Help/recommendations for a commuter longboard
I bought a 34" cruiser board from skateboard express about a year a go and it's been great, was cheap and riding each day is a highlight, a real joy. But I'd like to try a more interesting board but the boards available are vast (not buying from sbe again...ethics? And to support local stores and better brands etc) and I'm not entirely sure what would or wouldn't work.
I really like the boards that are like the loaded dervish (not sure of the right terminology to describe them). A longer board would be ideal (dervish is 42" yeah) which would just be the pure enjoyment factor of it...e.g. A board that looks great. The only real idea I'd have is that larger softer wheels work best for commuting to smooth the ride and stones etc plus a tail perhaps for traveling on/off sidewalks etc
The cost of the loaded dervish is a bit too much for the sort of use it'll get...and this isn't the last board I intend to buy.
Tldr
Commuter board like loaded dervish- complete, setup, whatever etc that I could buy. Melbourne is very accessible so Hemley looks good.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jacob Manning on
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Arbor Hybrid
Its an amazing commuter than you can slide and do mild downhill on aswell as ollieing up gutters and basically wahatever you want.
I love mine it can literally do anything
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Marek on -
A slalom board makes a great commuter, it's shorter and more convenient to take on public transport etc. and you can mix pumping and pushing. You might be able to convert your cruiser by wedging/moving trucks. Plus you can turn up to slalom races!
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Ben Mod on -
I'll back Marek on the slalom setup - i started with a dervish, but was blown away when I first stepped on a decent slalom board that just felt so alive and agile by comparison. Perfect for flats and commuting.
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Permalink Reply by David nixon on
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Ben and Marek, hadn't considered something like that. Interested, but was after the longer board for the fact it was longer (it's likely a stupid reason)...but any particular setups?
Alexander, Platypus looks unreal, but it seems essentially the same cost as the loaded boards...so doesn't really make it any more accessible...
Jacob, looks great, I can see why it works because it seems like a longer street board which would be quite homely...although 38" is long...perhaps not enough different to what i've got...
Maybe I've got the wrong idea...thinking I'll go to Hemley (emailed them) and try stuff out etc
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Skittles on -
I second the platy. with the cost factor, pretty much any cheap board is just that, cheaply made. Daddow makes them all by hand with quality wood and glue (thus the price) which means it will last 10 times longer and also, if you get into sliding or start to thrash a bit harder, it can take it and you wont need to upgrade.
I don't know about any other cheaper alternatives, but it's deffinately worth the extra cash if you can spare it!
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Thanks for that Skittles, I think the bit I might be missing is that the loaded boards really aren't priced outrageously more than from any of the other boards...I was thinking their would be this step by step level of cost/goodness but their is essentially only good and dirt cheap...no level in between...
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Skittles on -
Yeah, there isn't really much of a gradient. If you are willing to get rid of the kicks, then there are skatement boards http://www.skateboardracing.org.au/forum/topics/skatement-speedboards
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Deeks63 on -
Hey David - You cant go wrong at Hemley's - great bunch of guys - happy to talk shop despite being over-run daily by the younger set wanted to stand on everything in sight. AUD pricing of boards versus USD for the same item is enough to make you cry, but Hemley gives back to the skating community so i feel somewhat better with my purchases...
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Permalink Reply by Jezza on
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have a look at the Early bamboo riser, should be around $200-250. flexy, longer than your current board and has a little kick at the back (cant really ollie it but great for dropping off kerbs and shiz)
http://www.skateboardracing.org.au/video/early-board-profile-bamboo...
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Jack on -
even if you buy a board the same length as your skateboard express one from a respectable brand with good components it will feel completely different, the length is a big factor but there are so many more that have equal contribution to the feel of the ride.
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Marek on -
Typical slalom/cruiser, 30-33 inch length, 20-22 inch wheelbase, Narrower trucks, wedged at front for more steer, and at back for less, narrower trucks pump better ie randall 150s/ tracker RTS/X, Bennett (front), bigger wheels cruise better so maybe 75mm. Just some ideas.
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