To bring the best out of your street skating game, it’s a must to have a solid set of wheels under your board. And what’s the most crucial part of a skateboard wheel? Undoubtedly, the bearing is as it keeps the board rolling.
So no matter which type of skateboarding you do, bearings carry great significance. But when it comes to street skating, choosing the suitable bearing gets even more important. As the popularity of skateboarding is growing, there are tons of new manufacturers in the market producing good bearings for street skating.
If you are confused about which bearing to get, below, you should check out my list of best bearing for street Skateboarding. The product review section alongside the buying guide will help you choose the best one.
Our Top 5 Picks For Best Skateboard Bearings For Beginners
Do You Need Different Bearings For Street Skating?
Assuming you are a beginner asking this question, it would be easier to understand if you know what street skating is. Street skating is basically like regular skateboarding, with the difference being skaters use different “street obstacles” like stairs, curbs and rails to compete and do their tricks with skateboard.
So, do you really need separate bearings for street skating?
Absolutely not. Let’s just skip the idea of street skating and regular skating for a moment, and you’ll see both are similar. You won’t even find a set of bearings on the market that’s specially marked for street skating.
All you have to do here is pick a good set of bearings that fit yours’s skate wheel brand on the market, and you’ll be good to go for street skating. In your search for the best bearings, my reviews can be a great help, so keep reading.
Detailed Review On Best Bearing For Skateboards
1. Bones Reds Skateboard Bearings
If you have any prior knowledge about skateboarding parts, you should know how well-known bones s in the field of bearings. They offer bearings at different price points, and Bones Red bearings are arguably the king of affordable skateboard bearing segment.
Let’ start with the performance as it’s the most crucial aspect of any bearing. In this particular sector, Bones Reds is ready to blow your mind with its smoothness and durability. These skateboards are skate rated and spin fast to give you riding satisfaction.
The bearings are made of stainless steel, so in terms of durability, it has your back. Another feature I really like is the rubber shields at the side of each bearing. They are easily removable, which make the cleaning process a lot easier.
Additionally, the inclusion of spacers, washers and a skate tool make Bones Red a truly appealing choice. It’s impressive to see they have pulled it off with a price tag this low.
What We Liked
- Good value for money
- Removable rubber shield
- Washers, spacers and skate tool included
- Low friction for a smoother ride
What We Didn’t Like
- Some units have an inconsistent spin issue.
Reason To Buy
If you are a beginner, the Bones Reds is the ideal choice for you. They are pretty affordable yet provides good quality and extra tool to start your street skating journey.
Buy Bones Reds Skateboard Bearings At Amazon2. [CCS] Premium Skateboard Bearings
CCS is considered one of the oldest players in the skateboard parts industry, delivering quality products over the last three decades. So if you are here with a minimal budget in mind, these CCS bearings just might be the thing you are looking for.
Despite being the cheapest skateboard bearing on my list, it’s impressive enough to see that CCS doesn’t make any compromise in terms of build quality and performance. You’ll get a premium steel build while ABEC 7 rating ensures that the bearings can function at high RPM.
There are some construction and design touches, which makes this skateboard bearing an impressive choice to my eyes. First of all, the blue steel shields bend is pretty well & compatible with any skateboard design.
Additionally, the shields are removable so that you can clean the bearings easily without any hassle. To add more convenience to the usage, CCS ships these skateboards pre-lubricated. All you have to do is put the bearings on the wheels and start riding.
What We Liked
- An affordable option for beginners
- Durable steel construction
- Easy to clean
- ABEC 7 rated for higher RPM
What We Didn’t Like
- Tends to lose the performance faster
Reason To Buy
You should buy these bearings only if you have a budget limitation. There are some performance issues, yet it performed better than its competitors at this price point.
Buy CCS Premium Skateboard Bearings At Amazon3. Yellow Jacket Premium Inline Skate Bearings
Finding a premium yet affordable bearings set has never been easier, but Yellow Jacket’s premium inline skate bearings might come as a solution. There are lots of good features to talk about in this bearing.
Let’s begin with its superb performance and durability. The bearings of this set are skate rated with ABEC 9 rating, so you’ll get the highest RPM possible from these bearings.
