Complete Longboards

Types of Longboards — What Suits What

Longboarding is not one thing. The right setup depends entirely on what you want to do with it. Here's the honest breakdown:

Cruisers and commuters — mellow, stable, designed to roll from A to B efficiently and comfortably. Typically 32"–42" in length, medium flex, standard reverse-kingpin trucks. The right choice for anyone who wants to get around the city, commute to the train station or just cruise a beachside path without thinking too much about setup. Landyachtz Dinghy, Loaded Coyote and Arbor Pilsner are the standouts in this category.

Drop-through and drop-deck setups — the truck mounts through the deck, lowering the ride height and centre of gravity. More stable at speed, easier to push and brake (foot is closer to the ground). Good for longer distance pushing and fast commuting. Popular with riders who want stability over tight turning ability.

Top-mount carvers — the truck mounts under the deck at full height, raising the centre of gravity and increasing leverage on the trucks. More responsive turning, better for carving. The right choice for riders who want a dynamic, surfy carve feel on a longer board.

Flex decks — decks with built-in flex dampen vibration on rough ground and contribute to a lively, responsive ride feel. More flex suits cruising and carving. Less flex suits downhill and commuting where predictability matters more.

Downhill and freeride — stiff, symmetrical or directional decks designed for speed. Drop-through or drop-deck for stability. Wheels with a more controllable slide formula. Helmet, slide gloves and protective gear are non-negotiable at speed. See our protection collection.

Longboard Trucks — Reverse Kingpin vs Standard

Most longboards use reverse-kingpin (RKP) trucks — the kingpin faces outward from the board's centre rather than inward as on a standard skateboard truck. RKP trucks are more stable at speed, carve more naturally and suit the wider stance of a longboard setup. Standard kingpin trucks (like those on a regular skateboard) can be used on shorter cruisers for a tighter, more skateboard-like turn radius.

Truck height and bushing hardness determine how the board turns and feels. Softer bushings turn easier and suit carving and cruising. Harder bushings are more stable and suit downhill and higher speeds. Most complete boards come with appropriate bushing hardness for the intended riding style — if you want to tune the feel, bushing upgrades are the cheapest and most effective tweak you can make.

Longboard Wheels — Size and Hardness

Longboard wheels are larger and softer than skateboard wheels. 65–75mm is the typical range, running 78a–87a hardness. Larger wheels roll over rough ground more easily and maintain speed. Softer wheels grip more and are more comfortable on rough surfaces. The rounded lip profile of most longboard wheels gives a smooth, controlled slide when you need to scrub speed.

Wheel contact patch (the width of the flat section that contacts the ground) affects grip and slide. Wider contact patch means more grip. Narrower contact patch slides more easily. Downhill and freeride riders often prefer wheels that slide predictably; cruisers and commuters want grip and smooth rolling.

The Brands We Carry

• Landyachtz — the most complete longboard brand available. Canadian-made, rider-owned, covers everything from the iconic Dinghy mini-cruiser to full downhill setups. If you buy one brand in longboarding, Landyachtz is the logical first choice.
• Loaded Boards — premium bamboo and fibreglass construction. The Tan Tien and Icarus are among the most refined flex decks available. Strong following among dancers and freestyle riders as well as carvers.
• Arbor — sustainable construction, distinctive graphic approach. Strong in all-around cruising and the premium sector of the longboard market. The Axis and Shakedown are consistent favourites.
• Sector 9 — one of the longboarding originals. Broad range across prices and riding styles. Strong value at the entry level.
• Orangatang Wheels — the premium wheel brand for longboarding. 4President, Kegel and In Heat formulas each tuned for different riding styles. The benchmark against which other longboard wheels are measured.

Longboard FAQ

What size longboard should I buy? For cruising and commuting: 32"–40" is the sweet spot. Longer and wider is more stable; shorter and narrower turns more easily. Beginners generally do better on wider, more stable setups. Come in and we'll match you to the right size.

Are longboards good for beginners? Yes — the larger wheelbase and bigger wheels make longboards more stable and easier to balance on than regular skateboards. They're an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to ride but isn't interested in tricks and technical skating.

What's the difference between a longboard and a cruiser? Size and intent. Cruisers are shorter (28"–34"), more manoeuvrable, and suit tight urban environments. Longboards are longer (36"+), more stable, and suit longer distances, carving and downhill. The line blurs at the shorter end of the longboard range.

Can longboards be used for commuting? Yes — a drop-through or drop-deck setup on a 36"–40" board is excellent for commuting. Stable, comfortable on rough ground and rolls efficiently over longer distances. Add a Landyachtz Tugboat or Dinghy for tighter urban environments.

What protective gear do I need for longboarding? Helmet as minimum. Wrist guards significantly reduce the most common longboarding injury. Knee pads and slide gloves for freeride and downhill. See our protection collection.

Do you stock longboard parts? Yes — trucks, wheels, bearings, bushings, risers and hardware all available separately. Come in if you want to upgrade a specific component.

Longboard Wheels  ·  Longboard Trucks  ·  Landyachtz  ·  Loaded  ·  Arbor  ·  Surf Skates  ·  Cruiser Skateboards  ·  Best Longboards Australia  ·  How to Choose a Longboard