If you look back at the history of skateboarding, there is probably no question that has been asked more often. When skateboarding was still in its infancy, this question was not entirely unjustified. Wheels were mostly made of steel and the boards were far removed from the shape, size and quality we know today. This changed at the end of the seventies when several layers of wood were glued together for the first time and decks were fitted with a kicktail. Polyurethane wheels allowed for a completely new riding experience and the industry suddenly moved rapidly towards the skateboard as we know it today. This was completed with the third big boom in the mid to late eighties. Decks were (and still are today) made of seven layers of maple wood, the material of the wheels is still the same and skateboard trucks have only undergone a few “makeovers”. So this question has actually been obsolete since the end of the 1980s, but has been asked again and again since then. Time to get to the bottom of this question.
The best deck-brands in 2024
...or "whats the best skateboard?"
Well, actually every skateboarder knows that the question is nonsense. Just like there is no such thing as THE best skater, THE best car or THE best food. Everything depends on personal preferences or needs and this also applies to skateboard hardware. Nevertheless, there may be younger skateboarders in particular who ask themselves this question and base their answer on the most popular brands. As we at TITUS naturally have precise insights into which boards were the most popular last year, we don't want to withhold these findings from you and shed some light on the whole thing.
1. Toy Machine
Founded in 1993 by Ed Templeton, the “Bloodsucking Skateboard Company” is still doing amazingly well over 30 years later - and in first place! However, this is not surprising when you consider the team and the abundant video output of the last few decades. Nevertheless, the competition has never been greater than it is today, so we can only take our hats off to a company that supports every kind of skateboarder, from Olympians to underground shredders.
2. Santa-Cruz
Yup, Santa-Cruz Skateboards are in second place and this result is quite understandable. In addition to the diverse team, including the German Justin Sommer in the professional ranks, the company from the city of the same name has one thing above all else to offer: A long history. Santa-Cruz therefore also offers a variety of re-issue models, the designs follow a line and the quality of the decks has not changed over the years. Even the relatively high prices don't seem to deter buyers...!
3. Powell-Peralta
Just like Santa-Cruz, Powell-Peralta is a company that has been around for over 40 years and is therefore well established. The guys from Santa Barbara are also always open to new innovations such as the “Flight” decks and, just like Santa-Cruz, have an immense selection of re-issue decks at the start. On top of that, with Andy Anderson they have one of the most innovative skateboarders of our time at the start, whose pro model is one of the most sought-after of all time. Always innovating, one can only say!
4. Creature
Just like Santa-Cruz, Creature come from NHS, which has not only stood for high-quality decks for over 40 years, but also behind brands such as Independent Trucks and OJ Wheels. Creature sometimes seem to run a little under the radar, but with Collin Provost, Milton Martinez and Chris Russel they have some of the hottest pros under contract. The buyer seems to be aware of this and so they end up in 4th place.
5. Polar Skate Co
Polar Skate Co, or simply Polar, comes from Sweden and was founded by former Cliche' pro Pontus Alv. In recent years, he has not only managed to establish the brand worldwide, but has also caused a stir in the textile sector with his Big Boy pants. However, as we are only talking about decks here, it remains to be said that these not only impress with their outstanding wood, but also with their varied shapes.
6. REAL Skateboards
Like many companies founded in the early nineties, the deck company from Deluxe in San Francisco stands for pure wood, great shapes and an incredibly extensive team. The name of the brand is definitely the program, here they don't twist like a flag in the wind but authenticity is the top priority. REAL decks are also not produced in China but in Mexico, which is almost irrelevant nowadays, but still represents a certain unique selling point - especially for the loyal fans.
7. Habitat
Once founded as a sub-brand of Alien Workshop, Habitat was one of the hottest brands on the market 20 years ago. A few years ago, however, the company from the Midwest became a little quieter and many people thought that Habitat no longer existed. Far from it, as we all know, the dead live longer. With the exceptional skater Marc Suciu and established pros such as Stefan Janoski, Silas Baxter-Neil and Marius Syvanen, the company from Cincinatti, Ohio not only impresses with an excellent team, but has also always remained true to its design approach.
8. ZERO
We don't need to tell anyone at this point that ZERO Skateboards is the brainchild of Jamie Thomas. Countless videos from his forge have shaped an entire “skate genre”, because when you think of ZERO, huge handrails and massive gaps immediately spring to mind. Jamie still manages to bring the heaviest, hottest moshers to his team and continues to thrill his die-hard fans with a killer video output in 2024. The 8th place in our ranking proves that this also goes down well with the ZERO disciples!
9. Magenta
The likeable French guys have always done their own thing - whether it's the video, the team or the way they skateboard. No huge handrails are mashed up here, but rather space is given to creativity on French streets. A similarly simple but very appealing line is followed by Magenta's decks, which landed in 9th place.
10. Anti-Hero
Just like REAL, Anti-Hero is produced by Deluxe Distribution in San Francisco. The mastermind behind the whole thing is Julien Stranger, a legend of the early 90s and street pioneer from the city of downhills. In addition to the iconic “Eagle Design”, Anti-Hero has everything a stylish company that remains true to the underground needs. In addition, the German-based Austrian Chris Pfanner has been a pro at AH for over 10 years, which underpins their dedication to true shredders.