5 Best Skateboard Truck Brands (Best Trucks of 2022)

The best skateboard truck brands are Independent, Tensor, Krux, Royal, and Destructo. Sure, there are a few others that come close like Venture, Thunder, Ace, Compound, and Silver. However, they’re not as established as the brands above.

That being said, any trucks from the aforementioned companies will be better than blank trucks, trucks made by unknown companies, or the trucks that come with a complete skateboard. Now, let’s dive into the top skateboard truck brands and the best trucks that they design.

What Are The Best Skateboard Truck Brands?

1. Independent Truck Company
2. Tensor Trucks
3. Krux Trucks
4. Royal Trucks
5. Destructo

Independent Truck Company

Established: 1978
Founded by: Richard Novak, Jay Shiurman, Fausto Vitello, and Eric Swenson
Headquarters: Santa Cruz, California

Independent Truck Company was founded in Santa Cruz, California in 1978 by Richard Novak, Jay Shiurman, Fausto Vitello, and Eric Swenson. Independent has always been my personal go-to brand for trucks. They’ve always had the reputation of being a heavy but extremely strong and durable truck.

Some of the most famous skateboarders that have rode for Independent Trucks include Danny Way, Bucky Lasek, Eric Kosten, Lizard King, Ryan Sheckler, Andrew Reynolds, and Tony Trujillo.

Independent skateboard trucks have been released as 11 different stages as they’ve gotten better over the years. For any Independent trucks that you’ve purchased after 2012, they’ll be the stage 11’s. With each stage, they made incredible strides to improve their trucks.

• Best Independent trucks for a 7.75” deck = Independent Stage 11 Skateboard Trucks (129mm)
• Best Independent trucks for a 8.00” deck = Independent Stage 11 Skateboard Trucks (139mm)
• Best Independent trucks for a 8.25” deck = Independent Stage 11 Skateboard Trucks (144mm)
• Best Independent trucks for a 8.50” deck = Independent Stage 11 Skateboard Trucks (149mm)

Tensor Trucks

Established: 2000
Founded by: Rodney Mullen 

Tensor Trucks was founded in 2000 by professional skateboarder, Rodney Mullen. Mullen specifically designed Tensor skateboard trucks to be different from any other on the market. The goal was to create trucks that would be more beneficial for his style of skateboarding.

Tensor trucks are perfect for flip tricks but they’re more stiff when it comes to turning. They’re often referred to as being the lightest truck and have uniquely designed hardware. The axle and the kingpin bolt are both hollow, helping to eliminate material weight.

Some of the most notable riders for the Tensor Trucks team include Rodney Mullen, Daewon Song, Chris Haslam, and Chris Cole.

• Best Tensor trucks for a 7.75” deck = Tensor Alloys Raw Skateboard Trucks (5.00”)
• Best Tensor trucks for a 8.00” deck = Tensor Alloys Raw Skateboard Trucks (5.25”)
• Best Tensor trucks for a 8.25” deck = Tensor Alloys Raw Skateboard Trucks (5.50”)
• Best Tensor trucks for a 8.50” deck = Tensor Alloys Raw Skateboard Trucks (5.75”)

Krux Trucks

Established: 1989
Founded by: Steve Keenan
Headquarters: Santa Cruz, California

Krux was founded by Steve Keenan in 1989 with the help of NHS Fun Factory. Keenan is the ‘K’ in Krux. Keenan + trucks = Krux.

Krux displays over the top colorways and graphics on their trucks that are lightweight, strong, and bold.

Krux Trucks has always been a brand that enjoyed showing their humor and the ability to make fun of themselves. The team skaters have always seemed to fit that mould. 

Notable riders for the Krux Trucks team include Alan Peterson, Eman, Kareem Campbell, Steve Caballero, Ricky Oyola, Karl Watson, Dan Murphy, Anthony Mosley, Winsdor James, and Pat Washington.

• Best Krux trucks for a 7.75” deck = Krux K5 Skateboard Trucks (7.60″) Black/Pink
• Best Krux trucks for a 8.00” deck = Krux K5 Skateboard Trucks (8.00”) Galaxy
• Best Krux trucks for a 8.25” deck = Krux K5 Skateboard Trucks (8.25”) Nora Vasconcellos Triangle
• Best Krux trucks for a 8.50” deck = Krux K5 Skateboard Trucks (8.50”) Galaxy

Royal Trucks

Established: 1999
Founded by: Guy Mariano and Rudy Johnson
Headquarters: Torrance, California

Royal Trucks was founded in 1999 in Torrance, California by skate legends, Guy Mariano and Rudy Johnson. They’ve been around for over 20 years but are still one of the smaller skateboard companies out there.

Royal Trucks are known for high quality, good handling, and having plenty of style.

Some of the most popular skaters that have rode for Royal Trucks include Vincent Alvarez, Mike Mo Capaldi, and Mike Carroll.

• Best Royal trucks for a 7.75” deck = Royal Skateboard Trucks (5.00”)
• Best Royal trucks for a 8.00” deck = Royal Skateboard Trucks (5.25”)
• Best Royal trucks for a 8.25” deck = Royal Skateboard Trucks (5.50”)

Destructo

Established: 1996
Founded by: Giant Distribution
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California

Destructo was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1996 by skateboarding distributor, Giant Distribution.  Destructo is not as large of a company as Independent or Tensor, but they still provide quality trucks with a lifetime guarantee.

Destructo trucks are made with weapon-grade aluminum, hollow kingpins for weight reduction, and SuperFormula bushings and pivots for a smooth ride.

Do Skateboard Truck Brands Matter?

Do skateboard truck brands matter when it comes to the quality of your ride? This is a question that has been asked by skaters for years, and the answer is not always clear.

Some brands, such as Tensor, Royal, and Destructo, are known for their high quality and good handling. These trucks are often more expensive than other brands, but many skaters believe that they are worth the extra cost.

The brand doesn’t matter as much as the quality and materials of the trucks. However, the best skateboard truck brands always use the best materials and are made with quality in mind.

What Should You Consider When Buying Skateboard Trucks?

When choosing skateboard trucks, it is important to consider the width of the trucks, the height of the kingpin, and the hardness of the bushings. These factors will all affect the performance of your trucks and how they feel when riding.

The width of the truck should be matched to the width of your deck.

The height of the kingpin is also important. Kingpins that are too tall can make your trucks feel unstable, while those that are too short can make them difficult to turn. The best way to determine the ideal height for your trucks is to experiment and find what works best for you.

The hardness of the bushings is also an important factor to consider. Softer bushings will provide a smoother ride, but they may not be able to handle the same level of abuse as harder bushings. Harder bushings will be more durable, but they may make your ride less smooth.

The best way to find the perfect skateboard trucks for you is to experiment with different brands and find the ones that work best for your skating style. There is no one perfect brand or model of truck, so it’s important to try out a variety of options before settling on the right one for you.

Conclusion

Skateboard trucks are an essential part of any skateboard, and the right trucks can make a big difference in your riding. There are many different brands and models of trucks to choose from, so it’s important to find the ones that work best for you.

The width of the truck should be matched to the width of your deck, and the height of the kingpin is also important. The hardness of the bushings is also an important factor to consider.

When looking for new skateboard trucks, it is important to experiment with different brands and find the ones that work best for your skating style. There is no one perfect brand or model of truck, so it’s important to try out a variety of options before settling on the right one for you.