See also Choosing the best longboard for a teenager Why kid-specific skateboards? Size matters!Īt this point, you probably got the idea that young children, including beginners, should be using skateboards with decent-quality components. Keep reading for more on the SkateXS components.Ĭheck out the SkateXS range of quality skateboards for kids here SkateXS skateboards are real skateboards that meet or exceed the quality of boards found in skateparks and used in professional competitions such as the X-Games. Even if they don’t, the performance will generally be quite bad as the board won’t roll and turn as it should. In contrast, cheap, low-quality skateboards for kids typically have subpar components that often result in a mediocre experience for the child, or even a dangerous one.ĭecks made with cheap wood and fillers, cheap metal trucks, and plastic wheels can quickly fall apart. The bearings fitted inside the wheels should have good quality to allow the wheel to spin long and smooth. The wheels should be made from quality polyurethane (not a plastic mix) and have the right diameter and hardness relative to the kid’s weight.The trucks (which hold the wheels) should be made from strong metal alloys – not plastic or cheap metal, have the right size relative to the deck, and have well-tuned, quality parts (axle, baseplate, hanger).Quality decks (the actual standing platform) are made from strong maple and/or bamboo layers and are shaped with the right concave (U-shaped widthwise curvature) and kicks (angled raised ends) for comfort and tricks.These are a few key things all “real” skateboard, like SkateXS boards, have in common: You may also find skateboards for kids in department stores that are pricier yet don’t offer the kind of quality you would expect for the price. This applies to any skateboard but particularly to kid skateboards since there are so many attractive-looking cheap boards everywhere. The difference lies in the quality (and hence price) of the components. To the novice parent, many kids skateboards out there look just about the same. If you’ve been looking for a skateboard for your child or grand-child, chances are you’ve come across millions of options with prices ranging from under $50 for toy boards to close to $200 for quality cruisers. See the SkateXS kid skateboard lineup here on their website In this post, I take a close-up look at SkateXS skateboards, what’s special about them, and why they’re so widely praised by parents of kid skaters, beginner and advanced. Getting a low-quality skateboard for a beginner child, however, can lead to a negative and even unsafe experience. However, SkateXS boards are sized specifically for younger skaters, which makes a huge difference.įor a young child, it’s tempting to just start with a cheap board so s/he can familiarize him/herself with the sport and test whether s/he wants to pursue it. These boards are built using the same high-quality components – decks, trucks and bushings, wheels and bearings – found in leading brand models for adults. SkateXS Skateboards, based in Carlsbad CA, specializes in making “real”, brand name grade skateboards for kids aged 5 to 12. Most options on the market are either toy/cheap skateboards or real skateboards that are too big for a child. Choosing a skateboard for a young kid is no easy task, especially for non-skateboarding parents.
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