Longboard Bushings & Other Longboard Truck Parts

Understanding Longboard Bushings

Longboard bushings, the rubber components located within your longboard trucks, might be small, but they play a critical role in your longboarding setup and have a significant impact on turn sensitivity. Though your longboard comes with bushings, opting for an upgrade can significantly improve your longboarding experience and broaden the possibilities of what you can achieve.

Each truck contains a pair of bushings, known as roadside and boardside. The roadside bushing is positioned nearest to the ground, while the boardside one sits closest to the deck.

Bushings primarily come in two shapes: cone and barrel. Cone bushings are ideal for easy turning due to their low resistance, whereas barrel bushings provide greater stability. A popular choice among riders is to combine a barrel with a cone bushing for versatile performance, but setups featuring cone-cone or barrel-barrel pairings are also well-liked.

Choosing the Right Longboard Bushings

Determining the "best longboard bushing" is subjective and largely hinges on your longboarding style. Key considerations should include bushing hardness and your preferred style of riding.

Similar to wheels, bushing hardness is measured on the durometer scale. A higher durometer implies a harder bushing, which offers more resistance during rides. Your weight is a crucial element in selecting the appropriate durometer; heavier individuals should generally opt for harder bushings.

For carving and cruising, choose softer, conical bushings. Conversely, if freeriding or downhill is your preference, barrel bushings are advisable.

If seeking to maximize downhill speed potential, ensure you have a reliable set of Longboard Gloves and Slide Pucks.