Please, please! We know it technically doesn’t hover, but “self-balancing scooter” or “handle-free scooter” is just a mouthful.
2016 was not a great year for the hoverboard industry. Still, people couldn’t resist the awesomeness that is hoverboard! Not to mention, how fun it is! And, honestly, the most troublesome thing about a hoverboard is how to look super cool while riding it.
For transportation, these puppies can genuinely be an effective one, able to reach close to 10 mph of speeds and last roughly 20 miles on one single charge. Luckily, to help you find the best hoverboards all around, we have tried and reviewed all the newest generation of self-balancing scooter out there on the market.
Before digging into the list, we will go over some of the top questions asked about hoverboards and settle once and for all, how cool these are!
Top 5 Best Hoverboards Worth Buying
What is a Hoverboard?
To answer this question, we think a picture worths a thousand words.
Have I told you how cool these are? Yes, well, I don’t regret sounding redundant! Because it’s surprisingly as cool as you see.
Now, tech-talk, a hoverboard is a 2-wheeled gadget which uses internal gyroscopes to detect the user’s movements to move in a certain direction. All you have to do is leaning in whichever direction you want, and the electric motors will activate and take you there.
How do You Ride a Hoverboard?
First off, as I said, hoverboards do not technically hover. At least not in 2019 anymore. It’s perfectly okay if you don’t know how to ride one, and too embarrassed to ask your kids or siblings for help (I painfully understand!). We hopefully can help you with that as well.
- Step onto the device with one foot;
- Step on with the other foot and position your feet as far apart as you feel comfortable
- Stand normally, try to keep balance (duh!)
- To get going, lean forward or subtly shift your weight forward
- To turn, lean towards the direction you want
One thing we want to note that, you should have someone practice with you to avoid injuries as much as possible!
Are Hoverboards Safe?
The hoverboards did experience a tough period when the technology didn’t equal fire safety. The negative news of explosion and fire was all across the net. Everyone has a complaint about the hoverboard explosion. The incidents became more and direr; all the corporations had to call back every single product.
After this crisis, the customers’ trust plummeted. Earning back their confidence would be a long and challenging road.
Happily, the gadget made a comeback stronger, groovier and foremost safer. Every product on the market had to be approved by the UL 2271 certificate. This standard evaluates the safety of the electrical drive train system and battery and charger system combinations of hoverboards and other 1-wheel, 2-wheel, x-wheel (which includes hoverboards).
How to Choose the Best Hoverboard?
Safety FIRST
This factor should always be a priority for you when choosing these electrical gizmos. Aforementioned, why was 2016 such a lousy year publicly for hoverboards? It was due to some incidents that they caught on fire, and the industry has taken a dive. Fortunately, they quickly recover and have been bringing out all much safer models. It’d be hard for you to find any reports of fire today.
Therefore, look for UL 2272 Certification on any hoverboard that you want to pick up. It means that one has qualified all safety tests and safe for you to ride.
Durability
You certainly wouldn’t take hoverboards to conquer all the exotic locations, and they don’t admittedly have the design for that. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t expect the products made of quality, durable materials so they can last longer.
Besides a sturdy construction, you also want a hoverboard with lightweight components. It can be crucial in increasing speed and battery capacity, as well as a smoother ride.
Anyhow, if you want to boost your hoverboard durability, there are choices now such as using a hoverboard skin. You can effortlessly pick one out, so yours be more stylish or have more of a buffer, it’s all up to you!
It’s also related to durability of a hoverboard, battery life and charging times are essential as well. To think longer battery life is good, it’s not wrong, but it’s not all. A hoverboard can have the most extended battery life you can find in the store, yet it only goes up to 5 mph, then what’s the point?
Balance is such a vital factor for having fun. A long battery life plus a speed you want, the best hoverboard should be able to deliver that. And also, the charging time is no less critical. 6-hour charging with only 2-3 hours of fun and no higher than a wimpy 6-mile range? No, thanks! Once more, the balance you look for is the one that works for you. Nowadays, 1-2 hour charge time is adequate, which weighs in along with performance, battery life.
Speed and Range
These two factors matter quite a lot into your entertainment of the hoverboard. A great range with speed and short charging times equals less waiting around and more adventures. An acceptable range for the best hoverboards is 9-12 miles.
And if you’re buying hoverboards for a young child, look out for the ones that only have a moderate top speed.
Motors
This one is more or less a no-brainer when it comes to electrical gadgets. Undoubtedly, the more powerful the motors, the better performance your hoverboard brings. A 250-watt motor is okay, but twin 250-watt motors just are going to double the fun! More power, more speed. The bigger, the better!
Portability
If you’re planning on racing through the town all day long, it’s better to check how much your hoverboard weighs beforehand. After all, most boards weigh 20-plus pounds, a lot closer to 30. For someone in average shape, there’s an option to haul it around for brief periods, but it will soon become a burden for later.
