I've been wanting to learn to skateboard for about two months now but I don't know which one to buy. I saw my cousin has an Evolve and honestly it looks amazing, but people told me they're expensive. Are there cheaper options that work just as well for beginners or is it better to invest from the start?
Are you going to skate street or at the park? To start out you don't need to spend a lot of cash on an expensive brand - better to grab something basic from brands like Element, Santa Cruz, or Toy Machine that have solid beginner models and cost way less than Evolve. Once you get the hang of it and figure out what style you're into more (tricks, speed, freestyle), that's when you invest in something better, but at first any decent board will work for learning.
The most important thing is you don't need an electric one like an Evolve to learn - those are luxuries for when you've already got the basics down 😄 The brands mentioned above are solid, but honestly any decent board from a local skate shop will do for getting started; what matters more is that it has good bearings and that you feel comfortable standing on it. Spending less at the beginning makes sense because you're very likely to fall a ton (it's totally normal), break something, or just find out it's not for you, so it's better to try something more affordable first and then upgrade to premium stuff later if you see it's really grabbing you.
The people who commented before are right on the basics, but there's a detail worth considering. When you're just starting out, what matters most is that the board lets you practice without getting frustrated, so brands like Element, Santa Cruz, or Toy Machine work perfectly. But beyond the brand, make sure the bearings are decent (not the cheapest ones) because that makes a huge difference in how it feels to ride and how much effort you have to put in.
About electric ones like Evolve: your cousin probably already knows how to skate well, so it makes sense for him. To actually learn the fundamentals you need a traditional board because you have to learn how to push yourself, keep your balance, and feel how it responds under your feet. Electric boards take away that part of the learning and you end up without the basic skills. Once you've got the basics down really well, that's when it makes sense to get into something more sophisticated.
My suggestion is to look for a complete board from one of those brands in the mid-price range - not the cheapest but not premium either. It'll last you fine while you're learning and you won't feel like you wasted money. If you see it really hooks you after a couple months, then you can invest in something better.
How much are you really willing to spend? Because the others are right that you don't need an Evolve to get started, but there's a point they're missing: budget brands like Enuff or Darkstar go for about half the price of Santa Cruz and work pretty well for learning, so if money's tight, those are friendlier on your wallet without sacrificing decent quality. What really matters is that the board feels comfortable and the wheels spin smoothly without getting stuck, because getting frustrated with crappy gear kills your motivation faster than anything.
If you get frustrated easily or you're a bit older, spending a little more on a better-quality board is going to save you headaches down the road. I'm not talking about Evolve (that's a whole different level), but something mid-range from brands like Powell or Plan B gives you components that last longer and feel better under your feet while you're learning, so you don't blame the board when you can't land the trick. The difference between a $50 board and a $120-150 one is pretty noticeable in how it responds and how much sooner you'll get the feel for it.
Are you planning to practice tricks or just cruise around? Because that's the detail nobody mentioned: if you're trying to learn basic tricks (ollie, kickflip), you need a board that responds well, and super cheap brands sometimes have issues with concavity or pop after a short while, which frustrates you faster than you'd think. You don't obviously need an Evolve, but don't go for the cheapest thing on the market either; something mid-range from brands like Element or Santa Cruz that people mentioned is gonna last you longer and let you progress without having to buy another board in three months.
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