BUYER'S GUIDE

A Complete is a fully assembled longboard skateboard that is ready to ride the second you take it out of the box. Ok, maybe it will take more than a second if you unpack the box inside the house and need to take the board outside to ride it. But you get our drift.

Daddies sells both Complete longboards as well longboard decks (the board itself) that do not come assembled. If you want to buy a fully assembled longboard, make sure you are purchasing a Complete. If you just want the deck, select Deck Only.

No. Daddies offers loads of customization options but if you simply want to purchase the Complete with the standard components shown, just click the "Add to Cart" button and then move to check out. Plain and simple. No fuss.

Every Complete longboard requires three and only three components - the wheels, trucks, and bearings. Our Completes come standard with the following components:

Dano's Wheels: Made in the USA, Dano's wheels are highly versatile, dependable, and are priced right. Dano's can be used to cruise around town, slide, or pick up some downhill speed. They come in multiple colors.

Paris, Bear, or Randal Trucks: A truck has two main pieces - a hanger that houses the axle and a baseplate which is mounted to the deck itself. Our default truck options include Bear, Paris and Randal trucks - all premium trucks. The trucks we select as default options in a Complete work beautifully with those particular decks.

Bearings: A wheel is mounted on a truck via a bearing, a circular piece that fits snugly inside the wheel's core. Completes come standard with the Daddies Board Shop Abec 7 V2 bearings. These bearings are high quality and high value. We do offer a number of bearing upgrade options but if you are new to longboarding, want a durable bearing that will generate good speed, and want to keep your costs down, stick with the Daddies Board Shop Abec 7 V2s.

First, you don't need to select any of these options. If you don't change a thing, your board will come to you ready to ride.

Here are the options we do offer:

Assemble My Ride: by default, we assemble the longboard free of charge. However, those customers that wish to assemble the boards themselves can choose the "I'll Do it Myself" option. If you choose to assemble the board yourself, we will provide all the hardware necessary to assemble the board.

Grip My Board: Grip tape is a thin, coarse tape applied to the top of the board where the rider stands, allowing the rider to maintain a firm footing. By default, all boards come with grip tape applied at no additional change. While many manufacturers send us boards pre-gripped, other boards come to us without grip tape. In those cases, we grip the board with premium black grip tape. However, you have the option to select either a more specialized grip tape which we can apply or, alternatively, we can send you the grip tape unapplied.

Add Bearing Spacers: Bearing spacers are small pieces of steel that sit between the bearings inside the wheel. If you are new to longboarding and just plan to cruise around town, you don't need bearing spacers. If you plan to undertake more advanced riding, spacers are an inexpensive way to improve your ride and protect your bearings. The spacers act to decrease the amount of force on your bearings by providing support from inside the wheel. If you want to learn more about spacers, head on over here.

Add Risers or Shock Pads: Risers are a great way to ensure that you won't get wheelbite by providing greater clearance between the deck and the wheels. Shock pads do the same thing but they are also constructed out of a softer rubber which (i) absorbs shock thereby smoothing the ride and (ii) disperses the pressure placed on the deck by the trucks reduces the likelihood that the board will develop pressure cracks. Shock pads are especially helpful with drop-through longboards. While shock pads are never a bad idea, they are not necessary for first time riders who are just getting into the longboarding groove.

Add a Skate Tool: A skate tool is not needed, but it is a relatively inexpensive and extremely convenient tool to help you maintain your board or even build it, if you're up for it. Parents tend to dig skate tools because it keeps the youngins' out of the family tool box.

Add Bearing Lube or Cleaning Kit: Bearing lube is used to keep bearings, and hence wheels, turning more smoothly and quickly. Cleaning kits are for - can you guess? - cleaning the bearings! Keeping your bearings clean and lubricated will add significant life to them. However, if you are new to skating, take a pass on the bearing lube and cleaning kit for now, learn to love your new ride, and then come on back to Daddies to gear up when you are ready to take your riding to the next level!

For details, head on over to our Super Simple Recommendations page.