Skateboard VS Scooter:

Skateboard VS Scooter: Everything You Need To Know (FAQs)

I recently saw a group of teens arguing in a park over whether skateboards or scooters were better. It was a very heated argument, and in the end, both sides had to try out which was better by showing off their skills.

Since the beginning of time, people have been torn between skateboards and scooters. Understanding the skateboard and the scooter is critical to your needs. It is the choice between a thrilling ride and a leisurely cruise.

Let’s go over everything you need to know about skateboards vs scooters.

What Is A Skateboard?


A skateboard is a platform for riding on, usually while standing. It is made up of a deck and wheels.

The deck is mounted on large roller skate wheels. The skateboard is used on smooth surfaces and requires more balance than regular roller skates.

Features of skateboards


Let us look at the various components of a skateboard, their functionality, and what makes the feature high quality or low quality. Here are the features of a skateboard:

What’s A Scooter?

01. Plywood deck (length)

The skateboard deck is made of thin layers of wood (6-9 plies) tightly pressed together. This creates a super sturdy board.

I recommend a 7.75” skateboard for beginner skateboarders. Ensure your deck has grip tape.

02. Wheel Dimensions

The standard wheel size for street skateboarders is 54-56mm. However, I suggest a 58-63mm wheeled board if you want a smoother ride. With these larger wheels, you are less likely to feel rocks or dirt roads.

03. Board size (width)

This is the distance between the tip of the snout and the tip of the tail. A skateboard with a 7.5” width is suitable for kids aged 13 and above.

I suggest a 6-6.75” for kids younger than eight years old. I find it better to match the width of the skateboard with an individual’s size and skating style.

04. Bearings 

They are installed on either side of the wheel to allow it to spin smoothly on the axle.

Bearings are available in Abec3, Abec5, Abec7, and Abec9 sizes. I recommend you go for a skateboard with bearings with a greater ABEC rating because it is more tolerant and accurate.

05. Nose

This is the front of your deck. It is wider than the tail. In most skateboards, the nose is brightly colored. It is called the ‘catch’ because it holds your feet when doing tricks.

06. Tail

This is the back of your deck. It is often narrower than the nose. It is curved upwards and closer to the ground. I recommend using a tail guard to prevent the wearing out of the tail.

What Is A Scooter?


A kick scooter is a two-wheeled device with handlebars and a platform on which to place one’s feet. This type of scooter is propelled by the user pushing off the ground with one foot.

Features of scooters


A scooter is essentially the sum of its parts. Let’s dive in and look at each component of the scooter. Ensure you look for functional and good-quality features before purchasing one.

What’s A Scooter?

01. Wheels 

The most noticeable distinguishing aspect of a kick scooter is its wheel size.

The wheels of most kick scooters consist of a plastic core encased in a thread.

02. Bearings

Scooters have a 608 bearing, which has been used in skateboards and skate wheels for decades. Each scooter wheel has two bearings in the center of the wheel.

I suggest picking quality over the bearings rating. An ABEC 5 bearing will spin faster than an ABEC 7 bearing. Why?

03. Board length

When the deck is bigger, the wheelbase is longer. Longer wheelbases are better for long rides because they make it easier for the scooter to keep going straight. People sometimes call it the footboard.

04. Hand brakes

I suggest choosing a scooter with handbrakes. Scooters have been operating with the standard rear fender friction brake, but handbrakes are easier to use.

7 Key differences between skateboards vs scooters


You need to know their differences if you are very new to skateboards and scooters. A scooter is usually two-wheeled with handlebars and a deck, whereas a skateboard has no support, only a deck, and four trucks.

Here are some of the key differences between a skateboard and a scooter.

What are the key differences between skateboard VS scooter?

01. Easy riding

Scooters are easier to ride on because of the presence of handlebars. The handlebars help you keep your balance, unlike on a skateboard where you have to keep balance only with your legs.

In terms of ease of use, the scooter wins in the scooter vs skateboard question.

02. Convenience

For portability, a skateboard is preferable. When youngsters go to school with a skateboard or scooter, the skateboard is easier to maneuver and can be stored under your desk.

03. Learning curve

Learning the principles of how a scooter works is much simpler than learning how to skateboard. Learning to balance on a skateboard, kick push, and use the foot brake takes much more practice.

04. Safety

Scooters are often regarded as being safer than skateboards. Why? Because there is nothing to hang on to for support on a skateboard. So the risk of losing balance and falling is increased.

05. Style

Skateboarding tricks fascinate me far more than scooter stunts. A skateboard may be flipped and used for acrobatic maneuvers such as front-side turns, tic tac turns, and backside kick turns, among others.

06. Mastery

The scooter is much easier to master. Tricks like the bunnyhop don’t take long to learn. In addition, you don’t have to be as good at balancing as you are on a skateboard.

  • Rolling
  • Kick pushing
  • Stopping

I. Rolling

Rolling on a scooter is much easier because it is stable even at high speeds. The handlebars also contribute to stability.

Scooters have low gravity, unlike skateboards, which require higher gravity and are very shaky when they gain speed.

II. Kick pushing 

I find kick-pushing is easier on a scooter because you have the stability of the handlebars. For a skateboard, kick pushing requires balance as one-foot kick pushes the other one.

III. Stopping

I highly recommend the scooter when considering stopping as a factor. Scooters have hand brakes and handlebars, which, compared to how skateboards stop, really come in handy.

Even the scooters without hand brakes have back fender brakes, which brake the rear wheel when stepped on.

07. Exercising

Skateboard vs scooter; which is better for exercising? I would have to go with skateboards because of the balance it requires. There is no handlebar. This combination engages your core muscles intensely.

Is Skateboarding More Popular Than Scootering?

