Longboards are typically longer and wider than a standard skateboard. They measure between 39 to 60 inches and have larger wheels with precise hardware. This makes them perfect for cruising, dancing, curving, and freestyle. However, they may vary depending on their use.
Here are some of the best downhill longboards for beginners.
1. Best Overall: APOLLO Longboard Skateboards
- Brand: Apollo
- Deck Width: 9 Inches
- Material: Aluminum Alloy Trucks Aircraft Grade
- Deck Length: 38 Inches
- Color: Blue Sky
- Wheel Size: 51 Millimeters
- Load Capacity: 220 Pounds
These APOLLO longboards are designed and engineered in Germany by skaters for skaters. Therefore, you can be sure they deliver in performance and quality.
They are perfect for anyone looking to cruise with maximum control as they are lightweight but sturdy. Plus, with 65mm x 51mm HR78A soft-medium LED wheels and ABEC 9 RS high-speed chrome steel bearings, your ride will be precise and smooth every time, making them perfect for every level, including beginners.
The Apollo longboard is equipped with a shorter 36-inch deck, making it easier to control and navigate. It is also a good choice for kids or shorter people. The seven layers of high-quality maple wood provide plenty of strength and flexibility. The Blue Sky color makes this board visually appealing – especially at night!
APOLLO longboard skateboards are backed with free customer service and a two-year warranty.
Pros
- Sleek, eye-catching design
- Multifunctional- can be used for traveling, cruising, freeriding and downhill racing
- Can be used by kids, teenagers, and adults
- Can accommodate up to 220 pounds of weight
- Comes fully assembled, including a free tool for adjusting flexibility
- Suitable for both primary and complex stunts
- Two-year warranty
- Lightweight making it easy to carry around
Cons
- Costlier but packed with tons of unique features that make up for the price
2. Runner Up: FISH SKATEBOARDS 41-Inch
- Brand: FISH SKATEBOARDS
- Material: Maple
- Deck Length: 40 Inches
- Wheel Material: Polyurethane
- Wheel Size: 70 Millimeters
- Load Capacity 250 Pounds
The FISH Downhill Skateboard is a versatile skateboard that can be enjoyed by beginners and pros alike. It is an excellent choice for anyone looking to take their skills to the next level. It has sturdy and robust construction.
Featuring a full-size 41 x 9-inch design, this board is perfect for anyone looking to do some basic stunts and tricks. Its high density 8 layer grade A Canadian maple wood construction ensures durability and stability – making it the perfect choice for adults and kids alike.
This board comes complete with 70x51mm HR82A anti-shock wheels, ensuring a smooth and stable ride every time. It comes fully assembled, so all you do is jump and go and comes with the All-in-One Skate T-Tool, which lets you tighten up or repair your skateboard quickly and easily.
Pros
- Great price point
- Multi-purpose including room for freestyling, cruising, and traveling, among others
- Can accommodate up to 250 pounds of weight
- Great for all levels from beginner to expert
- Durable and Strong
- Lightweight making it easy to carry around
Cons
- Some may find it basic
3. Best All-Purpose: Atom Drop Deck Longboard (41-Inch)
- Brand: Atom Longboards
- Material: Maple
- Deck Length: 104 Centimeters
- Colour: Orange
- Wheel Size: 70 Millimeters
- Item Weight: 10.14 Pounds
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been shredding for years, this Atom longboard is among the best longboard brands and will help you cruise in style.
The full maple laminate deck is solid and lightweight, while the reverse King Pin (RKP) trucks provide a super smooth ride. Not to forget the wide-lips, 70x51mm super high rebound urethane wheels – they’ll give you plenty of high speed and stability no matter where you’re headed.
Finally, the ABEC 9 bearings of this Atom longboard with high speed lubricant keep everything running smoothly, so you can focus on having fun.
Pros
- Multi-purpose including room for freestyling, cruising, and traveling, among others
- Great for all levels from beginner to expert
- Durable and Strong
Cons
- Slightly on the heavy side, weighing 10.14 lbs. It may be challenging for some to carry around.
