Being a hoverboard rider can be tricky, especially if you don’t have the best hoverboard and proper gear. A hoverboard is designed in a way that it maintains stability on itself and can move on many terrains, even the slippery ones. Learning how to ride a hoverboard is easy because most models have different riding modes for beginners and professionals.
Most hoverboards are equipped with dual motors and energy-efficient batteries that enhance a smooth ride on any terrain. In the guide below, we have prepared you the top 10 best hoverboards in the market to enable you to have an informed decision before making a purchase.
Hoverboards are technically self-balancing scooters. While most people call them hoverboards, you may find them by other names, such as smart balance wheels or hoverboard segways. They’re all the same thing. In this article, we’ll just refer to them as hoverboards.
Top 10 Best Hoverboards Comparison Table
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Halo Rover X – Best Hoverboard to Buy in 2020
The most competent hoverboard on our rundown, we have the Halo Rover All-Terrain hoverboard. With its high-thickness aluminum bumper wings, huge off-road tires, and max weight point of confinement of 264 lbs, the Halo Rover X is a flat out mammoth of a hoverboard.
It comes pressed with each component you would need into a stunning looking hoverboard. It even highlights No Fall Technology as Ride-Assist, which keeps the hoverboard upstanding and adjusted consistently while it’s turned on.
This hoverboard has the most rated and reviewed in this business, 1-year guarantee, and with outstanding client care service. So in addition to the fact that you get a magnificent quality UL2272 hoverboard, however you get the support of an incredible organization that will enable you to out when you need it.
Halo Rover X features and advantages:
- The Halo Rover X is UL 2272 Certified and comes with their UL Certified FireSafe LG Battery for years of worry-free use.
- Comes with No Fall Ride-Assist Technology, and includes a free hard-shell carry case.
- Comes equipped with built-in Bluetooth speakers to play music, as well as powerful front LED headlights and rear brake lights to keep you visible at all times.
- Comes with its own app that allows you to track battery life, mileage, and location, as well as giving you access to 3 riding modes, including a training mode.
- The Halo Rover X has wide 8.5-inch tires and powerful dual 400w motors that allow you to ride over dirt, grass, uneven terrain, as well as smooth surfaces with ease.
- The Halo Rover X offers a maximum speed of up to 10 mph and a range of up to 10 miles.
- This hoverboard has been IPX4 Certified for water and dust resistance.
What is a Hoverboard?
A Hoverboard is a two-wheeled gadget that uses internal gyroscopes to detect the rider’s movements. All you have to do is lean in the direction you wanna go and the electric motors activate to move you in that direction. For more info, check out our article on how hoverboards work.
Hoverboards have garnered a ton of popularity with celebrities showing off their gadgets on Instagram in 2020. The craze all but faded towards the end of the year, though, when the first reports of hoverboards catching fire hit the news.
History of Hoverboard Scooters
The very first invention of the hoverboard is claimed by an American businessman called Shane Chen. He says that he did a Kickstarter campaign for his company, Hovertrax. In an interview he gave to Los Angeles Times, Mr. Chen expressed frustrations by the lack of regard to patents rights in China. He went ahead and alleged that Solowheel, his self-balancing unicycle was copied by Chinese manufacturers after appearing on a Chinese television show, Happy Snow. Another American company, Inventist, pursued litigation in 2015 after it claimed to hold the patents of the hoverboard. Known now as a hoverboard, they were once also referred to as personal transporters.
As of now, the Segway Inc. asserts its patents to sell self-balancing hoverboards in the US. As fate would have it, one of the manufacturers, Ninebot, acquired a majority stake in Segway on April 2015 in order to get rights to distribute the hoverboard. The Chinese manufacturing sector is so fast paced that is hard to determine which company was the first to produce the two-wheeled self balancing scooter but a magazine called “Wired” reckons that Smart S1 hoverboard was the first to be manufactured by Chic Robotics. The Chinese Robotics company was found in 2013 and has strong links to the Zhejiang University. The company was the first to patent the board but the lax Chinese patent enforcement led to the product being copied by tens of other manufacturers in the Chinese market.
