Self-balancing electric scooters (also called hoverboards) have been a big hit for the last couple years. They use the same sort of electronic magic as Segway scooters to hold themselves upright while you shift your body weight to control them. Unlike other scooters, however, you don’t use your hands at all. Instead, you glide along the ground with slight shifts of your feet.
Due to the popularity of these two-wheeled marvels, there are many models on the market to choose from. Here are ten of the very best self-balancing scooters available as of 2018.
Best Self-Balancing Scooters (Hoverboards) 2018
1.Self Balancing Scooter Hoverboard UL2272 Certified, Bluetooth Speaker and LED Light
Why It’s A Top Pick: Hoverboards are great for riding around on the sidewalk, but when you need to walk, catch a train, ride a bus, or even get into an Uber, they can be a pain. This portable self-balancing scooter is lighter and smaller than its competitors, making it easy to transport. It even comes with a handy carrying bag to make your job that much easier.
It’s a great hoverboard, too. It’s got a pretty standard top speed of around 8 miles an hour. At full charge, you’ll have enough battery power to travel for well over an hour. Plus, a Bluetooth speaker will let you play your favorite music as you travel.
Downsides: There’s nothing wrong with this UL-Certified hoverboard. On the other hand, it’s not as strong, fast, or powerful as some of its competition. For one thing, the max weight fairly low at 200 lbs. You’ll also have difficulties going up steep hills, traversing uneven ground, or going more than 8 miles an hour with this hoverboard. For everyday riding, however, it’s perfect!
- Lighter than other hoverboards
- Comes with a carrying case
- Bluetooth Speaker for music
- Not great on steep hills
- Low Max weight (200 lbs)
2.VEEKO Self Balancing Scooter Hoverboard with LED Indicator Lights
Why It’s A Top Pic: This VEEKO self-balancing scooter is light and compact, making it great for city travel. It’s got a slightly different set of features than many other compact models. Instead of a Bluetooth speaker, it comes with a set of LED lights to make you visible to other travelers in low-light conditions.
Despite its small size, it’s made with high-quality materials and designed to last. It’s got high-tech shock absorbers and aluminum rims that work together to make sure you can traverse bumps, cracks, and other surprises without worry. With 2.5 hours of battery life and a 1-year warranty, you’ll be sure to have lots of fun on this hoverboard. Best of all, it weighs less than 23 lbs.
Downsides: Unlike other top models, this hoverboard doesn’t have a Bluetooth speaker. The max weight of 225 lbs is higher than some units, but it’s still not enough to carry many adult men. Finally, you’ll have to purchase a carrying bag separately.
- 1-year warranty
- 2.5 hour battery life
- Compact, lightweight design
- LED lights
- No speakers
- Low Max Weight (225 lbs)
3.SWAGTRON T6 Off-Road Hoverboard – First in the World to Handle Over 380 LBS, Up to 12 MPH, UL2272 Certified, 10″ Wheel
Why it’s a top pick: Many hoverboards aren’t made for adults. This SWAGTRON is. With a max carrying weight of 420 lbs, it can easily accommodate almost any adult. Even if you’re weighted down with a heavy backpack, you’ll probably be well under the maximum carrying capacity of this cooter.
This comes with a few upsides. First of all, this beast has a max speed of 12 miles an hour, which is a noticeable upgrade over many other units. It’s also able to tackle hills with ease. You’ll be able to travel up inclines of up to 30 degrees with this scooter.
As if that wasn’t enough, this self-balancing scooter is set up for off-road use. You’ll be able to cruise around on dirt roads with no problems on big, 10″ rubber wheels. If you want a big, beastly scooter that’s capable of carrying an adult, this SWAGTRON is one of your best choices
Downsides: The battery life of the SWAGTRON is not the best. Some users report that the unit occasionally dies with one or more visible bars of battery life. Even without this issue, the powerful motor can burn through a full charge in about an hour.
Additionally, the speed of this hoverboard is limited by a companion app. If you want to go faster than 7 miles an hour, you’ll have to hook up your phone to this device in order to change a setting.
- High weight limit (420 lbs)
- Bluetooth Speakers
- Off-road capable
- 30-degree hill climb
- Low battery life
- Needs Companion App For Full functionality
4.TOMOLOO Hoverboard with LED Light Two-wheel Self Balancing Scooter
Why It’s A Top Pick: This modern self-balancing scooter has a unique aesthetic that’s sure to help you stand out from your friends. It’s built to tight quality standards and has an incredibly smart mainboard to help you keep your balance as you ride around.
You don’t have to sacrifice other features for these unique benefits. TOMOLOO’s hoverboard still boasts an 8 MPH top speed, more than an hour of runtime, and a 264 lb carrying capacity. Many adult men can ride this hoverboard with plenty of pounds to spare.
Finally, while the brand isn’t exactly well known, TOMOLOO wants you to feel confident in their products. They offer a 1-year limited warranty on this hoverboard to make sure that you don’t have to worry about any issues while you zoom around in style.
