The 6 Best Mountain Boards
Updated by · How we research
Strapped-in mountainboards, an electric off-roader and a dirt-path longboard compared on brakes, axles and bindings. The MBS Colt 90 is our pick for new riders. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A mountainboard rolls on four fat, air-filled tires and straps your feet to the deck, so it can run down grass hills, dirt trails and gravel where skateboard wheels would stall. Riders use it as a summer stand-in for snowboarding or tow it behind a kite. It suits teens and adults willing to wear a helmet and pads.
Editor's Notes
October 27, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
For anyone new to the sport, the MBS Colt 90 is the board to start on. It pairs sturdier axles than most starter boards with straps a whole family can share, and it can take a brake later. Three old picks, the MBS Core 94, the Hi-Na Cross Country and the San Diego Speed, are no longer sold. The MBS Comp 95 stays as the step-up board, the Atom 95X stays for its included brake, and the Atom Woody stays for riders who mostly stick to paths. New picks add the Meepo Bamboo Off-Road for riders who want motors and the Losenka Mountain Board as a low-cost kit with pads.
Nobody publishes lab tests of mountainboards, so we leaned on MBS's own spec sheets, a beginner's guide from a board sports site, rider community rankings and the cracked decks and weak brakes that keep turning up in owner reports.
Earlier notes
June 24, 2020, by Daniel Imperiale:
For starters, let us just say that mountainboarding can be a hazardous pastime, so you're not going to want to hit the trails without the proper safety equipment, including a helmet. Some models come with a little safety gear, like the elbow and knee pads included with the Hi-Na Cross Country, but you'll still need to supplement this.
If you're considering using your mountainboard on roadways or sidewalks, as well, keep in mind that their large knobby tires are going to create more friction than the wheels on a skateboard, and that friction will reduce your speed by dissipating more energy against the road. This is one of the reasons a mountain bike with the same gear ratio as a road bike will still go slower. Something like the hybrid Atom Longboards Woody is a better choice if you're looking to zip around town or campus and occasionally hit the trails.
More dedicated trail riders are going to want to consider the durability of trucks, tires, and decks, with multi-ply maple decks being among the most rugged options. The downside here is that all that wood can get heavy, and if you're hiking a long way to your starting point, you might want something made from composite materials like the MBS Core 94.
Special Honors
Trampa Boards Trampa Boards, a British maker, builds mountainboards to order and sells them direct. Riders choose the deck, spring trucks in solid, hollow, titanium or steel versions, and ratchet or hook bindings, and the decks are hand-sanded to fit. Trampa also makes electric mountainboards and sells trucks, tires and spare parts. It's where many experienced riders go after outgrowing a stock board. trampaboards.com
Fit The Board To The Rider
Channel trucks with shocks are more stable at speed but take more effort to turn.
Most mountainboard decks run from about 31 to 41 inches long. A shorter deck turns quickly and suits kids and lighter riders, while a longer, stiffer deck is steadier at speed and better for heavier adults. Wood laminate decks cost less and weigh more; composite decks that mix in fiberglass are lighter and tougher, according to The Action Advisor's beginner guide. MBS builds its entry boards, such as the Atom 90, from maple laminate and saves composite decks for its higher lines.
Look at the axles and trucks next. Skate-style trucks are light and turn easily, which is why most beginner boards use them. Channel trucks with shocks are more stable at speed but take more effort to turn. Axle thickness matters for heavier riders: MBS uses 12-millimeter axles on the Colt 90 and thinner 9.5-millimeter axles on the Atom 95X, which it aims at lighter riders.
Bindings come in two kinds. Hook-and-loop straps are quick to adjust and forgiving for new riders. Ratchet bindings, like a snowboard's, hold your feet firmly for jumps but take longer to get in and out of. Whatever you pick, set the straps so you can step out in a fall.
Brakes, Stopping And Protective Gear
A brake is handy on long hills but not essential for beginners, according to The Action Advisor. Most riders learn to stop the way snowboarders do, by carving across the slope on the toe side or sliding the board sideways on the heel side. Hand brakes such as MBS's V4 and V5 run a cable from a lever you hold. Cables stretch and can snap, so check the cable and pads before each ride and adjust them as the manual describes.
Wear a skateboarding helmet, wrist guards, knee and elbow pads and sturdy shoes every time. Falls on grass still break wrists. No study has looked at mountainboard injuries directly, but a review of snowboarding research found that wrist guards cut wrist injuries, with roughly one injury avoided for every 50 riders who wore them. We found no recalls of mountainboards or of the brands on this list in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's SaferProducts database.
Tires, Electric Boards And Where To Ride
Air-filled tires are what let a mountainboard roll on grass, and they lose pressure over time like bike tires. Check them with a gauge before each ride and keep a small pump in your bag. Low tires feel slow and pinch-flat more easily on rocks.
Electric off-road boards add motors and a battery, which makes climbing easy but adds a lot of weight. Meepo, for one, rates the tires on its Hurricane Bamboo for about 30 psi and quotes range and top speed under ideal conditions, so expect less on hills and soft ground. For any electric board, look for a UL 2272 listing, the U.S. safety standard for personal e-mobility devices, and charge it where you can watch it.
Before you ride, check the rules. Skateparks, ski resorts, trail systems and private land often ban boards or allow them only in set areas, and many trails bar motorized boards outright. Some ski resorts open lift-served mountainboard runs in summer. Don't ride on roads with traffic. If you want a custom-built board later, Trampa Boards builds them to order.
How we researched this
We compared 17 boards, including every MBS and Atom model still on sale, two electric off-road boards and several unbranded kits. We read MBS's and Meepo's published specs, a beginner's guide and rider community rankings, analyzed owner feedback for recurring problems, and checked each brand against the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database. Updated October 27, 2026 by Ezvid Wiki Editors.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mountain board?
A mountainboard, also called an all-terrain board or dirt board, is a skateboard-style deck on four air-filled tires, usually 8 inches tall, with foot bindings. It rides grass, dirt and gravel, and some riders tow it with a kite.
Are mountain boards electric?
Most aren't. The MBS, Atom and Losenka boards here are pushed or ridden downhill. Electric off-road boards like the Meepo Bamboo Off-Road add motors, a battery and a handheld remote.
Do beginners need a brake?
Not strictly. Most riders learn to stop by carving across the hill or sliding the board sideways. A hand brake helps on long or steep hills, and boards like the MBS Colt 90 can take one later.
Can I use a regular longboard on grass?
No. Urethane wheels sink into grass and soft dirt. An all-terrain longboard such as the Atom Woody handles rough pavement and packed paths, but you need air-filled tires for grass.
Where can I ride a mountain board?
Grass hills, dirt trails, gravel roads and beaches, where the landowner allows it. Some ski resorts run summer mountainboard trails. Many skateparks and trail systems ban boards, so check first.
