When people start longboarding, it is usually for transportation purposes or out of sheer curiosity.
Sooner or later, though, the speed bug will bite and, when it does, you’ll find yourself wanting to upgrade your existing longboard for a more agile model, and we’re here to help!
Longboarding is a style of skateboarding that can be enjoyed by anyone. It can be used to get from place to place and is certainly a more eco-friendly alternative to regular transportation.
In your spare time, you can even use a longboard for trying out freestyle stunts or burning off steam for a few hours at the park.
Where do you start, though? If you’ve been asking yourself this question, you’ve clicked onto the right article.
We’ve been hard at work choosing the quickest longboards available to purchase, as well as creating a useful guide that will help you to make the best decision for you.
In a hurry? Satisfy your need for speed with our top pick:
Regardless of whether you’re just getting into the world of downhill longboarding or you’re looking to swap out your existing deck for a shiny new one, the Magneto Bamboo Downhill Longboard is bound to impress.
It features a drop through truck design,which means that it has a low center of gravity designed to encourage a smoother ride.
It’s construction of bamboo and fiberglass ensures that this board will stay both durable and responsive, regardless of weather, the speed you're traveling or how steep the hill you’re gliding down is!
It’s our top pick, but here’s why it should be yours:
- It’s versatile: this bamboo longboard isn’t only ideal for downhill longboarding, you can use it for everyday use, traveling to and from work, or even for getting around a college campus with ease
- It delivers a smooth ride: thanks to the drop-through design of this deck, the Bamboo Longboard has a low center of gravity that will allow for a super smooth ride with plenty of stability
- It’s strong and flexible: a mixture of bamboo and fiberglass used in this deck makes it both durable and lively, so you can enjoy total responsiveness, all the while feeling confident and surefooted
Top 5 Best Downhill Longboard
OUR TOP PICK
Take your downhill riding skills to the next level with the Magneto Bamboo Downhill Longboard, a bamboo drop-through longboard that will elevate your skating sessions with a dose of speed!
This longboard's deck features a speed-enhancing drop-through truck design that allows for a lower center of gravity and a smoother ride.
It is designed to provide you with ultimate stability and performance, and this is all thanks to Magento’s Paris Style drop through trucks.
Made of hardy bamboo, this Magneto longboard also boasts impressive durability that will be able to withstand both regular use and exposure to external elements, such as the weather.
Putting the fun into the downhill riding experience, this bamboo deck is 38.5" by 9" which makes it perfect for nailing tight turns and wowing your friend’s thanks to its performance-enhancing design which promotes a better carving technique.
This downhill-friendly board also features a shallow concave shape with an arched chamber.
The subtly shallow concave makes for a comfortable ride under your feet, while the chamber makes the board energetic, agile, and wonderfully responsive.
Pros
- Ideal for downhill longboarders of all levels, including beginners that are just starting out
- Bamboo body is super lightweight and easy to transport from place to place when walking on foot
- Drop-through design that is ideal for picking up speed
Cons
- Some users state that it could be sturdier
EDITORS CHOICE
If you’re a beginner and just starting out on your downhill longboarding journey, the B BAIJIAWEI Drop Through Longboard should definitely be on your radar.
This longboard features a drop-through design, which is where the trucks are, quite literally, “dropped through” the deck.
By mounting the trucks in this way, this allows the deck to utilize a lower center of gravity, which allows for increased stability and control.
The lightweight shock-absorbing rings guarantee smooth cruising, while the soft PU wheels ensure you’ll feel comfortable and confident as you gain experience.
Equipped with a stable 8-ply hardwood maple deck and high-responsive 80A PU wheels with ABEC-11 high-speed bearings you can be confident that, as your skills progress, you’ll be able to carve and maneuver tight turns like a pro.
The longboard also features a starry-night, galaxy design that ensures you’ll make a statement wherever you go.
