Smoothest cruising boards out there?

[AngryJimmy]

My first board (some dog town long board that's stiff as all hell and looks like a giant trick board) was harsh on my feet and knees - didn't roll very long due to it's serious weight (unless I was going down hill of course) and was not very stable due to being high off of the ground.. Needless to say it left me wanting... so I've come here for some suggestions since my first intuition didn't do me much good in board picking -

I'm not really interested in bombing, carving or what have you (although I won't complain if the board also performs well in these categories) - I'm just trying to find the smoothest long boards out there for commuting between classes, school and home.

I've read some of the stickies but they really get a bit too technical for me (just assume I'm retarded oi? :P) -

So could anybody suggest some of the smoothest rides out there for a 5'9" guy who weights anywhere between 170 to 180 pounds? Other factors that are important to me include control and the ability to maneuver (I'll be dodging other students :P)

Also price is not a factor for me - I'll go as expensive as I need to - this is going to be my main board for a very long time.

And please include why you came to your conclusion if you're feeling generous - or links to any reviews is also gravy

I've personally been looking at a loaded Vanguard with a flex 3 or 2 for quite some time - but then again I've never had the opportunity to try it -

Thank ye in advance for your valued opinions!

[Brute379]

Where are you located?

What is your terrain like? flat, hills, mountain roads.

What is your current setup? Bushings risers and wheels can completely change a ride.

How far is your daily commute? terrain?

[urbanasultvehicleuav]

flexdex pro 40 sounds good for you (depending on your stance of course) i tried the pro 40 and i wiegh the same and am the same hight (former football player) and i didnt bottom it out, despite the obserd amount of flex its one of the smoothes rides i have ever experienced and you can get whiplash from carving on this thing ,so responcive but its a love/hate sort of board

[flannelman]

alright, well here we go...

I find that the more weight a longboard has the longer is will roll. it will just take a bit more to get it up to speed. that is simple physics, so thank newton for writing it all down. Weight is not always your enemy. i love cruising around on a 14 pound DH deck, because i can get it going fast on the flats, and it holds that speed.

for commuting i find that something with slight flex, or really, just a bit of dampening feels great. the stickies almost never cover simple cruising decks.

your size and weight are very typical, so that isn't a problem, meaning, most stuff will work for you.

for what you are looking for in a deck, you shouldn't have to pay all that much.

as far as ped slalom, i can do it pumping with a wedged out slalom deck, or a 10/0 Cindy-Cindrich DH deck. really anything will be able to maneuver when you are just going slow.

frankly, what you want is very simple. what you are looking for is a middle ground deck, with middle ground wheels, and turny trucks. why nor look into:

1. Eathwing SuperGilder/WideGlider/SuperCharger, indy 169/215s, and some 70mm wheels (grippen, zigzag, 4prez, all that stuff)

2. BC Eel, with some Paris/Randal/50* trucks, and some 75mm (BZ, In Heats, Speedvents, Availas, Gumballs, you name it)

you might also like a Earthwing boomerang, as it has some flex.

flexdex pro 40 sounds good for you (depending on your stance of course) i tried the pro 40 and i wiegh the same and am the same hight and i didnt bottom it out, despite the obserd amount of flex its one of the smoothes rides i have ever experienced and you can get whiplash from carving on this thing ,so responcive but its a love/hate sort of board

i am one who hates it. what i don't like about it is it isn't cambered, so... it just sags and doesn't support you. it is also really narrow, so it doesn't get as much leverage over the trucks. i ran mine with 50* randal 180s, and indy bottom cones all around, and it just... didnt turn really well. i plan on chopping 10 inches of of mine, and adding a layer of wood on the bottom to make is decent. it is also as heavy as my aluminum DH deck...weird. i would never suggest you get this. get something you can mellow out on, and you can use for other things.

[hakrsakr]

My first board (some dog town long board that's stiff as all hell and looks like a giant trick board) was harsh on my feet and knees - didn't roll very long due to it's serious weight (unless I was going down hill of course) and was not very stable due to being high off of the ground.. Needless to say it left me wanting... so I've come here for some suggestions since my first intuition didn't do me much good in board picking -

I'm not really interested in bombing, carving or what have you (although I won't complain if the board also performs well in these categories) - I'm just trying to find the smoothest long boards out there for commuting between classes, school and home.

