Choosing your first skateboard is an investment. A good deck, appropriately sized trucks, reliable wheels and bearings make a real difference when you start rolling and learning tricks. At BUD Skateshop, our aim is to help you find a skateboard that feels right for your riding, without buying parts you don’t need.
Complete skateboard or custom setup?
A complete skateboard is a straightforward way to get started: its components have already been selected to work together, and the board is ready to ride. Beginner completes let you discover skateboarding without choosing every part separately. Other completes from specialist skate brands offer a wider choice of sizes, shapes and components.
For children, check the deck’s actual dimensions rather than relying on age alone. A shorter deck with a manageable width is often easier for smaller riders to control. Look for “kids” or “mini” models in our complete skateboard selection.
A custom setup lets you select your own deck, trucks, wheels and other parts. This makes sense if you already know your preferences or want a specific configuration.
What parts make up a complete skateboard?
- One deck with griptape;
- One pair of trucks;
- Four wheels;
- Eight bearings, two per wheel;
- Eight mounting bolts and nuts.
Depending on the setup, you can also add riser or shock pads or replace the truck bushings. New trucks already include bushings, so you do not need to buy extra ones for your first skateboard.
Deck shape, concave and truck height all affect how a skateboard feels, but a beginner does not need to fine-tune every detail. Start with a sensible size and well-made components; your personal preferences will develop as you skate.
1. How do you choose a skateboard deck?
Explore our skateboard decks.
Width: deck width is measured in inches (1″ = 2.54 cm). Your build and shoe size can help guide your choice, but personal preference matters most. Widths of roughly 8″ to 8.5″ are common, versatile options for street and skatepark skating, though there is no single ideal size. Narrower decks can feel more responsive; wider decks offer more standing room.
Length: two decks of the same width may differ in overall length. A shorter deck is often easier for a child to handle. For a first skateboard, there is no need to focus on technical measurements that are not consistently listed on product pages.
Shape and concave: the raised ends of the deck are called the nose and tail, while concave describes the curve between its edges. These details affect foot placement and how the skateboard feels during tricks. For your first skateboard, a conventional deck shape that you like is a sensible starting point.
Construction and brand: seven-ply maple remains a common standard, but pressing methods, glues and reinforced constructions vary. Choose a deck from a specialist skate brand in a size and graphic you like rather than judging it by price or country of origin alone.
2. How do you choose skateboard trucks?
Browse our skateboard trucks.
Width: aim for a truck axle width close to your deck width. Be careful with model numbers: brands do not all use the same sizing system. On Independent trucks, for example, 139 or 149 are model size names, not the full axle width in millimetres.
Every brand has its own sizing system. Use this comparison chart to find a matching truck size for your deck width (indicative sizes for common ranges):
| Truck brand | 7.75" deck | 8" deck | 8.25" deck | 8.5" deck | 8.75" deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INDEPENDENT (Stage 11) | 129 | 139 | 144 | 149 | 159 |
| VENTURE | 5.0 | 5.25 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 6.1 |
| THUNDER | 145 | 147 | 148 | 149 | 151 |
| DESTRUCTO (D1/D2) | 5.0 | 5.25 | 5.5 | 5.75 | — |
| ACE AF1 | 22 | 33 | 44 | 55 | 60 |
| ACE CLASSIC | 22 | 33 | 44 | 44 | 55 |
| LURPIV | 140 | 140 | 145 | 150 | 160 |
| SLAPPY (ST1) | 7.75 | 8.0 | 8.25 | 8.5 | 8.75 |
| TENSOR | 5.0 | 5.25 | 5.5 | 5.75 | — |
Important for ACE sizing: AF1 and Classic trucks do not have exactly the same axle widths, even when the size numbers match. An AF1 44 has an 8.25″ axle, while a Classic 44 is approximately 8.35″ wide. A Classic 55 has a 9″ axle, unlike the 8.5″ axle of an AF1 55. On an 8.5″ deck, the Classic 44 is therefore generally the closer match.