4. Best Value: LAKVEE Longboard, Stake Longboard
- Brand: LAKVEE
- Deck Width: 8 Inches
- Material: Maple
- Deck Length: 107 Centimeters
- Colour: Blue
- Wheel Material: Polyurethane
- Load Capacity 380 pound
If you’re looking for an excellent quality longboard, look no further than this. The professional production and top-notch design make this board perfect for beginners and professional skateboarders. Plus, the emery non-slip surface provides a stable and robust grip. At the same time, the 9-layer grade of Canadian maple wood ensures durability. With a max load weight of 380lbs., this board can handle just about anything you throw at it.
It is built for smooth rides with its HR82A anti-shock PU wheels, super smooth degree Abec-9 Chrome steel, and SHR95A super soft bushings. It also comes out of the box ready to ride and doesn’t require assembly. You’ll be able to cruise in style with all the accessories you need, including Doodle Stickers Random, T-tool x 1, and high-quality bearings x 2.
Pros
- Can hold up to 380lbs in weight
- Great for all levels from rookies to pros
- Pocket-friendly price
- Strong and durable
- Stable making it great, especially for beginners
Cons
- It may be heavy for some to carry around.
5. Best Premium: MINORITY Downhill Maple Longboard
- Brand: MINORITY
- Deck Width: 9 Inches
- Material: Aluminum, Alloy Steel, Polyurethane, Maple
- Deck Length: 40 Inches
- Colour: Galaxy
- Durometer Hardness: 78A
- Wheel Material: Polyurethane
- Wheel Size: 70 Millimeters
- Load Capacity: 200 Pounds
This board is high quality and durable, thanks to its 100% maple wood. It has a low gravity construction, making it perfect for speed rides. It also comes equipped with adjustable aluminum trucks, durable PU wheels, and ABEC-9 bearings, ensuring a smooth, enjoyable ride. Plus, the excellent graphics will make you stand out from the crowd.
Pros
- Pocket friendly
- It can be used by both adults and kids
- Great for speeds
- Multifunctional
- Great design and graphics
Cons
- Limited weight capacity at 200lbs.
6. Best Slot Through Longboard: Quest Skateboards Zero Dark 40 Downhill Style Slot Through Longboard
- Brand: Quest Skateboards
- Deck Width: 7 Inches
- Material: Aluminum, Maple
- Deck Length: 40 Inches
- Color: Black
- Durometer Hardness: 80A
- Wheel Size: 70 Millimeters
- Item Weight: 8 Pounds
Quest Skateboards has created a downhill style longboard perfect for speed and safety. The open-wheel design prevents any “wheel bite.” The sturdy 7 ply all-cold Climate Hardwood Maple deck ensures a smooth, fast ride.
The reverse kingpin trucks provide stability and outstanding handling on curves, while the ABEC 7 precision bearings keep you moving smoothly. At only 40 inches long, this Quest skateboard is lightweight yet durable – perfect for anyone looking to speed down the street in style or just learning how to longboard.
Pros
- Rides can be customized thanks to the adjustable trucks
- Great design
- Durable and strong
- Lightweight making it easy to carry around
- Pocket-friendly price
Cons
- It may require regular maintenance and care
7. Best Extra-long Longboard: Seething 42 Inch Longboard Skateboard Complete Cruiser Pintail, The Original Artisan Maple Skateboard
- Brand: Seething
- Deck Width: 10 Inches
- Material: Aluminum, Maple
- Durometer Hardness: 80A
- Wheel Material: Polyurethane
- Wheel Size: 70 Millimeters
- Load Capacity: 330 Pounds
- Colour: Bloom
The seething 42 Inch Longboard Skateboard Complete Cruiser Pintail is made of high-quality Canadian maple; this board is sturdy and stable and can withstand riders up to 330lbs. It’s also equipped with genuine aluminum 7 Inch alloy trucks for extra comfort and stability. So whether you’re just starting out or you’re an experienced skater, this board is the perfect choice for you!
This cruiser longboard comes equipped with reactive and smooth gliding reverse kingpin trucks, precision ABEC-11 bearings, and PU cast bushings-95A. Plus, it’s built for an unsurpassed smooth ride in a wide range of terrain. The fashionable appearance and graceful streamlined design give skateboarders a comfortable experience and excellent aesthetic.
And thanks to the high-density waterproof anti-skidding diamond emery paper, you’ll stay riding steadily and safely throughout your journey. No assembly is required. It comes completely preinstalled. Just take it out of the box and use it directly!
Pros
- Can support lots of weight – up to 330 lbs.
