The terminology ‘complete skateboard’ is used to describe a skateboard that has all the components such as the deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, and grip tape already assembled before you purchase it. Most come fully-assembled from the factory however, some skate shops will build their own complete skateboards in their shop.

Buying a skateboard for the first time is an exciting task and most beginners will opt for a complete skateboard which is the right choice. But how do you know if you’re buying the best complete skateboard?

It’s a known fact in the skateboarding industry that some of the parts such as the trucks, bearings, and wheels that are usually installed on a complete skateboard are not of the highest-quality. You’re probably thinking I’m a beginner so this is not a big concern for me, or it’s for my kid so it will be fine. It’s actually a big concern as having a cheap skateboard with cheap parts can hinder the progress of the rider. This is because either the trucks won’t turn properly or the bearings barely allow the wheels to spin. These low-quality parts can actually break when riding and might contribute to falling and resulting in an unwanted injury.

The good news is there are actually some great complete skateboards on the market which have high-quality parts and they also won’t break the bank. We are going to give you a rundown on the complete skateboards that are actually worth buying and help you to understand what makes them better then others.

What To Look For When Buying A Complete Skateboard

One of the first things you want to look at when buying a complete is the trucks. If the trucks are blank and don’t have any type of logo or brand name stamped into them then this usually means they are likely mass-produced from low-grade steel and don’t meet any type of skateboarding truck standards.

The second is the wheels. Much like the trucks if the wheels are blank with no branding, are hard and overly shiny, this usually means they are made from a low-grade urethane. Low-quality wheels can wear out quickly, be to hard, and also start to break apart from only a small amount of use.

Bearings are extremely important and most complete skateboards have very poor-quality ones that do not perform at all. If you spin the wheels on the skateboard and they only do a few revolutions or barely any then this is a sign of low-quality bearings. The wheels should be able to spin freely for at least five to ten seconds if not more before stopping.

As for the skateboard deck, most of the bigger skateboarding brands offer quality seven-ply maple decks which is the industry standard. Some may differ slightly in quality but not a lot.

Now you know what to look for in a complete skateboard, let’s take a look at some of the best complete skateboards on the market that we highly recommend for any beginner.

Best Complete Skateboards For Beginners

4. Powell Peralta (Vallely Elephant) Complete

Powell Peralta have been producing skateboards since 1978 and are well respected in the skateboarding industry. This complete skateboard in particular comes with quality parts and is one of the best on the market in our opinion.

Why is this complete skateboard good?

This skateboard deck is made from hard Yellow Birch and is fused together with water-resistant glue in Powell-Peralta’s AirLam presses so you can be assured you are getting a great deck.

The trucks that come on this complete skateboard are made by a company called Mini-Logo who are actually owned by Powell, so in a sense they are the same company. Mini-Logo have been producing quality price-point skateboarding products since 1996. We have personally skated their products before and never had any problems with them. These trucks are solid and perfect for a beginner delving into skateboarding. The wheels and bearings are both also made by Mini-Logo and are solid components.

We would recommend this particular Powell-Peralta complete skateboard to anyone looking for their first skateboard.

3. CCS Complete Skateboard

CCS have been doing business for over thirty-years and is a popular store for skaters to buy their skateboarding gear from at both their online and physical skate shop located in Portland, Oregon.

Why is this complete skateboard good?

The CCS complete skateboard is made from seven-ply Canadian Maple which is strong and sturdy.

All the components are from the in-house CCS brand. The trucks are reliable, lightweight, have a non-slip kingpin, strong steel baseplate, and quality bushings for smooth controlled turns. As for the wheels they are more then satisfactory and come in size 52mm which is perfect for someone learning tricks as they are not to big or bulky. It also comes with CCS Blue Steal bearings that are pre-lubricated and ready to roll.

We highly recommend the CCS complete skateboard for beginners wanting to get into street skating.

2. Tactics Team Complete Skateboard

BEST VALUE

Tactics was established in 1999 selling skateboards and snowboards online. They opened their first shop in Eugene, Oregon, around 2005 and now have stores in Bend and Portland too. They are a highly respected company and produce high-quality skate goods.

Why is this complete skateboard good?

First of all the Tactics complete skateboard is seven-ply FSC Certified Hard Rock Sugar Maple. FSC Certified means it is sustainably sourced from a certified supplier in the U.S.A. Not only is it American sourced wood but it’s also tough as nails and comes in a variety of colors and different graphics. All Tactics complete skateboards also come with Tactics signature logo grip tape.

The trucks are made by Tensor which is a company owned by legendary skateboarder Rodney Mullen. These trucks are one of their basic models but they are strong, lightweight, have a lowered kingpin for extra grind clearance, and a higher axle which helps with the wheels not biting on the bottom of the deck when you turn.

The wheels are in-house Tactics 52mm which are great beginner wheels and they are paired with Andale Blues bearings. Andale make great bearings and the company is owned by two professional skateboarders Joey Brezinski and Paul Rodriguez.

In our opinion this set-up from Tactics takes the cake for best complete skateboard for the best price.

1. Arbor (Whiskey Upcycle) Complete Skateboard

HIGHEST QUALITY

Arbor have been in the industry for almost twenty-five years and are known for making high-quality skateboarding products.

Why is this complete skateboard good?

Made from seven-ply sustainable Canadian Maple the Arbor complete is one fine skateboard deck.

The trucks that come with it are from one of the best truck companies in the world Ace Trucks. These trucks have been tried and tested and are the choice of truck for thousands of skateboarders around the world. Made using industry standard 7071 alloy and 3056 steel axles, you can trust they will hold up to anything you put them through.

As for the wheels they are Arbor’s Revert 54mm model. They are a softer street wheel that help with control and grip, and can manage speed on rougher surfaces. They are paired with Arbor hardened steel bearings that will prove plenty of speed.

This complete skateboard is in our minds is the best quality on this list but it is a little more expensive then the others.

Not Sure What Size Skateboard To Buy?

If you want detailed information on what size skateboard to buy you can read this helpful article.

Here Is A Basic Guide To Skateboard Size

• Kids under 12, 7.5 to 8.0 inch wide skateboard deck
• Teens, 8.0 to 8.25 inch wide skateboard deck
• Everyone else, 8.25 to 8.75 inch wide skateboard deck

Best Complete Skateboards For Beginners Conclusion

All the complete skateboards in this list are great for beginners and include quality parts. When it comes to skateboarding equipment even for beginners it pays to buy quality products that will last. We hope this helps you with making a skateboard purchase and you can get out there and start learning some rad tricks. Stay safe and have fun!

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