Hoverboards (or self balancing scooters) have been subjected to a meteoric rise to fame – which can be chronicled through the number of celebrities endorsing them on their Instagrams and more – and then a taint on their reputation from the accounts of exploding batteries. It is no surprise that they were initially so popular, they’re portable, the technique is easy to learn, they’re a lot of fun, they provide a unique travelling experience and they can be found at very reasonable prices. What we want to focus on in our post of the Best Cheap Hoverboards, is the ‘reasonable prices’ that they can be found at.
This doesn’t mean that we will throw any old knock-off in your face, we’ve taken into account not only the huge disappointment it can be if your chosen hoverboard is useless junk, but also the danger it can be if an unreliable company is recommended. In this post we go through what makes a hoverboard safe, before recommending you low priced self balancing scooters that not only we have chosen carefully, but that have certifications to prove their reliability and safety.
Contents
What to look for in Hoverboards
Safety
After their initial rise to fame, a few concerns were raised about the safety of these boards and accounts of exploding hoverboards starting popping up. This was often due to the faulty lithium-ion battery and many boards were recalled, with Amazon pulling many big-name boards from their site.
In terms of respectable, trustworthy sellers, this is barely a concern anymore. In the US manufacturers use high quality components for the battery that have to be certified by the UL2272.
What is the UL2272?
The UL2272 is a response to the growing concern around exploding hoverboards. This is a US certification awarded to electrical mobility devices that have met the standards of a comprehensive system of safety tests. So basically, it is a series of tests that are specifically designed for self balancing scooters, which takes into account water exposure, impact and extreme temperatures.
These series of tests only take into account the safety of the battery, and therefore do not signify any superiority in performance, durability or quality of the self balancing scooter you are looking at.
This means that all of the hoverboards on our list are UL2272 certified.
Knock-off Hoverboards
This leads onto our next point on knock-offs. Spotting a knock-off isn’t a simple yes or no answer, and often comes down to your intuition. Here are some questions you can ask yourself before you buy:
- Is this self balancing scooter UL certified? Has it had an organization inspect, test and validate the electricals?
- Does the company/hoverboard have plenty of positive online reviews?
- Does the company have a good online presence, e.g. reviews of fast and helpful customer service, and active on their chosen social media.
Price
There are definitely a few cheap self balancing scooters out there that don’t cut corners on quality, and we like to think we’ve compiled them on this list.
A lot of hoverboards have the same basic structure, with rubber tires and footpads, a gyroscopic sensor, a top speed that probably won’t go much more than 8 or 10MPH and some LED lights thrown in there for good measure. This is a hoverboard that you can get at prices below $150. As you go up the price range you’ll find add ons such as bluetooth speakers, more LED lights and an accompanying app – the price will probably also increase with the reputation of the company.
Most likely the most expensive hoverboard you’ll find are the off-road ones. These have beefier and wider tires, and more overall power, with dual 400W motors not being unusual. Epikgo have one of the most expensive off-road hoverboards out right now but you get an awful lot for the money – check out what we mean with our review of the Epikgo Hoverboard here.
Overall, there is still plenty of fun to be had with a hoverboard at the cheaper end of the price range, and we’ve got some great products here for below $150 and below $200.
Best Hoverboard Below $150
NHT Hoverboard Scooter with LED Lights and Speaker UL2272 Certified
NHT have a range of products available, each with their own unique design. One of their cheapest products right now is their LED series of hoverboards. It has bright LED light strips on the fenders and two bright lights on both the front and rear of the deck.
This product has a maximum load of 265 lbs, and depending on rider weight it can take you from 5 – 8 miles per charge, with a maximum speed of 7.5MPH, which will vary slightly depending on gradient, rider weight and terrain. It has never-flat tires, and 6.5” wheels which each have a 350W hub motor. This board is our most powerful on the list, so if you’re looking for something that has better hill climbing capabilities then take the NHT into consideration.
The cheapest version of this series is not bluetooth enabled, and the more expensive variation comes with built in wireless speakers which can be connected to your device via bluetooth.
Notable Features:
- 6.5” wheels
- Never flat tires
- Bluetooth speakers (select models)
- 22 lbs
- Max rider weight of 22 lbs
- 5 – 8 mile range
- 7.5MPH top speed
- 350W dual hub motors
- UL 2272 certified
Check the latest price on Amazon.
XPRIT SBW-666 Hoverboard
This one has a varying price depending on the colour/version you pick, but you can find a few XPRIT SBW-666 hoverboards for below $150. Even the cheapest hoverboard being sold by XPRIT has vibrant multicolored LED lights surrounding the wheels and on the front of the deck, and bluetooth speakers to connect your device to.
This board has large, 6.5” solid rubber tires built for indoor and outdoor riding, and solid rubber treaded footpads so your kid can stand confidently and safely on the XPRIT. It has big fenders to protect your child from mud spray and partially protect the wheels from damage.
