wheels make it less ideal for tackling tall vert ramps, this complete skateboard is a fantastic option for beginners, whether kids or adults. It offers an excellent balance of control, stability, and style, ensuring a satisfying and enjoyable skating experience as you learn and progress.

2. Best Value: GLOBE G1 FAIRWEATHER COMPLETE WITH HELMET AND PADS

DECK: Globe G1 Resin-7 8.125”
TRUCKS: Tensor
WHEELS: 52mm 99a
BEARINGS: ABEC 7
STYLE: Street/Park

As a beginner skateboarder, it’s crucial to prioritize safety by using appropriate protective gear. Skateboarding involves a lot of falling and balancing, and even seasoned professionals experience wipeouts. By wearing the right safety equipment, you significantly reduce the risk of serious injuries, which not only keeps you safer but also allows you to spend more time enjoying the sport. Helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards are essential for protecting yourself and enhancing your overall skateboarding experience.

The Globe G1 Fairweather Complete offers exceptional value for beginners, as it includes a helmet and set of pads from Triple 8, a leading name in skateboarding safety gear. This comprehensive package ensures that you’re well-protected right from the start. Additionally, the skateboard itself is built with high-quality components designed to offer a great riding experience. The 8.125” Globe deck features Resin-7 construction, which makes the board lighter and more durable, providing a longer-lasting pop that’s ideal for learning and practicing new tricks.

Equipped with Tensor alloy trucks, the Globe G1 Fairweather Complete offers a stable yet responsive ride, which is perfect for both street skating and park use. The ABEC 7 bearings enhance your cruising speed and reduce the effort needed for pushing, making your rides smoother and more enjoyable. With 52mm wheels rated at 99a hardness, you’ll find them well-suited for a faster ride and easier powerslides, while still providing a good balance of grip and maneuverability. This complete skateboard is a fantastic choice for beginners looking for quality, safety, and performance in one package.

3. Best for Younger Kids: CREATURE RIPPED LOGO COMPLETE

DECK: Creature Ripped Logo Micro 7.5”
TRUCKS: Cast Aluminum
WHEELS: 83a
BEARINGS: Not Listed
STYLE: Street/Park

Creature is a well-respected name in the skateboarding world, known for its strong presence in the industry and its dedication to producing high-quality boards. The Creature Ripped Logo Micro Complete stands out as an excellent choice for younger skaters, thanks to its kid-friendly design. This skateboard features a deck that is not only narrower than most, but also shorter in length and wheelbase, making it more suitable for smaller riders. By scaling down the dimensions, the board offers a more manageable and proportionate experience for kids learning to skateboard.

Using a skateboard that fits well with a child’s size is crucial for their development in the sport. Smaller boards are easier for young skaters to handle, which helps them master basic skills and tricks more effectively. Larger, heavier boards can be cumbersome for kids and may hinder their ability to learn and perform tricks. The Creature Ripped Logo Micro Complete addresses this by providing a board that aligns with a child’s physical proportions, making it easier for them to get accustomed to skateboarding and progress as they grow.

The Creature Ripped Logo Micro Complete features a micro-sized deck and cast aluminum trucks, which make the board lighter and easier for kids to maneuver. Additionally, the board comes equipped with 83a hardness wheels, which are softer compared to most skateboard wheels. This softness allows for better grip on various surfaces and provides a smoother ride over rough terrain, which is ideal for young beginners. Whether practicing in the driveway or at the local skatepark, this complete skateboard offers a supportive and fun introduction to the sport for younger skaters.

4. Best for Bigger Kids: ENJOI CANDY COATED COMPLETE

DECK: Enjoi Candy Coated 8.25”
TRUCKS: Tensor
WHEELS: Enjoi 52mm
BEARINGS: ABEC 5
STYLE: Street/Park

The Enjoi Candy Coated complete skateboard is a fantastic choice for young skaters, designed with a blend of quality and size tailored to youth riders. While the board features an 8.25” deck width—similar to what many adult skateboarders use—it’s scaled down in other dimensions to better suit younger skaters. This design ensures that the skateboard is comfortable and manageable for kids who are ready to progress from smaller, micro decks to something closer to a full-size board.

