Longboard trucks are an essential part of any longboard. They are metal T-shaped pieces that are attached to the downside of the longboard. For an excellent longboard experience, it is vital to get the best longboard trucks. However, finding the most suitable one from the market for the best longboard trucks of 2021 is not easy. You’ll find hundreds of top-quality and inexpensive trucks in the market, but of course, they all do not serve the purpose.
The selection of a longboard truck primarily depends on your riding style and the longboard type you have. This review and buying guide will help you choose the best longboard truck in 2021.
Seven Best Longboard Trucks in 2021
- Caliber Trucks Cal II 50° RKP Longboard Truck
- Gullwing Sidewinder II Longboard
- Paris V2 180mm 50° Longboard Skateboard Trucks
- Arsenal Black Cast Longboard Skateboard Truck
- Paris Longboard Trucks V3 180mm 43°
- Caliber Trucks Cal II 44° RKP Longboard Trucks
- Gullwing Longboard Trucks
1. Caliber Trucks Cal II 50° RKP Longboard Truck
Rating: 4.7 / 5
Caliber Truck Cal II is one of the hottest longboard trucks in the market. This 50-degree longboard truck is a perfect choice for freeride, cruising, and craving. With improved design and added strength, this longboard truck is a durable product that will stay longer than any other longboard truck.
The feature that stands out most is its bushing that is re-invented. The harsher the bushings, the more control you have. This longboard truck features HR ultra cone bushings. So, it is an ideal design as they provide more control to the rider, and the curves of the cone make the bushings very agile.
Reinforced base plates are made more stable and robust by thickening the metal. Also, they support varying ways of mounting, and you can easily fit them into mounting ghouls. T-shaped hangers, made with aluminum alloy, are sturdy, and their 50-degree angle makes them easy to turn and increase stability.
Kingpin is responsible for holding everything in place; therefore, it has to be precise. Kingpin in Caliber Trucks Cal II with its updated diameter of 17.4mm is correctly adjusted to the nut and matches precision trucks’ requirements. This property enables it to hold things tightly in place. The best thing about this longboard truck is its amazing strength. Aluminum alloy body and blood Orange bushings are sturdy, making it the sturdiest longboard truck ever.
Having said that, you can expect excellent responsiveness and stability from this truck during free rides. The stock bushings with barrel cone assembly make them perfect for everyday use. Moreover, a higher truck angle gives you an advantage while cruising and carving. By putting in a small amount of energy, you will be able to take stable and quick turns.
Caliber longboard Trucks cal II is made with excellent materials, and improved design makes them ideal for freeride cruising carving. The stock bushings with barrel cone assembly and kingpin with updated diameter add incredible strength and control. Therefore they are loved by experts and beginners alike.
2. Gullwing Sidewinder II Longboard
Rating: 4.8 / 5
Gullwing Sidewinder II longboard trucks are sold as a pair of two, and they are ideally designed for cruising and carving. Their geometry and design enable them to take the sharpest turns and keep them stable during sliding and stunts. The feature that helps it stand out as the best longboard truck in 2021 is two kingpin setups. These two separated kingpins give you two turning points. This feature is beneficial for riding higher and feels smooth and stable while riding on the road.
If we talk about hangers, it’s lighter and broader. The 10-inches wide hanger is made with sturdy aluminum material, making you feel steady and stable while rigid on a bumpy and rough surface. The next important feature is the bushings. The cone motion bushing with a 86 to 90 durometer is the least restrictive and has medium hardness. These least restrictive cone bushings are ideal for sharp turns, making them a perfect cruise and carving choice.
As these bushings are not the hardest one, it is not recommended for overweight users. These longboard trucks are ideal for people between 120 lb to 180 lb.
Gullwing Sidewinder II is one of the best longboard trucks in 2021 for cruising and carving. The dual kingpin setup gives it two turning points, making it perfect for sharp turns and also feels smooth during surfing rides. The sturdy aluminum hangers provide stability and control over the bumpy surface.
3. Paris V2 180mm 50° Longboard Skateboard Trucks
Rating: 4.6 / 5
Paris V2 180 mm longboard trucks are one of the best longboard trucks in the market. Their excellent construction and updated design help them stand out as the best longboard trucks for all types of riding experiences. The best thing about this longboard truck is its strength and durability. It is made with virgin aluminum materials highly resistant to wear and tear even in the harshest environment. Grade 8 steel axles and pressed-in kingpins make it strong and durable.
The base plate mounting is another crucial feature to consider while buying a longboard truck. Thankfully Paris V2 features a flexible six-hole mounting baseplate and supports various ways of the mount. The responsiveness and rebound of the longboard trucks depend upon the strength of bushings. Paris V2 features hard busing that is highly responsive and gives the rider excellent control and power.
It has a cone bushing at the top makes it quick and faster, while the barrel bushing at the back adds to the stability and keeps you close to the center. Moreover, this longboard truck comes with a single pressed-in kingpin setup. These virgin aluminum kingpins add excellent strength and hold the entire structure tightly. Furthermore, these kingpins are replaceable, which means you won’t have to replace the whole truck if the kingpin breaks.
