Our topic today is the 10 best longboards for dancing!
Whether you want to level up your riding skills or are completely new to longboarding, keep reading!
Dancing is a new riding style that involves lots of footwork: cross-stepping and walking on a moving board to create elegant spinning movements like you are dancing.
That way, you can combine and improve your agility, balance, and coordination. More excitingly, people will not be able to take their eyes off you.
In this article, we will share helpful tips to pick up the right board from the top 10 reviews. Check them out now! Skateboard Cast.
Product image | Product name | Editor's rating | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Playshion Drop-Through | 4.9 | ||
Magneto Bamboo | 4.8 | ||
Atom All-Terrain | 4.8 | ||
Atom Drop Deck 41-Inch | 4.8 | ||
Volador 46-Inch Maple Dancing | 4.7 | ||
Splendor Drop-Through | 4.7 | ||
Hana 42-Inch Cruiser Bamboo | 4.6 | ||
Loaded Boards Tan Tien Bamboo | 4.6 | ||
Samurai – Black Longboards Collection | 4.5 | ||
MBS All-Terrain | 4.5 |
Best Longboards For Dancing: A Complete Buying Guide
Not all longboards are built for dancing. This kind of board should be both comfortable and specially designed to perform highly technical skating tricks such as spinning or flipping.
A dancing longboard often features:
- A weight capacity of 250 lbs
- 8-ply maple flex deck to ride comfortably
- 78A soft polyurethane wheels
- Aluminum alloy trucks
- Added security features like breaks or helmets
Keep reading about those important factors to pick up the most suitable board and show off your masterful dances!
Plies And Weight Capacity
Simply put, a ply is a material layer. It determines the overall lightweight and flexibility of the board, whereas the more plies mean the more pounds it can withstand.
On average, a longboard with 8 plies can bear weight between 200 and 250 lbs. Provided that you are big guys, go for 9 layers.
Materials
When it comes to skateboarding, there are four main components for your consideration: maple, bamboo, fiberglass, and carbon fiber.
- Maple is by far the best well-known for its strength, lightweight, and flexibility.
A maple longboard often comes with several layers sandwiched together to hold as much weight as possible, exceptionally when you perform dance moves and tricks.
- Bamboo is also popular among skaters, considering its strong and environmentally-friendly characteristics. However, the material is more expensive and less durable than maple.
- Carbon fiber, meanwhile, is the latest supportive material found in the skate industry. It is often added to a bamboo board to improve the overall stiffness and responsiveness.
The combination also helps reduce the manufacturing cost, making the dancing boards cheaper.
- Fiberglass is made by being dipped in glass or plastic. Then, the manufacturers can bend the decks to create creative designs, which is the main reason for fiberglass’s versatile use.
Sizes Of Decks
Decks’ shapes vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer and also depending on your skating skills.
As a beginner, you will want a plain deck with lots of room between the tails so that you can easily maneuver and move around. It should be about 9 inches wide and 45 inches long.
When you level up, it is possible to think about fancy and uniquely shaped boards. They often have a symmetrical cutaway shape, resulting in less wheel bite and heavier carving. There are also kick tails on both sides built for ghost riders and professional tricks.
Soft Flex
A softer flex is a common preference for most dancers because flexy boards allow doing bigger carves. However, a high flex rating means the board will be more bouncy and less controllable.
Thus, you must find a suitable midpoint of flex if you don’t want to expose yourself to risks of falls and hurts.
Quality Trucks
In our opinion, trucks are not a matter at the beginning level but at the immediate stage and above. More advanced riders need better stability to lean and turn your board.
Plus, you had better go for branded trucks to get high-quality parts like soft bushings or pivot. Your trucks will turn smoothly and become controllable. Cheap parts, on the other hand, cause bad suspension and dangers.
Polyurethane Wheels
Wheels are essential in creating a smooth and steady ride. Large and heavy wheels help make flatland tricks while dancing with less energy loss. Small ones, on the other hand, excel at performing deep carves.
