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Scooter vs Skateboard: Which Is Better?

You don’t need to be a kid to get a kick out of something cool and fancy like a skateboard or a scooter. And ever since the recent popularity of the latter, “Scooter vs Skateboard” has become a common comparison and debate, sometimes even heated.

So how do they compare?

Though serving the same purposes for riders, skateboards and scooters have clearly different designs. The other differences also come from how safe, portable they are or how quick a newbie can pick up the essential skills.

So there is no better way to settle this question than going through each of them.

Design

Both scooters and skateboards have a deck where you can stand on the ride. But apart from that, there are so many differences behind how each type of these sports equipment works.

Skateboards

Design SkateboardsThe board of a typical skateboard is narrow and short with small wheels fixed at each end. They allow the rider to move it while in the crouching or standing position.

There is nothing your hands can get a hold of while riding. The only way for you to steer the board is by using your feet and shifting your weight on the deck.

Though you can use it as a “cool guy” way for going to school, they are mainly designed and intended for leisure and sports without other benefit and purpose.

Scooters

Design ScooterMeanwhile, scooters, or if we want to use a correct name – electric scooters, are a type of motorized vehicle.

They have (usually) two aligned bigger wheels while there is also a handlebar for steering. While riding scooters, you always put your feet between these wheels.

Usually run by batteries, they have become more popular nowadays, both for relaxation and as a personalized mode of transportation. Scooters have a design resembling usual motorcycles. And some models can carry up to two riders as well!

Power Source

Skateboards

Power source SkateboardsTypically, a skateboard uses only the propelling provided by the feet of the rider to drive it forwards.

As expected from manual pushes, you can’t really get a hide speed with skateboards, unless when going downhill. As a result, the speed range is lower and not suitable for a long commute.

Electric skateboards also have appeared recently on the market, which utilizes an electric motor as the main propulsion force.

Scooters

Power source ScootersAs we have mentioned, scooters usually use electricity in batteries as their power source. All those batteries are rechargeable, which means you can charge it fully again after draining it after the riding sessions.

No one wants a scooter that can be only used for one ride!

Thanks to this mechanism, scooters also don’t emit smoke or other harmful gases like the vehicles run by petrol or diesel. That’s why they are often the recommendations for those seeking an eco-friendly alternative to their motorbikes in short distances.

But there are also simple scooters using kick pushing just like skateboards. They are less popular than traditional electric models.

Materials

Skateboards

MaterialsSkateboards on the market usually have a deck made from wood and rubber wheels. But when the manufacturers attach the wheels to the main body, they use stainless steel parts to do the job, such as bearings.

Skateboards are not designed for heavy loads.

Each board can carry only you on the deck. When trying to test a new fancy trick on rough terrain, make sure that your model is tough enough to handle such movements.

Scooters

Manufacturers, on the other hand, use mainly aluminium, stainless steel, and other hard metallic materials to build a scooter. Their constructions are generally stronger, resisting better to rough driving conditions and demanding environments.

As a result, scooters can endure greater impacts and last longer compared to skateboards.

See more: All about Scooters

Capacity

Skateboards

CapacityYou have never seen a skateboard moving with two people on it, haven’t you?

This happens for a reason: skateboards are not intended for more than one person. Even if the designers want, it’d be a challenging problem since moving a skateboard with a rider is already hard and unstable enough.

Imagine when there is someone else on board, how could you sit comfortably and enjoy the ride?

Scooters

On the other hand, a scooter can provide enough room for two adults, even though you may not see this often.

They also can transport cargo with the same weight as a human. This capability makes electric scooters stand out from skateboards and hoverboards, which can only accommodate comfortably limited weights.

It also opens the doors for other purposes, not only limited to a vehicle for leisure.

Ease of Using

To determine which one is easier to ride, we will consider each movement you are going to perform with them.

Rolling

RollingIt’s easier to merely ride while rolling with an electric scooter since it’s more stable, thanks to the handlebar. This is not the case with skateboards.

A newbie would easily lose control and balance on bumpy roads. They might even shoot the board forward quickly and fall sideways. That’s why scooters and their stable riding position are safer for those who are new to these sports.

Maneuvering

This will take less effort from you on a scooter compared to a skateboard.

You can make tight turns, even with little space with the electric vehicle since there is only one wheel on the front, which you can also steer with the handlebar. This design makes it work like a mini bike when you want to change direction.

On the other hand, making tight turns with a skateboard may make you lose balance. To perform it, you need more time and experience to master the skills required.

Steering

SteeringAll you need to do with a scooter is steer the handle slightly. Meanwhile, skateboards require you to press onto the ground with your heel or toes, leaning backwards or forward to make steering. If you don’t really know what you’re doing, losing balance will likely happen.

Stopping

Since most scooters have a brake – a fender-like part which you can push against the rear wheel. Some models even come with hand brakes like a BMX bike. This makes scooters easier to handle when you need to make a pause or decrease speed.

But even without such brakes, scooters will also be safer.

Thanks to the handlebar, when you use your own foot to do the braking, your hands still have something to hold on. This foot braking method is harder to do on a skateboard and more likely makes you lose balance.

Sliding is also a method to stop a skateboard, but it’s an advanced skill and requires great technique from the rider.

Portability

PortabilityIf you want something for your short daily commute, skateboards are more convenient since you can carry it with you into your office or school.

But we can’t rule out scooters that easily.

Many premium scooter models are lighter and foldable, even though they are still bulkier compared to skateboards. When you don’t mind carrying a heavier vehicle, it’s still possible to use it as your daily driver.

Learning

LearningScooters are easier to get the hang of for new riders than skateboards.

Scooters are pretty straightforward to hop on and move around. You just need to hold the handlebar and push it or take advantage of the electric motor. Simple tricks such as bunnyhop also don’t take much time to learn.

On the other hand, learning skateboarding may be quite tricky.

There are a lot of skills you need to remember and practice: from kick pushing and keeping the balance to steering and foot braking. We have talked about how keeping control of a skateboard is harder compared to a scooter with a handlebar.

Skateboards may even throw off inexperienced riders when they’re not aware what’re they doing!

Safety

SafetySince scooters are easier to ride at the beginning phase, they are also safer, especially for kids.

They usually have a lower center of gravity, which makes the deck closer to the ground. Skateboards use higher decks to help you avoid wheel bite and other obstacles. And this also makes them more unstable.

When rolling downhill, you may face speed wobbles on a skateboard. This is very dangerous and may result in a crash. Thanks to the design of the wheels and the tighter axles, this will never happen to a scooter.

So, Scooter vs Skateboard: Which One Should You Choose?

Using different designs, scooters and skateboards are made for different riders.

While skateboards are more portable for a short ride, they will require more effort from you to master the skills needed. Inexperienced riders also may face more troubles, or even injuries, with a skateboard.

On the other hand, scooters provide a handlebar to help you maintain the balance. Though you can’t expect fancy tricks from it like a skateboard, learning is easier, even for kids.

Final Words

We don’t need to start a war between the communities of sports – skateboards beginner and scooters have their places. Just figure out what you need, and you will find the best way to enjoy the ride with them.

If you find this scooter vs skateboard comparison helpful, please share it with your friends, especially who is either a fan of action sports or just wanting a new way to commute.

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