In the vibrant universe of skateboarding, where wood meets wheels and concrete becomes a canvas for self-expression, the weight of a skateboard stands as a silent maestro orchestrating the rhythm of each ride. “How much does a skateboard weigh?” is not just a technical inquiry; it’s an invitation to understand the soulful connection between a skater and their trusty deck.
In this article, we’ll delve into the factors influencing skateboard weight, shedding light on why it matters and how it can affect your ride. Join us as we unravel the intricacies of skateboard weight, providing insights that go beyond the scales and contribute to a more informed and enjoyable skateboarding journey.
How Much Does a Skateboard Weigh?
When calculating the overall weight of a skateboard, we combine the sub-units into one main object. When we calculated the weight of all the components, the weight was calculated around 5.5 lbs to 8.5 lbs. However, it depends on the skateboard type and structure. The notation was based on the average basis. You may find a slight increase in the weight of a longboard.
Understanding Different Components of a Skateboard
A complete skateboard consists of components such as bearings, wheels, trucks, grip tape, deck, etc. Every component is made with different materials that put some difference in weight. To calculate the right weight of the skateboard, you need to understand the individual component weight.
Deck
The deck is a significant and wide-talked component in a skateboard. Skateboard’s deck has a major impact on its overall weight. However, measuring the right weight for a skateboard deck depends on different factors. It is because of the different materials the skateboard deck producers use in the construction. Some decks are made with wood, which can be maple, bamboo, and other solid tree woods.
Correspondingly, other materials used in the skateboard deck construction may vary. Materials like composite, fiberglass, aluminum, nylon, foam, etc., affect their weight. As discussed, the wood also affects its weight. Bamboo wood is always lighter than maple or any other solid wood.
However, our different tests concluded the average weight of the deck might vary from 2.2 lbs to 4.85 lbs. A single skateboard deck usually has 6-8 maple wood piles. We calculated the weight according to the maple wood. However, the bamboo skateboard deck weighs slightly lower at 1.9 lbs to 4.20 lbs (depending on the bamboo type).
However, the skateboard deck’s width also plays an essential role in measuring the weight and choosing the best one for you. Slightly narrower skateboard decks range from 7.15 to 8.0 inches, which are the best performers in cruising or slightly straight riding. Moreover, a bit wider decks are more suitable for higher stability and sharp turning. However, these types of skateboard decks are slightly heavier than the narrower ones.
Similarly, another thing to look at in the deck for measuring the weight is its length. The skateboard length can vary from 28″ to 33″ depending on its type. On the other hand, longboard decks are usually 33″ to 60″ long. The higher length ultimately increases the weight. The longboard decks average weight from 2.8 lbs to 6 lbs.
Trucks
You’ll find the skateboard trucks are usually metallic made. The trucks provide a base for the wheels and support the skateboard’s deck through bolts. Some producers use carbon steel, some use stainless steel, some use aluminum, and some use the supreme metals of the time. Trucks’ weight is contingent on the substance that they are constructed from.
People mostly think that trucks are metallic made; that’s why these must be the heaviest part of a skateboard. However, the reality is not like that. We have tested trucks made from metals like titanium, aluminum, and steel and concluded that the average weight of a single truck lies between 0.70 lb to 0.82 lbs. The total weight of both trucks is around 1.5 lb to 1.6 lbs.
Hence, the longboard trucks weigh slightly more than the standard ones. This is due to the overall structure and required support maintenance for the bigger and heavier deck. The standard weight for the single track for the longboard is 1 pound. However, our testing period indicated an average weight ranging from 0.95 lb to 1.1 lb for each truck.
Bearings
Bearings are made with steel, ceramic, or some other substances. Additionally, the bearings are installed in the axles and support the wheels to roll over with ease. A typical skateboard has two bearings on each wheel. That means there is a total of eight bearings in a skateboard. Having eight bearings in a single device may influence the skateboard’s weight.
