Time for another no-nonsense post about quality material, in this case, great skateboard trucks for street skating. Now before I begin I would like to point out that skateboarding is all about personal preference, some love Indy trucks, others say Thunders are the best, etc.
It doesn’t really matter. Some trucks are (in theory) better suited for certain styles than others, but even then it really depends on what you like. I picked 7 top skateboard truck brands and will explain why and what they are good at.
At the end of this post, I’ll explain how you pick the right size, bushings, and other truck-related stuff.
Top Street Skateboard Trucks
There are many different skateboard truck brands, but what is the best truck for street skateboarding? There is no real answer, unfortunately.
The most important thing about selecting trucks for street skateboarding, is that they match the size of your deck and can deal with impacts. Other than that, they will all ollie, slide, grind, turn, and flip just fine for you.
Often more expensive trucks like Indy or Thunder last a lot longer compared to cheaper trucks. The only exception here in our experience is the tensor Mag Lite which kingpin snapped after less than a year.
Budget trucks like Krux are worth considering and so are some of the basic Tensor trucks.
Note that this post contains affiliate links which might earn me a small commission at no additional cost to yo
1. Independent Truck Co.
You can’t go wrong with Independent Trucks. Indy’s are one of the standards and definitely a high-quality truck for street skating. They are beefier looking than the competition, and are known to be long-lasting, and able to take the punishment that street skating puts on trucks.
They are available in a low and a high version. They make for a slightly narrower wheelbase which is nice for manuals and balancing grinds. The 55mm Standard height of an Indy lets you use a slightly larger wheel which is nice if you are skating some rougher street spots and want more speed.
Indy’s are known to be quite heavy and you can tell just by looking at how chunky they are. A lot of people like this extra bit of heft that comes with Indy’s. However, if you want to skate Indy’s but want a lighter option, Independent Truck Co. has you covered.
In addition to the heavy Standards, they also have Indy Hollows, and Forged Titanium options available in pretty much every size. It shouldn’t be hard for you to find the Indy truck that suit you.Visit the Independent Store on Amazon.
Reasons to buy:
- Independent are the most durable skateboard trucks.
- great for transition skateboarding and street.
- Easy to replace parts.
- One of the best stock bushings.
Reasons to Avoid:
- The standard Indy’s are heavy which adds to the overall weight, especially on a wider setup.
- They are more expensive (though they last longer).
2. Thunder Trucks
Thunder Trucks are regarded as the most stable and responsive trucks available, and this is what you need when you are street skating. You need a truck with quick responsive turning, to pinch easily on grinds, and to give a stable landing. Thunder Trucks offer exactly this.
Thunders have a larger wheelbase than Indy’s, which may or may not be for you. They definitely feel different than Indy’s or any other brand. Thunders are also quite low in height, at 50mm standard.
This is nice if you have steep kicks on your board, but not so nice if you are prone to wheel bite and want to ride a wheel above 53mm. But they offer the Team Hollow edition that has a 1mm taller baseplate than the rest, if you want a little extra room.
Thunders can be considered a middle-weight truck. The Standards are lighter than Indy’s, but they offer several models that are lighter still (from heaviest to lightest): Team Editions, Lights, Team Hollow, Hollow Lights, Titanium Lights. We recommend the Thunder Hollow Lights 2 (link to Amazon)
Reasons to buy:
- Like Indy’s they are durable skateboard trucks.
- Great for both transition and technical street skateboarding.
- Slightly more pop due to the different geometry.
- Great stock bushings.
Reasons to Avoid:
- Expensive trucks but durable.
- Less suitable for beginners.
3. Grind King Trucks
You may or may not know about GrindKing Trucks. Back in the 90’s they were constantly innovating ways to make skateboard trucks better. GrindKing invented the inverted kingpin, which gives the highest kingpin clearance and prevents hang up on grinds, especially Smith, and Feeble grinds.
Almost every year Grind King came out with a new and more innovative skateboard truck. Then they just disappeared. Well, 2019, Grind King came back with the Disruptor.
The GK Disruptor is the most innovative skateboard truck to date. It has a washerless truck system, and has the lowest kingpin height for the smoothest grinds ever possible. The bushings have an integrated aluminum sleeve and washer. The “Anti Focus” baseplate is hollow, and rounded, not squared, the lessen the chance of your board breaking.
On top of that, the design of the truck is one of the gnarliest you’ll encounter. They just look really solid and aggressive! They recently came out with the GK Sparks which make a typical grind look spectacular by creating bright sparks.
It has the same dimensions, bushings, and Inverted Kingpin as the Disruptor, except there are six Spark Plug inserts on top of the hanger and one in the baseplate for getting sparks when you do nose and tail slides. This will probably look really cool when grinding a concrete ledge at night. Check Amazon for availability.
Reasons to buy:
- Awesome design, great looking truck.
- Strong and very grindable.
- less likely to get stuck while doing coping tricks because of the inverted kingpin.
