Longboarding is an exhilarating game and attracts people of all ages; some to ride, others to admire the skills and dexterity of pros showing-off their tricks and stunts they can pull off using a board on wheels. In both cases, it is an exciting game to witness. Like any game, the quality of a game depends significantly on the quality of the equipment so choosing the right equipment for yourself, you have leveled up the playing field to a new stage.
Trucks are important components of a longboard that allows you to turn and keep the wheels of the board properly attached to the board. Therefore, when choosing a longboard, longboard trucks should also be given due attention to ensure a smooth and quality ride that you are looking for. Wherever you go for choosing a longboard truck, there are two things that you should keep in mind while making the purchase, getting best quality in reasonable price and buying trucks according to the type of ride you are inclined to, namely, cruising, Freeride and downhill.Considering above criteria, here is a list of best trucks available in the market.
Top 10 Best Longboard Trucks Recommendation
Choosing Longboard Trucks
Cruising
For the cruising style of longboard riding, it is recommended that the trucks should be closest to the width of the deck of your longboard. To get the trucks close to the width of the deck makes it easy for you to choose the right wheels for your longboard trucks and provides you with a consistent and smooth ride. It gives you superior quality ride, as the advantage points on your board will be perfectly aligned with your trucks and wheels. While choosing the trucks for cruising style, there are two things that we have to consider.
Truck Width
Rules for choosing the most appropriate trucks for your longboard are quite simple. There are two widths available in the market to choose from, 150mm and 180mm. All you have to do is to select the truck width that is closest to the width of the deck of your longboard, usually 1/4th of your decks width.
Choosing right trucks for Skinnier Decks
Cruising decks that have width less than 8.5” are skinnier decks. For these types of longboards, trucks with 150mm trucks are an ideal combination for best riding experience.
Choosing right trucks for Wider Decks
Carving decks mostly comes with width ranging from approx. 8.5” – 10.5” and up. For such types of decks, you need to purchase 180mm trucks for ideal combination.
Standard and Reverse Kingpin Truck
Cruising and carving style of longboarding is considered best done with reverse-kingpin, which are manufactured and designed for providing a wide range of manoeuvrability, and dexterity, which is always desired by longboarding enthusiasts. While, Standard trucks are rarely used. That, though, doesn’t render Standard trucks to be useless or substandard; with a little nick here, and tuck there and bushing up upgrades, Standard style trucks can provide you with effortless turns and smooth rides, just like reverse-kingpin.
Reverse-Kingpin Trucks
Reverse Kingpin are mostly used on longboards which are used on boardwalk or downhill race tracks. Reverse-Kingpin is designed to assist and provide more flexibility in turns and manoeuvrability. You will find this style of trucks more in use. This board is also suitable for doing tricks that not many longboards manage to pull off.
Standard-Kingpin Trucks
Standard Trucks are used for street skateboards. These trucks are recommended to be used for cruising boards with kicktails as it lets you enjoy sharp response from the use of tail.
- IDEAL FOR LONGBOARDING — Parts are specifically designed for riding longboards.
- IDEAL FOR LONGBOARDING — Parts are specifically designed for riding longboards.
- DURABLE TRUCKS — Lightweight aluminum holds is strength and delivers a solid ride.
- JUST ADD WOOD — All you need is a deck and you're ready to go!
- SMOOTH RIDE — 70mm 78A durometer wheels perfect for cruising the streets.
Free Ride
Freeride is the most popular longboarding style among longboarding enthusiasts. Freeriding originated from street skateboarding where skaters are allowed to use any kind of technique and unique style of their own bringing more colors to the sport . Main features of Freeride are sliding, early grabs, tailwhips, manuals, flip tricks, tech sliding and minor downhill. It incorporates many styles of longboarding in one.
Choosing Truck Design
Longboarding and skateboarding have been around for quite some time now and so the manufacturers have worked on the functionality of the designs to provide best rides. For freeriding style of longboarding, bushing style of trucks are considered best as it features simplicity and also they have proved best for this kind of rides over a period of time.
Reverse Kingpin or Standard Kingpin Trucks
Reverse Kingpin Trucks are considered best for freeriding style of longboarding whether it is drop-through or drop-platform deck. Reverse Kingpin trucks assist in smooth rides and help in turning and carving styles of ride as well. Therefore, for Freeride longboarding, experts suggest using Reverse Kingpin.
Baseplate Angle
Longboard Trucks Baseplate AngleBaseplate Angle choice depends totally on the personal preference of the riders. Some riders, for freeriding, choose trucks with lower baseplate angle (40-45°) which provides more stability during the ride and smooth experience. While others love to live on the edge and want aggressive turns and for that, they like the baseplate with higher baseplate angle (50-52°). Higher base plates provide more power in forcing the wheels to break traction and start the slide.
Choosing Truck Width
CTo ensure smooth and ideal riding performance, it is imperative that the width of the truck should be as close as possible to the width of the longboard deck. The ideal width recommended for the trucks is 10” or 180mm. This size can vary a few millimetres from the aforementioned size as such minute differences will not affect the overall performance of the trucks.
- REVERSE KINGPIN TRUCK: The ready-to-ride Atlas RKP is the new standard for reverse kingpin longboard trucks. Our forged A356 aluminum is stronger and more precise than any other truck in the category.
- SMOOTH RIDING: Our precision ball pivot, 10mm-8mm axle, and threaded self-cleaning pivot cup offer a smooth ride that is almost indistinguishable from trucks at 5 times the price. Innovation at last.
- IDEAL FREERIDE TRUCK: The original Atlas truck was designed for advanced freeriding. The truck geometry, ball pivot, and 48 degree baseplate create a carvy, surfy feel with fluid lean.
