Best Santa Cruz Longboards [2023 Review]
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LOOKING FOR THE BEST SANTA CRUZ LONGBOARDS?
You’ve come to the right place. I live in the skateboarding capital of the world, California. Skateboarding, as it exists today, was probably born sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s, when surfers in California wanted something to do when the waves were flat.
Is a longboard the same as a skateboard? Kind of.
The longboard is a versatile skateboard and one of the most environmentally-friendly urban means of transportation. The main difference is that it comes in many sizes and shapes.
Don’t have time to read this whole article; we’ve put our number one pick at the top!
best santa cruz longboards
Where Did Skateboarding Originate?
Skateboarding was called “sidewalk surfing” – a new wave of surfing on the sidewalk as surfing became highly popular.
No one knows who made the first board; several people came up with similar ideas around the same time.
The first manufactured skateboards were ordered by a Los Angeles, California surf shop, meant to be used by surfers in their downtime.
best santa cruz longboards
Best Santa Cruz Longboards
1. Santa Cruz Skateboards Screaming Hand White Complete Skateboard
Introducing an everlasting classic from Santa Cruz Skateboards, this skateboard stands as one of their finest creations that never loses its appeal. Featuring the iconic “Screaming Hand” graphic, originally crafted in 1985, it remains the revered emblem of Santa Cruz Skateboards.
With dimensions of 10 inches by 40 inches, this skateboard boasts a robust deck and a secure 1-inch drop design. Its exceptional construction ensures a smooth ride, particularly when blazing downhill at high speeds. The impeccable paintwork, flawless finishing, and captivating graphics make it a sight to behold. Balancing yourself effortlessly over long distances comes naturally with this skateboard, enabling you to adapt to its qualities swiftly.
It’s a nice looking board and it rolls really well. I wish it wasn’t so stiff and had a little more flex. All in all it’s a great product. — Louie (MORE REVIEWS)
BUY 🛹 Screaming Hand White Complete Skateboard
2. Santa Cruz Wave Dot Splice Drop Thru
This Wave Drop Splice Drop Thru is recommended for beginners. It’s suggested beginners start with pintail, kickball, or drop-thru longboards. Downtown longboards and free-ride longboards are the most challenging to start with.
The 66mm slimeball wheels of 78a durometer hardness make this a good skateboard if you’re a beginner because they slow down quickly.
Classic brand never dies! — Sam (MORE REVIEWS)
BUY 🛹 Santa Cruz Wave Dot Splice Drop Thru
3. Santa Cruz Impact Drop Down Cruzer Complete
The Impact Drop Down Cruzer longboard complete takes about as modest an approach to deck graphics as you’re going to see from SCS and is built with high-quality components.
Boasting professional-level performance from the get-go, this fully assembled cruiser is a perfect selection for commuters seeking a reliable ride. Equally appealing to cruisers in search of a consistently enjoyable experience, this board maintains its exceptional performance even after prolonged use.
Featuring a generous size of 10″ x 40″, this skateboard is equipped with soft bushings and wheels, facilitating effortless turns. Despite being slightly heavier than other longboards, this skateboard maintains an impressive level of flexibility, thanks to its 90a wheels and bullet trucks.
BUY 🛹 Impact Drop Down Cruzer Complete
4. Santa Cruz Lion Rasta Drop Thru Freeride Longboard
Are you in search of a top-notch longboard? Look no further than this Santa Cruz Lion Rasta Drop Thru Freeride longboard deck. It’s perfect for beginners, making the learning process a breeze.
Even if you’ve never tried longboarding before, hop on this board for just a few hours and you’ll feel like a seasoned pro! With a length of 40 inches and a 10-inch deck, this longboard provides a comfortable and stable ride. Crafted from durable maple, it guarantees long-lasting performance.
This board is expertly constructed, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable ride. Its components are perfectly matched, eliminating the need for replacements in the near future. Additionally, its design is strikingly bold, featuring a captivating lion painted in vibrant shades of green, yellow, and red.
BUY 🛹 Santa Cruz Lion Rasta Drop Thru Freeride
5. Santa Cruz Skateboard Complete 80’s Classic Dot
This Santa Cruz Skateboard Complete 80’s Classic Dot is a true classic with a minimal design, with its sleek “pool” concave shape and an 80’s inspired design featuring the iconic Santa Cruz dot logo, it exudes retro charm.
This skateboard is ideal for both cruising and executing tricks with precision. It has earned the admiration of numerous customers, becoming a firm favorite. Equipped with 60mm 78a Slimeballs wheels, 9.0 Krux Trucks, and a 7-ply North American maple deck, it delivers exceptional performance and durability.
