To every skateboarder, the bearings are one of the most important parts of your board.
If you’re new to skateboarding: they are the lifeblood of your board’s wheels. They are machines that go inside of the wheel and bear the wheel – preventing friction and increasing speed.
On our list below, we’ll give you the details on some of the best longboard bearings currently available. I addition, we have included a “need to know” section to clarify some points concerning the bearings.
Let’s do this!
Things You Need to Know About Bearings
As we have mentioned before, bearings go inside of the wheels and carry them, reducing friction and increasing the speed and maneuverability of the longboard. Usually, there are two bearings per wheel, and when buying them, you’ll get a package of eight bearings in total.
- Important details about construction. Bearings have several layers including a shield, inner race, 7 balls, retainer and the outer race. The balls in the bearings are actually the ones that reduce friction and control how will they perform.
- Pay Attention to Material. When picking the bearings you need to pay attention to the material the bearings are made of. Usually, they are made of steel, but some companies have begun selling ceramic-made bearings. Ceramic bearings reduce friction better and allow for higher speeds, but at the same time, are more brittle and prone to breaking.
- The Speed Factor. Finally, how do you know how fast are the bearings? Since there are many types and styles of bearings, a standardized list of ratings was needed. That’s where the ABEC scaling system steps in, simply rating the speed from 1 to 9, with 9 being the fastest and 1 being the slowest bearings.
Top 10 Longboard Bearings Table
| Picture | Name | Material | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. SupaFly Alpha Aggressive Skateboard LongBoard Roller Skate Bearings Set | Steel | $$ | 4.7 |
 | 2. Bones Bearings Reds Bearings | Steel | $$$ | 4.6 |
 | 3. Zealous Bearings for Longboards and Skateboards | Steel | $$ | 4.6 |
 | 4. VXB 608 ZZ Skateboard Bearings, Double Shielded | Steel | $ | 4.4 |
 | 5. Dark Wolf Skateboard Bearings Titanium ABEC 11 Purple Gold | Titanium/steel | $$ | 4.2 |
 | 6. Bones Swiss Ceramics Bearings | Ceramic | $$$$ | 4.1 |
 | 7. SWISS Skateboard Bearings Full Set of 8 Pcs Precision Quality | Steel | $ | 4.0 |
 | 8. Pacific Flyers Premium ABEC 9 Skateboard Bearings | Steel | $$ | 3.7 |
 | 9. Mini Skater Generic Abec 9 Precision 608 Zz Bearing Skateboard Deck Longboard Red Silver Unit X16 | Steel | $ | 3.6 |
 | 10. Generic ABEC 9 Bearings Skateboard Deck Longboard Red Silver | Steel | $ | 3.5 |
Top 3 Best Longboard Bearings Reviews
1. SupaFly Alpha Aggressive Bearings Set
Standing on the top of our best longboard bearings list are the SupaFly Alpha Aggressive bearings. These high-quality bearings are the best ones you can get, and there are plenty of reasons for this.
The product contains the GCR15 steel balls that reduce the friction to virtually nothing, allowing you to develop amazing speeds on the tarmac. In addition, the bearings are extremely durable – they can take a great amount of beating.
The bearings are also pre-lubricated and come with a high impact-resistant nylon cage. The ABCE rating for these bearings is 7, which is quite fast and more than enough to quench any thirst for speed you might have. Needless to say, cruising is also a perfectly viable option with this item.
Pros:
- Very fast bearings
- They produce minimal friction
- Highly durable, with a nylon cage
- GCR15 steel balls allow for extreme speeds
2. Bones Bearings Reds Bearings
Taking the number 2 spot are the Bones Bearings Red bearings. As a product of the Bones Bearings company, the Red Bearings enjoy great trust and adoration of longboarders and skateboarders around the world.
These are steel-made pre-lubricated bearings, lubricated with Speed Cream racing lubricant. This causes the bearings to allow for minimal friction and very high speeds.
In order to withstand all the strain put on them due to the speeds developed, the bearings are made extra durable. The responsiveness factor is also nothing short of top notch, and we love how the pre-lubrication process has been executed.
They are not ABCE rated, though, but their popularity makes up for this. Overall, when the price is taken into account, you really can’t say a whole lot of bad things about this fella. Thumbs up here!
Pros:
- A trusted brand product.
- Extremely fast bearings.
- Great responsiveness.
- Pre-lubricated.
- Extremely durable.
Con:
- Not ABEC rated.
3. Zealous Bearings
Our third entry comes from Zealous. These bearings are just as great as the more famous brands, so if you’re having second thoughts, don’t. And to make them even better, the company has sealed these bearings so they need no cleaning.
But, what truly makes these bearings special is the Archoil Nanoceramic lube. This lubricant fills out the irregularities and crevices in the bearings, effectively removing heating due to friction, prolonging the bearings’ lifespan and allowing them to go very fast. Still, they are made of steel, making them significantly slower than ceramic models, but their durability is much higher as a result.
Overall, if you like sturdy items and speed is not the most important factor you take into consideration when buying longboard bearings, this product just might be your ideal fit. Feel free to check out the summary below.
Pros:
- Archoil Nanoceramic lubricant fills out the irregularities of the bearings, allowing for extreme speeds without sacrificing durability.
- They are rubber-sealed, preventing dirt from getting in, allowing for no maintenance.
- Steel-made bearings mean long lifespan.
Cons
- Slightly slower
Final Word
So, there they are – the best longboard bearings on the market. When choosing from our list, be sure that the bearings reflect your riding style – fast bearings aren’t for everybody. That is why before any purchase you need to check the ABEC ratings for the desired bearings. Finally, once you install them, be sure to enjoy your ride. These are all top items within their respective price niches, leaving us with no other choice but to say good stuff, a thumbs up from here!
