Best Carving Longboards Of 2024 – Get Your Drive Mode On 

Best Carving Longboard Comparison Table

How To Pick The Best Carving Longboard?

When you do decide that you need a new longboard for carving, there are lots of things you need to keep in mind. If you're a beginner, picking out the best carving longboard can be rather difficult. So, below you will find some things you need to be on the lookout for!

Deck Shape

There are four different deck shapes of longboards - pintail, cruiser, drop-through, and drop-down. So, the pintail is a classic surf deck shape. The pintail is usually a top-mount deck, so it could be a bit more complicated to push. However, a good pintail will make turning sharp corners a breeze, and it is very comfortable to ride on sidewalks.

The cruiser is perhaps a better option than the pintail if you want a longboard for cruising and carving. The cruiser is more compact, it's a top mount, and it's perfectly designed for city cruising.

The drop-through is a good, low-profile deck, and it is commonly cut out for wheel clearance. It's good enough for cruising and a better option for carving than the pintail.

The drop-down has a very low profile so your feet are standing lower than the mounts of the trucks. That low-profile design makes cruising a breeze and the deck itself is optimal for carving. However, turning swift corners is more difficult than boarding with the pintail.

Deck Size

If you want to pick out your longboard specifically for carving, the deck size is also something you need to be on the lookout for, as well. Also, it depends on the places you want to cruise down on, too.

So, if you mainly plan to use the longboard on boardwalks, spacious parks, or other places where you have plenty of room for maneuvering, you can pick out a larger longboard.

Larger longboards have a deck length of 36 to 42 inches and about 9,5 inches in width. The larger size will provide you with stability and comfort while you maneuver the larger spaces.

However, if you want to use the longboard for cruising down busy sidewalks, slaloming around people, other vehicles, jumping off and on curbs, you will need a smaller longboard. Of course, a carving longboard is generally large in size, but if you need to maneuver around tight spaces, pick a deck of around 28 to 34 inches in length.

Moreover, if that is the case, you should look for a longboard with a kicktail. The kicktail assists you in quick turns and skipping obstacles. The rule of thumb is - if you want to carve a lot, you should always go for a shorter longboard because the turns are more precise.

Deck Flex

Picking out the right deck flex will provide you with the most comfortable and stable ride. For longboards, riding is all about stability, and you should always be on the lookout for the deck flex if you want the best riding experience.

Decks with a small flex will absorb the vibrations and shocks from the pavement and make the ride more comfortable in general. Also, the small flex decks lessen the stress on your ankles and knees compared to a stiffer deck.

Medium flex decks are great for carving - and you should absolutely look for decks with a medium flex. You get more energy return during turning than with either deck, so you get more speed during carving. A cambered profile of the medium flex deck can help you out with carving and add extra feedback.

What you need to keep in mind is that there is such thing as too much flex. Decks that are too flexible can make pushing, carving, and cruising less efficient because the bounce of the deck causes a loss of energy.

Trucks

Picking out the right trucks can help you achieve that perfect balance you need for an extra smooth carve. Generally, the reverse kingpin trucks will work like a charm for cruising and carving longboard. The reverse kingpin trucks get you more space for bigger wheels, so you get more turning with these trucks.

Whether you should go with larger or smaller trucks depends on the size of the deck. For smaller cruiser decks, with a width under 8,5", you should go with the 150mm trucks. As for the bigger boards, you should pick out the 180mm trucks. Also, if you want the cruising and carving experience, you should pick out a standard 50-degree baseplate angle.

Moreover, if you are already experienced with carving and want the intensive, full experience of it, you may want to look for surf skate trucks. The surf skate trucks will allow you to carve like you're on a surfboard, and the experience itself is quite different than the standard trucks.

Wheels

If you want the best of the best wheels for cruising and carving, you should opt for wheels of 65 to 75mm in diameter. These sizes will allow you to skip all the small obstacles - but make sure that the deck has enough clearance to avoid the nasty wheel rub.

For the ultimate carving experience, you need to look for the wheels with a strong grip. Pick out squared wheels that are somewhat softer - in the range between 70A and 78A. Wheels like that will give you a stable, comfortable ride even on rough pavement.

Best Carving Longboards Of 2024

1. Magneto Carver Bamboo Longboard- Best Overall Pick

The Carver Bamboo packs a surf-style, cruiser shape, along with a functional kicktail and a nose kick. This design makes it perfect for maneuvering busy streets and narrow sidewalks, as well as kick and flip tricks.

Along with all that, the Carver Bamboo is the perfect longboard for commuters because it's compact and it's super lightweight. Weighing just over 6 pounds and with a medium-sized deck, it can be carried anywhere without any issues.

The bamboo and fiberglass layers of the Carver give it a good flex and durability. Three layers of bamboo reinforce the medium-flex of the board, while two layers of fiberglass give the deck durability - making it a more durable model than the Carver's predecessor.

