When we’re not roaming the city streets and dodging pedestrians, we’re venturing around the Midwest finding the best downhill longboarding we can. We might not have the most vertical drop in the world but we’ve learned a thing or two with the terrain we shred. When it comes to downhill longboards, there are a few key features to generally look out for:
- A lower profile (drop down or drop thru).
- A highly stable deck area, generally very rigid.
- Some level of concave. This can vary depending on the model but make sure your board has at least a little.
- A stiff truck or at least a stiffer bushing set up.
That being said, all the boards on our list have several (or all) of these features. There are several other models that we carry that can work for downhill but this list below is our go-to picks. In no particular order, our favorite downhill longboards for 2015 are as follows.
Never Summer Reaper
I’m just saying, if you were powering down a steep hill, you would not want the Never Summer Reaper Longboard on your tail. This thing is a beast! Never Summer didn’t slack on any part of the design when it comes to the Reaper. The most premium technology is mixed with high end components and ready to race right out of the box. NS multi-core technology, a very exaggerated W concave with ergonomically molded foot pockets that lock your feet into place and flared wheel wells for extra clearance on sharp, fast turns? Yes, they thought of everything. High stability, an ergonomic shape for added comfort and one hell of a mean looking graphic just to add a little extra intimidation to your competition. This is why the Never Summer Reaper is on our list.
Bustin Sportster Pro
With a premium construction and unique build, the Bustin Sportster Pro Longboard is worth every penny of the upgrade from the mainline version. Using Bustin’s ThermoCarbon construction, the Pro version is stiffer and lighter thanks to the magical combo of carbon fiber, fiberglass and Great Lakes hard maple wood. Besides the killer construction, the shape of the Pro is a big part of the reason this board is so amazing for downhill. Add in drop thru trucks, a perfect amount of concave and ergonomic foot pockets to keep you stable no matter the conditions you are faced with. The wide body also offers a ton of stability, even at higher speeds. For an extremely lightweight and powerful ride that is also super comfortable for day to day pushing, the Bustin Sportster Pro comes highly recommended.
Sector 9 Faultline
When it comes to weaving down mountainsides (much like the ones on the bottom of this board) the Sector 9 Faultline Longboard can can take turns with the best of them. A mild concave means this board is super comfortable for pushing but the flared up edges also give your feet a perfect pocket for added grip and extra power in turns, slides or higher speeds. Don’t let the traditional top mount fool you. The Faultline has a serious drop, keeping the rider nice and low to the ground for added stability and a lower center of gravity. Add more stability thanks to the burly 9-ply cold pressed maple construction and super wide shape. The cut out wheel wells give you room for any size wheel you might need while but we recommend the 73mm Race Formula wheels that come stock with the complete. For the rider who spends part of their time pushing around town and the rest of the day charging steeps, the Sector 9 Faultline is one board that can do both, really well.
Landyachtz Time Machine
Luckily, you don’t have to travel to the future to find out that the Landyachtz Time Machine Longboard is a great choice for a downhill longboard. Tried and true, the Time Machine has been in the line for years and continues to stand out as a downhill, carving and freeride masterpiece. With specially angled drops on a top mount, the riders feet are closer than ever to the trucks adding maneuverability. Combo that with a low sitting deck and you get maximum stability + maneuverability, even at high speeds. A medium W concave adds to the grip in the footing area, and when you mix that with the kicked up nose and tail, you end up with the perfect amount of grip and control right under your feet. The Time Machine also has an extremely rigid feel, so even if you are just experimenting with downhill, the overall stability should be enough to give you some confidence to go for those steeper runs! Tested and approved (in both the future and past) the Landyachtz Time Machine is down for the ride no matter where your travels are about to take you.
Landyachtz Evo
The Landyachtz Evo Longboard didn’t earn the title of ‘Most Iconic Downhill Board’ by not living up to the hype. With an insanely low drop, high concave and super rigid deck, the Evo was built to bomb hills and that’s exactly what she’s good at. The top mount adds stability without sacrificing height, thanks to the super low dropped down deck. Bear trucks come standard on this beast. You can swap out bushings to your liking but the Bear trucks are made to withstand high speeds and still turn and maneuver when they need to. A very slight taper gives you just a little more power and room at your front foot but the back foot still feels fully supported. There’s a reason the Evo is still considered to be the best downhill board of all time, maybe it’s time to find out for yourself.
Loaded Truncated Tesseract
The downhill specific Loaded Truncated Tesseract Longboard is the shortest and lightest in the Tesseract collection. This mean little ride has what it takes to conquer some of the steepest, fastest terrain out there and was made for downhill racing and freestyle riding. With a blunted nose and tail, you have reduced swing weight and allowing you to really utilize the entire board. A pretty heavy W concave ends just short of the nose and tail so you have a comfortable, flatter surface when needed but the overall rocker and deeper concave lock your feet into place when you need it. Plus, the super gritty grip tape removes any potential of slipping or sliding around on the deck. Two different bolt patterns are available. The shorter of the two offers a more rigid feel while the longer wheel base option can give the rider a tiny amount of flex. It’s not too much flex though. The Tesseract is a super beefy board and only heavier weight riders will actually feel that flex. The grip tape wraps around the side at the gas pedals for added power and stability on slides or fast turns giving this board and overall super stable, locked in feel. Loaded has been at the top of the longboard game for years and if you have yet to own one for yourself, it’s time to catch up. If downhill, freeride and sliding is something you like to do, the Loaded Truncated Tesseract could be your next dream board.
We hope this gave you a good place to start your search for your next (or maybe first) downhill longboard. To see the most up to date availability for all our longboards: