Best Skateboard Gear and Accessories

The helmet is the most important safety gear as it ensures the safety of your skull. Therefore, spending a little bit extra on your headgear is a logical decision. It is highly encouraged practice in skateboarding as well as longboarding community; in fact, people look down upon a person who refuses to take this precautionary measure.

You cannot pinpoint any particular style of skateboarding to be more dangerous than the other is or whether being more knowledgeable about skateboarding keeps you safe 100% from any accident or injury. Anyone can experience disaster. A pebble caught in your skateboard wheel can send you rolling on the road. However, most injuries are sustained when inexperienced skateboarders are trying to land a trick. Therefore, if you are wearing a helmet, you can avoid any severe damage. Even when you become a pro in skateboarding and have mastered every trick in the book, you are to wear a helmet still.

Getting a certified and Best Skateboard Accessories can be crucial and ensure that the helmet that you are using will not let you down in the time of need and keep your head safe from any injury. They are not as complicated as their names make them appear.

An important thing to note before getting a helmet for yourself is that the foam inside a helmet called Expanded Polystyrene or EPS is certified by CPSC standards, as it is an essential component of the helmet. It is the one, which absorbs the main impact of the fall so make sure it is not a cheap copy.

Gloves are another critical protective gear that is necessary for the skateboarders if they want to avoid scathing severe of hands or an injury during their tricks and fast downhill rides. There are various types and styles of gloves available for the skateboarders in the market, and you can get one according to personal preferences.

For example, you can get gloves with a low profile for simple skateboard rides, or you can get a pair of sturdier gloves for more protection. You can also get finger pucks and thumb pucks with different styles available. Then, there is one puck for all four fingers available as well as lobster style, etc. There is a vast variety available in the market that can cater well to your style of skateboarding.

Slide gloves work two ways. One, they protect skateboarder’s hands from direct impact or contact with the hard surfaces and do tricks with ease. Second, they are made of breathable mesh material, which is designed to absorb sweat from your hands on hot days. While making the purchase, getting lightweight gloves is essential but make sure they are durable at the same time to endure the tricks and style of skateboarding you prefer.

Wheels are what make you move while standing on a skateboard deck, so their quality has a significant role to play in the quality of ride you are expecting. Made of polyurethane mostly, they come in various sizes, colors and durability levels that cater to your preferred riding style. Measurement of skateboard wheels is taken considering both their diameter and durometer. Which one you choose considering these measurements depends on your style of skateboarding. There are custom wheels available on the market that works best for your riding style and matches your trucks and deck.

Durometer that determines the hardness of the wheels is an important aspect to check before making the purchase. Harder wheels are faster while soft wheels are slow but have more grips. Softer wheels are suitable for street skating while harder wheels to perform well on smooth surfaces, such as skate parks. Some companies make customized wheels for specific use as well.

Similarly, contact patch plays an essential role in providing stability to your skateboard, and there are different types for different styles of skateboarding. You can choose Best Skateboard Wheel Brands according to your preferred style.

Skateboard bearings are circular metal pieces that fit inside the wheels used to fix the wheels to the axle. No matter what size of wheels is used, bearings are all of the same dimensions and will fit any skateboard wheel. The standard measurements for bearings are 8mm (core), 22mm (outer diameter) and 7mm (width). Skateboard bearings’ performance is dependent on the proper functioning of other parts of the wheels. They should be cleaned regularly as the build-up of dirt can hamper their adequate operation and eventually make them halt completely.

Most bearings are gauged using ABEC ratings. The higher the ABEC rating, the more accurate the bearing will be. Bones Bearings do not use ABEC rating along with a handful of some other companies and have their rating system called skate rated. They are superior as compared to ABEC rated bearings as they take care of many quality factors that ABEC rated bearings maker ignores.

There are two kinds of bearings available in the market based on the material being used in their manufacturing.

Steel Bearings: They are made of steel, and their quality depends on the quality of steel used.

Ceramic Bearings: Some companies now offer ceramic bearings, which are very smooth and produce very little friction. Moreover, they do not expand in heat. They are a bit more expensive, but for durability, they are worth the price.

