The only things you really need as a skateboarder are a skateboard, some skate shoes, and maybe a few friends, but that’s about it.

With that said, there are a few skateboard accessories you can buy that will make skateboarding a lot better than it already is.

In this post, we’re going to be going over the best skateboard accessories every skateboarder should have.

Insoles

One of the best investments you can make as a skateboarder is buying a good pair of insoles.

Unless you got the chance to buy amazon stock in the late ’90s, in which case that would’ve been way better.

Even some of the best skate shoes come with pretty bad insoles, so having a nice pair that you can swap out will definitely help you in the long run.

If you’ve ever experienced a heel bruise, which most skateboarders have, then you know just how useful insoles can be.

Also, every skateboarder over the age of 40 constantly talks about how they have pain in their ankles, knees, and back, and I’m sure that having good insoles can at least somewhat prevent a lot of those problems.

By far some of the best insoles for skateboarding are made by FootPrint, which is one of the only companies that makes insoles specifically for skateboarding.

They’re the insoles that Jaws uses, and if they help him jump down a 25-set it’s safe to say they can handle whatever it is the rest of us are skating.

FootPrint insoles can be a bit expensive compared to generic insoles, and there are a couple of good options that are slightly cheaper, but if you can afford it, it’s worth it to pay a little more for a proper set.

There are a couple of good options that are slightly cheaper, but if you have the money, you’re better off getting a nicer pair.

Shoe Goo

Something that every skateboarder should keep in their bag is a tube of shoe goo.

Shoe goo is an adhesive meant to repair ripped shoes, and it’s one of the most useful things you can buy as a skateboarder.

A lot of skate shoes get a hole in them before the shoe is really done, and a little bit of shoe goo can really stretch the lifespan of a skate shoe, which will end up saving you a ton of money.

In addition to shoe goo, it’s also good to keep some extra laces and super glue, which can also help prolong the life of a shoe.

For example, let’s say a pair of $80 skate shoes last you 3 months, so you go through 4 pairs a year.

If you’re able to get just one month out of each pair, that means you’ll only go through 3 pairs a year, which will save you at least $80. It’s one of the best ROI you can get in skateboarding.

Massager

Next up on the list is a massager.

Now realistically, every skateboarder doesn’t need a massager, but they’re definitely nice to have.

After all, who doesn’t like a nice massage?

Some people use them to help loosen up their muscles before they go skate, but they’re also great to use whenever you’re done skating too.

When you get done skating, or even just working out in general, your muscles are usually pretty sore, and unless you can get one of your boys to give you a massage, a massager is the next best thing.

By far the most well-known brand is the Theragun, but there are tons of more affordable options that are good too.

Camera Set Up

Another thing that all skateboarders should have is a camera.

Ever since skateboarding first became popular, filming skate videos have been a major part of the culture.

Now, most groups of skaters have a designated filmer who has a camera, but it’s still nice to have a camera of your own.

There are a lot of great cameras for skateboarding out there, even if you don’t have a really big budget.

You can get a GoPro for a few hundred dollars, or even just invest in a gimbal and film with your phone.

Regardless if you have a thousand-dollar camera set up, or just an old camera phone, getting clips skating is a lot of fun, so it’s good to keep a camera handy.

Spare Parts Kit

Next on the list is a spare parts kit.

Sooner or later, something on your board is going to break, and no one wants their session to get shut down early if it doesn’t have to.

The main things you need in a spare parts kit are extra bearings, hardware, and bushings, but if you really want to go above and beyond it can also be good to keep an extra deck just in case.

There aren’t a lot of companies that sell pre-made kits, but it’s pretty easy to make one.

Most people just throw a bunch of old parts into a shoebox, but if you want a more proper setup, you can always use an old tackle box to keep things more organized.

If you want to, you can also buy everything separately and make your own bundle from scratch.

Pads / Helmet / Braces

Having a set of pads, a helmet, and even a few braces is something that is something that every skater should consider.

Most skateboarders don’t wear pads, but on the off chance that you decide to go to a park that requires them, or even just decide you want to start wearing them, it’s nice to have your own instead of having to rent some.

I mean, let’s be real, those rental pads get really sweaty and gross and chances are the skatepark employees don’t really care if they get cleaned or not.

When is comes to buying braces, this is more so just to have in case you ever get hurt, and need something to help you skate while you heal up.

Ankle braces, wrist braces, and knee braces can all be useful, and they really don’t cost that much either.

Even though pads and braces aren’t the coolest things in skateboarding, they do have their place, and they can definitely be useful.

Skate Tool

Up next is a skate tool.