Longboard wheels are made from polyurethane (PU) in different hardness measured in a durometer within 75A and 104A. Any wheels in the range of 78-90A are the softest; 90-98A is in the middle, while 99A+ durometer is considered hard wheels.
Besides, the height of the wheels is also a crucial parameter. Skaters need a wheel of 65mm plus to 70mm to push and hold the speedwell on most surfaces.
However, the final choice all comes down to your preferred skating styles: freestyle, dancing, or sliding maneuvers.
Design Of The Boards
We have to say that the style of dancers and the longboards themselves are some of the very first things that attract the audience.
It also decides the overall price. Some quality boards are plain so that you have room and freedom to add your style. However, other manufacturers add value to their products with creative designs or customization services.
Additional Security
Whether you are an amateur or professional, you should be ready to deal with accidents while practicing the tricks.
Credit manufacturers will also add some security features, for example, breaks, grippy tops, bearings, etc. If you’re at the entry-level, it is advisable to wear protective gear like pads and helmets.
What Is The Best Dancing Longboard? – In-Depth Reviews
Now it comes to the most critical part of the article: the list of best dancing longboard reviews.
Playshion Drop-Through Longboard
If you are looking for a gift for your teenagers so that they can play outside more instead of being couch potatoes, consider buying a Playshion Drop-Through Longboard.
Features:
- Dimensions: about 39 x 9 x 4 inches
- Weight: about 7 lbs
- Weight capacity: 250 lbs at max
- Material: flexible 8-ply maple
- Deck style: drop-through deck
- Trucks: solid 7-inch aluminum trucks
- Wheels: big soft 70x50mm PU wheels
Two primary reasons why this board is ideal for teens are its reduced development and the even drop-through deck.
Although the suggested length for moving longboards is 45 inches, variants for young people are regularly shorter. In the meantime, the width remains the same at 9 inches, enough for young skaters to rehearse fundamental exercises.
The deck is formed in a drop-through way. Such a shape will bring down the center of gravity of the longboard and make the ride incredibly steady – even when the riders cut out troublesome turns.
On the downside, we would appreciate it if the manufacturer worked more on the build quality. The wheels quickly wear out, and the grip bubbles after a while.
Magneto Bamboo Longboard
Magneto is often well-known for its durable bamboo decks at affordable prices. Usually, the manufacturer often makes use of lower-quality components like trucks or wheels to keep costs down. Take Magneto 46-inch longboard as an example.
Features:
- Dimensions: 46 x 9 x 3 inches
- Weight: about 6 lbs
- Weight capacity: 200+ lbs
- Material: flexible 3-ply bamboo
- Deck style: top-mounted deck
- Trucks: solid 7-inch cast aluminum trucks
- Wheels: 70mm Shore 78A wheels
Although the Magneto Bamboo longboard is made of durable bamboo, there are only three plies available. This results in a smaller weight capacity – only 200 lbs compared to 250+ lbs like other competitors. We recommend it for girls rather than boys.
The deck is suitable for dancing because its size is about 46 inches long and 9 inches wide. It offers enough room for adults to perform dancing tricks.
We also appreciate that the style is top-mounted rather than drop-through. Girls will find it easier to do aggressive and sharper turns with the trucks directly attached to the bottom. Every dancing movement will become far more beautiful.
What we do not like, however, is the trucks. They are a copy of the quality Paris trucks, meaning that you should not expect them to be as strong and durable.
Atom All-Terrain Longboard
As its name suggests, the Atom All-Terrain Longboard is designed to go smoothly on several surfaces. You can use it for daily commuting around the town or dancing on rough terrains.
Features:
- Dimensions: 39 x 9.5 x 7.8 inches
- Weight: about 10 lbs
- Weight capacity: 200+ lbs
- Material: multiple plies maple
- Deck style: drop-deck deck
- Trucks: solid 7-inch cast aluminum trucks
- Wheels: 100x65mm Shore 78A wheels
The selling point of the board is its construction to tackle almost all terrains. It is thanks to the super-high rebound wheels.
