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Hoverboards have come a long way from “Back To The Future 2”. Nowadays, they are a staple nearly everywhere you go, even if there are still some kinks to work out, in terms of their design. As they’ve become more popular, the market started to be flooded, with a glut of models to choose from – and the last thing you want to do is waste your hard-earned money.
So we did the research, tested a variety of different models, and aggregated tens of thousands of online reviews. After extensive testing, we were able to arrive at our pick for the best hoverboard. Here are the best models, no matter what you are looking for.
Our Top Pick
Swagtron Swagboard Outlaw T6
The Outlaw T6 is a fantastic hoverboard, and provides you with a smooth, fun experience. With over 250 positive customer reviews, and a good price point – it’s hard to beat this model. The T6 can handle all terrains, and accommodates riders of any age – making it our pick for the best hoverboard.
Other Great Picks
Lamborghini Hoverboard
Have you ever wanted a Lamborghini? Well, this one is a little more reasonably priced. The Lamborghini hoverboard is one of our top picks, and as you might guess – it rides like a dream. With over 100 glowing customer reviews, and a very sleek look, it was our staff’s favorite to ride around on. Highly recommended.
Swagtron Swagboard Pro T1
With over 1,000 stellar online customer reviews, the Pro T1 is an amazing ride. With a sleek look, excellent performance, and UL 2272 certification – we recommend it highly. The 250 watt motor, and LED headlights are also excellent additional features, and we loved riding it around the office.
TOMOLOO Hoverboard With Bluetooth Speaker
We loved blasting music as we rode this hoverboard. The Bluetooth speaker is truly an awesome upgraded feature, and the 40+ positive customer reviews speak for themselves. We loved the additional speed of this model, and definitely felt cool, riding it around on the street.
Gyroor Hoverboard Warrior
The Warrior has over 150 stellar online reviews, and we loved riding it. The 700 watt motor, and super-durable tires truly made it possible to ride this thing anywhere. We tested it out on grass, gravel, and even dirt – it performed flawlessly. It is definitely aptly named, and it performed like a true warrior. Highly recommended.
Swagtron Swagboard Vibe T580
With over 590 glowing online reviews, the Vibe T580 is definitely a hoverboard that is worth its price. We tested it out around our offices, and were delighted with the ease-of-use, the handling, and the smoothness of the ride. It is also affordably priced, and safety certified. We can definitely see why it is so popular. A smart buy.
NHT 6.5″ Electric Hoverboard
This hoverboard from NHT is a great buy – and it’s very affordable. With over 200 positive customer reviews, and an entry-level price point, it’s a perfect first purchase, or a great gift. Your kids may become obsessed with it – fair warning.
TOMOLOO Hoverboard
With over 900 positive customer reviews, this hoverboard from Tomoloo is a great purchase. The lights on the tires are a unique touch, and our kids were kind of obsessed with this model. It’s fun, affordable, and safe. What else can you ask for?
Swagtron Swagboard T5
The T5 is a great budget hoverboard – and over 600 customer have reviewed it with raves. We loved the sleek black color the best out of all the choices, and it’s also perfect for kids. It’s fun to ride around inside your home or office, and it is definitely everything you could ask for – especially at the low price it goes for.
HOVERZON S Series
The S series is a great hoverboard, and comes with a variety of nice features. It has 250 watt dual motors, and handles surprisingly well. Definitely recommended.
What Is A Hoverboard?
Straight out of Back To The Future 2 – hoverboards quickly entered the market in the mid 2010s, and took over everything. Seemingly just as quickly, they burned to the ground (and even burned down some houses along the way).
Unlike the movie, current hoverboards on the market don’t truly “hover”. They are more equivalent to scooters, but they also balance themselves. Unfortunately, early manufacturing issues caused many hoverboards to have issues – and as a result, they got a bad reputation.
But the truth is, these devices are super fun to ride, affordable, and are very fun for kids. While we were slightly disappointed that they didn’t actually “hover” – the new safety standards and certifications have made them safe for all to enjoy.
How Do Hoverboards Work?
The closest analogy to how a hoverboard works, would be to an electric scooter. The self-balancing boards have frames in the center, which pivot as you move.
Inside each wheel, are motors and sensors, which help you navigate on the hoverboard without falling off. There are gyroscopes inside the hoverboard (the same thing that allows your iPhone or iPad to orient itself correctly) – which conveys your position to the logic board.
The logic board sort of runs the show – controlling whether or not the wheels move, while you are on the board. It is pretty impressive, how diverse engineering technologies dovetailed – all to make a very cool device.
How To Ride A Hoverboard
If you have balance problems – learning how to ride on a hoverboard may be slightly harder to learn how to ride. This is because controlling a hoverboard largely relies on how you move your feet.
There is a bit of an initial learning curve to riding atop a hoverboard, not that different than riding a bike. You’ll need to learn how to stand up on the board, how to stop it, and how to get on and off of it.
Some hoverboards have learning modes, which make the process a little bit easier. We would say that – on average – most people can figure it out within 15-30 minutes.
Without getting too far into the scientific details, the most basic explanation of how to navigate on a hoverboard, is to to keep your feet flat if you want to stop – and move your feet forward when you want to go.