The T-shaped hanger features sturdy aluminum construction and gives excellent stability and smoothness over bumpy surfaces.
If you are looking for a durable longboard truck that supports all riding types, consider Paris V2. It is available in 14 different shades and is compatible with boards of varying sizes. The excellent responsive and reactive bushings make it perfect for cruising and carving.
4. Arsenal Black Cast Longboard Skateboard Truck
Rating: 4 / 5
It is another high-performance truck that is suitable for almost every style of riding. These trucks are available in two different baseplate angles, 44 degrees and 50 degrees. This feature makes it ideal for everyday use, transportation, cruising, carving, and even downhill riding.
The feature that stands out most is its excellent strength. These tucks are made with heat-treated aluminum alloys and are highly stable under the harshest conditions. Moreover, the high-quality steel axle makes it a durable product overall.
Like the baseplates’ angles, there are two options available for the baseplate’s width: 180 mm and 165mm. The wider base plates are ideal for downhill riding as they are more stable. On the other hand, for freestyle riding, cruising, and carving, you can go for lower degree baseplates that are more responsive and unrestrictive.
90a hardened bushings feel more responsive and are suitable for downhill riding. Moreover, bushings’ barrel shape provides the essential stability for downhill riding or riding on bumpy terrain. The flippable hanger style is ideal, and the pressed-in kingpin geometry enhances the bushing contact. This results in even weight distribution, making the ride stable and gives you more per and control override.
If you are looking for a versatile longboard truck, consider the Arsenal Black Cast longboard truck. Constructed with quality materials and having updated geometry, this product exhibits excellent performance during downhill riding.
5. Paris Longboard Trucks V3 180mm 43°
Rating: 5 / 5
Paris Longboard V3 trucks are ideal for downhill riding and faster speeds. It is the upgraded version of V2s, and this reverse kingpin geometry makes it feel more stable and smoother than the previous version. Manufacturers have used the best technology to construct this longboard truck for durability. Sturdy aluminum alloy construction with T6 heat treatment is the sturdiest and more durable truck on the market.
It features a redesigned baseplate. It is lighter and robust, giving you more power and control over the ride. The kingpins are also updated by making them more rigid, and the base plates have been given extra support with 96a urethane pivot cups for added stability and strength.
Hardened bushings with a durometer of 90a have been used. These hard bushings are more responsive and are ideal for freeride, cruising, and craving. They also support fast speed riding. The lower degree base plate in this truck offers more stability on bumpy terrain and downhill riding. This truck with a lower degree baseplate and light construction is not ideal for beginners. If you are new to riding, it is recommended to get a higher degree truck of 50 degrees.
The improved longboard trucks by Paris are much lighter and stronger than their predecessors. The added strength and stability by low degree baseplates and bushings made them ideal for many riding styles like downhill, cruising, craving, fast speed, and freestyle riding. Lastly, you should also know how to stop on a longboard perfectly.
6. Caliber Trucks Cal II 44° RKP Longboard Trucks
Rating: 4.6 / 5
It is another longboard truck by Caliber specially designed to achieve high speeds with maximum stability. This is an ideal choice for downhill racings and exhibits the best performance even on bumpy tracks. The baseplate angle is 44 degrees. This angle provides more stability and is more responsive, making it ideal for downhill riding and racing. Moreover, the solid construction and updated geometry are also responsible for its rock-solid performance.
Modern technology techniques are used for manufacturing the solid parts of the truck. The best thing about these trucks is the Blood orange Ultra HR bushings. These are the top-quality bushings, made from the best quality of American Urethane. Thus we can expect maximum durability and can withstand the harsh conditions outdoors.
BUshing seat is also redesigned to eliminate movements and even weight distribution making them ideal for sharp turns. Moreover, the base plate fits precisely with the pivot pin, keeping the whole structure tightly in place.
Caliber Cal II is the upgraded version of Cal I. Manufacturers have made an improved product with 40% extra strength and an updated geometer. This low degree truck is excellent for downhill riding, but we recommend you to buy Caliber Cal II 50 degree if you are a beginner. Lastly, if you are looking for top longboards to perform tricks then we have got you covered.
7. Gullwing Longboard Trucks
Rating: 5 / 5
Gullwing Longboard trucks are ideal for all types of riding, but they are suitable for cruising and carving. These charger trucks feature top-notch construction coupled with reverse kingpin geometry making them ideal for all riding styles. Reverse kingpin geometry makes the truck higher and provides extra stability and control even at faster speeds. Moreover, these knurled kingpins are tightly held in place, keeping the entire truck stable while riding.
It is one of the most durable and long-lasting trucks on the market. The heat-treated aluminum construction undoubtedly provides the maximum stent and durability to the truck. Furthermore, it features the Chromoly aluminum gold-standard axle, making it a robust product overall.
Moreover, they come with a light-weight base plate that is more responsive and provides excellent control. This 8-hole mounting base plate supports both new-school and old-school mounting processes. The higher degree baseplates provide more lean for the turn, making them ideal for cruising and craving.
