Best Wood For A Skateboard Deck In 2023 (Ultimate Guide)

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There are many different types of wood used in the manufacture of a skateboard deck and each type has its own unique characteristics.

The best wood for a skateboard deck is American maple wood, also known as sugar maple. This wood is lightweight, strong, and durable, which makes it ideal for skaters who want a board that will last long.

A good quality piece of wood can be found in both the hardwood and softwood categories, but it is important to know what you are looking for when choosing the right piece for your needs. Let’s get started

What Is The Best Wood For Skateboard Deck

In search of the answer, I found the following best wood for skateboards:

If you’re looking for skateboard deck, you can check out this best skateboard deck brands article for more details on the best ones.

Best Wood For Skateboard

1. Canadian Maple

Canadian Maple is a very popular choice for a skateboard deck amongst many brands. It is soft, lightweight, flexible, and has a high strength-to-weight ratio which makes it relatively easy to work with and will not break or crack if bent or stretched.

Many professional boards are made from Canadian Maple including Element, Plan B, Blind Skateboards, and many more.

With a maple skateboard deck, you get that nice mix of hardness and flex, and this flexibility makes it excellent for skaters to learn and master the various tricks and techniques involved in skateboarding. 

Most skateboard decks are made from 6-8 layers of maple wood, which are laminated together and then glued.

The maple wood skateboard deck is the strongest skateboard deck that lasts you longer, so you don’t have to replace them frequently. 

You can learn to do tricks more easily on maple skateboards than on other types of skateboards.

2. Bamboo

Bamboo wood for skateboard decks is very popular now. Unlike other woods, bamboo has the feature of being strong, and flexible.

Bamboo boards are typically lighter than maple boards, so they could be an alternative for beginners.  

Bamboo boards come in a variety of lengths, widths, and colors. Bamboo boards are usually 5-ply to 9-ply. Because of the flex of bamboo boards, they can easily withstand any kind of bumps and rough ground easily.

Bamboo boards are durable, flexible, and eco-friendly. They are soft, and smooth, and give you a comfortable ride.

Because of their durability, you do not have to continuously replace them, which will save you more money. Bamboo boards are also cheaper than maple wood boards.

Bamboo boards are 100% recyclable. Their strength and durability mean they can easily be recycled into more bamboo boards, which cuts down on waste.

3. Birchwood

Birchwood for skateboard decks is well-known to be affordable. Birchwood is one of the most commonly used woods by skateboard companies. 

Skateboarders prefer birchwood because of its lower cost. It is indeed a great choice for those who want to take up skating as a hobby, as well as those who want to spice up the way they usually do things. 

If you are just an average rider, I think birchwood is for you.

Skateboards are usually made of birch wood ranging from 9-ply to 12-ply. Compared to maple wood, they are not as strong. So with a lot more ply, it is made in a strong way like maple wood. 

A nice thing about birch wood is that its flexibility is slightly higher than the skateboard made of bamboo. Also birch wood tends to be much more affordable than maple wood.

On the other hand

The negative thing about birch wood is that it is not as strong as maple. It can’t support heavier riders or people who are into doing very technical tricks or flips on their skateboards. 

4. Plywood

Plywood is a bunch of thin pieces of wood glued together to make a deck. It is strong and cheap.

The plywood used to make skateboard decks comes in a number of varieties, multiple grades, types, and thicknesses, each with its own aspects and properties. 

Whether you go with maple, birch, or bamboo, all skateboard decks need plywood.

Russian birch, also called baltic birch, is one of the best plywood you can buy. 

Most skateboarders and top skate brands usually prefer 1/8″ Russian birch plywood, because it is the strongest and extremely durable.

Plywood is a type of sheet material made of many thin layers of wood veneer that are glued together. 

The veneers are stacked and glued to form a single sheet of board. Three sheets make a great deck, but four or five are often used.

Best Wood For Longboards and Cruiser Boards

Bamboo is considered one of the best wood for longboards because it’s strong, durable, and relatively inexpensive compared with maple wood.

Bamboo has an almost similar density level as maple, making it easy to carve into shapes like a longboard deck. However, it also has a lot of flexibility, so it can be bent into different shapes easily.

Longboards are longer and wider than skateboards, which means they require more flexible and durable wood. Bamboo is ideal for this purpose. It’s a renewable resource that grows quickly and can be harvested without destroying the environment.

Bamboo longboards are also good for smooth riding because of their flexibility and easily absorb cracks on the road. Riders can lean easily and make shaper turns easily on bamboo longboards.

Bamboo vs Maple vs Birch (Which one is the Best material for Skateboard Deck)

Generally, there all woods are popular materials used to make skateboards deck. They have their own unique characteristics and benefits.

1. Maple Wood (Best Skateboard Wood)

Maple wood is known for its durability and strength and is mostly used for making skateboard decks. It is also relatively lightweight. Maple wood decks also tend to be stiff, which can provide a more stable ride.

