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:
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.
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.
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.