Skateboarding was a big thing back in the 90s, but skating has made a big comeback nowadays. Most people know the typical skating brands like Thrasher and Santa Cruz, but what about the lesser known brands? Are they any good? And what about smaller skate stores versus big chains?
Personally, I think smaller skate stores and businesses are better than the big brands. The workers normally know more about brands and aren't just trying to sell whatever is new and expensive. I believe smaller businesses try to help you more and care about you more. One place that I like is Apex Outfitters. They have good boards, the workers are really nice, and the store is located near the Apex Skate Park. Although it may be far away, another nice store is Never Ever Boards in Oak Island, North Carolina. They have a great selection and the owners are there all the time and are always willing to help. They are definitely worth checking out the next time you are in that area.
Some good skate brands I recommend are Element, Baker, World Industries, Bones, Bronson, Tensor, and Mob Grip. Element has some really cool decks and good collabs with a bunch of different things. My favorites are the Peanuts and Star Wars collabs. Baker’s decks have some cool designs, too, and their decks are super strong, hold, and last a while. I also really like World Industries. I grew up skating them, so I may be a little biased towards them. Bones have really good bearings and so does Bronson; they last a while and don't get stiff too easily. Tensor trucks are really good quality, and they have some cool colors that I prefer to skate. Most people don't really care about their grip tape, but I really like Mob Grip. It's long-lasting, it's good quality, it's not super weak, and they even have some cool designs for grip tape.
If you're thinking about starting skating or just want to know more about it, I would recommend talking to your local skate shop owners or workers. They’ll help you find what makes you comfortable and help you with brands, wheels, grip tape, decks, trucks, bearings, and everything else that you'll need.