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The Best Surfskate Cruisers from the Top Surfskate Brands
Looking for a good surfskate cruiser? Here are the best cruiser surfskates from the top surfskate brands, including Carver, YOW, Smoothstar, SwellTech, Slide, Waterborne, Curfboard, and SpiceSkate.
Surfskate Cruiser Review Topics
When I started researching surfskates in the summer of 2020, I had no idea what I was doing or what to look for. I bought my first surfskate, on October 15, 2020.
When I realized how difficult it was to choose surfskates and how little education there was to be found, I set out on a quest to help other surfskaters choose the best surfskates for them.
Since buying my first surfskate, I’ve purchased and tested more than 60 surfskates with 30 different surfskate trucks from 27 companies in 11 countries around the world. So I have a pretty good idea of what’s out in the marketplace for cruiser surfskates.
Keep reading to discover the best surfskate cruisers from the top surfskate brands, including Carver, YOW, Slide, Waterborne, Curfboard, and SpiceSkate.
To save time, money, and hassle in choosing the best surfskate cruiser for you, get my free Surfskate Selector app now.
What Defines a “Surfskate Cruiser”?
Before revealing the best surfskate cruiser models, I first want to define what I mean by a “surfskate cruiser.”
To me, surfskate cruising means you’re traveling some distance on your surfskate, as opposed to staying in one small area and practicing tight surf maneuvers on a smooth surface. You’re going over concrete sidewalks with cracks and rough asphalt and hitting pebbles.
You’re less focused on practicing tight, technical maneuvers, and more just enjoying the ride, covering some ground, being versatile with your stance and movements.
With that definition, here’s what I think you’re looking for in a cruiser surfskate:
Characteristics of a Cruiser Surfskate
- A stable surfskate truck. If you’re hitting lots of cracks and pebbles, a loose surfskate truck is not the best choice.
- A wheelbase that is typically wider than an 18″ (or wider, depending on the surfskate truck).
- A wheelbase that is wider than your stance width.
- The two characteristics above make cruiser surfskates harder to pump, but they generate more forward momentum than models with narrower wheelbases.
- Cruiser surfskates are better for cruising for longer distances and over a wide variety of terrain. Along with a stable truck and wider wheelbase, this also means bigger, softer wheels.
- Since you’re not doing aggressive carving maneuvers, concave on the deck isn’t critical.
In my Surfskate Selector app I differentiate between surfskate “sports cars” and surfskate “sedans.”
A “sports car” surfskate is one with a wheelbase that is no wider than your stance width, and no narrower than one inch narrower than your stance width. A “sedan” surfskate is one with a wheelbase that is wider than your stance width.
Using this analogy, surfskate cruisers are the sedans of surfskates.
But before you choose your cruiser surfskate deck dimensions, you first want to choose which surfskate truck you’ll use for surfskate cruising.
Best Surfskate Trucks for Surfskate Cruising
Let’s start buy narrowing down all the surfskate trucks and companies in the market down to the best surfksates.
Out of everything I’ve tried, I believe the following to be the top 10 surfskate trucks (in alphabetical order):
- Aquilo
- Carver C7
- Carver CX
- Curfboard
- Slide V3
- Smoothstar Thruster D
- SpiceSkate SpicePilot TypeX
- SwellTech
- Waterborne Surf Adapter
- YOW Meraki
I put them on a scale ranging from pure surf trainers on the one hand, to pure street cruisers on the other.
Pure surf trainer trucks are smoother, looser, more fluid and are easier to move side-to-side with your upper body. This means they are more suitable for doing tight maneuvers in small areas.
Pure street cruisers feel tighter and snappier. They are also more stable. Though not as easy to generate lateral side-to-side motion, they generate more forward momentum when you pump. This means they are better for pumping and cruising for longer distances.
Using this definition, this is how I rank the top surfskate trucks:
For more detailed descriptions of each of these top surfskates, see this article.
When it comes to surfskate cruising, what this means is this:
- I believe the best surfskate trucks for surfskate cruising to be, in this order, the Carver CX, Slide V3, YOW Meraki, Carver C7, and Waterborne surf adapter.
