How to Choose a Fingerboard for Beginners – Complete Guide

What can you learn from this guide?

This guide will provide you with answers to the following key questions:

• Fingerboard Deck Material: Basic choice between plastic and wooden models, the advantages of each, and recommendations based on rider level.
• Price Categories: Different budgets and their impact on quality – from basic models to premium ones with handmade components.
• Fingerboard Width: Differences between various widths and how they affect stability, control, and suitability for beginners.
• Fingerboard Shapes: Classic twin tail shapes versus experimental cruiser shapes and tips on choosing a shape for the best riding experience.

Fingerboarding is primarily about trying out and discovering various options. In our guide, you’ll find everything you need to pick the right model and enjoy the best experience – whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to advance to a higher level.

Deck Material: A Key Criterion for Choosing a Fingerboard

Choosing the right fingerboard material will impact how the board rides, which tricks you can perform, and even how long it will last. In this section, we’ll focus on the differences between the two most common fingerboard deck materials – plastic and wood – and who each type is best suited for.

Plastic Fingerboards

Plastic fingerboards are generally considered the basic option, suitable mainly for complete beginners or collectors. Here are their main features:

• Affordability: Plastic decks are significantly cheaper and often sold as complete sets with trucks and wheels without bearings, which limits their smoothness while riding. They’re ideal for beginners who just want to try out fingerboarding or aren’t yet ready to invest more in gear.
• Tech-Deck Brand: The most well-known brand of plastic fingerboards is Tech-Deck, which offers decks with authentic designs from world-famous skateboarding brands. This makes them a popular collector’s item among skateboarding fans.
• Functional Properties: Plastic fingerboards allow for simple tricks, but they lack the foam grip (foam tape) found on wooden models, only having a rougher sandpaper grip, which reduces comfort and overall enjoyment. As a result, they are less responsive for advanced tricks and may feel harder to control.

Who Are They For?
Plastic fingerboards are recommended for those just discovering fingerboarding or for parents looking for a gift for kids. They’re also great for fans of skateboarding brands as collectible items with authentic designs.

Wooden Fingerboards

Wooden fingerboards are the choice for those who are serious about fingerboarding and want a realistic riding experience. Here are their main benefits:

• More Realistic Riding Feel: Wood has a natural flexibility that provides the deck with better response during tricks, helping to achieve smoother movements and more precise control.
• Multilayer Construction: Quality wooden decks are made from multiple layers of wood (often 5 or more), which gives them greater strength and durability. The layers also help to increase deck flexibility, which is important for performing more challenging tricks.
• Foam Grip (foam tape): Unlike plastic models, wooden decks often feature foam grip tape, which provides fingers with better traction and stability during tricks. Foam tape greatly enhances comfort while riding and allows for better control of the deck.

Who Are They For?
Wooden fingerboards are recommended for fingerboarders who want a realistic riding experience and are committed to advancing in fingerboarding. They’re also suitable for those who plan regular practice, want to master tricks, or are looking for a quality product with a long lifespan.

Price Categories and Fingerboard Quality

The budget for a fingerboard is an important factor, as the quality of components improves with price. In the following section, we discuss what you can expect from each price category and which products we recommend.

Up to 15 EUR

Fingerboards in this price range include basic wooden decks with fewer wood layers and simpler construction. They’re suitable for first-time users and for familiarizing beginners with wooden decks. Their advantage is the low price, but they don’t offer high durability or precise control like the higher models do.

20–35 EUR: Best Price-to-Performance Ratio

In this category, you’ll find higher-quality wooden decks with improved construction and mid-range trucks and wheels. These fingerboards are a great choice for beginners who want to start fingerboarding seriously but aren’t yet ready to invest in premium models. The Alien Fingers brand offers excellent price-to-performance ratio and reliability in this range.

Around 50 EUR: Premium Quality at a Reasonable Price

Fingerboards in this price range are an ideal choice for those looking for premium quality decks but are not yet ready to invest in the highest price brackets. Top options include models from brands like Finga and Blackriver. These decks are handmade, which shows in their high quality and realistic riding feel. The trucks and wheels are reliable mid-range components (as in the previous category), allowing smoother movement and control over the deck. This category is suitable for those with experience who want an advanced setup that withstands regular use.

Around 100 EUR: Premium Fingerboards for Demanding Users

Fingerboards in this price category are the pinnacle of quality and craftsmanship. Handcrafted decks, premium trucks, and professional wheels offer maximum precision, durability, and smoothness in motion. These fingerboards are designed for advanced riders and for those who know they want to pursue fingerboarding long-term. They are ideal for demanding users who want the best on the market or as a gift for experienced fingerboarders with high expectations.

Each price category has its advantages and is tailored to different needs. From basic models to premium fingerboards, you can find a model that suits your experience and requirements.

Choosing Fingerboard Width: An Important Factor for Stability and Performance

When choosing a fingerboard, width is one of the most important factors affecting stability, control, and riding style. Different widths offer distinct riding properties that can be advantageous for different levels of experience and types of tricks.

34 mm: The Most Popular Width for Beginners

34 mm is the standard width that is the most popular among fingerboarders. It provides greater stability on landings, which is particularly useful for beginners who can more easily grasp the basics and stability during tricks.

32 mm: A Narrower Model for Smoother Tricks

Fingerboards with a width of 32 mm are slightly narrower and rotate faster during tricks, which can be advantageous for more advanced riders.

Fingerboard Shape: Classic and Experimental Options

Aside from the width of the deck, the shape of the fingerboard is another important aspect that can affect how the fingerboard behaves while riding and performing tricks.

Classic Twin Tail: Ideal for Beginners

The classic twin tail shape means that both ends of the deck (nose and tail) are the same, making it a symmetrical deck. This design is the most common and is best suited for beginners due to its simple handling and stability.

Cruiser Shapes: Interesting Options for Experimentation

Cruiser shapes are less common and are mainly intended for experienced riders who want to experiment with a different riding style.

Conclusion and Recommendations for the First Purchase

If you’re choosing your first fingerboard, it’s good to start with a basic setup that you can gradually upgrade. For beginners, we recommend going with the classic twin tail design with a width of 34 mm for optimal stability and easier trick learning.

However, fingerboarding is mainly about exploring different styles and setups, so you can try other widths and shapes over time.

If you're looking for high-quality wooden fingerboards in Europe, check out our wide selection on the Spineo.eu wooden fingerboards page.