Loaded Longboard Buyers Guide

Compared to traditional skateboards, longboard have several subtleties in their design and setups that can drastically change the riding experience from one board to another. With this helpful guide, Loaded is happy to help boil down your options into easily digestible categories to give you the knowledge you need to choose your next ride and get you on board.

Commuting longboards are crafted for the urban traveler seeking efficiency and comfort in their daily ride. Unlike traditional skateboards, these boards are specifically designed to make your journey smoother and less tiring. While you can commute on virtually any board, models like the Loaded Fathom stand out for their commuter-friendly features.

Dancing longboards feature a spacious standing platform and longer length to give the rider maximum space for skating with friends or doing fancy foot work maneuvers.

Hybrid longboards combine elements of traditional skateboards and modern longboard design and construction. Hybrid boards provide the user with the ability to snap ollies or do other street-skating tricks but also provide a longer wheelbase to make commuting and standing on board more comfortable.

Downhill/Freeride Boards are designed to be stable and safe at high speeds. Compared to the rest of the Loaded lineup, these boards focus on being stiff and keeping the user glued to the top of the board. All of the boards are top mounted for ideal leverage and control, but also feature a rockered platform to keep you slightly lower to the ground and craddled, wheel flares to fit larger wheels and give you a reference point for your feet, and W concave that provides a lump running through the center of the board to aid in slide control.

Surf skates combine elements of traditional skateboards with surf-inspired truck geometry and modern deck design. Surf skate setups are built to generate speed through pumping and carving, delivering a fluid, surf-like ride on pavement while maintaining the compact size and agility of a skateboard.

We hope these categories will help you make your decision in which board to add to your quiver or which board to start you longboarding adventure with. If you want to find out more information on each specific board, visit the board page to grab the specs and a closer look at what makes it unique. Though we like to design our boards to excel in a certain style of riding, many of them can cross over into other styles, expanding your versatility and riding experience. The Blood Slayer is stiff for downhill, but its spacious platform makes for a fun dancing experience. The Bhangra is long and flexible, but the stiffer flexes make for a fun sliding experience. Don’t feel confined to ride a certain way, explore what styles you like the most and you might just find yourself having more fun than you originally intended.