For most skaters, once they find skateboard bearings they like, they stick with them. Street skateboarders almost exclusively ride steel bearings, while some downhill longboarders prefer ceramic bearings. What’s the difference between the two? Steel Bearings’ durability and lower cost make them an industry standard. A set of steel bearings can last you the life of your wheels – anywhere from 6 months to 2 years – if you properly maintain them. Ceramic bearings are lighter, stronger, and perform better at high speeds than steel bearings because they produce less friction, which means less heat. Heat causes the steel to swell and slows down the wheel bearing. That being said, most skateboarders don’t usually skate fast enough to pay the extra amount for ceramic bearings. Longboarding, on the other hand, it’s very common to ride ceramic. For a more in-depth look at Steel vs. Ceramic Bearings check out the Skateboard Bearings Section in our Buyer’s Guide.