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In this post, I list which electric skateboards I feel you should look into at this moment based on different use cases and budgets.
My selections are based on what I’ve tried or what I know from people I trust. Boards I have not tried personally are marked with an asterisk (*). I didn’t list the many brands and boards that I’m not familiar with. And please note the publish date of this post—I can’t time travel and review boards that haven’t been released!
Please be aware that I place very little value on raw power and care a lot more about things like design aesthetics, user experience, quality-of-life features, innovation, and affordability. Don’t get upset just because I don’t like what you like!
Use Cases
Tight Budgets
If you’re dipping your toes into electric skateboarding or simply don’t want to spend too much, here are a few boards from reputable brands that I would look into. These are in alphabetical order.
Backfire G2 Black
The G2 Black is an old board but it’s one of the most affordable options. No frills, but has all the basics you’d expect from a Boosted-style electric longboard.
Exway Ripple
The Ripple is lightweight and the board I’d grab for short errands, or journeys that require carrying the board frequently (like if you take public transit in the city). You know, like a traditional cruiser board.
Tynee Mini 3 SL* & Ultra SL*
Although I haven’t tried these boards, I’ve tried their more powerful non-SL editions: the Mini 3 and Ultra. As far as I can tell, these SL versions are just lower performance, cheaper, and somewhat heavier. They still offer good performance per dollar.
WowGo 3E*
I haven’t tried the 3E, but I’ve tried the 3 and 4. From the specs, WowGo 3E looks like another basic but decent Boosted-style electric longboard.
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Portable
If you frequently need to pick up your board – such as to get on public transit, go in and out of classrooms, or walk up or down stairs – you’ll want something easy to carry. Here are what I’d use in order of my personal preference for portability.
Exway Wave
Among portable boards, the 7 kg Exway Wave is by far the most feature-rich. It comes with your choice of a 180Wh standard battery or a 99Wh travel battery, both of which are swappable in a few seconds without any tools. Headlights and a brake light are built-in. For air travel, I don’t think any other electric skateboard comes close in practicality and convenience.
Exway Ripple
At just 6 kg, the Ripple is one of the lightest electric skateboards you can get from a reputable e-skate brand. It is a relatively low-performance board, but sometimes you have no need for performance and just need a board that’s easy to carry.
WowGo Mini 2
There’s nothing particularly special about the WowGo Mini 2 except that it’s quite good-looking for its price. (There are a lot of ugly short boards.) The Mini 2 is 7 kg and only available with hub motors but you can choose to have Cloudwheel Donuts for a less jarring ride.
Tynee Mini 3
The Tynee Mini 3 comes in several configurations and the lightest option is 7.4 kg, which is light by today’s standards. At 281Wh, it has the biggest capacity battery among the portable boards I’ve listed. And for those who prioritize range over weight, a 393Wh option is available.
Backfire Zealot V
The Zealot V is basically a scaled-down Zealot X. It’s shorter, narrower, and weighs just 7.6 kg but still has that ambient light around the deck. Even though it’s an entry-level board, I quite enjoyed it for its novelty. Just be aware that some may find it too short and narrow.
Exway X1 Max
At 8 kg, the Exway X1 Max makes it to this “Portable” list due to its sleek unibody design. Most boards this size and weight have dual enclosures and tend to be front- and back-heavy, but the X1 Max has its weight more evenly distributed, making it easier to pick up and carry. It is also long enough to be pulled.
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Longboard Size
Not too big and not too small, the longboard size electric skateboards are more carryable than heavier boards and take less effort to ride than shortboards. Here are my personal favorites from this category in alphabetical order.
Backfire Zealot S or S2 or S2E
Although the Zealot S is succeeded by the Zealot S2, Zealot S2E, and Zealot X, it’s still a great board and more affordable. The performance and range of the S are good enough for me and it weighs 20-25% less than its successors. Once it’s sold out, I would prefer the Zealot S2.
Exway Flex Pro
I like the way the Flex Pro feels. The deck concave is great. The handling of the trucks is great. The performance is great. The only thing I don’t like is that it is heavy at 9.8 kg. I would prefer the lighter Flex ER but the Flex Pro’s electronics are more reliable.
Exway X1 Max
Some of us (including myself) would like an electric skateboard that looks and feels like a regular longboard. The X1 Max is so sleek in its design that even the charge port is cleverly hidden. It rides well but the real selling point here is that it’s so good looking.
Tynee Ultra
The Tynee Ultra is more or less a Boosted Board copy, in terms of looks anyway. The electronics are different but in very good ways: more range and more reliable. Basically, it’s for people who want a Boosted Board in 2022 and 2023.
WowGo X4
From the WowGo 3X to the X4, WowGo ditched the Vanguard deck design used by Boosted and went with a look that’s more reminiscent of Exway. The electronics are upgraded to modern specs but I liked the old design more. In any case, it’s a fun and well-performing board.
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All-Terrain (2-in-1)
All-terrain electric skateboards, sometimes known as 2-in-1, are the do-it-all boards. Put on urethane wheels for longboard-like carving, or pneumatic tires for improved comfort and some off-road capability. Here are my recommendations in order of my personal preference.
Exway Atlas Pro (and Atlas)
The Exway Atlas Pro is by far the most modular and advanced electric skateboard today without going DIY. No other production board supports an add-on battery pack that more than doubles the stock range, and no other board comes close to its ridiculously fast recharge capability. Even the base models in 2WD and 4WD offer great value for performance and features. With that said, I personally prefer the older Atlas because it’s notably lighter.
Onsra Black Carve 3
At first glance, the Onsra Black Carve 3 may look like a small update to the excellent Black Carve 2, but some of the changes are quite significant. The most notable difference is the new remote with its large 1.3″ display and excellent menu system that allows you to easily fine-tune the board’s performance. The unique take on TKP trucks is confidence-inspiring for both speed and carving.
Tynee Explorer
The Tynee Explorer stands out for its exceptional ride comfort. Something about its deck dampens road vibrations and bumps unlike other flexible decks. The performance is customizable via its remote’s menu.
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Off-Road
I am not very familiar with off-road boards, which differ from the “all-terrain” category in that these are much more capable of riding on uneven trails and grass. Here are a few that I would look into for this category. (I would actually prefer other types of vehicles for off-roading though.)
Propel Endeavor 2 Pro or GT
Propel is one of very few (two?) electric skateboard brands that use shock-absorbing struts like what you’d find on your car. Unlike the other off-road boards I’ve listed, this one is more for cruising and not for jumps.
Mountainboards
- Trampa Pro Belt Drive*
- Apex Predator*
- Acedeck Nyx Z1*
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