A simple rule is accepted in the skateboarders’ meetings about the bearings. If the bearings are lighter, they will perform highly and create so much speed. It is the main reason that cruisers have lighter bearings installed in their axles and wheels. However, each of the bearings weighs around 0.035 lb. The total weight for all the bearings can be around 0.25 lbs.
Wheels
In most cases, wheels are made with the urethane or polyurethane substance. The higher elasticity of the substance doesn’t only enhance the rolling performance, but the material provides higher durability at the same time. Wheels come in different sizes and materials, but when it comes to choosing the best one for you, it depends upon your riding style.
A bigger wheel size ensures a higher speed and stability in the skateboard running. That’s why most street skating skateboarders apply bigger wheels on their boards. On the other hand, if you like flipping and tricks, we recommend you choose the smaller wheels. Smaller wheels provide more balance and stability while performing the tricks.
The weight of the wheels also depends upon their size; undoubtedly, a bigger size means more weight. However, the weight is much less and has no bigger effect. We concluded our testing for an average weight of 0.48 lbs. However, weight can differ from company to company and size to size.
Grip Tape
Grip tape is applied on the top of the deck to provide high gripping ability during tricky rides. You feel your shoes firmly gripping the tape, which is the major working ability of the tape. You may feel it as the medium grit sandpaper. The structure of the tape is just like the normal tape, with one side having sticking material like other tapes, and the other for the higher gripping substance.
Like the other components, the weight of the gripping tape can also vary according to its size. However, an average dimension of 8.5″ to 32.5″ tape can weigh up to around 0.30 lbs. Additionally, you can adjust the tape’s corners with a special knife that reduces some of the weight. Moreover, you can also custom-cut the grip tape to give it the required shape in a specific design.
Does Skateboard Weight Affect Your Performance?
To be honest, the skateboard weight doesn’t affect your high skateboard performance much. However, that doesn’t mean that you should abandon the weight in its current form. Skateboards with less weight can enhance your ability to perform tricks, flips, and other similar tricks more efficiently.
Slightly heavier skateboards are good for cruising and long-distance riding. It is because the heavier and smaller but firmer wheels stick to the ground and perform better. However, we recommend you choose the skateboard weight according to your skating style.
Does a Light Skateboard Assist You in Performing Tricks in a Better Way?
Enhanced performance in skateboarding always remains on the cards for skateboarders. Most skateboarders buy newer skateboard designs to ensure high performance. However, professional players mostly pick lighter skateboards for enhanced performance on the rails, stairs, skate parks, and other places for trick skating.
Lighter skateboards always help you to control with higher efficiency and perform tricks while maintaining balance. How can a teenager cope with the excess weight if the skateboard weighs heavy? The logic is simple skateboarding is considered a teenage sport, and teenagers, especially girls, need to carry out a lighter skateboard to perform better tricks.
How Much Weight Can a Skateboard Hold?
If you have excessive weight and worry about skateboard riding, you must think about how much weight a skateboard can hold. We also recommend understanding the logic behind weighting capacity; if you have previous skateboarding experience, you may find it easy to get a suitable skateboard.
However, starting your skateboard riding experience, you may find it difficult to get a suitable skateboard. Additionally, you can’t find the best one for you without understanding the logic behind the skateboard’s weight capacity. Through our experience, we have made categories for different weight limits. Let’s dive into the story!
For People Between 180 lb – 220 lb
We have categorized the people’s body weight into three tiers first one is the people who weigh between 180 lb to 220 lbs. However, there aren’t many guidelines for weight limits. However, we recommend choosing a solid skateboard for heavy riders with a fiberglass or maple wood deck with aluminum or titanium trucks.
The mentioned setup is good enough to bear up to 220 lbs. You can expect the skateboard with a leverage of 5 lbs weight. I have seen many guys with excessive weight who love skating and use a simple skateboard. Our team recommends the skateboard if you have a weight below or equal to 220 lb.
For People Between 221 lb – 300 lb
Besides the skateboards, we have the second category for the heavy people to enjoy the thrilling ride of the skateboard. If you weigh up to 300 lb, we recommend you choose a longboard. Longboards can accommodate the weight up to 300lb to 310 lb. It may look like that longboard bends after putting more weight, but the reality is different, and longboards can assist you in bearing more weight than a simple skateboard.