Reasons to Avoid:
- A very turny truck, not for those who like tight trucks. Adjusting the tightness doesn’t do much.
- The stock bushings are very soft.
4. Venture Truck Co.
Ventures are designed to provide a light-weight, responsive, high-quality truck for street skating. They are a proven name in the skateboard industry. If Stevie Williams and P-Rod endorse them, they must be good.
Ventures are generally a pretty light-weight truck, but they still have a pretty beefy hanger, that is sure to last against they punishment you inflict when shredding the streets. Venture offers trucks in 3 heights: Low, Mid, and High.
They also offer different weight classes: Team, V-Lights (have a hollow Kingpin and forged Baseplate), V-Hollow (have hollow axle and kingpin, and V-Titanium (titanium body and axel with hollow kingpin).
Ventures offer a lot of color and selection. You should be able to find the perfect Venture truck for you. The only downside is that it’s one of the few brands that makes it hard to attach the truck if you only have a skate tool. We recommend the 8.25″ which are available on Amazon, click here for prices.
Reasons to buy:
- The most stable truck, great for beginners, decent stock bushings.
- Very durable, on par with Thunder and Independent trucks.
- Venture offer different heights, unlike many other brands.
Reasons to Avoid:
- The lows offer less pop, go for medium or high if you want more pop.
- Hard to attach because the hangar gets in the way.
5. Krux
Krux have a reputation of begin non-responsive, they used to come with super hard bushings and the geometry just didn’t allow for a very smooth turning experience. This changed with the introduction of the k5’s.
The Krux K5 was released in 2021, which promised an updated baseplate and hanger to improve overall response. Krux deliver one of the “Smoothest Grinds” paired with distinctive colorways. In comparison to the competition, you’ll receive a quality truck at a good price.
Although they’re not a perfect truck, few will mock their child-like designs and odd turning capabilities.
These trucks take a few sessions of skating to break in. A couple of hacks to increase turning, include waxing the nub of the truck that attaches to the pivot cup. Another alternative would be to swap bushings. Depending how loose/tight you like your ride, Bones or ACE bushings are fantastic upgrades.
The Krux Chameleon are one of the best colors released, they give off a midnight blue reflection. I suggest trying out the standard chrome for starters. You cannot go wrong with the original slick shine which begs to grind fresh marble or metal coping.
I highly recommend Krux to beginners, and anyone looking to transition to another brand. The new upgrade in geometry has made this a near perfect truck.
Reasons to Buy:
- Improved turning response, previous K4’s had delayed response time.
- Lightweight, with plenty of meat to grind even the most harsh curbs.
- Afforadable, great for beginners.
Reasons to Avoid:
- Stock bushings are soft/medium, and can take time to break in. For seasoned skaters, there are ways around this.
6. Tensor Trucks
Tensor shouldn’t be left out of this list though some think they are a bit expensive, it really depends on which truck you pick. Tensor was founded by Rodney Mullen and likes to push technology forwards, just like grind king.
They offer the lightest skateboard trucks you can possibly get (Tensor Mag Light Lo) though it won’t really make you ollie any higher.
Tensor was one of the first that used magnesium in their trucks to make them lighter but found a great mixture that won’t make them weak or lose structural integrity. If you are looking for a lighter setup, Tensor might might be a good choice.
We did experience a kingpin snapping in half which is a bit strange these days, it was also impossible to replace the kingpin. Even with brute fore we we’re unable to remove the kingpin. Maybe it was a fluke.
To be on the safe side you could consider the Tensor Alloy trucks, they are very affordable and can handle medium impacts (high-impact skateboarding is not recommended) check for prices on Amazon.
Reasons to buy:
- The standard Tensor Alloy trucks are affordable.
- Great option for beginners who are just about to ollie their first stairs.
Reasons to Avoid:
- Less responsive compared to the premium trucks.
- Not for high impact skateboarding.
Street Skateboard Truck Buyers Guide
Your trucks should match the width of your skateboard but a small deviation isn’t a problemYou want your axles to come close to the the edge or just past the edges of your skateboard deck.
Having proper fitting trucks just makes a skateboard more predictable. If your trucks are a lot narrower than your deck, you won’t be able to see your wheels which is also reffered to as ‘carpet riding‘.
Recommended Skateboard Truck Size
Generally, street skateboards decks are between 7.75” and 8.25”, so you want your trucks to match. Deck size is, of course, personal preference. If you are a smaller, younger rider you could get a smaller deck, and if you are a bigger/taller rider, you could get a wider deck.
From my personal experience flicking a 8.5″ setup just requires a lot more effort. I have an easier time flipping a 8.25″ setup though an 8.0″ spins too fast for my taste. But that’s me, things could be different for you but an 8.25″ is usually a safe choice.