They are as big and sturdy as 100mm x 65mm, along with an all-terrain cast around. You can expect a perfect combination of high on-road speed and even better off-road traction.
The deck features a low-profile design, known as the deck-drop style. It assists in lowering the center of gravity, and eventually greater sound.
We cannot say that this pick is the best longboard for dancing, though. The weight capacity is somewhere around 200 lbs. Thus, it is not suitable for heavy dancing tricks or heavy dancers.
Atom Drop Deck 41-Inch Longboard
Next up on the list is also a Drop deck from Atom. What makes it different from the previous board when it comes to dancing purposes?
Features:
- Dimensions: 41 x 10 x 5 inches
- Weight: about 10 lbs
- Weight capacity: 250+ lbs
- Material: multiple plies maple
- Deck style: drop-deck deck
- Trucks: solid 7-inch cast aluminum trucks
- Wheels: 70mm 78A wheels
At a glance, this board has similar constructions to the previously reviewed Atom board except for the deck size and wheels.
To be specific, the deck is 2 inches longer, resulting in a better weight capacity. The board additionally accompanies super low-riding that guarantees you the most extreme soundness. It is pretty good for downhill cutting.
The accessible deck is full maple overlaid, so you conceivably influence into each turn.
Bearings on this longboard are very notable. They accompany an elastic safeguard and pre-greased up, permitting you to ride uninhibitedly absent a lot of opposition.
Still, heavy trucks are a disadvantage that the manufacturer should improve. Not to mention, the board is slightly on the more expensive side.
Volador 46-Inch Maple Dancing Longboard
VOLADOR 46inch Maple Dancing Longboard is built for dancing purposes. Thus, there is no surprise that we will pick it up as the best dancing longboard ever.
Features:
- Dimensions: 46 x 10 x 4 inches
- Weight: about 7 lbs
- Weight capacity: 300+ lbs
- Material: 8-ply maple
- Deck style: concave deck
- Trucks: solid 7-inch cast aluminum trucks
- Wheels: 70mm 78A wheels
All features of the board fit the buying guide very well.
It has superb actual execution, and it is likewise adaptable and stun retentive. The 100% Maple deck is adequate to deal with most riders.
Other than that, the length of the deck is 46 inches, and the wheelbase is 37 inches, which implies an extensive board. Also, the 10-inch width adds to a steady and solid longboard.
The slight inward is extraordinarily intended to permit you an incredible rowing speed increase, and the raiser cushions and wheel wells will assist you with keeping away from wheel chomp from any point.
What to complain about is the grip. It bubbles quickly and ruins the natural beauty of the fan’s picture.
Slendor Drop-Through Longboard
Slendor Drop-Through Longboard Skateboard might not be the highest-quality board on the list, but you will love it for the awe-inspiring art design from the deck to wheels.
Features:
- Dimensions: 42 x 9 x 4 inches
- Weight: about 8.8 lbs
- Weight capacity: 220+ lbs
- Material: 9-ply maple
- Deck style: drop-through deck
- Trucks: 7-inch cast aluminum trucks
- Wheels: 70mm 85A wheels
The version we introduce above is with a blue theme like the fire underground. Although some people might think the skull to be creepy, it helps you stand out from the crowd.
Besides the design, the build quality is also worth mentioning. The drop-through deck style lowers the center of gravity, meaning that you have better overall stability on downhill riding.
The design makes pushing, controlling, and sliding less complex as well.
Although the load capacity is only 220 lbs, we find the bearings and big wheels extremely reliable, plus the aluminum trucks to handle extreme pressure.
However, all creativity and high quality above comes at a high price, making this unit not accessible to some longboarders…
Hana 42-Inch Cruiser Bamboo Longboard
Another good pair of Magento brands. It is the Hana Longboard Collection Longboards.