Safety Gear
Not everyone’s physically gifted, and can just hop on board and ride the hoverboards like a pro. Safety gear’s positively going to come in handy in case you lose your balance (which very likely happens for a first-timer!). Helmets, knee guards and wrist guards are all highly recommended especially if you’re buying hoverboards for a young child.
It’s part of safety to talk about visibility. Making sure you’re visible while riding hoverboards, where cars and cyclists are riding, and particularly necessary at nighttime or early morning and late evening. LED headlights built in the scooter, its wheels or on a hoverboard skin would be excellent choices.
Other than that, there’re flashing LED shoe lights, clip-on LED safety lights, or LED reflective belt safety lights for hoverboarding if you want to shake it up a bit!
After all that talk, let’s get down to business with the best and brightest hoverboards on the current market!
Best 9 Hoverboards Worth Buying 2018-2019
Swagtron Swagboard Pro T1 UL 2272 Certified Hoverboard
It’s somewhat a legend in the hoverboard community. The first UL 2722 certified Hoverboard made it to the market. SwagTron T1 prides its brand with excellence safety that instantly set it apart.
The T1 is SwagTron’s golden egg at the moment. Its design, low price, and quality specifications have done wonders to climb itself to the top of the market.
SwagTron T1 gives a smooth ride and is very easy to enjoy. It’s because they offer two different user modes for you to choose. One is the learner mode which is terrific for any beginners. The T1 also enhance the ride experience with the dynamic equilibrium based technology ensuring balance to the scooter’s self-balancing system.
With speed from 2-8 mph, range up to 7-12 miles, and approximately 1 hour charging time, the T1 has exceeded all our expectations. Besides, it has precise gyroscopes that pick up on every nuance of your movements. We can confidently conclude that this is by far the most responsive hoverboard we’ve ever tested.
Epiko Self-Balancing Hoverboard – Best All Terrain Hoverboard
Coming out with a brand new hoverboard design, Epikgo has been marketing this scooter for those who want a more off-road experience. It shows off its superior performance and added toughness with groundbreaking 8.5-inch wheels and solid rubber tires.
The Epikgo is such a wish granted for your future adventures. As it undoubtedly will operate in any terrain, as the brand promises, whether it is grass, mud, sand and even more.
They put in a robust ABS body with aluminum fenders, a short charging time of under 2 hours and a top speed of 10 mph. Along with all of that, it’s IP 56 certified, which means, other than drenching it in water, getting wet is out of the question. Riding on the beach doesn’t seem so far away now, right?
Furthermore, this hoverboard weighs 31 lbs, a tad heavy, if not the heaviest by far. So indeed you should double-check the battery before going out; otherwise, the walk home won’t be a breeze!
Razor Hovertrax 2.0 Hoverboard Self-Balancing Smart Scooter
If your mind’s a bit fuzzy when Razor comes up, the Hovertrax (quite a name!) 2.0 is here to remind you Razor is still very much in the game. Over and above that, they don’t want to back down from a fight.
Carrying all the bells and whistles similar to the Swagtron series, same price, it would downright confuse customers whether they have the manufacturer. The Hovertrax can hold up 220 pounds for about an hour of riding as well. And the battery pack automatically switches off once it’s fully charged.
OK, Razor’s board doesn’t present us with something more impressive. But to have enough to stand their ground in a market that didn’t have much is only going to push forward the future of hoverboarding.
Besides, there are some new features on this model, including the cool-blue LED light bar display, fender bumpers, LED battery power indicator, and two riding modes for rookies and regular riding. They also broaden the range for this model up to 15 miles.
Segway Minipro Self-Balancing – Best Bluetooth Hoverboard
Segway is undeniably a powerhouse in the industry of personal transportation devices. But, to the hoverboard community, Segway has intentionally refused to jump back into the water. But that doesn’t mean Segway doesn’t have a plan.
Their plan is introducing a more cultivated product with the Segway hoverboard. The miniPro is technically not much of a hoverboard. It’s way bigger and has an adjustable knee support bar. And the price tag is undeniably not average.
Segway packs it with high-quality components and is not afraid to make promises to be the best hoverboard out there. The miniPRO provides the spanking-new concept of “knee support bar” so you can ride with more precision (and maybe be there so you can learn how to ride it smoother!).
This hoverboard does deliver when it comes to Bluetooth. It is the most refined hoverboard we’ve tested, with its ability to integrate to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Sadly, there are no Bluetooth speakers on the mini Segway.
Halo Rover Hoverboard
Halo Board certainly didn’t pull any punches puffing up this guy. A top speed of 10 miles an hour, a range of 10 miles, 2272 certification, plus built-in Bluetooth speakers to blast your music, Halo Rover is the whole package.
