We Bought a $15 Walmart Skateboard. Here's What Happened.
If you've ever stood in a Walmart aisle wondering whether the $15 skateboard on the shelf is good enough to learn on — this post is for you. We put one to the test against a full pro-level setup, and the results were pretty eye-opening.
Spoiler: the cheap board didn't make it 30 minutes.
[Watch the full video here: $15 Walmart Skateboard vs $300 Pro Skateboard — Is It Worth the Money?]
What Broke on the $15 Walmart Skateboard
Within the first 30 minutes of skating, here's what failed on the Walmart board:
- The deck snapped. Cheap decks are typically made from low-grade wood with poor lamination. They can't handle the stress of even basic skating.
- The trucks bent. Real skateboard trucks are made from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy. Budget trucks are often cast from inferior metals, or even plastic, that bend under pressure — making the board unpredictable and unsafe.
- The wheels and bearings barely rolled. Cheap bearings are poorly lubricated and don't spin freely, which makes pushing exhausting and tricks nearly impossible.
- The trucks barely turned. Responsiveness is everything in skating. Stiff, unresponsive trucks make it nearly impossible to steer, carve, or learn proper technique.
These aren't just inconveniences — they're the kind of issues that make learning to skate genuinely frustrating, especially if you don't know what a real board is supposed to feel like.
Why Cheap Skateboards Make Learning Harder
Here's the thing most people don't realize: as a beginner, you don't need the best gear — but you do need gear that actually works.
Experienced skaters develop strong preferences over time. A skater who's been at it for years might seek out heavier-duty trucks to handle the impact of big gaps or rails, or dial in specific wheel hardness for the spots they skate. Beginners don't necessarily need all of that. What you need is simple: a board that rolls smoothly, turns when you lean, and holds up to regular use.
That's exactly what cheap toy-store boards fail to deliver. When your trucks barely turn and your bearings drag, you're not learning to skate — you're fighting your equipment. And if the board breaks within a few weeks, you're back to square one, having spent money twice.
A quality beginner setup doesn't mean top-of-the-line. It just means functional — something built to actually skate on.
How Much Should You Spend on a Skateboard?
You don't need to spend $300. The skaters in our video are riding top-of-the-line setups built up over years. But there's a sweet spot that gets you a board that actually works.
For most beginners, a budget of around $100 is the target. At that price point, you can get a complete skateboard from a real skate brand — or build a basic setup with quality components — that will last, perform well, and actually help you progress.
Here's a rough breakdown of what to expect at different price points:
- Under $30 (big box / toy store boards): Poor quality components, prone to breaking quickly, not recommended for anyone serious about learning.
- $50–$80 (entry-level completes from skate brands): Decent starting point. Better trucks and bearings than toy boards, but components may need upgrading over time.
- $90–$120 (mid-range completes or custom budget setups): The sweet spot. Real skate brand decks, functional trucks, and bearings that actually roll. This is where we'd point most beginners.
- $150+ (higher-end completes or custom setups): Great quality across the board. Worth it if you're serious, but not required to start.
Where to Buy a Skateboard (Hint: Not Walmart)
The best place to buy a skateboard — especially your first one — is a real skate shop. Here's why:
- The staff actually skate. They can help you pick the right deck size, truck width, and wheel hardness for your style and goals.
- The products are legit. Skate shops carry real brands — Powell, Element, Santa Cruz, Independent, Spitfire, Bones — not knockoffs or toy-grade gear.
- You're supporting the skate community. Local skate shops are the backbone of skateboarding culture. Buying there keeps that alive.
If you're not near a local shop, look for reputable online skate retailers that carry established brands and offer complete setups in the $90–$120 range.
Cheap Skateboard vs. Real Skateboard: The Bottom Line
Buying a $15 Walmart skateboard to "try it out" seems like a safe bet — but it usually ends one of two ways: the board breaks, or skating feels so frustrating that you give up before you ever get a real feel for it. Either way, you'll likely end up buying something else anyway.
You don't need the most expensive setup to get started. You just need something that functions like a real skateboard. Spending around $100 at a real skate shop gets you exactly that — a board that holds up, rolls properly, and gives you a fair shot at actually learning.
Watch our full video to see the side-by-side comparison: Cheap vs. Expensive Skateboard Test: $15 Walmart Board vs. $300 Skate Setup. The difference is pretty hard to argue with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Walmart skateboard good for beginners?
Not really. Walmart skateboards use low-quality components that don't perform well and tend to break quickly. You don't need a pro-level setup to start, but you do need a board that actually functions — and toy-store boards usually don't clear that bar.
How much should a beginner spend on a skateboard?
Around $100 is a solid target. At that price you can get a quality complete from a real skate brand that will hold up and help you actually learn — without overspending on features you don't need yet.
What's the difference between a cheap skateboard and a real one?
The deck material, truck construction, wheel urethane, and bearing quality are all significantly better on real skateboards. The difference shows up immediately in how the board rolls, turns, and holds up over time.
Can you learn to skate on a cheap board?
Technically yes, but it's much harder. Poor-quality components make skating feel unresponsive and frustrating, and cheap boards often break before you've had enough time to develop real skills — meaning you'll probably end up buying a real board anyway.
Shop skateboards and more on LBSKATE.COM