Features:
- Dimensions: 42 x 9.5 x 4 inches
- Weight: about 8.8 lbs
- Weight capacity: 220+ lbs
- Material: 8-ply maple
- Deck style: drop-through deck
- Trucks: 7-inch cast aluminum trucks
- Wheels: 70mm 78A wheel
The 42-inch Pintail Hana longboard was planned as a definitive snazzy cruiser board. In case you’re hoping to voyage on a longboard, the Hana Pintail board is a particular wager.
The exemplary pintail state of this board makes it ideal for cruising in and out of town in style. The deck is an 8-layer cover with a hard maple center and a delightfully stained striped bamboo top and base. Such a stiff bamboo deck helps improve your balancing skills.
It includes a different arrangement of openings on the off chance that you need to change trucks to one with an alternate opening mounting design. This board incorporates a free skate device. Together, soft wheels help ride smoothly.
The most exciting feature of this board is the price. It is considerably cheaper than other bamboo boards with similar quality.
Nonetheless, it would be better if some holes were not drilled in the wrong place and the bolts were tighter.
Loaded Boards Tan Tien Bamboo Longboard
The Loaded Tan Tien has procured many regards in the longboarding area over a long time since the primary form was dispatched. Hence, it isn’t unexpected to see the Loaded Boards Tan Tien Bamboo Longboard on this rundown.
Features:
- Dimensions: 39 x 8.75 x 4 inches
- Weight: about 10+ lbs
- Weight capacity: up to 270+ lbs
- Material: 8-ply maple
- Deck style: Drop-through deck
- Trucks: 7-inch aluminum trucks
- Wheels: 70mm 86A wheel
To begin with, you should know that the Loaded Boards Tan Tien Bamboo Longboard is expensive since it is a genuine all-around board – not a dull “most minimized shared factor” type board, yet a self-assured and specialized one.
The board’s size, truck mounts, shape and forms, uncommon flex, and arrangements are explicitly planned toward precise cutting, freeride, and free-form-centered encounters.
At 39″ long, the Tan Tien is acquainted with the requirement for a more conservative and trackable longboard both on level and slopes. Customers depict it as perhaps the most agreeable and most unadorned sheets for mastering new sliding and free-form abilities.
The price tag is the only barrier that might prevent you from purchasing the board.
Samurai – Black Longboards Collection
The Samurai – Black Longboards Collection is an assortment of magnificent longboards ideal for dancing, cruising, freestyling, cutting, downhill riding, freeriding, and moving.
Features:
- Dimensions: 38 x 9.75 x 4 inches
- Weight: about 8 lbs
- Weight capacity: up to 300+ lbs
- Material: 9-ply maple
- Deck style: Drop-through deck
- Trucks: 7-inch aluminum trucks
- Wheels: 70mm 78A wheel
The board is built with quality in mind to handle an extended weight limit than other products, up to 300+ lbs. To that end, the manufacturer produces the Black Longboards Collection by Canadian Maple and veneer.
Such a combination turns out to be durable under force, while it is still lightweight and flexible enough for complicated dancing techniques.
Trucks and wheels are also of high quality. All trucks have an 8th-grade kingpin and hanger, along with bushings for quick responsiveness to turns. Meanwhile, wheels feature an oversized ribbed core so that you can ride faster and smoother.
The only thing to improve is that the deck is significantly low to the ground and sometimes gets stuck on the wheels. Without proper management, you can fly off the board.
MBS All-Terrain Longboard
If you plan to level up your dancing skills without challenging yourself too much, you can consider the MBS All-Terrain Longboard.
Features:
- Dimensions: 39 x 9.5 x 4 inches
- Weight: about 10 lbs
- Weight capacity: 220+ lbs
- Material: 9-ply maple
- Deck style: Drop-through deck
- Trucks: 7.5-inch aluminum trucks
- Wheels: 100mm 78A wheel
MBS All-Terrain Longboard is an entirely steady, solid, and quick board that will not allow you to fall without any problem. It’s an excellent board for fledglings. Also, specialists as well, they can do progressed deceives and misuse the hellfire out of it.
