Santa Cruz Skateboards is a legendary skateboard brand and one of the oldest in the world. Its roots trace back to the early days of skateboarding when founders Novak, Haut, and Shuirman were challenged to produce 500 skateboards in 1973. The success of their first boards led to the establishment of Santa Cruz Skateboards under the NHS umbrella.

The brand is widely recognized for its iconic logo, the screaming hand. However, Santa Cruz Skateboards offers much more than just a distinctive symbol and a limited range of boards. They provide a comprehensive range of products including decks, wheels, complete boards, and accessories. Moreover, Santa Cruz Skateboards stands out by offering an eye-catching fashion line that caters to all genders. Their commitment to diversity is evident in their clothing collection, which includes options for men, women, babies, teens, and products designed for all genders.

What sets Santa Cruz Skateboards apart is not just its rich history and diverse product offerings, but also its accessibility. With complete skateboards priced around $110, the brand ensures that skateboarding enthusiasts can own a piece of their renowned legacy.

Founded: 1973
Headquarters: Santa Cruz, California
Website: https://santacruzskateboards.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SantaCruzSkateboards/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santacruzskateboards/

Element Skateboards is a renowned skateboarding brand founded in 1992 by Johnny Schillereff. Inspired by his love for nature and passion for skateboarding since childhood, Schillereff created a brand that has become one of the best in the industry. Element Skateboards offers a range of skateboarding items including decks, shoes, and clothes.

Their deck designs are unique, often incorporating psychedelic and naturalistic art influences. Some of their popular products include the Element Solar Vibes, Magma Section, and Adonis complete skateboards, which showcase the brand's distinctive aesthetic. Element Skateboards has partnered with major media properties such as Star Wars and boasts a team of professional skateboarders like Bam Margera and Tom Schaar.

With stores located worldwide, Element Skateboards has a global reach, catering to skateboarders everywhere. They offer regular discounts on their website, making their products more accessible to their loyal customer base. Additionally, their My Element rewards program provides members with savings on Element Skateboard products and free shipping.

Founded: 1992

Headquarters: Huntington Beach, California

Website: https://www.elementbrand.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elementbrand/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ElementBrand/

Plan B Skateboards, based in San Diego, California, is a popular choice for skateboarders, despite its name. Founded in 1991 by Mike Ternasky, Danny Way, and Colin McKay, the brand aimed to create a dream team in skateboarding, inspired by the concept of NBA dream teams.

The founders, with their prior experience in the industry, assembled a team of exceptional skateboarders like Mike Carroll and Rick Howard. Plan B Skateboards continues to thrive, focusing on a slim but specialized catalog that includes decks, wheels, and skateboards.

Plan B's deck designs range from geometric patterns to 60s-influenced Americana, featuring a clean finish. Notable complete skateboards include the Plan B Hawaii 8.25" Complete and the Plan B Original Team Metallic Black 8.0" Complete.

The brand's team-building efforts remain strong, with renowned skateboarders such as Chris Joslin, Felipe Gustavo, and Tommy Flynn, also contributing to deck design. Highlighted features of Plan B Skateboards include their embodiment of the team spirit, free worldwide shipping on orders over $100, the durability of their 7-ply maple wood decks, and an impressive lineup of professional skateboarders.

Founded: 1991
Headquarters: San Diego, California
Website: https://planbskateboards.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/planbofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planbofficial/

Flip Skateboards, an English-origin skateboarding brand, has established itself as one of the best skateboard brands in the industry. With clean designs, exceptional product performance, and a diverse range of decks, accessories, and complete skateboards, Flip Skateboards provides a compelling selection for skateboarders.

Founded in 1987 by professional skateboarders Jeremy Fox, Ian Deacon, and Graham McEachran under the name Deathbox, the brand quickly gained traction. They later changed their name to Flip Skateboards, relocated to the United States, and secured notable team riders like Tom Penny and Rune Glifberg, with support from Ed Templeton, the owner of Toy Machine.

Flip Skateboards offers two types of decks: regular models and P2 Models. Their regular decks adhere to industry standards, while the P2 Models are thinner and more resilient. The Flip Skateboards Team Odyssey Poppy Complete 8.1" x 32.0" exemplifies their regular deck line. Additionally, their Gold Cup Snapback Yellow Skateboard Complete showcases the brand's inventiveness.

Founded: 1987
Headquarters: Huntington Beach, California
Website: https://flipskateboards.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flipskateboards
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flipskateboards/

Creature Skateboards, operating under the artistic arm of the sports company NHS, Inc., is known for their unique offerings in the skateboarding industry. NHS, Inc., founded by Richard Novak, Doug Haut, and Jay Shuirman in 1973, is recognized for their iconic screaming hand logo. With their focus on customization, quality, and inclusivity, Creature Skateboards solidifies its place among the best skateboard brands in the industry.

Creature Skateboards is part of NHS, Inc., which houses other skateboarding brands as well. This particular brand stands out by offering customers the option to build their own skateboards. They provide three templates with escalating prices, as well as a fully customized option.

In addition to custom skateboards, Creature Skateboards produces decks, wheels, stumps (lower-to-the-ground skateboards for increased agility), hoodies, and t-shirts. Notably, they cater to skateboarders of all ages, offering boards designed for children aged 3 to 10, as well as appropriately-sized skateboards for youths aged 10 and up.

