Why walk to get places when you can skate around? Cruising around on a good skateboard is a much faster way to get about without having to spend any money.
They’re not as sweaty and cramped as public transport, they’re not as expensive as cars and motorcycles, and they’re not as dangerous as bicycles. Cruiser skateboards are the clear winners in our eyes.
Buying any old skateboard and riding it around town sounds easy enough until you remember that there are all these additional factors to consider before even purchasing your board.
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Unfortunately, typical cheap skateboards that you can get from some of the supermarkets aren’t going to be sturdy enough or have the correct trucks and wheels to allow you the control you need to be able to cruise around the city confidently.
The last thing you want is to lose your balance and skate straight into a streetlamp or, even worse, an innocent bystander.
Cruiser skateboards are typically the same size as regular boards, however, the wheels are normally larger and softer to account for cracks in the sidewalks. The trucks are also easier to turn so there’s no stiffness while you’re riding.
Choosing the right skateboard can save you a lot of time, money and embarrassment, which is why we’ve found the best 5 cruiser skateboards to make you the coolest looking traveller around.
In a hurry? This is Our Favorite!
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After extensive research and much deliberation, we’ve decided that our top pick for the best cruiser skateboard has to be the Magneto Mini Cruiser Skateboard, because of a number of features that stuck out to us.
A few of these are listed below, and if you want a more in-depth review, simply look below!
- Each part is made of high-quality material.
- The deck is made of 6 ply maple wood which keeps it durable while not taking away from the flexibility.
- There is a kicktail on both ends which allow the rider to have both front and back steering. These can also be used to carry out tricks at the skatepark.
Best Cruiser Skateboards – Comparison Table
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Best Cruiser Skateboards – Reviews
Maple is the traditional and most used wood for skateboards, and many manufacturers wouldn’t choose it without reason.
With this in mind, Magneto’s Mini Cruiser is extremely durable thanks to the layered 6 ply design. This amount of layers is chosen to keep the flexibility of the board reasonable while preventing it from being easily snappable.
The wheels have a hardness rating of 78 and the diameter is 60mm, making them great wheels for cruising out and about.
Magneto has stated that they designed and created this board with the everyday skater in mind – so if this is you, then you’ve come to the right place!
There are two kicktails on either end of the board to allow the rider both front and back steering.
This also allows tricks and flips to be conducted on this board, so it’s very versatile if you’re wanting more than just a cruiser.
Both the bearings and trucks are made of high-quality materials such as gravity cast aluminum, making them very durable and reliable so you don’t have to worry about your board breaking mid-ride.
The top of the deck is finished with sand grit to give you enough grip to keep you comfortable and prevent you from slipping off and damaging either you or your board.
- 6 ply maple deck keeping it both sturdy and flexible.
- High-quality trucks and bearings.
- Two kicktails make this board more versatile than others.
- High price point.
Retrospec has chosen to create their Quip Skateboard with the shape of the very popular retro penny board.
Seriously, how many people do you see riding penny boards everywhere during the summer?
This is an excellent and fashionable board that will draw loads of attention to you, or more so your feet – but still.
The five-inch trucks are the optimal width for this board to create the most stability and control for the rider. Not only will this prevent you from falling too often, it will also increase your maneuverability and give you the opportunity to turn much easier than other boards with slimmer trucks.
ABEC-7 carbon bearings allow the wheels to turn at record speeds and therefore let the rider reach great speeds with minimal effort.
They’re also high quality meaning they’re unlikely to catch and make the wheel stop, leaving you with safer wheels and more confidence in your board.
The wheels are 60mm and both soft and rubbery, giving you a more comfortable ride thanks to the wheels being able to glide over uneven surfaces with minimal disruption.
Pair this with the flexible material and you’ve got yourself a dream team in the comfortability factor.
- 11 bright colors to choose from that will keep you standing out from the crowd.
- High-quality mechanisms keep this board running smoothly for years.