See also: How to Choose the Right Skateboard Bearings.

T-shaped pieces mounted under the skateboard that house the wheels and bearings of the skateboard are called skateboard trucks. They are very crucial components of your skateboard that keep the wheels and bearings securely attached to the deck of your skateboard. The type and size of skate trucks you choose affect the stability of your skateboard. You have to be careful in selecting and maintaining your trucks to avoid wheel bite; wear and tear that happens when wheels rub against your board and hinder your movements while performing tricks.

Bushings play an important role in the performance of your trucks. Softer bushings facilitate easy turning. Depending on your style of skateboarding, you can keep your trucks tight or loose. As far as size of the trucks is concerned, it is measured by axle width or hanger width. This width directly affects the performance of your skateboard, and you can choose one according to your skateboarding style. Following sizes are generally available in the market.

• 6″-7.25″ truck axle – 6.5″ to 7.25″ skateboard decks
• 7.5″ truck axle – 7.25 to 7.5″ skateboard decks
• 7.75″ truck axle – 7.5″ to 8″ skateboard decks
• 8.0″ truck axle – 8″ to 8.5″ skateboard decks
• 8.5″ truck axle – 8.5″ to 9″ skateboard decks
• 9.0″ truck axle – 9″ to 10″ skateboard decks
• 10.0″ truck axle – 10″ wide and above skateboard decks

Apart from head and hands, the next most vulnerable parts that may get hurt on impact from fall are knees and elbows. Any sports that are played on concrete calls for protective gear that includes elbow pads and kneepads beside headgear and hand protection. For skateboarding, hard shell pads, support braces are needed. Whether you are a passionate skateboarder or not, you will need protection and not getting the elbow, and knee protection is not an option.

Hardshell knee and elbow pads are neoprene sleeves, or they are also available as pad made with thin breathable and flexible material. However, hard shell pads are recommended mostly as they can take the pressure of impact on concrete much better than any other protective equipment used in this category. Therefore, it is recommended that you get hard-shelled elbow and kneepads and make sure you do not skateboard without them.

Another accessory that proves quite handy is board light. It is a small compatible light that can be adjusted just under the truck without any hassle and helps you get detected by the on-going traffic at night time. It can be called a protective gear as well as it protects you from any accident that might take place because you are not visible to the incoming traffic.

This accessory solves this problem and is neither hard to install nor very expensive. It can be easily installed under your deck and is protected by the truck and the wheel. You can also fix it on the deck according to your convenience. There are Skateboard headlights and back red light available to be visible to traffic coming from both sides. So if you are an ardent skateboard enthusiast, do not let sunset hinder your passion; these Skateboard lights are just a thing for people like you.

Skate shoes or skateboard shoes are made and designed primarily for skateboarding. They are designed in a manner that lowers the risk of injuries to one’s feet and let the skateboarder have more control over their board for the safe ride. The material used in making these shoes offer better strength and durability for the rides. For soles, polyurethane or rubber is used while for the upper part, sturdy material is used with double or triple stitching to make them even sturdier.

During skateboarding, one can experience a significant impact on the underside of the foot, which may result in stress-related injuries to ankle, arch or heel. Wearing good quality skateboard shoes can prevent such injuries. Not only are they functional, but companies are also manufacturing them keeping in mind your aesthetic needs and are available in many beautiful and attractive designs and colors. There are many brands of skateboard shoes available according to your taste and needs.

Skateboard suits are a protective layer that keeps the skateboarder’s body from injury due to impact on concrete. To make sure that the suits don’t tear apart on impact and endure these kinds of falls, manufacturers chose the material that is flexible, resistant and doesn’t hinder riders’ performance at the same time. They have chosen leather, Kevlar or special Viscos foam. All said every decent protective suit has some leather protective sheet inside them even if the entire outfit is not made of the leather itself. Skateboarding Leathers are available in various brands and styles.

Another important aspect is that being athletes and sportsmen, they tend to sweat a lot, so it is imperative that these protective suits are made with the fabric that ensures maximum airflow in and out of the suit for the comfort of its user. So while making the purchase, make sure you keep these things in mind. There are various brands available in the market that can cater to your size and style.