BUY 🛹 Santa Cruz Skateboard Complete 80’s Classic Dot
6. Santa Cruz Skateboard Complete Obscure Hand Assembled
Crafted from 100% maple wood, this Complete Obscure Hand Assembled board offers both durability and flexibility. Its shorter wheelbases enable easy and effortless turns. The wheels are made with durable high-rebound urethane, ensuring a smooth ride. The lightweight yet sturdy 7-ply deck provides reliable support, while the robust cast aluminum trucks contribute to its overall strength.
Gives increased stability on the deck with its wide 8.25″ x 31.5″ longboard. Designed with precision and using top-notch components, this board guarantees a high-quality riding experience.
BUY 🛹 Santa Cruz Skateboard Complete Obscure Hand Assembled
7. Santa Cruz Longboard Complete Flame Dot Pintail Red
This Santa Cruz Longboard Complete Flame Dot Pintail Red is a versatile board suitable for all skill levels. This 9.2″ x 33″ longboard caters to beginners and experienced riders alike.
Stand out from the crowd with its eye-catching design featuring a cracked red board adorned with yellow cracks and a pintail shape. Every component of this longboard is of exceptional quality, including the bearings, grip tape, trucks, wheels, and hardware.
Equipped with 60mm Slimeballs OG Slime wheels and Bullet 180mm RKP trucks, this longboard ensures a smooth and enjoyable ride, whether you’re just starting out or cruising the streets like a pro.
BUY 🛹 Santa Cruz Longboard Complete Flame Dot Pintail Red
8. Santa Cruz Youth Land Shark Cruzer, Rasta
This Santa Cruz Youth Land Shark Cruzer comes at a good price point. This budget-friendly board is a multi-colored longboard with a deck width of 8.8 inches.
Experience the thrilling concave shape of this longboard that resembles a shark, adding a touch of excitement to your rides. With its sturdy 7-ply deck, it’s perfect for executing impressive tricks.
Equipped with 65mm Road Rider 78a wheels, this longboard glides effortlessly on hilly terrains, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable journey. Its lightweight construction allows for easy transportation, whether you choose to carry it or attach it to your backpack.
The white trucks strike a perfect balance, providing just the right amount of tightness for smooth and controlled turns. As an added bonus, this longboard features a convenient bottle opener on the bottom, adding practicality to its impressive design.
BUY 🛹 Santa Cruz Youth Land Shark Cruzer, Rasta
9. Santa Cruz Mandala Hand Pre-Built Longboard Complete
Whether you’re in search of a thrilling downhill longboard or looking to kickstart your long boarding journey, the 9.0″ x 36″ Santa Cruz Mandala Hand Pre-Built Longboard Complete, is an excellent choice!
Stand out with its mesmerizing mandala-styled bottom, adorned with an array of Screaming Hand graphics. This longboard is equipped with 65mm 78a wheels that provide a smooth and controlled ride. The pinkish-purple Road Rider 180 trucks and precision bearings further enhance its performance and stability.
BUY 🛹 Santa Cruz Mandala Hand Pre-Built Longboard Complete
10. Santa Cruz Skate Land Shark Rasta Sk8 Complete Skateboard
Looking for another cheap longboard? This Santa Cruz Skate Land Shark Rasta Sk8 Complete Skateboard, equipped with clear green 65mm Road Rider 78a wheels, this skateboard can handle road cracks with ease. Similar to other Rasta skateboards, it features a shark-like design with a kicktail at the end, adding a touch of uniqueness to your rides.
Despite its compact size, this skateboard is surprisingly lightweight, making it easy to carry around. It also comes at an affordable price point, making it accessible for riders of all budgets.
Designed for maneuverability, you can effortlessly change your riding direction by lifting the front of the board. If you’re seeking a skateboard that falls between the size of a penny board and a traditional longboard, this is the perfect choice for you.
BUY 🛹 Land Shark Rasta Sk8 Complete Skateboard
11. Santa Cruz Skateboard Complete Toxic Hand 80’s Old School Shape
Crafted entirely from premium North American maple wood, this Toxic Hand Cruzer Complete skateboard boasts a resilient 7-ply deck.
On the backside, you’ll find a vibrant, 80’s old school design with a captivating purple background, adding a nostalgic touch to your rides. Equipped with 9.0 black Krux trucks and 58mm 87a OJ Keyframe wheels, this skateboard ensures optimal performance and smooth riding experience.
