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Marty McFly would be proud. Or maybe he’s waiting for us in the year 2045. At any rate, hoverboards aren’t a new technology, but they have had a rough go of it. For a while there, they wouldn’t stop catching on fire. People stopped riding them, and they certainly weren’t buying them for their kids anymore.
In fact, hoverboards caused a lot of damage nationwide, leaving people miffed as to which ones were the safest or whether they should waste their time and money on something that many claimed should be outlawed. They were even banned by many airlines, and college campuses and some countries prohibit their use in public spaces.
Still, despite the negative publicity, many people like the novelty of a hoverboard and can look past the risk for a toy so futuristic. These self-balancing devices are super fun to ride, albeit a little hard to learn. It’s even harder to look cool, but if you can master that feat, you will have earned the right to shout, “Great Scott!” whenever you want.
Hoverboards can be useful, too. At a top speed of 10 miles per hour, they may not get you there very fast, but they can be an effective mode of transportation for distances up to 20 miles with a single charge. And great news, friends. There are several brands that guarantee your new device won’t end in a violent explosion.
Always check out your local laws in regards to hoverboards, but if you’re looking into getting one, here are some of the best ones on the market.
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Razor Hovertrax 2.0
The Razor Hovertrax 2.0 is arguably the best hoverboard on the market because it’s affordable, compact, and easy to control. It’s a pretty basic hoverboard, but it features sleek curves and fun colors in a convenient size that anyone can learn how to use.
Razor isn’t a newcomer to the riding device world. They started out manufacturing hugely popular scooters around the year 2000, and they’re back – bigger and badder. With a UL 2722 safety certification, they have returned to the hoverboard market with a second edition model that’s much safer than the first.
After the first edition was removed from the shelves for safety reasons (across all hoverboard brands, not Razor specifically), Razor came back with a new and improved rival to one of the most popular hoverboards – the Swagtron series. The Razor Hovertrax 2.0 has the same features and the same price as Swagtron hoverboards but offers a more reputable brand name.
The Razor Hovertrax 2.0 can hold up to 220 pounds of fun for up to one hour, and once it’s fully charged, the battery pack automatically shuts off to save electricity. There’s nothing new or revolutionary in the Razor Hovertrax 2.0, but it does provide stiff competition to the hoverboard market with a recognizable name brand and an excellent quality device.
If the Hovertrax 2.0 isn’t enough for you, you can upgrade to the Hovertrax DLX 2.0 and pay slightly more for more paint color options, and cool LED displays perfect for night rides. You can pimp out your scooter to match your ride.
Segway MiniPro
Segway is another reputable brand name in the riding toy industry. The MiniPro offers awesome battery life and super easy gyroscopic controls. It provides more support for riders and is most likely the safest hoverboard on the market in terms of ease of use.
The Segway MiniPro isn’t nearly as cool-looking as some of the others, but it’s easier to ride and control. Plus, it offers more support to the rider, making it a better solution for beginners or riders who enjoy additional comfort.
With Segway’s signature style, the Segway MiniPro looks like a Segway product. It’s futuristic and aesthetically unique. It has an adjustable knee steering bar for a customizable experience unique to each rider. You can enjoy balance and stability while simply leaning on the bar to turn. Unfortunately, while you can remove the bar for storage, the hoverboard won’t work without it, so if you decide you don’t like it or need it, you’ll need a new scooter.
The Segway MiniPro can hold up to 220 pounds of fun and travel 14 miles on a single charge. It’s a safer and easier experience than most other hoverboards. It also has Bluetooth connectivity and a mobile app that allows you to customize the pattern and color of your tail lights. It provides extra security and data about your most recent ride.
You can also control the hoverboard remotely from the app, making it easy to call back to you if you don’t want to walk over and get it. After all, laziness is the essence of a hoverboard. It’s also UL 2272 certified, so you don’t have to worry about your hoverboard turning into a fire pit.
