Looking for a surfskate, but don't know which one to pick?
The most common questions I get is something along the lines of…
Yooo, I'm thinking about getting “insert surfskate” but how does it feel compared to “this surfskate”.
And I totally get it because I was super confused when I bought my first board and made all the mistakes (wheelbase too small, deck length/shape, wheel softness).
Now that I own eight different boards, I have a solid idea of what to look out for when picking.
This page will briefly describe the feeling of the surfskates I own.
If you want to learn more about a specific brand, I'll link their full review in each section.
Also, frequently asked questions are listed at the bottom.
Contents (Click to skip)
1. Carver Skateboards
Carver Skateboards is pretty much the grandfather of the surfskate industry. They're the ones that popularized surfskates years ago (well, at least in the USA). They have the strongest brand recognition out of all the companies.
How Does Carver Feel?
Compared to the other surfskates, Carver feels more cruiser heavy instead of surfy. I own their C7 & CX trucks and both don't come near the carviness a YOW or Smoothstar has.
Who Are They Best For?
If you want something that you can ride longer distances on and still carve more aggressively than a traditional cruiser, Carver Skateboards could be a solid choice for you.
2. Hamboards
Based out of Huntington Beach, California, Hamboards is a USA based surfskate company that approaches their builds much different than the others. They have some of the biggest boards I've ever seen, redefining what a surfskate really is (even offering one that's 6.6′).
How Does Hamboards Feel?
Referring to their HST 200 carving trucks, they have a spring in both the front and back trucks. This allows you to carve more aggressive rail to rail than any other surfskate out there. But the downside of this is that it's hard to carry your momentum from your turns since both trucks pivot.
Who Are They Best For?
If you want something that's bigger than most surf skates and has a similar aesthetic to an actual surfboard, Hamboards might be a solid choice. Not only that but if you want to do insanely sharp, rail to rail turns and don't care to pump from a standstill, I'd say go for it. The ideal conditions are if you have lowkey hills to ride down, so you can do continuous turns without having to push.
3. Smoothstar
Smoothstar is another well-known surfskate that was one of the original companies in the surfskate market. They call their boards surf trainers rather than surf skates because they classify themselves as a surf company. They're positioning themselves as the ultimate technical trainer for surfers.
How Does Smoothstar Feel?
Smoothstar has a very fluid and consistent feel to it. They use a coil spring, which adds more tension to their adapters and I've noticed it has a resistance that other adapters don't. Because of that tension, with one pump, you can carry your momentum for a while. Their adapters have a really fun feeling to them.
Who Are They Best For?
If you're looking for something to ride in a flat parking lot or even in a bowl to do technical surf training, Smoothstar is a good option. Similar to YOW, it's not a surfskate that you'll want to take for a long-distance cruise since that front adapter pivots aggressively. In my opinion, this is the best option for those that want the closest feeling of surfing on land.
4. SwellTech
SwellTech is a newer surfskate company that's based out of Florida. They approach their builds differently from the rest, where their adapters can actually rotate a full 360°. They also have a surf-inspired traction pad, making them look even more like surfboards.
How Does SwellTech Feel?
You can pump SwellTech similar to the other surfskates, however, if you go too front-heavy, the adapter will jackknife a lot easier than the others. There are a lot of people that like this extreme since with surfing you can't go too front-heavy without dipping your nose. But for me, I don't like that extreme since I feel like the majority of the time instead of focusing on my technique, I'm focusing on preventing it from jackknifing.
Who Are They Best For?
Getting an aggressive surfskate in the USA (at the time of writing this 12/14/20) is an expensive challenge since a lot are located outside the USA. SwellTech is a lot easier to access since they're based in Florida. If you want a surfskate that has the most agressive turning (full 360 rotation) then SwellTech is a solid option for you.
5. Waterborne
Waterborne is an interesting company because they started by solely focusing on creating a universal surfskate adapter that doesn't use any springs. Instead, they use a cube bushing, mixed with bearings and washers, making for an overall solid adapter.
How Does Waterborne Feel?
Waterborne allows you to pivot just as aggressively as YOW or Smoothstar, however, because it doesn't have a spring design, it doesn't have as much as resistance like the others do. I've gotta say, it's not a major difference.
Who Are They Best For?
If you want to get that surfskate feeling without spending hundreds of dollars on a complete, you should highly consider Waterborne. Especially if you have a cruiser laying around. It'll give you a good idea of that surfskate feeling without breaking the bank. Then if you end up really liking it, you can start exploring other options.
6. YOW Surf
YOW was one of the more recent companies to enter the surfskate market, but they're already making some big waves. They're a parent company of HLC Distribution, which owns a bunch of different skate brands.
The great part about them is they have a huge warehouse where they make almost every part of their board, which is why they usually restock the quickest.
How Does YOW Feel?
YOW uses a coil spring in their design, which makes their adapters more aggressive for carving than Carver. It definitely offers a surfy feel, but if you compare it to Smoothstar, you can carve deeper.
For a more in-depth comparison between YOW and Smoothstar, check it out here.
Who Are They Best For?
I would recommend a YOW if you want something that you can do deep carves with. Out of all my surfskates, I use my YOW the most since it's adapter feels natural to pump and gain speed. They also have some of the coolest graphics/designs in my opinion.
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