By 2015, there were so many knock offs manufactured by Chines companies but it was hard to tell the difference from the real electric hoverboards. They varied in prices and design and had various quality defects. Some of the newer boards came with built in Bluetooth speakers that let the rider play music as he went about his business.
The rise and rise of the scooter hoverboards in the US market have been attributed to their common use by celebrities such as Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Jamie Foxx, Wiz Khalifa and Soulja Boy among others. The Phunkee Tree, an American company that attended the Hong Kong Electronics Show in 2014 was impressed by the design and became very involved in its distribution. Kendall Jenner was seen win a video on Instagram riding the hoverboard and it went viral. This led to other celebrities asking for the board samples from the PhunkeeTree.
Usage Restrictions
- There are legal restrictions to ride that have been imposed by the United States Government on its use. In the City of New York for example, the existing legislation has banned the use of the device. Fortunately, the electric hoverboard scooter has many lobby groups that are working with the legislators to change the law.
- In the State of California, a 2016 law puts a maximum speed of 20 mph on the hoverboards. The scooters are also only allowed in the bike lanes and riders must wear helmets. People under the age of 16 are estopped from using the scooters in public.
- A good example of the scooter getting a bad rap is when a rider was captured riding the hoverboard during Hajj in Mecca and went ahead to knock a pilgrim.
- In Germany and Netherlands, the hoverboard is not allowed on public streets.
- In Wales and England, a hoverboard is only allowed for private use and even there, you have to get the landowner’s permission. The Highway Act of 1835 bans use of hoverboard on public pavements while the Road Traffic Act section 170(2) prohibits its use on public roads.
- In Scotland, The Roads Act of 1984 prohibits the use of hoverboard on the public sidewalks.
- Toronto, a Canadian city prohibits the use of hoverboard unless the people using them cannot get around without motorized scooters.
- Another example of total prohibition is in in New South Wales, Australia where prohibition of public use is currently being enforced. The other states in Australia are yet to decide whether to allow the hoverboard scooters use on the public streets. However, their private use is not prohibited.
- The Hong Kong’s Transport Department has categorized the hoverboards motor vehicles since they are mechanically propelled. It has gone ahead to say they pose danger to their users and other road users and can therefore not be registered nor licensed.
- Other electric hoverboard scooters’ use prohibitions are seen in public universities, airports, and train stations among others.
Hoverboards are especially a great mode of transportation for people looking to breathe some fresh air or those with limb problems. Most buildings have disability access and you can thus move around any building with the hoverboard without restrictions. The fact that most modern devices come with Bluetooth connectivity means that you can enjoy your favorite music as you commute to work with a hoverboard. The issue of affordability is still being tackled, but once the hoverboard scooters become widely accepted as a mode of transport, their price is set to fall to within the reach of the majority.
Lobby groups will continue to lobby for them to be recognized by various jurisdictions. Manufacturers need to improve the self-balancing scooters’ specs such as battery life, Bluetooth speakers range, the maximum speed, anti-theft alarms, and their all-terrain wheel. The maximum weight that the board can take need to be enhanced so that it can take in heavier people and thus become a truly universal mode of short commuting.
Are Hoverboards Safe Now?
The battery powering your phone (or any of your gadgets) is most likely a Li-Ion battery. Li-Ion, with its incredible energy density, is the de facto standard for any application requiring batteries. The catch: Li-Ion is inherently unstable.
So, why did hoverboards catch fire specifically? We have a whole article about it, but, in short, it’s because of poor manufacturing, low quality components and especially the very nature of hoverboards.
Why is this a big deal?
You see, hoverboards are transportation devices and, as such, they’re going to be exposed to a lot more vibrations and impacts than, say, your phone. This will inevitably exacerbate possible manufacturing defects of the battery and increase the risk of a fire by at least an order of magnitude.
News outlets ran with the stories of hoverboard fires, and most major retailers stopped selling the gadget.
Hoverboard companies rushed to create a safer hoverboard that would pass inspection, and they created prototypes in record time.
UL 2272 Certified Hoverboards
The first companies to obtain a UL 2272 certification were the following:
- Swagtron
- Hoverzon
- Razor
- Powerboard
- EPIKGO
- Segway
How does it work?
