As a heavier person, you may look for a great way to get outside, have fun, and lose weight doing so. Longboarding is no doubt one of the best activities for that! Here are a few examples of Ridingboards readers who are bigger riders and are looking to take (or have already taken) the plunge:
- John, 5´10″ and 255lbs, wants to know what kind of board will work for his size. He hopes longboarding will help him shed some weight
- Jen is looking for a fun way to lose weight and always wanted to skate. She hopes to eventually cruise around the city, commute, and perhaps do a bit of carving if she’s able to.
- Sarah took on longboarding and as a result, eats and drinks healthier just to be able to keep riding.
- Bob got up to nearly 400 lbs, then got into longboarding and lost over 200 lbs in 13 months
- Dimitri is 6′ tall and 300 lbs with a 13 shoe size. He’s asking about the kind of longboard to choose.
- Kyle is 250 – 300 lbs and wants to get a longboard, preferably under $200
- Several other readers over 220 lbs in their late 40s and early 50s are still avid longboarders and even ride park and bowl
In this post, I’ll go over some important aspects to consider when choosing a longboard for a heavy rider, and I’ll discuss a few notoriously good options for bigger guys/gals.
How to choose a longboard for a heavy person
If you’re around 200 lbs or slightly over, getting a setup from a quality brand should be good enough. Most top longboard makers don’t have weight ratings since their longboards generally won’t get overloaded at that weight level – unless you go for a really lightweight deck or you do big freestyle tricks.
If, on the other hand, you’re 250 lbs or more, here are a few key features to look for when choosing a longboard:
Deck resistance
It may sound pretty obvious but you want a thick and stiff enough deck to better withstand your weight.
You should go for a hard maple wood deck (not bamboo) with at least 8 plies – most longboard decks have 6 or 7 plies to keep things lightweight – preferably from a leading brand (see examples in later sections).
Another important characteristic is deck flex. As a heavier rider, you should pick a deck with a slight flex. Too much flex makes the board more prone to snapping, but a deck too stiff will also risk breaking sooner. The deck wood should have a little give.
To assess the flex of a longboard, the easiest way is to stand on it with your feet on the trucks, then progressively bring your feet together toward the center of the deck where the flex is max. This allows you to see how low the deck bends toward the ground.
Deck shape
Besides construction, deck shape also determines its resistance under heavy loads. Downhill shapes are often chosen by heavier riders as they are wide, thick, and low riding, making these boards stronger and more resistant to higher loads.
Trucks
While deck strength is essential, don’t underestimate the importance of solid trucks for a rider over 230 or 250 lbs. You need good trucks that won’t bend from top brands like Paris, Gullwing, Bear, or Caliber. Paris trucks are often recommended for cruising.
Try to avoid off-brand trucks as they will constitute the weak point in your longboard even with a sturdy deck. You might save a few dollars now but will likely end up having to replace the trucks soon.
You should use stiffer bushings to support your weight such as 90A – 95A double barrels (e.g. Riptide APS Barrels) or a cone + barrel combination.
Wheels
As a heavier rider, you also want to choose wheels with high-quality urethane and a harder durometer than for an average-build rider.
Choose a setup with Orangatang, Sector 9 Butterball, Globe, or Cult Classic wheels for example. The diameter and durometer depend on your deck and the type of riding you do.
For cruising, for example, you might opt for 65 – 75mm wheels and an 80A durometer if you’re 200 – 250lbs, or 90A if you’re heavier.
You could also go REALLY BIG with a set of Orangatang Dad Bods (see my review here).
For the bearings, you can get Zealous Bearings, or regular bearings with spacers.
Backing plates
Really heavy riders recommend adding backing plates between your longboard deck and the trucks to further reinforce the setup and make sure it’ll hold up.
RipTide backing plates are often recommended tot help protect the integrity of your deck, whether drop-through or top mount. They are like a big washer that helps spread the pressure from the truck mounts over a larger area, reinforcing the mount points.
These are also helpful to improve weight distribution for heavy riders who put more weight on one side.
Landyachtz Switchblade 40”
Many riders agree that Landyachtz’s stiffer longboards tend to be more durable than average. The Switchblade is a solid board with robust 9-ply maple construction – some versions also include fiberglass which further reinforces the deck.
The Switchblade will last you forever and has long been a reliable choice for heavier riders. It’s incredibly stable and very easy to ride, offering a long and smooth roll.
The deck has slight flex which reduces the strain on your knees. It also provides a nice and secure foot lock-in, facilitating slides if that’s something you plan on doing.
The Switchblade rides low to the ground, offering great stability for learning to ride down moderate hills. It’s a responsive board that will give you nice and tight turns.
Bigger riders generally love the LY Switchblade and never report issues with the board hitting or scraping the ground. The slight flex adds a great cushy feel and good support for weak knees.
Riders with shoe size 13 also feel their feet don’t overhang too much.
Landyachtz Battle Axe
The LY Battle Axe is a directional drop-through cutout shape. It’s 38″ long and 9.4″ wide with a 27.2″ wheelbase.
This board’s 8-ply maple construction makes it robust for heavier riders. It has a moderate amount of flex which, combined with its super low ride height and mellow concave, makes it a very stable platform ideal for beginners or riders looking for a fast, comfortable board to commute on.
The Battle Axe complete ships with the very sturdy 180mm grizzly Gen 6 trucks, ideal for deep carves and comfy cruising.
The 69mm 78a Hawgs wheels provide fast roll and strong grip and can roll over everything. Riders over 250 lbs may consider swapping them for harder duro wheels (e.g. 90-95A).
Landyachtz Evo 36
The Evo 36 downhill longboard is another indestructible board from Landyachtz that is a good fit for big guys – heavier riders who weigh 300 lbs or more frequently choose the Evo with hard bushings.
The deck is thick and strong, being pressed with 9 plies of hard Canadian maple. It provides a stiff platform that is suited for fast riding but also meets the needs of heavy riders.
The Evo is significantly dropped resulting in a very low and stable ride, which is particularly well-suited for bigger guys and gals. The 155mm Gen6 Bear Grizzly trucks are renowned for their strength, and the 73mm Biggie Hawgs wheels roll fast and smooth even under heavy load.
Pantheon Trip
The Pantheon Trip is a 33″ double-drop commuter longboard with a long and stable 27 1/4″ wheelbase. It’s built with a 6-ply maple core sandwiched between layers of triaxial fiberglass, with an added wood veneer on the bottom.
With its 8 layers of wood + fiberglass, the Trip is stiff and well-equipped for riders 300 lbs or more. The board’s really low ride also greatly reduces the strain on your front leg.
The Trip is a great board for getting into long-distance longboarding (LDP), including for bigger riders. LDP is a great discipline for losing weight – you typically burn up to 4800 calories per day.
The Trip ships with bulletproof Paris trucks, and 85mm Seismic Speed Vents or Orangatang Caguamas – both solid quality wheels that won’t budge under heavy load.
Check out my in-depth review of the Loaded Pantheon Trip collab – a newer collab version of the Trip very similar to the original.
Bustin Sportster
The Bustin Sportster is a massive double-dropped deck (35.5″ by 10″ – super wide) with a 29.5″ wheelbase.
It has a thick 9-ply construction including a hyper-durable core that’s a blend of 3 wood species as well as additional layers of fiberglass, bamboo, and Canadian maples.
The Bustin Sportster has been around since 2012 and has only been a favorite for heavy riders over 250 lbs and large footers due to its fantastic resistance and durability track records.
This is another amazing low-rider for speed and commuting, great fun to push and a solid friend for riding distance and losing weight. The Sportster is repeatedly suggested and recommended by bigger riders.
The Bustin comes with a sturdy and load-resistance setup that includes the R1 177mm trucks and the Premier Formula 70mm wheels.
Madrid Missionary
Another great candidate for bigger riders, the Madrid Missionary is also a double-drop (drop-through + dropped) low and stable board designed primarily for long-distance commuting. Note that the Missionary also comes in a top-mount version.
At 37″ x 9 3/8″ with a 29.5″ wheelbase with a small amount of flex, it offers a solid deck that can withstand above-average rider weight.
The complete comes with the notoriously solid Caliber 180mm trucks which will last for years even under heavy load (though depending on your weight you may need to change the stock bushings).
Atom Drop Deck 41
Riders in the 250 – 300 lbs range looking for a cheaper option for learning sometimes choose the Atom Drop Deck 41 – a solid, 9.5″ wide, 9-ply Maple laminate board. The complete is very affordable at $110 list price.
This is a pushable dropped board (albeit top mount) designed for distance, commuting, and mellow freeride.
While heavy riders often vet the Atom for its thick construction and subtle flex. Depending on how aggressively you ride, however, you may want to consider replacing the trucks with a more robust brand.
Final tips for big guys & gals
At the risk of sounding like Mr. Obvious, I would strongly suggest wearing pads, slide gloves, and ideally a helmet too. Bigger-sized riders are more likely to get hurt than others if they fall. Quality slide gloves e.g. Loaded’s Advance Freeride gloves will give you some protection should you fall on your hands.
If you’re a heavier person and you’re not fit, you should generally stick to mellow cruising at first until you feel comfortable enough to move on to things like freeride, freestyle, or dancing. Initially, getting outside and pushing on your board will provide you with great moments and a pleasant way to start moving.