Reviews You Can Rely On

The 5 Best Electric Skateboards of 2024

We tested electric skateboards from Onewheel, Backfire, Hiboy, and more to discover the best models on the market
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Best Electric Skateboard of 2024
We purchased a fleet of the top electric skateboards on the market to test side-by-side for our monumental review.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
By Austin Palmer, Ross Patton, Zach Lovell, and David Wise  ⋅  Dec 22, 2023

For the better part of a decade we've been putting electric skateboards through our unyielding and comprehensive testing. With over 30 boards bought and reviewed since the beginning, we've gotten our fair share of bumps and bruises along the way, but it was all worth it to unearth the best options on the market. For this update, we looked at 11 of the top boards available today and tested them head-to-head. We pushed these skateboards as hard as they would go, measuring their top speed, range, braking power, and how steep of a hill they could climb. We also rated and compared how each board handled rough terrain and how comfortable they are to ride- taking each model on bumpy trails, glassy pavement, and everything in between. Read on to see which skateboard claimed the top spot, which is the best for off-roading, and which is the best bargain option.

If you're more into freestyle than high speed cruising, check out our list of the best skateboards. If you like the thought of skateboarding but feel like you need something that you can actually hold on to, we've also tested the top-ranked scooters. For a totally different approach to battery-powered travel, head over to our list of the best hoverboards.

Editor's Note: This review was updated on December 22, 2023, to include new models from Onewheel, Ownboard, and Backfire.

Top 11 Product Ratings

Displaying 1 - 5 of 11
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Awards Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award   Best Buy Award 
Price $2,050 List$2,300 List$1,799 List$1,199 List
$1,199 at Amazon
$699 List
Overall Score Sort Icon
87
83
83
81
78
Star Rating
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Pros Comfortable ride, fast top speed, long range, intuitive remoteIncredibly fun to ride, Great on rough pavement or trails, great at braking with practiceSmooth riding, convertible to street setup, great on hillsGreat app, street convertible, high-quality deckExcellent performance for a low price point, great board flex, smooth acceleration
Cons Sensitive brakes, challenging for beginners, expensiveNo fender included, less stable on large cracks/bumps, bottoms out going uphill at certain hill steepnessUncomfortable deck, extremely heavy, so-so mode tuningRemote braking is awkward, app required for beginner modeSensitive to bumpy terrain, slower speeds on steep hills
Bottom Line A board that proves you don't have to sacrifice ride comfort for speed or rangeA great all-terrain board that'll keep you grinning for the entire rideA high-performance model that offers a fantastic range and crushes hillsA quality board with an excellent app for speed and acceleration customizationAn excellent board that offers a budget-friendly option without sacrificing performance or ride quality
Rating Categories Ownboard Carbon Zeu... Onewheel GT Meepo Hurricane Evolve GTR Bamboo 2in1 Backfire Zealot S
Ride Comfort (30%)
8.4
8.2
6.7
8.1
7.2
Range (20%)
9.2
7.9
9.3
6.7
8.2
Braking (20%)
9.4
10.0
9.4
9.0
8.1
Speed (10%)
9.1
7.1
8.8
7.6
8.1
Hills (10%)
9.3
8.8
9.6
9.3
8.7
Beginner Friendly (10%)
6.0
6.5
7.0
8.5
7.0
Specs Ownboard Carbon Zeu... Onewheel GT Meepo Hurricane Evolve GTR Bamboo 2in1 Backfire Zealot S
Tested Maximum Range 33.3 miles 25.0 miles 32.7 miles 20.3 miles 27.0 miles
Tested Maximum Speed 34.1 mph 19.8 mph 31.4 mph 22.6 mph 28.9 mph
Tested Stopping Distance 17 ft 14 ft 15 ft 22 ft 28 ft
Measured Weight 30.2 lb 35.6 lb 36.2 lb 27.6 lb 20.7 lb
Measured Time in Uphill Grade 23 seconds 28 seconds 19 seconds 23 seconds 29 seconds
Measured Charge Time 260 minutes 180 minutes 190 minutes 260 minutes 200 minutes
Riding Modes 1
2
3
Turbo
6
Bay
Roam
Flow
Highline
Elevated
Apex
1
2
3
4
4
Eco
Sport
GTR
Custom (edit in app)
3
Eco
Sport
Turbo
Battery 13S4P Molicel Lithium Ion (NMC) 691.2Wh 12S4P Samsung 40T Lithium Ion Lithium Ion
Deck Material 3K Carbon Fiber and Forged Carbon Fiber, Composite Material 3K Carbon Fiber 3-Ply Bamboo, 2-Ply Fiberglass ABS Glass Fiber Composite
Deck Length 38.8" 29"
8.3" platforms (2)
40" 38" 39"
Truck Width 12" N/A 12" 12" 8"
Wheel Size 150 x 50 mm Pneumatic, rubber 11.5" x 6.5-6.5" 175 x 50 mm Pneumatic, rubber 175 x 50 mm Pneumatic, rubber 96 mm
App available No Yes No Yes Yes
Lighting No Yes No Yes Yes (purple)
Manufacturer Weight Limit 265 Ib 275 lb 552 lb 220 lb 260 lb Max.
Recommend 245 lb and below


