Cruising is a ton of fun and if you’re more into configuring your own cruiser you’ll need some trucks that can do the job. Not all trucks are suitable for cruising, sometimes it has to do with the stock bushings, and sometimes they just won’t turn no matter how soft the bushings are.
Cruising is very popular and for all ages, whether you’re just coming back from a long break or want to try cruising for the first time. The right trucks are important because they really impact how a board feels and behaves. You don’t want something that just won’t turn!
In order to pick the right trucks for cruising you need to make sure they turn well, are wide enough, and snap back into position quickly. Let’s go through a couple of truck brands that offer a great cruising experience. Some of these trucks are designed for cruising and some are great for cruising and tricks.
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1. Paris Trucks Co
Paris trucks co offers a few trucks for both street, downhill, and cruising. The Paris street trucks come with a traditional kingpin and the Paris v2 and V3 (see image above) come with reversed kingpins which allow you to make sharper turns. Go with the street trucks if you want to cruise and do tricks, go with the V2/V3’s if you want the ultimate cruising experience.
Since the V3’s are the V2’s successor they are probably the best choice. Paris improved the casting process, redesigned the bushings, and upgraded the pivot cups. In general, this is what V3 offers.
- Very carvy trucks
- They almost feel like you’re surfing on a skateboard
- Great for freestyle
Paris Street trucks are quite sturdy and offer enough meat to get gnarly. Arbor for example offers many cruisers that include Paris street trucks, it’s a Jack of all trades, master of none type of truck. Go with Paris Streets if you want to cruise and do tricks, get the V3’s if you want the best cruising experience.
| Deck Width | Axle Width | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 7.4″ – 7.8″ | 7.6″ | 129 Street |
| 8.3″ – 8.7″ | 8.5″ | 149 Street |
| 8.7″ – 9.3″ | 9.0″ | 169 Street |
| 8.5″ – 8.8″ | 8.75″ | 150 V2, 150 V3 |
| 9.0″ – 9.5″ | 9.0″ | 165 V2, 165 V3 |
| 9.6″ – 10″ | 9.75″ | 180 V2, 180V3 |
2. Independent Trucks
Even though Independent trucks are more for street skating and transition skateboarding, they also are suitable for cruising. If you want a popsicle setup with some cruiser trucks that can take a beating, these are your guys.
Independent trucks are very carvy, probably the reason why you see them often in bowls and mini ramps, but many street skaters also prefer them. I never had issues with the stock bushings but it requires some time to break them in.
Indy offers the standard truck, Hollow, Forged Hollow, and Forged Titanium. The standard trucks are the heaviest and the titaniums the lightest. Not that it really matters that much for cruising, it’s up to you what you prefer.
If you want skateboard trucks that last a lifetime, are great at turning, and can take a beating from gnarly tricks, Independent is truly the best choice.
- Best all-around truck, cruising, trucks, parks, bowls. Indys can do it!
- Very strong, about the most durable you can get
| Deck Width | Axle width | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 7.4″ – 7.8″ | 7.6″ | 129 |
| 7.8″ – 8.2″ | 8.0″ | 139 |
| 8.1″ – 8.5″ | 8.25″ | 144 |
| 8.25″ – 8.65″ | 8.5″ | 149 |
| 8.6″ – 9.0″ | 8.75″ | 159 |
| 9.2″ – 9.75″ | 9.125″ | 169 |
| 9.75″ – 10.5″ | 10″ | 215 |
3. Venture Trucks
Venture trucks are very stable and very loose and breaking in the bushings doesn’t take very long. Not only are they great for cruising and tricks, but they also are great for riding parks, bowls, and mini ramp.
Quite a versatile truck but make sure you get the Venture Hi trucks. Venture Lo trucks are for street skating and sit quite close to the ground. This will make turning a bit more complicated and you’ll suffer from wheel bite. You can add riser pads but that would sort of defeats the purpose.
Venture trucks can handle abuse and considering they also are great for parks skating they are one of the top choices for cruising and tricks. If you want a wide cruiser setup (9″+) you’re out of luck. Venture offers trucks for decks between 7.5″ and 8.75″, 8.75″ still fits a 9.0″ deck but I wouldn’t go beyond that.
