Have you ever thought of looking at a longboard vs skateboard? If not, what do you think are their biggest similarities? What about differences? Well, don’t worry, I’ve got your back when it comes to the differences and similarities between the two.
Before I get down to that, though, let me say this. If you lack enough information on skateboards and longboards, you’ll find it hard to pinpoint the differences between the two or even the similarities.
However, it is very important that you tell the difference between the two if you intend to get the best boarding experience. To help you out, let me say that both boards do have different purposes.
That’s why when you are out to pick the best board for your ride, you should think more about your needs and why you actually need that board.
So would you love to fly downhill or simply ride the stair rails? Here are what you must know about a longboard and a skateboard.
The Origins
To get a grip on our topic of discussion today, we’d have to understand the history of the two boarding rides. Take a look.
In the 1950s, surfers fell in love with the thrill of catching huge waves in water so much so that they again wanted the same type of thrill while on land. And so they thought of a better way to do it, and that’s how the skateboard was born.
The surfers took some wooden plank and curved a board out of it before sticking the wheels underneath, and voila! There was a skateboard.
However, in the late 1990s, some surfers noticed that their skateboard was too small that they didn’t find it so much fun to cruise on it. They chose to tweak their design and the size of their skateboard and made them larger.
Once again, a new type of boarding ride was born; to date, this boarding ride is known as the longboard.
Longboard Vs Skateboard: Top 7 Differences
With that said, how does the longboard vs skateboard compare? Here are the main differences between the longboard and the skateboard.
Shape
The first thing that you will notice when you set a longboard and skateboard next to each other is the difference in their shape. The longboard has a flat nose and a flat tail. On the skateboard, however, you’ll notice that the board comes with more of a curved design around the nose and tail. That’s why the latter is good at landing tricks and flips than the former.
Size
Like I mentioned in the origin of the longboard, surfers who wanted to cruise modified their boards to become bigger. That’s why it isn’t a surprise that you’ll find longboards to be longer and wider.
Longboards can run for up to 59 inches. This is unlike a typical skateboard that sits around 36 inches.
But there are longboards that come in sizes much smaller sizes? Well, that’s for sure. We have longboards that measure about 28 inches long.
However, don’t let this confuse you. In case you are tripping, just remember that the main difference between a longboard and a skateboard is the flat nose of the longboard and the curvy nose of the skateboards.
This means that a flat-nosed shorter board is just a short longboard while the opposite is true of the skateboard.
Wheels
I don’t have to tell you that both longboards and skateboards have wheels attached to them; that’s common sense, really.
However, I want to say that the wheels on a longboard and a skateboard differ. For the faster and smoother type of rides, the wheels should be large and soft. That’s why the wheels of the longboard come with these traits.
The skateboards wheels on the other side are smaller and harder. This means that they will make it a non-issue if you wanted to shred rails, gaps, or ride over the ledges.
And yet, if you intend to cruise using your board simply, I’d suggest going for softer wheels since they’d give you a smoother and much more coordinated ride.
NOTE: The wheels of a longboard are big soft wheels that measure anything between 60 and 70mm, while the wheels of a skateboard are small hard wheels that measure anywhere between 52 and 58mm.
Flexibility
The flexibility of the deck of these two boards again differs in a big way. If you don’t know, the deck is basically the base of the board. The flexibility (flex) of the deck, on the other hand, is the stiffness of the board.
So how does the stiffness of the base of the board differ in these two models? Longboards are designed for cruising. As such, their deck cannot be soft.
Instead, they are stiffer and will, therefore, provide you with faster and maximum speed gain in the shortest time possible. They are designed with thicker decks with low flex for easy cruising down the hill.
On the other hand, a skateboard is designed for tricks, speed, and flex. This means that it comes with a thinner board and, as such, provides more flex and unlimited tricks.
With a skateboard, therefore, you’ll get good stability with a better spring-like thrill that does tricks and jumps simpler to nail.
Trucks
We have seen that both skateboards and longboards do have wheels. However, these wheels aren’t suspended. They are attached to the base of the boards. The part that attaches the wheels to the deck is known as the truck.
The truck on a longboard is different from that on a skateboard. Both trucks again operate differently on both boards.
On the skateboard, you will find that the trucks are narrow and rigid. This makes it easy for you to grind and again land any tricks that you choose to.
In addition to that, the trucks on the skateboard are again of the same size as the skateboard deck’s maximum width.
Longboards, on the other hand, have a much flexible truck. This means that you’ll have a smoother ride. This is awesome for the longboarders as it allows them to cruise for longer distances.
In addition to that, the trucks on a longboard are again wider. They measure between 150 millimeters and 180 millimeters. Their wide design maximizes stability and, in so doing, eliminates any chances of accidents or falls.
Balance
Learning and mastering new tricks is now easy when on a board. However, to make the work simpler, you need an even better balance. That’s where the board with the right type of balance will be necessary.
For the best balance, the longboard carries the day. It has a wider deck and trucks and larger wheels. This makes it much more stable and, as such, makes it the best board for anyone who wants to learn and again master some new tricks.
The skateboard with its smaller trucks isn’t the ideal option for a learner or anyone who wants to balance. They should place a secondary role once you have mastered your longboard and its movements.
Speed and Tricks
There is a board that allows you to zoom at maximum speed. There is another one that allows you to perform unlimited tricks. I am guessing that you already know which one goes for the former and which one for the latter.
For maximum speed, a longboard is the best option. It is much more stable with wider trucks and larger wheels. You can ride as fast as you want without necessarily worrying about a fall or a jam along the way.
The other board is the skateboard. This one compares differently when it comes to longboard vs skateboard. It comes with smaller trucks, smaller wheels, and hard wheels.
It won’t give you the grip that you need. You can easily lose your balance, trip, or hit a bump if you were to cruise on them. That’s why they are ideal for riders that love tricks.
Skateboards
- Learning new tricks
- Skating ramps
- Conquering ollies
- Grinding rails
Longboards
- Cruising downhill
- Stable riding
- Beach riding
- Commuting
Additional Tips
When it comes to looking at a longboard vs skateboard, these are the main differences that you will find. However, the similarities are limited and will include the following:
- Both have wheels
- Both are good for learning tricks
- Both have trucks
Nonetheless, there are additional factors that you can focus on when comparing these two boards, which include initial costs, safety, and weight.
Conclusion
What have you learnt when comparing a longboard vs skateboard? The longboard is bulky and comes with a higher initial cost. However, the skateboard has smaller and harder wheels that enable you to perform endless tricks.
That’s for sure. Even so, when choosing between these two types of boards, it is crucial that you focus more on your needs as a rider. Make sure that you understand your riding skills and again the amount of money that you intend to use.
Another thing that you must be aware of is the type of use that you intend to put the board too. This one will determine the type of experience that you need your board to provide you with at any given time.
Meta Description