These bearings from Yellow Jacket comes with steel construction with engraved coloured seals at the side. These seals serve two purposes; one is that they make the bearings look cool. Secondly, they offer excellent protection from dirt and dust so that the bearings can work efficiently for a long time.
Like our previous options, these Yellow Jacket bearings, too, come pre-lubricated with special racing lube. So, right out of the box, you can use these. For the price, you are getting sixteen pieces of bearings, which is another great side of this set. You can share the extra pieces with someone or use them later again.
What We Liked
- Pre-lubricated with racing lube
- It comes in a pack of sixteen bearings
- Money-back guarantee
- ABEC 9 rated bearings
What We Didn’t Like
- Complaints about faulty units in the pack
Reason To Buy
If you are looking for a versatile set of bearings with which you can cover other grounds, these Yellow Jacket bearings are for you. The number of bearings this set offer makes it an excellent value for money.
Buy Yellow Jacket Premium Bearings At Amazon4. INDEPENDENT GP-R Skateboard Bearings
Starting from this one, the options you’ll see on this list are somewhat less familiar on the market yet provides excellent quality and value for the money. Independent GP-R is one such bearing for street skating, which really impressed me with its sheer smoothness and speed.
These bearings have an all-steel construction with ABEC 5 rating. While the durability is ensured, some of you might ask questions about the ABEC rating here. Let me assure you that there is nothing to worry about; as for the price ABEC 5 rating is still pretty good, and the bearings were buttery smooth throughout my testing.
Thanks to the pre-lubrication by Independent, the smoothness stays intact when you get them out of the box. Additionally, the shields of these bearings are removable so that you can clean the bearings easily.
What We Liked
- Removal shields for easy cleaning
- It comes pre-lubricated in the package
- Micro-polished steel races
- Good value for the money
What We Didn’t Like
- Lubrication fades out quickly
Reason To Buy
Many of us don’t want to break the bank when we just start skateboarding. So for those people, these bearings are great. They come pre-lubes, they are fast enough, and you can’t really complain for the price.
Buy Independent Skateboard Bearings At Amazon5. Bronson Speed Co. David Gravette Pro G3 Skateboard Bearings
Though this one is not a cheap option, Bronson Speed Co. David Gravette Pro G3 earned a spot on the list with unique design aesthetics that simultaneously look stylish and make the bearings work better.
The first thing you’ll notice about these bearings is the unique shields, which give these bearings a totally different outlook. Everything is precisely made with steel from the cage constructions to the balls, so it can easily withstand the wear and tear of street skating.
The deep micro groove raceway is specially designed to make the balls roll deep inside for the best speed and lubrication. Additionally, it also reduces the chance of breakage and damage from side impact.
The shields at the side are removable and properly fitted, which means you don’t have to worry about the accidental pop-off.
Another thing Branson Speed Co. paid attention to is the rust-proofing of these bearings. These bearings come with a high-speed ceramic oil coating to prevent moisture, rust and corrosion.
What We Liked
- It comes with a carrying case
- Unique deep micro groove raceway
- Frictionless pop-off resistant shields
- Ceramic oil coating for rust protection
What We Didn’t Like
- Price is a bit high compared to other brands
Reason To Buy
As you can see, Bronson Speed Co. has put in good efforts to create something very innovative. And I would like to verify that all their efforts translate into excellent performance. So outside of familiar names, these bearings are a pretty easy recommendation.
Buy Bronson Speed Bearing At Amazon6. Shake Junt Night Train Skateboard Bearings
Ending the list with another set of affordable bearings. These bearings from Shake Junt are purely performance-focused, with no extra gimmicks or features. But it delivers where it matters the most, in the performance department.
These high-precision bearings come in a set of eight, and they bring extreme versatility with them. Not only skateboarding, but you can also use these with skate shoes and other purposes too. The overall street skating experience was good, without generating hardly any noise.
For the low price, the attention to little details in design was incredible to see. Shake Junt used rubber shields to keep dirt off the bearings. The rubber shields also make the removal, therefore the cleaning, pretty easy.
Pros
- Easily removable rubber shields
- Produces hardly any noise
- Versatile usage
- Super durability with steel construction
Cons
- Needs frequent lubrication
Reasons to buy
If you are looking for a bearing set solely focused on performance, you should check these bearings out. These bearings might lack some familiar features from other options on the list, but the affordable price and high performance make up for that.
