Our Verdict:
If you are in the market for a Retrospec longboard and you don’t have the time to compare these boards, then I recommend the Retrospec Zed Bamboo Longboard. This is a strong board, great design with good speed & control and comes fully assembled. A good board for both beginners and experts.
Alternatives: Volador Freeride. MBS All-Terrain
Longboarding is one of the best ways to pass your free time. Riding around town on your longboard can bring joy and even calm the mind.
In addition, you learn to do some tricks with your longboard that can even be more exciting for any longboard enthusiast.
Retrospec is a longboard manufacturing brand with some best selling boards in their collection. Initially this company was a bicycle manufacturer, however, they have emerged in the longboard industry and became a very popular brand.
Today I am going to review some of the top longboards of this brand to see if they are worth giving it a shot. Without any further ado, let’s review these Retrospec Longboards.
Also Read: Best Cheap Skateboards in 2020, Best Commuting Longboards in 2020
Retrospec Longboard Review
1. Retrospec Zed Bamboo Longboard Skateboard
Features At A Glance
I am going to start things off with the best selling longboard from Retrospec. It has been popular among the users right from the start. This board comes in two versions, namely the Cruiser and the Pintail.
The Zed cruiser longboard is a gigantic board with a 44″ premium bamboo and 8 -ply maple deck. The width of the deck is 9.5″. You can easily guess that it will provide sufficient space no matter the size of the rider. The maximum weight capacity for this board is 220 lbs.
The challenge with this board is to carry it around due to the large size.
The board is fitted with very responsive Aluminum reverse kingpin trucks with a length of 7″. ABEC-7 rated Bearings are used to provide good speed.
The dimensions of the wheels are 70×50 mm which is fairly big and wide. The 85A PU rated wheels used are extra hard. The hard wheels might cause some disturbance while going at top speed as the wider wheels will cause more friction.
It has some color options to choose from: Aqua-Fishtail, Bondi Blue, and Pewter Pointe.
The deck of the Zed Pintail Longboard version is 41″ long. The shape is also a little different. Except for these, all the other features are the same as the Zed cruiser longboard.
This board comes fully assembled and ready to ride out of the box. But I’ll suggest you to check the truck, tighten it if needed.
PROS
CONS
2. Retrospec Rift 41 inch Drop Through Longboard Skateboard
Features At A Glance
This board is a classic retro surf style Rift Longboard from Retrospec. Rift is designed for speed so you can use this board for cruising, commuting, carving, and downhill riding.
The deck of this board is made of 8-ply Canadian Maple. The length of the deck is 41″ and the width is 9.5″. The big size deck is stiff enough to ensure a more balanced ride. It can also easily carry up to 220 lbs of weight.
The 180mm reverse kingpin drop through Aluminum trucks with precision ABEC 7 steel bearings will make your ride smooth.
The wheels dimension is 70 x 50mm which is a bit wider than usual. Those big wide wheels can cause a bit more friction when riding fast. It uses 78A PU rated wheels which are softer and durable. You might need to change the wheels after a few months if you are a rough rider.
The drop-through deck is easier to push as it is lower to the ground. So, it will be a good buy for both beginners and more experienced riders.
If you lack the speed what you expected, check the trucks and wheels as it might be too tight. Tight trucks or wheels can slow you down so you can loosen it up a little bit to get more speed. Be careful not to loosen it too much.
CONS
- The board does not come sealed.
- Board can be a bit wobbly
3. Retrospec Tidal 41 inch Drop Down Longboard Skateboard Review
Features At A Glance
The next board in my review is a Tidal drop Longboard. Retrospec built this board for more agility and control for those required to ride down hills and provide a quick response.
The deck is 41″ long and 9.5″ wide. This board is also made with Canadian Maple. The long and wide deck gives you the flexibility to position your feet however needed. Similar to the previous two, it also has the ability to handle 220 lbs of load.
All other features of this board are the same as the previous one I discussed except the drop-down trucks. The above mentioned board is fitted with drop-through trucks but this board comes with drop-down trucks. The drop-down is the perfect shape for freeride longboarders as this shape is meant for technical skating.
It is much easier to kick sideways on a drop-down longboard. It ensures a much stable ride when you are going straight. Most importantly it is perfect for very high speed surfing and sliding.
PROS
CONS
- Bearings not that great
- Grip tape not applied well
Verdict: Should You Buy Retrospec Longboard?
Overall, Retrospec’s longboard quality is very good and their products are fairly priced. Won’t disappoint for sure.
Now, which one should you go for?
In my opinion, I must say that if carrying around your longboard is not a problem for you then definitely go for the Retrospec zed bamboo longboard. It is a strong board with a nice design, good speed & control and comes fully assembled. Good for both beginners and experts.
Alternatively, you can purchase the Retrospec rift drop-through longboard if you are a beginner and the Retrospec tidal drop down longboard if you are an advanced rider. Both will provide a good performance overall no matter which one you choose.
FAQ
Q: Are Retrospec longboards good?
A:The quality of Retrospec’s longboards are very good and their products are fairly priced.
Q: Where to buy Retrospec longboards?
A: You can buy Retrospec longboards on Amazon.
Q: Retrospec longboard weight limit?
A: Most of Retrospec longboard’s official weight limit is 220 lbs. Although riders weighing 300+ lbs have been using these. The official limit is set lower to be on the safe side I guess.
