How to Choose the Best Skateboard Backpack

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Skateboarding is so much more than just a recreational activity to pass the time. Aside from being an excellent form of exercise and active sport in its own right, skateboarding can also be an efficient form of transportation. While traveling by skateboard can be fun, it can also be difficult if you’ve got things to take with you. Unlike bikes or cars, there aren’t places for you to attach storage baskets or load up your stuff for college campus or otherwise. 

Or maybe you don’t use your skateboard as a means of transportation but need an efficient way to haul all your gear around. While you could technically use any backpack so long as it’s durable, we recommend using a skate backpack!

In this guide, we’re going to cover the basic features of a skateboard backpack, how to choose the one that’s best for you, and go over some of our favorite product selections. 

What is a skateboard backpack?

As you’ve probably guessed, a skateboard backpack is a backpack optimized best for carrying skate equipment. While you can definitely carry your board by hand as you move from place to place, using a pack can be much more efficient, especially if you’ve got additional gear to carry. Most skateboarding backpacks will include features such as straps for holding your board and buckles to secure your backpack while riding. 

Whether you skate super frequently or are more of a casual cruiser, skate backpacks come in handy for transporting your board and the rest of your gear. 

What to Consider When Choosing a Skate Backpack

While the best skate backpack ultimately depends on your needs and preferences, here are a few factors to take into consideration when shopping around:

Size

Your skate backpack is essentially useless if it doesn’t fit you properly or have enough room for your gear. Unlike school backpacks where you can determine what size you need by eyeballing it, skate backpacks require you to pay attention to their specific size dimensions. 

If you’re only looking for a bag with room for a few small items and straps for your board, then you can opt for something smaller. However, if you’re looking for something that can fit more items such as notebooks, laptops, and clothing, you’ll need to go for something larger. 

Pockets and Compartments

As a general rule, the more pockets or compartments a skate backpack has, the better. Utilizing a backpack with separate sections makes it easier to stay organized and gives certain pieces of gear their own dedicated spots, making them easier to find. This is especially helpful for smaller pieces of equipment or individual components like bearings and trucks. Individual compartments are also useful in keeping your skating gear and non-skating gear separate. 

Board Straps

The straps on your skate backpack should be strong enough to secure your board in place. Before you start you search for backpacks, you should determine how heavy your board is so you can keep the weight in mind when assessing different bag specifications. 

Comfort

You’re most likely going to be wearing it for long periods of time, so your backpack should be comfortable! You could spend all the time in the world ensuring your backpack meets all the above requirements, but it won’t mean much (and would be a waste of money) if it doesn’t fit you comfortably, or worse, causes you pain. 

Be sure to look for a skateboard bag with padded shoulder straps, as your shoulders will be carrying most of the load. 

What to Pack into Your Skate Backpack

You never know when the next skate session will be around the corner, so it’s helpful to have the following pieces in your skate backpack and be prepared at all times. 

1. Skate tool. Your board is bound to need a few tweaks every now and then, especially if you’re riding transition. Having a skate tool on your person can save you from having to make trips back home. 
2. Extra bearings. Bearings will break, but you don’t need to let that stop a skating session. Having an extra set of bearings on hand can be extremely helpful, if not for you, then for another rider who might need them. 
3. Hardware (bolts and nuts). Similar to having extra bearings on hand, stocking up on extra hardware can be helpful. 
4. Basic first aid supplies. Depending on the size of your skate backpack, you might not have enough space for a basic first aid kit. Try to stock up on a few bandages at the very least. 
5. Wax. Some obstacles such as curbs and ledges can be cracked or chipped. Wax can help smoothen out the surface.

Our Favorite Skate Backpacks

Dakine Urbn Mission 22L Backpack

If you’re looking for a simple yet faithful board-ready companion, look no further than the Dakine Urbn Mission 22L Backpack. A casual style pack, it features a dedicated laptop or tablet sleeve, abrasion-resistant paneling, and adjustable sternum straps. 

Nixon Ransack Backpack

If you’ve got a fair amount of traveling to do, the Nixon Ransack Backpack is the pack for you. A substantial capacity travel pack, this pack is designed to hold it all: your skateboard, laptop, water bottle, and more. Bonus: its polyester exterior is made from recycled ocean plastics. 

Dakine Urbn Mission 23L Backpack

 Another great option from Dakine, just in a slightly larger size, they’re one of the top skate brands for good reason! They make some of the most durable, stylish options on the market. Whether you’re navigating campus, heading to a friend’s house, or cruising around town, the Dakine Urbn Mission 23L option will serve you well.