Experience the remarkable durability of this skateboard, measuring 9.7″ x 31.7″, built to withstand the test of time. With its robust construction, it remains free from scratches and chipping, even if you take a tumble while riding!
BUY 🛹 Complete Toxic Hand 80’s Old School Shape
12. Santa Cruz Skateboard Cruiser Floral Stripe Street Skate
This Santa Cruz Skateboard Cruiser Floral Stripe Street Skate has a deck width of 8.4 inches x 29.4″.
Affordable, easy skating mini Cruzer with super high rebound 60mm 78a wheels and high-performance trucks and a visually pleasing design with flowers and stripes.
BUY 🛹 Santa Cruz Skateboard Cruiser Floral Stripe Street Skate
13. Santa Cruz Street Cruzer Complete Skateboard Rainbow Tie Dye
Experience the spaciousness of this 8.79″ x 29.05″ skateboard, surpassing the size of other Santa Cruz cruiser longboards. Painted in vibrant rainbow tie dye, this Cruzer Complete Skateboard showcases a visually striking design.
Perfect for leisurely cruising, this high-quality board is equipped with smooth wheels, shielded bearings, a sturdy 7-ply maple deck, and riser pads. Enjoy a smooth and comfortable ride as you explore your surroundings on this exceptional skateboard.
BUY 🛹 Cruzer Complete Skateboard Rainbow Tie Dye
best santa cruz long boards
Best Places To Longboard In California
California offers a plethora of fantastic places for longboarding enthusiasts. Here are some of the best spots in California to enjoy longboarding:
- Venice Beach, Los Angeles: Known for its iconic boardwalk, Venice Beach offers a lively and vibrant atmosphere with a smooth concrete path perfect for longboarding. It is also home to the Venice Beach Skatepark, a public skatepark that opened in late 2009, with an area of 16,000 sq. ft. for skating!
- Santa Monica Beach Bike Path, Santa Monica: This scenic path stretches along the beautiful coastline, providing an enjoyable longboarding experience with stunning ocean views.
- Golden Gate Park, San Francisco: With its wide pathways and scenic surroundings, Golden Gate Park offers a great setting for longboarding while enjoying the city’s iconic landmarks.
- Mission Bay Park, San Diego: This expansive waterfront park features smooth paths and open spaces, making it an ideal location for longboarding while enjoying the coastal scenery.
- Long Beach Boardwalk, Long Beach: This lengthy boardwalk provides a smooth surface for longboarding, with picturesque views of the ocean and the city skyline.
- The Strand, Manhattan Beach: Stretching along the coast, The Strand offers a long, flat path for longboarding, allowing riders to enjoy the beach atmosphere and beautiful coastal scenery.
- Lake Miramar, San Diego: This serene lake features a paved loop around its perimeter, offering a peaceful and scenic environment for longboarding away from the bustling city.
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz: This popular beachside amusement park also offers a wide promenade perfect for longboarding, with stunning views of the ocean and a lively atmosphere.
Remember to always prioritize safety and follow local regulations when enjoying longboarding in these locations.
Best Santa Cruz Longboards: FAQs
Globe and Santa Cruz Longboards seem to come in as the top choices based on skateboard shops and reviews. Santa Cruz longboards are made with high-quality materials, like 100% Maple for the deck.
It’s recommended beginners start with pintail, kickball or drop through longboards. Downtown longboards and free ride longboards are the most challenging to start with.
Santa Cruz Skateboards VX decks are thinner, stronger, and have more pop than standard 7 ply decks featuring 5 piles of North American Maple and 2 layers of Quad X technology.
Santa Cruz longboards are made in Wisconsin. Made of 100%, 70 year-old, slow growth maple veneer. The wood hat the tightest grain and most strength and pop of any other skateboard.
The hardest longboard wheels are 85a; they have the most slide but can be hard to control and bring back into grip. With a softer wheel, the 75a will grip more. The middle ground is the 78-82a wheel for the best balance for most longboards.
Longboarding is most popular in Los Angeles, where skateboarding began. The second most popular city for longboarding is San Francisco.
Go for a shorter board if you’re going to be skating shorter distances. For longer distance get a longboard. Longer boards are more comfortable, and shorter boards are more nimble. So that’s the trade off you need to access.
Yes. Santa Cruz Skateboards make longboards. SCS has been in business for over 40 years. They make classic skateboards and you can find one that best fits your needs from this list.
best santa cruz longboards
Wrap-Up: Best Santa Cruz Longboards
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