What every rider will appreciate about the Carver is that it's packing an invisible sandblasted grit for carving and cruising. Because of this grit, adding grip tape on top of the deck was simply not necessary.

Magneto as a company is known to offer quality components, so it was no surprise that the Carver Bamboo is packing 5-inch gravity cast aluminum Magneto trucks. The high-rebound urethane 60mm soft Magneto wheels of 78A are a nice touch, as well.

The components make cruising over cracked pavement or various bumps a breeze. Do note that the trucks can come in a little loose, but they are easily adjustable.

2. Atom Drop Through - Runner -Up

The size may be a little chunky, but the Atom Drop-Through still weighed under 9 pounds. The lightness makes this longboard skateboard easy to carry around if need be.

The Atom's drop-through longboard styles an extremely low profile - so it gives the rider a low center of gravity. That makes this longboard perfect for carving downhill, and the low profile makes the longboard easier to push.

This longboard comes with a reverse kingpin truck instead of the kick tails. This allows you to adjust the height of the board - ensuring you are always close to the ground. The Atom's Drop-Through is also packing 62mmx51mm wheels of 78A, with a high rebound.

The bearings are so high-quality that you'll always have a smooth riding experience. What we liked, and what you surely will like too is that you can adjust some parts like the bushings and therefore improve the ability to cut tight corners.

Also, you can fine-tune the wheels or reduce the sliding ability to increase the longboarding experience to the maximum. However, do note that the trucks can be a little stiff when the board arrives, so you might have to loosen them.

3. Loaded Boards Tan Tien Longboard - High-End Pick

The deck is layered with fiberglass and bamboo for cutting tight corners - and what is even better, you can pick the degree of flex - from low, to medium and high flex. The degree of flex should be picked according to the weight and riding style.

The lower flex is better for heavy riders or complex tricks and kicks, while the higher flex is perfect for lighter riders or beginners. The high flex version is easier to control when carving downhill, especially at high speed.

This longboard comes with Orangatang 70mm Stimulus wheels that give you the right grip and slide for any riding style. The formula is a soft 80A, so it's perfect for cruising and carving, especially with the included Loaded Jehu V2 bearings.

4. Junli Freeride Longboard Cruiser - Budget-Friendly Option

The 7-inch aluminum alloy trucks give a high response, and the extremely elastic support pad gives the ride the absolute sense of control. This affordable pick for a longboard is perfect for freestyle riding, tight turns and it's ideal for all age groups.

Don't let the rather low price fool you - this longboard is very durable. The deck packs 8-ply cold-pressed maple, making the deck very sturdy. The deck has an anti-slip finish so you always feel like you're in control.

Also, the durability doesn't only apply to the deck, but the polyurethane wheels as well. Combined with the ABEC-11 bearing, the wheels can achieve high speed without losing any traction - so it can withstand even heavier riders or extra pressure.

Moreover, the wheels are very soft at 80A, so they allow for a very comfortable ride even on bumpy roads. The dimensions of the wheels are 70mm x 51mm, with a rock finish for maximum durability.

The only flaw is that you might have to push a little more because the bearings and the trucks aren't high quality. However, for an affordable pick, that's to be expected!

5. Santa Cruz Lion Drop Thru Cruzer - The Simple Choice

What we especially liked is the lightweight feel of the board, because it weighs just 5 pounds. Despite being a bit large, it's perfectly easy to carry thanks to the low weight.

The bearings are very sturdy, and they are ABEC-9 to give you the smoothest performance there is, along with the high-speed lubricant. The Road Rider 180mm trucks have a 180mm hanger with a 45-degree baseplate angle.

The wheels are 75mm in diameter, and the longboard features Road Rider wheels, manufactured by Santa Cruz. The wheels have a durometer rating of 78A, so they absorb shocks from the pavement and allow for a rather smooth ride.

The deck is 8-ply maple wood, so it has quite a bit of flex while remaining durable. The deck features Santa Cruz grip tape with a Rasta stripe, so it's very attractive. The only notable flaw is that you can find bubbles underneath the grip tape.

6. Volador Freeride Longboard Complete Cruiser - Smooth Ride

The 7-inch aluminum-alloy truck is very durable and adjustable, thanks to the reverse kingpin. You can adjust it to 45 or 50 degrees to get more control and great maneuverability, even for tight corners.

The 45 degree is perfect for shock-absorbing so it could be a better option for long-term cruising. At the setting of 50 degrees, it will work better for tight turns and carving. The medium-flex allows for more maneuvering and better control in general, but do note that you might need to tighten the trucks a bit.

The bolts are steel and rust-free, so along with the ABEC-9 rating steel bearing, the whole longboard has a sturdy feel. This bearing is also ideal for those weighing a bit more, as it gives them the ideal ride. The longboard comes with durable 70mm x 1 mm polyurethane wheels with a durometer rating of 78A.

The attractive and modern design of the deck makes this a good choice for everyone - because there are 10 available designs to choose from. The grip tape works flawlessly so you always feel stable when you're riding.