Pros
- Made of very strong 8-ply hardwood maple deck, with a maximum weight capacity of 220lbs
- The drop-through design allows for a lower center of gravity that will give the rider more stability, making it ideal for beginners
- Soft PU wheels feature 11 high-speed bearings and are shock-absorbent
Cons
- May not be ideal for more advanced longboarders
BEST VALUE
If you find yourself traveling down sloping hills and curving streets on your daily commute and need a downhill longboard that can help tackle them, you might want to put the MammyGolf Maple Longboard at the top of your list.
Starting off with the deck, it is made of 8-ply maple and epoxy, which makes it durable and able to withstand most riders.
It features a 42-inch long deck size and 9.2-inch wide plate that makes this longboard a drop-through.
This means that the MammyGolf Maple Longboard features a low center of gravity that will deliver plenty of stability, regardless of speed.
The wheels of this Atom drop-through longboard are made of PU which makes it usable on any type of surface. Plus, it utilizes an ABEC 11 bearing to give you a smoother and faster ride.
Lastly, with this board’s cut-out perimeter shape, you can trust it to cut all those sharp curves just when you need it.
Plus, how can we not mention its various graphic image designs? You have the option of choosing between three skulls in varying colors, a vibrant green eye, as well as Union Jack design.
Pros
- The soft, PU wheels will provide good traction and bounce across multiple surfaces, while the ABEC-11 bearings will ensure plenty of speed
- Made of super-strong 8-ply maple that is strong enough to hold most passengers
- Affordable and budget-friendly
Cons
- The image designs across the underside of the decks will not be to everyone’s taste
RUNNER UP
Apart from boasting a stylish design available in two different graphic designs, this Minority Longboard is built to give riders a smooth and stable ride, even at high speeds.
So, if you’re a beginner downhill rider that’s transitioning to an intermediate level, this Minority Downhill Longboard might be the perfect choice for you.
Ideal for downhill longboarding and cruising at high speeds, this deck is made with low gravity construction which makes it stable at all speeds, which reduces the risks of falling off and getting injured.
It is made of 100% 8-ply cold-pressed maple and features a 10 inch width deck, allowing for plenty of durability, all the while providing plenty of room for your feet.
The Minority Downhill Maple Longboard also has an asymmetrical shape.
This shape will help to save you from any painful wheel bites, while the ABEC 9 bearings will let you enjoy a very smooth ride.
Plus, for optimum maneuverability, genuine aluminum 7-Inch reverse kingpin trucks are adjustable as 50 or 45 degrees. It can also support riders of up to 250 lbs without any issues.
Pros
- 100% maple wood deck
- Genuine aluminum 7-inch reverse kingpin trucks
- Adjustable trucks
Cons
- Higher pricer point than average
RUNNER UP
The Yocaher Premium Drop Through Longboard is made for longboard riders who are craving to get their dose of adrenaline!
The design of the board is made for taking on hills at high speeds and cruising around winding streets without ever worrying about wheel bites.
Unlike other longboarders that we’ve covered, the Yocaher Premium Drop Through Longboard features black widow premium grade 80A griptape that is able to offer an additional level of grip to your feet, and will help you to perform different tricks, cut sharp corners and travel down hills without so much as a slight budge.
It is made of hardwood 9-ply maple, and features a shape that can be used by both beginners and professional riders.
Not just that, the Premium Drop Through Longboard features a medium concave and low flex that allows the rider to maintain control, even when carving or traveling downhill at higher speeds.
You also have the option of selecting from a variety of different colors made of a high-quality stain including natural, blue, red, purple and black.
It has a set of 70mm wheels which can get you rolling at high speeds in no time (all the while sailing over rocks, cracks and pebbles with ease!).
Plus, they are also rated at a 78A hardness level which is perfect for staying flat to the ground and picking up plenty of momentum, especially when travelling downhill.
