Bamboo Vs Maple Longboards – 7 Clear Considerations

Longboards are primarily made of wood. This is because of the relatively safe nature of wood compared mainly to metals and other kinds of materials. However, not every kind of wood might deliver the same satisfaction. Maple and bamboo are the two most outstanding kinds of wood in vogue. but if you make a comparison between bamboo vs maple longboards, what comes first in your mind? Let us dig down into this article.

Maple

Maple is derived from the maple tree which grows best in cold regions that border the Arctic. They mainly do well in Canada and the Siberian regions of Russia. The wood is stringent, stable, and long-lasting. Its longboard lasts longer and is reliable.

Bamboo

Bamboo, unlike maple, is more flexible and less durable. It is also lighter and grows best in the tropical regions of the world. Its longboards are famed for being swifter and more agile than those of the maple.

Bamboo Vs Maple Longboards – A Wise DIscussion

We will compare and contrast these two kinds of wood in the following segment. Our aim shall be to examine how they differ and which one may most likely satisfy your unique needs.

Weight

Bamboo is much lighter than maple wood. This stems from its lack of too much wooden components. Most of the interior spaces of the bamboo are in fact hollow or airy.

Because of this, the bamboo longboard is suitable for those undertakings that require higher speeds and minimal propulsion efforts. The maple wood is heavier. You will thus require plenty of muscle power to engage its longboard by this.

Strength

All factors considered; maple wood is stronger than bamboo wood. This strength comes with many attendant benefits. These include the ability to withstand heavy abuse and consistent use with ease.

If all you are looking for is long-term and repeated use, you have the maple wood longboards for your taking.

Durability

Other than being strong, maple wood is also very durable. This stems from the fact that maple wood takes years to mature and build its body. This gives rise to strong and tough wooden components resilient to the common elements of wear and tear.

Because of this, the longboards that are manufactured using the maple wood are similarly long-lasting. They take years to deteriorate and also call for limited interventions on your part. You may be sure to spend less on repairing and maintaining them in good shape always.

Flexibility

Bamboo is thinner and less woody. Considering this, it is easier to bend. It, therefore, follows that the longboards manufactured using bamboo are equally flexible. This makes them better suited to handle difficult terrains and negotiate sharp turns with relative ease.

If you intend to ply such particular routes, you have them for your consideration. The longboards that are made of maple wood are rigid. They are only suitable for straight-and-level terrains, as they can hardly work well in rugged paths.

Weight Capacity

Given its utmost strength and stability, the maple wood longboard has a high weight capacity. It can bear a whopping 150 kg (330 pounds). The bamboo longboard can only accommodate a paltry 100 kg (220 pounds).

Even then, the skateboard has been reinforced with several plies to achieve this feat. Based on this consideration, the maple wood longboard carries the day.

Environmental Friendliness

As hinted earlier, the maple wood takes too long to mature. Maple takes 7 to 10 years to grow to maturation. Bamboo takes only 3 to 5 years to do so. By cutting maple wood for the sake of making these longboards, you inflict huge damage and interference to the environment.

This is because it will take longer for the cut tree to replenish. Considering this, bamboo longboards are more eco-friendly than their maple counterparts.

Costs

Last, the maple wood longboard costs more on average than the bamboo wood. This is understandable owing to its durable and comparatively stronger nature.

You will, therefore, have to dig a little deeper in your pocket to afford it. This is not the longboard to go for if you are cash-strapped. You definitely have to consider the bamboo counterpart.

Final Verdict

The choice of which kind of longboard to settle for depends on several factors. If you are cash-strapped, a beginner in longboarding, or ply rugged terrains, the bamboo longboard is the one to settle for.

If you, however, have plenty of money to spend, are in a relatively safe neighborhood, and are heavier, you may wish to consider trying out the maple wood longboards.

All factors considered though, the bamboo longboards are by far better than the maple wood. This is because they outshine their opponents with more parameters. Their cheap nature makes replacements almost painless.