Drop-through vs. drop-down: What’s best for your riding style?

In the past few years, the number of people who like to ride longboards has increased considerably, and everyone likes to ride and enjoy cruising around, and some skate enthusiasts like free riding.

Professionals recommend a longboard based on the riding style. It’s a hot topic among skaters around the globe, and drop-through vs. drop-down is one of the top longboard types.

What does drop-through mean?

Characteristics

The most popular drop-through longboards are among professional and expert skaters. They are used for technical riding because of their characteristics. The curve will be between the trucks on the deck of the drop-through longboards.

The central deck and trucks will be at the same level, so the distance from the skating surface will not change. The pressed maple or bamboo deck will be stiff when the manufacturer curves it.

The total weight of the rider is carried by the reverse kingpin trucks, which are the essential parts of a longboard. Drop-through longboards have trucks sitting at the same level as the deck, which makes the weight distribution for both trucks not unbearable. Riders use rough tracks during the ride.

The deck gets closer to the ground, the lower center of gravity goes down, and it reduces the effort of the rider to push the board. This longboard is recommended by most professional riders for quicker rides. Drop-through longboards are not recommended for dancing and freestyle because they have zero flex. The stiffer deck allows riders to enjoy the riding.

Pros:

• The design is perfect for a cruiser riding style.
• Because of its light, versatile design, it’s easy to control and move.
• A low center of gravity allows it to go faster.
• Free riding is easier to push and break with your feet.
• The drop-through deck is designed to slide in and out.
• They are more versatile than drop-down longboards.
• For beginners, it’s the best option for carving and traction.

Cons:

• It isn’t as good for high speeds as the dropdown longboard deck is for.
• This option offers less grip compared to the other design choices.
• It is difficult to do tricks on.

What does drop-down mean?

Characteristics

A drop-down longboard has a unique shape.

There is a lowered deck beneath the truck baseplates so that the rider is closer to the ground in a drop-down longboard. Sometimes a drop-down longboard will have a notch cut out above the wheels to avoid wheel bite. Drop-down longboards provide great stability at high speeds and are great for downhill riding and cruising.

These drop decks are for more advanced riders who like to do tricks. It is not recommended for beginners.

The curve does not affect the deck in drop-down longboards. The ride’s stability decreases due to the lack of curves in the deck, which causes some flex in the drop-down longboard without wheel bite.

The closer the board is to the ground, the more likely it is to hit the surface. It is recommended that you choose a flat skating surface with no bumps around, rather than going for a rougher track and damaging the longboard’s deck. 

The trucks are mounted using a general method when designing drop-through vs. drop-down longboards. Here, the platform stays on the baseplates. The rider’s weight gets dispersed equally on both trucks when you try to curve the longboard. This equity helps the rider feel secure. They have a long sturdiness because they don’t have to bear a lot.

The drop-down longboards have a lower center of gravity. This characteristic reduces the effort required to push the board. Its curve right behind the trucks makes it even stiffer than other longboards.

Pros:

• It has superior durability and traction than a drop-through longboard.
• Turning the board to slide is easier.
• The deck is stiff enough for technical riding.
• It is heavier than other boards, which makes it sturdier.
• Despite its low center of gravity, it provides a high level of grip.
• It is a free-riding, transporting, pumping, and pushing activity.

Cons:

• It is less versatile.
• There is a need to know how to slide.

What’s the difference between a drop-through and a drop-down longboard?

Drop-down and drop-through longboards are similar, but they have some key differences. 

The drop-down longboard deck is more specialized and suitable for advanced riders who want downhill riding while incorporating slides because of these differences. For beginners who might want to ride downhill or just cruise to work on flat ground, the drop-through longboard is more versatile and suitable for beginners.

Therefore, if you are unsure about drop-through vs. drop-down and how you will be using your longboard, then it is recommended to go for the drop-through longboard. It is simply the safer option.

What is the difference between drop-deck and drop-through?

Drop-through longboards have a more flexible board and are easier to turn and carve with than traditional boards. They are harder to slide with and better at gripping corners. It is more versatile and is better suited for beginner use.

Drop-down longboards design are easier to slide with and have less grip on turns. The boards are better suited for more technical riding and have an extremely stiff board.

Is a drop-down longboard good for beginners?

 A drop-down deck is not the best choice for a beginner because it does not turn well and is not good at carving. Beginners should be able to make sharp turns without sliding their boards.

The drop-through deck is more beginner-friendly than the other one.

Are drop-through longboards weaker?

It’s not at all. A drop-through longboard provides excellent stability at high speeds and is great for downhill driving, stable riding, and cruising. They are, therefore, fairly stable.

Can you ollie on a drop-through longboard?

Decks drop-through are not made for tricks, but you can still ollie or do tricks. Longboards that are heavy and have big soft wheels are ideal for dropping through. When you land an ollie, they are very bouncy and unstable.

Are drop-through longboards good for sliding?

Skaters can slide on the truck’s deck. It’s easier to slide on other types of longboards when you kick sideways. Skaters can hook back up after completing the slide thanks to the design. The truck’s design helps you get stable quickly after you finish the slide and the wheels are back where they were. 

Can you top mount a drop-through longboard?

Drop-throughs can be top-mounted if desired, but not always. The drop-through board has less leverage than a top mount because your feet don’t sit directly over the trucks. It’s required more lean to turn. There are cutout truck holes that weaken the structural resistance of drop-through decks.

Is drop-through or drop-down better?

In summary, it depends on your riding style, either you should go for through deck or down deck.

It is difficult for new longboarders to choose the best one out of the many shapes available. Since a drop-through and a drop-down deck appear so similar, it is difficult to distinguish between them. It’s much easier to pick one shape once you understand its purpose.

There is a longboard shape called dropdowns. It is more difficult to turn sideways than a drop-down, but they have superior cornering traction. Even if you kick out and break traction, a drop-through will still slide.

The drop-down is better if you are looking for a board to commute on. It is possible to handle downhill runs on the drop-through longboard.

When shopping for a longboard, it can be difficult for newbies to choose the best one. Their similar shapes make it difficult to select. The right shape of the longboard depends on what you need it for.

Why drop-through longboard is the answer

Drop-through longboards are the best for high-speed riding if you have good board-handling skills. Drop-through longboards are primarily made for these purposes unless you want to exert a lot of pulling pressure and achieve marginal distances. These longboards provide stability on any terrain.

Why choose a drop-deck longboard?

For drop decks, the shape, and purpose are similar to those of drop board longboards. Both longboards have drop decks that lower the center of gravity and require minimal effort to push. Drop-deck or drop-top longboards are more maneuverable and more likely to cover longer distances than drop-through longboards.

Results

Knowing the purpose for which each deck is designed is enough to differentiate longboard drop-through and drop-down. Before you select a longboard drop-through or drop-down design, make sure you know what type of riding style suits you best.

Drop-through is an option if you want a good speed, but if you want to ride around the city, then drop decks are a better choice. Both options are suitable for riders who love riding.