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Walk into a skate shop for the first time and you’ll hear a lot of numbers: 8.0, 8.25, 99a, 52mm, ABEC 7. None of it is hard once someone explains it, and you don’t need to understand all of it to start skating.
This guide covers the first big choice (buy a complete or build your own), what each part of a skateboard does, the few numbers worth caring about, and the safety gear to wear while you learn. No gatekeeping. Everybody was bad at skating once.
How we pick
- Beginner-first. We explain the choices that change how a board feels for a new skater and skip the rest.
- Shop and brand guides as sources. Size and hardness ranges come from skate retailers’ and manufacturers’ own guides, linked below. Those ranges are guidelines; skaters disagree, and that’s fine.
- Safety from medical sources. Gear advice comes from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
- No fake testing. We haven’t tested specific boards for this guide. Brands can’t pay for a spot.
Complete or custom?
A complete is a skateboard that arrives assembled: deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, grip tape and hardware, all matched. A custom is one you build from parts you pick yourself, usually at a skate shop that will put it together.
| Complete | Custom | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | First board, gift, “I just want to try it” | Your second board, or once you know what you like |
| Choices | Pick a width and a graphic; the rest is chosen for you | Every part is your call |
| Setup | Ready out of the box (check the trucks are snug) | Shop builds it, or you learn to |
| Risk | Cheap no-name completes can feel bad and hold you back | Easy to overthink |
If you want a second opinion, Skate Warehouse has a guide to choosing a complete and Tactics has a skateboard buying guide.
Our take: buy a complete from a skateboard brand or a skate shop for your first board. Avoid toy-store boards that look like skateboards but use cheap parts. Once you’ve skated for a few months and know whether you want tighter trucks, harder wheels or a wider deck, build your second board custom.
Browse complete skateboards on Amazon
The parts, explained
Deck: width matters most
The deck is the wooden board. For a beginner, the number that matters is width, measured in inches. On product pages you’ll see numbers like 7.75″, 8.0″, 8.25″ and 8.5″.
- Narrower decks are lighter and easier to flip. They suit smaller feet and technical street skating.
- Wider decks feel more stable to stand on and land on. They suit bigger feet, transition (ramps and bowls) and cruising.
Shoe size is a decent starting point; many shops publish a chart that pairs shoe sizes with deck widths, like the one in Tactics’ sizing guide. If you’re torn between two widths, a lot of beginners find the wider one less wobbly.
You’ll also see length, wheelbase (the distance between the trucks’ inner mounting holes) and concave (how much the deck curves side to side). For a first board, don’t stress about these. Mid concave and a standard shape are fine.
Trucks: match them to the deck
Trucks are the metal T-shaped parts that hold the wheels and let you turn. The key rule is simple: the truck’s axle width should match your deck width, so the wheels sit roughly under the edges of the board. Tactics publishes a truck and deck width chart for exactly this.
Brands measure trucks differently (some by axle width, some by the hanger, some with their own model numbers), so check that brand’s chart instead of guessing.
Tightness: the big nut on top (the kingpin nut) adjusts how easily the board turns. Looser trucks turn more but feel twitchy; tighter trucks feel stable but turn less. Most completes arrive somewhere in the middle. Adjust a quarter turn at a time with a skate tool.
Wheels: size and durometer
Wheels have two numbers: diameter in millimeters (how tall) and durometer (how hard).
Diameter: smaller wheels are lighter and easier for tricks; bigger wheels roll faster and handle cracks and rough ground better. Skate Warehouse’s wheel guide breaks it into rough bands for street, park and cruising. If you can’t decide, a wheel in the middle of the street and park bands is a sensible place to start.
Durometer: hardness is usually shown on the A scale, like “99a.” Higher number means harder wheel.
| Hardness | Feels like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Soft (around high 70s to high 80s A) | Smooth, quiet, grippy | Cruising, rough pavement, getting around |
| Middle (around 90a to high 90s A) | All-rounder | Mixed street and park |
| Hard (99a and up) | Fast, slidey on smooth concrete, loud on rough ground | Skateparks, smooth street spots, tricks |
Skate Warehouse’s durometer guide says harder wheels in the 99a-and-up range are ideal for the skatepark and street tricks. Check which scale letter a wheel’s hardness uses and compare like with like.