Selecting the right deck width often depends on factors such as the rider’s shoe size, height, and weight. For bigger kids who find themselves in between a full-size and a micro deck, this 8.25” width strikes a good balance. It provides ample space for foot placement while still being appropriately sized for younger skaters, facilitating a smoother transition as they grow and develop their skills.

Equipped with Tensor trucks, the Enjoi Candy Coated complete offers reliable performance for both beginners and more experienced skaters. The 52mm Enjoi wheels are versatile enough to handle street skating and some transition work, making this board suitable for a variety of environments. Coupled with ABEC 5 bearings, this skateboard ensures a smooth ride and reliable performance, meeting the needs of beginner skaters as they explore and learn new tricks.

5. Best for Street: ELEMENT SECTION COMPLETE

DECK: Element Section 7.75”
TRUCKS: Element Trucks
WHEELS: Element 52mm
BEARINGS: ABEC 5
STYLE: Street/Park

Element has established itself as a cornerstone in the skateboarding industry since its founding in 1992, becoming a highly recognizable and respected brand over nearly three decades. Known for their distinctive graphics, the Element Section Skateboard is no exception, showcasing an iconic design that skaters around the world instantly recognize. This longstanding reputation is a testament to Element’s dedication to producing quality skateboards that meet the needs of riders at all levels.

Element’s expertise is evident in their Featherlight construction, a method that uses seven plies of wood but with thinner veneers. This innovative approach results in a lighter deck without compromising durability. The Featherlight construction allows for a more responsive ride while maintaining the strength needed for rigorous skating. This balance of weight and resilience makes the Element Section Skateboard a reliable choice for skaters looking to perform tricks and navigate various terrains.

The Element Section Complete Skateboard is not only equipped with a high-quality deck but also comes with Element brand trucks and wheels, paired with ABEC 5 bearings. Although Element is renowned primarily for its decks, their experience extends to creating complete skateboards that perform exceptionally well. Designed with street and park skateboarding in mind, this board is built to endure the demands of diverse skating styles, ensuring that it stands up to the challenges of urban and skatepark environments.

6. Best for Park: HABITAT LEAF DOT BLUE COMPLETE

DECK: Habitat Leaf Dot Blue 7.75”
TRUCKS: Habitat
WHEELS: Habitat 53mm
BEARINGS: ABEC 7
STYLE: Park/Street

Habitat, a respected name in skateboarding since its inception in 1999, is celebrated for its distinctive decks and nature-inspired designs. Known for their commitment to quality, Habitat’s decks are crafted using the traditional seven plies of maple wood, ensuring durability and performance. The Habitat Leaf Dot Blue 7.75” deck exemplifies their blend of aesthetic appeal and functional design, featuring eye-catching artwork that reflects the brand’s natural theme.

This complete skateboard is equipped with Habitat logo trucks and 53mm wheels, providing a balanced setup ideal for both street and park skating. The wheels are rated at 99a hardness, which offers a good mix of grip and slide ability, making it versatile for various skating surfaces. With ABEC 7 bearings, the board promises a smooth and comfortable ride, minimizing friction and enhancing performance. The combination of these components ensures that the skateboard can handle the demands of different terrains while offering reliable traction and maneuverability.

The Habitat Leaf Dot Blue 7.75” complete is an excellent choice for newcomers looking to hit the local skatepark and start their skateboarding journey. Its quality construction and thoughtful component selection make it a solid option for learning and progressing in the sport, providing a comfortable and stylish ride as you develop your skills on the board.

7. Best for Vert: KROOKED BIGGER EYES COMPLETE

DECK: Krooked Bigger Eyes 8.25”
TRUCKS: Not Listed
WHEELS: Krooked 53mm
BEARINGS: Not Listed
STYLE: Park/Vert/Street

Krooked skateboards, a notable brand under the Deluxe Distribution umbrella, are known for their high-quality and well-regarded products. Among their offerings, the Krooked Bigger Eyes complete stands out due to its wider deck and larger wheels compared to typical street skating boards. These features contribute to increased stability, making it an excellent choice for skaters aiming to learn and master steeper transitions and vert.

