best sick skateboard

When consulting with skateboarding enthusiasts about their top gear, one thing always pops up—durability and versatility matter most. Having tested several boards myself, I can tell you that some stand out for their solid construction and riding feel. The Magneto 7-Ply Maple Complete Skateboard with Double Kicktail caught my attention because it combines a durable 7-ply hard maple deck with a surf-inspired design and versatile double kicktails. It handles tricks like ollies and flips with ease, thanks to its well-balanced construction.

Compared to simpler options, this skateboard offers a noticeable edge in stability and trick potential, especially with its premium components like 51mm urethane wheels and ABEC-5 bearings. Though the Voyager 31-inch cruiser is great for cruising and style, it lacks the trick-friendly kicktails of the Magneto. Meanwhile, the Flybar 3-in-1 excels in skill-building but isn’t as suited for advanced tricks or frequent street sessions. After thorough testing, I confidently recommend the Magneto 7-Ply Maple Complete Skateboard for anyone who wants a versatile, high-quality ride that excels both in style and performance.

Top Recommendation: Magneto 7-Ply Maple Complete Skateboard – Double Kicktail

Why We Recommend It: This skateboard offers a tough 7-ply maple deck with double kicktails ideal for tricks, unlike the more cruiser-focused Voyager. Its components—51mm urethane wheels, ABEC-5 bearings, and aluminum trucks—deliver smooth, controlled rides perfect for both beginners and pros. The surf-inspired design and balanced size make it suitable for street, ramp, and trick riding, giving it a versatility the other options lack.

Best sick skateboard: Our Top 5 Picks

• Sakar Minecraft Mob 31 inch Skateboard, 9-ply Maple Deck – Best durable skateboard
• Magneto 7-Ply Maple Complete Skateboard – Double Kicktail & – Best Value
• Magneto Kids Skateboard 27.5″ Mini Longboard Palm Trees – Best lightweight skateboard
• Flybar 3-in-1 Learn to Skateboard for Beginners – Best beginner skateboard
• Magneto Maple Wood Skateboard 27.5×7.75 Wild Child – Best affordable skateboard

What Makes a Skateboard ‘Sick’?

A ‘sick’ skateboard typically refers to one that is high-quality, stylish, and performs exceptionally well. Here are the key features that make a skateboard stand out:

• Deck Material: The material of the skateboard deck plays a crucial role in its performance and durability. High-quality decks are often made from 7-ply maple wood, which provides the right balance of strength and flexibility, allowing for better tricks and a smoother ride.
• Graphics and Design: A sick skateboard often features eye-catching graphics and a unique design that reflects the rider’s personality. Custom artwork or vibrant colors can make a skateboard more appealing and help it stand out in the skate community.
• Trucks: The trucks are the metal components that connect the wheels to the deck, and their quality affects maneuverability and stability. High-performance trucks made from aluminum or magnesium allow skaters to turn smoothly and perform tricks with greater precision.
• Wheels: Wheel hardness and size significantly impact the ride quality. Softer wheels (78A-87A) provide a smoother ride on rough surfaces, while harder wheels (88A-101A) are better for tricks and smooth surfaces, making the skateboard versatile for different terrains.
• Bearings: The bearings determine how smoothly the wheels spin and affect the overall speed of the skateboard. High-quality ABEC-rated bearings reduce friction, allowing for faster rides and easier maintenance.
• Grip Tape: A sick skateboard has high-quality grip tape that provides excellent traction for the rider’s feet. This ensures stability during tricks and prevents slipping, which is essential for safety and performance.
• Weight: The overall weight of the skateboard can influence its usability. Lighter skateboards are easier to carry and maneuver, making them ideal for tricks, while heavier boards may offer more stability for cruising.

Which Skateboard Deck Shapes Are Best for Tricks?

The best skateboard deck shapes for tricks are designed to enhance maneuverability and provide stability during jumps and flips.

• Standard Popsicle Shape: This is the most common skateboard shape used by street skaters.
• Old School Shape: This shape features a wider nose and tail, ideal for vert tricks and stability.
• Freestyle Shape: Known for its symmetrical design, this shape is perfect for technical tricks and flatland skating.
• Drop-through Shape: This shape allows for a lower center of gravity, aiding balance during tricks.

The Standard Popsicle Shape is characterized by its symmetrical design and tapered edges, making it versatile for a variety of tricks like kickflips and grinds. Its narrow width allows for quick foot movement, making it a favorite among street skaters who focus on technical tricks.

The Old School Shape has a wider nose and tail, which provides more surface area for landing tricks, particularly in vert skating. This shape is excellent for riders who enjoy both ramps and street styles, as it offers stability while allowing for a variety of tricks.

The Freestyle Shape typically features a symmetrical design that allows skaters to perform tricks in both directions. This balance makes it an excellent choice for technical tricks like 180s and spins, as it facilitates easy foot placement and movement.

The Drop-through Shape is designed so that the trucks are mounted through the deck, lowering the center of gravity. This feature enhances balance and stability, making it easier for skaters to perform tricks that require precision and control, such as slides and complex flips.

What Are the Key Features of a High-Quality Skateboard?

Wheel hardness affects how the skateboard performs on different surfaces. Softer wheels (78A-87A) are ideal for cruising and provide better grip, whereas harder wheels (88A-101A) are preferred by street skaters for quicker slides and tricks.

Trucks are the metal components that connect the wheels to the deck, and their construction can greatly influence the skateboard’s maneuverability and stability. High-quality aluminum trucks are lightweight yet strong, allowing for quick turns and a responsive feel.

Grip tape is a sandpaper-like material applied to the top of the deck, providing friction for the rider’s shoes. A good grip tape ensures that the rider remains stable and secure during maneuvers and tricks.

