Longboard Buyers Guide. >>Newbie Resource Guide<<

[jackyboy12]

I'm looking for some recommendations for a decent longboard (as in specific ones). Here's some information:

I'm about 5'4" and 115lbs, I snowboard (don't do any tricks though) but have never skateboarded or longboarded. I'm looking into something that can take me long distances, like on campus, there are some hills on campus so I'm hoping for something that'll be stable enough for a first time longboarder. As for price, I'm looking for something under $150, I don't need a top of the line longboard, just something that I can use for transportation, I don't plan on doing any tricks. Thanks so much!

How about Sector 9 Hills board. its good for hills.

[shenker10]

Can someone help me chose a beginer longboad for cruising. Im only 5'2 95 pounds. here are my choices
S9 Waimea
S9 Carbon Spoontail
S9 Cosmic Weave
please help me out and let me know which is a better choice or if there is another board under 200 dollar board that i didnt name.

if all ur gonna do is cruse and not many tricks. maybe dancing stuff like that. i would actually suggest the rayne hustler because you can go anywhere with it. you can dh, and do some minor tricks, and even free ride. and its lower to the ground so it will be easier to push and stop when your cruising. trust me an inch or two makes a big difference. i wouldn't get any of those boards on the list due to amount of concave camber

[shenker10]

hey,
im looking for a board but im not exactly a beginner. Intermieditate i guess. I just need some advice. I currently have a original 34 and love it. the only problem is that while it is amazing for carving, once I pick up any speed i feel like i do not have control. I am looking for a board that can carve but is still stable at higher speeds. I dont have a lot of money so that is also an issue. I also prefer smaller boards (34-42ish?). Any ideas? thank

i would either go with a rayne hustler or a landyachts spud, ive ridden both and they carve awesome and commute well to and the spud takes speed really well. they both carve good but the biggest difference is that the spud is solid and lower and the hustler is higher and more flexible.

[cmullin4]

Im thinking about buying a sector 9 sand wedge i mostly ride around my college campus. I do like to get gnar sometimes and ride big hills so i need to know if this board gets bad speed wabble or anything like that since it has the new gullwing sidewinders on it.

[grant]

How about Sector 9 Hills board. its good for hills.

If you snow board and are new to skating, try one of the boards from Never Summer. They are made from some of the same materials that they make snowboards out of and the feel is very similar. Super smooth and fun.

[Luminque]

Hey all,

I am newish to longboarding. I've "built" a schlong (Moose deck, Gullwing Mission 1 trucks, and Tunnel Tarantula 70 mm 75a wheels) which is pretty good for cruising around, good for carving since the wheelbase is tiny, and great for sliding if I borrow some harder wheels from my boyfriend (I can slide the 75a's but I don't want to tear 'em to pieces...still a poor college kid). It also is super stable at speed because of the low platform, so a little hill-bombing is possible. It is possible to pump but way more difficult than some of the other boards I've tried. I've been riding now for over a year.

So...the issue is...I've gotten some funds together, and would like to purchase an actual longboard, as opposed to a manufactured impersonation. Don't give me wrong, I love my schlong, but I want to keep up with the big boys.

Because of riding a small board originally (it's like 33 inch long...but the wheel base is smaller obviously), I feel more comfortable on shorter longboards...35-42 inches say? Also, I have a tiny car, so this is good for when i want to take it places. Anything over 42 doesn't really fit very easily. I've ridden the Dervish, and I really like the feel of the bamboo (especially light for carrying around campus inside buildings and such), but the flex (a Flex 2) was a little much for me. I do like how responsive that flex is, but I've also read elsewhere on this site that the Dervish's flex wears out. My boyfriend has a custom board from Nelson Longboards. It's a drop-through carver similar to the dervish in size (a little wider maybe), but I don't like the damp flex offered by the birch. I prefer something more responsive. Previously, he had a Kracked Skulls of similar construction, but I wasn't a fan of that flex either. It was stolen, sad day.

Important info about me:

I'm 5'5", 110-120 lbs (depending on how much muscle I have at the time).

Now to the meat. I want a drop through, because I'm used to being low to the ground and I like the way the control with drop-throughs is opposed to top-mounts. I want to be able to pump easily, so no lowered platform. I want to be able to slide so a little bit of concave...or a little lot of concave...would be appreciated. I'm planning on the O-tang Stimulus wheels btw and maybe some true hard wheels for some serious sliding when I feel like it. I want less flex than the Dervish, but not damp flex. I want something responsive.

I was considering the Bustin Strike, but given that the board is supposedly pretty stiff, and I do want some flex, so right now it's on the back-burner. I had read on a detailed review that sliding can be difficult because the back of the board is fairly narrow. I'm not too worried about anything being to narrow, though, because (a) I have very small feet (size 7 in men's duffs) and (b) I'm used to riding and sliding a 7.0 inch wide schlong.

I was also considering the Subsonic Reflex 38. Sounds like a great carver. But...it's made out of birch, as is my boyfriends Nelson. I wonder if the damp flex is a product of the wood?

Another board(s) on my radar was the Original Apex 34 and Apex 37. But I'm worried about getting trucks that don't use bushings. I've never felt them, and I'm not sure what they're like. Plus, last I checked, they were sold out.

The final boards I've been considering extra hard are all Landyachtz: The Battle Axe, the Drop Hammer, and the Drop Carve.

The Battle Axe is longer than preferred (44 in), and appears to be the same as the Drop Hammer (36 in) in a longer version. I really like the look of both of them, though I've read the flex is a little stiff, and I have no idea how responsive it is. So if anyone can relate about that, it'd be appreciated.

