Ownboard AT + GT Review – Coming on Evolve GTR hard.

In late 2019, many brands, as if on cue, simultaneously came out with their own versions of an Evolve clone. First, we have Fabian’s Faboard Black Carve, followed by Ownboards Bamboo and Carbon AT, which was then followed by Verreal RS and several more by smaller brands.

Needless to say, the most notable among these Evolve contenders are the Ownboards, as they are a major Chinese brand, and hence we have high hopes for them to put out a quality product and be the Evolve killer. Obviously, Ownboard is not trying to hide their intentions in going after the Evolve crowd. Ownboard Bamboo and Carbon AT were made with every feature that the Evolve Bamboo and Carbon GTR have, including the ability to switch between AT set-up and street set-up, the use of double Kingpin trucks, double drop decks and belt motors. To top it off, Ownboard achieves all of these with the price of $999 which undercuts Evolve by half.

So, today, we are going to find out if the Ownboard Bamboo AT and the cloud wheel set-up (named Bamboo GT) have what it takes to be the Evolve Bamboo killer.

Components

Deck

Right off the bat, let’s talk about the components used in the Ownboard Bamboo AT. Ownboard uses a broad, flexible deck made from Fiberglass, Bamboo and Canada Maple that has an aggressive concave. Unlike the Evolve, Ownboards deck features an aggressive drop in its double drop deck, allowing a lower ride height and therefore a far more stable ride, which is sorely needed in the Bamboo AT. Unfortunately, this also means the option of using normal street wheels is off the table, as even with the relatively large 120mm cloudwheels I still bottomed out pretty often.

Thankfully, the flexible plastic enclosure below the deck looks like it’s durable enough to endure the scratches.

Trucks

The Double Kingpin trucks on the Ownboards are maneuverable to a fault and allow for a super-narrow turning radius. I honestly think Ownboard should use better and harder bushings for these trucks. I tightened them to the max and the wobbles were still bad, limiting my speed to below 22mph (36kmh) in the AT set-up. Even after switching to the smaller 120mm cloudwheels (GT set-up), going at 25mph (40kmh) still felt pretty sketchy to me.

Of course, any Evolve rider will tell you that Double Kingpins are not meant for high-speed, but with a bushing swap, Ownboard AT could achieve much higher stability. In fact, with harder bushings in the cloud wheels set-up, cruising comfortably near top speed would’ve been possible, thanks to the very low riding height.

Wheels

On the topic of wheels, both the 6″ airless honeycomb wheels and the 120mm cloud can go off-road. Though you don’t get to play with the tire pressure like you do with pneumatic tires, the airless honeycomb felt on par with pneumatics when it comes to absorbing bumps on rough terrain. Even the freaking HUGE cloudwheels are big enough to render most obstacles harmless. However! Riding the cloudwheels off-road is definitely not something you should be doing often, as the wheels are soft and will damage easily on harsh terrain, and those wheels aren’t cheap. I tested them off road and I have to admit that I was nervous about my wheels the whole ride.

Many people ride fast and look to big wheels to stay safe from bumps and cracks. For them, my advice is to go with the GT cloudwheel set-up. Though the big AT wheels can roll through sticks or stones at high speed without issues, the wobbles are a big problem. On the other hand, riding on the smaller cloudwheels is a much more stable ride, and equally crack-and-bump proof!

ESC and Control

Next, let’s talk about the controls. Similar to the other Ownboards, the Bamboo uses a 10s Hobbywing ESC for this board, and for those who are familiar with Hobbywing ESC the controls need no further explanation- they are known for Intuitive, responsive control that’s perfectly smooth in both acceleration and braking.

Update: New OLED remote with telemetry is now available

Power and Performance

Before receiving the board, I was worried that the 10s ESC might not be able to deliver the required power and torque for an AT set-up. After my test, I am happy to report that this baby is plenty strong and has no issues on steep angles.

The two 6368, 170Kv, 1500W motors should definitely be powerful enough for most people. Those who dislike Hobbywing for its tame braking power are still going to be disappointed by this board’s brakes. They are not at the level where tight-brake lovers will enjoy it, even though the dual belt set-up did increase the braking strength. Comparing Hobbywing’s control to the Evolves, Ownboard Bamboo is smoother in acceleration but tamer when it comes to brakes. Which is better? That comes down to personal preference, just like the everlasting argument between Hobbywing ESC VS LingYi ESC.

