Just because you have financial benefits doesn’t mean you can choose skateboarding weights without a thorough survey. It takes up the selection process a couple of times; learning to gain acknowledgement of weights for skateboards can be a good way to determine your upcoming purchase is a good or bad decision.
Skateboard weights should be tailored to the age group and your future riding goals. In addition, a proper choice can protect you from injuries and get back on the board faster.
To find out weights that fit your style, we’ve put together this handy guide. Let’s take a look.
Weights For Skateboard Depending On The Choice Of Materials
Skateboard trucks, decks, and wheels are essential parts of any skateboard setup you choose. This is because they play a great impact on weights for skateboards’ construction.
Giving the choice of the wrong weights can result in failure and discouragement for your skateboarding. Here are three key parts to ask yourself about skateboard construction.
Trucks
Trucks are the heaviest part of a skateboard. Weights of trucks can define your skating. A conception that the material your trucks made of – steel, titanium, aluminum, or magnesium – definitely makes a difference in the way you skate. Designed from steel, titanium, aluminum, and magnesium, making a conception that different weights of each material will change the way you skate.
A magnesium board is 25% lighter than other trucks on the market. In other words, this lightweight truck rides closer to the ground and provides you with room for error when learning, particularly if your bodies are not as fluid as the professionals.
Ultimately, the industry standard for trucks is around 0,77 pounds (350g). On the current market, we can see a traditional steel truck weighing 0,5 pounds (231 grams) or the titanium truck at 0,6 pounds (272 grams). Your setup is in pairs, which means that the trucks make up the total weight of approximately 1,54 pounds or 700 grams. Remember whether you buy ready-made or custom setup, and opt for the trucks to give you the right sort of ride.
Decks
The materials of the deck determine the weights for boards. The materials skateboards are made of can vary from laminated maple wood to bamboo, plastic, and carbon fiber.
Many skateboards, designed for youth and beginner models, can make pushing easier for you as made of maple wood. Professional grade skaters prefer other materials of weights for a skateboard, as it is crucial that their boards will not splinter.
Plywood is the most commonly used material for skateboard decks; the average weight of this material is around 4-5 pounds depending on the width. As made of maple wood, many skateboards, designed for youth and beginner models, make skaters feel more comfortable and make pushing easier.
Professional grade skaters prefer other materials of weights for a skateboard as it is crucial that their boards will not splinter. Aluminum would be required when there is an increased possibility of cracks or defects during skateboarding. A stronger aluminum truck (denser than maple wood 4,5 times) makes the decks have a better performance for professionals.
Wheels
Another conception is that materials of wheels also make a dramatic impact on weight variation. We’ve casually gone skating on wheels made of plastic polyurethane.
Since more complicated blends of materials are introduced, we can spend plenty of time trying out our hand on flatter spot resistant wheels and grinding smoother rails. New materials keep us rolling over cracks and bumps without causing severe risk.
How Much Weight A Skateboard Can Hold
Standard weights are fine in most cases if you go for a 2-5 pounds deck without trucks, bearings, wheels, and grip. A complete setup can weigh totals ranging around 7-10 pounds. The standards for each person depends on the physical conditions and the techniques each skater pursues.
Some people are not really fit or a bit heavier. Whatever physical shape you are in, you need a set that can handle your weight. When suffering a lot of weight impacts, the skateboard setup can become damaged.
Check out this table below to see weights for skateboard construction.
| Size | Deck Width | Age | Average Weight | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micro | 6,5”-6,75” | 5 and under | 45 Ibs | 3’4” |
| Mini | 7” | 8 and under | 59 Ibs and under | 3’5”-4’4” |
| Small | 7,3” | 9-12 | 63-89 Ibs | 4’5”-5’2” |
| Mid Size | 7,5”-7,6” | 13 and over | 102 Ibs-152 Ibs | 5’3”-5’6” |
| Full Size | 7,7”-10” | Adult | 195 Ibs | 5’7”and over |
After you’ve taken a look at the range of weights for skateboards, your next step is to clear your physical self-checkup and then find a match between these above.
The following table determines which type of setup is for your weight category.
| Type | Deck Length | Weight Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Skateboard | 28”-33” | 220 Ibs |
| Longboard | 32”-58” | 260-300 Ibs |
| Pennyboard | 22”-27” | 180 Ibs |
| Electric Skateboard | Around 38” | 200-330 Ibs |
The range for skateboards’ weights normally goes from 59 to195 pounds and will flip faster than a heavy board. However, this kind of board is best for kids skating.
Heavier riders will usually go using something 195 – 300 pounds or more to provide support for the large weight. Having a heavy deck can obtain the downside as it can make doing tricks a lot harder. However, everyone has their preference.
For The Little People
As far as the size of the skateboard for the little guy is concerned, skateboards between 7 – 7.5 inches, 260 – 300 pounds limit are generally most suitable. Small feet and skateboards that are too big and heavy will be uncomfortable to skate, making it impossible and even more difficult to learn the tricks.
Instead, giving your kids a lighter board will allow them a greater board feel. The lighter deck will be more stable and more accurately by matching shoe size, especially when you race down a slope or hill.
For Overweight People
Overweight individuals have the advantage of gravity to get maximum acceleration. In contrast, relatively lighter skateboarders require more effort into going downhill at a higher speed.
Being heavier means people should go for something stronger such as a skateboard handling 300 pounds; otherwise, you will probably break more boards designed for much less weight.
And let’s face the disadvantage, heavier people give more weight to landing skills. As landing much harder, the chances of snapping the board are also higher.
It is crucial to consider all parts of board construction because they all can affect them when skaters are attempting to practice tricks. Just accept the fact that you have to select the pro-grade quality layers of the deck. The material should save a lot of skateboard decks, and you will go through an easier path to complete tricks.
For Everybody Else
The weight of boards still is an important consideration for normal skateboarders. Boards between 7.5 – 7.9 inches, 102 – 195 pounds weight limit help you get used to the skating business, especially for teens. When it comes to ollie and flip, you have to find a light board designed with a medium wheelbase.
At 8 inches wide we are mentioning full-sized skateboards in which you opt for sizes that allow more comfort. With boards with the size from 8 inches or even 8.3 inches, people maintain relatively maneuverability.
Bigger templates, like 8.5 inches wide, are a good option for taller riders that would appreciate more stability.
See also: Best Skateboards For Beginners
Standard Weights For Skateboards Improve Performance
Over the years manufacturers re-engineered their weights of products using a wide range of materials for maximum performance of skateboarding. People want answers on things like: How does a skateboarder improve performance? Yes, the weight has significance.
When you try to do Ollie with a newly bought skateboard. Unfortunately, you cannot realize it is a bit lighter compared to your weight. Your complaint will be how easy it snaps, or you may land badly due to the trucks breaking from overload. Probably, that case became instructive for everyone.
Skating on a heavy setup is normally the choice for catching flip tricks. Boards bigger than 8.5 inches, or over 197 pounds are generally for skaters who often enjoy extra wheelbase a bit and a concave space for big sized feet. Remember that heavier weights for skateboards – are better suited to control transition skate parks as well as bowls where you need the grind longer and quicker.
In Conclusion
You may be wondering if there is a golden rule for you to make the right decision on weights for the skateboards. The answer is “No”, not everyone can choose weights for a skateboard with the same ease; it depends on your physical abilities and style of riding.
More and more brands are producing new skateboard setups. Prerequisite for you is to be aware of your own abilities, and limits then take them into account as you pick out the skateboard’s weights.
Generally speaking, buying appropriate weights for skateboards, you will eventually be on for an amazing experience of the right sort of ride for many years to come.
