Skateboard trucks are the heart and soul of your board and if there’s one thing you shouldn’t save money on, it’s trucks. Trucks can last a long time( if you buy the right ones) and really make a difference between landing a trick or eating sh*t. Show
The skateboard community is divided about the best skateboard trucks, and you’ll often find never ending debates about Thunders and Indys. In the end, it comes down to personal preference and style, and there’s certainly a huge difference between cheap trucks and high-quality trucks. Note that this post contains affiliate links. Contents
 There’s not one truck that is the best, it really depends on where you want to skate and the style you prefer. There are a few trucks that are all-around, some are great for cruising others perform well on the streets, skateparks, or bowls. Let’s look at a couple of trucks and see what makes them stand out. Oh and for those on a budget, I got you covered. 1. Independent Trucks Stage 11Independent trucks very durable skateboard trucks but have a reputation for being heavy. This changed when Independent introduced the Stage 11 Hollows and the Titanium trucks. Of all trucks, indy’s have to most ‘meat’ to grind through and are great for both street and transitions skateboarding. Compared to Thunder indys turn better, which is also why many mini ramp and bowl/pool skaters prefer them. Not everyone is a fan of the stock bushings but that goes for every brand. I personally never had any issues, it just takes some time to break them in. The metal on indys feels a bit softer which makes them great for grinding. They are also quite high, the forged trucks are 53.5mm (same as Venture and Tensor) and the standard/hollows are 55mm. If you’re used to riding low trucks this will take some time to adjust. In my opinion, Independent trucks are the best to pick from an economical perspective. Sure they are a bit more expensive but they last for ages, those few extra bucks are well worth it.
Independent trucks come in many sizes and support skateboard deck width from 6.2″ to 10″. Sometimes more than one size of truck fits but don’t stress too much about this. Trucks don’t have to align perfectly to your deck. There’s also personal preference and the size of your wheels. Buy Independent trucks at Amazon
Stage 11 StandardEven though the standard trucks are the cheapest, you still get a rad truck. To be honest, most skaters won’t notice the difference anyway but they are a bit heavier compared to the hollows and titanium trucks. The standard indy truck is also the only one that supports 10″ decks.
Stage 11 HollowThe Stage 11 Hollow is the lighter version of the standard truck (7% lighter), it’s hard to give an exact number because trucks vary in sizes. The reduced weight mainly comes from the hollow axle and hollow kingpin. Surprisingly this doesn’t mean that the material is weaker, not at all.
Stage 11 Forged HollowSuper Lightweight Mid Profile Truck with Forged Baseplate and Hollow Axle & Kingpin
Stage 11 Forged TitaniumThe Forged Titanium trucks are the most expensive mainly due to the materials used. Titaniums are the lightest and very strong and finally helped Independent to get rid of the ‘heavy trucks’ image. That’s all in the past, sure Indys are a bit heavier in general but that’s because they have a lot of meat on them to makes them the most durable trucks. Anyway, I love these trucks and they perform well on both street and transition skating.
2. Thunder TrucksThunder Trucks was founded in 1986 and is one of the biggest skateboard truck brands, many pros pick Thunders and for good reasons. Thunder trucks are many street skaters favorite trucks and loved for their responsiveness, grinding ability, and durability. Thunder trucks are about the best trucks you can get and will last you a long time. They are less turny than indy’s but most skaters won’t even notice.
Thunder offers many trucks so let’s break them down and see what works for you. It’s safe to say that the standard trucks are just fine but if you want to spend some extra cash you got a lot to pick from. Thunder offers fantastic stock bushings and will break in quickly. You can either go for Thunder lows or highs, the lows can cause wheel bite sometimes depending on the size of your wheels. If you’re a tranny skater, go for the highs.
Thunder Team EditionGreat trucks for every beginner, the standards are the cheapest of the bunch but probably the best bang for your buck. Their standards don’t have any exclusive stuff like hollow kingpins, forged aluminum base plates, or titanium axles which makes them a tad less durable. You can still skate them for years and they really are great for grinding. Both the hangar and baseplate are cast so no fancy forged manufacturing-process, forged baseplates are stronger though. Thunder offers the HI (49,78 mm ) and LOW (49 mm) version, go for the high trucks if you are taller or ride bigger wheels. Go for the lows if you want to be as close to the ground as possible and ride smaller wheels.
