Skateboard Deck Rails

What Are Skateboard Deck Rails For?

Skateboard rails, or skateboard deck rails, are plastic strips that you attach to the bottom of your deck. Skate deck rails are designed to improve your sliding skills as the plastic material makes for a smoother and easier material to slide on. Using deck rails makes it easier to do many tricks, and allows you to slide on surfaces that would otherwise be unsuitable for skating on. For example, if you are having trouble with boardslides and lipslides then using rails is a great way to master these faster.

There are also other advantages to having a pair of deck rails. They help protect your deck, make it easier to grab your board, and preserve your graphics too.

How to Install Skate Deck Rails

Installing a new set of rails is relatively straightforward, and all you need is a screwdriver or power drill. Before you start though, you need to decide where you want to put your rails. This is ultimately up to you, but it’s recommended that you place them around 1-1.5 inches away from the edge of your deck.

To install the rails, first, you need to align them so that they are parallel with each other and the edge of the deck. Then carefully screw in the screws that came with the rails, and make sure that none are sticking out when you are finished. This will be easier using a power drill, however, it can still be done with a regular screwdriver.

To maintain your rails, you’ll have to tighten the screws from time to time. This is because not only do the screws loosen over time but the plastic material also wears down after regular use.

Another way to skate on more surfaces is to use wax, so check out our Skate Wax selection.