Skate and Scooter Gear: Rides, Pads and Parts

Pick the ride, then the protection, then the parts

This area splits into complete rides, protective gear, parts and small add-ons. Start with the ride: a skateboard for tricks and cruising, a kick scooter for short trips, or an electric scooter that adds a motor and a battery. Skateboards & E-Scooters holds the complete rides. Level labels matter too, since beginner and advanced setups differ in deck width, wheel size and stability.

Protection comes before speed. Helmets, knee and elbow pads and wrist guards are sized by weight, age band or limb size, and Skate Pads & Protective Sets collects them. Replacement parts such as bearings, wheels and bolts are chosen to match the ride you own, so check sizes before replacing anything.

Wheel size, hardness and deck width: the numbers that separate rides

Skateboard decks are listed by width in inches, and a deck around 8 inches is stable for most beginners. Wheel diameter and hardness set the feel. Softer wheels, with durometer numbers in the high 70s or 80s followed by A, grip better and roll over rough ground, while harder wheels near 99A suit smooth skate parks and slide more easily. Bigger wheels roll faster over cracks.

Add-ons have to fit the ride. Carry bags are sized to a self-balancing scooter's wheel diameter, tape and grip sheets to a deck's width, and protective covers to the model of scooter. Motorized scooters are heavy and fast, so check local rules on speed and age limits, and wear protection that suits the speed you travel.

Questions about Skate and Scooter Gear: Rides, Pads and Parts

Do beginners need pads and a helmet?

Yes. Most falls happen while learning, and wrist, knee and head injuries are the most common. A helmet plus wrist guards, knee pads and elbow pads make a safer start. Choose gear sized by weight or limb size, not by age alone.

What does the A number on skateboard wheels mean?

It is the durometer, a hardness rating. Lower numbers such as 78A to 87A are softer, grip better and handle rough ground, while numbers near 99A are hard, last longer on smooth surfaces and slide more readily.

Are skateboard trucks and wheels interchangeable between decks?

Mostly, if the trucks are about as wide as the deck and the mounting holes line up. Wheels need to clear the deck, so a smaller deck with bigger wheels may need risers. Check the truck width and the wheel diameter together.