The self-balancing scooter is powered by rechargeable batteries and you use slight pressure from your feet to guide it where you want to go. Just shift your balance and the device will respond and move in that direction. With the lithium-ion battery, the battery life is sure to last for a nice long ride in one single charge.
It’s REALLY easy to use, the first time you hop on it you’ll most definitely wobble a bit as you try to find your balance, but after about 20 minutes you should have found your feet and be at least moving around at a reasonable pace on your new ‘hoverboard’. At the most you should be proficient in use after about a day so really there’s no great learning curve. However, when you see a hoverboard for sale it is essential to pay attention to the safety features to maximize the safety of all riders.
Here’s a video of an unboxing so you can see exactly what you get. Once you see this guy riding his you’re definitely going to want one!
Key Considerations When Purchasing the Best Hoverboard in the Market
Before you go out and buy a hoverboard, whether for yourself or a friend, make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Here are several important things to keep in mind when shopping for a self-balancing scooter.
1. Price
For many consumers, the price is often a secondary concern. Price and quality are often very closely related, but in the case of hoverboards, it’s especially important to keep the price in mind. This technology is still very new, and many companies are manufacturing inexpensive boards that may not actually work very well. Be wary, as a cheap hoverboard may turn out to be a waste of money entirely.
2. Wheels
Good, sturdy wheels and tires are one of the most important features to look for in a self-balancing scooter. Like any motorized vehicle that relies on wheels, having sturdy wheels and comfy tires with a lot of treads goes a long way to ensuring a smooth and safe ride.
3. Battery
Some early hoverboards were known for occasionally catching on fire and exploding. A lot of power runs through the batteries in order to make the scooter go, and if the battery isn’t well-designed, it can’t release enough heat, and it can explode. Ensure any self-balancing scooter you buy has a battery strong enough to handle what you can throw at it. Each of the scooters we reviewed meets UL 2272 certification for safety.
4. Motors
Just like a car, a good motor is essential for a good hoverboard. The more power the motor can generate the better, as you’ll be able to go faster and cover a greater range of terrain. Just make sure your battery is capable of handling the load.
5. Warranty
Since this is such recent innovation, make sure that your product is covered by a warranty. That way, any manufacturing errors or defects will be provided for. If a hoverboard you’re interested in doesn’t back their product with a warranty, you may want to think twice.
6. Weight capacity
Most of the best hoverboards in the list above hold up to 250lbs where this is more favorable to all ages. If you have more weight, consider buying strong hoverboard motors and sturdy materials that will hold your weight without shaking. It is important to pay attention to the weight capacity of the hoverboard to make sure you buy something that suits your needs. The hoverboard should be strong enough to hold your weight, gear worn, and anything else you are carrying.
7. Range and speed
This is the maximum distance your hoverboard can travel on a single charge. You have to know the maximum distance the board can go so that you can avoid buying a hoverboard that will shut off before you reach your destination. You can choose the models with apps from the manufacturer or use other maps that can help you track your routes to save battery power and have a smooth ride. Most of the best hoverboards have a maximum speed of up to of between 8-10 miles per hour. You have to choose a model with a powerful battery or motor that will enable you to move at high speeds. Weighs also impacts on the maximum speed where riders with maximum weight will reduce the speed than riders with less weight.
Before You Buy Your Hoverboard
Before you buy your hoverboard know what you want from it and be specific. I know it sounds logical but it’s easy for a beautiful design and a few impressive features to tempt new buyers at a glance. The point is this, not all hoverboard feel or function the same way.
Here are a few things to think about as you consider your needs and expectations:
- Some hoverboards are great off-road, others are not
- Not all hoverboards can carry the same payload (bodyweight)
- Some are faster than others
- Know your budget and thus narrow down your search
- What’s your age range: some boards are better suited for kids
- Do you want a hoverboard only for commuting or other purposes?
- Note down anything else you can think of
The table below shows my top ten hoverboard choices in the order they appear in this guide. The first three are in order of top pick, best value, and best budget. I’ve arranged the seven below those into two price categories, under $300 and over $300.
