Loaded Boards

Overview

Loaded Boards is a manufacturer of high-performance bamboo longboards, skateboards, wheels, and related components. The company is known for innovative board design and materials, producing both traditional longboards and electric skateboard variants. Loaded positions itself as a performance-oriented brand focused on creating new genres of skateboarding through product innovation and community engagement.

History

Loaded Boards was founded by Don Tashman in September 2000, with the company's first skateboard, the Vanguard, launching in June 2002. The company originated from Tashman's passion for emulating snowboarding and surfing on land, beginning informally in the mid-1990s with retrofitted boards and salvaged components. Business partner Pablo Castro joined in 2006. The company has maintained continuous operations and expanded its product line to include electric skateboards and various longboard categories.

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Loaded Boards manufactures products using bamboo and other innovative materials, with emphasis on in-house design and material development. The company focuses on continuous material innovation for each board model. Manufacturing details regarding outsourcing versus in-house production are not specified in available sources.

Notable Products

• Vanguard - The company's flagship longboard launched in 2002, available in limited edition versions to commemorate company milestones
• Tangent - A high-performance longboard model in the company's current product lineup
• Fathom - A performance-oriented skateboard model featured in the company's core offerings
• Electric Skateboard - Battery-powered skateboard innovation priced at $1,500, representing the company's expansion into motorized boards

Reputation

Loaded Boards is recognized within the skateboarding community for product innovation and material quality, particularly in bamboo longboard construction. The brand emphasizes creative expression and community building alongside performance. The company maintains an ambassador program featuring global skaters. Limited publicly available criticism suggests the brand is generally well-regarded among enthusiasts, though premium pricing on some products positions it as a higher-end market option.