Buy Shake Junt Night Train At AmazonBuying Guide On Best Bearing For Street Skating
I have compiled a list of factors that primarily affect the performance of a skateboard bearing. These factors will also help you filter out the best product among hundreds of options on the market.
1. ABEC Ratings
If you have researched on your own previously, you might notice some manufacturers heavily marketing. I totally agree the ABEC rating is a good indicator of the performance of the bearing, but most of the time, people misinterprets what this rating means.
A higher ABEC rating refers to a tighter tolerance and higher precision. These two things ultimately allow the bearing to spin at a high RPM. That’s why some companies and skaters say that ABEC rating is synonymous with high speed.
The problem actually starts when you forget to check out other factors like ball precision, material, Rockwell hardness, raceway design and noise. As ABEC rating doesn’t include these crucial factors, some manufacturers, for example, Bones, don’t use ABEC rating for their bearings.
My advice here will be to look for other features too other than the ABEC rating. Only ABEC rating cannot draw the whole picture here.
2. Bearings Elements
You need to have a good idea about the different parts of a bearing to judge which one will better fit you. A skateboard bearing is composed of these seven parts mentioned below. Each one of these parts is significant for a bearing’s performance.
a) C-Ring
A thin ring that sits in the groove to keep the shields in place.
b) Outer Ring
Outer ring basically refers to the exterior outside, in which other pieces fit in.
c) Shield
Another ring that sits after the C-ring, thicker and wider in size. It prevents dirt from getting inside the bearing.
d) Inner Ring
Inner ring is a small ring that fits after the outer ring and shield. When you install a bearing, the axle of the skateboard goes through it.
e) Balls
The balls are exactly what it sounds like, which sit on a ball retainer. Depending on the bearings, these balls can be made of steel or ceramic. The whole bearing casing revolves around these balls.
f) Rubber Seal
The rubber seal is just like the shield I mentioned earlier. The difference is that it’s made out of rubber, which makes it easily removable. In addition, it prevents the dirt from getting in and when the bearing need cleaning, you can just pop the seal off and clean it.
3. Material
There are two materials used for bearing constructions, one is steel, and the other is ceramic. Most of the bearings available on the market are made of steel, mainly because it’s superb durability at a relatively lower price. These bearings perform pretty well too.
Now, ceramic is considered the most high-end material in the bearing industry. The main benefit of ceramic bearing is that it has hardly any friction and doesn’t expand due to heat. But these benefits also come at a considerably higher price than a steel bearing.
Which of these two materials you should choose is up to you. But if it’s steel bearing, make sure to buy from a known brand as there can be made of low-quality steel.
4. Bearing Spacer Requirement For Street Skating
Bearing spacers are those little cylinders that sit between two bearings in a wheel. For the most part, it works as a weight reducer. Because of these, the skateboard turns become much smoother and stable. If your skateboard is not turning well, then you should clean your bearing well alongside correcting the trucks and deck.
If you are a casual skater who just rides for fun or regular commuting, spacers are not very important for you. This is because these types of activities usually don’t put pressure on the wheels.
On the other hand, if you are into serious activity like street skating, which involves sliding, stomping and landing on the board, you should really consider spacers to maintain the health of your bearings.
Wrapping Up
Here we are at the end of my article. As you can see, most of the bearings I have chosen for this list is from premium brands, as they are typically the best bet to get your desired products on the market. However, for other options, I felt that they were really good despite coming from less-known brands.
I have done a ton of research before putting together this list of bearings for street skating, so many of them should provide you with a good experience. Also, the positive feedbacks of these bearings speaks for their superior quality. If the confusion still persists, the buying guide will help you look for other options outside the list.6.
Hi, this is Jerry, a skateboarder, who loves to talk about micro-mobility and future of that industry. Coming from motion engineering background, I am very enthusiast about speed, motion, balance and technology. I have taken a mission to carry the fuel free, environment friendly micro-mobile industry forward by educating people about micro-mobile products especially skateboards and longboards. I love skating around very much and encourage people to do so. Its a fun believe me.