Welcome to the electrifying world of urban mobility! As we cruise into 2024, the landscape of personal transportation continues to evolve, with electric skateboards emerging as a frontrunner in the mix of innovative and eco-friendly travel options. Our guide is here to unravel the mystery behind these high-tech cruisers, showcasing the very best electric skateboards available this year.
Whether you're a seasoned e-skater or new to the scene, our meticulously curated selections cater to a range of needs, from budget-friendly rides to high-end models that push the boundaries of speed and technology. We understand that choosing the perfect electric skateboard can be overwhelming with the plethora of options available. Thus, our goal is to simplify your decision-making process, helping you find a board that aligns with your lifestyle and budget and elevates your commuting experience.
An electric skateboard is much more than your traditional four-wheeled board. It's an innovative fusion of technology and traditional skateboarding, transforming how we think about personal transportation. At its core, an electric skateboard is propelled by a battery-powered motor controlled by a handheld remote, offering a seamless and intuitive riding experience.
The allure of electric skateboarding lies in its versatility and ease of use. Whether you're commuting to work, cruising to the beach, or simply enjoying a weekend ride, these boards make the journey effortless and enjoyable. They excel in urban environments, allowing riders to effortlessly tackle hills and cover greater distances than a conventional skateboard.
Besides the practicality and fun, electric skateboards stand out for their environmental benefits. They offer a green alternative to traditional transportation, reducing carbon emissions and helping to alleviate traffic congestion. This eco-friendly aspect, combined with the thrill of riding, makes electric skateboarding not just a hobby but a lifestyle choice that aligns with contemporary values of sustainability and efficiency.
Electric skateboarding is a testament to how far we've come in integrating technology into everyday life, providing a fun, efficient, and environmentally friendly way to navigate the world around us.
The Wowgo 3E is a strikingly well-rounded electric skateboard, particularly for its price point under $500. Let me delve deeper into its features and my personal experience with it.
Design and Build Quality: The Wowgo 3E sports a sleek, minimalist design. The deck is crafted from durable materials, providing a solid feel underfoot. Its construction assures longevity and resilience against everyday wear and tear.
Performance: One of the Wowgo 3E's standout features is its performance. It offers a smooth acceleration curve, making it user-friendly for beginners and enjoyable for more experienced riders. The top speed is respectable, meeting the needs of urban commuting efficiently.
Ride Comfort and Stability: The board's deck is sufficiently flexible, absorbing road vibrations and making for a comfortable ride. This flexibility, combined with well-designed trucks, ensures stability even at higher speeds, which is crucial for rider safety and comfort.
Battery and Charging: The battery life of the Wowgo 3E aligns well with its range, supporting typical daily commutes. The charging time is reasonable, ensuring the board is ready for regular use without long downtimes.
Control and Maneuverability: The responsive remote control allows for precise handling. It's easy to navigate through city streets, and the board's maneuverability shines in tight turns and crowded spaces.
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The Meepo V3s, a standout in the sub-$500 electric skateboard category, has been an absolute joy to ride. Its combination of performance, durability, and affordability makes it a top choice for both beginners and seasoned riders.
Design and Build Quality: The Meepo V3s features a robust and sleek design. The board is built with quality materials, providing a sense of durability and reliability. The deck's rigidity ensures stability at higher speeds, a crucial factor for safety and control.
Performance: The board's acceleration is brisk, offering an exhilarating experience. Its top speed is impressive for its price range, making it a great option for thrill-seekers or those needing a quick commute.
Ride Comfort and Stability: The V3s is designed to handle a variety of urban terrains. The board's rigidity and responsive trucks result in a stable and controlled ride, even when navigating tight spaces or crowded streets.
Battery and Charging: The battery performance is noteworthy, providing a reliable range that can easily accommodate daily commutes. The charging time is fairly standard not too long to be a hassle.
Control and Maneuverability: The remote control is intuitive and responsive, allowing for precise control over the board. The maneuverability of the V3s is excellent, making it ideal for urban environments where agility is key.
Chcek out my full review of the Meepo 3VS.
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The Meepo Mini 5, a compact yet powerful electric skateboard, fits perfectly into the sub-$500 category, offering a unique blend of portability and performance.
Design and Build Quality: The Mini 5 is a testament to efficient design in a small package. Its shorter deck, made from durable materials, ensures easy handling and storage, making it ideal for urban commuting.