Pros
- The deck is made of 9-ply maple for maximum durability
- The heavy-duty alloy trucks are ideal for maintaining stability while traveling at high speeds or over bump, sloping terrains
- It features premium grade tap to deliver an additional layer of security
Cons
- The low flex may not be ideal for all longboarders
Best Downhill Longboard Buyers Guide
When it comes to selecting the right downhill longboard for you, there are a few factors that you should consider, and they’re as follows:
The types of wheels
For downhill longboards, large and soft wheels will work very well. As you’re going to be traveling downhill (and at a speed) you want to make sure that the wheels are going to be able to provide excellent traction, as well as making sure that you feel stable and safe.
They are usually taller than the average-sized wheel in order to make up for the large cutouts often seen in top-mount decks.
In addition to this, the wheels should also come with wide contact patches to ensure a good grip across multiple surfaces and terrains. Not only that, but the lip profile should also be sharp, with soft durometers (78a to 80a) to increase exit speeds.
It’s also worth noting that wheels will vary from longboard to longboard. Center-set wheel cores tend to provide more grip, while wheels with offset cores will be able to offer more stability.
Therefore, it’s important to do a little research on the types of wheels you would like your longboard to have, and we recommend doing so by taking into consideration your skill-level and then making a choice.
If you’re stuck, a good idea would be to read customer reviews, or you could even visit a local skateboarding shop and try out different longboards to get a feel for which type of wheel you’d prefer.
The deck dimensions
Again, deck dimensions are going to vary from longboard to longboard. However, in general, generally, the range of length is going to vary anywhere between 37 to 43 inches.
So, with that being said, if you decide to go for a shorter deck, you might find that it feels very unstable at high speed.
On the other hand, if you decide to go for a longer deck, you’ll have less control over the speed, which is ideal for beginners but might be frustrating for more advanced longboarders who want to freestyle or perform advanced tricks while riding downhill.
If you are a beginner, though, we recommend going for a longboard around the 41-inch mark.
The style
When it comes to downhill longboarding, there are two most common styles of decks to choose from, which are drop-through longboards, and top-mount longboards.
Both of these styles are found to be suitable for all types of riders, regardless of ability or expertise. However, though they are compatible with most riders, they are slightly different.
The drop-through style features a deeper curve of the deck, which makes them great for gaining speed.
However, the top-mount style is designed to offer speed control and flexible grip, making them a more ideal choice for beginners who’d like to start off slow and build their pace up.
The concave and wheelbase
The amount of concave a downhill longboard deck should have is subjective and depends on you.
No matter what, though, a concave should be present on the longboard that you select, as it is the part of the deck that is able to lock the feet to deliver more control around fast corners.
The most common type of concave is known as the W-concave and is ideal for the everyday rider.
Other types of popular concaves are the taco shape concave and the rocker shaped concave, which are better suited to intermediate-advanced riders.
There’s no right or wrong, it very much depends on what feels comfortable to you, as well as how much experience you have and how confident you are downhill longboarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are drop through longboards good for downhill?
Yes, very much so. Drop through longboards have trucks mounted through the deck and are designed to deliver speed, and plenty of it.
They are great for speed riding, downhill riding, and long-distance riding, too. They are one of the most common types of longboards that are used for downhill longboard riding.
What type of longboard is suitable for downhill longboarding?
Downhill longboarding is fun and exhilarating. You’re likely to experience bumpy ground, twists, turns, and plenty of sharp curves.
For that reason, the recommended longboards for this exciting style of longboarding are the drop-through and top-mount designs. The drop-through design is great for speed, while the top-mount design is best at offering control.
How fast can a longboard travel downhill?
Generally, when it comes to downhill riding, the speed of the longboard is going to vary from 50 to 70 mph, however, this can vary depending on factors such as the rider’s weight (especially if the rider is wearing a heavy backpack, for example) how steep the hill is, and what the weather is like that day.
If it’s been raining, it might make surfaces more slippy and, in turn, cause the longboard to travel with more speed.
How dangerous is downhill longboarding?
Longboarding doesn’t come without risks. However, preventative steps can be taken to make sure that you stay as safe as possible.
Possible injuries that can be caused by longboarding are broken bones, fractures, and bruising, as well as many more. We strongly suggest that you wear protective gear, such as a helmet and knee pads.