The SBW-666 has a maximum speed of 6MPH, which will last anywhere from 45 – 75 minutes depending on terrain, gradient and rider weight. It has a maximum rider weight of 165 lbs and a minimum rider weight of 45 lbs. With a charge time of 2-3 hours, it’ll be easy to charge it during lunch or overnight, and with a weight of 19 lbs it’s easy for most people to pick up and carry.
Notable Features:
- Bluetooth speakers
- 6MPH max speed
- 165 lbs maximum rider weight
- 19 lbs
- 2-3 hour charge time
- 6.5” solid rubber tires
- Large fenders
- Rubber footpads
- LED lights
- UL 2272 certified
Check the latest price on Amazon.
EPCTEK Hoverboard
EPCTEK have created a colorful and sturdy hoverboard that can be fun for any age group. It’s kitted out with LED lights that will make you seen on any dark street, with LED lights covering the fenders, surrounding the wheels and on the front of the deck. The deck itself has two large rubber non-slip footpads for stability and traction, and when the board is turned on it will light up a battery indicator light at the centre of the deck, so you know when you need to charge it.
The wheels are 6.5” and made of rubber, so you will never get any flats, and they have tread marks so you have more friction on unstable terrain. The dual motors are 300W, a step up from the 250W that plenty of hoverboards come with, which will be nice for hill climbing. It also reaches speeds of 8MPH, which I would personally consider to be plenty fast enough.
The EPCTEK board is bluetooth compatible, so your child can play their own tunes while they ride.
We haven’t been able to find the rider weight limit, but have heard accounts of riders weighing up to 250 lbs using this board easily.
Notable Features:
- Bright LED lights
- Bluetooth speakers
- 6.5” rubber tires
- Dual 300W motors
- Top speed of 8MPH
- UL 2272 certified
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Read more on Altriders:
Best Hoverboard Below $200
TOMOLOO Hoverboard with Bluetooth Speaker Q2-C
TOMOLOO are a relatively popular hoverboard company that have been around for a few years now. Their hoverboards are bright and eye-catching that kids and adults alike will love! There are colourful LED lights surrounding the wheels, on the deck and on the fenders. All of these boards are decked out with bluetooth speakers, and the LED lights will change colours in relation to the music being played.
TOMOLOO have built an accompanying app for the Q2-C. This allows you to connect with your friends, control the music and lights and provides information such as mileage. The apps that often come with these products are a nice addition, however there are a lot of accounts of these apps crashing or not working as expected, so I wouldn’t buy this board solely on the basis of getting a nice application that comes with it.
Due to the rumours that flew around about ‘exploding batteries’ (and with good reason), the Q2-C has an explosion proof battery. This means overcurrent, short circuit and overcharge protection. So no need to worry about that.
This board has respectable specs. With a maximum speed of 7.5MPH, a maximum climbing angle of 10° and a charging time of between 180 – 210 minutes, your child will be able to have plenty of fun inside or outside the house. We’ve done a more thorough review of the Tomoloo Hoverboard here.
Notable Features:
- 6.5” wheels
- Rubber tires
- 7.5MPH top speed
- Charging time 180 – 210 minutes
- 10° maximum climbing angle
- Accompanying app
- Bluetooth speakers
- 7.5 mile range
- Built-in learning mode
- UL 2272 certified
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Swagtron Swagboard Vibe T580
The T580 is a striking board from the popular company Swagtron. This board has 6.5” tires which are made of hard rubber, this material is chosen for its durability on outdoor terrain. It also comes with rubber footpads for stability and confidence when riding.
The patented Sentryshield technology implemented by Swagtron means that the lithium ion battery is protected by a premium quality battery pack, and has multi layered protection. This protects against hazards such as fires through heat dispersion.
This board is packed full of features, with bright blue LED lights at the front of the hoverboard, a companion app and bluetooth speakers, your child will never get bored. The bluetooth speakers can be controlled by the app, which also allows your child to choose between learning and standard riding mode, check the battery and access the map.
All of this is packed into a relatively powerful hoverboard, with dual 200W motors, a top speed of 7.5MPH and a 30° maximum climbing angle.
You can also choose from the upgraded versions which have a bumped up price tag but gives you a choice between blue or red accents on the board.
Notable Features:
- 7.5MPH top speed
- 200W dual motors
- App enabled
- Bluetooth speakers
- 30 climbing angle
- 7~12 mile range per charge
- 90 – 100 minute charge time
- 220 lbs max rider weight
- 20 lbs weight
- 6.5” rubber tires
- Learning and standard modes
- UL 2272 certified
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Final Thoughts
We hope this has given you a good idea about some of the best cheap hoverboards that are available that are actually worth your time and money. It can be a bit of a minefield when searching for a cheap hoverboard but our recommendations should offer a bit of peace of mind. It’ll also mean that you won’t be embarrassed in front of your neighbours as your child’s new hoverboard isn’t going to bursts into flames.
If you need to know more, think we’ve missed something, or want to ask us some questions then comment below or connect with us on Facebook.
Read More on AltRiders
- How to Ride a Hoverboard like a Pro in 5 Easy Steps
- EPIKGO Classic Hoverboard | Full Review and More
- Swagtron T1 Hoverboard Review
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