These numbers are a guide only: check the exact model’s axle width before ordering, as sizes may differ between ranges or generations. Lurpiv 140 covers several deck widths; Slappy sizes directly match the deck widths shown in inches. A dash means that no directly matching size is listed here for the range shown.
Truck height and wheelbite: low, mid and high trucks change how much space there is between the wheels and the deck. Wheelbite happens when a wheel touches the underside of the deck during a sharp turn or landing. The wheel can suddenly slow down or stop, potentially throwing you off the board. The risk can be higher with larger wheels, very loose trucks or a low setup. Riser pads can increase clearance, but they are not necessary on every skateboard.
Adjustment: the kingpin nut controls how freely the trucks turn. Start with a moderate setting and make small adjustments; avoid crushing the bushings by overtightening.
3. How do you choose skateboard wheels?
Shop our skateboard wheels.
Diameter: measured in millimetres, wheel diameter affects ride height, how easily you roll over minor surface imperfections and the feel of the board. Around 52–54 mm is a versatile starting point for street and park skating. Smaller wheels can feel lower and more responsive; larger wheels generally roll over rough spots more easily and hold momentum better.
Hardness: often shown on the A durometer scale, this affects grip, comfort and sliding. Hard wheels around 99A–101A are common for smooth street spots and skateparks. Softer wheels absorb more vibration on rough ground, while very soft wheels around 78A–87A are often chosen for cruising and transportation.
Shape and contact patch: rounded, conical and wider wheel profiles can feel different during grinds, slides and landings. These preferences are best developed through experience.
4. How do you choose skateboard bearings?
Explore our skateboard bearings.
A standard skateboard uses eight bearings, with two inside each wheel. Most use the 608 format, with an 8 mm inner bore.
ABEC ratings: these refer to manufacturing tolerances, but do not, by themselves, tell you how fast a bearing will roll on a skateboard, how well it handles impact or how long it will last. A higher ABEC number is not automatically better for skating. Materials, lubrication, dirt protection and overall construction also matter.
For your first setup, well-made bearings from a specialist brand are more than adequate. Avoid water where possible and replace seized or damaged bearings. An inexpensive set can work perfectly well, but price alone does not guarantee performance or longevity.
5. How do you choose mounting hardware?
See our skateboard bolts and hardware.
You need eight bolts and eight nuts to attach both trucks. Without risers, 7/8″ or 1″ hardware is usually suitable. With risers, choose a length that matches their thickness: 1″ can work with thin pads, while thicker risers may require longer bolts.
Phillips means a cross-head screw; Allen means a hex-socket head. Both work well, so choose the type that suits your tools.
6. What are skateboard pads for?
Browse our skateboard pads.
Riser pads: spacers between the deck and the trucks that increase wheel clearance, especially with larger wheels. They can help reduce wheelbite.
Shock pads: usually made from softer material, they help dampen some vibrations transmitted to the deck. Not every setup needs them.
7. How do you choose truck bushings?
Discover our skateboard bushings.
Each truck normally has two bushings, four in total. Their hardness and shape affect turning resistance and how the truck returns to centre. Softer bushings usually make turning easier; harder ones provide more resistance. Rider weight, truck geometry and kingpin adjustment also affect the feel.
You do not need to replace the stock bushings when starting out. Learn how your trucks behave before experimenting with different hardness ratings.
8. How do you choose griptape?
Explore our skateboard griptape.
Griptape is the abrasive sheet applied to the top of a deck. It is essential for keeping your feet in place while pushing, turning and doing tricks. Different sheets vary in grit, durability, cut and graphic design. Standard black griptape works well for beginners; printed and coloured options let you customise your board.
If your deck already comes gripped, there is no need to buy another sheet.
Need advice about your first skateboard or checking whether several parts fit together? Reach BUD Skateshop through our contact and store information page. We can help you put together a setup that suits the way you skate.
