Skateboard riser pads are a skateboarding part that’s often overlooked, but they can actually have a major impact on how a board skates.
There’s a lot of debate about whether riser pads are even needed, so a lot of beginner skaters are left wondering if riser pads are even worth it.
In this post we’re going to break down what riser pads are, whether or not you need riser pads, and the pros and cons to using them.
About Skateboarding Riser Pads
Skateboard riser pads, often called risers, are rectangular pads usually made of a hard plastic or rubber that is placed between the skateboard trucks and the deck to raise the height of a skateboard.
Riser pads major purpose is to prevent wheel bite, which is when the wheel of a skateboard rubs on the bottom of the deck either while landing a trick or turning sharply.
Wheel bite typically causes the board to stop suddenly which results in the person riding the board getting tossed off, which most skateboarders try to avoid. Aside from that, wheel bite can also lead to wheels wearing down faster on the edges.
Although preventing wheel bite is the main benefit of using riser pads, they have a few other minor benefits as well.
Riser pads are also known to prevent pressure cracks on your board, which are small cracks that begin to form over time due to the impact of skating. Since risers sit between your trucks and your deck, they absorb some of the pressure and prevent cracks from forming as easily.
Another minor benefit of risers is an increase in pop. Since riser pads raise the height of a board, the boards tail sits slightly higher which allows the board to be popped better.
Riser pads are made from a variety of companies, and can come in several designs, thickness levels, and colors.
Riser Pads Vs Shock Pads
The term “riser pad” is often used interchangeably with “shock pad”, but there are some subtle differences between the two that are important to note.
Riser pads are almost always made of a hard rubber, and their primary purpose is to raise the height of a board to prevent wheel bite.
Shock pads on the other hand are mostly made of rubber, and are designed to absorb impact rather than to raise the height of a board.
The idea is that because shock pads are rubber, they’re able to absorb some of the shock and vibrations of a board when doing tricks and even just cruising.
Although it makes sense in theory, shock pads unfortunately have very little functionality.
Since shock pads are made of a thin rubber, when the trucks are tightened to the deck it often results in the shock pads being squished down and pushed out of the sides. This ends up negating any shock absorbing qualities they may have.
Even professional skateboarders who are known for jumping down large gaps and taking a lot of impact don’t use shock pads since they have such little effect.
Unfortunately, shock pads are more of a gimmick than a functional product, and many beginners waste their money when they confuse them with risers.
If you desire a smoother ride or less impact when skating, it’s better to use larger / softer wheels instead.
Deciding if you need risers or not
The main reason why you should consider buying some riser pads is if your skateboard has large wheels.
The larger your wheels are on your skateboard, the greater the chance of you getting wheel bite.
Although risers have several benefits, the main purpose they serve is to prevent wheel bite, so this should be the primary factor you consider.
Large wheels are standard on longboards, cruisers, and are also popular with people who skate a lot of vert and transition. If you find yourself in any of those three categories, you may want to consider trying some riser pads.
Some people who have small wheels still choose to use riser pads out of personal preference, but from a functionality standpoint they’re usually not essential.
Generally speaking, skateboards with wheels smaller than 55mm do not need riser pads.
With that said, you can still use risers with wheels smaller than 55mm, it’s just not as necessary since wheel bite isn’t as common.
Pros & Cons Of Riser Pads
Skateboard riser pads come with a few pros and cons, and it’s good to understand them to know if you should use riser pads or not.
Pros:
- Raise the height of your board
- Prevent wheel bite
- Helps prevent wheels from wearing down
- Can increase pop
- Prevents pressure cracks
Cons:
- Raises the center of gravity
- Requires new hardware
- Adds more weight to your board
- Can be unnecessary for some skaters
What size riser pads / hardware do you need?
If you decide to try out some skateboard riser pads, it’s good to know which risers to buy, as well as what size hardware you’ll need to match.
(Keep in mind that using riser pads often means buying longer hardware to ensure you can tighten your trucks onto your board properly.)
The size of the riser pads you’ll need largely varies according to wheel size, board shape, and preference.
Use the chart below for a reference, but remember that most of skateboarding comes down to personal preference and these aren’t set rules.
| Wheel Size (MM) | Riser Size (IN) | Hardware Size (IN) |
| 48 – 54 | Not necessary | 7/8 |
| 55 – 57 | 1/8 | 1 – 1/8 |
| 58 – 64 | 1/8 – 1/2 | 1 1/8 – 1 1/4 |
| 65 – 67 | 1/4 – 1/2 | 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 |
| 68 + | 1/2 + | 1 1/2 + |
What are the best skateboard riser pads?
Skateboard riser pads are pretty universal, however, there can be some cheaply made options that should be avoided.
Finding the best skateboard riser pads for your setup largely depends on the rest of your board, as well as your own personal preferences.
With that said, there are some companies that are known for making the best riser pads regardless of the rest of your board.
Some of the best riser pads are made by Bones and Independent.
There are some off brand names that are slightly cheaper, but given that risers are under $10 to begin with, it’s worth spending the money on a good set.