I've read some of the stickies but they really get a bit too technical for me (just assume I'm retarded oi? :P) -

So could anybody suggest some of the smoothest rides out there for a 5'9" guy who weights anywhere between 170 to 180 pounds? Other factors that are important to me include control and the ability to maneuver (I'll be dodging other students :P)

Also price is not a factor for me - I'll go as expensive as I need to - this is going to be my main board for a very long time.

And please include why you came to your conclusion if you're feeling generous - or links to any reviews is also gravy

I've personally been looking at a loaded Vanguard with a flex 3 or 2 for quite some time - but then again I've never had the opportunity to try it -

Thank ye in advance for your valued opinions!

First of all, when you get into top-end longboards, nobody buys completes. We hand-pick our components to get the desired board.

Lucky for you, I've been pondering how to get the smoothest cruiser ever recently, here's what I've come up with:

Gullwing Stalker trucks. Radical vibration-killing design.

85a Venom Stimulator bottom bushings. Big, fat, soft, quality bushings that should help dampen your board. BTW, the bottom bushings are the ones closest to the deck.

Biltin ABEC 7 beatings. Idk why, but they're glassy smooth.

Abec11 76mm 78a Gumballs. Nice big cushy awesome wheels.
Loaded makes flexy boards, but their flex gets less lively after awhile and they're real expensive. I'd look at the non-bamboo Landyachtz Wedge Flex.

I know I lost you somewhere, round 2?

[AngryJimmy]

@ Bruce:

Terrain is mostly level asphalt - I'll be skating several miles at a time on slight inclines/declines and using my board in a lot of stop and go as I go between classes.

@ Flannelman

I'm not sure I like heavier boards (mine was heavier than hell) since it didn't seem to roll as long as my friend's lighter, flexier long board (and it was a pain in the ass whenever you encountered "up hill")

I'll look into your other suggestions though, thank you

@ hakrsakr

Yea, you lost me - but I'm making a list of all of the components everybody is listing and seeing if I can get additional input by the guys that run the long board shops

So assuming I don't care what the price of the board is you'd still recommend against the Dervish or Vanguard? Do they not last that long? All hype and what not?

[Bookworm]

Dervishes are super fun, but if you bounce on them a lot they tend to lose their snappiness.

they will however ride very very smoothly.

and while we're on the topic, do you think you could cushion your ride even more by putting a tiny plug of urethane in between the kingpin head and baseplate (or nut and baseplate, whichever you have down there) to "float" the deck just one more way?

[hakrsakr]

Yeah, I guess they last, but if you want a flexy ride that will remain as lively as day one, don't get a Loaded. If you don't mind losing some snappiness, then Loadeds are great. I have a Vanguard and still regard it as the best carving board ever.

Forgot to mention earlier, grab some shock pads. They're squishy pads that go inbetween the deck and the trucks to smoothen the ride some.

@ Bookworm: I guess you could, but that seems like it would make the truck feel sorta sloppy. Worth a try, though.

[Cann0n]

Any bamboo board with soft wheels.

[urbanasultvehicleuav]

First of all, when you get into top-end longboards, nobody buys completes. We hand-pick our components to get the desired board.

Lucky for you, I've been pondering how to get the smoothest cruiser ever recently, here's what I've come up with:

Gullwing Stalker trucks. Radical vibration-killing design.

85a Venom Stimulator bottom bushings. Big, fat, soft, quality bushings that should help dampen your board. BTW, the bottom bushings are the ones closest to the deck.

Biltin ABEC 7 beatings. Idk why, but they're glassy smooth.

Abec11 76mm 78a Gumballs. Nice big cushy awesome wheels.
Loaded makes flexy boards, but their flex gets less lively after awhile and they're real expensive. I'd look at the non-bamboo Landyachtz Wedge Flex.

I know I lost you somewhere, round 2?

stalkers? 40* i dont think they will work good for cruising, but arent gullwings and randals compatible?? if so it would be awsome if you put stalkers on 50* randal plates and call it a strandle!!!

[Brute379]

Smaller core wheels with a great urethane depth.

I find this as/more important than thane formula.

[pennypusher]

this one is not mine,the pic is the 810cm,i have the 932cm which is a bit wider and longer.
i really have fallen in love with this board for cruising around.
the flex is super snappy,has a nice camber and great for pedestrian slalom
i am also 5"10 190pounds
i also have the dervish and yes its great but lately i like this better,my derv is 2 yrs old and feels like has no pop left to it

[AngryJimmy]

Any bamboo board with soft wheels.

Well I'm thinking about a bamboo board after reading several threads via the search tool.

I've been looking over this massive Dervish vs Vanguard thread and there's a general consensus that both boards are awesome.. which I don't doubt; however, which board would be best for *just* cruising assuming that you could be doing it for at least 2+ miles?

The Dervish due to it being lower to the ground?

And which one has a tighter turning radius?

and last but not least - for 180 pounds with a guy who would be irritated as piss if he bottomed out but still wants the necessary amount of flex for a smooth ride would he go flex 1 or 2 dervish, and for Vanguard flex 2 or 3?


would tracker fastracks, soft blue bushings, 1/4 inch soft shock pad and 72a purple skunk avilas on either of these suffice?


I don't plan on jumping on my boards so I'm too worried about taking the snappiness out of the bamboo.

[AngryJimmy]

this one is not mine,the pic is the 810cm,i have the 932cm which is a bit wider and longer.
i really have fallen in love with this board for cruising around.
the flex is super snappy,has a nice camber and great for pedestrian slalom
i am also 5"10 190pounds
i also have the dervish and yes its great but lately i like this better,my derv is 2 yrs old and feels like has no pop left to it

What's the company name of that one?

[pennypusher]

that's airflow and i have many.
if you go with a dervish get a flex 1
i have tried fast tracks no good if you are gonna ride it really loose,due to the big wings on the hangers they will almost bite the deck.
go with randals
on the dervish just use dervish thin pads.

[Cann0n]

Well I'm thinking about a bamboo board after reading several threads via the search tool.

I've been looking over this massive Dervish vs Vanguard thread and there's a general consensus that both boards are awesome.. which I don't doubt; however, which board would be best for *just* cruising assuming that you could be doing it for at least 2+ miles?

The Dervish due to it being lower to the ground?

And which one has a tighter turning radius?

and last but not least - for 180 pounds with a guy who would be irritated as piss if he bottomed out but still wants the necessary amount of flex for a smooth ride would he go flex 1 or 2 dervish, and for Vanguard flex 2 or 3?


would tracker fastracks, soft blue bushings, 1/4 inch soft shock pad and 72a purple skunk avilas on either of these suffice?


I don't plan on jumping on my boards so I'm too worried about taking the snappiness out of the bamboo.

I'd pick between the BC Eel and the Dervish. To tell you the truth, you can't go wrong with the BC Eel. It has graphic choices too.

[AngryJimmy]

I'd pick between the BC Eel and the Dervish. To tell you the truth, you can't go wrong with the BC Eel. It has graphic choices too.

Not gonna lie, the BC Eel looks sick

[AngryJimmy]

that's airflow and i have many.
if you go with a dervish get a flex 1
i have tried fast tracks no good if you are gonna ride it really loose,due to the big wings on the hangers they will almost bite the deck.
go with randals
on the dervish just use dervish thin pads.

Any idea of where I can look at the pricing of the AIRFLOW FREERIDE 932 Black/Red?

And what set up do you use?

[loug]

here comes a curve ball. using a scimitar 46" with grapeyapes and soft bushings (83) front and something around 87 rear. excellent for pumping, pushing and carving. weight at 183# and plan on having a dervish in the quiver before the end of the year. just my 2 cents.

[sparky88]

i'm roughly your same weight, and i was looking for a board just to use for cruising around campus, maybe the occasional parking garage. i ended up going with the bc eel. plus, its so much cheaper than the dervish that you could throw some nice bushings and bearing spacers, plus get some bearing lube, and youd still come out cheaper than the derv