- Beautiful design
- Durable material
- Pre-Installed and ready for use
Cons
- Some find it to be a bit on the pricey side
8. Best Small Longboard: HOME Longboards Skateboard – 31″ Pro Small Longboard Carving Cruising Skateboard
- Brand: HOME
- Deck Width: 8.25 Inches
- Material: Aluminum, Maple
- Deck Length: 31 Inches
- Durometer Hardness: 80A
- Wheel Material: Polyurethane
- Wheel Size: 51 Millimeters
- Load Capacity 198 Pounds
This is a versatile and stylish skateboard ideal for beginners that can handle all sorts of riding. With 8 layers of alpine hard rock maple wood, this board is tough enough to take on anything you might encounter while cruising, carving, commuting, freeriding, or freestyling.
The 63x51mm 80A PU wheels provide excellent grip and stability. At the same time, the high rebound PU bushings offer great turnability and control at high speeds. And don’t forget the included WHOME T-Tool – perfect for tightening or adjusting your bearings whenever needed.
Pros
- Great design
- Strong and durable
- Multifunctional
- Excellent grip and stability
- Can do high speeds with reasonable control
Control
- Limiting weight capacity with a maximum weight of 198lbs.
9. Best Clear Longboard: Ghost Dragon │40-Inch Platypus │Clear Longboard Skateboard
- Brand: Ghost Long Board
- Deck Width: 8.5 Inches
- Material: Acrylic
- Deck Length: 40 Inches
- Colour: Clear
- Durometer Hardness: 78 hardness
- Wheel Material: Polyurethane
- Board Weight: 9 Pounds
- Load Capacity 230 Pounds
The Dragon board was designed with better balance and stability in mind. Plus, the exposed wheels make it perfect for sharp turns and carving up corners. And because it’s made with acrylic plexiglass, you don’t have to sacrifice the see-through aspect of the board by putting grip tape on the top. So, jump on your Ghost Dragon and enjoy a smooth ride!
This board comes complete with 70mm 78A wheels, LED lights in the wheels, and a smooth ride on various surfaces. Whether you’re hitting the skate park or cruising downtown, the Ghost Dragon is perfect for any rider looking for a fun and unique experience.
The Ghost Dragon longboard skateboard is perfect for beginners and experts alike! With a clear finish, this board is perfect for riders who want a board that’s easy to see and fun to ride! This board is low maintenance and easy to clean by simply wiping it down with water or board cleaner.
Pros
- Multifunctional
- Perfect for all levels
- Strong enough to support weight up to 230 lbs.
- Pocket-friendly price
Cons
- It may feel different for those used to wooden boards.
Best Downhill Longboards: Buyer’s Guide
Here are a few things to keep in mind when narrowing down your choices for the best downhill longboard for beginners.
Size and Flex
You have to strike a delicate balance between the size and flex of a downhill longboard. The flex gives the board its shape profile and determines its flexibility. Boards with more flex are usually lighter and thinner, and the spring from this kind of board is good at absorbing vibrations.
When it comes to size, a shorter board with short wheelbases has a smaller turning radius while longer boards turn more slowly. A longboard with less maneuverability may be best for a beginner as it is easier to ride and balance.
See more: the best longboard wheels for rough roads
Deck Style
Drop through is going to be the best longboard deck style for beginners. Top mount decks are also great for downhill riding. They give you a lower and more stable feeling compared to a drop deck, and a top mount is also often better on a downhill winding road if that’s your riding style.
Here’s a great tip! You can ride any drop through board as a top mount as long as you mount the longboard trucks normally onto the bottom of the drop deck. We definitely recommend a drop through longboard deck style as a top choice when beginning downhill longboarding.
Beginner Tips for Buying a Downhill Longboard
There are a few crucial features when it comes to the best longboards for downhill riding. These decks should be stiff and have an aggressive composite material with little or no flex.
This construction design not only keeps your feet planted but also provides stability when sliding at high speeds onto hillsides. It also keeps the weight low enough so you can carry them around easily if need be!
A wheel range between 68 – 72mm provides traction on most surfaces plus durability over time due to their larger size.
Freeriding and speed skating are the two main types of downhill longboarding. A dropped deck is a perfect choice for those who want to ride at high speeds. However, choosing something with more robust construction is essential for beginners or intermediates just starting out. It won’t bend too easily under pressure while learning the ropes.