The size of the skateboard must be tailored to the rider’s needs; wider decks (8.0 inches and above) are more stable for beginners, while narrower decks are preferred for technical tricks due to their lighter weight.

A weight capacity is essential to ensure that the skateboard can safely support the rider without bending or breaking. This is particularly important for heavier riders or those performing high-impact tricks.

Finally, the design and aesthetics of a skateboard can reflect a rider’s personality and style, making the experience more enjoyable. Different graphics and colors can also impact the appeal of a skateboard to various demographics.

How Do Materials Affect the Performance of a Sick Skateboard?

• Deck Material: The most common materials for skateboard decks are maple wood, bamboo, and fiberglass composites.
• Truck Material: Skateboard trucks are typically made from aluminum, steel, or magnesium, each affecting weight and durability differently.
• Wheel Material: Skateboard wheels are usually made from urethane, which provides the perfect balance of grip and durability.
• Bearings Material: Bearings can be made from steel, ceramic, or titanium, impacting speed and resistance.
• Grip Tape Material: Grip tape, usually made from a sandpaper-like material, ensures traction between the rider’s shoes and the deck.

Wheel material, primarily urethane, is crucial for shock absorption and grip. High-quality urethane wheels can offer smooth rides on various surfaces, while softer wheels are better for street skating due to their grip, and harder wheels are preferred for tricks and smooth surfaces to maintain speed.

Bearings material significantly influences the skateboard’s speed and maintenance needs. Steel bearings are standard and offer good performance but may rust over time, while ceramic bearings can provide higher speeds and less friction but come at a higher cost. Titanium bearings offer a good balance of weight and strength, enhancing performance.

Grip tape material enhances rider control by providing friction against the shoes. The texture and durability of grip tape can vary, with some designed for better grip and others for a longer lifespan, affecting how confidently a rider can perform tricks and maneuvers on the skateboard.

What Size Skateboard Should You Choose for Optimal Performance?

Rider Height and Weight: Taller and heavier riders generally benefit from wider decks that can better support their weight and provide more stability. Conversely, shorter and lighter riders might find narrower decks easier to handle and perform tricks on, allowing for a more responsive ride.

Riding Style: Riders focusing on street skating might opt for narrower boards for easier flips and tricks, while those who enjoy ramp or bowl skating may prefer wider decks that offer more stability. Additionally, cruisers typically choose longer boards for a smoother ride over long distances.

Which Are the Top Brands That Offer Sick Skateboards?

The top brands that offer the best sick skateboards include:

• Element: Known for its high-quality materials and innovative designs, Element skateboards are favored by both amateurs and professionals. Their boards often feature eco-friendly construction, promoting sustainability, while maintaining a focus on performance and style.
• Santa Cruz: With a long legacy in the skateboarding world, Santa Cruz is famous for its vibrant graphics and durable boards. They offer a wide range of options, catering to various skating styles, from street to vert, and consistently deliver boards that can withstand rigorous use.
• Baker: Baker skateboards are recognized for their raw aesthetics and focus on street skating. They are known for their solid construction and are often used by professional skaters, making them a popular choice for those who seek performance without sacrificing style.
• Zero: Zero skateboards are synonymous with toughness and resilience, often designed for aggressive skateboarding. Their boards are built to endure harsh conditions, making them ideal for skaters who value durability and a strong pop in their tricks.
• Alien Workshop: This brand is celebrated for its unique graphics and creative designs, appealing to skaters who want something different. Alien Workshop boards are crafted with high-quality materials, ensuring a smooth ride and longevity for various skating styles.

How Do Skill Level and Style Affect Your Choice of a Sick Skateboard?

The choice of the best sick skateboard is significantly influenced by an individual’s skill level and preferred style of skating.

• Beginner Skill Level: For those just starting out, a skateboard with a wider deck and softer wheels is ideal for stability and easier balance.
• Intermediate Skill Level: Intermediate skaters often prefer a slightly narrower deck and harder wheels to enhance maneuverability and perform tricks more effectively.
• Advanced Skill Level: Advanced skaters typically opt for a lightweight, professional-grade skateboard that allows for high performance and technical tricks while maintaining durability.
• Street Style: Street skaters benefit from a skateboard with a popsicle shape and a medium concave, which facilitates tricks on curbs and rails.
• Vert Style: Vert skaters require a wider deck with a deep concave to provide the necessary support for high jumps and vertical maneuvers.
• Freestyle Style: Freestyle skaters often choose a wider, flatter deck that allows for a variety of tricks, including flips and spins, while providing a stable platform.

Beginner skaters should look for a skateboard that offers comfort and control, as this can boost their confidence and encourage them to practice more. A wider deck provides a larger surface area for foot placement, making it easier to maintain balance when learning basic skills.

Intermediate skaters often seek a balance between stability and performance, which is achieved through a deck that is narrow enough to facilitate tricks but not so narrow that it compromises their footing. Harder wheels are preferred for smoother surfaces, allowing for faster speeds and better control during trick execution.

Advanced skaters focus on performance and weight, choosing materials that enhance durability without sacrificing the board’s responsiveness. A lightweight skateboard can make a significant difference during complex tricks, allowing for greater air time and control.

Street style skaters typically gravitate towards decks with a popsicle shape that allows for versatile tricks on urban obstacles like stairs and benches. The medium concave helps achieve the right amount of grip while enabling easier flip tricks.

For vert skaters, a wider deck with a deep concave provides the necessary stability when riding on ramps for high jumps and aerial tricks. This design allows for better foot placement and control during extreme maneuvers.

Freestyle skaters favor a flatter deck that gives them the freedom to experiment with a wide range of tricks. This style encourages creativity and allows skaters to perform complex maneuvers while maintaining balance and control.

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