Skateboarding is an action sport that gained popularity in the 1960s. However, generations today are riding on the trend, bringing the sport into the spotlight once again. Casual skaters continuously grow in number, and street skating has paved the way for more professional skateboarders. If you are looking for a list of the best skateboard deck brands in 2021, this post is for you.
Skateboards are used not just for tricks but also as a form of transportation. When looking for the best skateboard deck brands, considerations to keep in mind are the deck material, maneuverability, and price range.
The 10 Best Skateboard Deck Brands in 2021
1. Element Section
Element Section is one of the best skateboard deck brands when it comes to quality. Their decks are proudly made of 100% maple wood, providing them with undisputed durability. Advanced level skaters attest to their comfort, safety, and stability.
Element Section decks have various size options: 7.5”, 7.75”, 8”, 8.25”, and 8.5”, and each runs smooth and stable. These decks also feature the signature wind, water, air, and earth branding in a multicolored design.
The red, white and black color combination of this Element Section Yellow Red Skateboard Deck has a powerful vibe worthy of showing off skills. At 2.85 lbs., this is the best everyday deck that provides users with a better grip for ripping through rails and terrain.
Pros:
- Solid 100% maple wood
- Classic branding
- Striking graphics
Cons:
- Quite heavy
2. Powell Peralta
If you are looking for a lighter skateboard deck, Powell Peralta is one of the best skateboard deck skate brand options for you. It is made with epoxy glue and reinforced fiber making it lighter than maple wood boards. It is also more durable. It is also trusted and recommended by the Powell Peralta elite skateboard team.
This 8.45” Powell Peralta Skateboard Flight Deck is 31.8” long and weighs 0.01 lbs. It features cool Andy Heron skull graphics for interesting artwork.
The Powell Peralta flight deck is the best for all skill levels and guarantees maneuverability when learning freestyle tricks. It can also hold up to the user’s weight with its impressive durability. It is indeed a heavy-duty flight board deck!
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Anti-snapping and breaking
Cons:
- Slightly expensive for beginners
3. Bamboo Skateboards
Bamboo Skateboards rank with the best skateboard deck brands due to their highly sustainable deck materials. In addition, bamboo is a much more flexible material than maple boards. As a result, it can guarantee more successful pops, ollies, and tricks. Skateboarding pop is the act of flipping the board up in the air by snapping its tail.
This Bamboo Skateboards Graphic Deck is made of 6-ply bamboo with a maple hybrid for reinforced strength. Bamboo is lightweight and strong and resists chipping and breaking. It is also built to absorb shock and tension, useful for various tricks hitting the rails and pavement. The concave deck design provides better maneuverability and allows for a good grip for flip tricks.
The graphic deck of these bamboo skateboards have different sizes for various skill levels. It comes in 7.75” x 13.5”, 8″ x 31.75″, and 8.25″ x 32” board dimensions. Its weight is 2.55 lbs. for the 7-inch board and 2.65 for the 8” and 8.25” decks. It also comes in 23 different graphic designs for various user preferences.
Pros:
- Environment-friendly
- Great pop
- Shock absorption
Cons:
- More concave in style
4. CCS Blank
Skaters and their skateboards are passionately linked at the core. Every skateboarder wants to put an imprint of their personality onto their stuff. Devoid of graphic designs, the CCS makes it to the list of the best skateboard brands for customization.
This skateboard deck is made of the traditional 7-ply maple wood with varying stain colors. It provides a blank canvas for you to stencil, draw, or paint your design to fully customize your ride. The stain is covered and is not affected, even if you grip the surface.
CCS skateboard decks have the classic popsicle shape with good pop. It provides the best ride for a reasonable price. The product comes in 20 designs and weighs 2.15 lbs. for the 7.2” x 27.7” skateboard deck. This CCS Blank and Graphic Skateboard Deck is your next canvas for putting your personality on board.
Pros:
- Customizable
- Impressive pop
- Maple board
Cons:
- Prone to breaking
5. Moose
Here is another customizable Blank Skateboard Deck from Moose. Moose skateboards have blank decks in neon, natural, and stains that offer consumers various design options. These decks allow for a good pop, have a solid build, and can be purchased at a decent price.
The Moose Blank deck is made of 7-ply 100% Canadian maple wood. It has a modern concave shape for better maneuverability compared to flatter skateboards. It also offers a good grip that is useful for flips and stunts.
The Moose Skateboard deck measures 7.3” x 29.2” and weighs 2.65 lbs., good for street boarding and tricks.
Pros:
- Customizable deck
- Just right concave shape
- Has good curve on the bolt hold area
- All-around skateboard
Cons:
- Breaks easily
- Stain delaminates after a few usages
6. Baker
Baker is one of the best skateboard deck brands. In addition, Baker offers a lot in the way of skateboarding merchandise. The brand sells skateboard accessories, funky stickers, hoodies, snapback caps, and beanies. It is an American Skateboarding company established by professional skateboarder Andrew Reynolds in 2000. This skateboard brand is also one of the more popular and most successful brands in the skate industry.
The Baker Brand Logo Deck boasts of a lightweight, sturdy, and well-crafted construction. It has an OG shape, a mellow concave board with a rounded nose and tail. This shape is ideal for skaters at all skill levels and is preferred by most for maneuverability reasons.
The Baker Brand Logo has a size range of 8.0”, 8.125”, 8.25”, and 8.475”. It is made of 100% American maple boards with excellent pop and long-lasting life. The skateboard deck weighs only around 2 lbs, which is ideal for many flips and tricks.
Pros:
- Trusted and reliable
- Sturdy and durable
- Perfect concave design
Cons:
- Expensive
7. DEBROO
Engineered for long life and designed with an almost unbreakable quality, fiberglass skateboards are becoming more popular in the skate industry. They are quickly emerging as skateboarders develop more stunts that require they use boards that offer better performance.
