How to Choose the Right Skateboard Bushings for Your Riding Style

When it comes to customizing your skateboard setup, choosing the right type of bushings is crucial. These small urethane components determine how your board responds to your movements, whether you’re carving deep turns, landing tricks, or flying downhill. Understanding the various types of bushings, their shapes, durometers, and materials will help you tailor your setup to match your unique riding style. Let’s dive into the options.

The Foundation of Your Setup

The shape of your bushings significantly influences how your skateboard performs, balancing maneuverability and stability. Here are the most common bushing shapes and what they’re best suited for:

Barrel bushings are cylindrical and offer a larger contact area. This makes them perfect for riders who prioritize stability and control, especially at higher speeds. They’re commonly used in setups for downhill and freeride skateboarding, where precision and a steady ride are essential.

Cone Bushings Shaped like an inverted cone, these bushings are designed for maximum maneuverability and responsiveness. They allow for sharper turns and are ideal for skaters who need quick, fluid movements, such as cruisers or those practicing tight carves.

Double Barrels Often used in high-speed setups, these provide unmatched stability and are a favorite for downhill skaters.

Double Cones are great for carving enthusiasts or those wanting a super-loose, surf-like feel.

Some bushings, such as pivot or stepped bushings, are tailored for niche needs. These might be used in advanced setups where very specific ride characteristics are required.

Matching Bushings to Your Riding Needs

The durometer of a bushing refers to its hardness, measured on a numerical scale. Your choice of hardness depends on your riding style, weight, and personal preference.

Soft Bushings (78a-85a) are best for: Lightweight riders, cruisers, and those who prefer loose trucks. They Offer smooth, responsive turns and a comfortable carving experience. The Drawbacks are they may feel too unstable for heavier riders or at higher speeds.

Medium Bushings (85a-95a) are best for an all-around setups and versatile riding styles. They Provide a balance between maneuverability and stability. Perfect for skaters who enjoy both tricks and cruising.

Hard Bushings (95a+) are best for Heavier riders, street skaters, and downhill enthusiasts.They deliver maximum stability and control, making them ideal for technical tricks and fast descents. The drawbacks are they can feel overly stiff for lighter riders or when carving.

Enhancing Performance and Durability

While most bushings are made of urethane, advancements in materials have led to innovative designs that cater to specific performance needs:

•  Bushings with high-rebound urethane provide enhanced responsiveness and return to their original shape quickly after compression, making them ideal for riders who demand consistent performance.
  
  
•  Designed to withstand friction and heat from extended downhill runs, these bushings maintain their integrity even during intense sessions.
  
  

Choosing the Right Combination

The key to finding the perfect bushing setup lies in experimenting with different shapes and durometers. Many skaters use a mixed setup , such as a harder barrel bushing on the bottom (near the board) for stability and a softer cone bushing on the top (near the kingpin) for responsiveness. This hybrid approach allows you to fine-tune your trucks for your riding style and terrain.

When it comes to skateboarding, your riding style is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing the right bushings. The way you ride—whether you’re cruising down the street, perfecting tricks at the park, or bombing hills at high speed—directly impacts the type of bushings you’ll need. Here’s a breakdown of how different riding styles influence your bushing selection, helping you fine-tune your setup for optimal performance.

 Precision and Stability

For skaters who spend their time at the skatepark or in the streets, precision and stability are key. This style involves tricks, grinds, and technical maneuvers that require reliable control and minimal wobble.

Hard bushings (95a+) provide the firmness needed for stability during landings and grinds. They minimize the risk of wheel bite and ensure your trucks stay responsive without feeling too loose.

Street and park skaters often tighten their trucks, compressing the bushings for added stiffness. This helps maintain control when performing flip tricks, ollies, and ledge grinds.

The Supply Network's Pro Tip is to pair a harder bottom (board-side) bushing with a slightly softer top (road-side) bushing to strike a balance between control and responsiveness.

Smooth and Responsive Carving

Cruising is all about enjoying the ride, whether you’re coasting on a boardwalk or navigating city streets. A smooth, laid-back experience requires bushings that enhance turning and flexibility.

Opt for softer bushings (78a-85a) to achieve fluid and responsive turns. These bushings compress easily, allowing for deep carves and smooth transitions.

Loosening your trucks amplifies the effects of soft bushings, making your board feel more agile and playful—perfect for weaving through pedestrians or cruising along a gentle slope.

Cone-shaped bushings work particularly well for cruisers, as they enhance maneuverability and allow for tighter turns.

 Stability at High Speeds

When it comes to downhill and freeride skating, stability and control are critical. Flying downhill at high speeds demands a setup that minimizes speed wobble while offering enough responsiveness for controlled carving.

Double barrel bushings are the go-to choice for downhill riders. Their cylindrical shape provides more urethane contact, which enhances stability and reduces unwanted movement in your trucks.

For freeriding, look for bushings with high rebound to maintain responsiveness while carving. Pair this with a slightly harder bushing for dampening vibrations and keeping your setup steady during slides or high-speed maneuvers.

Our pro tip is to use cup washers to restrict excessive bushing movement and increase stability when riding at high speeds.

 Versatility is Key

If you’re the kind of skater who likes to do a little bit of everything—street, cruising, and downhill—your bushing setup needs to be adaptable to different terrains and riding styles. Medium-hard bushings (85a-95a) offer the versatility needed for hybrid riders. They provide a mix of stability and responsiveness, making them suitable for a wide range of activities. Adjust your truck tension depending on the terrain. For example, slightly tighten your trucks for stability on rough terrain or loosen them for more freedom when carving.