The Krooked Bigger Eyes deck measures 8.25 inches, providing ample surface area for beginners to develop their skills. Coupled with 53mm wheels, this board is well-suited for pumping and carving on ramps and bowls. The larger wheels offer a smoother ride and better control, which are essential for tackling larger transitions and maintaining stability.

As riders progress and enhance their skating abilities, they might consider upgrading to different wheels or a steeper deck concave for more advanced tricks. However, the Krooked Bigger Eyes complete offers a solid foundation for those starting out in park and vert skating while still being versatile enough for street use.

8. Best for Cruising: ARBOR WHISKEY FORAGE COMPLETE

The Arbor Whiskey Forage stands out in the realm of cruisers and park boards for its emphasis on a smooth, enjoyable ride. While many boards in this category focus on trick performance, the Whiskey Forage caters to a more relaxed skating experience. Despite its cruiser-oriented design, it retains a deck shape that allows for trick execution if the rider chooses to engage in it.

Arbor, a company renowned for its longboards and cruisers, integrates ecological sustainability into its production processes, ensuring that the Whiskey Forage aligns with their environmental values. This board features a 7.75” double kicktail deck, paired with Ace 33 Classic 8” trucks. The combination offers responsive turning and stability, making it suitable for both cruising and park sessions. The 54mm Arbor Whiskey Series Revert wheels, with a 90a hardness, are designed to handle rougher terrain comfortably, enhancing the board’s versatility.

Equipped with ABEC 5 bearings, the Arbor Whiskey Forage excels in providing a smooth, stable ride. While it prioritizes comfort and ease of use, it still supports trick performance, making it a versatile choice for skaters who want a board capable of both casual cruising and park action. Whether you’re navigating through the city or hitting the skatepark, this board delivers a balanced and enjoyable experience.

Buying Guide

When selecting a skateboard for beginners, consider the following key factors to ensure a smooth start:

Deck Size and Shape: Choose a deck that is wide enough (7.75” to 8.25”) for stability. A slightly concave deck can provide better control and make tricks easier.
Trucks: Opt for trucks that match the deck width for stability and control. Wider trucks generally offer more stability, while narrower trucks are better for technical tricks.
Wheels: Softer wheels (around 78A to 87A hardness) are better for cruising over rough surfaces, while harder wheels (88A to 101A) are suited for smooth skateparks and street skating. Larger wheels offer a smoother ride and better shock absorption.
Bearings: ABEC 5 or higher bearings are recommended for a smoother and faster ride. Bearings affect the speed and how well the skateboard rolls.
Material and Build: Look for decks made of 7-ply maple wood for durability and flexibility. Some boards might use different materials like bamboo or composite for various benefits.
Complete vs. Custom: Complete skateboards are pre-assembled and are often a better choice for beginners due to their ease of use. Custom boards offer the advantage of personalizing each component but require more knowledge and setup.
Style of Skateboarding: Determine the type of skateboarding you want to start with (street, park, cruiser, etc.) and choose a board that suits that style.

By considering these factors, you can find a skateboard that meets your needs and helps you build confidence and skill in your skateboarding journey.

Conclusion

Selecting the best skateboard for beginners involves balancing several key factors to ensure a positive and effective start. A deck with a width of 7.75” to 8.25” provides stability and control, essential for new skaters. The choice of trucks, wheels, and bearings should align with the skater’s preferred style and terrain, whether it’s cruising, street skating, or park sessions. Softer wheels and ABEC 5 bearings generally offer a smoother ride, while a concave deck shape can assist with learning tricks.

Ultimately, complete skateboards offer a convenient and reliable option for beginners, eliminating the need for component matching and setup. By focusing on a board that matches your specific needs and preferences, you can ensure a smoother learning curve and a more enjoyable skating experience. With the right equipment, you’ll be better equipped to build your skills and confidence as you embark on your skateboarding journey.