Selection Tips

This is a short guide containing some key questions and information. This will help point you in the right direction so you purchase an electric skateboard better suited to your needs. If you are still unsure about which electric skateboard is right for you please don't hesitate to contact us! 

Belt motor or Hub motor?

Belt driven boards have motors mounted next to each rear wheel (some boards drive all four wheels). The motors drive a belt which drive the wheels. Belt driven boards have slightly more torque than hub motors and are better at conquering hills. Belts, however, may eventually need to be tensioned or even replaced of worn out. 

Hub motor boards have motors inside each rear wheel (some boards drive all four wheels). Hub motors are almost completely silent. They also have smoother, more gentle acceleration due to their lower torque. However they are still very capable going up hills. Hub motors require no maintenance. The ride comfort of hub motor wheels is slightly less comfortable due the thinner wheel tread surrounding the motor. 

Commuter or Carver?

A commuting board doesn't need to be anything fancy. It's a tool used to get from point A to point B (it can still be fun though). This type of board needs to have enough range to get you to your required destinations. If you have the opportunity to change the board at your destination, you effectively double the range. A smaller sized board is also easier to carry and store in the office/classroom. Kicktails on shortboards also allow you to lift the front wheels and "tic tac" to make sharp changes in direction. This makes them very agile in tight situations like tight turns in narrow footpaths. For commuter boards, a high top speed isn't necessary. Unless you plan on a high intensity commute. During rainy days it's recommended you find alternative transport for your commute. Not only for the health of the board, but for your own safety. Handling and braking are extremely compromised in wet conditions. 

Carving boards are more geared towards pushing your limits and skating for the fun of it. Carving is the ability to make small and sharp turning motions with the electric skateboard. Carving is a fluid motion that can be very relaxing yet thrilling. It requires a fluid core movement with your hips and legs. Not only is it fun to carve back and forth at speed, it's also a great workout. Boards that advertise a smooth ride feeling, trucks with agile turning abilities and a deck with a concave shape (where the edge of the deck curves upward slightly, to give better "foot sense" and a locked in feel) are signs for a good carving board. 

If you want to use your board for commuting and carving it's up to you to try strike a balance between the characteristics of your board and your requirements.

Range 

When considering range it's always safer to over estimate how much battery capacity you will need. Manufacturers stated ranges are under ideal conditions. For example a 70kg rider in the slowest speed mode on flat terrain. Being a heavier person, riding at aggressive speeds and riding in hilly terrain will greatly reduce your range. 

Speed

Buyers are often quick to look for this metric. Riding at high speed can be exhilarating but people new to electric skateboards often underestimate the difference between going 40kph in a car and on a skateboard. 40kph on a skateboard can feel like 80kph. If you aren't wearing a lot of safety gear you will most likely wish you were. You might manage a few nervy top speed runs. But chances are, if you are new to electric skateboarding, it will take time to even feel comfortable cruising at 30kph.