Beginner tip: if your local streets are rough and you mostly want to roll around, softer wheels are much more fun to learn on. If you’ll mostly be at a smooth skatepark, harder wheels make sense.
Bearings: don’t overthink ABEC
Bearings are the small metal rings inside each wheel (eight per board). You’ll see “ABEC” ratings on a lot of boxes. For a beginner, a bigger ABEC number isn’t worth paying extra for. Some skate brands explain their own rating approach instead; Bones, a long-running skate bearing brand, covers its take on its support page.
What actually matters for a beginner: a decent bearing from a skate brand, kept away from water and grit. Bones REDS are a common upgrade; check Bones’ product page for current specs and care instructions.
Browse Bones REDS bearings on Amazon
Grip tape and hardware
Grip tape is the sandpaper-like sheet on top that keeps your shoes on the board. Hardware is the eight bolts that hold the trucks on. Completes come with both. On a custom build, the shop will usually grip the deck for you.
A simple first setup
If you want a starting point to take to a shop, here’s our middle-of-the-road suggestion for an adult beginner. It’s a starting point, not a rule: adjust deck width for your feet and the shop’s size chart.
- Deck: around 8.0″ to 8.25″ wide, standard shape
- Trucks: axle width matched to the deck (check the brand chart)
- Wheels: a middle size from the shop’s guide; soft if you’re cruising rough streets, harder if you’re at a smooth park
- Bearings: any skate-brand bearing
- Plus: a skate tool to adjust trucks and tighten wheels
Safety gear: helmet and pads
Falling is part of skating. Gear makes it hurt less. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says in its skateboarding safety guide that skateboarders of all ages should wear a helmet, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads. AAOS also says wrist guards have been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of wrist fractures.
Helmet: – Pick one made for skateboarding and look for a safety certification on the label. – It should sit level and low on your forehead, not tipped back. Follow the fit instructions that come with it. – AAOS advises replacing a helmet at least every 5 years, sooner if the manufacturer recommends it, it’s damaged or you outgrow it.
Pads: – Wrist guards matter most when you’re learning, because hands go out first in a fall. – Knee and elbow pads take the sting out of slams and save your skin from the concrete.
Other good habits: wear closed-toe shoes with grippy soles, practice falling on purpose (on grass or a padded floor), and start on smooth, flat ground away from traffic.
Browse skateboard helmets on Amazon · Browse pad sets with wrist guards on Amazon
Your first week
- Find your stance. Left foot forward is “regular,” right foot forward is “goofy.” Whatever feels natural is right.
- Just roll. Push, ride, put your foot down. Repeat until standing on a moving board feels normal.
- Learn to stop before you learn anything fun. Foot-braking (dragging your back foot) is the first one most people learn.
- Turn by leaning with your heels and toes. Then try a kick turn, lifting the front wheels slightly.
- Skate short sessions. Tired legs are when falls happen.
Keep going
Dressing for the park? Our guide on how to style an oversized graphic tee has the classic skate look covered. Shopping for a skater friend? See gifts for skaters and surfers under $50. Need to fit a board into a small room? Our first apartment checklist and dorm room essentials have storage ideas.
FAQ
Should a beginner buy a complete or a custom skateboard? Most beginners do best with a complete from a skate brand or shop. Build custom once you know what you like.
What size skateboard should a beginner get? Pick deck width based on shoe size and what you’ll skate, using a shop’s size chart. If you’re between two widths, the wider one usually feels more stable.
What wheel hardness is best for beginners? Softer wheels are easier on rough pavement and for cruising; harder wheels (99a and up) suit smooth skateparks.
Do ABEC ratings matter for skateboard bearings? Not much for a beginner. Clean, dry bearings from a skate brand are what matters.
What safety gear do I need? AAOS recommends a helmet, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads for skaters of all ages.