Epikgo Classic
If you’re looking for a 4×4 hoverboard, you’ve come to the right place. The Epikgo Classic is truly epic. As far as all-terrain hoverboards go, this one takes the cake. This rugged device is durable and built to last. It can go offroading anywhere with you and take a beating. Now you can take your hoverboard on the road less traveled.
The deep-tread tires give you safe navigation across any surface whether its pavement, dirt, or grass. The sturdy design makes it strong and reliable, so you can propel it back to safety at 10 miles per hour. Of course, it takes more effort to go offroading, so it will only go about 10 miles on a single charge.
It’s UL 2271 and 2272 certified, water-resistant, and can climb 15-degree inclines. This thing is a beast. The LED headlights will keep you safe and give you visibility if you end up lost in the dark. An aluminum fender cover makes it virtually indestructible, or so Epikgo says. It protects the super-durable wheels, and an ABS chassis keeps the board’s inner workings from damage on your offroad adventures.
As if that wasn’t enough, Epikgo also has a Sport Plus model with a Bluetooth speaker and the word is that they’re currently developing a Premier model with even more cool features. The Epikgo Classic isn’t as fancy as some other hoverboards, but if you’re looking for something rugged that’s meant to get dirty, fancy probably isn’t for you.
Halo Rover
If you want to buy a hoverboard for your child, you’re likely looking for something safe, easy, and more manageable for small feet and uncoordinated reflexes. The Halo Rover is sturdy and reliable, so you can trust it more than the driver. It’s pricey, but it’s worth it for the safety of your precious rider.\
Like most hoverboards, the top speed of the Halo Rover is 10 miles per hour. However, it only has a 10-mile range, which is a bit shorter than the others. It has a UL 2272 certification and speakers, so your kid can listen to their tunes while they ride.
You can calibrate the Halo Rover with three different experience levels, so it accommodates any rider, and it’s loaded with safety features from back to front. Despite the fact that you can set this hoverboard to equip the inexperienced rider, it’s not dumbed down. It can hold up to 224 pounds and will climb inclines of 20 degrees.
Toting a backpack full of books or carrying groceries is no problem for the Halo Rover, and it comes in Regular and X so you can choose a more sophisticated design if you choose. This hoverboard doesn’t stand out because it’s so amazing. It resonates with consumers because it’s simple, reliable, and safe.
UL 2722 Certification
Given past experience with hoverboards, you should always choose a hoverboard that is UL 2722 certified because if they don’t meet this safety standard, you may end up with a flaming pile of what used to be your new hoverboard. The UL 2722 test ensures that your hoverboard passes a variety of tests including:
- Short circuit test
- Overcharge test
- Over-discharge test
- Temperature test
- Dielectric voltage test
- Imbalanced charging test
- Isolation resistance test
- Shock test
- Crash test
- Vibration test
- Drop test
- Water Exposure test
- Mold stress test
- Strain relief test
- Motor overload test
- Motor locked rotor
- Thermal cycling test
- Label performance test
- 20mm end product flame test
Other Hoverboards
Among some of the most popular hoverboards on the market are the Kiwano KO-X, another all-terrain hoverboard that came out last year. The Swagtron is a popular brand and has many models including the X1, X2, T1, T3, and T5 (read my Swagtron T5 review here!). The Jetson V6 (read more here!) has a unique design and using the dedicated mobile app, you can change steering sensitivity and max speed.
The Hoverzon XLS just recently received a UL 2722 certification while brands like Ninebot, PhunkeeDuck, and IO Hawk seem to manufacture high-end hoverboards, but don’t have the certifications they need quite yet. Hover at your own risk if you choose one of these models.
The Verdict
You can choose any of these scooters to whiz from home to the pool, room to room in your office, or around the park. As you gain experience, you can learn to do donuts and other fun tricks to impress your friends. Any of these self-balancing hoverboards will assist in safe riding, no matter your experience level.
Justin obtained his MBA at Baker University. He loves learning and writing about smart home technology and has a passion for its application. Justin brings a wealth of writing experience to the All Home Robotics team and enjoys discovering new and creative ways to implement smart home technologies into his own home (and sharing his findings here)!
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