Performance: Despite its smaller size, the Mini 5 packs a punch with impressive acceleration and a top speed that rivals larger boards. It's perfectly suited for quick, agile maneuvers in city environments.
Ride Comfort and Stability: The board's compact design offers remarkable stability, especially when navigating through crowded streets. The ride is surprisingly comfortable, with the deck providing enough flex to absorb vibrations from uneven surfaces.
Battery and Charging: The battery life is impressive for a mini-board, supporting sufficient range for short to medium commutes. Charging is quick and efficient, minimizing downtime between rides.
Control and Maneuverability: The responsive remote control enhances the riding experience, providing precise control over the board. Its size makes it incredibly maneuverable, ideal for tight turns and navigating through obstacles.
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Having spent considerable time with the Exway Flex ER, I can attest to its standing as a top-tier electric skateboard under $1000. Let's dive into its features and performance from my perspective.
Design and Build Quality: The Exway Flex ER is a testament to thoughtful engineering. The deck is a wide, flexible composite made of maple, fiberglass, and bamboo, striking a perfect balance between rigidity and flexibility. This design choice results in less concave and flare, contributing to a stable yet comfortable riding experience.
Performance: The Flex ER excels in performance with a top speed of 28 MPH and a range of 28 miles, making it suitable for both adrenaline-fueled rides and long-distance commuting. The 12s Hobbywing ESC with four-speed modes allows for smooth acceleration and deceleration, providing a sense of control and safety, especially for newer riders.
Ride Comfort and Stability: The board's build quality contributes significantly to its ride comfort. Its flexibility absorbs road imperfections, while the Trist trucks offer great carving capabilities, making it a joy to navigate through urban landscapes or more challenging terrains.
Battery and Charging: Equipped with a 21700 4000 mAh 3.6 V high discharge lithium battery, the Flex ER ensures that range anxiety is a thing of the past. It offers a substantial 345 Wh capacity and can be fully charged in just 2.3 hours using a quick charger, which is remarkably efficient for an electric skateboard of this caliber.
Control and Maneuverability: The board's electronic speed controller and smart turn-on feature, coupled with in-app customization, provide an unmatched level of control and customization. This aspect is particularly beneficial for riders who prefer a tailored riding experience.
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The Meepo Voyager X is an exceptional electric skateboard in the under $1000 category, blending high performance with affordability. As someone who has experienced the Voyager X firsthand, I'm thrilled to share my insights on this remarkable board.
Design and Build Quality: The Meepo Voyager X boasts a stiff bamboo and fiberglass deck, which contributes to its overall durability and stability. The deck's mid-board flex and wide concave design not only enhance the comfort of the ride but also improve the board's ability to handle a variety of terrains.
Performance: The Voyager X is powered by dual 2,775W belt-drive motors, providing an exhilarating top speed of 40 mph (64 km/h). This makes the board not just fast, but also powerful enough for challenging rides, including steep hills with up to a 46% grade climb capability.
Battery and Range: Equipped with a substantial 518.4Wh battery, the Voyager X promises an impressive range of up to 36 miles (58 km). This long range, combined with the powerful battery, ensures that the board can handle extended rides and adventurous journeys without the worry of frequent charging.
Ride Experience: The Voyager X excels in providing a smooth and responsive ride. The combination of its robust motors and the LingYi ESC with four-speed and brake modes allows for precise control and customization of the riding experience. Whether cruising through city streets or tackling challenging inclines, the board performs remarkably well.
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It's clear the Meepo Hurricane board is a powerhouse, especially considering its long-range travel capabilities.
Design and Build Quality: The deck, constructed from T700 3k Carbon Fibers used in professional drone manufacturing, offers strength and a sleek look. Its stiff nature with no flex and wide, pronounced concave design ensure stability at high speeds and contribute to the overall durability and performance of the board.
Performance: The dual 3500W 6374 motors of the Hurricane Vader provide a top speed of 32 mph (52 km/h), which is slightly lower than the previous belt-driven model. This difference is attributed to the gear ratio settings prioritizing torque over speed, enhancing the board's power and making it suitable for varied terrains.
Battery and Range: The Vader has a 12S4P Molicel P42A battery, offering a substantial 725.8WH or 16.8AH. This results in a marketed range of 31 miles (50 km), an improvement over the previous model and a significant factor in its appeal as a long-range board. The gear-drive system contributes to this increased efficiency compared to belt-driven systems.