Thunder (Team) LightsA bit of an upgrade compared to the standard team trucks, the only difference is a hollow kingpin to reduce weight. Hollow doesn’t mean it’s less durable, it’s just as strong as a regular kingpin thanks to the high-grade materials used! A good choice if you want something more lightweight, but the difference isn’t shocking. The Team edition’s baseplate will give you a bit more clearance because it is 1 mm thicker.
Thunder Hollow Lights (II)Want a really fancy lightweight truck? The Hollow Lights might be right up your alley. This is a great quality truck with a hollow kingpin, hollow axle, and forged baseplates which makes them extra strong. Again, hollow doesn’t make them any weaker. The high-grade materials, production process, and quality control makes this one of the best trucks you can buy. This goes for all Thunder trucks, they offer lifetime guarantee in case you happen to break them. Check out this review if you want to learn more.
Thunder Titanium LightsFor those who want the lightest trucks, the titanium Lights are a great choice. The only titanium about this truck is the (solid) axle which might be confusing. You get super-strong light-weight aluminum baseplates which are custom forged (not cast) and aircraft grade hollow kingpins. This is the best truck Thunder offers but also the most expensive, will it make you skate better? Probably not. For those who can afford it or like to support their favorite truck brand, go for it.
Team HollowsTeam Hollows are a bit higher than the other trucks, the baseplate is 1 mm thicker for extra clearance. The trucks feature a premium-grade kingpin and reinforced hollow axles, further reducing the total weight of the truck.
3. Venture TrucksVenture Trucks are about the most stable trucks you can get which is very noticeable when you skate transition. The lows are great for street skating and the highs perform really well in bowl, pool, mini ramp, and vert. Even though they are a bit less turny compared to Indys, they help you maintain your balance. Venture are also excellent skateboard trucks for beginners. Most quality trucks now offer bushings that break in much faster than it used to be but these bushings only take about 30 minutes to. Venture Trucks are very snappy trucks and provide great pop given that you ride a medium kicktail deck. As for durability the fall right between Indys and Thunders meaning you will skate them for a long time.
Standard Venture TrucksThe standard Venture trucks is obviously the cheapest but a very high-quality truck. It features a forged baseplate, reinforced high-grade steel kingpin, a solid axle, and a forged aluminum hanger. For most of us ordinary skateboarder folks, this is all you need, but if you want something that weighs less keep on reading.
Venture V-LightsA slight upgrade from the standard trucks as the name already might give it away, they are a bit lighter. The Venture V-Lights come with a hollow kingpin and a forged baseplate. It saves you a couple of grams and they are just as strong.
Venture V-TitaniumThe difference here is that the V-Titanium offers a titanium axle to reduce weight but it makes the truck more expensive. Titanium is great for people who jump bigger stairs and get bent axles. Of course, you also get hollow kingpins and forged baseplates. This is the strongest and lightest Venture truck you can buy, but also the most expensive.
Venture V-Hollow LightsThis is the only truck Venture offers that has both a hollow kingpin and a hollow axle making them extremely lightweight. Not as light as the V-Titanium though, the 5.0 Titaniums Hi weigh 299 grams and the 5.0 V-hollow Lights weigh 323 grams. Compared to the regular 5.0’s (355 grams) that’s quite a difference. Remember that reduced weight is probably not gonna make you ollie any higher, it really comes down to technique.
4. Tensor TrucksTensor is Rodney Mullen’s company and it’s known for its ultra-lightweight trucks. The benefit is that it doesn’t hurt as much when they hit your shins and some think it can make them ollie higher. The geometry of the baseplates makes grinding and slides easier. Tensors are rather low which can be a problem with bigger wheels but it also makes them very stable trucks. Tensors wear a lot faster and should be avoided if you don’t have a lot of cash to splash. You often find tensors on complete setups, this is mainly because it’s a great all-around truck. My Globe cruiser for example came with these trucks, and even though they aren’t the ultimate cruiser trucks, they hold up fine. They don’t turn that well, but beginners won’t mind because of the stability they offer. You can always tweak the trucks a little or replace the stock bushings. When it comes to the gnarly stuff you’re probably better of with something more durable. The magnesium truck tends to break faster so if you want a more sturdy truck, avoid them. Though some love how fast they grind, you don’t have a lot of meat to chew through. It’s not that bad though, most skaters won’t notice, and fortunately Tensor upgraded their trucks recently. Tensor offers the lightest trucks and I think that makes mentioning them justified. They put a lot of time into researching and developing the lightest trucks in the world.
