Cruiser boards for Beginners

We have a lot of cruiser boards to choose from in the shop right now - finding the right one for you can be confusing!
Here's Matt to take you through the differences between:
-Mini Cruisers
-(Regular) Cruiser Boards
-Pool Shapes
-Some smaller longboards in the mix too!
More knowledge and 6 quick board suggestions with all the pros and cons of each at:
vandemlongboar...
Enjoy and let us know what you think!
00:00 Intro
00:20 Category Overview
00:41 Mini Cruisers
01:47 Regular Cruisers
02:53 Pool Shapes
03:54 FAQs
04:16 Time to go skate :)

[@RJ-cq8dd]

I use 85mm wheels with risers on a mini cruiser (Pilsner). Great for commuting!

[@julianmuller766]

Very helpful lil vid. Thank you so much. Nice to see a UK vid too. Interested to know why you didn't include Penny Boards. I'm completely new to all this so would like to know what to avoid as well as what to be looking out for. Many thanks :)

[@vandemmfg]

Thanks!! Penny Boards are barely bigger than a rollerskate, with cheap-as-possible components, no griptape, and made of plastic. They barely lean, turn or roll and they're almost impossible to skate for someone who knows what they're doing, yet alone a beginner. Best avoided!

[@julianmuller766]

​@@vandemmfg Tres interesante. Thank you. I was considering the 32"x8.5" Penny board which is 2.5kg and then upgrading the trucks and wheels. Lots of places claim that Pennys are lighter than regular boards so I thought lighter would be better for my commuting needs. However, I found some similar sized regular boards and their weights range from 2.38 to 2.65 kg. So really, the only reason that Pennys are "lighter" is because the iconic mini-boards are so small. What a swiz eh? And yes, with my UK size 14 feet, the iconic Pennys would literally be roller-skates XD ... Cheers for the help :)

[@Galaxymusic20]

what would you say is the best board for someone with no experience whos older who just wants to learn and have a new skill

[@Dodgyguitarist]

I'm loving my dropcat 38. Bought it from these guys too. Im 41 just started

[@vandemmfg]

Depends what type of skill you want to learn! If you want to cruise and carve and aren't worried about tricks, then something longer might suit you better. We go into this in some depth here: vandemlongboardshop.co.uk/blogs/vandem-longboard-shop-news/learning-to-skate-as-an-adult ... good luck :)

[@Dodgyguitarist]

@@vandemmfg I love my dropcat and just want to cruise about but `i am gonna buy a lush mini fuel too for portability.

[@Galaxymusic20]

@@vandemmfg all i want to learn is to ollie control the board and just cruise along paths

[@vandemmfg]

@@Galaxymusic20 for that, check out the old school cruisers. Having a bit of a nose does make learning to ollie easier. vandemlongboardshop.co.uk/collections/oldschool-reissue-retro-skateboards

[@marianolopez6497]

Which size of raiser pads would you recomend for these mini longboards? Thanks

[@vandemmfg]

It's a preference thing - we set most of ours up with 5 degrees of wedge front and back to increase the turn and decrease the chance of wheelbite. However, if the wheels are 60mm or smaller then I like to go with no riser - lower ride height is comfortable and it ollies more like a skateboard. If you have the option to try with and without, you'll work out which you prefer pretty quick :) Have fun!

[@lauravanderhaven6751]

How many inch wide is the first small board?

[@vandemmfg]

Hi Laura, the first small board is the Lush Fuel - Surf. It's 8 inches wide. More info available at: vandemlongboardshop.co.uk/products/lush-fuel-mini-cruiser-surf Thanks!!