- Weighs less than 5 pounds, making it very portable.
- Short board doesn’t offer a lot of foot space and therefore you’ll need good balance to ride this one
- Trucks are a little stiff.
Landyachtz has designed this skateboard with a 28.5 inch deck made of maple, a traditional choice of wood that’s been used to create skateboards for many years. What’s more is that it’s 7 ply and therefore super strong and sturdy.
This deck won’t be snapping anytime soon! Having said this, it doesn’t lessen the flexibility and therefore still offers a comfortable ride thanks to the shock absorption.
If you’re into the occasional trick here and there, this board is the one for you thanks to its raised nose and tail. This gives the board more of that ever desired pop which is needed for flips and tricks.
The raised nose is the real standout as you won’t find this on many cruiser boards, but it is very beneficial for manually steering from the front of the board instead of only the back.
The wheels are 63mm with a 78 rating for hardness, meaning they’re pretty much the softest wheels you can get, making them excellent for cruising in the city.
The bearings and trucks are both excellent in quality and won’t go breaking on you anytime soon, so you can rest assured you’ll get a lot of use out of this one.
- Maximum weight limit of 250 pounds, making it great for all ages.
- Made of sturdy maple.
- Comes in 20 patterns and colors.
- Griptape is not the best quality.
- Wood may come slightly apart after many years of use.
Much like the Retrospec Quip, this 22 inch cruiser skateboard has a similar to the popular penny board and is ready to ride out of the box.
The wheels have a rating of 85a which is very soft and perfect for cruising around the city. These are made from urethane which is the most common material for cruiser wheels, simply because it’s regarded as the best.
The board itself is made of highly durable plastic and can hold up to 220 pounds, making this an excellent board for riders of all ages.
The plastic material gives the board more flexibility and therefore allows for a more comfortable ride.
DINBIN has used wide trucks made of aluminium which are both stabilizing and durable, preventing you from losing your balance during your ride.
Moreover, the ABEC-7 bearings allow fast wheel spins giving the rider the opportunity to reach exhilarating speeds.
The board is covered in a lattice pattern to ensure reasonable grip and that you won’t go flying off as soon as you hit a dip in the sidewalk. This design has a CE certification meaning it is unequivocally safe to ride by everyone.
There are also eight different colors and patterns to choose from to make your ride really stand out from the crowd.
- Made from durable materials such as plastic, aluminum and urethane.
- Soft wheels and extra flexibility offers a super comfortable ride with minimal shock.
- Great for people of all ages and skill levels.
- Not the best customer service.
- Bearings aren’t the best quality, but these can be changed if you desired.
You can’t go wrong with a 100% maple deck for a cruiser skateboard as they’re sturdy without compromising the flexibility.
The 7 ply deck MINORITY adopts has been cold-pressed to ensure the layers won’t come apart easily which makes it both reliable and durable.
Moreover, this board is by far the longest of all the ones on our list at an amazing 32 inches long. This is best for people who require more stability and help with their balance, or rather for people who just like a longer board.
The aluminium trucks are 5 inches long and have a carbon steel kingpin, making them extremely durable as well as giving excellent comfort and stability for the rider.
The chrome steel bearings have an ABEC-9 rating, meaning the speeds you will be able to reach on this board are unmatched.
The wheels are made from PU material which offers a comfortable ride. They are 52mm and have a rating of 102, meaning they’re not in the usual guidelines for cruiser skateboards, however, the rest of the high-quality mechanisms make up for this and the wheels are easily changeable if they don’t work for your needs.
- Large, durable deck.
- Covered in grip tape for maximum safety.
- High-quality trucks and bearings.
- Wheels don’t meet the general specifications for cruiser skateboards.
- Not great customer service.
Best Cruiser Skateboards – Buyers Guide
Size
The size of your board greatly differs how well it will perform when using it as a cruiser, depending on the size of the cruiser themselves.
Your height and weight will affect what size your board needs to be, but if you don’t feel like tailoring your board to yourself, you can just go with the general advice.