Tensor MaglightThere have been quite some discussions about Maglights on the web and honestly, I haven’t tested them myself. From what I’ve read and is that they aren’t very durable and need to be replaced more often than , for example, indys. Sure they are very light but the magnesium mixture to cast the hangar seems to be causing issues for some skaters. If you’re a hardcore street technician, you probably want to skip these. If you want the lightest skateboard setup, these trucks are right up your alley. Riders that own them praise them for their grindability but do mention the durability issue. Recently Tensor updated their designs to make them stronger, let’s see how they will hold up.
Tensor AluminumThe aluminum trucks are very lightweight though they weigh more than the MagLites. This is a standard truck without fancy features but still great all-around trucks for beginners.
5. Grind King TrucksGrind King trucks are very well designed and just looking at the design makes you want to skate them. I think they are the best looking trucks ever created, but it does not about look right, it’s about how they ride. You won’t be disappointed, Grind King isn’t exactly new to the game but took a big hiatus. Recently Grind King came back with the disruptor, the raddest looking truck on the market. Since this is a small company they only offer trucks for board sizes 8.0, 8.25, and 8.5. Pretty standard sizes so I’m sure many of you can fit these trucks. The bushings (with built-in washers) aren’t for everyone and it will take quite some time before you break them in.
Grind King DisruptorThe GK Disruptor is (in my opinion) one of the most innovative skateboard trucks to date. I mean, no washers, an inverted kingpin, and the lowest height for the smoothest grinds. As for the lack of washers, these are integrated into the bushings but not everyone is a fan. It also features a unique “anti focus” hollow baseplate that is and rounded, which prevents your board from snapping. Pretty cool stuff!
Grind King SparksThe Sparks are rather unique and have 7 spark plugs that create bright sparks when you grind! This is pretty awesome and great for photo’s especially when it’s about to get dark. Geometry is the same as the disruptors but they don’t come in size 5.0.
6. Paris Trucks CoParis trucks co offers trucks for dedicated cruising, longboarding trucks, and even cruising and street trucks. These made it to the list because I know there are a lot of skaters that love to do some cruising and hop a few curbs, and maybe some slappies? Anyway, Paris Trucks offer something for everyone but don’t quite excell at anything making them the perfect all-around truck. They offer traditional kingpin trucks for technical skating and reverse kingpin trucks for cruising and longboarding (V2, V3, Savant). I personally don’t have any experience with the longboard variant, but I like to ride the street trucks on two cruisers which I think are just the best (Arbor Ose and Pilsner). These trucks are very carvy and have lots of meat to grind through. For a pure street skateboard? No, there are way better options. Paris fills a much-needed gap between cruising and tricks. Paris offers the V1, V2, V3, and the more exclusive Savant trucks (downhill trucks). Both the V2 and V3 trucks are great for sliding, the V1’s are a bit outdated. The new V3’s are an upgrade from the V2’s and Paris uses a new manufacturing process. The casting process, bushings, pivot cups all got an upgrade, and Paris now also offers 165mm wide trucks. The more exclusive Savant trucks are quite expensive which mainly has to do with the manufacturing-process. The Savant’s are about as stable as you can get, great for downhill but perhaps a bit of an overkill for just cruising. They feature a tighter bushing sear, a forged construction, and a CNC finish (that’s what probably makes them expensive). In general. Paris trucks are a jack of all trades master of none kind of truck. You often find them on completes because they are great all-around trucks. If you’re in doubt about your cruiser setup, go with Paris trucks.
Paris V2The Paris V2 truck is the successor of the V1 truck. Paris made the trucks beefier to increase durability and improved the pivot and bushing seating. The V2’s are a good choice for cruising but not recommended for street skating. They are great for sliding, dancing, and recommended for beginners that just want to cruise around.
Paris V3The Paris V3 trucks are quite new and the V2 successor. Paris improved the alloy forming process that increases the strength. The hanger and bushings are a bit wider, improved pivot cups. Overall the Paris V3 trucks are currently the second-best trucks they offer for cruising (the Savants are actually the best but overkill for your average cruiser).
Paris StreetParis also offers street trucks which are great for mini cruisers. In fact, all Arbor cruisers come with Paris street trucks. They are taller than your average truck (57.15mm) which makes them great trucks for cruising and tricks without having to worry about wheel bite. No need for riser pads and lots of lean for the ultimate cruising experience. They come with six holes which allows you to adjust the wheelbase and the bushings are 93A (cone-barrel).