This might sound slightly confusing when it’s written out – but much like a bike – it becomes very easy, once you get the hang of it.
What Surfaces Does A Hoverboard Work On?
We don’t really recommend riding a hoverboard on any surface that isn’t smooth. This includes sidewalks with cracks in them, gravel, and and anywhere else that might cause the wheels to lock up.
However, indoors, a hoverboard rides extremely smoothly. We loved riding it around the office, and it’s supremely fun for kids.
While it may look a little silly riding it to the store (or on errands), it’s not really meant for that. While adults can certainly ride hoverboards, they are more akin to the children’s “cars” that are frequent gifts for birthdays or Christmas.
It should be noted that there are also more deluxe models, which allow for riding on nearly any surface. These hoverboards are actually pretty cool, and allow you to ride on the beach, grass – and any other surface you can imagine.
How Long Does It Take To Charge A Hoverboard?
Like any battery powered device, a hoverboard needs to be charged from time to time. When you first get it, 3-4 hours is the standard initial charging time.
After you’ve used your hoverboard for the first time, it will only take 2-3 hours to fully charge it. Charging a hoverboard is very easy – turn the power off on the board, plug the power cord into the wall, and then plug the cord directly into the hoverboard slot for charging. That’s it!
How Much Is A Hoverboard?
Most hoverboards are very affordable, and they won’t be too expensive for a gift. Expect to spend anywhere from $100 to $200, for a hoverboard for your child (or yourself).
If you are looking for a more deluxe hoverboard, expect to spend $300+. In our experience, there aren’t too many crazy (or worthwhile) extra features on deluxe models.
However, these hoverboards did tend to handle a little bit better. The more deluxe hoverboards also come with more bells and whistles, which may be desired.
You can also purchase a more deluxe hoverboard, which allows for off-roading. This feature is actually pretty cool – you can ride on the beach, up hills, and even on the grass.
Bluetooth Hoverboard
Some (but not all) hoverboards come with Bluetooth – which we loved riding around with. If you’ve ever wanted to roll down your neighborhood with either hip hop or rock music playing – you need a Bluetooth hoverboard.
Using built-in speakers, these hoverboards blast your favorite tunes as you ride wherever you want – which sounds like a futuristic toy described in the science fiction of the 1950s.
We had a blast riding around with music playing – and our kids loved it even more. We highly recommend getting a Bluetooth-enabled hoverboard, as it makes riding ten times more enjoyable.
Hoverboard Charger
Your hoverboard will come with a charger, so you likely will not need to buy a separate or replacement charger. However, if you replace your charger, make sure you get the exact model from the manufacturer, as charging with an off-brand charger can pose big safety risks.
Hoverboard For Kids
We think one of the best uses of hoverboards, is for letting your kids ride on them. The huge smile on their face as they play their favorite music and zoom around the neighborhood – is simply priceless.
Make sure you choose a hoverboard that is safe for kids, and be sure to show your children how to safely ride the hoverboard. They should also wear a helmet when riding, for the best safety.
Off Road Hoverboard
While most hoverboards will have a hard time riding over even small obstructions (like cracks in sidewalks) – there are slightly more expensive hoverboards, which will allow you to take them on any surface. This includes grass, the beach, and more places.
If you’re an adult and you want a hoverboard – we highly recommend an off road hoverboard. They offer much more variety, in terms of where you can safely ride it.
Plus it just feels kind of cool to ride through mud and gravel – with no surface really being able to stop you. Add in some Jimi Hendrix blaring on Bluetooth-enabled speakers – and it’s simply a blast.
Are Hoverboards Safe?
Oh boy – what a question. After getting tons of bad press earlier in the decade, hoverboards are now very safe. Make sure you have a safety certified hoverboard (most sold nowadays are), and you shouldn’t run into any problems.
If you have a child, make sure they have a helmet on when riding their hoverboard. Since hoverboards don’t have handlebars, they offer slightly less control than a traditional bicycle may provide.
However, hoverboards are easily controlled with your feet, so once they get the hang of it, it’s very unlikely that any child will have an issue riding a hoverboard.
Buying A Cheap Hoverboard: Good Or Bad Idea?
For most products, getting a cheaper version than normal is not a great idea. For a hoverboard, it could be absolutely disastrous.
That’s because early hoverboards caught on fire, and even burned down several houses, as a result. When it comes to buying a hoverboard, absolutely do not go for a cheap version, as their construction and quality may be very suspect.
While it may cost a little more, it is certainly worth it, to get a hoverboard that is reliable and won’t break down, or possibly even injure someone.
The Best Hoverboard
There you have it – our picks for the best hoverboard.
While they initially got a bad reputation, hoverboards are quite enjoyable to ride – especially if you get an off road and Bluetooth-enabled board. We loved riding ours around the office, as well as at various off road locations.
Blaring your favorite song while you’re doing it, just makes the experience even better. We got a big kick out of the hoverboards we tested, and our kids absolutely loved them as well.
While they don’t “hover” – hoverboards provide plenty of fun and entertainment, and we highly recommend them. There are a ton of amazing gadgets out there besides hoverboards though – so be sure to take a look at our other reviews, in the electronics section.