You may have heard of the longboards and cruisers when shopping for a skateboard. So, what are the differences between these two categories? Which is the ideal option for you?
This in-depth comparison between longboard vs. cruiser will give you more insights into these two product lines’ characteristics, advantages, and setbacks.
Based on the information provided, you can select a more suitable skateboard for your needs and skills. Let’s dive into this article to get it clear!
The Differences Between Longboard Vs. Cruiser
The longboard features a larger deck size, wheel, and more riding space. It offers more experience when riding far distances and is suitable for various terrains.
Meanwhile, the selling point of cruisers lies in their portability and compact size. You can clean and carry the cruisers around with minimal effort, suitable for cruising in crowded streets and cities.
Here are some critical factors to consider when choosing between a longboard and a cruiser.
Deck Size
The significant difference between the two types is deck size.
Most cruisers’ decks are not longer than 34 inches and wider than 9 inches. Some mini-cruiser products are much smaller.
Meanwhile, the longboards feature very long and large deck sizes, which typically range between 36 inches to 42 inches. It means that even the smallest longboard products still have larger decks than the biggest cruisers.
So why should you pay attention to the deck size? The more ample riding space you have, the harder it is to turn and control the skateboard.
If you want to perform tricks or ride in crowded areas, a cruiser is ideal.
Meanwhile, the larger deck sizes on longboards give users a more satisfying and smooth riding experience. You have ample space to put your legs and retain stability, especially when riding at high speeds.
Shape
The cruisers are inspired by the design of the traditional surfboards, which expand in the middle and get more narrow down to the tips. The two tips can come in a square or round shape.
Most cruisers feature a kicktail on the rear and a nose kick. This feature allows users to control and perform skateboarding tricks easier and pop over to avoid small obstacles on the road.
With their compact and small shape, the users can lift up and carry the cruisers around with ease. The cruisers can come in various shapes and customizations with very eye-catching appearances.
Similarly, the longboard products also come in various sizes and shapes.
But the majority have a pin tailed or symmetrical cut-out shape. Some small longboards have kick tails, but the bigger ones usually don’t have this feature.
Wheels
The longboard’s wheels are generally wider in diameter (around 78a-85a).
In addition, they feature more softness and can absorb the vibration of cracks and small objects on the street more effectively.
Meanwhile, the wheels on cruisers are significantly smaller with more hardness. So, you cannot get a smooth riding experience when cruising on the street.
However, they are less prone to damage when landing on the ground after a kickflip. Another noticeable factor is speed. The larger wheels equal higher speeds, which give you a more satisfying cruise, especially on the long roads.
Nevertheless, the large wheels take longer to accelerate and generate momentum. With the cruisers, you can reach the top speeds in a matter of seconds, which is ideal for short-distance riding.
Trucks
The trucks on mini cruisers are usually TKP (traditional kingpin), similar to the trucks on street skateboards. Meanwhile, the longboards usually come with RKP (Reversed kingpin).
These two types of trucks have certain advantages and setbacks. The TKP trucks are more suitable for riding at low speed. They are very sensitive and responsive to small movements and impacts.
With TKP trucks, you can turn the board quickly at narrower angles. Meanwhile, the RKP trucks are generally longer than TKP products. They are less responsive to the small vibrations, thus giving you a smoother cruise overall.
However, you must lean harder to turn the RKP trucks due to their larger size.
Truck Mount
The truck mount is a critical factor that decides your riding experience. The cruisers have the trucks mounted beneath the deck, which is called top mount.
The top mount will increase the distance between the deck and the ground significantly. This style will reduce the deck’s stability at higher speeds due to the high gravity.
For this reason, the top mount on cruisers is not an ideal option for long-distance cruising. It is also more dangerous and harder to cruise downhill using the cruisers.
On the other hand, the longboards feature two popular truck mount styles: drop-through and top mount. Drop-through means that the truck traverses the deck via the small holes.
This style provides users more stability when riding at high speeds, suitable for cruising downhill and long distances.
Tricks
Although it relies heavily on your skills, the shape and size of the deck also affect your trick performance. If you love cruising and doing skateboarding tricks simultaneously, choose the longboard with the kicktail.
In general, longboards make it harder to perform the tricks due to their heavy weight and large size. You cannot kick drop the board easily, and it cannot roll so much in the air.
Meanwhile, the cruisers are significantly smaller and lighter. They all feature a small kicktail that allows users to kickflip the boards easily. However, both longboards and cruisers are not meant for performing skateboarding tricks.
They are more suitable for cruising at long or short distances. Therefore, you should look for products designed specifically for tricks. But overall, the cruisers help you perform the skills better.
Stability
For the mentioned reasons, it is evident that the longboards offer more stability than the cruisers, especially when riding at high speeds. They have larger trucks, decks, and wheelbases that can withstand strong vibration and shocks.
In addition, ample deck space allows users to place their feet with more comfort and keep balance. When running through cracks or small objects, it is harder to fall if you are cruising on a longboard.
Furthermore, many longboards are a little bent in the middle of the deck. With a slightly curved surface, you can keep balance and ride more smoothly.
Meanwhile, the cruiser’s decks are virtually flat with no curved space due to their short length. The small wheels and decks of cruisers are also more prone to vibrations and cracks.
Therefore if you simply want a smooth and satisfying riding experience on long roads, go for the longboards.
Portability
With larger decks, wheels, and trucks, the longboard is undoubtedly heavier than the cruiser. For this reason, you cannot lift and carry the longboards around easily due to their heavy weight.
On the other hand, the cruisers are very lightweight due to their small and compact design. While the regular longboards weigh between 3,1 to 5 kilograms, a typical cruiser only weighs more or less than 2.5 kilograms.
As a result, cruisers bring significantly higher portability and comfort. For example, if you cruise from home to work in a crowded city, you have to lift up the skateboard and carry it at some point.
Holding a large longboard is very tiring and may look quite awkward. With a mini-cruiser, you can even put it in the backpack when not used.
In addition, the cruisers are easier to clean and store. Due to their small surface, it takes significantly less time and effort to wipe out the dust and clean the skateboard. You can also put the cruisers in smaller corners to store.
For more in-depth comparisons, you can consider watching the video below.
Comparison Table
This table concludes the core differences between the two categories.
| Features | Longboard | Cruiser |
| Deck Size | Longboard Lengths: 34″ – 46″
Longboard Widths: 8.5″ – 10″ |
Cruiser Lengths: 28″ – 34″
Cruiser Widths: 8″ – 10″ |
| Wheel | Larger wheel diameter
Softer wheel |
Smaller wheel diameter
Harder wheels |
| Shape | May has a kicktail or not
Diversified design and sizes |
Always has a kick tail and nose kick
Diversified design and sizes |
| Weight | 3.6 kg to 5 kg | Around 2.5 kg |
| Truck | TKP (Traditional Kingpin) | TKP (Reversed Kingpin) |
| Truck Mount | Drop-through and top mount | Top mount |
| Speed | Higher speed
Poor Acceleration |
Lower Speed
Greater Acceleration |
| Stability | Less prone to vibrations
More stability and comfort |
Very response to small movements
Less stability overall |
| Tricks | Not meant for tricks | Not ideal for tricks |
| Ideal for | Crushing on long distances or downhill | Cruising on shorter distances and crowded space |
Which Is More Suitable For You? Longboard Or Cruiser?
To sum up, it depends on your needs and riding styles. If you love cruising on long roads with more balance, comfort, and higher riding speeds, then the longboards are the most optimal option.
If you regularly cruise on crowded streets from home to school or work, then go for the cruisers. I hope that the information provided can satisfy you.
Thank you for reading!
