Hoverboards have taken the world by storm in the past year. People uses them in a fun way to get themselves around whether it is inside like in a large building such as an airport, or a large office complex. It is also used by kids who want to have fun and get themselves around like they do on a bicycle or skateboard or roller blades. The term hoverboard varies depending on who you ask and what company sells them. Hoverboards have also been named self balancing boards, self balancing electric scooters, smart balance wheels, drift scooters, segway boards, or mini segway without handles. Mainly, if you refer to this thing on two wheels you hop on balancing yourself, you can also call it a 2 wheel hoverboard. If you look to get one online or at a specialized shop, you should ask for a self balancing electric scooter.
People called them hoverboard but believe me. it may be misleading. Once you master the control aspect of these 2 wheel self balancing scooters, you will get the feeling you are actually hovering. This is where the term hoverboard comes from. They are not the hoverboards you saw on Back to the Future with Michael J. Fox quickly getting on one of them to save the world. A typical hoverboard is defined as a wheel-less skateboard-like device, which hovered several centimeters/inches above the ground. The self-balancing two-wheeled board does not have this capacity. In reality, you are hovering on two wheels wich you will be controlling yourself, depending on your balancing act.
How a self balancing board work anyway?
The self balancing boards are built based on sensors. These sensors will detect or “pick up” each time a rider leans either forward, backward, left or right. It activates the electric motors which will spin the wheels to move in that direction. The board simply move based on the fact of your weight shifting in a particular direction. All you have to do is shift your weight in the desired direction and you will move towards it. You may have the sensation that the hoverboard reads your mind because its sensors picks up where you want to go. It is a weird feeling that riders eventually gets used to after practice.
These self balancing boards are working in a the same manner as the Segway PT. The only difference is that the Segway PT has handle bars which helps maintain your stability and control, where as the self balancing board has none.
Segway PT principle
The PT uses gyroscopic sensors and accelerometer-based leveling sensors to detect the resulting changes in its pitch angle and, to maintain balance, it drives its wheels forward or backward as needed to return its pitch to upright. In the process, the rider establishes and then maintains a desired speed by modulating the extent and duration of their fore/aft weight shifts. To turn and steer, the rider shifts the handlebar to the left or right. The PT responds by adjusting the speeds of the wheels in opposite directions causing the PT to yaw and, if not traveling forward or backward, turn in place. At speed, the amount of shift of the handlebar corresponds to the amount of left or right lean required by the rider to balance themselves on the platform during a turn.
Segway PT’s are often seen in airports for security personnel to patrol and save on excessive amount of walking. They can quickly dismount if they need to. In the self balancing board principle, it moves using the same principles.
How much are Self Balancing Boards?
A self balancing board is relatively costly but well worth the investment if you want to have fun and discover a new element of technology. These self balancing boards exists under different built by different companies. Since they were first created in China, many of these suppliers are from China and redistributed in America by distributing companies. It is a new item that has literally gone viral last year, so like any new technologies when it first comes out, they are somewhat costly. The price range of a hoverboards or a self balancing board is the $300.00 to $900.00 range.
Check their price range here!
It is paramount to do your research. Buying the most expensive board may not be the best investment. Look for the main features, specifications, warranties length and the “small print”, the service and support offered by the company after you buy it. Buying something new in technology may represent an adventure and if you have a defective hoverboard, it may be an investment you’ll regret because you didn’t do your homework.
At Hover in Style, we review several self balancing boards, in order for you to make the right purchase. We will look at the main companies like Airboard, Cyboard, Esway, Future Foot, Hovertrax, IO Hawk, Oxboard, Powerboard, Phunkee Duck, Soar Board and Swagway. Learning what they offer and their cost will help you make a better decision and be satisfied with your purchase or gift.
We will rank them based on the various reviews formulated by users, our take on it after trialing them and also the obvious information from the companies itself.
Best Hoverboards on the Markets
Finding the best hoverboards on the market can be difficult. let’s face it, this is a new product that is trending in the entire world. It has been proven yet on which products has been taking the lead for reliability and quality. he hoverboards below are the one we took a look at and established a comparison for you along with a review for each.
There are other notable hoverboard brands out you can also look at. You can see the other brands we have reviewed here.
Now let’s have a look below at our featured self balancing boards.
Swagway X1
The Swagway X1 is a very reliable hoverboard for all ages. The company is based out of South Bend Indiana, so you are not getting a product from a foreign country imitating the Swagway name with their own product. Swagway has the distinctive quality to be very meticulous towards the products they have on the market. With the Swagway X1, they made sure their self balancing boards are built with quality. In the X1, they have conducted their research thoroughly in ensuring the board was built using the finest parts. Their boards are built with a high quality aluminum alloy frame.
No Batteries concerns…
If you have any concerns about the batteries coming on fire, with Swagway you don’t need to worry. Their batteries are a high powered lithium ion Top Quality Brand battery. Swagway have their reputation resting on a strong platform. With this in mind, they eradicate the time to react from a rider’s perspective as soon as he steps on the Swagway X1. This reaction time eliminated allows the rider to to maneuver in every possible manner. Swagway insist they have the highest quality of hoverboards on the market at a very affordable price.
Continue to read the full Review Here
Powerboard Self Balancing Scooter
When looking at self balancing boards, one of the good companies out there, is certainly the POWERBOARD made by Hoverboard. Like any device you would ride (ex; bicycle), these self balancing boards require mature coordination, agility, and balance. If you purchase this board or any other boards, you must use your best judgment to see if the person the hoverboard is intended is physically fit and apt to ride the Powerboard safely.
The POWERBOARD is a board capable to provide you with a lots of pleasure just riding along. Like Swagway, Hoverboard is a US based company. They are based out of Arizona, so beware of other boards pretending to be made by them that are not. Many copied models are made overseas and are not authentic.
The company provides insurance, if requested and also a warranty for up to one year which is nice to have. Their manual is also well laid out and pays a particular attention to safe riding, which is also useful for the new rider.
It is strongly recommended not to exceed the maximum weight of 220 lbs. (100kg.). Exceeding the max weight will lead to damage or failure of the self balancing board, which could eventually lead to injury. As well, it is strongly recommended to not carry items while riding. Carrying items will add to your weight that could exceed the maximum permitted.
Continue to read the full Review Here
Razor Hovertrax Self Balancing Scooter
The Razor Hovertrax Electric Self-Balancing Scooter
In the case of the Razor Hovertrax self balancing scooter, the company doesn’t have an extended warranty on the product. If you have purchased an extended warranty, it must be honored by the store, it was purchased. For your records, save your original sales receipt with this manual and write the serial number below. In addition Razor states they are not liable for incidental or consequential loss or damage due directly or indirectly to the use of this product.
Continue to read the full Review Here
Leray Dreamwalker