Riding Experience: The Hurricane Vader offers a distinct riding feel. The double kingpin trucks make the board more stable than responsive, which is enhanced by the 165s Cyclone Wheels. These wheels provide a comfortable ride with minimal road vibration. The board is not as nimble for sharp turns, but it's highly effective for stable, long-distance rides.
Truck and Wheels: The double kingpin trucks used on the Hurricane ensure a balance between stability and responsiveness. The new Cyclone 165S Racing Wheels with CNC machined rims replace the previous 155mm pneumatic wheels, contributing to the board's stable and comfortable ride.
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Verdict: The Meepo Hurricane Vader - Hurricane Carbon is no longer just a budget-friendly option but a premium board that offers quality parts, a refined finish, and a well-balanced ride profile. It's a complete package for those in the market for a powerful, long-range board at a competitive price of $1599, offering great value for its specifications
The Evolve Hadean is not just an electric skateboard; it's a marvel of design and engineering, combining power and range in a way that's ideal for long journeys.
Design and Build Quality: Evolve's Hadean series, particularly the Hadean Carbon, is the epitome of high-quality construction. The deck is forged from carbon fiber, ensuring strength while maintaining a lightweight profile. Its 39-inch length provides ample space for comfortable riding, and the carbon fiber construction also aids in heat dissipation, a crucial factor for maintaining the board's performance.
Performance: The Hadean boasts a formidable 6,000 watts of power, making it feel like launching off an aircraft carrier when you hit the throttle. This immense power translates into an exhilarating ride, capable of reaching top speeds of 31 miles per hour. The larger 7-inch pneumatic tires are perfect for off-road trails, though they slightly raise the center of gravity, affecting stability. However, this can be mitigated by opting for street wheels, which also increase the top speed.
Battery and Range: One of the Hadean's standout features is its battery, which provides up to 40 miles of range with street wheels and about 25 miles with all-terrain wheels. This massive power plant inside the deck, despite its size, keeps the board's weight just under 30 pounds, striking a balance between power and portability.
Remote Control: The Evolve Phaze remote is a significant upgrade from previous models, featuring a CNC aluminum-reinforced body. This durable and stylish remote offers a display that shows speed, battery status, and other vital information, enhancing the overall control and riding experience.
Terrain and Braking: The Hadean is suitable for a variety of terrains, including dirt, gravel, roads, and footpaths. Its regenerative braking system is not only seamless but also energy-efficient, redirecting energy back to the battery during braking, extending ride times, and leveraging hills to the rider's advantage.
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The Wowgo Mini 2 is a compact and agile electric skateboard that offers an impressive blend of performance and portability, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a high-quality mini electric skateboard.
Design and Build Quality: The deck is made from Canadian maple with a U-shaped concave and a functional kicktail. This design not only looks sleek but also provides a stable and responsive ride. The board's weight of 15.32 lb (6.5 kg) strikes a good balance between durability and ease of carrying.
Performance: The Wowgo Mini 2 is powered by dual 680W hub motors, providing a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h). The acceleration is surprisingly strong, giving it a performance feel that one might expect from a more expensive setup. The speed control is incredibly smooth and intuitive, thanks to the Hobbywing ESC with four-speed modes. This makes the board both fun and safe to ride, whether you're a beginner or an experienced rider.
Battery and Range: The skateboard comes with a 10s2p 5.0 Amp-hours battery with 180 Watt-hours, offering a marketed range of 15 miles (25 km). In real-world conditions, this translates to around 11 miles (18 km) of range, which is quite respectable for a board of this size and power.
Trucks and Maneuverability: The board features Wowgo's proprietary 45-degree trucks with double barrel bushings, providing a well-balanced mix of stability and responsiveness. This makes the Mini 2 highly maneuverable, especially in tight urban environments where quick turns and dodging obstacles are part of the ride.
Ride Experience: Riding the Wowgo Mini 2 is a delightful experience. The board feels nimble but stable, with responsive trucks that make it fun to carve on smooth roads. The kicktail adds to its functionality, making it easy to navigate and perform quick turns. However, the board struggles with handling road vibrations, which is common in shortboards with stiff decks and hub motors. This can be mitigated by switching to the 105mm Cloudwheel Donuts, which significantly reduces road vibrations.
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The Exway Wave has proven to be an exceptional mini electric skateboard, well-suited for those who value performance, convenience, and innovation in a compact package.
