Cruiser Skateboards

A cruiser is a skateboard designed for casual riding (“cruising”) and transportation, as opposed to tricks or speed. Cruisers feature large, soft wheels, wide trucks, and shorter, but wider (9” to 10”) decks than traditional skateboards. Some have a rear kicktail to make it easy to pop the board up, but in general, cruisers aren’t built for tricks. Within the category of cruisers are ultra-portable boards known as “mini cruisers” or penny boards, such as our Quip Mini Cruiser. While these boards still have soft, large wheels, they are shorter (22.5”) and narrower (6”) than even traditional skateboards. Extremely lightweight and compact, a mini cruiser is small enough to carry in one hand, and even slip into a backpack!

Cruisers are technically a type of skateboard, but they’re not what most people think of when they think of a traditional skateboard. There are a few key distinctions. Cruisers have wider decks, with a flatter or slightly concave shape, providing more stability and foot space. Their wheels are much larger and softer than skateboard wheels, and while they may have a kicktail at the back, they almost never have a kicktail at the front, like a normal skateboard. Not all cruisers have wide decks (Quip Mini Cruiser), but even mini cruisers have the same large, soft wheels and general deck shape.

A cruiser skateboard is for “cruising” or casual skateboarding on varied surfaces. Similar to a longboard, cruisers are designed for transportation, but unlike longboards, they aren’t built for high speeds and big hills. Instead, they have an increased focus on maneuverability and portability. This is particularly true for mini-cruisers like Quip. You can put this board into your backpack or easily carry it in one hand.

Generally, yes. Longboards are much more stable than cruisers because their decks and wheelbases are much larger, and their wheels are also larger and softer. So if you have no experience skating, a longboard will be easier to learn to ride and better for riding longer distances. However, the flipside of this is that because longboards are much heavier and bigger than cruisers, it’s harder to transport them and store them, and more difficult to maneuver them in tight spaces.

Cruiser boards are great for beginners. If you want to learn how to longboard, then a longboard is a better choice, but if you’re more interested in overall skateboarding, then arguably cruisers are the best style of skateboard for beginners. They’re more comfortable and stable than trick skateboards, but they aren’t as heavy, unwieldy, or prone to high speeds as longboards, and they’re easier to turn in tight spaces. While a longboard may be easier for a beginner to ride, the experience of longboarding, in many ways, is more akin to riding a surfboard or snowboard than a skateboard. So it’s actually not the best way to learn how to skate. A cruiser board is the best of both worlds! Do note, however, that mini cruisers like Quip don’t necessarily fit this mold. Because “mini cruisers” are much smaller than regular cruisers, they are less stable and require better balance, more coordination, and some extra time to learn.

Yes, you can absolutely use a normal skateboard for cruising! While normal skateboards are mostly designed for tricks and park riding, they can certainly be used for getting around town or cruising short distances. However, keep in mind that a typical skateboard won’t be as comfortable or efficient for cruising as a dedicated cruiser or longboard. The smaller, harder wheels of a skateboard, in particular, make for a much bumpier ride on rough or varied surfaces, and the narrower deck and trucks will feel less stable.

Yes, you can take a cruiser board to a skatepark! In fact, the wide decks found on many cruiser skateboards are actually the style of choice for skating pools and bowls. That said, for other skatepark features, cruisers aren’t ideal, primarily because most cruisers are heavier than normal skateboards. Their larger wheels and wider decks are harder to get up in the air, and their lack of a front kicktail limits the tricks you can perform. Do note that a mini cruiser like our Quip is not representative of the overall “cruiser” demographic. You could take Quip to a skatepark, but this board is designed more for casual street riding.

A mini cruiser skateboard is a cruiser board with an increased focus on portability. Mini cruisers are extremely small and light, easy to hold in one hand, and often even small enough to put into a bookbag. This makes them popular for college students commuting around campus, skaters who use mixed transport (bus, train, metro, elevator), and people in tight living situations (dorms, studio apartments, etc.) who may not have the space to store or lug around a longboard.

Although mini cruisers have a serious edge in portability, they are harder to ride (for beginners) than normal cruising boards, simply because their decks are smaller and their wheelbase is tighter. This means they require better balance, coordination, and control. Just like any skill, though, you’ll get the hang of it with time! With some practice, many riders find it easier to ride their mini cruisers than any other type of board, because they’re so light and easy to kick up and steer.

Penny boards are named after Penny Skateboards, an Australian company founded in 2010 that re-popularized this style of mini cruiser. The company's founder, Ben Mackay, named the brand after his sister, Penny. In the years since then, the name “Penny board” has become more of a household name (similar to Band-Aid, Kleenex, and Velcro) and is commonly used to refer to any small mini-cruiser or small plastic skateboard, regardless of the brand.

Skateboard safely by following these tips:

• Always wear a helmet and consider additional protective gear like wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads.

• Skate in designated areas like skateparks, or areas free from traffic and pedestrians.

• Learn proper technique and practice falling safely to minimize injuries.

• Regularly inspect your skateboard for loose or damaged parts and ensure it's in good working condition.

Skateboard pads should be snug but comfortable. The pads should not restrict movement, but should stay firmly in place when the rider moves around, and not slide down their forearms or shins, with the EVA foam padding positioned directly over the joints (knee, elbow, wrist). Remember to purchase the proper pads for your age—our pads come in three sizes, for ages 3-9, 10-14, and 14+ (adult).

There's no strict age limit for skateboarding. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says children under five years old should not skateboard. Children between 6 and 10 years old can start skateboarding, but should be closely supervised by an adult and wear appropriate protective gear. (The same AAP report notes that ⅓ of all skateboarding injuries occur within the first week of learning the sport.) Older children and teenagers can skateboard independently, but should still prioritize safety.

Skateboards have two primary dimensions, width and length. Length is less of a concern when sizing a skateboard, but most boards come between 28 and 33 inches long. Slightly shorter boards are usually better for younger skaters, but it’s not extremely important. (Our Alameda sits right in the middle, at 31”). Width is more important. Wider decks provide better stability (think pool skating or ramps) while narrower decks are better for pulling tricks and controlling the board. For a traditional starting skateboard for kids, look for a deck width between 7 and 8 inches. Over 8 inches is great for a cruiser, pool, ramp, or transition board. If you’re looking for an extremely portable board for your child to simply ride around town—and tricks aren’t a consideration—consider a mini cruiser like Quip. This board is a mere 6 inches wide, can be either 22.5 or 27 inches long, and supports up to 220 pounds, making it a stellar rider for all ages and heights!

Although some bike helmets are styled more for skateboarding (like many of our helmets, such as Dakota), these helmets are, in truth, still bicycle helmets. Still, both skate helmets and bike helmets are designed to protect the head from impact, and the forces at play are similar. Most high-quality bicycle helmets will also provide reliable protection for skateboarding. One consideration, however, is protection at the base and rear of the head. Skateboarding helmets (and bike helmets made for mountain biking like Rowan) usually have extensive rear coverage, but some road cycling helmets don’t. Check your bike helmet to ensure it has full coverage before using it for skateboarding. The other consideration is how often you’ll be using your helmet. While most bike helmets can protect in the event of a single skate crash, true bike helmets are certified to protect against one high-impact crash, not repeated low-impact falls like those encountered while skateboarding. If you’re skateboarding regularly, it’s best to seek out a dedicated skateboard helmet, certified to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1492 standard.