Downsides: The lack of Bluetooth speakers means that you can’t sound good while you look good on this hoverboard. Additionally, it’s not the most powerful self-balancing scooter on the market. You’ll do okay on small hills and you might be able to wear a heavy backpack, but you won’t be able to climb up steep ramps or lend your scooter to your heavier friend.
- Stylish Design
- Advanced Balancing Software And Hardware
- 1-Year Limited Warranty
- 264 lb weight capacity
- No Speakers
- Less Powerful Than Other Units
5.EPIKGO Self Balancing Scooter Hover Self-Balance Board – UL2272 Certified
Why it’s a top pick: EPIKGO understands that you might want to ride your self-balancing scooter on dirt paths at night. To that end, they’ve produced a hoverboard with bright LED headlights, big inflatable tires, and even rear blinkers to make sure you’re visible from behind. This hoverboard is big, powerful, and fun to use.
Not only is this hoverboard built with off-road in mind, it’s also waterproof to a very large extent (IP56). A weight limit of 265 pounds lets most adults ride in comfort, while a 1-year limited warranty means you won’t have to worry about this hoverboard conking out on you. Finally, the motors are pretty powerful. You can tackle hills with 18-degree inclines without any problems.
DOWNSIDES: EPIKGO is proud that they’ve made a big, powerful hoverboard for adults. Unfortunately, this means it’s less portable. At 31 lbs, this hoverboard is quite a bit heavier than many competing models. It’s also physically bigger too, with more foot space and bigger wheels. If you want to easily carry around your hoverboard all day at college, you might want a smaller model.
- Big board fits adult feet
- Large wheels for off-road use
- Semi-submersible
- Powerful motors
- Not particularly light or portable
- Not the most powerful model on the market
6.LEVIT8ION Ultra 7.5″ Hoverboard – Self-Balancing 2 Wheel Electric Scooter
Why it’s a top pick: Featuring space-age aesthetics and aircraft grade aluminum, this hoverboard comes equipped with Bluetooth speakers and an LCD speed display. What really sets it apart is the integrated carrying handle. Unlike other hoverboards, which require a bag for easy transport, this self-balancing scooter comes with a handy handle that allows you to easily carry it while you walk short distances.
As far as hoverboard features go, this LEVIT8ION is pretty standard. It’s got a max carrying capacity of 220 lbs, a top speed of about 10 mph, and a bit over an hour of full speed drive time at max charge. There’s also an optional app you can use to tweak settings and monitor performance. Overall, if you’re looking for a transportable hoverboard, you won’t go wrong with this one.
DOWNSIDES: Like other smaller hoverboards, this unit isn’t great at carrying heavier adults, going up hills, or zipping around at high speeds. It’s perfect for your teenager to get to the coffee shop and back, but you wouldn’t want to use this to transport heavy people or heavy goods.
Also, for whatever reason, this hoverboard is slightly on the heavier end. It’s not impossible to lift, but you might find that you get more of a workout than you’d like when you use the handle.
- Carrying handle
- Striking Design
- Robust Construction
- Bluetooth Speakers
- Lower carrying weight (220 lbs)
- Not the most powerful motor
7.Hoverboard UL 2272 Certified Flash Wheel 6.5″ Bluetooth Speaker with LED Light Self Balancing Wheel Electric Scooter
why top pick: If you really want to draw attention to your hoverboard skills, this Hoverheart board is perfect. Not only does it have a Bluetooth speaker system so you can play your favorite tunes, it’s also got light up wheels that display colorful patterns while you ride.
This hoverboard is UL certified and fully featured. It’s got a max carrying capacity of 220 pounds, which is more than enough for many adults. Like other self-balancing scooters, it’ll only take you a few minutes to learn how to control your movement before you can start zooming around in style.
This Hoverheart is also fairly light. At less than 25 lbs, you’ll find that it’s much easier to transport than some of the heavier models on this page.
Downsides: While a 220 lb carrying capacity is enough for some, it’s not going to be enough for every household. Make sure you estimate the weight of all potential riders before you purchase a hoverboard. Additionally, this hoverboard has a bit less battery life than other models. You can expect to get about an hour of full-speed riding time at full charge. Other units tend to offer a bit more.
- Light up wheels to show off
- Bluetooth speakers
- Light scooter is easy to transport
- Low max weight (220 lbs)
- Low battery life (about an hour)
8.Self-Balancing Scooter 2 Wheels Electric Hoverboard UL Certified with Carrying Bag
Why It’s A Top Pick: If you want a no-frills, entry-level self-balancing scooter, this XtremepowerUS is a perfect choice. It’s UL certified, with a top speed of 8 miles an hour and a bit under an hour of drive time at max charge. It’s simple, too, with no extra features, apps, or speakers to make riding complicated.
As you might expect, this makes it pretty light, too. The scooter itself weighs about 20 lbs, so it’s extremely easy to carry. If you’d like to get a self-balancing scooter for your teenager, this is a perfect choice. They’ll be able to carry it with them at school or in the mall with a minimum of hassle.