7. KruxKrux is a good choice for street skating, lighter than indys. Very slight camber to the hanger and shaved off baseplates to make them lighter. Very recognizable by the hole which exposes the kingpin and bushings. Not recommended for transition, mini ramps, bowls, vert, or anyone that likes to ride loose trucks. Super thick rounded baseplate that can take lots of abuse. Krux are great for those who love riding tight trucks, one of our locals even tighten them (lol). For some, trucks can’t be tight enough.
8. Ace trucksAce trucks are very carve-y trucks and could be considered for bowl skating or cruising. The stock bushings are fine but it’s hard to replace them, only Krux bushings seem compatible. I know Bam loves them because the bushings don’t require you to break them in, at least that’s what he said. Less suitable for technical grinds as they are harder to lock-in. Kingpin clearance is minimal and they tend to wobble at greater speeds. Not for skaters who like to ride their trucks tight.
9. CCS TrucksNot the best, not the worst and a great choice when you really don’t want to spend too much. CCS trucks cost around 30 bucks a pair and that’s pretty cheap compared to the competition. They aren’t as durable as indys and if you like to grind curbs you are jump 5-stairs, you probably should look for a different truck. They hold up fine for basic tricks and yes you can grind curbs but they will wear quicker compared to the more expensive trucks. Beginners don’t have to worry about this anyway and the trucks can take some abuse for sure. They turn fine and are medium height which makes them suitable for street skating and parks. The trucks hangers and axles are straight, there aren’t any visible deformations or warping issues which often is the case with cheaper trucks. CCS checks quality before the trucks hit the stores.
10. Mini Logo TrucksMini logo trucks might not be the best but sure makes one of the best choices for riders on a budget. They are dirt cheap and comparable to CCS trucks. It’s a good choice for beginners as you won’t be doing any grinds or huge ollies. Mini logo is part of SkateOne and Powell-Peralta and you’ll often find these trucks on completes sold by SkateOne. The trucks have a slight camber, meaning they the hanger curves a bit which is supposed to make it easier to lock your grinds. Most people won’t notice though. Once you can skate a bit better I would suggest upgrading these trucks though, they’re not as durable as Indys or Thunders and the cheaper materials will wear quite fast once you get to the gnarly stuff. Keep in mind that upgrading your trucks will be a frustrating experience in the beginning as you need to break in the bushings and get used to how they respond. Usually the smaller trucks below 8.0″ come with softer 84A bushings, from 8.0 and up the bushings are 94A which is quite hard for lightweights.
Skateboarding Styles and Proper TrucksNot every truck is great for your personal style, I wouldn’t recommend cruiser truck for a hardcore street skater not would I advise a stiff truck for transition. It really depends on what types of disciplines you like and you have to compromise. All the trucks listed here are great for skateboarding. Some are better for cruising others are better for street or transition. By now you should probably know what suits you but let’s talk a bit about the different disciplines and what to expect. StreetMany street skaters love loose trucks, heck some pro skaters even completely remove the bushings (looking at you Daewon Song). If you really want to only skate street and don’t like transition, your best bet is Thunder trucks. They are great at locking in grinds and have a low profile which keeps you closer to the ground. Great for flip trick and durable enough to withstand grinds on gnarly concrete. There are a couple of brands that offer great trucks for street. If Thunder is a bit too expensive, consider Krux, Ace, or even the cheaper version like CCS and Mini logo. Get Thunders though, seriously. Mini RampYou’re in luck, I’ve been riding mini ramps for a long time and you have two options here. Your first option is obviously Independent, your second option is Venture Trucks (High). To be fair I used to ride Thunders for a long time and I loved how I the grinds locked in and it took me some time to get used to Indys. I feel like Indys provide me a much smoother ride and turn way better. It’s anecdotal but Independent Trucks are the favorite trucks for mini ramp, vert, and bowl skaters because of their turning ability. Venture (highs) is another great option, these are very carvy and offer lots of stability. I should skate them more often to give you a better opinion but as soon as you try your first axle stall, you’ll notice. Don’t get the lows, you want max turning radius, the lows are better for street skating. VertVert skaters probably already know what they need and there’s no point in explaining because these guys are gnarly. Just make sure to pick Independent or Venture because you’re gonna need stability. BowlAgain, Independent trucks but don’t rule out Ace trucks. It’s also important to loosen your trucks a bit for extra carving ability. Tight trucks are a nightmare to ride in a bowl! Check out my post about trucks that are great for bowl and pool skating. Skate ParkAny trucks mentioned in this post are fine for skateparks. If you are more of a street person go with Thunders. Want to ride everything, go with Independent. We’re just