Gear Guide

Gear Sizing and Recommendations Forms

Very Important:

1. DO NOT BUY A SKATEBOARD FROM A BIG BOX STORE SUCH AS AMAZON, WALMART, CANADIAN TIRE, OR SPORTCHEK! They are hard to ride at the best of times, and dangerous at the worst. We always notice these skateboards actually put people off from enjoying and persevering with skateboarding. These fake skateboarding companies are exploiting parents' lack of knowledge. We have never met anyone who was able to progress past the very basics on one of these skateboards.

2. No matter what skateboard you choose, most beginners (especially if they are young) will be better off with soft, rather than hard, wheels. Please ask us if you are not sure whether the skateboard you are buying includes soft wheels.

Must Haves:

1. A skateboard. Many boards come as "completes" (fully assembled skateboards, much cheaper, great for beginners). Our favourite complete skateboard for kids are from either Mini Logo or Creature, both of which you can almost always find at Hammer. If you're looking for a beginner complete at a great price, Empire is selling some great ones.

2. A properly fitted helmet. Our fave helmets are from the Canadian company S1, but any are fine, including properly fitting bike helmets. Here's how to measure your head. We also strongly recommend getting certified helmets.

3. Knee pads. The absolute best knee pads for skateboarding are 187 Killers. The best place to find kids 3 packs are from Hammer. A little cheaper and just as good are either TSGs or Pro-Tec.

4. Elbow pads. Any are fine as long as they fit comfortably.

5. Wrist guards. Any are fine as long as they fit comfortably.

6. Proper skateboarding shoes or similar sneakers. The best value tend to be from Vans.

What size skateboard should I get?

• They younger the skater, the more important it is that you get the right size.

• The smaller the deck, the lighter and easier to flip.

• The larger the deck, the heavier but more stable (but not necessarily for small children).

• Shoe Size Under Youth 1? Get a skateboard from 7-7.25 inches.

• Shoe Sizes Youth 1-3?  Get a skateboard from 7.25-7.5 inches.

• Shoe Sizes Youth 3-6? Get a skateboard from 7.5-7.78 inches.

• Shoe Sizes Youth/Mens 6+? Get a skateboard 8+inches.

Pad Sets:

• The absolute best knee pads for skateboarding are 187 Killers. A little cheaper and just as good are either TSGs or Pro-Tec.

• No matter what you choose, just measure and get the right size. Nothing worse than pads that fall or slide off easily.

Skateboarding Shoes:

• Skateboarding shoes are different than other sneakers because they tend to be flat with rubber soles for grip and board feel. You don't HAVE to use skate shoes to skateboard, but you will want them eventually as you progress. It can be challenging to make progress in common running shoes or similar, especially if the have high or curved soles, such as ones for running or cross training. The good news is they tend to be much less expensive than shoes for other sports.

• If you're just starting out, get some cheap Vans or anything similar from any skate shop.

Skateboard Tool:

• An all in one skateboard tool looks like this. You don't need to have one to start, but you will eventually need one so you can do basic maintenance, repair, and/or setup on your skateboard.

Rent From Us

You can rent a skateboard ($10 per session), pad set ($10 per session), and/or helmet ($5 per session) from us. If you would like to rent the whole package, we charge $20 per session.