Buying a gift can bring a lot of unwanted anxiety. Hours of research for something they want and finding it at the right price can drain the best of us. However, a longboard is a gift many people will enjoy, especially if your husband is willing to try something new. Whether he's new or experienced, having a guide on buying a longboard for your husband makes it easier for you.
What's His Style?
Longboarding encompasses a range of riding methods, each requiring a specific longboard design. Various boards make it viable for your partner to cruise leisurely through the city or enjoy some time at a local skate park.
Before selecting a design, examining your living situation and how it will best perform on a longboard is essential. Residing in a flat or hilly region determines the cruising your husband will enjoy, steering you in the right direction for the style of board you should get him.
A cruising board is ideal if your husband is a newbie to longboarding. This style best suits riding and carving down sloping roads and long distances. If they want something more versatile, you can try a freestyle board, considering it's the ideal board for novices to learn fun tricks and maintain balance. Additionally, this style is what many will use throughout their longboarding days, so it has staying power.
The more skilled boarders will choose between downhill and a freeride board. Although traveling at the speed of a vehicle sounds enticing for the daredevil in him, it's best to leave a downhill board behind until they feel comfortable while maintaining control while cruising or freestyling.
A freeride board permits riders to fly through the hills and perform tricks. This is a viable option if your husband is a longboarding veteran. Otherwise, it's wise for beginners to master one of the previous styles first.
Hit the Deck
Now that you have a general idea of what you're looking for, it's time to start filling in the pieces to create the perfect board for your main squeeze. The main portion of any longboard is the deck, and there are two distinct shapes that every deck has:
- Directional—There is only one way to go on these decks: forward. Most cruisers and downhill longboards are directional, with a pintail design being the most common.
- Twin (Symmetrical)—This type of deck has the same feel no matter what way you are going. The freestylers and free-riders are prone to opt for a twin deck.
Sense of Style
You have an idea how he will want to ride, leading you to the type of deck you require, which finally leaves you with the style of deck that works well for him.
- Top Mount—You'll see abundant top mount boards select when shopping for your husband. This style is optimal for newcomers because of its nimbleness and cost.
- Drop Through—If you see you and your hubby galivanting around town on a nice summer day, drop-through works fine because it's perfect for lengthier rides.
- Drop Deck—These boards can look funky, but they are fantastic for riding downhill.
- Double Drop—Considering this board is usually the priciest, you'd have to really love your husband to find and purchase this bad boy.
Shapes and Sizes
Every longboard has a distinctive shape that dictates the ease with which he can ride. These are the four shapes longboards come in:
- Kick Tail—A kick tail shape allows the rider to lift an end of the board easily, allowing for tricks, sharp turns, and jumping curbs. A directional board will have a kicktail on one end, whereas a twin has them on both ends.
- Wheel Wells—This shape's purpose is to prevent your deck from hitting your wheels, causing wheel bite. Wheel wells permit the rider to make the sharpest turns without hindrance.
- Concave—A concave implies that the edges of your board are above the board's center, giving you a better grip. The deeper the concave, the better it is for downhill riding.
- W-Concave—It's like concave with more grip. Usually, this is expensive, so you'll have to decide if you want to spoil him.
You should now know the type of longboard you want to give your husband. However, there are some elements you still must consider before wrapping up. One of the most critical elements you must consider is your husband's height.
The taller your husband is, the larger the longboard size has to be. Up until they are 5'10", there is a standard size of board that will work for cruising (32-40"), downhill (35-42"), and freestyle or freeride (38-42"). Every inch past 5'10" may require you to alter the longboard size to best accommodate his height.
Flexing Power
You should stumble upon a flex rating when shopping for a board, with each rating being either soft, medium, or hard.
A soft flex denotes that the board is good for bumpy roadways but shaky as you gain speed. A soft flex is what any cruising border would want. As the name suggests, medium meets in the middle for shock absorption. This is a good option if you select a board incorporating many styles. Lastly, stiff is perfect for your husband to fly like the wind when bombing hills.
The Correct Wheels
Wheels significantly impact how a longboard functions because they offer traction between the rider and the terrain, affecting the speed and turning abilities. It can be overwhelming when looking at wheels because there are many things you must consider. Other than the dimensions of the wheels, a rider's style also dictates what is best for the board.
As a brief note of wisdom regarding wheels, there are two types—round lip and square, with the former working well for rookies and the latter for downhill riding. You will pick the type of wheel based on the type of style your husband will use. Since buying the board, you know the key components when looking at a sizing guide.
For a cruiser, a wheel's height (75 mm) and width (55 mm) will be larger than the wheels for the free-rider. The downhill boarder needs square wheels of approximately the same size as cruisers. Freeriders need a small wheel, while freestylers’ wheels aren't as complicated, assuming it is on the smaller side.
Hopefully, this guide clarifies how to buy a longboard for your husband, and you can use The Longboard Store to search our wide inventory. We have several styles and brands that please the inexperienced and gifted boards, including sector 9 longboards. We offer free US shipping on all complete boards, so don't hesitate to make his day!
