Are you a bowl shredder looking to upgrade your setup? Choosing the right skateboard trucks is crucial for mastering those carves and grinds in the bowl. This guide will delve into the best truck options, exploring their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision. While Ace and Independent trucks are often cited as top choices for bowl riding, personal preference and riding style also play significant roles. Let’s explore some of the most popular skateboard trucks for carving, so you can choose the best trucks for you!
Independent Truck Co.
Independent Trucks Stage 11 Forged Titanium
Independent Trucks, often called “Indys,” are a staple in the skateboarding world and a long-time favorite for bowl riders of all ages. Known for their durability and performance, they are a reliable choice for carving and grinding in the bowl. The Stage 11 Forged Titanium model is a popular choice, but other options are available to suit your needs.
The Positives: Indy’s are built with a generous amount of metal on the hanger, making them perfect for grinding coping and providing a solid feel. The baseplate’s slightly forward design minimizes wheel slide, and the geometry helps create shorter wheelbases for those tight turns and carves needed in bowls. They are among the best skateboard trucks you can get for any style of skating, but they truly shine when carving bowls and pools. Additionally, with a height of 54mm, Independent trucks provide great clearance for larger wheels (54mm or more) without causing wheel bite issues.
The Negatives: The robustness of Independent Trucks also makes them one of the heaviest options. While this isn’t a significant concern for bowl riding, it is something to consider. Additionally, the stock bushings have a reputation for needing a lengthy break-in period, during which they can feel stiff and later, too loose, requiring time to adjust to their feel. Despite this, their sharp turns, smooth grinds, and ability to withstand abuse make them a top choice for bowl setups since 1978.
Ace Trucks MFG
“Loose Trucks Save Lives,” is the motto of Ace Skateboard Trucks, and many skaters agree, especially when it comes to carving bowls. The looser your trucks, the smoother your carves can be, allowing you to maintain speed and flow through turns. Ace trucks come in Low and Classic models, but for bowl riding, the Classics are the preferred choice.
The Positives: The Classic Ace Trucks stand at a mid-height of 52mm, perfect for deep carves without the risk of wheel bite. Their geometry is comparable to Independent trucks, ensuring smooth, high-speed carves and tight turns. Ace trucks are also known for their stock bushings, which require very little break-in time, maintaining a consistent feel from day one. The hanger shape of Ace trucks also provides smooth, buttery grinds.
The Negatives: Ace trucks can initially feel squirrelly to skaters coming from other brands. This is primarily due to their looser design. Although they are very durable, Ace trucks have less metal on the hanger, which some skaters find wears faster than Independent Trucks. However, the unique design of Ace trucks make them ideal for carving bowls when set up properly. Many skaters become loyal to Ace once they get used to their feel, since they are engineered for loose, tight turns and smooth grinds.
Gullwing Trucks
Gullwing Trucks
Gullwing trucks, while not as prominent as they once were, offer great options for carving. They are suitable for various boards, including wider decks, longboards, and shortboards. They are still regarded as excellent for carving because of their durability and responsive turning.
Gullwings also include integrated speed rings on the hanger and axle nut, which help keep your bearings properly aligned and reduce friction stress at high speeds. A notable feature of the Gullwing Pro III trucks is the groove cut into the hanger’s center, which helps beginner bowl riders lock into grinds and stalls, although more experienced skaters may find this feature restrictive. Even today, many professional riders and brands partner with Gullwing to deliver quality trucks for bowl riding.
Venture Trucks
Gullwing Trucks
Venture Trucks are known for their stability and are another great choice for carving. While they offer both low and high models, the high versions are preferable for bowl riding. When first skating Venture Trucks, many skaters are amazed by how easy it is to lock into grinds and axle stalls.
Venture trucks are very responsive and have minimal break-in time. With proper adjustments, they provide smooth carves and excellent stability. They are also suitable for street skating, although some skaters may notice a difference in responsiveness when switching between high and low trucks. The maximum deck size for these trucks is 8.75 inches, so riders with decks over 9 inches should look at other options.
Thunder Truck Co.
Thunder Hollow Lights
Thunder Trucks are a popular choice, especially among street skaters, and can also be suitable for bowl riding. They have a more forward-angled hanger which creates a wider wheelbase compared to some other brands. This geometry provides more stability for landing street tricks and creates a good fulcrum point for manuals and one-truck grinds.
While Thunder Trucks are considered a mid-height truck, they are on the lower end at 49mm. This can sometimes result in wheel bite, especially with wheels over 53mm. However, many skaters find that even with larger wheels, these trucks still perform well in the bowl when set up loose.
The Positives: Thunders offer a stable platform for carving, grinding, and landing tricks. Their geometry allows wheels to hit the coping during stalls. Also, they have a very responsive turn, making them a versatile choice for various skating styles, including bowl riding when set up loose.
The Negatives: Thunder trucks are a lower-profile truck, which means you might need riser pads for larger wheels. They have less material on the hanger compared to Ace or Indy’s, which means they can wear faster if you grind a lot of concrete coping. However, they are still very durable and provide many months of reliable use. The responsive turn is also different than the feel of Independent trucks, so it may require an adjustment period.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the best skateboard trucks for bowl riding come down to personal preference and riding style. Ace, Venture Hi, and Independent trucks are popular choices among bowl skaters because of their turning radius, grind feel, and stability. Gullwings are an excellent option for carving in both skate parks and streets, but can also be great for bowl riding. Thunder trucks can also work well but may not be optimal compared to the other options for bowl riding.
No matter which trucks you choose, remember that loose trucks are key to a good carve. If your trucks are too tight, loosen them gradually each session until you find your sweet spot. The right trucks, combined with a comfortable setup, will help you carve corners like a pro.
Ruben vee
By Ruben Vee