- I think the Curfboard, Spiceskate Okto, and SpiceSkate SpicePilot TypeX surf adapters work okay for surfskate cruising, but they’re not optimal.
- I would not use the SwellTech, Aquilo, or Smoothstar Thruster surfskate trucks for surfskate cruising. The Aquilo and Smoothstar Thrusters don’t generate enough forward momentum, and the SwellTech is too unstable for rough surfaces.
With that said, let’s look at the best surfskate cruiser models from the top surfskate brands.
*Note that I do not include models from Aquilo, Smoothstar, or SwellTech because I do not believe these surfskate trucks are good for cruising.
The Best Surfskates for Cruising from the Top Surfskate Brands
32″ Glass Off
- Length: 32″
- Width: 9 7/8″
- Wheelbase: 17 5/8″
- Fits riders with a stance width of between 17″ and 19″
32.5″ Hobo
- Length: 32″
- Width: 9 7/8″
- Wheelbase: 17 5/8″
- Fits riders with a stance width of between 17″ and 19″
33″ Proteus
- Length: 33″
- Width: 9 7/8″
- Wheelbase: 18 3/8″
- Fits riders with a stance width of between 17″ and 19″.
33.75″ Greenroom
- Length: 33 3/4″
- Width: 9 7/8″
- Wheelbase: 18 7/8″
- Fits riders with a stance width of between 18″ and 20″
36.5″ Tyler 777
- Length: 36 1/2″
- Width: 10″
- Wheelbase: 21 1/4″
- Suitable for riders with a stance width of 17″ or wider
33″ Swallow Model (Noserider, Saladita, and Wahine)
- Length: 33″
- Width: 10.25″
- Wheelbase: 18″
- Fits riders with a stance width of between 17″ and 19″
*NOTE: I do not recommend the Slide Neme Pro Spacial 35″ model. I find that the wheelbase is too wide for optimal pumping, and it just doesn’t pump well at all.
34″ Christenson Lane Splitter
- Length: 34″
- Width: 9.85″
- Wheelbase: 19″
- Fits riders with a stance width of between 16″ and 18″
34″ Teahupoo
- Length: 34″
- Width: 10″
- Wheelbase: 19″
- Fits riders with a stance width of between 16″ and 18″
33.75″ Pyzel Ghost
- Length: 33.5″
- Width: 10″
- Wheelbase: 20″
- Fits riders with a stance width of between 17″ and 19″
33.5″ Amatriain
- Length: 33.5″
- Width: 10″
- Wheelbase: 20″
- Fits riders with a stance width of between 17″ and 19″
34.5″ Pukas Dark
- Length: 34.5″
- Width: 9.84″
- Wheelbase: 20″
- Fits riders with a stance width of between 17″ and 19″
31″ Pisces Black Bamboo Surfskate Cruiser
- Length: 31″
- Width: 9.5″
- Wheelbase: 20″
- Fits riders with a stance width of between 17″ and 20″
Curfboard Classic 2.0 and Curfboard Leilani
*The Leilani is just a different design of the same deck.
- Length: 31″
- Width: 8.98″
- Wheelbase: 20″
- Fits riders with a stance width of between 17″ and 21″
*NOTE: SpiceSkate currently offers two surfskate trucks: the original SpicePilot, and the new SpicePilot TypeX. The TypeX offers a stiffer spring that is much more suitable for surfskate cruising. Therefore, I only recommend their one model that comes with the TypeX truck for surfskate cruising.
830 Type-X Series
For more help with choosing the best surfskate cruiser for you, get my free Surfskate Selector app now.
Have you tried the Long Island Baja 32″ it’s currently on Amazon for $199. I can get it for $100 off FB marketplace.
No, I haven’t. You like it?
Hey I was wondering if the YOW J-BAY 33″ was any good as a surf cruiser, I saw you mention the YOW lane splitter but not that one.
Cheers!
Yes, I think the J-Bay is a great surf cruiser, as long as your stance width is 17″ or less.
Awesome!
And would you recommend the YOW trucks as well if you do medium to long distance cruising with it?
Apologies if I’m bothering you too much with this.