[Closed] Advice please: buying a skateboard for my son

What about taking him down to a skate shop and letting him pick? Set a budget and see what you can do. Boards are as particular as bikes and very personal for choice; over the 6 or so years I skated, I'd regularly swap and sell decks, wheels and trucks to get the right setup. Plus it's a cool thing to do to get your first pro setup that you've picked out and assembled.

Yeah, kids can be very particular about that stuff. Adults too for that matter. But the brands are a big factor for kids. How long's he been skating - it might be a case that he doesn't yet know himself what he wants?

I dare say at 6 foot, he'd be more comfortable on a 8" deck than anything thinner. About £70 or so would get you something half decent.

Check some of these out. Reputable shop. Down to earth. All decent products.

http://www.nativeskatestore.co.uk/skateboards-c7/complete-skateboards-c17#:page1

My sons just got a penny board- bit like old school boards but funky colours- more for carving than skate park stuff but he loves it

I really think you need to get him to choose it. Or what about a voucher?

http://www.theskateboardshop.co.uk/the-skateboard-shop-e-voucher-p-1715.html
http://www.skatewarehouse.co.uk/extra-stuff/gift-vouchers-1.html

Let him choose.

But make him ride Independent trucks, he'll thank you for it.

These guys are very good, and their own Darkotics deck is tasty looking:
http://shop.detourskatestore.co.uk/category/62/all

But make him ride Independent trucks, he'll thank you for it.

+ 1 Independent trucks...and Powell Swiss bearings OJs and a Deathbox Sean Goff

If he's 6' 1" best bet would be something between 8 and 8.5 inch deck width. The usual popular brands for the kids are Element, Flip or Death.......or Heroin if he's into annoying folk, and what kid doesn't like that? 😀

Trucks are easy, Independent, wheels......Spitfire.

To be honest though there's no real change out of a ton. Look on Google for a few skateshops such as Rollersnakes or Native. These guys will do completes for less such as Santa Cruz and Flip, some sites do pick and mix deals as well. Just be careful not to go too skinny a board for his height, and trucks have to be wide enough for the deck (ie an Indy 129 truck on an 8.5 board will cause balance issues)

If you can try to get into a skate shop for advice, and steer clear of Snuff, cheap guff. If he's a proper teenager, he'll be disappointed with something like a Penny, cool for about 5 minutes unless your in your 40's trying to relive the 70's or a hipster

+ 1 Independent trucks...and Powell Swiss bearings OJs and a Deathbox Sean Goff

Hah... that's a blast from the past. I still have my Powell Ray Barbee with Indy trucks and Vision Street Violator wheels. SKF bearings, the only way to go.

This is perfect timing. My 7 year old wants a skateboard for his birthday too and I know absolutely nothing about them.

Doesn't need to be particularly fancy, but maybe not a Toys R us special.

He is pretty average height, should I just go for the smallest size?

Any CRC or wiggle equivalents for skate stuff?

Fess up it's for you really, c'mon it is isn't it?