Best Overall Electric Skateboard


Ownboard Carbon Zeus Pro


87
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Ride Comfort 8.4
  • Range 9.2
  • Braking 9.4
  • Speed 9.1
  • Hills 9.3
  • Beginner Friendly 6.0
Tested Top Speed: 34.1 mph | Tested Maximum Range: 33.3 miles
REASONS TO BUY
Fast
Easily climbs up hills
Effective brakes
Incredible range
REASONS TO AVOID
Gets noisy at high speeds
The braking system takes some getting used to

The Ownboard Carbon Zeus Pro is our top-scoring electric skateboard, possessing the fastest top speed and the greatest range of any board we've tested. The padded grip tape on this board is thicker than most, which makes it very comfortable to ride, especially at higher speeds and for longer distances. It can climb up hills with no problem, and the remote is comfortable in-hand and offers intuitive controls. This model has four settings, including a turbo mode, which gives the rider the ability to fit it to their comfort level and allows beginners to ease into the power that this board is capable of.

The only real drawback of this E-board is that its braking system takes some time to get used to. The brakes work extremely well, but the stopping power can be harshly abrupt, with the possibility of tossing the rider off if they aren't prepared. If smooth and stable braking is a top priority, we'd recommend the OneWheel GT or its less expensive sibling, the OneWheel Pint. The Zeus also makes a high-pitched whiny noise when traveling at higher speeds for any sustained amount of time, which doesn't affect the performance but can be slightly annoying. Being a top-of-the-line model, this board is on the pricier side, so for those who may not need the fastest board or are looking for something more budget-friendly, read on.

Read more: Ownboard Carbon Zeus Pro review

The Ownboard Carbon Zeus Pro offers one of the smoothest rides of any model we've ever tested.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Best Bang for the Buck


Backfire Zealot S


78
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Ride Comfort 7.2
  • Range 8.2
  • Braking 8.1
  • Speed 8.1
  • Hills 8.7
  • Beginner Friendly 7.0
Tested Top Speed: 28.9 mph | Tested Maximum Range: 27 miles
REASONS TO BUY
Speedy
Good amount of flex in the deck
Great wheels
Budget-friendly
REASONS TO AVOID
Mediocre uphill speeds
Belts eventually require replacing
Bulky

If you're looking for a belt-driven electric skateboard and you don't want to break the bank, check out the Backfire Zealot S. This more affordable option holds its own against the best of the best in the speed department — clocking an impressive 29 mph maximum speed during our time trials. Our testing team loved the handling and overall ride of this model. The acceleration and braking are both smooth and gradual so as not to be too jerky, which decreases the likelihood of unexpected momentum changes and bails. The bouncy deck, large wheels, and forged trucks ensure that you'll be carving high-speed turns and cruising over cracks all over town.

During our testing, we found that the Zealot S displayed significant improvements in its range and speed over previous Backfire models; however, it landed in the middle of the road in its braking, hill climbing, and ride comfort when compared to the rest of the test group. For smoother braking or uphilling, check out the OneWheel Pint, which still keeps the wallet from getting hit too hard. Despite the Zealot's few shortcomings, we loved shredding this skateboard around town and would recommend it to anybody looking for this style of electric skateboard who is shopping on a budget.

