How Much Does a Good Skateboard Cost? $30, $50, $100
Whether skateboarding is your new-found love, or you have decided to spice up your skateboarding, there is always the budget question.
How much does a good skateboard cost? Do I go with the expensive options for the skateboard to be good?
Deciding on a budget can be a tough task. But dont fret.
In this article, we will discuss all that, and more, so you dont end up overpaying for half the promised qualities in your skateboard.
We will also take you through the budget of producing your own skateboard, so you have complete control over the quality.
How Much Do Skateboards cost
If you are confused about how much you should be spending on your board, you are not alone. Its a common confusion among skateboarders due to the limitless options in the market today.
A skateboard can cost anywhere between $20 to $300, depending on the quality, brand, and purchase location. The cost will also depend on whether you are more into the brand or the materials durability.
If you are buying the parts separately, the board will cost you somewhere in the middle of the price range and serve you for about five years. Any customizations for your skateboard mean that you will have to fork out more money, or maybe less, depending on your choices.
Since a skateboard will significantly impact your performance, set your preferences beforehand. A little bit of extra cash can mean double the enjoyment. But, you will have to spend that extra cash wisely.
If you are new to skateboarding, you should think about how often you will be skating and the type of skateboard you would prefer. Then comes the quality that would meet your demands and budget.
Types of Skateboards
The type of skateboard you need to get will depend on your use and skating preferences. It will also determine your budget.
Here are seven main categories of skateboards, along with their costs.
Beginner Skateboards
These skateboards are ideal for beginners who want to enjoy the thrill of skating without putting a dent in their wallet. This type is not the best, but good enough to meet beginner and average skaters expectations.
Mid-quality skateboards range from $40 to $70.
Classic Skateboards
These skateboards are an all-around option because they fit a range of skating styles, except for cruising. They are classified into further categories based on their capabilities.
Classic skateboards range from $60 to $400.
Street Skateboards
These lightweight boards are mainly for skaters who want to perform tricks, grinds, and slides within urban environments.
They have popsicle stick-shaped decks with small wheels for ease of use. You most probably have seen one of these in your local park or advertisements.
Street skateboards cost around $70 to $200.
Blank Skateboards
Blank skateboards are appropriate for professionals, and they can still get you the right value for money. They are simple and allow you to skate with ease.
These boards mostly come in solid colors, without any complicated designs or graphics.
Blank skateboards range from $50 to $110.
Professional Skateboards
They are mainly used in competitions, and you can usually find them in skating tournaments. Since they have a quality deck, you can learn to ride them without much trouble.
Professional skateboards fall between $100 to $250.
Longboard Skateboards
Longboards are designed for cruising long distances and give you the acceleration you need for downhill skating.
These skateboards are ideal for learners as they offer a stable deck platform. However, they have limited capabilities, and you wont be performing your tricks on them.
Longboard skateboards will cost you around $60 to $500.
Kids Skateboards
As the name suggests, these skateboards are built with kids in mind. They are cheaper and offer basic safety features for safe skating.
Kids skateboards cost between $20 to $45.
Factors Affecting Skateboard Costs
The cost of skateboards is affected mainly by their type, but there are other factors too. These include:
Brand
The popularity of the brand has a significant effect on the price tag. Popular Skateboard brands tend to sell more expensive boards than others.
These pricier boards might be better in quality and design, or they might not be. You dont want to rely on a brand name without assessing the quality of the board first.
Type
Each type of skateboard has its characteristics, and they affect its functionality. Your choice will depend on your particular set of skills and the purpose of your board.
For example, do you need a skateboard to participate in tournaments? If yes, then you will have to go for a professional skateboard, which will probably cost you more than other boards.
Quality
Price does not always mean better when it comes to skateboards. We have found some cheaper models to be more durable than the popular ones, and its no surprise.
You will find many affordable skateboards with all the amazing features of a pricer board. You will also find pricier options that are worth every penny. Just make sure your investment is well thought out.
Buying Location
It might sound surprising to you, but the place where you buy your skateboard will also affect its price. You might come across shops that are simply expensive because they hold popularity in their area.
Make Your Own Skateboard
If you produce a skateboard from scratch, it wont be nearly as expensive as a store-bought board. Why?
The production cost of a board depends on the quality of the material used and the manufacturing location. As it passes through the distribution chain, the cost increases until it reaches the retailer.
That means if the manufacturing of the board costs around $30, you will end up paying $50 to $75 to the retailer. These estimates are only to give you an idea of how much the costs increase along the distribution line.
So, how much does a good skateboard cost if you produce your own?
It will cost you between $75 to $150, depending on the quality of materials you select.
If you go for high-quality components, they will add to the total production cost. Heres an estimate of separate skateboard parts:
- Trucks range between $30 and $50
- Decks range from $30 to $ 90
- Wheels cost around $30
- Bearing costs anywhere between $10 to $100
- Grip tape retails for around $10
- Protective gear costs up to $200, including knee pads, wrist guards, and elbow pads.
Things to Know About Skateboards
Before you start to produce your own skateboard, here are a few tips to get the creative juices flowing.
Get Solid Skateboard Trucks
Skateboard trucks mount on the underside of your skateboard and protect the wheels and bearings. When you are making your own skateboard, this accessory becomes more critical.
Skateboard trucks come in many brands, sizes, and qualities depending on the style of skating. The trucks you choose should fit your boat in terms of size and quality.
Roll the Right Wheels
Skateboard Wheels come in different sizes, and you can personalize them according to your preferences. The size of the wheels can change the way you skate.
According to the general rule, the bigger wheels will make you ride faster for cruising or vert skating. The smaller ones are more stable for performing tricks and street skating.
Stick to Basic Griptape
Grip tape is one of the many things that can make or break your skating experience. For starters, get a basic grip tape, one which costs around $5. If you prefer a colored or graphic grip, it will cost you $10 to $20.
Pick the Right Hardware
Getting the right nuts and bolts can be tricky, so its better to play safe and get one-inch-long bolts. If you are new to this, you might want to get colored bolts to differentiate between nose and tail, as it can get super annoying.
Dont Overspend on Bearings
You dont have to spend too much on bearings as the expensive ones are mainly for cruiser boards and longboards. If you take good care of average-priced bearings, they will last you for years.
Wrap-Up
Picking the right skateboard might just be the most challenging part of skateboarding, but not for you.
Some high-quality boards dont cost more than $300. Others will cost you a fortune only because of the brand name.
Make sure you take some time to research and decide what kind of skateboard you want or desire to produce.
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