How to Carry Longboard: Step-by-Step

Carrying a longboard requires a method suited to the distance and your environment: hand-carrying for short walks, a shoulder strap or backpack for hands-free mobility, or a specialized travel bag for protection during flights or shipping. The choice hinges on three things: how far you’re going, what else you’re carrying, and whether you need your hands free.

You will pick up your board more often than you think. Uphill walks after a downhill run, navigating crowded city sidewalks, or just getting from your car to the skate spot, each scenario asks for a different solution. Knowing how to carry longboard correctly is key. A method that works for a quick dash across a parking lot will leave your shoulder screaming after ten minutes.

What follows is a breakdown of every practical method, from the simple mall grab to DIY straps, plus the hard rules for air travel and the pre-ride safety checks you cannot skip. By the end, you’ll match the right carry to the job every time.

Key Takeaways

• Always perform a pre-ride check (tighten trucks, inspect wheels) before carrying your board anywhere, safety starts before you ride.
• For airline travel, know that decks over 38 inches are typically not accepted as carry-on; a dedicated travel bag or careful packing is essential for checked boards.
• The mall grab carry (holding by the truck) is practical, but a community source notes there’s ‘a lot of hate for this carrying style among younger riders’; choose comfort over opinion for short distances.
• A simple DIY shoulder strap made from a camera strap or paracord can be more versatile and comfortable than commercial options for hands-free carrying.
• When carrying a board with other gear, prioritize securing the board to your body first; a loose board is a hazard to you and others.

The 3-Second Pre-Ride Check

Before you even think about how to carry your board, you need to know it’s safe to ride. This isn’t just about the carry, it’s about the moment you put it down and step on. I’ve seen boards come apart because someone skipped the ten-second visual once, and then a dozen times after learning how to carry longboard.

The European standard for longboards, DIN EN 13613, and manufacturers like ABISAL SP. Z O.O. (maker of the Nils Extreme) emphasize safety; ABISAL’s manual specifically states to ‘check that the board and all its components are in good technical condition’ before each ride. Their manuals state to “check that the board and all its components are in good technical condition” and to “tighten all screws regularly, especially at wheels and joints.”

Before you start: A loose kingpin (the main truck screw) can cause wheel wobble and instability at speed, leading to a fall. A worn wheel with a flat spot will vibrate violently, robbing you of control. Check both every time.

Here’s the fast checklist. Do this every time you pick up your board to go ride:

1. Truck Wiggle Test: Grab the board by the nose and tail and try to twist it laterally. You should feel resistance from the bushings. If the trucks flop loosely, tighten the kingpin nut a quarter-turn. The ABISAL manual notes that a tighter king pin increases stability, while loosening facilitates turning.
2. Wheel Spin & Inspection: Spin each wheel. They should spin freely for a few seconds without a gritty sound or wobble. Look at the contact surface. Worn wheels become coned or develop flat spots, which the DIN EN 13613 guide says will compromise “maneuverability and stability.”
3. Fastener Scan: Run your eyes over all visible nuts and bolts, especially the axle nuts holding the wheels on. Are they all there? Are they snug? A missing bolt is a catastrophic failure waiting to happen.

This check takes literal seconds once it’s habit. It turns a casual pickup into a conscious safety step. Now, with a board you trust, you can choose how to move it.

Hand-Carrying Techniques: From Mall Grab to Hawaiian

When you just need to go a short distance, across a park, up a flight of stairs, through a store, your hands are the most immediate tool. But not all hand carries are created equal. Your board’s length, your arm span, and the social environment of your local spot all play a role.

Be honest about the mall grab. You hold the board by the front truck, letting it hang vertically at your side. It’s balanced, keeps the grip tape off your clothes, and is incredibly efficient. Yet, a community source from RidingBoards.com notes there’s “a lot of hate for this carrying style among younger riders – for some strange reason.” It’s become a weird litmus test. My take? If it’s comfortable and gets the job done for a fifty-foot walk, ignore the side-eye. Comfort trudes posturing every time.

For longer carries, you need to distribute the weight. The under-arm carry is the classic. Tuck the board under your arm, grip tape facing out, with the tail end forward. This works well for many boards, but for longer boards the weight can dig into your rib cage. For longer boards or if you have shorter arms, the weight digs into your rib cage fast. The how to carry longboard problem is most acute for people with shorter arms, where the weight can dig into the rib cage and become uncomfortable.

That’s where the Hawaiian carry (or “old man” carry) comes in. You rest the deck on your shoulder, with the board angled behind you. You can steady it with one hand on the nose or a truck. This centers the weight over your body’s core, saving your arm and shoulder muscles. It’s the go-to for carrying a board any real distance on foot.

