Skateboard bearings are one of the most important parts of any skateboard setup. Without them, your skateboard wouldn’t be able to roll since there’s nothing allowing your wheels to spin. If you’re new to skateboarding and looking to buy your first setup, knowing what to look for in bearings will make for a smoother and more enjoyable experience on your skateboard.
Skateboard bearings are small circular devices that are placed inside the wheels to control how fast they spin. Skateboards require 8 bearings (2 for each wheel), most commonly made out of steel or ceramic materials. Bearing sizes are universal for all skateboard wheels and trucks.
Although it’s important to know the basic premise of what a bearing does, knowing the mechanics more in-depth will help you when it comes time to buy a new set. Skate bearings can range in price from $15 – $150+ so knowing what makes a bearing “good” can save you from spending more than you need.
Let’s start by breaking down what a skateboard bearing actually is, how they differ, and then talk about some of the best skateboard bearings I’d recommend from personal experience.
What Are Skateboard Bearings?
Skateboard bearings are what allow your wheels to be mounted onto the axle of your trucks while controlling how fast they can spin. These bearings are industrial standard “608” size bearings with an 8mm bore, a 22mm outer diameter, and a 7mm width. All skateboard wheels are designed with the same bearing size requirements making skateboard bearings universal for skateboard and longboard wheels.
Parts Of A Skateboard Bearing
Skateboard bearings are made up of a few main parts known as the bearing balls, the inner and outer race, the retainer, the shields, bearing spacers, and speed washers. Let’s break these down one by one.
– Bearing Balls
The bearing balls are what allow your wheel to rotate. In skateboard bearings, there are six to seven small balls that roll along the inner and outer race to rotate the bearing. To ensure the balls don’t fall out of the bearing, a retainer holds them in place; keeping them on a single path around the races.
When you lift the shield off of a bearing, you can see the bearing balls inside. When you spin the bearing you will see how the balls spin around the races to rotate the bearing.
– Inner & Outer Races
The inner and outer races are the metal rings on the inside and outside of the bearing. These rings give the bearing balls a track to follow along and hold the contents of the bearing together.
– Retainer
The retainer holds the bearing balls in place at equal distances and is visible when the shield is removed from your bearing. This piece ensures the bearing balls stay in place, helps to reduce friction, while also improving the strength of the bearing.
– Bearing Shield
Bearing shields are the often colorful piece on the outside of your skateboard bearing. These cover the inside of your bearings and protect them from excess dust and debris. Many skateboard bearings have removable shields so it’s easy to clean and lubricate the bearing when needed. However, some high-performance bearings don’t have shields for reduced friction at maximum speed.
– Bearing Spacers
Although most bearing kits don’t come with spacers, they are something that can be purchased separately if needed. Spacers are small metal cylinders that fit between your two bearings in the center of the wheel. For soft-core wheels, this ensures the bearings stay parallel to one another for optimal performance. However, they can also be useful to protect your bearings from being forced together by an over-tightened axle nut.
With bearing spacers you can fully tighten your axle nut and your wheel will still spin freely. They’re completely optional for skateboards and longboards, but they are ideal for powerslides since they reduce vibration and make the board easier to control.
– Speed Washers
Speed washers are small metal washers that are placed between the bolt and the outer edge of your bearing. These washers come with any set of trucks and are optional to use. The advantage of speed washers is that it extends the lifespan of your bearing, protecting the bearing from the axle nut and allowing them to spin smoother.
Skateboard Bearing ABEC Ratings Explained
The ABEC rating is a system that rates the capabilities and tolerance of a bearing, but it’s made specifically with industrial bearings in mind. This means that the ABEC rating of a bearing is somewhat irrelevant to how good a skateboard bearing will be. Many skaters will assume that a higher ABEC rating means a faster and smoother bearing, but that’s not the case. The ABEC system does not take into consideration the unique situations, speed, lateral stress, and abuse a skateboard bearing will take compared to an industrial bearing. Likewise, a small grain of dirt could reduce the performance of a higher ABEC rated bearing and technically change its rating.
To put this into perspective of how the ABEC system doesn’t apply to skateboard bearings well, the industrial 608 bearing (the same bearing used in skateboarding), has a max RPM (revolutions per minute) of 40,000 RPM with an ABEC 1 rating. Meanwhile, an ABEC 7 bearing has a max speed of 56,000 RPM
What that means in terms of speed is that an ABEC 1 bearing is capable of reaching speeds of 160mph or 255km/h.
Meanwhile, an ABEC 7 bearing can reach speeds of 260mph or 420km/h.
These speeds fail in comparison to the current skateboard speed record of 91.7 mph / 146.73km/h. Not to mention, most skateboard wheels will begin to disintegrate after reaching speeds of 100mph. So ultimately, even an ABEC 1 bearing would get you by if you’re trying to break a world record.
You can see the breakdown of these calculations here.
Ultimately, ABEC rating isn’t something to be super concerned about. You should instead focus on the build materials of the bearing since that’s where real differences will be felt.
Skateboard Bearing Materials
There are three different materials bearings are made of. The material you choose can offer certain advantages at high speeds or wet weather, but will also drastically changing the price.
– Steel Bearings
Steel bearings are the most common and cheapest bearing available. They’re great for any level of skater, but especially those who don’t want to drop big money on a set of bearings.
With steel bearings, the bearing balls are made of steel along with the inner and outer races. Some of these bearings use more premium steel that bumps up the price in exchange for a more durable and faster-spinning bearing.
The downside to steel bearings is that they heat up quickly which causes increased friction and slightly reduced rolling speeds. They also can rust easily when exposed to moisture, especially if you’re riding in the rain. To ensure steel bearings last you will need to regularly clean and lubricate them to keep them rolling smoothly. Especially if they’ve gotten wet!
