Surf Skate Trucks Explained: Carver, Waterborne & YOW, 3 Best-Selling Compared
Surf skate is now an evolved discipline. Formerly a niche crossover of skateboarding and surfing, it’s now fully fledged in its own right.
However, the array of available kit can be confusing – especially where surf skate trucks are concerned. This article aims to break down the main differences between Carver C7, CX and C5 trucks, Waterborne Fin System and Rail adpaters and the YOW Meraki system.
Note: Here at NCW, we sell and can get hold of all Carver Skateboards and Waterborne Skateboards products. Message us if you have any questions or need a hand.
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Surf Skate trucks compared – 3 of the Best-Selling Options
Whether you’re looking to improve your surfing between swells, carve concrete bowls, or simply unlock a looser, more expressive way of skating, the surf skate truck you choose defines the entire ride.
At North Coast Wetsuits, we’re often asked the same question: which surf skate truck is best? The honest answer is that it depends on what kind of riding you want to do. The three main players dominating the surf skate world today are Carver, Waterborne, and YOW, each offering a distinct approach to turning, pumping, and board feel.
Here’s a breakdown of how they compare, and which riders they suit best.
Carver: The Original Surf Skate Benchmark
Carver essentially wrote the rulebook for modern surf skating. Designed originally as a surf training tool, Carver trucks now span everything from mellow carving to full-send bowl riding and even technical street skating.
Carver C7 – Spring-Based Surf Training Perfection
The C7 is Carver’s most surf-specific truck and remains one of the most recognisable surf skate systems on the market. It uses a spring-based mechanism in the front truck, allowing for a long, smooth turning arc and a highly fluid pumping motion.
The C7 excels at generating speed without pushing, making it an exceptional surf trainer. The rebound of the spring creates a natural compression-and-release feel that closely mimics surfing a rail. It’s loose and flowy, yet surprisingly stable once you’re rolling, which is why many riders happily take C7 setups into parks and bowls.
For riders who want:
- Maximum carve and flow
- A true surf-training feel
- A smooth, predictable turn
…the C7 remains a gold standard.
Carver CX – The Hybrid All-Rounder
The CX is Carver’s bushing-based surf skate truck and arguably the most versatile of their lineup. There’s no spring here—just a cleverly engineered geometry that blends surf skate looseness with the familiarity of a traditional skateboard truck.
Carver CX + C2 6.5″ surf skate trucks (pair)
Original price was: £120.00.£110.00Current price is: £110.00.
The result is a setup that still pumps efficiently and carves hard, but feels more planted and responsive. This makes the CX an outstanding choice for riders who split their time between surf skating and more conventional skating.
The CX shines in bowls and transitions, where its stability allows you to push harder without losing control. It’s also highly tunable via bushings, making it a favourite for riders who want to fine-tune their setup.
Ideal for:
- Surf skating mixed with traditional skateboarding
- Bowl and park riding
- Riders who want a surf feel without going ultra-loose
Carver C5 – Surf Skate Meets Street
The C5 is Carver’s lowest and narrowest surf skate truck. It’s designed for riders who want to blend surf-style carving with street skating, including flips, grinds, and technical tricks.
Mounted on shorter wheelbases and narrower decks, the C5 delivers a surf skate feel without sacrificing pop or stability. It’s not as loose as the C7 or CX, but that’s the point—this is a truck for riders who want to send it while still enjoying deeper turns than a standard street setup.
Best for:
- Street-style skating with a surf twist
- Shorter, narrower decks
- Riders transitioning from street to surf skating
Waterborne: The DIY and Custom King
Waterborne took a completely different approach to surf skating—and it paid off. Rather than asking riders to buy a full truck system, Waterborne created adapters that retrofit to almost any existing setup.
Waterborne Surf & Rail Adapters – Maximum Flexibility
The Waterborne Surf Adapter is one of the most accessible entry points into surf skating. It bolts onto your existing front truck, instantly transforming a standard skateboard, cruiser, or longboard into a surf skate.
It’s bushing-based, with loads of tuning options, and delivers a deep, responsive turn that works across a wide range of boards. Add the rear Surf Rail adapter, and you unlock a full rail-to-rail lean that feels incredibly surf-inspired.
This system is hands-down the best choice for riders who want to DIY or modify their setup. It’s affordable, adaptable, and endlessly customisable.
Perfect for:
- Riders starting surf skating on a budget
- DIY and mod-focused skaters
- Experimenting with deck shapes and wheelbases
The Waterborne Fin System – Tune Your Turn
One of Waterborne’s standout features is the Fin System, which allows riders to adjust how loose or controlled the front truck feels. This lets you dial in everything from mellow carves to ultra-tight turns depending on your riding style.
Paired with the rear Surf Rail, the Fin System creates a dynamic, surf-like feel that’s hard to match for pure adaptability.
Waterborne Dream – Integrated Performance Upgrade
For riders looking for a more refined surf trainer, the Waterborne Dream integrated front truck is a serious upgrade. It features an enhanced caster effect, delivering a cleaner, more efficient turn and smoother pumping.
The Dream remains tunable and allows riders to swap out truck hangers depending on preference. Combined with the rear Surf Rail, it delivers a familiar, powerful full-rail turn that feels intuitive and responsive—especially for surfers using skateboarding as training.
YOW Meraki – Ultra-Loose and Ultra-Surf
Although YOW surf skates aren’t sold by North Coast Wetsuits, the YOW Meraki system deserves a mention due to its popularity and unique feel.
The Meraki is probably the loosest and surfiest surf skate truck on the market. Its spring-based front truck allows riders to initiate pumping from a complete standstill with ease, making it incredibly fun at low speeds.
What sets the Meraki apart is its fast rebound back to centre, which keeps it surprisingly rippable despite its looseness. That said, it’s a more technical system to ride in bowls and transitions, rewarding riders who are comfortable managing speed and line choice.
Best suited to:
- Riders chasing maximum surf feel
- Low-speed carving and technical pumping
- Experienced surf skaters
Choosing the Right Surf Skate Truck
There’s no single “best” surf skate truck—only the best one for your style of riding.
Surfskates & skateboards
Surf Skate Trucks Explained: Carver, Waterborne & YOW, 3 Best-Selling Compared – this link gives more info about surf skate trucks. If you need a hand choosing the right gear please contact us here
Want to read our fair returns policy first?Whether you’re chasing surf-specific training, bowl domination, DIY experimentation, or street-inspired creativity, North Coast Wetsuits can help point you in the right direction. Our carefully selected range of surf skate trucks, decks, wheels, and complete setups gives riders the freedom to build exactly the feel they’re after.
From spring-driven flow to bushing-based control, surf skating is all about expression. Choose the right system, and the concrete becomes your wave.