Where this goes sideways: Carrying a board wax-side-in against your body. You’ll get surf wax or street grime all over your clothes. Always orient the grip tape or slick bottom outward.

If your board is very heavy, like many electric longboards, or if you have an injury, a two-handed front carry is the safest. Hold the board horizontally in front of you with both hands, like a tray. It looks awkward, but it minimizes strain on any one muscle group. One Reddit user suggested for heavy electric boards: “Find the centre of gravity and screw a handle either side of it.”

Carry Method	Best For	Biggest Drawback
Mall Grab	Quick, short walks; keeping grip tape clean	Social stigma; strains wrist on heavy boards
Under-Arm	Medium walks; boards under 40″	Digs into ribs; tough with short arms
Hawaiian Shoulder	Long walks; heavy boards; better weight distribution	Can be tiring on neck; board can slide
Two-Handed Front	Very heavy boards; injury recovery; maximum control	Looks awkward; blocks forward view

Hands-Free Solutions: Straps, Backpacks & DIY

When you need to cover ground and have your hands free for a bike, a backpack, or a coffee, hand-carrying won’t cut it. This is where accessories and ingenuity take over. The goal is to transfer the board’s load to your stronger back and shoulder muscles.

A universal shoulder strap is the minimalist’s choice. These are simple straps with hooks or loops that attach to your board’s trucks. You sling it across your body like a messenger bag. They cost under $20, pack into nothing, and are excellent for commuting. I’ve used one for years when skating to the store. I can carry the board and a grocery bag without issue. The key is to adjust the strap length so the board sits high on your back, not banging against your legs.

Longboard-specific backpacks are the all-in-one solution. Longboard-specific backpacks with built-in board straps are available. They’re perfect if you’re also carrying clothes, a laptop, safety gear, or tools. The board straps securely to the outside of the packed bag. The downside is bulk and cost. You’re committing to wearing a backpack, which isn’t always ideal in hot weather or for very short trips.

For the ultimate in protection, especially for travel, a hard-sided longboard travel bag is the answer. These are like golf club cases for your board. They’re essential for airplane travel where your board will be checked luggage, as they protect against rough baggage handling. They’re bulky and expensive, but for shipping a board or flying with a prized deck, they’re worth it.

Common mistake: Using a flimsy bag for airline check-in. Baggage handlers throw items; a soft bag offers no crush protection for trucks and wheels. A hard case or a board wrapped in foam inside a rigid cardboard box is the minimum for safe arrival.

Don’t overlook a simple DIY strap. A simple DIY strap can be made from an old camera strap and paracord to create loops for the trucks. This is brilliant. A retired camera strap is already padded and adjustable. With $2 of paracord, you have a custom, comfortable carry solution that costs almost nothing. It’s a perfect project for a rainy day and beats many commercial options.

Travel & Special Scenario Carrying

Carrying your board around your neighborhood is one thing. Taking it on a plane, securing it to a bike, or managing it with a pile of other gear requires a different playbook. These are the scenarios where the wrong method means a broken board or a miserable experience.

Air Travel: This is the big one. Can you take it as a carry-on? A community source from RidingBoards.com notes that ‘decks over 38 inches are typically not accepted as carry-on’ and that it depends on airline policy. Your success hinges on the airline’s mood, the board’s size, and how busy the flight is. For a checked board, you have two paths. The cheap way: remove the trucks, wrap the deck in a blanket or bubble wrap, and put it all inside a cheap duffel bag. The secure way: use a hard-sided travel bag. For more specifics, our guide on what you can bring on a plane dives deeper into airline policies.

Bike Transport: This is a fantastic way to extend your range. You don’t need a special rack. One simple method is to hook the wheel of the board under your backpack’s shoulder strap, letting the board hang vertically. Hook the wheel of the board under your backpack’s shoulder strap. The board hangs vertically, its other wheel trailing on the ground. It’s stable, hands-free, and doesn’t require any modifications. For a more secure setup, look into a method for carrying a longboard on a bike using simple straps.

Carrying with Other Gear: This is the true test. You’re heading to the beach with a board, a towel, a backpack. The trick is to secure the board first. Use a shoulder strap or the backpack strap method. Once the board is firmly attached to your body, you can manage the other items in your hands. Trying to juggle a loose board while holding other things is a recipe for dropping everything.

Longboard Care & Carrying Adjacencies

How you carry and store your board directly impacts its lifespan. The manufacturer manuals are unanimous on a few points that go beyond just the ride.

