Electric skateboards are trending. Both youths and children prefer them over traditional ones. For this reason, they’ve become the newest hot cake on markets, with every skater wanting to own at least one.
With the growing market for electric skateboards, many manufacturers have stepped up to develop various kinds of such boards. Some are manufacturing high-quality boards while others aren’t. Following this, consumers experience challenges when purchasing these boards, especially if they don’t know what to look for.
Fortunately, this post is here to help. If you’re currently shopping for your first electric skateboard or planning to surprise your loved one, you need to continue reading. In the next few minutes, you’ll learn effective tips and what to consider when buying one. Without further ado, here’s what you need to know.
1. Motor Type
Once you’re out shopping for an electric skateboard, you must think about the required motor type. The hub motor system is lighter, provides limited drag, and is equipped with decent brakes. Additionally, hub motors produce less noise and don’t require extra maintenance.
A pulley or geared motor is your excellent deal if you’re all about hill climbing, acceleration features, or braking.
On the other hand, comes belt drive motors. They deliver unbeatable torque, high speed, and regenerative braking. Nevertheless, belt drive motors require additional maintenance and can be challenging to ride in the absence of a battery.
2. Motor Wattage
Considering motor wattage when selecting an electric skateboard is crucial. Generally, the lower the wattage, the lesser the power. An electric board with low power is evident due to its inability to offer better torque, hill climbing, and low speed.
If you’re looking forward to riding your skateboard in hilly terrains with steep slopes, you might need to invest in an electric board with not less than 1500W. Remember, your board’s gear distribution and motor controller limitation will affect torque. When the gear ratios on the motor are modified, you’ll notice the effects on the same.
3. Accessories
Electric skateboards should have the required accessories as motorbikes, scooters, and bikes. Among the safety gear, you’ll need a helmet. You don’t want to go skating with an unprotected head unless you don’t mind sustaining severe head injuries if something goes wrong.
Electric skateboard helmets need to be strong enough to guarantee unbeatable head protection. It might also be ideal to settle for a whole-head helmet to protect the entire head. Nevertheless, half-face helmets can also serve the purpose but will leave some areas uncovered.
Besides a helmet, you’ll need gloves and guards. The elbow and knee guards should have a hard surface to allow you to slide without grabbing on the pavement. Ensure the gloves are high quality and can’t tear easily.
4. Deck Material
Mostly, electric skateboard decks are made from fiberglass or bamboo. However, some boards are manufactured with a mixture of both materials. These materials differ in stiffness and flexibility. Fiberglass deck board is stiff than bamboo one, while the bamboo deck board is more flexible.
5. Range And Speed
The electric board structure, personal skating style, and riding path affect the board’s range. For example, street wheels offer a better range than all-terrain models. That said, it’s vital to check technical descriptions to understand the board’s speed and range.
6. The Board Weight
Weight is a vital factor you shouldn’t ignore when purchasing an electric skateboard. It would help if you understood that not all skateboards are similar in weight. Some are heavier, especially long-ranged ones. If you carry your skateboard from one place to another, choosing a lighter board for easy holding and carrying around will be better.
7. Board Capacity And Weight Distribution
It’s among the most overlooked factor when purchasing an electric skateboard.
Board capacity refers to the amount of weight a particular skateboard can handle. Since not all individuals have similar weights, there’s nothing like one size fits all. For this reason, you must consider your weight to determine if the board of your choice can withstand it before making the purchase.
8. The Remote Control Type
Electric skateboards come with two types of remote control. Some are thumb, while others are trigger controlled. When selecting a board, consider which type of remote control you prefer. If you’re comfortable with a trigger remote control, settle for a skateboard with such. If you’re more into thumb remote control, you have the choice until you make the purchase.
Remember, with a thumb remote control, you’ll need to use your index finger. And while it works perfectly, most skaters prefer trigger control.
9. Water Resistance
As the same suggests, electric skateboards are equipped with electric parts. For this reason, riding them in wet and humid areas can affect their integrity.
It’s vital to note that even the leading companies are not yet able to manufacture 100% waterproof electric boards. However, you can find one with more water-resistant capability.
Ensure the skateboard is perfectly sealed to prevent water from accessing the interior parts, and avoid riding it in water. Remember, the more care you provide for the board, the longer it will last and serve you.
10. Durability
Durable electric boards withstand tough riding. Therefore, ensure the board of your choice has strong wheels for smooth rides. Besides wheels, other common durability concerns with electric skateboards result from broken trucks, braking systems, and hub sleeves. With that in mind, settle for a skateboard with durable and lasting materials.
11. You Get What You Pay For
While you shouldn’t break the bank to afford an electric skateboard, you must understand that you get what you pay for. Electric skateboards are plenty on the market, each coming at a different price for various reasons. For example, an electric skateboard that doesn’t offer more water resistance will likely cost less than its counterpart with improved water resistance.
That said, selecting a few models and comparing their features is advisable. Once you notice the difference in features, you’ll be in a better position to determine if you’re getting a fair deal in terms of price.
Generally, electric boards with lithium-ion batteries are a bit more expensive than those with lead-acid batteries. Lithium-ion batteries have a tiny jar to accommodate extra fluid, hence their price.
12. Warranty
Due to the terrain electric boards are ridden on, they’re more likely to experience fast wear and tear. For this reason, you should invest in nothing else than an electric board offering a prolonged warranty period. Other than that, select a brand with better customer service. You never know when your board will have issues you want help with, and only customer services can come to your aid.
13. Maintenance
Once you purchase your favorite electric board, the journey doesn’t end there. The skateboard will require maintenance, especially checking, to perform at its best and offer maximum safety. Skaters are always advised to check their skateboard’s bolts, screws, and decks before riding, at least once a week.
Before settling on a particular skateboard, determine if you can maintain it perfectly. Check its components and determine how complex they’ll be when making adjustments.
However, maintaining an electric board might be as easy as wiping it off and checking it anytime you ride it. With such effortless procedures, you can eliminate the chances of the board breaking when riding.
14. Customization
Do you like to customize your stuff? If yes, you aren’t alone. Most professional skaters and newbies love to customize their skateboard’s wheels, deck design, and decals to their liking. For this reason, you shouldn’t spend money on a skateboard that won’t support customization, especially if you don’t want it to look boring.
15. Study Other Riders’ Reviews
After shopping around and concluding the type of electric skateboard you want, you have a final step to take. While you might have found a board and have already fallen for it, it won’t cost you much to learn what other riders who have already invested in such a board say about it.
Determining the effectiveness of a particular skateboard with the help of consumer reviews is easy. You only need to visit the brand’s website and check customers’ reviews about a particular board. If the board performs like the brand claims, you’ll know it immediately, and so will be the case if the board is an underperformer.
Conclusion
Buying the right electrical skateboard will determine the level of enjoyment when riding it. It requires a slight mistake to purchase a board that will live its better part of life shelved in your garage. Similarly, it requires one to understand their needs and what to look for in an electric skateboard to purchase a board that’ll provide excellent experiences.
As an emphasis, always remember that electric skateboards differ in range depending on the riding style and needs. Therefore, you should choose a board that will correspond to your skating needs. If you’re more into speed, go for an electric street skateboard. If you’re looking forward to riding long distances, choose a board with extra range. If you want to use the board for commuting purposes, go for a lighter or an all-terrain board for a smooth experience.
