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Determining the cost of a longboard can be a bit tricky, as it depends on various factors such as your skill level, intended use, and personal preferences. Prices can range from $50 to $300, with cheaper options typically offering lower quality and durability.
For beginners, it’s important to find a balance between affordability and quality. While you may not need the most expensive longboard, investing in a decent, complete setup can greatly enhance your riding experience from the start.
A typical beginner-friendly longboard of good quality typically ranges from $90 to $150. These boards come with high-quality components such as trucks and wheels, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable ride.
How Much Should You Pay For Your Longboard?
When it comes to purchasing a longboard, it’s important to consider your budget and what you’re looking for in terms of quality and performance. For a regular-sized longboard, which is typically between 33″ to 43″ in length, you should aim to spend at least $150 to ensure decent quality and a smooth riding experience. However, if you’re already passionate about longboarding and want a high-performance and durable board, you may need to invest up to $250.
If you’re looking for a small cruiser for urban riding, you can expect to pay around $130 to $150 for a quality board. Mini-cruisers are small and nimble, often equipped with quality trucks and smaller yet high-performance wheels.
Longboard dancing enthusiasts should be prepared to spend more, with prices starting at $260 for a larger-sized quality dancer. These boards typically come with good carving trucks and medium-sized wheels.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your longboard with high-quality trucks, bigger wheels, or top-notch bearings, you should anticipate an extra cost ranging from $20 to $100 for each upgrade.
Longboard Cost By Brand
When it comes to purchasing a longboard, the cost can vary depending on the brand you choose. Here’s a concise breakdown of the average prices for some of the top longboard brands on the market:
– Arbor longboards: $150 – $210
– Landyachtz longboards: $170 – $250
– Loaded longboards: $290 – $360 (excluding the $500 Chubby Unicorn Blood Slayer)
– Globe longboards: $150 – $230
– Sector 9 longboards: $140 – $225
– Rayne longboards: $200 – $250
– Omen Longboards: $160 – $250
– DB longboards: $140 – $310
– Dusters California: $145 – $230
– Moonshine longboards: $250 – $340
Please note that these prices are based on regular list prices and do not include any promotions or discounts that may be available. Keep in mind that there are other types of longboards available, such as mini cruisers and large dancers, which may have different price ranges. It’s important to consider your budget and riding preferences when choosing the best longboard for you.
Impact Of Deck Construction On Longboard Cost
The construction of a longboard deck has a significant impact on its cost. Longboards made with bamboo typically cost more than all-wood boards. Even within the same brand and model, the bamboo version will often be priced higher than the maple version. For example, Landyachtz’s Bamboo Chief costs around $15 to $20 more than the Maple Chief version.
The materials used for the deck core, such as maple or bamboo, greatly affect the price. Loaded longboards use a highly engineered blend of vertically laminated bamboo and triaxial fiberglass bound using epoxy resin. This construction allows for a high-performance flex and a super durable composite deck. These decks are priced higher than regular maple wood decks.
For instance, the Loaded Tan Tien, a popular freestyle and freeride-oriented longboard, is almost twice the price of the maple-construction Arbor Catalyst. This price difference is due to the advanced technology and construction methods used in the Loaded deck.
Impact Of Deck Size On Longboard Cost
The size of the deck on a longboard can have a significant impact on its cost. Smaller longboards, often referred to as mini-cruisers or city cruisers, tend to be more affordable. These boards are typically 32″ or less in length and are designed for nimble city riding. The reduced size means less material is used in their construction, which can contribute to a lower price point. Mini cruisers are usually priced below $150.
On the other end of the spectrum, larger dancing longboards are generally priced higher than regular longboards. These boards are designed for dancing and board walking, requiring ample room on the deck. The larger size means more materials are used, which drives up the cost. Dancing longboards can range from $200 to $400 or more, depending on the brand and construction.
For a regular longboard, a good quality option typically falls within the range of $150 to $250. However, keep in mind that the specific features, materials, and brand can also affect the overall cost. When shopping for a longboard, consider your specific needs and preferences, as well as your budget, to find the perfect board for you.
Choice Of Trucks And Longboard Cost
The choice of trucks is a key factor in determining the cost of a longboard. Many quality longboards come with reputable truck brands such as Paris, Bear, Caliber, Randal, and Gullwing. These trucks typically range in price from $40 to $60 for a set of two when sold separately.
Upgrading to higher-end trucks can lead to an increase in the overall cost of the longboard. For instance, forged precision trucks specifically made for downhill racing can range from $100 to $150 per truck. Additionally, choosing specialized carving surf trucks like Carver CX trucks can add an extra $100 to $130 to the overall cost of the longboard setup.
It’s important to consider the type of riding experience you desire when choosing the trucks for your longboard. Downhill racing trucks and carving surf trucks are designed for specific purposes and may come at a higher cost due to their specialized features.
Wheel Choice And Longboard Cost
When considering the cost of a longboard, one important factor to keep in mind is the choice of wheels. Quality longboards in the $150 – $250 range often come with good quality wheels from reputable brands such as Orangatang, Sector 9, Hawg, Arbor, Venom, Cloud Ride, and Seismic. The price range for a set of quality longboard wheels typically falls between $35 and $55.
Upgrading the wheels of your longboard to larger ones, like going from 60mm to 80mm, typically increases the overall cost. Moreover, changing from one brand to another can also impact the price. Additionally, switching from one brand to another can also contribute to the price.
When considering longboard bearings, it’s important to note that standard bearings included in a package can be as low as $10, while higher quality options like Bones Reds can cost around $20 for an 8-pack. For those looking for top-notch performance, Swiss Reds or Swiss Ceramics can increase the total cost of your longboard by anywhere from $60 to $160.
FAQs
A drop-through longboard is the easiest board to ride. The deck is positioned lower to the ground, providing more stability and making it easier for riders to control their balance.
Yes, longboarding is generally considered easier than skateboarding. Longboards are longer than skateboards, offering a larger platform for riders to maintain balance. Additionally, longboard wheels are typically softer and provide better grip, making it easier to maintain control while riding.
Learning beginner tricks can be a fun way to improve your longboarding skills. Some beginner tricks you can try are the 360 pirouettes, ghost ride flip, shove-it, pivot, kick-flip, and no comply-180. You can find instructional videos on platforms like YouTube to guide you through these tricks.
Longboarding can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Children can start learning from a young age, as long as they are accompanied by an adult, wear proper safety gear, and not riding near vehicles. Adults can also start at any age and it’s never too late to learn. For adult learners, there may even be social groups in their area specifically for late learners. If not, starting a group of your own can be a great way to connect with fellow enthusiasts.
Conclusion:
When it comes to the question of how much a longboard costs, the answer is simple: the value it brings to your life is priceless. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a new hobby or an experienced rider seeking thrilling adventures, investing in a longboard is an investment in your own happiness and freedom.
So, go ahead, take the leap, and let the wind guide you on your longboarding journey. The only limit is the one you set for yourself. Happy riding!
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