Over the last few years, motor-powered skateboards have quickly become a trendy option for young people wanting to skate around their city in style. To meet the demands of this new trend, skate companies began manufacturing skateboards with motor-driven belt systems in high numbers. And it’s true – scan the walls at your local skate shop, and you’ll see electric skateboards from legendary skate brands, as well as motor-powered boards from skate start-ups, lining the shelves alongside traditional skateboards. Spend 5 minutes in your favorite skate shop, and you’re probably wondering to yourself: “How can I tell what electric skateboard is the one for me?” This is where we come in.

What sets us apart from other sites is that we’re completely dedicated to testing, scrutinizing, reviewing, and recommending the highest quality motor-powered skateboards on the market. Just as importantly, we review boards for a wide range of skateboarders. Whether you’ve been on boards for decades, or you’re thinking about trying out skateboarding for the first time, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with the details, images, and on-board experiences that’ll help you find the perfect electric skateboard for you and your skating needs.

We’re not one of those run-of-the-mill tech websites that’s only reviewing e-skateboards because they feature intriguing technology. No, we’re skateboarding fanatics who understand that the electric skateboard represents where the skateboarding world is headed. Here we want to ride with you into the future.

Teamgee H8 31″ Electric Skateboard, 15 MPH Top Speed

Evolve Skateboards – Bamboo GTX Street Electric Skateboard (26 MPH Top Speed / 31 Mile Range)

Boosted 2nd Gen Dual+ Standard Range Electric Skateboard

How To Choose Your Next Board

Electric skateboards have revolutionized the skateboarding industry over the past 5 years. Today, it seems like small start-up skateboarding companies and more established e-sports brands alike have developed their own motor-powered skateboard for consumers to capitalize on this innovative trend.

For this reason, it can be difficult to determine which electric skateboards are constructed using quality materials, and which boards leave much to be desired when it comes to useful features and durability. This electric skateboarding buying guide will help you identify the things to look for to make sure you’re buying the right electric skateboard for you.

Find the Right Battery

Your electric skateboard’s battery determines how long you can spend on your board before needing to charge it. There’s nothing worse than going on a long e-skateboard adventure, only to have to turn back home prematurely because you don’t have enough battery power to complete your route. This is why finding an electric board with a battery that fits your needs is so important.

When you’re looking at boards you want to purchase, try to find one that has a brand-name battery. Consider buying a board that is outfitted with a battery from a company like Samsung, Panasonic, or LG. You trust these battery companies with other electronics in your life, so it stands to reason that you can trust those same batteries in your skateboarding life as well.

Veteran electric skateboarders tell us that a quality electric skateboard should allow for approximately 1 hour of riding time between charges. In addition to the 1 hour ride time, a good skateboard battery should offer at least 20 miles of range.

Another factor to consider when thinking about your skateboard battery is your height and weight. The heavier and/or taller you are, the more strain you will put on your board’s motor-powered drive train. The more strain you put on the board, the more battery it will require to keep going. So, if you’re over 200 pounds or are over 6 feet tall, buying an electric skateboard with a bigger battery is a necessity.

Skate on Quality Wheels

The top boards use high-quality wheels from respected companies like Orangatang and ABEC11. Skateboarding enthusiasts refer to these name brand wheels as “Category 1” wheels. Lower-quality wheels – referred to as “Category 3” wheels – are generic, non-branded wheels.

What’s the difference between Category 1 and Category 3 wheels? Category 1 wheels are generally made from high -grade polyurethane that offers long-lasting durability even if you’re skating on unforgiving urban surfaces. Top-end wheels also grip the road well, giving you great stability and board feel. Category 1 wheels also compress when confronted by random street debris or small pebbles, meaning that your ride will be relatively smooth even if you’re skating on uneven surfaces.

Category 3 wheels, on the other hand, are made from lower-grade urethane. These non-branded wheels are usually not cured or treated properly during the manufacturing process, and, consequently, tend to chip, flake, or break apart much more easily than high-level wheels. Do you really want to skate on wheels that could literally disintegrate at any moment?

Instead of skating on low-end wheels that pose a threat to your safety, buy a board that is outfitted with wheels from a name-brand company that you trust.

Closely Examine Overall Build Quality

If we’ve developed a general trend thus far in our electric skateboard buying guide, it’s that you should invest in a board that is made with quality in mind. This trend of seeking out quality continues here, but instead of looking at batteries or wheels, we recommend looking for a board that has quality components and a top-notch build to it.

Cheaply-made electric skateboards usually have steel components, a low-grade skateboard deck made from weak wood, and small motors that are not built for the rigors of outdoor riding.

Instead, find a board that is made from multi-ply bamboo or maple wood, and a motor that was specifically designed for electric skateboarding. Some of the most intriguing boards currently available in stores come from brands who have in-house product engineers that design each element of the skateboard from the ground up.

In terms of materials, is your board and its motor waterproof? Imagine not being able to ride your board through sidewalk puddles, or having to avoid taking a trip out when its drizzling. You aren’t buying an electric skateboard to only use it at specific times, so look into grabbing something that is water-resistant.

In addition to finding a board that can be used when it’s wet out, you need to consider the portability and weight of your electric skateboard. If you’re able to ride your board continuously without having to jump off your board, you might be able to get a heavier board.

But, if you’re like most of us, you’ll need to step off your board at some point and hold it while you’re on the bus or subway. For guys who might need to carry or pick up your board, you need to find a board that you can comfortably lift or maneuver around without straining your arms or back.

Look at The Warranty Before Buying

Although it isn’t as exciting as comparing and contrasting technical or aesthetic features of different electric skateboards, you should always examine the product warranty of the board you plan to purchase before bringing it home.

Do not consider purchasing an electric skateboard unless it comes with a comprehensive warranty. Let’s face it – skateboarding can be a very extreme sport, and its very possible that your board might suffer some sort of electrical or mechanical failure while you are riding it. In a similar vein, skateboards often sustain cosmetic or structural damage from repeated or regular use.

A good warranty should protect against all of this – cosmetic problems, as well as mechanical breakdowns. If the warranty of the board you’re looking to buy does not offer all-inclusive protection, you might want to consider looking at a different company’s product. Also look at the length of the warranty when you are making your skateboard purchase. The shorter the warranty, the less confident the company is in the quality and durability of their skateboard. We recommend looking for an e-skateboard that has a 1-year warranty at minimum.