- PRECISION ENGINEERED TRUCKS: We designed each component of our trucks to meet the most exacting tolerances. The end product delivers a fluid, stable & reactive ride unlike any other longboard truck
- ATLAS QUALITY: Atlas trucks are designed with solid construction technology for maximum lean & consistent control. Try them if you've previously used trucks by Paris, Caliber, Bear, Gullwing & Randal
Downhill Trucks
Downhill longboarding is what the name suggests. Downhill longboarding has been developed over the years and has many options in longboards to improve stability, which is a must for downhill longboard riding. It is an adrenaline-powersport, which calls for proper safety gear more than other styles of longboarding for sake of your own health.
Choosing Truck Design
Nowadays, with such advancement in the game of longboarding itself, there is a wide range of trucks available in the market to choose from. We have to keep in mind the style of ride we are interested in while making the purchase. For downhill longboarding, whether you have a drop-through or top-mount deck, a reverse kingpin truck loaded with a bushing suspension and turning system is considered ideal for handling the speed of downhill rides.
Why Reverse Kingpin Trucks
At highspeeds, in longboarding, you need predictable truck behaviour to avoid any unwarranted mishap. Reverse Kingpin provides predictability for the riders and makes smooth turns down to the hill much easier. These trucks can be mounted on both drop-through and top-mount decks. Some professional and intermediate level riders choose precision trucks.
Baseplate Angle
Degree of your baseplate plays an important role in determining the kind of turn your longboard will take with a specific amount of lean. High Degree trucks with 50° angle will offer you quick response. On the other hand, lower degree trucks with 40° baseplate angle will offer more stability at high speed. Lower degrees of base plate can cause complications with wheelbite, so it is recommended that you use 50° reverse kingpin trucks if you are a beginner.
Choosing Truck Width
As with most trucks, it is recommended highly that the width of the trucks should be as closely corresponding to the width of your longboard deck as possible. You should be looking for trucks that range in the 10” or 180mm category. Plus or minus of few millimetres will not affect the performance of your ride.
- The new version of our double kingpin carving truck
- New sleeker design and customized base plate
- Emulates a surfboard/snowboard style ride on the concrete
- Standard and old school truck mounts
Best Longboard Trucks
1. Gullwing Sidewinder II (Set of 2), Silver, 9-Inch
Gullwing Sidewinder II showcases very unique features, which make it stand out in the market. Firstly, it has two separate kingpins, which is going to allow you to have two different points of turn. It will assist you in riding higher. This feature will also let you make turns very nice and tight giving you a very cool surfing feeling. Gullwing Sidewinder II is a great carving truck and helps you push around town in crowded areas as well. Secondly, it allows you to actually take out the middle joint and convert it to a single kingpin truck, which will give you a standard kingpin truck, but on a 10” wider truck, which can be fitted to a wider deck for a more stable ride.
2. Paris V2 Amanda Powell Pro Model 180mm Longboard Skateboard Trucks Set of 2
Paris trucks are made super solid and sturdy and can be used anywhere and in any way you want as it can endure any kind of handling and rides. It has been upgraded from the original Paris Trucks. The hangers of Paris V2 Trucks are designed to be stronger which makes it less likely to bend. It features more kingpin clearance in the bushing seat. This feature allows the rider to carve more freely and smoothly. Paris Trucks now showcases new branded grade 8 kingpin to enforce more strength. It is designed with higher quality pivot cups for long life and smoother turns.
3. Bear Grizzly 852 181mm Skateboard Trucks (Set of 2)
Bear Grizzly 852 trucks are manufactured and designed to be one of the most versatile trucks. Its unique shape of hanger allows you to flip it over to adjust the performance of the truck according to your style. When you flip it, it is adjusted to a lower turning radius giving you a stable ride downhill and assisting you in handling high speeds with more control. In addition, if you keep it at a standard position, it will help you with responsive turns. Bear Grizzly 852 are designed for almost any style of ride you like.
4. 5inch Turbo Speed Trucks Set w/ Screws
5” Turbo Speed Trucks comes with 5’ hanger, as the name suggests and 7.63” Axle length. These trucks are ideal for pairing with 7.5”, 7.63” and 7.75” decks and will provide you with excellent riding experience. Metal Alloy finish gives it a classy look. It comes with a set of two Mid Profile Trucks and provided with a set of 1” Phillips Screws as well. They are easy to install and can make an ordinary longboard, a better one. They are designed to be strong and durable.
5.LONGBOARD Skateboard TRUCKS COMBO set w/ 71mm WHEELS + 9.675” Polished / Black Trucks Package by Yocaher
This comes in the form of a whole set with wheels bearings, hardware and Risers as well. The trucks are in polished style, black in colour with 175mm HD7 Reverse Kingpin heavy Duty Trucks, made with Aluminium Alloy making it sturdy and durable. Grade 8 Kingpin, 90A PU Bushing Provides more grip and stability during rides. Yocaher Trucks are easily adjustable and can be tightened and loosened at users’ discretion quite easily.
These are some of the top-notch trucks available in the market, which are offering great riding experience to the longboarding enthusiasts. Still if you do not find any product of your liking, please click here for many other quality trucks available in the market, which may catch your fancy and may offer better riding experience.
Conclusion
Longboarding is an exciting sport and can be taken up at any age. A few things should be kept in mind while making the purchase so that you can enjoy this sport to the fullest. While making the purchase, always keep in mind which kind of style you are inclined to. The trucks make a huge difference in making the ride smooth and offer responsive turns and carvings. Therefore, whether it is cruising, Freeride or downhill, your trucks should be in correspondence to the riding style. Last but not the least, never compromise on the quality of the trucks you are using as they can make all the difference between smooth or a bumpy ride.