It accompanies a stern nine-employee maple-lam Drop deck that can maintain a low center of gravity for pushing and going mud romping.
Still, the drop deck keeps a reasonable distance from the ground, so it will not effectively contact the ground on lopsided streets.
The board is genuinely more robust than most others. The claimed weight limit is 220 lbs. In any case, it can deal with more weight with no issues.
Before purchasing, you should note that this dancing longboard is not very stable due to the tight hangers. It is, however, what to expect at the immediate level.
Benefits Of Using Different Longboard Decks
If you are serious about longboard dancing, you might need more than one deck
You can dance, cruise, carve, freeride, and downhill occasionally. Using the proper deck will firstly ensure a secure boarding and lengthens the board’s lifespan as much as possible. We divide decks into different types based on their shapes or styles.
4 deck shapes
- Carving decks
A carving longboard is preferred for the ability to zig-zag smoothly across slopes and hills. Meanwhile, the riders can control their direction and speed. We recommend this active and flexible type of decks for intermediate skaters.
- Downhill decks
Downhill longboarding is tied in with besieging slopes as quickly as possible while looking after control. You are a master at squatting or tucked situations on your board for decreased breeze opposition and expanded soundness.
Actually, like in freeriding, it’s normal to break those wheels out in a slide to control your speed, so downhill isn’t the best way of riding for new riders.
- Freestyle decks
Its imaginative, freestyle skating means you can essentially ride anything you desire. Free-form longboarding includes numerous specialized abilities: sliding, board stunts, silly riding, and moving, just to give some examples.
This kind of riding is a decent path for amateurs to acquire board control abilities, but at the same time, it’s very charming for advanced and master riders.
- Freeride decks
Freeride longboarding implies that you are riding slopes with a decent speed while styling it up with slides and check bounces, just as sliding to control your speed on greater plummets.
This way of riding requires incredible board control at high rates, so it’s more common among skilled riders.
3 deck styles
You can also choose decks based on their styles, including top-mounted, drop-though, and drop-deck.
As a rule of thumb, the higher the board is off the ground, the higher the center of gravity will be. Thus, there’ll be not so much security but rather more effort required for pushing and foot-slowing down. There are three popular styles.
- Top-mounted decks
Adaptable and spry, the top mount is the most conventional skateboard style, in which the deck is connected totally over the trucks at the two ends of the board.
- Drop-through decks
On a drop-through longboard, the trucks are mounted “through” the board, which viably brings down the deck tallness by the thickness of the board.
This expands board solidness and diminishes exhaustion while pushing/slowing down because you need to drop your footless to contact the ground.
- Drop-deck styles
A drop deck longboard has trucks mounted on top of the board and is molded, so it sits even lower to the ground than the drop-through board does.
True to form, this considerably brings down the center of gravity, making the board ideal for cruising, pushing, or slowing down with minimal effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are still in two minds of what longboards to choose, the following questions will give you more helpful information for the final decision.
What Is The Best Dancing Board Deck Shape And Size?
As mentioned above, the ideal dancing boards should be 9 inches wide and 45 inches long on average.
The shape of dancer boards is similar to freestyle boards – the tail and nose are often narrower than other parts. That way, there is a space for wheels during carving and turning.
What Length Deck Is The Best?
A rule of thumb for the length deck is that a longer board offers more stable performance, whereas it is less maneuverable on streets and tight corners.
Most longboards are anywhere from 24 inches to 60 inches long. For dancing purposes, the best length is 45 inches – along with a suitable weight, the boards can roll smoother and longer on uneven terrains.
What Flex Should You Go For?
Flex is how relative the boards will bend under your weight. The materials of decks significantly dictate it. There are three flex types available:
- Longitudinal flex allows the boards to bend from nose to tail under force, leaving the deck closer to the ground.
- Lateral flex means bending the boards from left to right. This type is expected upon the combination of camber and concave.
- Torsional flex is between the longitudinal and lateral flex. It has hard slides and carves, but it would be less stiff and faster to return to the center.