Range

Now, it’s numbers time.

The 504WH, 14AH Sanyo GA 10s4p battery pack is marketed to last for 19miles(30km) in AT set-up, and 26miles(42km) in the cloudwheels GT set-up. I am happy to report that my range test yielded results that exceed the marketed numbers for both AT and GT set-up. Perhaps the test is slightly conservative this time, as the speed wobbles kept me from going as fast as I usually go, but the numbers are still impressive. One thing to note though, voltage sag does set in at around 25% battery level and when that happens the board will have a delay when drawing power for acceleration. However, the acceleration curve does stay smooth and the power picks up eventually, so I think that’s forgivable. Fun fact, the Evolve Bamboo GTR has the exact size 504wh battery with Samsung 35E cells and promises similar range.

Ownboard AT Full range test

Speed

Marketed top speed for the AT is 24mph(38kmh) while for the GT it is 26mph(42kmh). Again, these numbers are similar to the Evolve GTR. While testing Ownboard’s range, I had no trouble exceeding the top speed in both AT and GT set-ups. The board even felt like it could have given me more speed, but it was too wobbly for me to really test the limits. If anyone has managed to get to the true the limit, please do tell in the comment section.

Verdict

All in all, I think Ownboard has a winner here, and I especially love the GT set-up with the cloudwheels. There are just so many great things about the Ownboard Bamboo. Carving on it is super fun thanks to the Double Kingpin trucks, the flex deck, and the soft cloudwheels. And it’s relaxing and carefree, thanks to the safety that larger wheels provide and the smoothness of the Hobbywing control. It also has great range, great torque, and good top speed. It really is one of the best boards to come out last year.

With that said, I wish Ownboard went all the way and strived for perfection. My wish list for this board would be better bushings, no voltage sag, and tighter brakes. Sure, none of these are deal-breakers, but at least some of them could be easily fixed by Ownboard and probably should be!

I also wish they didn’t have this thing written under the deck. Thankfully nobody sees it.

VS Evolve GTR?

Is Ownboard Bamboo AT worth buying over the Evolve? The answer is Yes, especially if you don’t care about brand names. Evolve may have better style and use more well-known skate parts, but when it comes to value and price? Ownboard is a clear choice.

If you are interested in buying a Ownboard board, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and uses code: “ESKATEHQ” during check out.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and helps us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!

Best Electric Skateboards for any budget (April 2020)

Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve finally updated our best electric skateboards list after having it sitting idle for months. And in this update, we will be recommending boards according to the price point they are in – since you know, most of us shop with a budget in mind. We are pretty sure that we have considered all viable product (or at least most of it), and all the best options have made it to this recommendation list.. 

 

As what’s right for you often comes down to preference, we’ve included a few options for each price segment – each of them better than the others on a certain aspect. And hence the numbering on this list doesn’t necessarily means the ranking of those boards or implying that one board is better than the others (unless we explicitly said so, heh).
Of course, if you are interested in buying any electric skateboard, be sure to check out our Discount Page for additional discounts.


For those who are new to ESHQ, we’ve been reviewing electric skateboard for three years now. Just look around, I’m sure there is enough proof that we are pretty well informed.


Enough introduction, let’s get started.

Best Budget Electric Skateboards: (Below $499)

When it comes to budget electric skateboards, your options are to look from the Chinese vendors, especially from the Big 4 – Meepo, Backfire, Wowgo, and Ownboard.

Nobody does affordable better than these Chinese brands, and for the past year, the Chinese brands have collectively proved that top product doesn’t have to cost top dollar. In fact, they releases some of the best electric skateboards in the past year.

Budget Longboards: (Below $499)

If you consider post-sale service something important, going with a budget brand with a good track record is pretty important. Countless new budget brands have sprung up and closed down as this market segment is crowded as hell. Taking that into consideration, and after reviewing dozens of budget electric skateboards from Meepo, Backfire, Ownboard, Wowgo, Teamgee, Verreal, Yeeplay, Apsuboard. Below is our recommended list:

1) Exway X1 – $449


Exway-X1_Chart

Sleek Design – Waterproof – Highly Refined

Read our full review on Exway X1 

Thanks to the recent price drop, the once $999 Exway X1 now became THE best budget board options. Unlike other Chinese brand on this list Exway places a lot more emphasis on the design, polish, and user experience – and that sets it further apart from other budget brands.