Read more: Backfire Zealot S review

The Backfire remote is ergonomic, easy to use, and the lanyard ensures it won't get dropped.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

A Budget-Friendly Onewheel Option


Onewheel Pint


76
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Ride Comfort 8.0
  • Range 5.2
  • Braking 10.0
  • Speed 6.1
  • Hills 8.5
  • Beginner Friendly 6.5
Tested Top Speed: 14.2 mph | Tested Maximum Range: 10 miles
REASONS TO BUY
Fast
Easily climbs all but the steepest hills
Excellent brakes
Great off-road performance
Charges quicker than others
REASONS TO AVOID
Moderate range
Self-balancing isn't for everyone

The Onewheel Pint is our favorite of the Onewheel electric skateboards, handling poor-quality pavement as well as off-road terrain with ease. This pint-sized self-balancing skateboard is exceptionally fun to ride, with its massive monowheel easily cruising over obstacles and terrain that would stop other boards in their tracks. It's pretty comfortable to ride, cruises up solidly steep hills with ease, and has excellent braking capabilities.

The Onewheel Pint can be off-putting if you aren't a fan of self-balancing boards. The board is essentially useless when its battery dies, and it can be a little less comfortable than the standard boards to ride for long distances. It also can't go up the steepest hills without bottoming out. We'd steer you towards the Ownboard Carbon Zeus Pro if long rides are a priority, but if you like single-wheeled designs, we'd recommend the OneWheel GT, which offers a better range. The Pint is a fantastic choice if you are searching for the surfy feel of a monowheel board on a budget.

Read more: Onewheel Pint review

electric skateboard - the pint had no problems cruising over rough roads and even shallow...
The Pint had no problems cruising over rough roads and even shallow puddles without issues.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Most Budget Friendly


Exway Flex


62
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Ride Comfort 5.4
  • Range 5.7
  • Braking 5.2
  • Speed 7.2
  • Hills 7.5
  • Beginner Friendly 9.0
Tested Top Speed: 24 mph | Tested Maximum Range: 14.4 miles
REASONS TO BUY
App has good settings
Front and rear bumpers
Decent hill climbing
Highly affordable
Light
REASONS TO AVOID
Awkward braking
Mediocre range

The Exway Flex redefines the price range of quality electric skateboards. Many would-be E-board riders get turned away from the sport due to price, but options like this make it possible to get a capable, fun ride on a tight budget. This board boasts excellent speed and acceleration, with a concave deck helping you remain confident as you up the throttle. We also loved the Flex's beginner mode, which reduces the speed limit and accelerator/brake sensitivity to help one ease into the sport with fewer crashes. In many metrics, this board hung with competition that was sometimes two or three times more expensive, impressing our testing team with its minimal performance compromise despite its low price.

The Flex doesn't have the most effective braking system of the E-boards we tested. In our stopping distance tests, it took 45 feet for the board to come to a stop. Other options like the OneWheel Pint and the OneWheel GT stop in a third of that distance, also offering a smoother braking system. We were able to engage hilly areas with the Flex — its braking just requires that you start braking sooner and/or keep your speeds more modest when heading downhill. We'd recommend this board to anyone just getting into the sport and/or has a tight budget- just start braking earlier than you think.

Read more: Exway Flex review

The Exway Flex has is quick, flexy, and affordable.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Best Ride


Onewheel GT


83
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Ride Comfort 8.2
  • Range 7.9
  • Braking 10.0
  • Speed 7.1
  • Hills 8.8
  • Beginner Friendly 6.5
Tested Top Speed: 19.8 mph | Tested Maximum Range: 25 miles
REASONS TO BUY
Great for all-terrain & off-roading
Intuitive braking system
Climbs all but the steepest hills
Solid range
REASONS TO AVOID
Not as comfortable underfoot
Pushing it to top speed is a little sketchy
Heavy

The OneWheel GT is the new and improved flagship model from one of the most recognizable names in electric skateboards. Its massive monowheel can tackle virtually any terrain and cruises over bumps and cracks better than any of the competition. Riding the GT is super fun and handles more like riding a snowboard than a traditional skateboard. One of the best features is the braking system that's activated by simply leaning back. This action is not only instinctive for the rider but also reduces the chances of getting pitched forward as the board slows down. This intuitive design, along with the fun and surfy ride, made this one of our favorite boards to float around on.