A common size for cruiser boards is around 32 to 42 inches long, however, for younger or shorter riders it’s advised that you choose a board around 28 to 32 inches long.
The width depends on your shoe size as you want a comfortable and sturdy base that you’re not going to lose your balance on easily.
Materials
The material of a cruiser skateboard generally indicates the quality and durability of it, which is an important factor to consider unless you like the thrill of wondering if your board is going to snap mid-ride.
Plastic
Plastic boards are fine as long as they’re made of high-quality plastic and aren’t too stiff.
Plastic is the more lightweight option and therefore tends to allow the rider to weave in and out easier. We’d suggest plastic for riders who like the most flexibility possible and want to ride faster.
Wood
Skateboards can be made from all types of wood, however, cherry and maple are the most common. Recently bamboo has become very popular when it comes to skateboards, too.
These boards are usually wider than plastic boards and therefore offer more stability and foot space.
Bearings
Bearings are small metal balls that are inside wheels and determine how fast the wheel spins. The higher the quality of the bearings, the higher the quality of the ride as the wheels will roll smoother and they’ll be much less likely to lock and cause you to fall off your board.
Moreover, this will also allow the wheels to take on cracks in the sidewalks and roads easily so you won’t feel all the lumps and bumps in the road.
Trucks
The trucks are what holds the wheels to the skateboard and they’re another very important part of the board. Firstly, this needs to be made of a durable material such as titanium or aluminium.
Secondly, they need to be optimized for ultimate turnability. Standard trucks are usually the way to go in regards to cruiser skateboards as it gives the rider the ability to use the tail effectively to steer sharp turns.
Wheels
The wheels of your skateboard are particularly important as they are the main source of movement. There are a number of factors to consider when choosing the right wheels, such as:
Hardness
Wheel hardness is rated on a 100-point scale, the higher the number meaning the harder the wheel.
Cruiser boards typically need wheels with a rating of 80-90. While this seems very hard, it’s actually softer than most skateboard wheels.
This allows the wheels to adjust to some cracks in the ground surfaces and absorb some of the shock so the rider doesn’t feel it as much.
Size
Cruiser boards have larger wheels than other boards, allowing them to go faster without compromising the balance. The best size for wheels is around 60 to 65mm in diameter.
Material
Urethane is most commonly used for most skateboard wheels because it has the best responsiveness and grip. If it’s not broken, why fix it? We recommend choosing urethane wheels which are widely found on the market.
Shape
You’ll want to go for round wheels for your cruiser skateboard … just kidding! Well, you will need round wheels to move, but they’ll also need a wider outer lip to give you more grip on a wide variety of surfaces.
This is particularly helpful if you expect to be cruising around everywhere with different surface types.
Flexibility
The more flexible your skateboard is, the more shock it will be able to absorb while you’re cruising down the streets. This will give you more comfort as you won’t be jolted around every time your board encounters a bump or crack.
Make sure you choose a reasonably flexible skateboard as a starting point, although you may find you prefer a different level down the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get a cruiser or a longboard?
Cruiser boards are normally shorter than longboards and therefore easier to maneuver through the busy city. They also are able to reach higher speeds than the latter and therefore are the preferred choice by many people wanting a board for transportation purposes.
Having said this, there is not much else different in comparison between these two boards, so they are both considered the best models for cruising rather than conducting tricks.
Longboards are better for long distances while cruiser skateboards are better suited for shorter distances, so it depends on how far you’re going.
Can you ollie on a cruiser?
Yes, you can! It’ll be easier to learn if you’re already familiar with the technique and move on a regular board, so you can just transfer your skills over.
Cruiser wheels are generally the correct hardness for ollies, however, you may benefit from swapping them for some smaller wheels to get a larger pop.
While it’s possible to ollie on a cruiser board, this isn’t what they are designed for and it may benefit you more to get a different kind of board if you’re interested in doing tricks.