How to Measure Trucks
Truck manufacturers use inconsistent measurements for truck widths. Some measure in Inches, others in mm. Some measure the hanger width, others measure the axle. Some companies measure the hanger and come up with different numbers. It’s all a bit confusing and difficult to decipher.
Let’s look at a few popular brands for an 8” board width:
| Deck width (Inches) | < 7.5″ | 7.5″ – 7.99″ | 8.0″ – 8.49″ | 8.5″ – 8.99″ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | 109 | 129 | 139, 144 | 149, 159 |
| Thunder | 143 | 145 | 147, 148 | 149, 151 |
| Tensor | – | 5.0 | 5.35, 5.5 | 5.75 |
| Venture | – | 5.0 | 5.2 | 5.8 |
All these trucks are the same size, and fit an 8” deck, but each company sizes them differently.
Your best bet, is to do some research into what size truck works for what size of deck. Every Truck brand has a sizing chart on their website. Or take your deck to a skate shop, and measure the truck on the deck.
What About Height?
Skateboard truck height comes down to personal preference, but as a general rule, Low or Mid Truck Height is preferable for street skating. It will also depend on your deck shape, and wheel size.
- Low Trucks – 46-50mm tall
- Mid Trucks – 50-56mm tall
- High Trucks – 55-60mm tall
Usually, a street skating setup will have smaller wheels (49mm-53mm) and a fairly steep concave to the deck, so low or Mid trucks should work fine. Big wheels and low trucks on a mellow concave deck is a recipe for wheelbite could cause wheel bite.
High trucks with small wheels on a steep concave deck will feel less stable and require you to kick harder to pop a deck, it does increase pop though.
Just like truck widths, skateboard truck manufacturers all have different ideas about what Low, Mid, and High mean. Venture and Independent Lows are 48mm, but Tensor Lows are 46mm.
The standard Thunder trucks could be considered Mid at 50mm, but that is definitely on the low end of the Mid Scale. The standard height for Independent Trucks is 55mm. Which is considered a high truck.
Does Skateboard Truck Geometry Matter?
Of course it does! Different truck manufacturers make trucks with different geometry and dimensions. The truck dimensions you like depends on your personal preference, but here are a few things to consider when purchasing trucks for Street Skateboarding:
Wheelbase
Is the hangar more vertical/perpendicular to the baseplate, or does it have a bit of an angle one way or the other? This will affect the wheelbase of your setup. If the truck is basically at 90 degrees to the baseplate, it will make a wider wheelbase, than a truck that is angled in slightly toward the center of the board.
What does that mean? Wider wheelbase means more responsive turning, but not as sharp of a turn, as a short wheelbase. It may also be harder to balance manuals with a wide wheelbase, but it can feel more stable for landing. Thunder Trucks make for a wide wheelbase, while Independent and Royal Trucks make for a narrower wheelbase.
You might want to select the appropriate wheelbase depending on the type of street skating you do. If you are tackling more ledges and manual pads, maybe a shorter wheelbase will work best for you, but if you are looking for stability for jumping gaps or to get the pinch when grinding rails, a wider wheelbase may suit your style better.
Skateboard Truck Baseplate Length
What could this possibly have to do with anything? Well, the amount that the baseplate sticks out from the hangar, and your wheels will directly affect how your slides feel. If the baseplate sticks out past your wheels, it will be in direct contact with the ledge or rail when you nose or tailslide.
If it doesn’t, then your wheels will be on the obstacle during slides. This changes the way that slides feel, and how fast they are. If your wheels are dragging on the ledge, your slide will obviously be a bit slower, and shorter.
This is where you pull out the wax and season the obstacle to your liking. (Make sure to get approval from the other skaters. Nobody likes to slip out on a ledge they didn’t know was waxed to death.)
Hanger Shape
The shape of the hanger can tell you a fair bit about trucks, durability, break-in time, and how they will grind. Trucks with a chunkier, beefier hanger, and more metal to it are likely to last longer. It will take a bit longer to break in for a comfortable grind.
Think Independent Trucks. They have probably the beefiest hanger on the market. They are heavier but have been known to outlast their competitors. Thunders have a fairly slim profile to their hanger and are known to break in faster resulting in a nicer right out of the box. They just don’t last quite as long as Indy’s.
The Final Verdict
I would have to say that the best skateboard trucks for street are Thunder Trucks and Independent. They have a low profile design, are very responsive and stable, and have a very smooth and satisfying grind feel.
Usually there is no need to replace the stock bushings, and break in rather quickly. If you get one of the lighter versions (they feel less fatiguing than heavier trucks.
You cannot go wrong with Indy’s, especially if you want to skate transition and bowls. Indy’s are excellent in the streets, and excellent in the parks. They turn sharp and offer excellent balance for manuals and grinds.
Independent trucks are good all-round trucks though the standard Indy trucks are a bit too heavy for my taste. you definitely want to skip those.
All the trucks listed in this article will be excellent for street skating, and if you don’t like my recommendations, then I suggest you try one of the other options.
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.