The skateboard dominates in terms of popularity; It is primarily famous because of the fantastic skateboarding tricks—many kids like skateboarding to entice and impress their peers and observers.

Why Do Skateboarders Not Like Scooters?

Skateboarders dislike scooters because they find scooting too easy compared to the complex techniques involved in skateboarding. The battle of the skateboard vs. scooter has been going on forever.

Why Are Scooters So Lame?

The scooter stunts are not as exciting as the skateboarding tricks. They are too easy to operate and do not attract much attention from spectators.

Is Riding A Scooter A Sport?

Scooting is growing more popular than skateboarding in this millennial era. Millennial teenagers are now performing tricks on scooters. I rarely see kids skateboarding these days. Most have switched to scooters, which has turned it into a sport.

Wrapping Up


To wrap up this argument about skateboards vs. scooters, they are both thrilling modes of transport and good sources of exercise. The skateboard is way cooler but requires lots of practice to perfect the techniques.

All in all, it is a matter of preference. For a safer route, I suggest the scooter. For convenience and a cooler image, the skateboard will do.

What Are The Important Factors While Purchasing the Best Longboard Bearings?

01. Size

8 mm bearings are commonly used. This size is perfect for the longboard bearing. You can choose the other sizes if they give you more comfort. But I will recommend you choose the 8mm bearing.

02. Type

You can get both the ball bearing and roller bearing around you. Most of the bearings are ball bearings. Ball bearings run faster and more smoothly than roller bearings. But ball bearings can not handle the load. In that case, the roller bearing performs well.

03. Durability

The bearing should be durable that can last a minimum of one year. You can increase its durability by cleaning regularly and running in dry places. Water and mud decrease their longevity quickly.

04. Performance

The performance of the bearings is the most important fact. If your longboard bearings are rough and run with less spin that will not satisfy you. Also, a smooth and fast bearing with noise will annoy you. So, check before buying if there is any defect in performance.

05. Precision

Precision is the exactness or correctness of the tolerance. The American manufacturers association uses ABEC to define precision. When the precision increases, the permissible range decreases. Precision is independent of bearing clearance. The higher the ABEC number, the tighter the bearing will be. Higher precision helps to move more smoothly and increase efficiency.

06. Lubrication Compatibility

Lubrication is a must before riding on your longboard. To convert your slow bearings into fast longboard bearings you have to clean them regularly and lubricate them. It will give a fast spinning movement.

07. ABEC rating

While buying bearings, you need to check whether it is ABEC-rated longboard bearings or not. ABEC rating stands for dimension. It only rates tolerances. Some ABEC classes are 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. ABEC rating 9 is tighter than ABEC rating 1. The more the ABEC rating, the more the precision will be.

08. Engraved seals

Engraved seals prevent entering dust and other material inside. It also holds the lubricant inside and prevents friction. Most of the brands use rubber material for easy cleaning and to prevent the entry of water inside. While buying, check all the seals properly.

09. Price

Price is a big factor when buying anything. If you get a bearing with better quality at less price, then that will attract you the most. People mainly buy this type of bearings the most. Also, you should not follow the misconception that more expensive things mean better. Most of the famous brands are budget-friendly and careful about quality.

10. Brand reputation

While buying high-quality longboard bearings, people follow reputed brands. If the reputation is good then people do not hesitate to buy from the brand.

11. Warranty/Guarantee

If the brand provides you with a warranty or guarantee, that will be a plus point for you. You can repair the bearings if any problem arises at no cost within the given time. Also, the refund policy is beneficial for the buyers. You can change the defective set or can return the set with a full refund.

FAQs About Longboard Bearings

These are some commonly asked questions by people about the best bearings for longboards.

Is it worth it to invest in more expensive longboard bearings?

No, it is not worth it to invest in more expensive longboard bearings. More expensive is not equal to best quality. You can get a high-quality bearing within a suitable budget.

How do I know if my longboard bearings need to be replaced?

If the bearings start producing noise and are rough to run after cleaning, then you need to replace your longboard bearings. Also, the bearing will not spin if it is worn out.

What is the difference between ceramic and steel bearings for longboards?

The difference between ceramic and steel bearings for Longboards is durability. Ceramic bearings are more durable, smooth, and corrosion-resistant. At the same time, steel bearings are easily damaged by corrosive substances and are less durable than ceramic ones.

Can I lubricate my longboard bearings myself, or do I need to take them to a professional?

You can lubricate your longboard bearings yourself. )r if you have no previous experience, then you need to take them to a professional. But choose the right lubricant for the bearings.

Can I mix and match different brands of bearings on my longboard?

You should not mix and match different brands of bearings on your longboard as they are different from each other in size, shape, durability, and performance. Mixing different brands is unable to balance your movement.

Can I use the same bearings for both my longboard and my skateboard?

Yes, you can use the same bearing for both your longboard and your skateboard. The only difference appears in the case of wheel size. Otherwise, there is no difference between the bearings. But you should be careful about the dimension of the spacer.

Conclusion

Now it will be easy for you to choose the best Bearings for Longboards. You can compare the bearings and choose according to your comfort. I will recommend you choose the bearings which are performing well and have good customer service. If you still can not choose a perfect one then you can select it by brand reputation.

Also, choosing the brands which are giving warranty is the safest to pick. You can get these ten best bearings within an affordable range. Do not choose the bearings which are rated below ABEC 3. Below 3 ABEC-rated bearings have less tolerance.

About the author

This is Kyle Spinks from Butte MT, USA. A skateboarding expert and lover since 2019. skateupdates.com is my blog where I share my skateboarding life experience daily or weekly. If you're a beginner skater, I'll advise you to follow my blog daily.

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