Perhaps the most enjoyable part of longboarding is sliding, we’re pretty sure any person that enjoys skateboarding would agree!
Sure it can take a while to get to grips with proper sliding technique, and you’re going to have a couple of crashes along the way, but those temporary injuries are definitely worth it when you learn to slide.
Of course, learning to slide on your longboard will be a whole lot easier if you have the right longboard to slide with.
There are a lot of different options on the market, and not every one is going to be a good choice for you personally.
Thankfully, we’re here to help you to find the best possible sliding longboard for you.
Read on to find out about some of the best sliding longboards on the market, in addition to a handy buyer’s guide to help you to make your decision.
Best Sliding Longboard
OUR TOP PICK
The Volador 42 Inch Freeride Longboard is a fantastic choice for people looking to get into sliding with their longboard, and it’s even affordable!
The board has a bunch of great features, and will definitely provide you with good value for money.
To start with, if you’re looking at embarking on a little bit of downhill riding, the Volador board is a great choice for that and it will really help you to get your speed up as you ride.
It’s also very lightweight, so it doesn’t require you to become exhausted as you ride it either. It’s an ideal choice for cruising too, and beginners are well suited to this board too.
The deck comes in two different sizes, so either a 42 inch or a 46 inch version. The board is made out of 8 ply hard maple and this has been made into a camber concave deck.
It’s a very solid deck, but it still provides a little bit of flex. It absorbs shock well too, so you don’t need to worry about jolting about if you roll over a stone, for instance.
The board comes with 7 inch alumnium reverse kingpin trucks which you can actually adjust in accordance to what you need.
The Volador comes with an attractive design with a number of different graphics to choose on to suit your aesthetic preferences.
It provides a smooth and enjoyable riding experience that you are sure to appreciate while sliding.
Pros
- Attractive design
- Good control
- Ideal for advanced and beginner riders
Cons
- The grip tape isn’t very durable
EDITORS CHOICE
The Santa Cruz board features an impressive 9ply maple deck construction that is ideal for sliding.
Measuring 40 inches in length and 10 inches in width, this board is the perfect size for a freeriding board. That, however, is not all that this board has to offer.
The board has a lower center of gravity that is designed to make slides more stable and much easier to perform. It’s also got an attractive design with pretty impressive graphics.
The board is well loved among skaters across the world, with a pretty large following and a bunch of positive reviews to its name. The deck has a 31 inch wheelbase with wheels larger than 70mm.
These wheels are somewhat soft, which means that you can ride faster but the wheels will slow down the speed. You also don’t need to worry about any pesky bumps and cracks getting in your way.
In addition to all of this, the board is also very lightweight. If you want to use it to commute, you can simply pick it up and put it under your arm, storing it underneath your desk or in a locker. It’s also ideal for beginners that want to start learning to longboard, so it’s a great choice across the board.
Pros
- Large wheels
- Attractive design
- Affordable
Cons
- You’re a bit limited for tricks
BEST VALUE
This is a pretty decent longboard for sliding. This little number features a Carbonized bamboo deck construction that’s pretty durable, so the board is able to withstand daily wear and tear effectively.
The deck of the Arbor Axis model is 36 inches long and 10 inches wide, so it’s perfect for just that little bit of extra stability, but you will still be able to kick out slides pretty easily. The trucks are also pretty good too.
The board will give you a highly responsive ride as a whole due to the carbonized bamboo deck and the 50 degree 180mm Paris trucks.
You don’t need to worry about damage or any waterlogging concerns either. It provides a highly responsive ride - you truly don’t want to miss out on this board.
Pros
- Bamboo construction
- Durable
- Drop through mount design
Cons
- Bearings are a little slow
RUNNER UP
You may initially be put off by the price of this longboard, for a sliding longboard that will allow you to do a bunch of tricks, it’s a fabulous choice.
This is a pretty long longboard that comes with a bunch of fantastic features that you are sure to love.
You can do all sorts of things with this board, from powersliding, to downhill riding, freestyle and freeriding.
The board has been designed so that it is easy to carry around with you because of its light weight - something you may not expect from the board’s length. It is 39 inches long with a 36 inch wheelbase, which makes it an easy ride.
The board also provides you with plenty of control due to the footlock that comes with it.
Quick turns and tricks will never be an issue again! It also has a symmetrical shape which means you aren’t as likely to fall.
It comes with a high quality grip tape that you don’t need to worry about tearing off when you’re using it on a regular basis. Of course, the board is pretty expensive but as you can probably see, it’s certainly worth the extra expense.
Pros
- Durable
- Good control and stability
- Highly responsive
Cons
- Very expensive
RUNNER UP
If you’re looking to go back to the basics with a classic yet reliable board, look to the Landyachtz Dinghy Longboard to answer your prayers.This board has been on the market for around 20 years and it’s still immensely popular!
The board is a little bit smaller than your average longboard, but because of this it is also a lot easier to store. It’s perfect for commuting too.
The board has a deck made out of 7 ply maple wood, and this deck boasts the kind of durability that you would expect from a brand this well known.
It’s fantastic for flipping and sliding, and it has a mellow radial concave shape that will let you have the right foot placement when riding fast, sliding or when you’re taking a turn downhill.
It has all of the necessary traction you need, and it has durable grip tape that is able to withstand the rigors of daily riding.
It’s very comfortable to use as a whole, so you can ride it for long commutes to work or to school without worrying about feeling too worn out.
The board isn’t a great choice for beginners, but intermediate riders will certainly be well suited for it.