Are Trucks Important?
Whether trucks are important or not for dancing longboards is quite controversial. Some people say “Yes,” while others confirm that they are not as crucial as other skating styles.
As we confirmed above, trucks are essential when you wish to advance your skating skills. A pair of appropriate trucks will allow for fluid cross-stepping and balancing tricks. Otherwise, inferior trucks are unyielding, and you are not able to hold a fast turn.
Which Trucks Are Best?
Trucks of dancing longboards are often broader and longer so that you can rest assured about stability and easy fit to the deck. A good width is about7 inches and with an 8-hole mounting system.
High-quality longboards often come with great trucks. Otherwise, you can buy additional trucks – Here to name a few:
- Bear Grizzly 8.52 trucks: They are responsive and stable for high-speed shredding and downhill with a hanger’s shape.
- Paris Savant 7-inch 43°: The trucks look like a splurge, made of top-quality grade aluminum. They are very durable and robust, aligned to the wheels using inner and outer speed rings.
What About The Wheels?
The wheels of the best longboards for dancing should be big and heavy so that skaters can roll for a very long time on a single push. It means less effort and energy while riding. Wide wheels are also helpful to make better contact on the surfaces.
The ideal wheel size should be set at 65mm and more.
Is Longboard Dancing Hard?
Dancing with a longboard is not hard. However, it is also not easy – particularly for beginners. This style requires frequent walking and spinning movements. Moreover, you should prepare for falls, scratches, and serious hurts.
However, you should not be worried too much and stick to the tips below:
- Picking up the best longboards for dancing.
- Wearing a helmet and protection gears.
- Finding a good mentor who can tell you what to practice.
- Searching for a secure place to perform dancing techniques.
- Finally, practicing makes perfect.
How Long Does It Take To Learn Longboard Dancing?
It depends on your background and, sometimes, on whether you have a knack for it or not. It takes around two or three weeks to pick up basic techniques, yet a year or more to master the advanced skills.
Keep in mind that consistency is vital for learning longboard dancing. If you don’t practice every day, it will take more time than usual.
Some people can learn longboard dancing just by copying the moves of famous riders on Youtube. After several months, they can tweak movements according to their experience levels and their boards.
It would be quicker if you have a great coach and a clear plan. Firstly, you should learn the basic cross-step. It involves carving and creating S turns back and forth at a moderate pace.
Peter Pan is the following basic technique. You can start with your front leg close and the hind leg in the middle of the deck. Then, you can make a carving of your toes.
Ghost Ride is more complicated but well-worth learning. Also, starting with your usual riding posture, you move on by carrying the hind leg to the back deck. Your feet are close to the tail, remaining an equal gap between the rails.
After half a year, riders can continue with combined skills and challenging techniques – for example, chopping the wood, Ghostride Kickflip, the Casanova, etc.
Where To Practice Longboard Dancing?
Here are several places to skateboard, in general, and to dance with longboards, in particular.
- A skatepark
- An actual park
- Empty parking lots
- Your garage
- Carpet or grass
What Safety Gear Should You Get?
It is inevitable to get hurt when you learn new sports like dancing on longboards. The best advice for new riders is to wear as much safety gear as possible, including helmets, slide gloves, knee pads, wrist guards, etc.
What Footwear To Use On A Dancing Longboard?
Besides the safety gear, riders should also consider their clothing. Take the footwear, for example.
You need flat sneakers with double or triple-stitched parts so that you can stay securely on the boards.
Wrapping Up
Above are the top 10 best longboards for dancing, coming in different shapes, styles, weight capacity, etc. We hope that you can already pick up your favorite board, and you can even buy several boards at a time.
Having different decks is arguably beneficial, as we mentioned above.
If you still do not know what to choose, we recommend some reliable boards such as Atom All-Terrain Longboard, Volador 46-Inch Maple Dancing Longboard, and Samurai Black Longboards Collection.
Related Articles:
Check here for more buying guides for Skateboards & Longboards.
Thank you for reading!