While X1’s range may be weak in comparison to mid-tier boards where it used to belong; its specs is competitive in the budget segment. And outside of the numbers, Exway X1 simply does everything better. 

And while the numbers are merely competitive, the other aspect of the X1 blows the competition out of the water. It uses great skate parts like the seismic truck and bushing. Great electronic parts like the customised Hobbywing ESC with a companion mobile app that allows further customisation on control.  Exway great design, top-tier polish, Apple like user experience and top tier customer service also put the brand ahead of the competition. Take powering on the board as example, imagine turning on the remote and having your Exway X1 automatically power on without you needing to bend over and fish for the power button, not even needing you to push it to turn on! That only happens on the Exway and that is just one amongst the many way Exway is better in designing for refined user experience.

The X1 also has a very important features that other boards lacks- it’s IP55 waterproof. Some people even use water spray to clean it! (which we wouldn’t recommend, water may rust the bearing.)

Downside? Some people think 80mm wheels are too small, especially for a hub board on rough pavement, especially for a board with stiff deck.

With that said, Exway X1 is like an NBA player who was now a bit older and decides to play in the CBA; and is very clearly, the head and shoulder above the budget longboard league right now.

Check out Exway X1 product page (click).

2) Apsuboard X1(Hobbywing) – $465


Apsuboard X1 Hobbywing_Chart 2

Flexible Deck – Belt-driven – Smooth

Read our full review on Apsuboard X1 

The first generation Apsuboard X1 was a pretty mediocre mid-tier belt board. While it has a big battery, the imperfection in it’s control ruined the riding experience for me. And oh boy, did things get much better since.

Apsuboard X1 has since then made the ESC change to Hobbywing ESC, bringing perfect smoothness to its control. It then drop the price to $449 while retaining the big 288wh 10s4p battery – this spec simply slaughters the competition.

Outside of the numbers, X1 uses familiar part. Flexible deck with good subtle concave. Generic trucks that works okay, standard generic wheels. This all amount to decent but average riding experience.

Simply put, Apsuboard X1 has an amazing value for its price. It may lack the polish that the major Chinese brands has, but you can’t get a better value hub board with this price much less a belt-driven board which traditionally costs more. And while Apsuboard is a small brand, it’s a brand that we have know well and have enough confident in to recommend.

Check out Apsuboard X1 product page (click).

3) Meepo V3 – $429


Meepo-V3

Flexible Deck – Powerful – Smooth

Read our full review on Meepo V3.

And now, we come back to the familiar faces – MeepoBoard.
Meepo has always been the best selling budget brand since its inception in 2017 and it hold on to that status in all the subsequent years.

Meepo V3 is now the board that inherited that crown. Always emphasizing on power, Meepo now has the most powerful hub motors (because Enertion has gone bye-bye.), and this shows in torque and acceleration. The downside of a big motor is thinner urethane layer over the hub motor and hence rougher ride on a bad road (but there is always the option to upgrade to 100mm motor and wheels yourselves.)

While Meepo, with its LingYi ESC, is always said to be slightly less smooth in control than Hobbywing ESC use in some other boards, the difference is now negligible, especially after their new ‘Flux ESC’ update. The use of LingYi ESC allows them to have ‘push-to-turn-on’ features that boards with Hobbywing ESC couldn’t have.

Generally, for anyone who wants a budget hub board that are strong and pretty well polished, they should join the Meepo club.

Check out Meepo V3 product page (click).

4) Backfire G2 Black – $409


Backfire-G2-Black-02

Flexible Deck – Big wheels – Smooth

Read our full review on Backfire G2 Black.

For those who desire comfort above all, Backfire G2 Black is the way to go. 

Backfire G2 Black is a ride where you can turn your brain off. Using Hobbywing ESC, it is as smooth as can be. Big 96mm wheels are especially nice for those who want safety in wheel size and want to worry less about road bumps and cracks. The trucks are very turny, but this wasn’t a big issue as you can always a) tighten the truck b) change bushing. Anyways, the top speed of G2 Black wasn’t too crazy either so stability usually won’t be an issue.