The lightweight symmetrical hanger geometry also provides more cushions and support and is responsible for even weight distribution. The bushings with durometer 89a are impressively responsive and provide excellent turn with a little power input. The conical bushings shape provides more lean to the deck, making this truck perfect for taking sharp turns.
The bearings and rings are adjusted precisely, resulting in friction. This excellent ensign and geometry provide better speed roll and longevity.
Gullwing Longboard charger trucks are rated 5-star on amazon and are the hottest pick of the year. These trucks are best for cruising and carving and feature excellent geometry for increased strength. Moreover, these trucks are best for both beginners and experts.
Buyer’s Guide
Longboard trucks are essential to building your custom longboard. If you love boarding, there is nothing better than having the best longboard truck. However, it is not easy to find the best one until and unless you have a fine knowledge of some key specs of the longboard trucks.
Here is a simple and comprehensive guide on how to choose the best longboard truck
Size and Width
The axle and hanger’s width is the most critical factor to consider before buying a longboard truck. It is recommended to buy a longboard truck with a size that closely matches your board deck’s size. If you don’t find a truck of precisely the same size as your board’s deck, try to keep it as close as possible.
Transportation. Generally, the narrower trucks are around 150-169mm. The wider trucks are more stable, but they are less responsive. If you love downhill rides or want to play stunts, consider the wider trucks because they are more stable. A 180mm truck is ideal for these purposes.
Bushing Seats
Bushing seats provide cushion support to the entire truck. Moreover, they also regulate the turn of the truck. Hard bushings are restrictive, and they result in sharp turns. These bushings are ideal for cruising, craving, and stunt shows. Softer bushings are unrestrictive and easy to compress through the hanger. They are more responsive, and it is easy to turn on softer bushings.
The hardness of the bushing seats is measured in the durometer. Three is a scale from 1 to 100 to measure the hardness. Usually, the harder durometer is between 85a to 90a. The medium bushings have a hardness between 80a to 8ga. 80a or anything less than it is a barometer of a softer bushing.
Shapes of the bushings are important factors that affect the overall performance of the skateboard. There are three common shapes of the bushings, cone, barrel, and eliminator used in combination.
A cone-barrel bushing is standard bushings. These bushings are ideal for carving and cruising. These are the more versatile bushings and are generally preferred by many riders.
Double barrel bushings, also called downhill bushings, provide extra stability and are ideal for downhill riding.
Cone-cone or double cone bushings provide more lean to the deck and help to take sharp turns. This shape of bushings is common for carving and taking sharp turns.
It is ideal for getting the bushings with a medium durometer, and you can also customize the shape and durometer of the bushing set up according to the ride’s demands.
Base Plate
The base plate is the part of the truck that is directly attached to the deck. The base plate comes from different angles. The higher baseplate angles are responsible for turning quickly sharply. It is recommended to get a higher degree baseplate for cruising, freestyle riding, or craving.
On the other hand, lower degree base plates are less reactive and more stable than higher degree plates. It is recommended to get a lower degree baseplate for downhill riding or riding on bumpy terrain, where you require more stability. The base plate is mounted to the deck with either four or six mounting holes. It is recommended to go for a baseplate with six mounting holes that supports various ways of mounting.
Risers
Risers are small cubes of rubber, and they are added to increase or decrease the height of the risers, depending upon the needs of a particular truck. Risers are sold separately.
Hanger
The hanger is the T0shaped part of the truck, and it is directly in contact with the deck. The hanger’s recommended size is ¼ of the deck, and the weight should not exceed 13 ounces. The stability and strong construction are critical for this part of the truck as it is in direct contact with the deck.
Construction and Materials
Last but an important factor to consider is the construction and material of the longboard trucks. Sturdy and robust construction, with top-notch materials, is necessary as it provides more power and control to the rider. Aluminum alloy is an excellent material for hangers, while the high-grade steel material is the best material for kingpins and washers.
Keep in mind that the inner parts of the trucks are replaceable and also sold separately. So if a particular part is damaged, you can buy a new part for your truck with the same specs.
Conclusion
Longboard trucks vary in size, geometry, and design. Their specific features make them suitable for a particular style of riding. This article has reviewed seven models suitable for various riding styles, like downhill, freestyle, cruising, or carving. It is recommended to choose the one that matches your riding style.
However, our top-three picks from the list are
- Paris V2 180mm 50° Longboard Skateboard Trucks are versatile trucks that are suitable for every riding style and are compatible with various sizes of longboards
- Gullwing Sidewinder II Longboard with dual kingpin setup is an excellent choice for surfing
- Caliber Trucks Cal II 50° RKP Longboard Truck with an updated design and rock-solid construction are ideal for cruising and carving
It is recommended to buy those longboard trucks that are versatile and are compatible with longboards of multiple sizes. Moreover, you can also customize your longboard specification by making some changes in your truck. for example, you can change the type and durometer of bushings and can add or remove risers.