Design and Build Quality: The Exway Wave's deck is a mix of fiberglass and maple, providing a strong and stiff base perfect for stability in a short board. The small kicktail is highly functional for navigating tight corners and dodging unexpected road obstacles. The board's shock-absorbing grip tape is a thoughtful addition, reducing vibration fatigue and allowing for longer rides.
Performance and Speed: With a top speed of 23 mph (38 km/h), the Exway Wave caters to riders looking for speed in a small form factor. During my tests, I was able to nearly reach this top speed, affirming the board's capability. Its acceleration, similar to the Exway Flex with 4230 160kV motors, is punchy yet manageable, making it an exhilarating ride for any enthusiast.
Battery and Range: One of the standout features is the Wave's quick-swap battery system, arguably the best in its class. This allows for hassle-free battery swaps in less than 10 seconds, extending your range as far as you need. On my test ride, I achieved a range of 19.24 km, slightly less than the marketed 24 km, which is impressive considering the factors of weight and riding style.
Trucks and Wheels: The Wave is equipped with Exway's Trist trucks, which offer precise and responsive control, enhancing the carving experience. The stock wheels are soft enough to absorb road vibrations yet firm enough to maximize range and speed, providing a confident grip around corners.
Braking and Hill Climb Capability: The brakes are effective and reliable, essential for a board of this caliber. Additionally, the hill climb capability is noteworthy, especially with the Riot kit, allowing the Wave to maintain a good pace even on steep inclines.
Lighting and App Control: The board comes with standard rear lights, and front lights can be added for a modest price. The Exway App is an invaluable tool, offering extensive control over acceleration, braking, and lighting. It allows for customization to suit individual riding styles and preferences, enhancing the overall user experience.
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Having spent considerable time with the Exway Atlas, I can confidently say that it stands as one of the best premium electric skateboards over $1000, offering a blend of power, versatility, and technological advancement.
Design and Build Quality: The Exway Atlas boasts a sleek, modern design with a carbon unibody deck that houses all the electronics. The deck is lightly concaved with a small drop, providing a comfortable and stable footing. The matte black coating not only looks premium but feels it too. Every aspect of this board screams high quality and durability.
Performance: The Atlas offers insane power with its 4WD option, featuring more than double the output power of its predecessor with 7056W of peak power. This power translates into a thrilling riding experience, capable of reaching top speeds of 37mph (60km/h). The hill climb capability of the Atlas is remarkable, effortlessly tackling inclines and making them feel almost non-existent.
Battery and Range: The battery capacity has been significantly boosted in the Atlas Pro, up to 701Wh, offering a range of 21 miles (34km) with the stock AT tires and up to 46 miles (73km) with 90mm urethane wheels. This incredible range capability means you can ride for hours on end, making it perfect for long-distance commutes or adventurous rides.
Customization and App Integration: One of the standout features of the Exway Atlas is its customizability. The fully integrated mobile app allows you to tweak settings to perfectly align with your riding style, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned rider. The app provides control over acceleration, braking, and even lighting, making the Atlas a highly personalized ride.
Riding Experience: Riding the Exway Atlas is nothing short of exhilarating. The acceleration is punchy yet manageable, and the high-speed stability is impressive, thanks to the well-designed trucks. The braking is strong and reliable, ensuring safety even at high speeds.
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Selecting the right electric skateboard involves more than just picking the one with the most appealing design. Several critical factors come into play to ensure you get the best value and experience from your investment.
Considering these aspects, you'll be well-equipped to choose an electric skateboard that aligns with your needs, preferences, and lifestyle.
Selecting the perfect electric skateboard involves more than just aesthetics or speed specifications. It's about understanding how different elements like road conditions, motor types, and deck constructions impact your riding experience. Here's some advice to help you choose a board that aligns with your individual preferences and riding style.
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Considering these practical aspects, you'll be better equipped to choose an electric skateboard that suits your riding style and enhances your overall riding experience. Remember, the best skateboard is one that aligns with your individual needs, whether it's for commuting, recreation, or both.
In summary, choosing the right electric skateboard involves a careful consideration of various key factors that align with your personal needs and preferences. Whether you're a commuter, a recreational rider, or somewhere in between, understanding these aspects will guide you towards making an informed decision.
Remember, the perfect electric skateboard is one that caters to your specific riding style, environment, and experience level. Take the time to research and consider various models and brands. Brands like Exway, Meepo, and WowGo offer a range of options catering to diverse preferences and needs.