If you’re building a new setup or dialing in your ride, it’s easy to overlook the little things—like riser pads and hardware length. But those small parts can make a huge difference in how your board performs. Whether you’re skating street, bombing hills, or cruising on a surfskate, understanding riser pads and the hardware that goes with them is essential. Let’s break it all down.
What Are Riser Pads and Why Use Them?
Riser pads are inserts that go between your trucks and your deck. Usually made of plastic or rubber, they’re used to lift the board off the ground slightly to prevent wheel bite and give more room for larger wheels. This added clearance can also affect how much your trucks lean and turn. Riser pads come in various thicknesses, commonly 1/8″, 1/4″, or 1/2″. While street skaters often prefer a low ride for better board control, cruisers, surfskaters, and downhill riders may want extra clearance and comfort—making risers a valuable part of the setup.
Shock Pads vs Riser Pads
Shock pads are often confused with risers, but they serve a slightly different purpose. While riser pads are generally hard plastic and meant to increase clearance, shock pads are made of soft rubber and are designed to absorb vibration. A typical shock pad is about 1/8″ thick and doesn’t add much height, but it helps smooth out rough pavement and reduces stress on your deck. If you’re skating a rough city or prefer a quieter, more forgiving ride, shock pads are worth considering. Hard risers offer stability and height, while soft shock pads provide comfort and noise dampening.
What Are Angled Risers?
Angled risers, sometimes called wedges, are shaped to tilt your trucks either forward or backward. This changes the turning geometry of your setup. Wedges increase the angle of your trucks, which enhances your turning and carving ability—great for surfskate and carving setups. De-wedging, or decreasing the truck angle, results in more stability and less twitchy turning—perfect for downhill or rear truck setups where control at speed matters. Angled risers are commonly used in long distance pushing (LDP), carving boards, and directional setups where front and back trucks serve very different roles.
What Hardware Length Should You Use?
Choosing the right hardware length depends on how thick your riser or pad is. If you’re riding without any risers, 7/8″ to 1″ bolts will usually do the trick. Add a shock pad or a 1/8″ riser, and you’ll want to bump that up to 1″ or 1 1/8″. For 1/4″ risers, most riders use 1 1/4″ hardware. If you’re running a full half-inch riser or an angled wedge riser, you’ll likely need 1 1/2″ bolts or even longer, depending on the setup. A good rule of thumb: for every 1/8″ of riser material, add approximately 1/8″ to your bolt length. Too short and your trucks won’t seat properly; too long and you risk bottoming out or having excess bolt stick through your deck.
Do You Always Need Risers?
Not necessarily. If you’re riding wheels under 56mm and sticking to technical street skating or park, you may not need risers at all. In fact, going riser-free keeps your center of gravity low and gives you better board control. But once you start using larger cruiser wheels, carving aggressively, or adding soft urethane for shock absorption, risers become your best friend. They not only help prevent wheel bite but can drastically improve the feel and responsiveness of your board. And in the case of angled risers, they can transform how your trucks turn and how your whole board handles.
Risers, shock pads, and hardware may be small, but they’re foundational to any dialed-in setup. Whether you’re rolling rough roads, carving deep turns, or just chasing comfort underfoot, choosing the right combination can elevate your ride from sketchy to smooth. If you’re unsure what to use, drop by CalStreets or reach out—we’re always happy to help match the right riser and hardware combo to your wheels, trucks, and style of skating.