If you want a smooth and relaxing ride, Backfire G2 Black is your best choice amongst budget longboard segments. 

Note: If you are considering buying a Wowgo 2s or an Ownboard W1S, then go for Backfire G2 Black instead. These three boards have identical specs and ride feel, but being the newest, Backfire G2 Black is slightly better in every aspect.

Check out Backfire G2 Black product page (click).

5) Apsuboard V3 – $326


Apsuboard-V3

Stiff Deck – Smooth

Read our full review on Apsuboard V3.

Remember back in 2018? When budget board just became and thing and thousand of brand such as the Meepo, Wowgo, Ownboard, AEboard, Teemo, Yeeplay etc offered their first budget boards? Those boards were often assembled together with generic parts available on market and costs somewhere around $380? Apsuboard V3 is a board reminiscing of that era – using generic trucks, enclosure, popular flex deck with handle, a 144wh Samsung 20R battery in 10s2p configuration and the LingYi ESC.
(Hobbywing ESC now available for $20 more!)

Well, you might ask: “if Apsuboard V3 is a package from the yesteryears, how did it made the best electric skateboards list then?” Good question my friend, the reason is that, it is selling for only $299.

For an electric longboard, Apsuboard V3 without a doubt, the cheapest board worth buying. If you are really tight on the budget and have to spend as little as possible, this is it. If you ever thought of going to Aliexpress or buying some no name brand off Amazon, don’t – get Apsuboard V3 instead. At least it is from a known brand that won’t rip you off and is actually a decent product and not a toy.

Check out Apsuboard V3 product page (click).

Budget Shortboards: (Below $499)

While most major budget brands have their own budget shortboard, some do it a lot better than others. After trying out the likes of Meepo, Riptide, Enskate, below are the recommended boards.

1) Meepo Mini 2 – $429


Meepo-Mini-2.jpg

Boosted Mini Dish Like Deck – Stable – Smooth

Read our full review on Meepo Mini 2 ER 

Meepo Mini 2 uses a similar deck as the Boosted Mini, a short deck with an aggressive dish-like concave that allows excellent responsive control of the board. Unlike the Boosted Mini, however, Meepo Mini 2 uses a Shredder truck with a wide 200mm hanger, which makes it very stable even at its top speed. 

It had very recently changed from using Hobbywing ESC to latest LingYi ESC (Meepo Esc 5.0). I personally think this is an appropriate change as this brings on the push-to-turn on features. It is always a great feature to have, but especially so for those who plan to make multiple short trips on the shortboard. Controls are almost as smooth as the Hobbywing but with tighter brakes, which reception on it is pretty polarised. 

With that said, all this comes together and makes the Mini 2 the best option amongst budget shortboards and the first consideration for anyone looking to buy a budget shortboard.

 

Note: When buying a Chinese brand, you will usually come across 2 ESC choices. Hobbywing ESC and LingYi ESC. Hobbywing ESC has no push-to-start but have the smoothes acceleration and braking possible. Many however, complaints that the brakes are too smooth or soft and could be dangerous when you REALLY NEED TO STOP. LingYi ESC on the other hand, has slowly been catching up on the control smoothness. With each iteration, they get smoother and smoother. (And Meepo, being THE heavy weight budget brand, always gets the latest iteration much earlier than other brands.). Braking on LingYi ESC can be adjusted, but its overall much tighter and stronger than that of the Hobbywing ESC. LingYi ESC also always come with the push-to-turn-on feature, a useful feature indeed. When you got used to the feature, the need to bend down to reach for the power button underneath the board may feel ‘disgusting’. Heh.

Check out Meepo Mini 2 product page (click).

2) Teamgee H8 Sail – $299


Teamgee H8 chart_Chart

Sleek Design – Drop through deck – Single hub – Waterproof – Super affordable

Teamgee H8 is the cheapest entry level board in the budget shortboard segment, it will only set you back $300. 

It only has a single hub, so it will not be the fastest or stronger. The range on H8 is nothing to brag about either. With that said, for anyone who is new to eskating and want something that can’t hurt you physically and economically, H8 is that cute puppy.

Furthermore, a drop through deck with lower riding height is exactly the type of set-up a beginner should go with. So, instead of buying a no name electric shortboard from Alibaba, going with Teamgee H8 would be the better way to go.

