How to Select the Best Custom Fingerboard for Your Style and Level of Skill

In fingerboarding, custom setups are not only fashionable add-ons—they're customized tools that represent the rider's personality and work with their skill. Whether you are a beginner or wanting to switch to better equipment, knowing how to select the best custom fingerboard is important. This guide will lead you through the things that affect your decision, from deck shape and size to hardware and ride style, so you can create a fingerboard that suits your skill and personality.

Knowing Your Fingerboarding Style

Before we get into specs and parts, first figure out your style of fingerboarding. Are you a street trick kind of person, doing kickflips and grinds? Or do you like flowing park-style runs with flowy transitions and manuals? Perhaps you're a precision and control type of rider who's all about tech. Your style will play a big part in the kind of deck and hardware you'll want in your rig.

• Street riders would be inclined towards shorter, lighter decks with harder kicks for fast flips.
• Park riders would incline towards longer decks for enhanced stability while making transitions.
• Tech riders tend to choose responsive trucks and softer bushings to enable nuanced movements and balance.
• Knowing what side you're on helps to cut down the enormous variety of custom options.

Deck Shape and Size

One of the most obvious features of a custom fingerboard is its deck—the flat surface you glide across. Decks are available in different widths, lengths, and concave shapes that influence performance and feel.

• Width: Wider widths are between 32mm and 35mm.
• Thinner decks (32mm) provide faster flipping.
• Wider decks (34–35mm) provide greater control and landing area—great for beginners.
• Length: Slight differences in length can affect your pop and overall ride.
• Longer decks offer a more stable platform, perfect for learning.
• Concave and kicks:
• Steeper kicks give more pop.
• Mellow concave is less hard on the fingers and good for flowy, relaxed riding.

Most new riders appreciate a mid-width deck (33–34mm) with moderate concave and kicks. Experienced riders then customize these specs according to preference.

Material Matters

Plastic is the material for most commercial fingerboards, but custom fingerboards are usually made of wood—usually 5 to 7 plies of maple or foreign woods. Wood provides a more realistic feel, improved pop, and durability.

• Some of these custom makers provide composite decks (with carbon fiber or fiberglass laminates), which are more responsive and durable but also pricier.

Recommendations:

• Beginners: Just begin with a plain 5-ply maple deck—it provides an adequate balance of price and performance.
• Advanced riders: Try using different types of wood or composite laminates for different tactile responsiveness and durability.

Trucks and Wheels

Then there is your hardware—your wheels and trucks. Your trucks and wheels make a big difference in how your fingerboard skates.

Trucks

Your trucks are the metal axles that attach your wheels to the board. The two choices that are popular in the world of custom fingerboards are Tech Deck-style trucks and tuned trucks such as Blackriver, Dynamic, or Y-Trucks.

• Basic trucks are less expensive and good for beginners but have less to offer when it comes to tuning.
• Pro trucks use actual bushings, washers, and pivot cups so you can turn better and have smoother rides.

For beginners, you can start with basic tuned trucks. Once you develop your skills, you'll realize how much more responsive and realistic pro trucks are.

Wheels

Fingerboard wheels are made of various materials—most often urethane or plastic. Urethane wheels have more grip and a smoother ride and reproduce real skateboarding wheels.

• Harder wheels glide over obstacles.
• Soft wheels stick better and give a smoother, quieter ride.

Select your wheels according to where you ride (wood parks, metal rails, granite ledges) and which tricks you like doing.

Graphics and Aesthetics

Custom fingerboarding is one of the pleasures because it lets you make your deck personal with special graphics, stains, or engravings. Appearance doesn't influence performance, but a good-looking setup can be more motivating to ride.

• Personal board creators tend to provide:
• Laser-cut graphics
• Heat-transfer designs
• Special color plies or top sheet stains

Pick something that's in your style—it can really make the board stand out and make you feel more connected to it.

Budget and Brands

Custom configurations can cost anywhere from $20 to $150+, depending on the material, brand, and workmanship. It's tempting to spend the extra cash, but note that the most expensive isn't always the best—particularly for beginners.

Begin with mid-level components from well-known manufacturers, then continue upgrading as your taste and skill level improve.

Some well-known brands in the custom community are:

• Decks: BerlinWood, FBS, BeastPants, Redemption
• Trucks: Blackriver, Dynamic, Y-Trucks
• Wheels: FlatFace, Joycult, Oak Wheels

Consult community feedback from forums such as FingerboardHQ or Reddit's r/Fingerboards for genuine reviews of what's worthwhile to spend money on.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the correct custom fingerboard is not merely a matter of looks—it's about having a setup that suits your style, skill level, and individual taste. Whether new to the sport or an experienced rider wishing to take it to the next level, spending time choosing the correct deck shape, trucks, wheels, and material can take your fingerboarding experience to the next level.

Experiment, try out various setups, and above all—have fun. The ideal custom fingerboard is one that feels like it's a part of your fingers and makes you want to continue challenging your tricks and creativity.