The 10 Best Skateboard Wheels

Thanks to their generous 80mm diameter, the Orangatang Kegel Downhill (appx. $60) allow for a buttery smooth ride over rough roads, sticks, rocks, and more. They have sharp, angled lips that provide an optimal grip, so you can carve hard on sidewalks or lean into turns at high speeds.

Perfect for beginners on a tight budget, the Everland 65x51 (around $18) are crafted from a durable, bouncy polyurethane that produces minimal noise and offers great shock absorption. Their broad contact patches make them especially well suited for cruising and commuting.

As the name implies, these Ricta Clouds (appx. $30) can make even the roughest roads feel like smooth warehouse floors. Their wide profiles provide reliable control, and they're offered in multiple sizes, hardnesses, and colors, so you can find the perfect set for your skill level.

If you're looking for something to feed your nostalgia, then you'll want to consider the Santa Cruz Slimeballs (about $32), which use the company's original molds, graphics, logo, and formula from the 1980s. Their surfaces are stone-ground, rather than smooth, so sliding is a breeze.

The old school skeleton graphics alone are enough to make the Powell-Peralta G-Bones (about $40) a compelling choice. They have more to offer than just a cool aesthetic, though, since they boast a hardness rating that helps with everything from powersliding to shredding half-pipes.

Made for both the street and the skatepark, the Spitfire Classics (appx. $33) are hand-poured and shaped in the United States. They come with hybrid steel-ceramic bearings that pulverize dirt and self-clean as you ride, sparing them from damage and ensuring a long lifespan.

For something a little different, try the Shark Wheel California Roll (about $39). They may look a bit funny, but their unorthodox shape actually pushes small objects out of the way and provides less rolling resistance, so they can cut a path through sand, snow, dirt, and water.

The Skate One Mini-Logo Hybrid (around $20) use a high-rebound formula that facilitates the same speed and durability you'd find in a hard wheel without sacrificing softness, so you can tackle any type of terrain with confidence. They sport a slim shape that's helpful for learning.

If your main concerns are attaining high speeds and taking on ledges, rails, gaps, and manual pads, then the Ricta Sparx (about $15) should meet your needs. They're made with a classic park-style shape and slide extremely well, so they're a tad advanced for those just starting out.

The Big Boy Blank (around $12) are a solid selection if you need a reliable set on the cheap, since they come with Bullseye ABEC 7 bearings outfitted with red shields that are removable for cleaning. Drifters will love that they have rounded edges that break free of traction easily.