Penny Boards are immensely popular among younger riders and commuters of all ages because of their portability and extremely light weight. However, a lot of people get confused when they go onto Amazon and see that there are actually two versions of the classic Penny Board: the Original and Nickel Board.

I’m going to break down all of the advantages and disadvantages of both so that you can make the best decision on your decision of Penny vs. nickel board.

Penny vs Nickel Board: What’s the Difference?

First thing we should clear up is the difference between the boards. The Original Penny Board is made out of a strong polyurethane which can slam straight into a curb and still look brand new. The trucks measure 3.125” wide and it comes with 59mm Penny Wheels.

On the Penny Nickel, the main difference is the LENGTH of the board. The Penny Nickel measures 27” rather than the 22” long Penny Original. While the difference is only 5 inches, on a skateboard this small, it makes a huge difference.

While not commonly talked about, it should also be noted that the Penny Nickel also has a wider deck than the Penny Original. The trucks measure 4” wide(almost an inch wider than the original Penny) to fit the wider deck.

Original Penny Board: Advantages/Disadvantages

Advantages:

With the smaller size of 22”, the Original Penny Board is easier to fit inside of a backpack. If you want to easily carry your skateboard inside of your backpack, the original Penny is for you.

With the extra 5 inches, the Penny Nickel may be able to fit inside of a larger backpack but it strongly depends on the size of your backpack. The Penny Original is small enough to fit inside of 90% of backpacks today.

The shorter size also allows the Original Penny Board to win the battle in Penny vs Nickel board with regards to turns. With such a short wheelbase, this version of the Penny board is more maneuverable and riders can easily use it to weave in and out of crowds of people.

Disadvantages

The primary disadvantage of the original Penny is that the extremely small deck makes it bad for people who have large feet or feel uncomfortable with their feet so closely together.

In fact, when riding this Penny Board, most people have to have the majority of their feet off of the actual deck. This can be uncomfortable if you are not used to it.If you have a shoe size above 10( in Men’s size), you will most likely have to ride the Penny Board with part of your foot hanging off.

Penny Nickel: Advantages/ Disadvantages

With an extra 5 inches of length and almost an entire inch extra in width of the board, the Penny Nickel has a lot more room for your feet than the original Penny. If you have big feet, this will be drastically needed simply to control the board.

The bigger deck also makes the Penny Nickel easier to control for beginners. Beginners often have trouble on the original Penny due to the small size and foot placement and these concerns are eased by the larger deck.

The Penny Nickel can also go faster and remain more stable due to its extended length. If you experience a slight hill anywhere during your commute, the Penny Nickel might be your best option.

Disadvantages

When discussing this debate with some of my other skater friends, I got the question: Why buy a Penny Nickel if it’s almost the same size of a regular skateboard? You should just get a regular skateboard.

And that is a valid opinion. Skateboards or smaller longboards such as Landyachtz Dinghy are immensely popular as small cruisers around campus.

However, I don’t believe that you should simply ignore the Penny Nickel. This short board often costs 1/3 the price of comparable skateboards and it’s combination of lightweight and extreme durability is hard to beat.

Which one is best for me?

Overall, I believe that the Penny Nickel is the best option for beginner and inexperienced riders. The longer deck helps make riders comfortable on the board and helps them learn how to ride it.

For riders who are simply looking for an extremely portable board, the Original Penny Board is the best option. Its small size allows it to easily slip into backpacks and it can be carried around very easily.

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