The Drop Carve is also in my preferred size-range, but I don't know much about it.

If anyone can weigh in on which (if any) of these boards sounds right for me, or recommend a different board that fits my desired specs, I'd really appreciate it. Sorry for the novels-sized post. I've been researching this purchase for like 3 months now. I'm a very patient investor.

Thanks to everybody for a great site! I'm glad to finally be a member

[Aieden]

Okay, im 5' 10" 200 lbs, looking for a nice cruiser (complete) that's cheap, $150 max. I dont plan on doing anything major for tricks. I rode my friends sector9 goddess, but i dont want to spend $200. Im a snowboarder looking for something to do in the summer, please help!

[Viz]

Hi

new rider, really interested in trying some sliding. any board + setup suggestions? willing to pay what i need to for a good board! I'm 5.2ft and 130 lbs.. have looked at the Earthwing Corchia, is it any good?

Thanks

[Cruzer]

Okay, im 5' 10" 200 lbs, looking for a nice cruiser (complete) that's cheap, $150 max. I dont plan on doing anything major for tricks. I rode my friends sector9 goddess, but i dont want to spend $200. Im a snowboarder looking for something to do in the summer, please help!

Check out some of these few boards at milehighskates

Comet Galexy Sleeves
EarthWing SuperCharger
Element Cutter
Element Shovel Nose
Gravity Larry Bertlemann

All of these boards are in your price range and are setup ready to rip my Mark at milehigh

[Aieden]

I don't know, ive only ridden on longer boards before. I think a 42 was the shortest and that was a little uncomfortable. But from what i can tell there are not many boards that long for under $150

[miyuki]

Hey all, I'm very new to longboarding but looking to get my first board. I'm 5ft and 105lbs. I'm just wanting to cruise around town and maybe learn a couple tricks, nothing major though. Basically just looking to get from point A to B and have some fun at the same time. $300 is my budget. Any suggestions? Oh, and I live in Canada, so websites that ship here would be helpful. Thanks!!

PS.
I've been looking at the Loaded Dervish (have heard good things about it.) Can anyone tell me about this board/their experiences with it??

[Maxx]

Hey all, I'm very new to longboarding but looking to get my first board. I'm 5ft and 105lbs. I'm just wanting to cruise around town and maybe learn a couple tricks, nothing major though. Basically just looking to get from point A to B and have some fun at the same time. $300 is my budget. Any suggestions? Oh, and I live in Canada, so websites that ship here would be helpful. Thanks!!

PS.
I've been looking at the Loaded Dervish (have heard good things about it.) Can anyone tell me about this board/their experiences with it??

I just got a new Flex 1 Dervish and I think its a good board. I'm 155lb and the flex is not stiff and snappy but trampoline-like. It kind of feels mushy but still has a little rebound to it. I put randal trucks with orange khiros on it and it carves very very well. I also got 76mm wheels and it has great roll speed, I mean maybe the wheels are to blame but its great for cruising, carving, and the dropthru mounting helps helps reduce pushing effort. Im not saying you have to get it, but if you do, you wont be disappointed.

[DANNYBEAR]

Hey im new to longboarding im looking at buying the landyachtz evo or spud Or any other droped dh board around the same or lower price
But i think the spud might be a little small for me. Im 110 pounds and 5.5 feet tall the board will be for mostly crusing and a little bombing.

[taylorho]

Hey, I am considering buying an Original Longboard, either the Hybrid, or the Derringer.
I don't know which one would be better for me. I'm 6' and 135 pounds, and I mostly like to carve and cruise and a little bit of sliding and some other trick type things. Can someone help me out with this?

[xjason11x]

Hi

new rider, really interested in trying some sliding. any board + setup suggestions? willing to pay what i need to for a good board! I'm 5.2ft and 130 lbs.. have looked at the Earthwing Corchia, is it any good?

Thanks

I've heard very good things about it.

But make sure you're okay with the tails being different sizes, if you want a perfectly symmetrical board, check out the drifter

[Cruzer]

Hey, I am considering buying an Original Longboard, either the Hybrid, or the Derringer.
I don't know which one would be better for me. I'm 6' and 135 pounds, and I mostly like to carve and cruise and a little bit of sliding and some other trick type things. Can someone help me out with this?

Hybrid for sure, has a tail for tricks and longer with more room for your feet

[Captain]

I am 170 pound and am looking for a nice DH setup. I don't mind spending three or four hundred as long as I get a primo setup so I can bomb some shiz. I will also be riding around the city and school on it so may be something that would accommodate that as well. Any help would be appreciated. -Xavier

[scarlet_begonias]

Hey, I'm new to longboarding, i've only ever tried my friends a couple of times, but i'm interested in buying a board. I'm 5'3 and 130lbs and just looking to cruise around town and school. Any ideas on what i should be looking at, my price range is $150-$200 cdn? (:

[xjason11x]

Hey, I'm new to longboarding, i've only ever tried my friends a couple of times, but i'm interested in buying a board. I'm 5'3 and 130lbs and just looking to cruise around town and school. Any ideas on what i should be looking at, my price range is $150-$200 cdn? (:

ladera Ripper. I ride mine about a mile and half to school some times and its fun. It's got a nose for 180 pivots, kick tail for kick turns and getting off curb, and plenty of space for cross stepping fun. And tighten the trucks up and your good to go for DH. I've gotten it up to 28mph. Very Versitle board.

With reds, randal 150s, and flashbacks it only cost me $130USD so you have some extra cash for better bearings and bushings

[scarlet_begonias]

thanks (: I havee no idea what half of those things mean, but i'm sure i'll figure it out