Longboard Bushings & Other Truck Parts

Exploring Longboard Bushings

Longboard bushings, made of rubber, are situated within the centre of your longboard trucks. Despite their small size, they are crucial to your longboard's configuration, impacting the sensitivity of your turns. While your longboard comes equipped with bushings, opting for an upgraded set and style can greatly enhance your riding experience and broaden your longboard's capabilities.

Every truck contains two bushings: roadside and boardside. As their names indicate, the roadside bushing is positioned closer to the ground, whereas the boardside bushing is nearest to the board's deck.

Bushings are primarily available in two shapes: cone and barrel. Conical bushings offer the least resistance, making them ideal for turns, whereas barrel bushings provide added stability. Many riders opt for a combination of one barrel and one cone bushing for optimal performance, though setups with cone-cone or barrel-barrel bushings are also favoured.

Choosing the Right Longboard Bushings

The "best longboard bushing" doesn't exist, as the choice highly depends on your intended riding style. Two main considerations are the hardness of the bushings and your specific riding style.

Bushings' hardness is measured using the durometer scale, similar to wheels. A higher durometer indicates a firmer bushing, resulting in greater resistance during rides. Your weight is a significant factor in selecting the appropriate durometer, with heavier riders typically requiring harder bushings.

If carving and cruising appeal to you, opt for softer conical bushings. Conversely, for freeride and downhill pursuits, a barrel setup is advisable.

To further enhance your speed when descending hills, ensure you have a reliable set of Longboard Gloves and Slide Pucks.