Our main gripe with the OneWheel GT is that your feet must remain in a fixed position, covering the sensors in each footpad at all times. This means that once you're going, you can't adjust your feet without stopping, which makes longer rides tougher. Also, having concave on every edge of the footpads may help somewhat with traction, but it isn't very comfortable when riding for a sustained amount of time. If you're drawn to lengthy rides, we'd steer you to the Ownboard Carbon Zeus Pro, which was a joy to take on even the longest cruises. One other minor consideration for the GT is its steeper learning curve, but that's true with any self-balancing board. OneWheel offers an app so you can adjust ride modes, helping you ease into its single-wheeled design. This app also includes numerous tutorials to reduce your chances of catching unintentional air time on your inaugural rides. Once you get the hang of it, this E-board is a lot of fun and will keep you grinning from ear to ear.

The Onewheel GT is great in a variety of terrain types and is wholly controlled with your body's balance.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Compare Products

select up to 5 products to compare
Score Product Price
87
Ownboard Carbon Zeus Pro
Best Overall Electric Skateboard
$2,050
Editors' Choice Award
83
Onewheel GT
Best Ride
$2,300
Top Pick Award
83
Meepo Hurricane
$1,799
81
Evolve GTR Bamboo 2in1
$1,199
78
Backfire Zealot S
Best Bang for the Buck
$699
Best Buy Award
76
Onewheel Pint
A Budget-Friendly Onewheel Option
$1,050
Best Buy Award
62
Exway Flex
Most Budget Friendly
$727
Best Buy Award
56
Skatebolt Tornado II
$479
50
Skatebolt Breeze II
$499
48
Teamgee H5
$479
45
Hiboy S22
$479

Why You Should Trust Us?


We spent countless hours researching the specifications of these products and comparing different manufacturer's claims to first determine which boards were good enough to cut it for our review and then to determine a grueling series of challenges to crown the winners. We conducted over 15 comprehensive side-by-side tests, measuring and scoring everything from the maximum speed to the stopping distance on both flat ground and down a steep hill. We rode these boards hundreds of miles to see how they held up to sustained use — even taking them off-road! — and measured their maximum range head-to-head on flat ground.

We break down our overall score into six key metrics:
  • Ride Comfort (30% of overall scoring weight)
  • Range (20% weighting)
  • Braking (20% weighting)
  • Speed (10% weighting)
  • Hills (10% weighting)
  • Beginner Friendly (10% weighting)

Austin Palmer, Zach Lovell, Ross Patton, and David Wise make up our E-skateboard testing and reviewing team. Austin is an avid skateboarder — both motorized and not — and has been riding for almost two decades, logging over a thousand miles. Since 2015, he has personally ridden and tested over 30 electric skateboards. Over these last eight years, he has ridden over all sorts of terrain, including sand, dirt, grass, rough mountain passes, trails, gravel, snow, and ice. Zach has been involved with product testing/design for over a decade, putting his analytical mind to a vast number of outdoor and tech goods, and he first entered the world of skateboards over twenty years ago. Zach's detail-oriented lens can never be turned off (debatably a gift or a curse), and such a point of view has been indispensable in testing flow sports products.

The Onewheel models have no problem merging from asphalt to concrete...
The Onewheel models have no problem merging from asphalt to concrete to bricks to the dirt.
We bought every model to bring to GearLab HQ to test side-by-side.
We bought every model to bring to GearLab HQ to test side-by-side.
No product remains untested around here.
No product remains untested around here.

David has formal training as a mechanical engineer and has significant experience with lithium battery and brushless motor systems, including building electric go-karts, race cars, scooters, and even a self-balancing skateboard. He lends his expertise when it comes to comparing and scoring the range and power of each board, as well as aiding in the creation of our test plans for these products. Ross has been skateboarding for more than 30 years and has used just about every size and type of skateboard known to man from freestyle-oriented trick boards to some of the first longboards to come out of Southern California. With a formal education in Environmental Science, he is no stranger to the laboratory-based component of product testing either.

electric skateboard - we tested electric skateboards on an array of surfaces and even set...
We tested electric skateboards on an array of surfaces and even set up an obstacle course.
Credit: Ross Patton

Analysis and Test Results


We broke our test into six different weighted metrics that encompassed the most important aspects of these products and pushed them to the limit. While your first impression of these products may be that they exist only as a novelty item, these boards can be a great daily commuter vehicle for the skateboard enthusiast. It's hard to argue with the ability to easily and quickly activate brakes or to zoom up a hill with ease.