For People Between 300 lb – 335 lb
People, who weigh more than 330 lb, are the real heavy ones, and we recommend them to use electric skateboards. The weight limit of most electric boards varies between 300 lbs to 335lbs, which equals over 150kg. The electric skateboards have special leverage to accommodate heavy people and support the heavy body with the motors installed in the mechanism.
Why it is Important to Consider the Weight Capacity of the Skateboard While Picking the Right One?
The answer to the question is linked to your body weight. Although some heavy guys ride the skateboard, most riders are skinny. The human body weight matters greatly in skateboard riding or rolling around. The main reason for that is the performance of the trick, and heavy guys can’t move their bodies very quickly. It leads to sticking them in a virtual bubble that restricts them from doing anything quickly.
Additionally, the people’s weight determines the skateboard speed during downhill skateboarding. You might face a very high-speed skateboard if you have a heavy body. The higher speed creates difficulty in balancing your body, and as a result, you may get a severe injury. Due to these difficulties, we don’t recommend you to ride downhill with a heavy body.
Another thing that is very important to look at is that if you have a heavy body and you’re doing tricks, you may land very hard on the board. The heavy landing on the board applies a multiplying force to the board that may cause the board to break or crash. Happening during the ride may result in severe injury or complete discomfort.
Being a Heavy Weight, Useful in Skateboard Riding or Not?
Besides the drawbacks of being heavyweight, there are some benefits you may also get with such a huge weight. However, ensure that the benefits are interlinked with your body balance and control over your skateboard. I would repeat the sentence, ensuring control and balance during the ride.
Being heavy, you may find more momentum during a downhill ride against the skinny skateboarders. The basic reason for this acceleration is the gravitational force. Heavy objects travel with more momentum towards the earth’s surface. Skinny skateboarders may accelerate to the ground quickly but not with the same speed as heavier people.
However, great momentum brings up the great chance of a brutal injury. Traveling downwards creates so much speed and acceleration for the heavy skaters. A slight mistake or unbalanced position may lead you to a heavy injury. Similarly, landing from a significant height or performing tricks on the rails or stairs may cause damage if you get into an unbalanced position. However, we don’t put barriers to your thrill and recommend you to wear the proper protective gear. It will not only protect you but build internal motivation in you.
Does Your Weight Influence Your Performance?
Undoubtedly, weight can play an essential role in determining performance. Any sport in the world is based on a working plan, and every player sets high goals to achieve in the game. Similar is the case for skateboarding, where players set targets for great tricks and cruise speed.
You may achieve the high-speed goal by getting momentum while riding, but a slight turn or out-of-balance position may end in a severe injury. Being heavy, it becomes difficult to maintain balance accuracy while riding. Or even if you maintain the balance, a sharp turn or getting your foot to the perfect placement may take a little more time. Until then, the issue has already gone to the ending level.
In contrast to heavy skateboarders, skinny skateboarders can move their body parts more quickly. That’s why skinny skateboard riders have more stability and confidence in controlling the board. Heavy people are more likely to face enhanced injury than skinny people during downhill road adventures.
Does the Deck Width Matter For Heavy Persons?
Undoubtedly, most heavy people have a heavier and wider feet; landing such a wide foot requires more width on the deck. The deck with 4 4-inch width can do for medium-weight people. However, if you are a skateboard rider with heavier feet, you may find a skateboard 6 inches in width.
The reason behind this is the higher chance of stability and foot adjustment. Besides the heavy feet, skateboards with more width can provide more places to land the feet and adjust accordingly for better control. Not only the control and adjustability, but the wider deck also offers more durability due to the wider piece of wood.
Conclusion
Most heavier guys dream of skateboard riding, considering that the sports aren’t made for them. Some of them search for how much does a skateboard weighs. Or How Much Weight Can a Skateboard Hold? They can ride a skateboard; however, some limitations may come as hurdles. Once they overcome the hurdles, these guys enjoy it a lot.