– Ceramic Bearings
Ceramic bearings use ceramic bearing balls with steel races. The advantage to ceramics is they are much harder than steel bearings. This ensures they don’t deform under load. Since ceramic can’t rust, these bearings are ideal if you accidentally get caught in the rain, or are skating on wet cement. Although this is something you’d want to avoid for the overall health of your skateboard, you wouldn’t need to worry much about your ceramic bearings. The only area that can rust with ceramic bearings is the inner and outer races that are still made of steel.
The downside to ceramic bearings is that they are more brittle than steel bearings making them more likely to break under extreme force. When skating big drops or stair sets, ceramic bearings aren’t as trustworthy as steel or titanium bearings. However, they prove highly useful for low-impact skateboarding like commuting to school or work.
– Titanium Bearings
Titanium bearings are much lighter than steel bearings but perform similarly in terms of speed and durability. The difference comes with extra strength and corrosion resistance with Titanium which is an added advantage for long-lasting bearings. As long as these bearings are well maintained and lubricated, you can expect them to last for quite a while, no matter what you’re skating.
Except for in the rain, I suppose.
Do Skateboard Bearings Affect Your Speed?
Despite a bearings ABEC rating or materials, the primary effect on the speed of your skateboard is the size of your wheel. Larger wheels along with well-lubricated bearings will ensure your skateboard rolls as fast and as smooth as possible.
With that said, having ceramic or titanium bearings can make a slight difference in how fast your board can go. However, without the right wheel size and bearing maintenance, this won’t make a difference.
As I talked about in this post on how to make your skateboard faster, larger wheels have more leverage to overcome the friction of the axle. That along with covering more ground per rotation allows them to go significantly faster than a small wheel.
Now in terms of bearing maintenance, a bearing eventually gets filled with dust and dirt that makes it hard for the bearing balls to roll smoothly. By regularly cleaning and lubricating your bearings, you ensure the bearings can rotate freely with the least amount of friction on the races.
So ultimately the bearing you choose won’t drastically affect the speed of your skateboard. The primary difference comes in durability, weight, and corrosion or rust resistance.
5 Best Skateboard Bearings
1. Bones Super Reds (Best Overall)
Best For – Skateboarding, Cruising, Longboards
Price – Average
Material – Premium Steel
The Bones Super Reds are one of my favorite bearings I’ve skated because they aren’t super expensive, but roll like a much higher quality bearing. Made with more premium steel in the races and bearing balls, these bearings are longer lasting and more durable than the standard Bones Reds bearings. Since they have a different finishing surface on the races than the Bones Reds, they roll smoother, faster, and overall quieter than cheaper bearings I’ve skated.
This bearing is a great option for any type of skateboarding, but also is ideal for cruisers and longboards if you avoid wet ground. Since these bearings are steel, they will be quick to rust if they get wet without time to dry and lubricate afterward.
2. Bones Reds (Best Cheap Bearing)
Best For – Skateboarding, Longboards
Price – Cheap
Material – Steel
The Bones Reds are one of the best entry-level bearings for all skaters. I’ve skated several sets of these over the years and am always happy with how well they roll for such a cheap price. They’re your standard steel bearings, but Bones takes extra care in their manufacturing process and double inspects every bearing before being shipped.
Does this make a difference? I honestly can’t tell.
But what I can tell is that you can’t go wrong with these if you want a great set of bearings for a low price. With that said, I wouldn’t go for these bearings for a cruiser board since other bearings on this list will offer a smoother and quieter ride.
3. Bronson Speed Co G3
Best For – Skateboarding, Cruising, Longboards
Price – Average
Material – Steel
Comparable to the Bones Super Reds, the Bronson G3 are another great middle-of-the-road bearing for all types of skaters. It rolls like butter and is quieter than cheaper bearings I’ve skated. Unlike Bones, the Bronson G3’s have grooved races to help distribute lubricant more effectively. Likewise, they have micro-grooved races to help keep the ball bearings on track and increase the impact strength. For skating big features of cruising around town, these bearings are a good option for everyone.
4. Bronson Speed Co G2
Best For – Skateboarding, Longboards
Price – Cheap
Material – Steel
The Bronson G2 bearings are another amazing option to consider if you are looking at the Bones Reds. Although comparable in price, there are a few features that make these bearings stand out. The primary aspects are grooved races to improve bearing lubrication and frictionless shields.
These are a marginal step down from the G3 bearings since they don’t have micro-grooved race surfaces or an impact cage. However, that doesn’t make a massive impact on how they roll and feel to skate. For skateboarding or longboarding, these are another solid option at a cheaper price.
5. Bones Ceramic Super Reds
Best For – Cruising, Longboards
Price – Expensive
Material – Ceramic
Although super expensive, these bearings are some of the best for anyone focused on the smoothest rides at top speeds. As a skateboarder skating street and bowl, these are definitely overkill. However, for cruising around town or on longboards, these bearings have some of the best performance in terms of getting up to speed.
Since this bearing is essentially the same as the Bones Super Reds, but with ceramic bearing balls, the bearing is lighter weight and rolls with far less friction. For pushing and maintaining speed, you can feel the difference in acceleration compared to a standard steel bearing. Since these are ceramic bearings, these aren’t ideal for skating drops, stairs, or other big features.
Skateboard bearings are a crucial part of your setup, but price and material doesn’t play as significant of a role as you might think. Choosing a bearing ultimately comes down to what type of skateboarding you plan to do, and how much you feel comfortable spending. Stop in at your local skate shop and take a look at what bearings they have to offer or find a wide selection online at Tactics Skate Shop.
Happy Shredding!
Brendan 🙂