Safety First!
We always recommend that everyone wears the proper protective equipment, whether they are a new rider or an experienced one, and check local rules and regulations regarding the use of these products before they go ride — no one wants an injury, ticket, or citation.

Value


Unfortunately, you are going to have to pay for it if you want a high-performance electric skateboard. Our reviewers were able to unearth some relatively affordable options, but any E-board is a hefty chunk of change. Fortunately, we've done the hard part for you — finding which options are worth the cash and which ones aren't. The Exway Flex is highly affordable and very beginner-friendly — perfect for those that are new to electric skateboarding. If you're ready to invest a little more, the Backfire Zealot S is fast, flexible, and has an impressive range. If you're looking for a unique monowheel experience but don't feel like emptying out your bank account for a new ride, the Onewheel Pint offers comparable performance to some of the higher-priced models from the brand. For top-tier performance, you're going to have to pay top dollar. The Onewheel GT is the best in the world of monowheels and it's hard to beat the overall performance of the Ownboard Zeus Carbon Pro if you're looking for a four-wheeled ride.

electric skateboard - feel the need for speed?
Feel the need for speed?
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Ride Comfort


Your board could offer all of the bells and whistles available, but if you don't enjoy how it rides, how often would you take it for a spin? This metric, weighted at 30% of the total score, encompasses how each board feels in all conditions, from the good to the bad to the ugly. We evaluated the comfort of each board, as well as which models we were drawn to over and over again. In other words, those options that possessed that certain je ne sais quoi. We also assessed how each board fared in the face of adversity — how it handles bumpy terrain and if it can successfully clear unexpected cracks in the road.


The Ownboard Carbon Zeus clearly emerged as a front-runner in this metric, with an insanely comfy, padded grip tape on top of a carbon fiber deck. We felt like we could handle anything and, even more importantly, have a ton of fun while doing it. We could never even feel smaller bumps or cracks, and Zeus handled larger features like the god of thunder.

electric skateboard - the zeus is a favorite board to ride among our testers, with an...
The Zeus is a favorite board to ride among our testers, with an unparalleled blend of comfort, fun, and performance.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Backfire Zealot S is comfortable, has a great grip, and it feels solid at high speeds. Its large wheelbase, big wheels, and wide trucks aid in handling the nastiest of bumps and cracks- though you'll definitely feel those rougher obstacles as you roll over.

electric skateboard - the zealot offers a great ride, especially when considering its...
The Zealot offers a great ride, especially when considering its price point.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

We were drawn to the Onewheel Pint and OneWheel GT for all-terrain fun, with a more surfy feel that felt like we were riding snowboards rather than skateboards. Both of these OneWheel options were most comfortable for short to medium-length rides — with footpad sensors and concave shaping causing more discomfort on the longer cruises.

electric skateboard - loose sand and dirt can be a rough start.
Loose sand and dirt can be a rough start.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The ability of these OneWheel boards to handle bumpy terrain and unexpected cracks is among the best we've seen. Boards designed for traveling over mud, grass, sand, and snow should easily handle some rough spots on the asphalt, and we confirmed this several times. Either of these boards are great options if you know that you're going to be riding over less-than-perfect pavement.

electric skateboard - the onewheel gt absolutely ripped, especially when the ride got...
The OneWheel GT absolutely ripped, especially when the ride got rougher.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Skatebolt Breeze II and the Skatebolt Tornado II aren't especially comfortable to stand on, but we did like the flex, and we felt that they both offer an overall smooth ride.

electric skateboard - some electric skateboards have a kicktail that allows you to send...
Some electric skateboards have a kicktail that allows you to send some manuals or even crack an ollie if you're brave.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The Teamgee H5 has a jarring and unpleasant ride when going over bad pavement, so we weren't particularly drawn to it unless we knew we were going to be going over smooth roads. However, it is comfortable enough that we didn't hate riding it for longer periods, provided the road was smooth.

The Exway Flex can handle moderately bumpy terrain, but anything more requires skill to manage. With such a friendly price point, it's still a worthy consideration, but we'd recommend that you use this board on smoother rides.

electric skateboard - the exway flex handled smooth pavement and moderately bumpy terrain...
The Exway Flex handled smooth pavement and moderately bumpy terrain, but we'd look elsewhere if your ambitions extend beyond mellower rides.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Range


Our range tests came next in terms of importance, comprising 20% of the final score for each skateboard. We ran each board on relatively flat terrain until the battery died, keeping them in either an "Eco" mode if it was available or in the riding mode most closely in the middle. We also timed how long it took for each board to recharge after it was completely drained.