Its high-tech manufacturing incorporates fiberglass materials with traditional wood material to make this skateboard deck lighter and sturdier and better at withstanding shock. It is also waterproof and more resilient to tension.
Debroo is among the best skateboard deck brands that have innovative fiberglass technology. The composite skateboards are made with 6-ply of 100% maple wood and an added one-ply of fiberglass. It also has a twin nose and a medium concave shape. This makes the skateboard deck ideal for various grinds, flip tricks, or daily use.
Check out this DEBROO Fiberglass Skateboard Deck, for example.
The Debroo skateboard decks have a size variation of 8.0”, 8.25”, and 8.375”.
Pros:
- Customizable
- Perfectly shaped
- Almost unbreakable; resilient
Cons:
- Comes only in the natural stain color
8. Losenka
Losenka offers more value for your money as one of the best skateboard deck brands you can find today. It is popular for skaters looking for a top-notch deck at a considerable price. Additionally, it is a top-rated brand for beginners looking to ace their skateboarding skills.
Losenka decks are made of natural Russia Maple, which has a higher density and elasticity. They are also lighter and sturdier, which is characteristic of the trees’ cold growing climate in Russian forests. The deck has a medium concave and symmetrical shape that is best for entry-level skaters. This Losenka skateboard is a street and park deck that conveniently comes with free grip tape.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Easy to maneuver
- Best for beginners
Cons:
- May chip and break
9. Birdhouse Skateboard
Whether or not you recognize Tony Hawk in person, you can’t get around skateboarding without hearing at least one Tony Hawk reference. Birdhouse is Hawk’s skateboard company and deck brand that teamed up with other prominent skaters in the world.
For over two decades, Birdhouse has been an iconic name among the best skateboard deck brands available. They are a testament to quality and durability. These deck boards are made of the standard 7-ply North American maple. They weigh in at around 3 lbs. for the 8.25” deck; they are ideal for all skateboarder skill levels and expertise. Deck sizes also come in 8.0”, 8.25”, and 8.5” widths.
Birdhouse skateboards also have cool and exciting decals featuring famous names in the skateboarding industry. Take this Birdhouse Skateboard Deck with the cool evil cat graphics as an example.
Pros:
- Trusted and reliable skateboard brand
- Suitable decks for every skill level
- Solid and high-quality
Cons:
- The tail is smaller than the nose (not symmetrical shape)
10. Enjoi
The individually-pressed skateboards of Enjoi feature similar concave and curvature with every board. In addition, these skateboard decks are made using the traditional 7-ply maple construction that gives them a more durable build and finishes. They also feature a classic popsicle shape that is great for either technical or street skating.
This particular Enjoi Skateboard Deck has a 7.5” x 13.3” dimension and weighs only 2.2 lbs. But its sizes come from the base range of 7.75” to 9” wide for various users. These skateboards are popular with many beginners because of their heavy-duty and lightweight structure.
The white panda graphics are a favorite among skateboards. Add the design to its sturdiness, and it proves to be one of the best skateboard deck brands for achieving better pops and ollies.
Pros:
- Consistent concaves
- Smooth ride
- Durable and heavy-duty
- Best for beginners
Cons:
- Doesn’t have much recurve for tricks
Skateboard Decks Buying Guide
According to marketing statistics, Gen Z skaters are not very particular when it comes to choosing the best skateboard deck brands. The majority of skaters do not care about brand names at all, with the exception of technical and professional skateboarders.
However, young skaters are keen on the quality of the skateboards they choose and the design and features the skateboard deck offers.
Here are the things that you should look for in a skateboard deck:
Skateboard Size
Width is the most important consideration when choosing a skateboard deck. The appropriate width of the skateboard deck is determined by the user’s shoe size to help ensure a comfortable ride. The skater’s height and skating style are also factors for a more balanced and stable ride.
Skateboard decks that measure 7.5 to 8 inches are aptly fitting for men with a 6.5 to 9 shoe size. However, if your shoes are larger than 9, you may want to pick up decks at 8.0-to-8.5-inch width.
Choosing a narrow board that is too narrow for your shoe size risks its overall stability. A board that is too wide, on the other hand, puts more pressure on your legs, leading to a difficult ride.
Length and Style
Skateboards have four categories determined by the length of the deck from the nose to the tail. The deck style is dependent on the skating style, so it is mostly a personal preference.
Shortboards. Shortboard length is between 28 to 32 inches. These are designed for performing tricks. Shortboards are your best bet for street and park skating.
Longboards. Designed mostly for cruising and downhill racing, the longboard measures 33 inches or longer. It is the best deck for beginner skateboarders because it is stable and easy to maneuver. Longboards also come in three different shapes: pintail, twin tip, and cruiser longboards.
Cruiser. Cruisers are stable and maneuverable and are the best for daily transportation and cruising. Cruiser skateboard lengths are between 25 and 32 inches.
Old School. Asymmetrical skateboards with a flat nose and kick tail are considered old school. These are the best planks to get for pool and ramp skating.
Deck Concave
The deck concave refers to the curvature of the deck from the tail to the nose. It is unique to every deck, with an angle ranging from mellow, medium, or deep concave. Deeper curvatures provide better grip and maneuverability compared to flatter ones. These are ideal for flip and trick skating, while the flatter ones are great for cruising and transportation.
Materials
The skateboard deck is made of materials pressed together for a more stable and sturdy board. Maple is the traditional deck material providing just the right weight for different skating styles. A bamboo skateboard is an eco-friendly alternative to maple, which is lighter but with less durability. Composite fiberglass is the new trend that is more lightweight and long-lasting than other boards. However, these boards are also prone to delamination and surface depreciation.
