When shopping around for quality skateboard decks there are several things you must take into consideration. What type of skating you intended to do, your height and weight, but most importantly what actually feels right for you.

Almost all skateboard decks are made from wood, though there are some cheaper versions made with plastic. While a plastic deck may save a little cash it lacks any true pop for doing tricks. Maple is the choice wood for most decks, inspect it to make sure the wood is nice and hard for extra durability.

The glue also plays an important part in the durability of a skateboard which is a fact often over looked by newcomers to the sport, as well as people who have been skating for years.

Always make sure you do the proper research and learn as much as you can before making a purchase.

Most decks currently made are between 30 and 32 inches long with a width of 7.5 to 8.0 inches. A thinner board allows for a quicker rotation while a thicker one will give you more control and stability. In large part people who want to pull big tricks or run a vert ramp usually go for something 8.0 inches or up for the increased stability.

Old School Decks and Long-boards are often a bit larger. These usually range upwards of 8.25 across and can be as long as 48 inches offering a wide surface area for plenty of control.

It all comes down to you. There is no wrong size, or wrong material if it feels right once you set your feet on it. A quality skateboard deck relies highly on what feels right. If it fits you then anything that is what really matters and that is what you are looking for. At the end of the date dimensions go out the window and it becomes you, your board and what you want it to do.

Tips for Choosing a Skateboard Deck

Extreme sports are nothing new to the world of the physically active; collectively they have been in existence for several decades, since the 1970s in fact, when rock climbing began to see a widespread increase in popularity. Whether it is the high level of physical exertion involved, or just an addiction to the adrenaline rushes, this genre of sports has continued to gain in popularity, branching out into many previously unexplored areas such as snowboarding, bungee jumping and skydiving.

One of the more popular extreme sports, skateboarding, is enjoyed by adults and children alike all around the globe. Its accessibility makes it an appealing sport, with many regions having a nearby skate park and skateboarding decks ranging in price from under £20 to in excess of £100. The deck is arguably the most important part of a skateboard in conjunction with the wheels as these are, by definition, the basic components of a skateboard. With such a varying price range it is inherently important to decide which deck is best for any given skateboarder.

The obvious difference between skateboard decks on the market is branding and graphics. The graphics of a deck will contribute towards the overall “feel” of a skateboard, which many boarders consider to be important. Current popular brands include: Plan B, a company renowned for its simplistic yet sturdy builds and designs; Element, the environmentally friendly and deep rooted brand and Alien Workshop, which makes use of intricate deck designs to sell its products. Better known brands will sell decks that are slightly more expensive, however in most cases the expertise and experience of the organisation has gone into designing and manufacturing the deck, so this extra price will usually pay off.

Another less obvious factor to take into account is the size of the board. Decks range from about 29 inches in length to larger than 32 inches, depending on the height of their intended rider. The width will also vary, based on the width of a rider`s feet and skateboarding style. Wider decks will tend to be more stable and so less suitable for tricking such as flipping. A third and final consideration is how concave the deck surface may be: this varies from board to board. A mellow concavity will be suited to flat foot riding whereas a steep concavity will be more comfortable for those who really like to control their board, so again the style of skateboarding will help to decide here. Whilst these aspects can be easily overlooked, it is important that the correct size is chosen or at least one which feels comfortable to use, as performance and for that matter safety can be directly affected.

With such a wide range of decks from which to choose in shops and with additional boarding gear from brands such as Volcom UK, the perfect deck – and image – is out there just waiting to be found.

Skateboard Decks: How to Choose