Caught with a Dead Battery?
If your battery dies while you are out riding, you aren't totally out of luck- at least, depending on which board you are on. Self-balancing models like the Onewheel Pint can't be ridden once they run out of power, so you'll want to pay particular attention to the range of these boards when planning rides. The hub motor boards are the exact opposite, as they can be ridden the same as a normal skateboard when the battery dies, with only a barely noticeable increase in rolling resistance. The belt-driven boards have a fairly noticeable amount of resistance compared to a normal skateboard when you are pushing them around manually, but you can usually manage for short distances without too much suffering.

The Ownboard Zeus topped the charts with a tested range of 33 miles- imagine all of the places you could go with that kind of distance. Its performance also stayed solid for the entirety of its battery life. The battery does take several hours to recharge, though we feel that it's a fair compromise, given how many miles you get out of that charge.

electric skateboard - the range of the zeus made us wonder if we should use it as a...
The range of the Zeus made us wonder if we should use it as a commuter transport.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

When we range-tested the Backfire Zealot S, we also saw solid results. The Zealot was able to provide top-notch fun for 28.9 miles with decent performance throughout the test. The battery takes over 3 and 1/2 hours to charge, but considering the speed, acceleration, and range, we think this is totally reasonable.


The Skatebolt Breeze II offers a 12-mile range, and the battery remained effective for just about the entire time. Unfortunately, the Breeze II requires 3 and ½ hours to get its battery back to 100% — other options also need that much time but boast much longer ranges. This board's bigger sibling, the Skatebolt Tornado II, offers better range scores with a tested distance of 20.28 miles but with recharge times similar to the Breeze.


The OneWheel Pint, as fun as it is, doesn't offer the best range with a tested max distance of 9.9 miles. The recharge time fared better at just under two hours to bring the battery back to full. With such excellent ride quality, this board's range may be plenty for many riders, but we'd recommend its bigger sibling, the OneWheel GT if you want to take your E-board further.

electric skateboard - the pint is a great option if you don&#039;t mind its modest range. its...
The Pint is a great option if you don't mind its modest range. Its bigger sibling, the GT, goes over twice the distance but still offers a single-wheeled ride.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Finishing at the back of the group, the Teamgee H5 traveled for 7 miles before quitting. Unfortunately, it started slowing down quite a bit after 5.5 miles, and it took around 170 minutes to recharge.

electric skateboard - chris mcnamara testing downhill braking.
Chris McNamara testing downhill braking.
Credit: Viktoria Low

Braking


The stopping abilities of each board comprised this crucial metric, worth 10% of the total score. We tested how the brakes worked at allowing you to maintain a controlled descent down a steep hill, as well as measuring each option's stopping distance on flat ground.


The OneWheel Pint and the OneWheel GT had the best brakes of the bunch, only taking 14 feet to fully stop from a speed of approximately 12 mph. It also makes it very easy to control your speed while going downhill, but you are limited if the hill gets too steep, as the back of the board will start dragging.


If you're looking for the most powerful brakes available, the Ownboard Zeus has impressive stopping power, but its deceleration is so severe it might throw off the unsuspecting rider if they slam on the brakes.

Too Much Faith in the Brakes? Don't Push Your Limits.
While having brakes on a board is a fantastic addition, it's prudent to remember that these are not 100% reliable. Many of these boards use the electrical properties of the motor to slow down and divert that energy to the battery — rather than a mechanical brake — and can become disabled if the battery is too full or under other circumstances. A prudent inspection of the owner's manual will state the required precautions to take when using the brakes on each board.

electric skateboard - ready to ride off into the sunset after a long day of testing.
Ready to ride off into the sunset after a long day of testing.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Speed


Do you have a need for speed? This metric accounts for 10% of the final score for each skateboard and is based on both the measured top speed and acceleration. We measured how long it took for each board to complete a known distance, giving it sufficient room to build up to maximum speed before entering the course, and then calculated its top speed. We then averaged the results of multiple trials to determine the final scores.