- Stable but loose trucks
- Suitable for cruising and tricks
| Deck Width | Axle Width | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 7.5″ – 7.8″ | 7.62″ | 5.0 High |
| 8.0″ -8.1″ | 8.0″ | 5.2 High |
| 8.1″ – 8.3″ | 8.25″ | 5.6 High |
| 8.4″ – 8.6″ | 8.5″ | 5.8 |
| 8.62″ – 8.9″ | 8.75″ | 6.1 |
4. Gullwings Chargers
Gullwings is an ancient brand and made a come back recently. Skaters from the ’80s and ’90s probably remember them because Gullwings were one of the top truck brands. Gullwing is owned by Sector 9 nowadays and are great for carving.
Just like Venture, Gullwings are great for carving bowls because of their turny nature but less suitable for technical street skating. Gullwings are great for carving and a good choice if you like to ride wider decks.
Gullwing is one of the few that offer baseplates with 6 or 8 (Gullwing Reverse) holes so you can adjust your wheelbase. Another cool feature the Pro III offers is a groove which helps you to lock in grinds on copings. Not everyone will appreciate the groove that helps you lock-in, beginners will benefit but experienced riders won’t like it.
Gullwings are also great for heavier riders because of the beefy hangars, lots of meat there to support the axle. If you’re looking for something that fits a freeride/cruising style, Gullwings are an excellent choice.
Gullwings offer a bunch of different types of trucks; The Chargers and Reverse are great for freeride, the Sidewinder II for longboarding, and the Gullwing Pro III makes an excellent bowl/mini ramp/cruising truck.
- Great trucks for carving
- Fit wider decks
- Allows for wheelbase adjustment
5. Ace Trucks
Ace trucks are built for carving and one of the loosest trucks you can get. It doesn’t take long to break them in but make sure you get the Classics, the lows aren’t suitable for cruising. They have a similar geometry as independent allowing for smooth carving at higher speeds.
Ace truck riders absolutely LOVE these trucks but if you’re used to riding Indys, it might take a while before you get used to them. Even though they have similar geometry, the ride totally different.
Ace trucks are also great for riding bowls because of their carvy nature, great for both cruising and transition skateboarding!
- About the loosest trucks available
- Can also be used for park skating
| Deck Width | Axle Width | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 7.12″ – 7.75″ | 7.6 “ | 22/02 |
| 7.75″ – 8.12″ | 8.0 “ | 33/03 |
| 8.12″ -8.50″ | 8.35 “ | 44 |
| 8.5″ – 9.12″ | 9.0 “ | 55 |
| 9.12 – 9.62 | 9.35 “ | 66 |
Cruising Trucks Buyers Guide
Selecting skateboard trucks isn’t that hard if you know what you want from your board. Perhaps you want to do a bunch of tricks and still have a smooth ride. Maybe you just want to cruise around and need something more stable.
Before you buy new trucks make sure they match the with of your deck. If you haven’t bought a deck yet make sure to check the truck size tables in this post! Also, remember that you most decks are suitable for cruising. It’s up to you if you want a deck with a nose/kicktail, just a kicktail, or something completely shapeless.
Width Selection
Dedicated cruiser trucks go from 150mm to 180mm, standard skateboard trucks offer more flexibility. If you want to cruise and do tricks, 8.25 or 8.5 is a good deck size. If you just want to cruise and carve go for a deck between 8.5″ and 10″ and make sure you pick matching trucks. Don’t worry too much about your shoe size, taller people should consider a bit of a wider setup (at least trucks that fit an 8.25″ deck).
Standard or Reverse Kingpin?
Reverse kingpins give a different cruising experience compared to standard skateboard trucks. They are way better at carving but not great for technical street tricks. I also wouldn’t grind them because they weren’t built for that.
Pros:
- Great at turning
- Can handle downhill fairly well (depending on the quality)
Cons:
- Not meant for hardcore street skating, parks, or transition
Standard trucks can be used both for cruising and tricks but don’t carve like reverse kingpin trucks. This doesn’t mean they are bad for cruising, most complete cruisers come with standard trucks and offer a great cruising experience.
Bushings
Usually, the stock bushings are fine but if you’re a bit heavier or extremely lightweight, you might want to consider different bushings. In all fairness bushings take some time to work properly so ride for an hour or two before you decide to replace them.
Tighten or loosen the kingpin nuts once the bushings are broken in, ride them again, and see if it makes a difference. Upgrading bushings can help you to turn smoother, especially when you ride standard trucks. Reverse kingpin trucks already turn great right out of the box.
I’m an aged skateboarder and still shred responsibly. Started skateboarding 25 years ago, peaked in the 2000’s, and still ride to this day. I am a total geek when it comes to skateboard gear, love test to stuff and share my findings.