Bearings

Bearings are of a standard size but are also rated on the ABEC scale, which is a scale of manufacturing precision, and runs from numbers 1 to 9, but only in odd numbers.

Please bear in mind that the ABEC scale was developed to rate the bearings in machines, NOT in skateboards. It does not necessarily follow that an ABEC7 bearing, for instance, will always be of a higher standard than an ABEC3 bearing, especially if they are produced by different companies.

Indeed some companies do not use the ABEC scale at all - Bones for instance. If you're unsure which bearings to buy, Popcorn recommend Bones Reds as a good value mid priced bearing.

Decks

Skateboards are sized by width and length, generally measured in inches. Many skateboards you'll find only one measurement - this is always the width. In some cases, you may see two measurements (e.g. 7.5 x 30) which is always width first and length following.

We've observed that many skaters choose their deck based on the width primarily. Most modern decks are between 7.5" - 8.0" in width, abide we do stock some smaller and larger decks and different shaped 'old school' decks in some cases.

There is no hard and fast rule as far as which size any individual should skate, but a recommendation that comes in handy is the bigger your feet, the larger a deck you should skate.

For younger children it's best to stick to a "mini" deck - size 7.3"-7.5" - as larger decks may prove a struggle for them to control, while we recommend 7.5"-8.0" to be safer sizes for older inexperienced skaters/first timers. As always if you're unsure, feel free to drop us an e-mail or give us a call for some advice!

Hardware

If you use risers, you'll want at least 1" hardware or they won't be long enough. Otherwise go nuts - many of the differences with hardware are purely cosmestic!

Trucks

There are three things to bear in mind with your trucks - the width of the hangar, the height of the truck and the hardness of the bushing.

You want to match the width of your trucks to the width of your deck. Match your truck size to your deck with the following chart:

4.75 for up to 7.5" wide decks

5.0 for up to 7.75" wide decks

5.25 for up to 8.125" wide decks

For 8.25" and up, you can use 5.25 trucks, or use super wide trucks (like the Independent 169mm)

As noted some trucks are measured in millimeters rather than inches - Independents for instance. The wider the truck the wider the deck they are intended to fit. If you're not sure, stick to 5.0" trucks or, as always, feel free to ask for help. Generally, you'll want your trucks to be within 1/4" of the size of the deck. If you're buying online, we're always happy to check this for you if you give us a call!

The height of a truck is usually stated as being Low, Mid or High. Lower trucks are more stable and make flip tricks easier, whilst higher trucks allow for the use of larger wheels without encountering wheel bite and therefore assist with skateboarding at higher speeds for longer distances. Again there are no hard and fast rules, but for new skaters Mid trucks are safe, while if you know you're going to skate street a lot Low trucks work well, and High trucks are good for cruising. From our experience we recommend steering away from High trucks unless you're sure of your requirements.

Bushings are normally noted as being soft, medium or hard - this is not something a less experienced skater should worry about, and the rating of the bushing on new trucks is often not stated. For more experienced skaters who wish to experiment though it should be noted that the softer the bushing the easier the turn, but the more skill required for control. Bushings can be replaced seperately in the hardware section.

Wheels

Wheels are sized by diameter (the height of the wheel) but can also be measured by durometer (the hardest of the wheel). For a quick and easy answer to what kind of wheels to get, most skaters will be happy with wheels from 52mm to 54mm, with a hardness of 99a (the "a-scale" being used to measure durometer). In many cases the durometer is not provided to us explicitly - it normally doesn't venture far from this measurement in this case. The durometer is usually only explicitly stated for wheels that are harder or softer for a particular purpose.

For those looking for a little more specific information, larger wheels roll faster and are generally preferred by vert/ramp skaters. Smaller wheels are closer to the ground and make some flip/technical tricks easier to perform and are therefore usually preferred by technical/street skaters.

If any of this information confuses you, it's best to stick to wheels around the 52mm-54mm sizes. In the majority of cases this won't cause any problems.