To assess the acceleration of each electric skateboard, we timed how long it took each model to travel a 50' course with a stationary start. We also took into account our various testers' intuition of the acceleration after they had logged significant time on each board.


electric skateboard - we conducted our testing along the beautiful shores of lake tahoe...
We conducted our testing along the beautiful shores of Lake Tahoe, California.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The Ownboard Zeus offers the fastest top speeds tested, at a blinding 34 mph. It also offers acceleration times of 3.18 seconds, further confirming this option's rightful place at the top.

The Skatebolt Breeze II topped out at 20.73 mph during our speed assessment, and we recorded an average acceleration time of 4.26 seconds.

electric skateboard - the skatebolt tops out at nearly 21 mph.
The Skatebolt tops out at nearly 21 mph.
Credit: Jason Peters

The Backfire Zealot S skateboard landed towards the front of the pack with an average acceleration time of 3.64 seconds and a top speed of 28.9 mph- one of the fastest options behind the Zeus.

electric skateboard - the backfire g2 is one of the best if you want to go fast.
The Backfire G2 is one of the best if you want to go fast.
Credit: Jason Peters

The Hiboy S22 did fairly well, with a top speed of 18.16 mph. This model's average acceleration time was 4.91 seconds.

electric skateboard - we got some decent speeds out of this skateboard.
We got some decent speeds out of this skateboard.
Credit: Jason Peters

The Teamgee H5 is pretty quick, clocking in with an average maximum speed of 17.43 mph in our test.

electric skateboard - you can get some serious speed on the pint.
You can get some serious speed on the Pint.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The Onewheel Pint didn't have one of the fastest top speeds in our tests, clocking in at just over 14 mph, but it has phenomenal acceleration. It's extremely fast off the starting line and gets up to speed faster than almost every other board in the entire group.

Hills


One of the best benefits of having an electric skateboard is the ability to zip up hills — which we weighted at 10% of each option's total. Not all electric skateboards are created equal, and a hill that is easy for one model may prove an insurmountable obstacle to another. We put these products through their paces to find the maximum hill grade that they could climb and see if it matched the manufacturer's claim. Once again, our tester was an average-sized adult male for these tests, and a smaller or larger rider might find slightly different hill climbing abilities than we did. However, the overall trend and order would remain the same.


The Onewheel GT boasted a phenomenal hill-climbing performance. This board has more than enough power for most hills, but it can't make it up the steepest ones since the board will bottom out and start dragging if the incline is too great.

The Teamgee H5 ascended the 15% grade test hill without too much of an issue. However, it protested a bit at the start until it had some momentum built up.

electric skateboard - some of the different remote styles of the boards we tested.
Some of the different remote styles of the boards we tested.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Beginner Friendly


For the beginner-friendly metric, weighted at 10%, we investigated the remote, beginner mode, and weight of every option we bought. After considering our findings between these elements, we deduced how amicable each board was for someone new to the sport.


We loved the Exway Flex for its customizable speed limit and beginner mode, which keeps the sensitivity of acceleration and braking reasonable for a new rider. This board also offers an exceptional price — helping lower the barrier for entry.

electric skateboard - the flex scored the highest of any board for how beginner-friendly...
The Flex scored the highest of any board for how beginner-friendly it is. We loved its modest speed limit and less sensitive brakes/acceleration in beginner mode.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

We found the self-balancing control input of the OneWheel GT and OneWheel Pint to be intuitive, though there is an implicit learning curve to riding on a single wheel rather than four. The brand's app offers customizable ride modes as well as tutorials that are effective tools for easing into the board after purchase.

electric skateboard - onewheel&#039;s app greatly eases the learning curve of their boards.
OneWheel's app greatly eases the learning curve of their boards.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

As with any of our reviews here at GearLab, we weighed each board ourselves. The lightest option, the Teamgee H5, came in at an impressive 14.5 pounds.


The importance of weight purely will depend on each rider's needs and how often they anticipate transporting/carrying their E-board.

electric skateboard - rest easy knowing we&#039;ve put every electric skateboard through the...
Rest easy knowing we've put every electric skateboard through the wringer to discover each models best and worst qualities.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Conclusion


Picking out the perfect electric skateboard that matches your needs and budget can be a surprisingly difficult task, given the enormous spread of costs and capabilities. Cheaper boards can save you initially but can be more of a novelty toy than a high-end model that could even replace a vehicle and become a daily commuter. Hopefully, this review has helped you identify which boards are the best fit for you and aided in your quest to find your first, or your next, electric skateboard.

Austin Palmer, Ross Patton, Zach Lovell, and David Wise