The word “bearing” is derived from the verb “to bear”, as it permits one part to support another. There are several kinds of bearings like jewel bearings, rolling bearings, bearings , fluid bearings, and magnetic bearings that can be used with a longboard.
But when it comes to choosing a set of bearings for your longboard, sometimes it can be a difficult and confusing task, especially when you don’t know where to start. Due to complexity involved in purchasing bearings for longboards, we’ve assembled brief guide you can skim through to get you started, as well as our top picks for longboard bearings.
More about Longboard Bearings
Despite the fact that finding the best longboard bearings for every rider’s individual style may pose to be a challenge, the good news is that all bearings are regular in size, meaning that they fit all skateboard and longboard wheels.
But there are quite a few variables that result in a good bearing and needs to be considered.
One of these is the substance that bearings are manufactured from, and this is usually steel that could vary in quality. Recently some companies have been making ceramic bearings, which can be marginally over the costly side, but make up for that in quality, as they are a lot more durable, need lower maintenance, create hardly any friction, accelerate faster, last longer and do not extend as a result of heat.
Bearings might seem somewhat similar from product to product, especially for riders who are just now dipping their toes into the sport of longboarding. However, their actual characteristics can greatly differ, which is based on the quality of the material they are made out of, the sealing, and the bearing’s interior.
As the main purpose of bearings would be to reduce friction and therefore boost acceleration and smoothness, the general rule is that the better quality the bearings, the more pleasing your ride is going to be. Therefore, it is crucial to remember that the distance between the inner and outer parts must be shaped in a manner which offers the least amount of friction.
This is of great importance for every motion executed with a longboard. Those movements fall under three categories — moving down and up, left to right, which makes turns and spins. All this is well and good in concept, but most people have a tough time once that they get to actually picking the very best bearings for themselves.
How to choose the Best Longboard Bearings: the ABEC evaluation
Since there is an immense number of alternatives for bearings, this may often turn the purchase into some nightmarish debacle, so it’s a great thing that there are a number things to look for when buying longboard bearings for the first time.
Something to help with this process are the ABEC evaluations. The skating industry decided that there should be a uniform scale to assist their customers since many types of bearings have been produced.
Generally speaking, a tighter tolerance, or even a more narrow distance between the balls and the races, will result in less friction and consequently higher speeds.
The ABEC scale is certainly a beneficial instrument, however, sometimes the best longboard bearings do not comprise an ABEC rating. In order for the bearings to perform perfectly, some factors are considered crucial, which includes the substance they are made out of, lubrication, and friction with different surfaces.
Regrettably, because the ABEC does not take these parameters into consideration, sometimes bearings with a score of 3 might function better than those having a score of 5 or even 7. In spite of these limitations, the ABEC scale remains a useful tool for newbies looking to assess the quality of their longboard bearings.
Heady Shake Pro Skateboard Bearings
The skateboard bearings from Heady Shake Pro could be an ideal option for skaters who are in the market for something that will go the distance.
The Heady Shake Pro skateboard bearings are some of the fastest and most reliable in the market, which is thanks to their titanium construction. Titanium is lighter and stronger than steel, while being more flexible and cheaper to purchase.
These bearings are versatile enough to be used for a variety of skating gear, and not just longboards. You can use them for scooters, skateboards, roller skates, and pretty much everything that needs high quality bearings.
Finally, the Heady Shake Pro Bearings are easy to install and clean and comes with a non-contact removable rubber shield that produces less friction than other options.
Specifications of the Heady Shake Pro Bearings:
- Nylon Retainer
- Titanium Construction
- Superfast function and design
- Comes with 8 bearings with 4 spacers
- 8 Piece set
- Pre-lubricated
- Satisfaction guarantee
Bones Bearings Red Bearings
The Red Bearings from Bones is the number #1 best seller on the Amazon platform. To date, there are more than 1,300 positive reviews that you can read through about this product, with the majority of customers leaving 4 and 5 star reviews out of 5 as part of their testimonials.
What people liked the most about these bearings was the fact that Bones Bearings is the best selling skate brand in the United States. This brand awareness is due to the company’s longstanding history in the skating world, as they provide a wealth of products and accessories that can make skating enjoyable for everyone involved.
We highly recommend that you check out these Bone Bearings as they are some of the most vouched-for products in the skating world that money can buy.
Each bearing has an inner diameter of 8mm and an outside diameter of 22mm, which means they can fit on all types of skateboards, longboards, and scooters.
Below are the features for the Red Bearings:
- Contains a non-contact rubber shield for effortless cleaning and to reduce friction
- The bearings come pre-lubricated with a racing retainer for better speeds
- Vetted by the skating industry for a number of tolerances and quality of construction
- Each package comes with a set of 8 bearings, instruction manual, and sticker