Skateboard Decks
Buyer's Guide

A skateboard deck is more than just a piece of pressed wood. Width, concave and other details make it special. If you want to build your own skateboard or get a complete, our guide spells everything out for you.

Chapter 1

Which type of skateboard for me?

Before you start to look for a new deck, you should get to know the different styles of skateboarding.

Skateboard
Styles

Best for tricks

Street skating is all about tricks on the street or in the skate park. Rails, boxes, ramps or stairs - everything is jumped on or over.

These "newschool skateboards" with the popsicle shape are best suited for this. These skateboards are narrower and lighter, which is better for ollies and flips. The double-sided kicktail allows you to skate in both directions.

Back to the roots!

Bowls and pools have a long and rich history in skating. Back in the day, the first skaters drained Californian pools and shredded them. Later, the pools were replaced by professional halfpipes and ramps and new tricks such as high aerials and big spins emerged. This further development is called Vert (vertical) skateboarding.

For the steeper walls of a bowl or halfpipe, wider decks with a low concave are best. They provide more stability and a flat surface for your feet.

Skateboard rider doing a one-foot trick in a bowl

Riding a bowl

Chapter 2

Complete Setup vs Self-assembled Skateboard?

The biggest choice you can make when you're buying a skateboard is: should you buy a ready-assembled setup or build your own board from scratch.

Skate-ready
vs DIY

Complete Skateboard
Self-assembled Board

Convenience and value

When you start skating you should consider getting a complete skateboard. They come ready to shred out of the box - no adjustment needed. These setups are ready-made – trucks, wheels, bearings and griptape are pre-assembled. A complete setup is easier on the wallet and is a hassle-free introduction to skating for beginners.

Zero Blood Rainbow and Toy Machine complete skateboard setups

Chapter 3

What do I need for my custom skateboard setup?

Deck

The skateboard deck is the platform that everything else is mounted to. Find the right size and built up from there.

Hardware

Skateboard hardware includes the nuts and bolts which hold the trucks to the deck. If you add optional riser pads, then you might need a longer hardware set.

Pro Advice

I always have my skate tool, a second set of bearings and hardware in my backpack. This way, I’m secure whatever happens. If something breaks or needs adjusting, my day isn’t over.

Hias

Product Content

Griptape

Griptape is glued to the top of your deck and it helps you do your tricks.

Find out how to apply griptape to your skateboard here.

Pro Advice

To stick a new griptape to my deck without any air bubbles, I press it down with the protective foil that came attached to the tape originally. This way, I can securely stick my tape on, without sanding my hands.

Hias

Product Content

Chapter 4

Which size deck for me?

When you look for a skateboard deck, width is the most important factor. It is measured in inches and always appears in the product name and on the board. The right size of board for you will depend on your height, your shoe size and what terrain you want to ride.

Generally speaking, narrower widths are better for smaller riders, women and kids. If you are taller, heavier or have larger feet a wider deck will be more stable for you.

The
main widths

Kids' skateboards

The narrowest skateboards - up to 7.75" - are reserved for your little ones. A narrower board is easier for a child to control with their smaller feet. The smaller dimensions make the board lighter, easier to flip and cheaper for you!

Boy skateboarding in a bowl. He is doing a stalefish air.

Kids' skateboard

Chapter 5

Which skateboard concave is the best for me?

If you look at a deck from the side, you can see a curve between the edges - this is the concave of the board. It affects how your feet stand on the deck and the performance of your skateboard. Broadly there are three different height concaves.

All
Concaves

Stability for bowls, mini ramp and vert

A low concave is better in the halfpipe, mini-ramp and for pool riding. It has the most stability for riding big features such the halfpipe or cruising.

Chapter 6

Which details should I look for in a deck?

Graphic of a skateboard deck showing all the details, including the nose, tail,width and wheelbase

Decks can have a long list of features and tech. Here we break down the most important details so you know which part is which and what to look for in a deck.

Choose
your features

The length of the board

Skateboards are from nose to tail between 28” and 33” long. Wider skateboards are also longer. Remember, your selection of deck should really be on width rather than length.