I have a decent amount of experience with traditional skateboarding and want to get into longboarding. I am looking for a symmetrical longboard with kicks, preferably shaped like a standard skateboard.
What do you think would be a good choice? This would be primarily for commute, cruising, and maybe some mellow carving.
Not really looking to do tricks, but after riding my friend’s longboard I immediately missed the kicks for pivoting quickly just getting around.
Update: After looking around some more, I found the Landyachtz Clark which looks a lot like what I’m after: https://landyachtz.com/shop/all/skate/boards/the-clark/
Thank you for all your suggestions, all these boards look awesome! This probably won’t be my last longboard either, so feel free to keep making suggestions.
Plus, someone in the future might find them useful too!
I have been into longboarding off and on for the past few years and I have loved my Maestro Pro from Bustin. I don’t do any dance or tricks, just commuting and cruising. Honestly, I feel like you don’t necessarily even need a symmetrical board if you’re not into tricks though but this one would be a good option if you do want one. If you’re on the fence sign up for their newsletter and wait for a sale. They also make these cool hybrid boards which are pushable but also have electric assist but they’re a bit too pricey for me.
Damn, that does look pretty slick. I was looking at another similar board suggested in [email protected] but from Omen. It has kicks but they’re weird.
I might just have to go to the nearest shop to see how they feel, but in my head I was thinking just a standard shaped board but bigger.
From what I’ve been reading, though these drop through style boards people keep suggesting make better commuters.
Yeah didn’t even think about the drop through trucks. I feel like they are a lot nicer because you ride much closer to the ground. Feels smoother and easier to push long distances with the lower center of gravity. From what I recall, longboards use a reverse kingpin set up compared to the normal kingpin trucks on short boards and that makes them feel looser and more surfy as well but just be aware it is going to feel quite a bit different to a short board. You won’t find yourself having to pivot the board around nearly as much which is nice.
Maybe I just need to accept it, but I’ll really miss being able to take a sharp turn. Maybe I should just stick with skateboards. Time will tell I suppose.
Get a regular deck (maybe slightly wider than you usually skate), some risers and bigger/softer wheels, and see how that feels.
Alternatively there are some ditch skating boards probably a little closer to what you’re thinking about (think Landyachtz sell some).
Longboards feel very different to me in an unpleasant way, opting for the kind wheels more commonly used by filmers was a nice middle ground.
Yeah, I have an oldschool cruiser with risers already but I was looking for something a little longer and with biggerer wheels.
Also, the oldschool board is from the late 80s and is semi-retired. Landyachtz seems to have some interesting offerings.
Check out the Loaded Tan Tien or it’s bigger sister the Dervish Sama. They’re light, snappy, have enough of a kick to throw it around and just overall fun as fuck to skate. Throw on some Paris trucks and some mid sized street wheels.
I’ve had my Tan for like 12 years and still love it.
I came to recommend Loaded Boards. I’ve one of the original Dervish boards before it became the Dervish Sama. I also have a few other boards that I rarely touch, but the Dervish has been my go-to for over a decade.
How much harder is it to turn doing a manual compared to a skateboard?
I mean your pivot/kick point on this board is right over the truck so it takes some different pressure and balance but it’s doable. On a shorty you’re quite a bit higher and behind the truck. I can shovit with ease and olley with some effort but like you I didn’t get it to do tricks per se, I got it because doing a lot of street skating being able to kick it over 90 degrees or more is fundamental. You can’t do that with a big heavy log.
The drop thru trucks and big cutaway with the kicks at the ends is nice because you can ride your trucks loose af. I don’t know if that appeals to you but that’s how I roll.
Arbor Shakedown 37 or Landyachtz Coffin XL maybe?
Do you have a specific length in mind? The longer a board the harder it will be to maneuver with all the extra weight/momentum on the end.
I ordered the Shakedown 34 on accident but now I like it too much to return it so it’s just getting added to my skateboard collection.
I might still pick up the 37 later on but I am trying to get something more in longboard territory but standard skateboard shaped. Is that even a thing?
Update: Landyachtz Clark looks like the deck I’m after.
Not exactly regular skateboard shape and I usually ride my bike, but my Omen bamboo dropthrough board (Masks of the world) is a great commuter. I would recommend at least trying it out if you can. The kicks are symmetrical and curve up. Also, the graphics are pretty neat if that matters to you.
The lower the board is and the bigger the wheels are, the better a commuter it will be because it’ll be easier to push and roll for longer over more obstacles like sticks, rocks, or cracks.
Yeah, I might have to just adjust to longboards I guess. Was hoping for more of a direct translation of skateboarding skills, but that’s probably a little unrealistic.
The higher up the board is the less you’ll get from pushing, but pumping might be viable if you have a wide enough stretch of pavement.
