What Are the 3 Important Factors to Consider When Buying a Skateboard

Many people buying their first skateboard make the mistake of picking a board just for its looks. Contrary to what many believe, there’s a huge difference between boards that are even just slightly different in size, width, and construction. Choosing the wrong skateboard can make riding more difficult or unpleasant, whereas picking the right one can allow you to perform the tricks you want, and ride the way you want with more enjoyment. That being said, here are some of the important things you need to know before you browse for a skateboard in an online skate board store.

Width

Your board is an extension of your personality. If you’re a first-time buyer, the most important thing to consider when looking at all the different boards at a skate board store is the width of the board. You want a board that’s wide enough without too much curvature in order to get more stability from it. Another benefit of wide skateboards is that you can carve with them a lot easier. Narrow deks are preferred by skaters who are more experienced and want to perform tricks and turns. Although narrower decks provide more control, you lose stability in return.

Size

The size of the deck is another extremely important factor to consider. You can only enjoy the ride if you have the right size skateboard. The average skateboard deck is about 7 to 8 inches. As aforementioned, the difference may seem small and insignificant, but when you’re out riding it, it can greatly impact your overall experience. The most important factor that will impact your choice is what you want to do with the skateboard. Smaller decks are ideal for performing tricks and flips. On the other hand, smaller decks are better for beginners, as small size decks are typically lighter and thinner, allowing the rider to navigate with less hassle.

Construction

Although most manufacturers tweak their deck construction processes to achieve specific results, the basic materials used for making boards remain the same. Maple wood is one of the most popular materials used, as it’s durable yet flexible. However, you’ll still find boards made of maple wood using a varying number of ply. In case you don’t know, ply is the measure of how many veneers or thin sheets of wood are used to make the deck. Most decks have a 7-ply construction, although some manufacturers use less or more to increase the strength of the deck or decrease its weight.