A skate tool is probably the most useful skateboarding accessory you can have.

Whether you’re setting up a new board, or just tightening things up on your current board, a skate tool can really come in handy.

There are a lot of different skate tools out there, and even though some can be expensive, most of them only cost around $20, and they have everything you need.

Instead of carrying around a screwdriver and 3 different wrenches, you can get a skate tool that has everything you need, and can even fit in your pocket.

If you don’t already own a skate tool, just buy one as a little gift to yourself, because it’ll end up saving you a ton of time in the long run.

Skate Wax

Other than their board and shoes, arguably the most important thing for every skateboarder to have is wax.

Without wax, half of the tricks you can do on a skateboard are way harder, and sometimes even impossible, but for some reason, it seems like no one ever has it.

Every skateboarder knows that they should probably have some wax when they go skate, but everyone assumes someone else has it, and the next you know everyone is sticking on the rail because no one brought wax.

Most name-brand skate wax isn’t expensive to buy, but if you want to save a few dollars you can also use paraffin wax, which happens to work really well for skating.

Paraffin wax or actual skate wax is good, so it doesn’t matter which one you get. Just do yourself a favor and get some wax.

First Aid Kit

If you have the room for it, keeping a first aid kit can be a pretty good idea for a lot of skateboarders.

Now if you don’t have a car, this makes it a little less practical, but if you do, then it’s not too hard to just toss it in your trunk just in case.

If I had to guess, I’d say 99.9% of skateboarders don’t use any type of bandage or disinfectant when they get hurt, but it’s good to at least have the option.

Some skate spots can be pretty grimy, and it might not be a bad idea to clean out your cuts if you happen to fall.

I know it’s not the coolest thing to whip out a bandaid at the skate spot, but a lot of people recommended this in the comments, and honestly, it really couldn’t hurt to keep some sort of first aid kit handy.

Cooler

For any skateboarder with a car, a good cooler is a great thing to bring with you on sessions.

Now full disclaimer, it does take up a lot of real estate in the trunk, but nothing beats having some cold drinks on standby when you’re skating.

Even though it doesn’t have anything to do with skateboarding specifically, if you think about it, a cooler is actually a pretty practical thing keep in your car.

Rather than having to leave the session just to go get some water, it’s way better to just have something to drink nearby.

Also, you’re basically guaranteed to get MVP of the day when all of your friends are thirsty and you were the one person who was smart enough to bring some water.

Skateboard Rack

A skateboard rack is one of the most useful things you can buy as a skateboarder.

They can help you keep your boards organized, free up some floor space, and prevent your walls from getting wheel marks on them, which your landlord slash parents will definitely appreciate.

Skateboard racks come in every shape and size, so when it comes to choosing one, it really just depends on what you’re looking for. Some skateboard racks can cost a few hundred dollars, but most of them are pretty reasonable.

It is possible to make one yourself, but a lot of times it’s way easier to just buy one.

There are skateboard wall mounts you can get for a couple of dollars, and then there are full-sized skateboard racks that can hold 5 or 6 boards, so there are plenty of options to choose from.

Skateboard Backpack

Another solid investment for most skateboarders is a skateboard backpack.

The only difference between a skateboard backpack and a normal one is that a skateboard backpack can hold a board, but just that little difference can really come in handy.

Whenever you’re traveling, or even just have your hands full, its really nice to have the option to strap your board to your backpack.

There are plenty of skateboard backpacks out there, and most of them are around the same price as a normal backpack, so it’s not too expensive to buy one.

Portable Speaker / Charger

Even though they’re not directly related to skateboarding, a portable speaker and a portable charger are some pretty useful things for skateboarders to keep in their bag.

It’s always nice to be able to play some music at a session, and since most skateboarders spend a lot of their day outside without any access to power outlets, keeping a portable charger on you can definitely be worthwhile.

I’ve had the same portable speaker for years, and it’s easily one of the best purchases I’ve made. It’s water-resistant, shock-resistant, it’s super loud, the battery lasts forever, and best of all it’s only like $30 dollars, so to me it’s definitely worth it.

As far as portable chargers go, I’ve mentioned before that I really like the one made by Anker. I can usually charge my phone 2-3 times with it, and it seems like it charges my phone even faster than a wall outlet does, so I’m pretty happy with it.

The Best Skateboarding Accessories

Skateboarders are known for living a pretty simple life, and they really don’t need a lot to get by.

As long as they have their skateboard and some friends, they are usually content with life. With that in mind, there are things that you can buy to make skateboarding even better than it already is, and these are just a few of the things that I like to have when I go skating.