To cast a wider net, Halo inputs up to 3 training modes – beginners, regular and advanced. They are guaranteeing to serve you whichever way you want. Also, this model gives a splendid durable build with excellent water resistance. Rain or shine it will prevail.
The Halo Rover has a weight limit of up to 260 lbs, can handle inclines of up 20 degrees. Therefore, it can perform well with heavy people or a whole load of stuff. It also adds LED headlights to boost visibility for riders and passersby alike.
On top of that, you can have full control over your hoverboard using a smartphone app that allows you to monitor power, speed, tracking distance and more. The app can change the speed, steering sensitivity, and loads of other features.
Gyroor G-F1 – Racing Hoverboard
Even just looking at the pictures of this hoverboard gives you a sense of adventurous. This Gyroor F1 is, without a doubt, the ultimate choice for any hoverboarders that are gunning for the blistering speed. (well, they named it F1, come on!)
2019 is the 7th year Gyroor has come into the hoverboard manufacturing industry. They are hands down the best at striving for futuristic features in hoverboards. The F1 racing hoverboard is marking its territories within the market as it possesses all the elements that an adventurous is searching for.
To make it more appealing to those who love the racing sound of the automobiles, Gyroor creates the F1 to meet your needs. The truth is that the racing sound does prove its popularity with kids and adults to be the coolest feature in a hoverboard.
Besides, it carries around a lot of safety certification, like UL 2272, CE, FCC, and RoHS. So, parents should be quite assured about the safety of this hoverboard.
Skque X1/I Series – Self Balancing Scooter/Hoverboard
Let’s welcome the most recent gamer in the hoverboard industry! Even just a newbie, Skque has proved that they are not to be messed with. Skque X1 comes out with a bang on the market in three sizes, i.e., 6.5”, 8” and 10” and all different prices.
The product looks very ravishing and trendy, especially with the one of a kind feature that it’s capable of turning itself to 360 degrees from its static position. How cool is that?
The Skque X1 hoverboard has powerful 350 watts motors for support; the battery capacity is 44000 mAh. Each full charge time, you can ride it up to 13 miles until the next recharge. The charging time is less than 2 hours which is acceptable with its powers.
The maximum speed is 7.5 mph, and the largest load capacity is up top 264 lbs, also a very slick range as some other hoverboards have. Another great thing about this hoverboards is that it offers a bunch of colors, along with three main sizes, gives riders oodles freedom to pick one that fits them best.
Swagtron Swagboard Outlaw T6 Off-Road Hoverboard
Other than it’s a product from Swagtron when they talk about the T6, they talk about its weight limit – 420 pounds!!! Which makes it the very first, never-seen-before hoverboard in the whole wide world to have the capacity to carry that much load.
Swagtron T6 earns its place because of its affordability, speed and build quality. It is made to go through rough terrains as well as rollover bumps and inclines up to 30 degrees as you travel through mud, grass, rain, and even gravel.
Even though the battery recharge time is a bit higher than average (less than 3 hours), it redeems itself with the max speed of 12 mph and a distance of 12 miles. Swagtron slaps on the 10” tires to ensure a smoother run with tough terrains.
It can handily connect with smartphones via Bluetooth to play music directly from your phones. Or accessing its app to view battery level, speed, distance traveled, riding modes, and more.
The T6 also ensures protection against dirt and splashes of water. Cruise through puddles of water and dusty ground safely and without hassles.
The One Wheel + XR
Last but not least, and needless to say, not cheap! The One Wheel has a unique design in all respects for a hoverboard on the market today. It also is the fastest hoverboard with a top speed of 15 mph.
For that reason, the One Wheel has become one of the most challenging scooters to ride, children or adult. Granted that they do put in some balancing tech to help riders, the One Wheel take some intuition to ride. The hoverboarding community accepts it as the most thrilling and fun self-balancing scooters on the block in these times.
The XR comes equipped with an all-new 324 Wh 63V nickel manganese cobalt oxide battery. The charging time from empty to full is around an hour and a half, which is not bad at all. And from that charge, the XR can run for more than 13 miles in urban areas and off road.
That’s somewhat enough to get hoverboarders from home to school or work, especially in the cities. Even faster than a car, for short commutes, as the hoverboard can ride on sidewalks and in bike lanes.
The 29 Best Hoverboards For Adults
Conclusion
Hoverboards are a popular form of transportation in the modern-day which on top of that can revolutionize your life. They’re such a force to be reckoned with when it comes to having fun and get you where you’re going in the least amount of time and minimal effort.
Let’s take a step forward into the world of the future with our list which prepares you with information about all the best and brightest of hoverboard industry at the moment!
Which hoverboard lights your fire for your next adventures? Tell us about it by leaving a comment!
