The right riser pads protect your skateboard setup by reducing wheel bite, absorbing shock, and extending hardware life. This guide highlights five top-performing options across several brands, focusing on materials, thickness, compatibility, and ease of installation. Whether you ride a longboard, penny board, or classic skateboard, these risers help smooth out rough pavement and preserve your trucks and wheels. Explore the selections below to find a match for your board and riding style.
| Product | Brand |
|---|---|
| vanpro Trucks Pad 1/8″ Rubber Risers | vanpro |
| vanpro Longboard 1/8″ PU Riser Pads | vanpro |
| VJ Longboard Riser Pads 12mm | VJ |
| VJ Longboard Riser Pads 6mm | VJ |
| Dogtown Risers 1/2″ | Dogtown |
Vanpro 1/8″ Rubber Riser Pads (Snow Black, Pack of 4)
These vanpro riser pads are designed to minimize wheelbite and absorb impact, extending the life of hardware while reducing vibrations felt through the deck. The kit includes four pads with a standard thickness of 0.156 inches (5/64″), suitable for various skateboard configurations. Two screw hole centers provide consistent mounting alignment, while the quick-install design supports a wide range of boards from shortskate to mini cruisers. Brand messaging emphasizes the “different height, different world” philosophy, highlighting versatility across different ride styles.
Vanpro Longboard PU Riser Pads With Hardware
This longboard variant from vanpro adds 1/8″ thickness with PU shock pads designed to dampen road noise and vibrations for a smoother ride. The set includes mounting screws and nuts, making installation straightforward for a variety of boards—longboards, mini cruisers, and double-kick setups. The product notes emphasize multiple board compatibility and the same two-hole center distance measurements found in the 1/8″ family, ensuring consistent alignment and fit across your hardware setup.
VJ 12mm Riser Pads For Longboards
This 12mm (1/2″) VJ riser set includes two pads and accompanying screws, offering a robust option for riders seeking extra clearance and aggressive wheel compatibility. The soft rubber construction helps dampen vibrations and noise, promoting a stable ride for both longboards and standard skateboards. The package accommodates a wide range of bolt patterns, delivering flexibility for different setups or wheel sizes without sacrificing performance.
VJ 6mm Riser Pads With Hardware
This VJ option provides 6mm (1/4″) risers, paired with a complete hardware set to simplify assembly. The rubber material delivers cushioning to help dampen road feel and reduce deck vibrational transfer. Compatible with a wide array of boards, these pads are a practical choice for riders upgrading from thinner risers or dealing with frequent wheel contact on rough pavement.
VJ 12mm Riser Pads With Hardware, 1.75″ Screws
This 12mm (1/2″) VJ riser kit is designed for longboards and larger skateboards, pairing soft rubber pads with screws to maintain a stable, vibration-absorbent ride. The kit’s 7.7cm by 5.5cm footprint mirrors common riser dimensions, making it compatible with many trucks while providing extra wheel clearance for bigger wheels or rough terrain. The included hardware ensures easy setup and firm mounting.
Dogtown Riser Pads For Old School And New School Boards
Dogtown risers deliver a classic option for both new school and old school setups. The package includes a pair of risers designed to prevent wheel-bite while increasing ride height, which can facilitate larger pop and improved stability when using bigger wheels. These risers are broadly compatible with various bolt patterns and are a well-known choice for riders seeking dependable performance across board styles.
Outus 10 Pieces 3 mm Riser Shock Pads
Outus offers a practical value-set comprising 10 shock pads at a compact 3 mm thickness. While thinner than some alternatives, these pads reduce impact forces, stretch the life of wheels and bearings by dampening energy transfer, and help avoid wheel contact on modified or larger-wheel setups. The included hardware is designed for quick installation and broad compatibility across longboards and standard skateboards.
Buying Guide: Key Considerations When Choosing Riser Pads
- Board compatibility: Confirm board type (longboard, cruiser, penny, or traditional skateboard) and bolt pattern compatibility with the risers’ screw hole center distances.
- Riser height and thickness: Thicker risers (e.g., 12mm) provide more clearance but raise ride height; thinner options preserve low-profile setups. Choose based on wheel size, truck height, and pavement conditions.
- Material and cushioning: Rubber and PU materials absorb more vibrations and road noise, offering a smoother ride and longer hardware life. Consider softer compounds for rough surfaces.
- Included hardware: Some sets come with mounting screws and nuts. Availability of screws of appropriate length is important for secure installation.
- Riser footprint: Ensure the pad dimensions align with your truck mounting area to avoid interference with the board edges or hardware.
- Wheel bite prevention: If wheel bite is a recurring issue, select risers with sufficient height and correct spacing to create clearance between wheel and deck during turns.
- Durability and wear: Look for high-quality rubber/PU that resists compression over time to maintain consistent performance and prevent hardware loosening.
- Installation ease: Pre-drilled holes and included hardware simplify setup for riders upgrading from stock risers or performing a quick board refresh.
Riser pads play a tactical role in tuning a skateboard or longboard setup. By selecting the right thickness, material, and compatible hardware, riders can reduce wheel bite, dampen vibrations, and tailor ride height to terrain. Using a mix of opinions from riders and product notes helps balance performance with value when building a reliable, smooth-riding board.
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