Best Drop Through Longboard Under $150

•Deck: Maple/Bamboo hybrid laminate with photo heat transfer graphic•Trucks: Navigator Drone - 40 degree base - 180mm hangers•Wheels: Atom AREA 51 - 70mm diameter - 51mm wide - 78A - SHR•Bearings: ABEC 9 with high-speed lubricant•Grip: Coarse 46 grit

Best Drop Through Longboard Under $150

When Atom's original 41" Drop-Through longboard went boom this past year we asked our riders what we could do to take this board to the next level.

When they suggested an upgraded bamboo/maple hybrid deck with a little more concave and a tad more width under foot (a full 10 Inch to be exact), genuine Navigator high performance 40 degree reverse king pin trucks and sick new graphics, we knew they were on to something so that's exactly what we gave them.

Now you can join them by adding the Atom 40" Bamboo Drop-Through Longboard to your quiver

Best Drop Through Longboard Under $150

The Atom Drop Through Longboard is nearly perfect in every way. My board, which I have lovingly named Felicia, arrived in about a week in a cardboard box that was a bit too small - there was almost no package padding. But when I opened the dented box, all vestiges of doubt fled.

This board is beautiful. The craftsmanship is simply out-of-this-world. I jumped on it and started riding immediately. The ride was as smooth as butter, and I felt as though I was flying, with almost no resistance. The wide deck is curved, flexible andhas great strength - it should comfortably support someone of 210 pounds or so (I weigh 195). The deck tape is grippy and rather coarse. The wheels and bearings are a great combination - the board just rolls and rolls, seemingly without much effort. The trucks are attractive, responsive and solidly made.

Best Drop Through Longboard Under $150

Turning radius is a bit wide - the board requires a bit of lean in order to effect a reasonable 180 degree turn - but once you get the hang of it, you're solid. There is no wheelbite whatsoever. Kicking is wonderful, because the board is a drop through, making its height lower than a top mounted board.

I got caught in a torrential downpour on the boardwalk approximately three miles away from my car - the board might as well have been a rowboat - it got me back tothe car quickly and efficiently. Later, after it was left to dry, I was happy to see that the deck did not warp.

Some of the truck componentry is painted black, and the paint chips down there from flying stones, resulting in small rust spots. The truck mounting screws will loosen on the board over time, despite their loctite nuts, resulting in annoying rattling and loose handling - be sure to keep a tool with you when boarding to tighten things up after heavy cruising.