Founded: 1973
Headquarters: Santa Cruz, California
Website: https://creatureskateboards.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreatureSkateboards/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creaturefiends/

Zero Skateboards, founded by Jamie Thomas in 1996, is a prominent skateboard brand known for its edgy and imaginative approach. Originally a clothing company, Zero ventured into skateboard manufacturing when Thomas became the first sponsored athlete of his own brand. While fashion plays a role in their product line, Zero Skateboards places equal emphasis on skateboard quality.

In addition to apparel, Zero Skateboards offers accessories like hats, beanies, socks, belts, and stickers. Their skateboard decks feature striking designs inspired by edgy art, incorporating elements such as skulls, crossbones, snakes, and horror iconography. Zero Skateboards provides complete boards at various price points, including the Single Skull Complete 8.0, Legacy Ransom Youth Complete 7.5, and Bold Youth Complete 7.25.

Highlighted features of Zero Skateboards include free shipping on US orders over $80, their edgy imagery, and their remarkable accomplishment of winning three King of the Road titles from 2004 to 2006. Moreover, the brand offers a range of skateboard sizes, catering to different preferences.

Founded: 1996
Headquarters: San Marcos, California
Website: https://zeroskateboards.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroskateboards
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroskateboards/

Founded in 1988 in California by Mark Gonzalez, Blind Skateboards stands out with one of the most diverse teams in the skateboarding industry. Their roster includes riders from various backgrounds, such as Nassim Lachlab from Morocco and Sora Shirai, a young Japanese skateboarding prodigy. This diverse team showcases the brand's commitment to inclusivity and talent.

As one of the best skateboard brands, Blind Skateboards has implemented a regrowth sustainability plan, planting three trees for every tree they harvest to produce their skateboards. Additionally, they prioritize fair labor practices, redistribute earnings to the community, and strive to reduce their carbon footprint.

Blind Skateboards' dedication to sustainability sets them apart, as they go beyond just creating quality skateboards. Their efforts to give back to the planet make the slightly higher cost of their complete skateboards worthwhile. With a rich history and a diverse team, Blind Skateboards continues to make an impact in the skateboarding world. Their quirky and recognizable grim reaper logo adds to their unique brand identity.

Founded: 1988
Headquarters: El Segundo, California
Website: https://blindskateboards.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blindskateboards
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blindskate/

Founded in 1993 by Mike Carrol, Rick Howard, Megan Baltimore, and filmmaker Spike Jonze, Girl Skateboards has become one of the most recognizable brands in skateboarding. Based in California, they aimed to create a company that surpassed their perception of other deck producers.

Girl Skateboards stands out with its distinctive logo, a female silhouette in a male-dominated market. Their accessibility sets them apart as one of the best skateboard brands. Initially focused on professional-grade skateboards due to their founders' backgrounds, they have expanded their catalog to include beginner-friendly decks. Their website provides a sizing guide that guides newcomers on how different shapes and sizes affect skateboard handling, along with information on which sizes are preferred by their team riders.

Currently, Girl Skateboards operates as a subsidiary of Crailtap, which also distributes products from Chocolate Skateboards, Royal Skateboard Trucks, and Fourstar Clothing. This partnership allows them to expand their reach and offer a wider range of skateboarding products to their loyal customer base.

Founded: 1993
Headquarters: Torrance, California
Website: https://girlskateboards.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/girlskateboards/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlskateboards/

Almost Skateboards stands out as one of the best skateboard brands, founded in 2003 by two legendary skateboarders, Rodney Mullen and Daewon Song. Mullen, one of the most influential skateboarders ever, reached out to Song when his previous company, enjoi, faced challenges.

Almost Skateboards offers three types of decks, each with a specific purpose. The Support Decks feature 8-ply North American maple construction and two carbon-fiber discs, ensuring durable boards with powerful pops. The Impact Light Decks utilize 7-ply Canadian maple, epoxy resin glue, and a die-cut carbon fiber laminate, resulting in lightweight decks. Lastly, the Impact Plus Decks combine the features of the previous two, creating Almost Skateboards' strongest and longest-lasting deck.

Regarding the price, their complete skateboards typically range from $80 to $90, making them more budget-friendly compared to many other brands on the market, even when not on sale. As one of the best skateboard brands, Almost Skateboards has solidified its position as a top skateboard brand, offering high-quality products that cater to both professional and amateur skateboarders.

Founded: 2003
Headquarters: California, U.S
Website: https://almostskateboards.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/almostskateboards
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostskateboards/

Globe Skateboards, the sole Australian representative on our list, brings a unique flavor to the skateboarding world. Founded by the Hill brothers - Stephen, Peter, and Matt - Globe emerged from their experience in developing products for other Australian sports brands during the 1980s. In the 1990s, they decided to embark on their own skateboarding venture.

What sets Globe Skateboards apart is their diverse team of athletes, including skateboarders, surfers, and snowboarders. This emphasis on multiple board sports showcases their broad approach to action sports culture. While their skateboarding merchandise remains top-notch, Globe also prides itself on producing premium apparel with a focus on sustainability. They incorporate sustainable fibers and conduct rigorous testing to ensure durability and longevity.

In terms of skateboards, Globe Skateboards employs a single deck pressing process pioneered by Rodney Mullen, eliminating inconsistent finishes often associated with multiple deck pressing. Their boards feature resin glue, striking a balance between lightness and durability.

Globe Skateboards offers a range of options, with complete boards like the Globe G1 Lineform and Goodstock priced around $90 to $102. With free shipping available to over 100 countries, Globe Skateboards has made their products accessible to a global audience.

Founded: 1985
Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
Website: https://us.globebrand.com/collections/skateboards
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/globebrand
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globebrand/