If you are looking for a good choice if you have a little bit more skill, then this is certainly an option that you should be thinking about investing in.
Pros
- Affordable
- Strong wheels and trucks
- Attractive design
- Grip table is durable
Cons
- It isn’t the most stable longboard so it may not be ideal for beginner riders
Best Sliding Longboard Buying Guide
What is Sliding?
So if you’re a beginner for longboarding, you may not initially know what sliding is. Essentially, sliding is a kind of freeriding move and it’s a good technique for helping you to brake when you are longboarding downhill.
Sliding is probably one of the most effective braking techniques because it will allow the skater to be able to decrease their speed faster than pretty much any other technique out there. It’s ideal for slowing down at higher speeds.
Of course, it is possible to slide on every longboard, but there are some things that can make sliding a lot easier.
Things to Look for
So now that you’ve seen some of the best sliding longboards that the market has to offer, you may be tempted to jump right into buying one. Before you buy, however, there are a couple of factors that you should keep in mind when you are on the hunt for a longboard for sliding.
Trucks
What is a truck? Essentially, trucks are the pieces that are attached onto the deck and it’s where you install the wheels. Usually trucks can determine the way that the board turns and the amount of stability it is.
Sliding aside, you should also consider how else you intend to use your board. For example, if you are also a downhill rider then hard bushings are a good choice.
You should avoid a board that turns too easily because it can be dangerous when you’re going at a high speed.
You should also think about the kingpin. This is basically a kind of bolt that will tighten around the bushing, which in turn compresses or relaxes it.
Usually if a bushing is more compressed it will be harder, so you won’t be able to turn as much. As a result, it means they provide you with more adjustability.
Think about the kingpin’s angle too, as the standard angle for a new rider is around 50 degrees, but if you are new you may want a lower angle. This is because it will reduce how easy it is for the board to turn which will give you some more control.
Symmetry
When you’re looking for a longboard for sliding, symmetry is pretty important. Having a symmetrical deck shape means that the rider will be able to ride the longboard in two different ways.
In addition to that, it will let them be able to switch when they are looking ahead to perform 180s. The shape is also pretty flexible which is ideal.
Drop Through Mounts
Drop through mounting is what is going to give you the best stability and this will also make it easier for the person riding the board to be able to push out slides and it also helps to break traction.
On the other end of the spectrum, drop through mounting is also designed to let the rider perform slides much more easily. If the rider is looking for more flexibility, responsiveness and traction then it’s actually possible to top mount a drop through deck.
Drop Platform
Drop platforms are also quite handy for freeriding, especially for sliding, tricks, jumps and more. Having a lower platform means that you have more stability and this works well with the top mounted truck which provides control, traction and a good ride.
Concave
You need to ensure that you have enough concave! This is essentially the amount of curvature on the deck, and a lot of the stability of the deck as a whole relies on the concave shape that it has.
You should usually choose a deck with a high or gentle amount of concave as this will help to keep your feet still as you ride. It will also generally be more comfortable for you too.
Low Flex
It’s important that your board doesn’t have too much bounce and flexibility - it’s usually best to opt for a stiff board.
This is mainly because a bouncy longboard isn’t going to let you ride faster in a safe manner, and a stiff longboard gives you a lot more control.
Rocker
A rocker will give you extra stability and will let you push easily, so you can slide easily as a result.
Wheel Base
This is essentially the amount of distance that exists between the trucks in the board. You will get more stability from a longboard with a large wheelbase but it won’t be as responsive.
On the same note, if the longboard has a shorter wheel base instead it’s not going to be as stable but it will provide more responsiveness. If you are performing tricks then responsiveness is an important factor to consider.
Length of Deck
You should ideally be opting for a deck of 38 inches to 42 inches, and this will give you a good amount of responsiveness and stability. It’s not very bulky either.
You don’t really need to be too concerned about the deck width but otherwise, it’s perfectly fine to choose a width of around 9 to 10 inches.
Wheels
Wheels are what makes your board move (duh!) so they’re pretty important to think about. Ideally you should be looking for wheels that are a little smaller than downhill or cruiser wheels.
They should have a narrower contact patch as this helps to make it a little bit easier to lose friction. They are also designed in such a way to make them easier to slide right from the first day you use them.
Urethane compounds are also a little harder too, and this can have an impact on your sliding.
Longboard Materials
Maple
Maple is the material that is most commonly seen in skateboards as a whole. It’s usually very reliable and known for its durability. They tend to last for a long time too, so if you want to be able to keep your board for a number of years, then this is the best choice for you.
Bamboo
Bamboo boards have risen in popularity through the years. Bamboo provides a lot more flex than maple, so it may not be the best choice for sliding longboards as a stiffer construction is usually better. It is a good choice if you want to cruise and carve through the streets, though!
Carbon Fiber
This is the best choice for more experienced riders. It’s a pretty expensive material, and it usually has a foam core that makes it lighter. These boards are made to be able to help you push off the start line much faster and they help you to be able to move much more easily around slides and turns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Than sliding, What Else Can You Do On A Longboard?
There are actually a few kinds of longboarding. Primarily, cruising, downhill and dancing longboarding is popular.
You will see most people cruising on a long boarding, and this is essentially riding long distance from one location to another, whether that’s to commute or just for fun.
Downhill riding is when you ride at high speeds downhill or down a sloper surface for fun, and for this you will usually need a wide and a stable longboard.
Dancing, on the other hand, is a mix between carving and a lot of other steps and tricks, that you do in order to create a performance-like skateboarding experience.