The Supply Networks pro tip is to experiment with a mixed setup—such as a harder barrel bushing on one truck and a softer cone bushing on the other—to adapt your board to varied terrains and styles.

Your riding style should guide your choice of bushings, ensuring your setup enhances your performance rather than holding you back. Street skaters benefit from the stability of harder bushings, cruisers enjoy the fluidity of softer ones, and downhill riders demand the control of double barrels. For hybrid riders, a balanced setup offers the flexibility to tackle any terrain or trick.

Adjusting your bushings starts with understanding how the kingpin—the central bolt that holds your trucks together—affects bushing compression. Tightening or loosening the kingpin changes how your trucks respond to movement.

• Tightening the Kingpin and Compressing the bushings increases stiffness, which enhances stability and reduces the likelihood of wheel bite. This is especially useful for street and park skaters who need precise control for tricks and grinds. Our pro tip is to be careful not to overtighten, as this can crush your bushings and reduce their lifespan.
  
  

• Loosening the Kingpin decreases compression, making your trucks more responsive and allowing for smoother turns. This is ideal for cruisers and carvers who prefer a surf-like feel.
  
  

  • New bushings often feel stiff right out of the box. Allow a few sessions for them to break in and adjust to your riding style. During this time, they’ll soften slightly and conform to your trucks, improving their performance.

Keep Your Bushings in Top Shape

Like any other component of your skateboard, bushings require regular maintenance to perform their best and last longer.

Signs Your Bushings Need Replacing

• Over time, urethane can dry out, crack and split, especially with frequent use.
  
  
• Flattened bushings lose their ability to rebound, leading to reduced responsiveness.
  
  
•  If your bushings feel mushy or don’t return to their original shape after compression, it’s time for a replacement.
  
  

  Cleaning and Lubricating Bushings

  
  

  • Dirt and debris can build up in your trucks and affect bushing performance. Remove your bushings periodically to clean them with mild soap and water.
    
    
  • Apply a small amount of silicone-based lubricant to the contact points between the bushings and washers. This reduces friction and helps them move more smoothly.
    
    

Adjusting and maintaining your bushings is a vital step in optimising your skateboard for your unique riding style. Regular tweaks to your setup and proper care can dramatically improve your board’s responsiveness, stability, and overall performance.

By paying attention to how your bushings wear over time and experimenting with adjustments like kingpin tension, washer setups, and mismatched combinations, you’ll gain the confidence to ride in any style or terrain.

Choosing and optimising skateboard bushings can seem overwhelming, but learning from the pros and avoiding common pitfalls will set you up for success. In this section, we’ll share insider tips from experienced skateboarders and address the most frequent mistakes skaters make when it comes to bushings. By taking these lessons to heart, you’ll unlock your board’s full potential and improve your overall riding experience.

 Insights from the Pros

Professional skaters know that the right bushing setup can make all the difference in performance. Here are some expert tips to help you refine your setup:

Many pros experiment with hybrid bushing setups , such as a harder barrel paired with a softer cone, to maximize both stability and responsiveness. For example, downhill riders often favor double-barrel bushings from brands like Venom for precision at high speeds, while street skaters may choose Bones Hardcore Bushings for their quick rebound and durability.

Our Supply Network pro tip is to Keep an extra set of bushings in your skate bag—different styles and durometers—for easy adjustments when riding different terrains.

Brand Recommendations

Some of the most trusted bushing brands among professionals include Riptide , Venom , and Bones . These brands are renowned for their consistent performance, durability, and advanced urethane technologies.

Even the best skateboarders try multiple setups before settling on one that suits their style. Don’t be afraid to mix brands, shapes, or durometers to find your perfect match.

Common Mistakes

Mistakes with bushing selection and setup are common, especially for beginners. Avoid these pitfalls to save time, money, and frustration:

Budget-friendly bushings might be tempting, but low-cost options often compromise on quality and performance. Instead, invest in high-quality bushings from reputable brands that suit your riding style and last longer.

Cranking down the kingpin too hard is one of the most common mistakes. Over-tightening reduces the bushings’ ability to compress and rebound properly, leading to poor performance and a stiffer, less responsive ride. It can also damage the bushings, shortening their lifespan.

Your weight directly affects how bushings respond. Lighter riders should use softer bushings for easier turns, while heavier skaters need harder bushings for stability. Choosing the wrong durometer for your weight can result in an unbalanced or frustrating ride.

 Finding What Works for You

Bushings are one of the easiest skateboard components to experiment with, making it simple to find the perfect setup.

Start by trying out different bushing shapes, such as barrels for stability or cones for maneuverability. Once you’ve determined your preferred shape, experiment with durometers to fine-tune your setup.

Just because a certain bushing setup works for a popular pro skater doesn’t mean it will work for you. Your weight, riding style, and preferences are unique—so focus on personalizing your setup rather than copying others.

As your skills improve and your riding style evolves, your bushing needs may change. Regularly revisit your setup and make adjustments as needed to keep your board performing at its best.

 Ride Like a Pro

Mastering your bushing setup is as much about learning from others as it is about trial and error. By following the insights shared by professional skaters, investing in quality components, and avoiding common mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to achieving the perfect ride.

Skateboarding is a deeply personal experience. Taking the time to experiment and refine your setup not only enhances your performance but also brings you closer to the pure joy of skating. So don’t rush the process—tinker, test, and trust your instincts. Your perfect bushing setup is out there waiting for you.