2. Bamboo Wood

Bamboo is a more eco-friendly option, as it is a renewable resource and grows quickly. Bamboo decks are also known for their flex, which can provide a more responsive ride. They are also lighter than maple wood, which makes them easy to maneuver.

3. Birch Wood

Birchwood is also a popular choice for skateboard decks. It is also known for its strength and durability, similar to maple. However, it is generally considered to be less dense and heavier than maple. Birch decks can also provide a more stable and consistent ride, due to their stiffness and strength.

What is the Strongest Wood for a Skateboard?

Canadian maple wood is the strongest and most durable wood for making skateboards. It has been used by top skateboard manufacturers around the world for decades due to its superior strength and stability.

Maple is a hardwood, meaning it is denser than other types of wood, giving it more support and less flexibility when used in construction. This makes it the ideal choice for skateboard decks that need to withstand heavy use over time.

What Should I Look For When Choosing A Skateboard Deck?

Whether it’s your first skateboard, an upgrade, or replacing a broken deck, it’s important to choose something that’s right for you. Choosing the wrong board will unnecessarily compromise your performance.

Here are five things to keep in mind when shopping for a skateboard:

1. Shape Of The Deck

When choosing a skateboard deck, the first thing you should look for is the shape. The most common shapes are concave and flat. Concave decks are the most popular choice for performing technical tricks and street skating because they provide a good foot grip and a stable ride.  

If you want to just cruise around town then flat decks are good for cruising. Flat deck boards are good for beginners because they are easy to balance.

2. Width Of The Deck

The width of the deck, measured in inches, the most standard skateboard deck width deck is usually between 7 to 9 inches wide.

Here you can choose according to your needs,

  • 7″-7.5″ inches – Ideal for kids.
  • 7.5″-8″ inches – Ideal for teens and adults.
  • 8″-8.5″ inches – This is a common size, good for skate parks, rails, pools, etc.
  • 8.5″ or above – Ideal for transition, street tricks, or cruising.

In general, the wider a skateboard deck is, the more stable it will be, so don’t be afraid to go a little wide if you want to have more confidence while skating.

3. Length Of The Deck

The length of a skateboard deck refers to how tall the board is, Usually between 28 and 33 inches (70-80 cm) long.

The length of the deck depends on your height and skating style. For street skating, you will need a shorter deck that is easier to maneuver and for vert skating or cruising, you will need a longer deck for stability.

4. Material Used

You’ll find skateboard decks made from a variety of materials, including Canadian maple, plastic, bamboo, wood, and carbon fiber. Plastic skateboards are the cheapest, but also the least durable. 

Bamboo and maple wood decks are more durable but are also more expensive. 

But if you are a beginner rider, bamboo, and birch wooden skateboard is best for you because it is less expensive as compared to maple wood skateboard.

Also bamboo and birch wood are slightly more flexible and lighter than maple wood, which makes you perform tricks easily. 

5. Understanding The Concave Of The Board

When it comes to skateboarding, one of the most important aspects of the board is concave. The concave of a skateboard deck is one of the first things any beginner learns. It is, after all, one of the most important parts of the board.

The concave is what gives the board its shape and helps the rider perform tricks.

There are three different types of concaves: low, medium, and high.

  • Low concaves are great for beginners because they provide more stability.
  • Medium concaves are perfect for intermediate riders who want to start doing more tricks.
  • High concaves are ideal for advanced riders who want to perform big air tricks.

No matter what level skater you are, it’s important to choose a board with the right concave for you. By understanding the different types of concaves, you’ll be able to find the perfect skateboard deck for your riding style.

Wrap Up On Best Wood For A Skateboard Deck

Well, we hope this article about the best wood for a skateboard deck has helped you to choose the best one for you. 

There are so many choices out there that finding the perfect one can be hard. But with our help, it becomes easy. Just remember what we discussed in the article and you’re sure to find a great one. 

Thanks for reading.

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Frequently Asked Questions on Best Wood For Skateboards

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the skateboard deck:

Q1. Which skateboard decks are more durable?

Ans. Maple wood skateboard decks are tried and true and generally considered the most durable boards.

Q2. Is Canadian maple wood good for skateboards?

Ans. Yes. Canadian maple wood skateboard decks are often considered the best type of wood for skateboards. It’s known for its strength, durability, and flexibility.

Q3. Which skateboard deck is best, wood or plastic?

Ans. Wood is a better material with a much more natural flex and feel, but it costs more money. Plastic boards are for beginners and the plastic feels good on your hands, but it doesn’t feel like wood.


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Hi, My Name is Henry, Welcome to my little skateboarding world. I have a passion for skateboarding and want to share it with others. I want to teach people how to be successful on the skateboard and appreciate the benefits that come from skateboarding.

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