talking trucks here but wheels also play a huge part. CruisingParis V2, V3 (very carvy!), and Street trucks are a good choice but don’t rule out Venture Hi and independent trucks. You could also consider longboard trucks because in general, they turn much better due to their angle and sometimes reversed kingpin. Get risers if you go for indys or Venture trucks. Check my post about skateboard trucks for cruising if you want to learn more. Cruising and TricksYou need trucks that turn well, offer stability but also the wheels you pick make quite a difference. Paris Street trucks, Venture Hi, and Independent Trucks. Paris won’t need extra rise pads but indys and Venture often require some extra clearance. Skateboard Trucks ExplainedLet’s dive a bit into the anatomy of skateboard trucks, to the layman’s eye they all look the same but there are many differences in geometry, quality, and the manufacturing-process. Hollow kingpins, titanium or hollow axles, forged baseplates, etc. They all play a factor in performance and durability. I’ll keep this one brief because I already wrote a huge skateboard truck guide. Truck Hangers & LengthThe length of a hangar not only relates to the width of your deck, but it also determines your grip when turning. Shorter hangars rely on mechanical grip when turning and are less stable. Wider hangars offer more stability and more grip when turning. This is less of a concern to street skaters, but transition skaters and cruisers should pay attention. Street skaters benefit more from shorter trucks because they are more responsive, you want your trucks to react fast when performing technical tricks! Heightusually, trucks come in high and low versions, not all brands offer lows, mediums, or highs and there’s not an industry-standard unfortunately. A high truck from brand X might be a medium brand Y truck. Low trucks are often better for street skating as you want your center of gravity as low as possible. It’s all preference though, some like to skate high trucks on the street and can’t get used to low trucks. This is something you’ll learn along the way, the more you skate the more you know what you like and don’t like. BaseplateNot all trucks are created equal, a lot depends on the materials used. Most trucks are made of a mix of metal like steel, magnesium (Tensor), aluminum, and brass. Cheaper trucks are cast in a mold and usually consist of lesser material. It won’t impact performance though, cast baseplates are less durable compared to forged baseplates and tend to break after extensive use. Often the mounting holes show tears. Some brands offer baseplates with six holes to adjust the wheelbase. BushingsOften overlooked but bushings play a huge part in how the trucks perform. Nowadays, most stock bushings are fine but it takes some time to break them in. Ace and Venture trucks break-in after 30 minutes, but Thunders and Indys require more time. Most trucks offer cone-barrel shaped bushings, and just like wheels bushings come in different durometers. Often this is not specified so it’s a bit of a gamble. Just remember if you’re a bit on the heavy side you need harder bushings. ConclusionI know, another best skateboard truck article. There are tons of these articles but the funny thing is, they never actually test them (and probably never touched a skateboard in their life). This post is a work in progress, it will get better in time because I actually test stuff but it will take a while. All the skateboard trucks listed here are reliable, some are more durable and better for hardcore skating, and some are excellent for beginners who don’t want to spend too much. Even though trucks are the most important part of your skateboard, you can always tweak them (to some extend) and eventually replace them once you know what you really want. Test some trucks of friends if you can, try to skate them under different circumstances, and see what feels right. Whether you pick Thunder, Indys, Venture, or Mini Logo trucks. In the end, you are the one that needs to commit and nail those tricks. Quality gear really helps though. I’m an aged skateboarder and I still shred responsibly. I started skateboarding 25 years ago but also love surfing, snowboarding, or anything that involves a board. What are the best skateboard trucks brand?The top skateboard truck brands of 2021. Independent Trucks.. Thunder. ... . ACE. ... . Venture Trucks. Thanks to balanced geometry, high-quality workmanship and low weight, Venture Trucks are also 2021 among the most popular trucks. ... . Tensor Trucks. Without question, the lightest trucks on the market come from Tensor Trucks. ... . What trucks do pro skaters use?Many top-level pro skaters use Thunder trucks and the Hollow Lights II trucks in particular. What makes these trucks ideal for skateboarding is that they have a forged baseplate that adds impact resistance as well as hollow kingpins and axles to reduce the weight.
How do I choose the best skateboard trucks?When Buying a new set of skateboard trucks you first need to know the deck width you will be using them with. For the perfect truck size, you are aiming to match the overall truck width to the deck width, for example, a 7.75" deck matches a 5.0" truck, an 8.0" deck matches a 5.25" truck.
What trucks does Tony Hawk use?Watch Tony Hawk Put His Indy Titanium 149 Trucks To The Test.
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What are the best skateboard trucks
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