Independent Trucks
Independent Truck Company is one of the biggest names in skateboard hardware. Founded in California in 1978, Independent has spent decades developing skateboard trucks built around strength, turning and one very simple idea - they're made to be skated hard. shop Independent Trucks
More than 45 years later, a set of Indys is still one of the first choices for anyone putting together a new skateboard.
The Start of Independent Trucks
Independent came together in 1978 through Fausto Vitello and Eric Swenson alongside Richard Novak and Jay Shuirman of NHS.
At the time, the aim was to make a skateboard truck that combined the best qualities of what was already available. The original Independent took inspiration from the responsive turn of Bennett trucks and the strength and adjustability of Tracker, creating something better suited to the increasingly aggressive skateboarding of the late 1970s.
The first Independent Stage I trucks arrived that year and the brand quickly became a major part of skateboarding, find more about the origins of Indy on our Independent Trucks history blog
Built to Grind
Independent's identity has always been closely tied to durability.
Skateboard trucks take more abuse than almost any other part of a setup. Grinds wear straight through the hanger, axles get battered and kingpins take constant impacts, so making something that lasts actually matters.
That's where Independent built its reputation. The trucks became known for taking a beating while still giving skaters the turn and stability they wanted.
The phrase Built to Grind sums Independent up pretty well.
The Evolution of Independent Trucks
Independent hasn't simply made the same truck since 1978.
Its truck designs have developed through a series of numbered Stages, with changes made to the hanger, baseplate, kingpin, weight and overall geometry as skateboarding itself has changed.
Street skating brought different demands from the vert and pool skating that helped shape the earliest Indys, while modern setups have pushed the brand towards more sizes, lighter constructions and different truck heights.
Despite all those changes, the idea behind an Independent truck has stayed pretty consistent - a strong, responsive truck that can work across pretty much every type of skateboarding.
Independent and Skate Culture
Independent is bigger than just a piece of skateboard hardware.
The brand grew alongside the harder, DIY side of skateboarding and became closely linked with the culture surrounding it. Independent logos have appeared on skateboards, ramps, jackets, patches and skate shop walls for decades.
That history has given Indy a level of recognition that very few hardware companies ever reach.
You don't really need to know anything about truck geometry to recognise Independent.
More Than Just Trucks
Trucks are always going to be the heart of Independent, but the brand has grown to include skateboard hardware, replacement parts, clothing and accessories.
That includes everything needed to keep a set of trucks running properly, alongside the Independent logo tees, hoodies, jackets and caps that have become almost as familiar as the trucks themselves.
It's still a hardware brand first though, and that's a big part of why Independent has remained relevant for so long.
Independent Trucks at The Vines
Independent is about as essential as a skate brand gets.
They're reliable, they turn well, they grind properly and there's an option for pretty much any skateboard setup. Whether you're skating street, transition, parks or a bit of everything, it's hard to go too far wrong with a set of Indys.
We stock a range of Independent skateboard trucks, hardware and accessories at The Vines, with different sizes and constructions available to suit different boards and setups.
Shop Independent Trucks online at The Vines or come and see us in our Solihull skate shop.