Both the DIN EN 13613 guide and the ABISAL manual stress proper longboard storage. “Store the longboard in a dry place, away from moisture,” states the ABISAL manual. A board left leaning against a damp garage wall or in a humid basement will have its plywood deck delaminate and its bearings rust. When you’re not using it for a while, proper storage on a wall rack or in a dedicated stand is best.

Cleaning is part of care. After a ride, especially in wet or dirty conditions, “clean the longboard regularly with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid water getting into the joints.” Don’t hose it down. Wipe the deck, trucks, and wheels with a dry rag to remove grit and moisture. This simple step prevents grime from grinding down your bearings and pivot cups.

Sometimes, carrying isn’t enough, you need to ship a longboard or leave it unattended. If you’re shipping a board to a friend or a buyer, the travel bag principles apply: disassemble, protect, and use a rigid box. If you need to leave it outside a shop briefly, you must lock a longboard securely through the truck baseplate or a dedicated board lock. Theft happens in seconds.

Finally, when your board is retired from riding but not from your heart, consider wall storage. A well-mounted board is easy to carry in the sense that it’s always accessible, protected, and displayed as the piece of functional art it is.

How to pack a longboard for a flight

Checking your longboard is often the only option, as decks over a certain length are typically not accepted as carry-on. Using a snowboard bag or a specialized longboard bag is the standard move. These bags are built to handle the dimensions and offer some protection from baggage handling. Before packing, you must remove any loose parts like fins and secure the trucks. The goal is to create a single, padded unit that gives the airline no reason to refuse it. Always check your specific airline’s policy for sports equipment before you head to the airport.

How to protect a longboard in a bag

Good packing is about preventing damage from impacts and shifts during transit. Start by removing any protruding hardware, like fins, to prevent them from snapping off or tearing the bag. Wrap the deck, especially the trucks and edges, with soft padding like bubble wrap or clothing. The trucks are the most vulnerable points, so focus padding there. Once wrapped, place the board in your bag and fill any empty spaces with more soft material to stop the board from sliding around. Finally, secure the bag’s straps tightly so the packaged board can’t move inside its case.

How to use a longboard carry hook

A carry hook or specialized strap is a tool for managing your board over longer walks. These aids attach to the trucks or through the wheelbase, letting you sling the board over your shoulder to distribute its weight. This frees up your hands and makes the board feel lighter. When using one, ensure it’s securely fastened so the board doesn’t slip. It’s a practical alternative to holding the board directly, especially useful when you also have a backpack or other gear. Just remember to check that all screws are tight before you attach any carrying aid.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you carry a longboard comfortably?

For comfort over distance, use a method that distributes weight to your core. The Hawaiian shoulder carry is best for traditional longboards. For heavy electric boards or if you have back concerns, a two-handed front carry or a shoulder strap is essential. Comfort always beats “cool” when you’re walking more than a block.

Can I take my longboard as a carry-on a plane?

It depends entirely on the airline and your board’s size. As a general rule, boards with decks longer than 38 inches are rarely accepted as carry-on luggage. Smaller cruiser boards have a better chance. Always check your airline’s specific sporting equipment policy online before you fly, and have a backup plan to check it.

What is the best way to carry a longboard hands-free?

The best hands-free method is the one that fits your usual routine. A universal shoulder strap is the most versatile and packable for most riders. If you always carry a backpack anyway, a backpack with board straps is the most integrated solution. For absolute security during travel, a hard-sided travel bag is best.

Is there a wrong way to carry a longboard?

Yes. Dragging the nose on concrete or asphalt will destroy the laminate and graphics. Carrying it in a way that strains an old injury is wrong for you. Also, the “mall grab” might be technically efficient, but if it draws negative attention in your local scene and that bothers you, it’s the wrong social choice. Let function and your own comfort be the guide.

How can I carry a longboard if I have short arms or limited strength?

Opt for techniques that use mechanical advantage and weight distribution. The two-handed front carry minimizes strain. A shoulder strap transfers the load to your back. You can also look into wheeled carts or even placing the board in a shopping cart if you’re running errands. The goal is to avoid supporting the full weight with a single, outstretched arm.

Before You Go

The right carry method is the one you’ll actually use. It’s pointless to own a fancy travel bag if you only ever skate two miles from home. Start with the basics: master the Hawaiian carry for walks, and tie a simple strap to your backpack for longer hauls.

If you fly with your board even once a year, invest in a cheap hard case or a DIY box solution. The cost is less than replacing a snapped deck. And never, ever skip the three-second pre-ride check. A loose truck feels the same in your hand whether you’re carrying it or riding it, but the consequences are wildly different.

Your board is a tool for freedom, but it’s also a physical object that needs moving from A to B. A little planning on how to transport it makes getting to the fun part that much smoother. Now go pick it up, the right way.