Choosing your skateboard

When you're just starting out , choosing the right skateboard for you can be overwhelming due to the many different brands and designs out there. This is where you'll find the answers to all your questions!

Skateboards for dropping figures

'Street' skateboards are classic boards that everyone's familiar with. Riders reach for this type of skateboard to drop shapes in skateparks or in town. The skateboard will often have two rounded ends called 'kicks', with one extending slightly more towards the front.
 

The different parts of a skateboard

The skateboard's actual board is made of seven layers of Canadian maple, with fibreglass between each layer and epoxy resin. The grip on the top of the skateboard's surface is slip-resistant, giving you more control over it during figures and tricks. The trucks are found on the underbelly of your skateboard: these are the metallic fittings that attach the wheels to the board and allow the skateboard to turn. Inside the trucks are little rubber parts called 'bushing' which provide extra flexibility and allow for easy turning. For pre-assembled skateboards that are semi-taut, the tighter you adjust the trucks, the less fast and stabler the skateboard will be.  
Polyurethane and urethane skateboard wheels come in different diameter sizes and hardness levels. Wheel hardness is measured against an American standard known as the shore, and is given on the wheel in the form of a number and the letter A. The softest wheels will have a hardness rating of 75A, while the hardest wheels will come in at 104A. The harder a wheel is, the faster and smoother the glide, making it ideal for street skateboarding.
Skateboard wheel diameters vary from 47mm to 60mm. The greater your skateboard's wheel diameter, the better it will roll and tackle unevenness on the ground. Smaller wheels are lighter and easier to manoeuvre. On the other hand, they can easily get blocked by pebbles and dirt on the ground.
This means that for street skateboarding, riders are advised to choose very hard wheels with a small diameter, which will give them excellent momentum.

Different sizes of skateboard

You should choose your skateboard based on how tall you are, and how large your feet are. Skateboard width is expressed in inches and ranges from 8.25'' to 7.5''. For a child or smaller teen, the standard is to go for a skateboard that measures 7.5'' to 7.75' wide'.
A complete 8'' skateboard is a good choice for teens or adults. Most beginners start out with this size skateboard. When you're just starting out with skateboarding, there's a tendency to position yourself wrongly, standing too far forward or back. That's why you need to choose skates that are fairly wide, which results in a lower risk of falling.
If you're tall or have larger feet, go for 8.125'' and 8.25''.

Getting started with a preassembled skateboard

If you're just starting out, we recommend opting for a preassembled skateboard that will be much less expensive than a customised board. In terms of pricing, you're looking at anything between €49.90 and €129.90.
Jart skateboards offer the best value for money on the market, with prices starting at €49.90 for a standard 7.75'' board. The boards are made from maple wood sourced from sustainably-managed forests , which illustrates the brand's commitment to safeguarding the environment.
Baker was founded by skater Andrew Reynolds and artist Jay Strickland in 1999, and offers quality complete skateboards at ultra competitive prices. They are available at our skate shop for €71.90.
Those looking to start out in street skateboarding with some rock-solid gear need look no further than skateboards from the brand Flip Skate. Thanks to their P2 technology, the Flip skateboards offer the lasting pop that all skaters strive to achieve ( awesome propelling during tricks). Grab yourself a new Flip skateboard for just €59.90!
Birdhouse offers pre-mounted mid-range skateboards priced at €99.90.

Cruisers for hitting the streets

Designed to be used in skateparks, 'street' skateboards aren't the best choice for getting around town. Even if a road looks very smooth and even, the smallest pebble can bring a standard skateboard screeching to a halt, because their wheels are fairly small. Cruisers, the second most popular type of skateboards, are best suited for trips around town. Cruisers are skateboards that often have a missile-like shape, with fairly big wheels that are extremely soft. This ensure the skateboard has good gliding abilities and can tackle anything that lies in its way.
There's no standard size for cruisers: just pick a board that feels right.
Among the ranges we sell, the award for best value for money has to go to the cruisers from the Mindless: the DAILY GRANDE II and STAINED DAILY designs. This board is perfect for people starting out in skateboarding or those who already know how to skate but want a fairly compact board that feels good to ride. The brand Arbor offers designs complete with Paris Street 88 mm trucks. You can also get small cruisers from brands D-STREET and PENNY. These are plastic mini skates aimed at experienced riders: these skates really are very small, meaning they offer no room for error.

Multi-feature skateboards

At Nomadeshop you'll find DB models that will allow you to enjoy both street and recreational styles. These skateboards look like street skateboards, albeit with the softer wheels of a cruiser. This skateboard is a pretty comfortable choice for cruising around town, and hitting the skatepark too.

Customised skateboards

If you absolutely want to perform tricks but you don't want to head to a skatepark, we advise assembling your own. You can always start with a street deck and then upgrade it to a cruiser using softer wheels. This customised skateboard lets you perform tricks while retaining the easy smoothness of the ride. In terms of prices, for a classic street or cruiser set-up budget for €150 at the very least, bearing in mind that prices vary by brand and range.

You'll find all our skateboards and tips online, and at our Nomadeshop store in Paris Bastille.