Downsides: “No-frills” means no extra features. If you want Bluetooth speakers, a companion app, or a comprehensive English manual, you’ll want to choose a different product. Additionally, with a max weight of 200 lbs, you won’t be fitting any large men on top of this scooter.
- No-frills, entry-level scooter
- UL-Certified
- Light
- No extra features
- Max weight of 200 lbs
9.Segway miniPRO Smart Self Balancing Personal Transporter with Mobile App Control
why top pick: Segway is known for another kind of self-balancing scooter with handlebars. This “personal transporter” manages to split the difference between an old-school Segway and a modern hoverboard. There are no handlebars, but you don’t steer it quite the same as other self-balancing scooters. Instead, you use your knees to direct and steer yourself as you zoom along.
The result is a unique, smooth ride that’s virtually unrivaled. Segway uses big tires, advanced shocks, and space-age materials to produce a robust and speedy scooter that you’ll love to ride. It’s a bit more powerful than most hoverboards, too, with the ability to climb 24-degree inclines and a fairly high top speed of 10 miles an hour.
Instead of Bluetooth speakers, Segway has chosen to offer headlights, taillights, and app control. You can even command your scooter to move around with your phone if you so desire. The result is a machine that’s quite serious about transport. If you want to ride around the city on a high-tech self-balancing scooter, this Segway is one of the best ways to do just that.
Downsides: This isn’t a true “hoverboard.” If you’re used to using those, you’ll have to spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with this Segway before you’re comfortable. The controls are just different enough that you can’t hop on and ride around with abandon.
Additionally, this Segway has a rather low max weight of 220 lbs. All of the features and design choices point to it being perfect for adult use. Despite this, it’s not robust enough to carry a heavier adult man plus his groceries.
- Unique control style
- Advanced suspension
- Unparalleled app controls
- Big wheels
- Awkward to carry
- No speakers
- Not a hoverboard
10.Hoverboard Two-Wheel Self Balancing Electric Scooter UL 2272 Certified, Metallic Chrome with Bluetooth Speaker and LED Light
why it’s a top pick: Like Hoverheart’s other model, this self-balancing scooter is sure to draw the eye. It’s got bold chrome stylings, Bluetooth speakers, and light-up wheels that you can use to spread your style throughout your neighborhood. If you’d like light up wheels and a bolder color scheme than the Hoverheart above, this unit is perfect.
Downsides: Most smaller hoverboards have a fairly low weight limit, and this Hoverheart is no exception. It’ll carry about 220 lbs comfortably. This is enough for many teens and women, but some adult men will have problems riding around on this scooter. Additionally, it’s not the best at offroading or going up steep hills.
- Light up wheels
- Bluetooth speakers
- Bold chrome exterior
- Low weight limit
- Not the strongest motor
Buying Guide
Not too long ago, buying a hoverboard was a dangerous game. The devices were new enough that they didn’t have to follow any safety regulation. Luckily, that’s changed. If you get a “UL” certified self-balancing scooter, you’ll get a device that’s engineered to rigorous US safety standards. This is an absolute minimum in any hoverboard purchase. Devices without a UL certification may catch fire or break in other ways while you’re using them.
You’ll also want to determine whether or not you’ll be riding on rough terrain on your hoverboard. If you want to handle dirt roads, grassy fields, or simply uneven pavement, look for a board with all-terrain tires. These scooters tend to be more robust and feature knobby rubber wheels that won’t balk when riding over the odd crack or pebble. If you’ll be sticking to well-maintained sidewalks, you’re free to get any kind of scooter. Keep in mind that the “all-terrain” variants are often more robust and powerful, so you may elect to get one no matter what.
Beyond that, there are a few numbers you should look at. You’ll want a self-balancing scooter that can hold your weight, for example. Many hoverboards can only carry about 200 lbs, so they’re too flimsy for most adult men. If you weigh a bit more than that or you’re planning on wearing a heavy backpack while you ride, be sure to get a hoverboard that can actually handle the weight.
One other kind of weight you care about is the weight of the hoverboard itself. Despite the name, hoverboards aren’t actually made with anti-gravity technology. They’ll usually weigh about 20 pounds. If you’d like to carry yours while you walk, look for a unit on the lighter side.
Self-balancing scooters are powered by modern high-capacity batteries. The battery capacity of each hoverboard varies a little bit. You’ll usually see at least 2 hours of run time, with some hoverboards going well past that. Often, more run time comes at the expense of weight.
Some hoverboards are more powerful than others. To compare power, don’t look at speed. Instead, look at how steep of an incline the hoverboard can climb. Less powerful models will only be rated for 10 or 15-degree inclines, while the most powerful boards can do 30-degree hills or more.
When it comes to speed, there’s actually not a lot of variance. The top speed on most units is about 10 miles an hour. This is pretty fast, especially considering how hoverboards travel. If you’re an experienced rider and you know you want a little more speed, feel free to search for a model with a top speed of 15 mph or more, but make sure you’re aware of your limits. You’ll probably travel at a much more leisurely pace most of the time, anyway.
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