Independent Trucks: What different types are there?

Independent Truck Company — known as Indy for short — is one of the most respected and iconic brands in skateboarding history. Founded in 1978 in Santa Cruz, California, Independent has built its reputation in the skateboard truck industry with a quality slogan: built to grind.

For decades, Independent have been considered the industry leader for skateboard trucks for skaters who want a high truck with quality turning, great stock bushings and a good feeling grind.

Indy trucks are known for their solid construction, smooth turning, and legendary durability. 

Whether you’re skating ledges, handrails, bowls, or bombing hills, they’re designed to take the job. Their classic geometry gives a stable ride with responsive turning, making them a favourite for both street and transition skateboarders.

Independent Trucks offer a range of models designed to suit different setups, board sizes, and rider preferences. 

Their lineup offers 2 different stages, reffering to the mould/shape of the truck itself: The Stage 11 and the Stage 4, They also offer a lower 'Mid' Stage 11, with an inverted kingpin, a Hollow version of the Stage 11 and a Stage 11 with a Titanium Hanger.

Their range is mainly made of alterations of the Stage 11, including standard, hollow, forged, and lightweight versions, giving skaters options depending on how they want their setup to feel. On top of that, Independent release regular pro models, colourways, and special editions, keeping their range fresh while staying true to their core design.

The Independent Stage 11 Polished Skateboard Truck is the most common and standard Independent truck in their range.

Indy Stage 11 Skateboard Trucks are part of Independent’s long-running Stage series, developing the next evolution of their truck over and over since 1978.

The Stage 11 design first arrived around 2013 as the successor to earlier versions and brought back tried-and-true geometry that combines stability and responsive turning. 

They’ve become one of the most popular skateboard trucks worldwide, widely chosen by skaters of all levels for street and park skating thanks to their durable aluminium construction, smooth turning feel, and strong grind performance. People like them because they balance control, strength, and performance in a way that works well for a broad range of skating styles.

The Independent Stage 11 Polished Standard Trucks and other standard Stage 11 models sit at about 55 mm tall from baseplate to axle in their regular form, giving classic height and good clearance for wheels around 56 mm and under.

This 55 mm height is the traditional “mid-to-high” standard that most skateboarders build around, balancing stability, grind clearance, and control.

Some Stage 11 variants — like the forged hollow or titanium versions — are slightly lower (around 53.5 mm) due to lighter baseplate designs, but 55 mm is the benchmark for most standard Stage 11 trucks.

The Independent Mid trucks were introduced as a lower-profile alternative to standard Indys, designed for skaters who want a slightly more responsive and compact setup. 

Sitting 3mm lower than regular Stage 11s at 52mm, they’re built to pair well with smaller wheels and give a closer-to-the-ground feel without going fully “low” profile.

One of the main features of the Mid is the inverted kingpin, which gives a different turning feel compared to traditional Indy trucks. This setup can make flip tricks feel a bit snappier and more controlled, especially for technical street skating. They’re also a popular choice for skaters who prefer a slightly lighter, tighter setup.

The advantage of Mids is their control and quick response, but the downside is they can feel less stable at high speed or on bigger drops compared to standard Indy's. Because of this, they’re more of a preference-based option rather than an all-round choice — great if you like a lower truck, but not as forgiving as classic Indys.

The Mid's are also available in a hollow version, with a hollow kingpin and axle, reducing the weight 

Independent also makes Hollow versions of both their Stage 11 and Mid trucks, which use hollowed-out axles and kingpins to cut weight without compromising strength. 

The idea is to keep the same geometry and performance you expect from standard Indys while making the setup lighter and more flick-friendly, which many skaters appreciate for technical street skating, especially useful if you want to balance the weight with bigger, heavier wheels

Hollow Stage 11 trucks retain the classic, reliable feel but with noticeably reduced weight. The Hollow Mid takes the same weight-saving approach to the lower-profile design, giving you a lighter, more responsive truck that still sits in the mid-height range and offers that unique inverted-kingpin feel.

The main advantage of the hollow variants is the weight reduction, which can make your skating feel less weighted. The only trade-off is a slightly higher price compared with standard versions, but most skaters who like a lighter setup find it worth it.

Independent’s Forged Titanium Stage 11 trucks are ultra-lightweight versions of their classic Stage 11 design, made with a forged baseplate, hollow kingpin, and a solid titanium axle. 

These changes give them one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios in the Indy lineup, around 15 % lighter than standard Stage 11 trucks while maintaining durability and performance.

They sit at roughly 53.5 mm tall, similar to some of the forged hollow versions, and are built to keep the feel and geometry skaters love about Independent trucks — stability, reliable turning, and strong grind clearance — but with noticeably less weight, which can help with pop and overall responsiveness.

Most riders choose these when they want an upgrade in lightness without sacrificing strength, making them especially appealing for street and technical skating with big, weighty wheels.

Compared with standard or hollow Indys, titanium versions feel a bit more agile and easier to flick, though they are considerably more expensive.

Independent Stage 4 trucks are a modern reissue of one of Indy’s original designs, first released in the mid-1980s. They bring back the classic single-wing hanger shape that made early Independent trucks famous, but with updated materials and construction for modern skating.

Stage 4s are known for their quick, responsive turning and slightly more reactive feel compared to newer models. They sit at a standard 55mm height and use a traditional kingpin setup, making them great for carving, transition, and all-round skating with a bit of old-school character.

Skaters choose Stage 4s for their lively steering and retro feel, while still getting the strength and reliability Independent is known for. They’re ideal for anyone who wants a more responsive truck with classic Indy style, without sacrificing durability or performance.

Independent Trucks offers a broad lineup of skateboard trucks designed to suit different rider preferences and setups. Their core range centers around the Stage series, with Stage 11 being their most popular and widely used model thanks to its balance of stability, durability, and all-around performance for street and park skating.

Alongside the standard Stage 11, Independent also makes Mid trucks for a slightly lower ride and a different turning feel, as well as Hollow and Titanium variants that reduce weight for quicker flick and pop while keeping strength. They also reissue classic designs like the Stage 4, which brings retro geometry with modern materials for a livelier turning experience.

Across the range, Independent offers variations in height, weight, and construction so skaters can choose trucks that match their wheel size, board width, and personal feel — from traditional, stable setups to lighter, more responsive options. Their consistent build quality and variety make them a go-to choice for skaters of all levels.

Choose whichever one alligns with the wants from your skateboard...