Check out Teamgee H8 product page (click).

Best Lower Mid-tier Electric Skateboards: ($499-$700)

There was a time when no vendor would sell an eskate at this price range as nobody would dare to dish out this much money at an unknown brand, and no premium brand would care to take a profit cut to sell a product at this price.

This changed in 2019. 

As Chinese budget brands proved themselves to be reliable, those who are looking for an upgrade are happy to pay a slightly higher price to the Meepo, Backfire, Wowgo and Ownboard for something better. 

In one short year, we have seen more than a few big releases such as Meepo NLS, Backfire G2T, Wowgo 3, Ownboard W2 then Backfire G3. Then there are smaller brands such as the Lycaon GR, Enskates, ThePeakboard etc. After major price cut, Bustin’s Hybrid boards also joined the fray.

The new Once a no-man land, the mid-tier segment is now flooded with choices, and most of them are good. And for those who are anal about price per performance ratio, I would argue that the best electric skateboards for them falls within this price segment.

Lower Mid-tier Longboards: ($499-$700)

While smaller brands like the Lycaon might look impressive on paper, major Chinese brands are generally still better. Outside of the specs sheets, they use better parts and have more reliable customer service, and you won’t have to worry of them suddenly going out of business.

So below are our choices after considering both boards from small brands such as Lycaon, Enskate, ThePeak, and boards from major brands including Meepo, Backfire, Wowgo, Ownboard, Exway, and Bustin Hybrid boards.

 (I’m gonna emphasis that the number in the list are sorted by price and not ranking, they are all good, and each is best for different use case)

Note: To those who are still asking about Yuneec and Koowheel, are you guys from 2016?

1) Wowgo 3 – $499


Wowgo-3_Chart

Buttery smooth – Flexy deck – High Performance

Read our full review on Wowgo 3 

Looking for a hub board that rides like Boosted? Get a Wowgo 3.
Looking for a hub board that carves like a dream? Get a Wowgo 3.

Wowgo’s first major hit, the Wowgo 2s was endlessly compared to the Boosted board, and I’m guessing that’s the reason Wowgo chose to double down on that angle with Wowgo 3. Flexible deck, Paris trucks, and super smooth customised Hobbywing ESC makes Wowgo 3 deliciously smooth both in control and in carving.

With the riding experience so overwhelmingly good, one might even overlook the fact that Wowgo 3 is also scary powerful and has an acceleration that rivals any board in the mid-tier category. What’s crazier? It recently got a $100 price cut to make it an unbelievable deal considering the price-performance ratio.

If you are not sure about your preference but want something better than a budget board?
Get Wowgo 3. Everybody loves Wowgo 3.

Check out Wowgo 3 product page (click).

2) Backfire G2T – $499


Backfire G2T-01

Versatile – Stability – High Performance

Read our full review on Backfire G2T 

And hey! Backfire G2T got a $100 price cut too!

Stiffer maple decks, Caliber II trucks combine with the predictability of a customised Hobbywing ESC make Backfire G2T a very stable board that is easy to ride fast on. 

The ability to swap between 83mm and 96mm wheels is an understated perk. I think smaller wheels are more fun to ride on when the roads are smooth as you will be riding lower, riding stabler, and the board felt more responsive. And when the streets aren’t that nice, 96mm wheels give safety and comfort with its size.

On top of that, Backfire is pretty generous in the G2T package and includes the canon LED on it, which makes getting Shredlights an option rather than a must. Overall, the Backfire G2T is pretty all rounded; and an exceptionally good choice for those who are not quite sure on what they want.

Note: Turbo modes on the G2T sucks for its 30second time span and jarring transition out from the mode. But there is a simple workaround: don’t use it.

Check out Backfire G2T product page (click).

3) Exway Flex & Flex Riot – $649/ $699 (Best Polished)

Exway-Flex-hub_Chart

Exway-Flex-Riot_Chart


Previous
Next

Belt Driven – Flexy Deck – Smooth Control – Boosted-like

Read our full review on Exway Flex 

After establishing itself as a premium brand, Exway has been expanding to the mid and budget segment by slashing the price of their older models (Exway X1) and introducing new affordable line-up (Exway Flex). The best thing about it? They are bringing their renowned attention to details, product polish and great customer service together with them.

Using a flexy deck, proprietary Trist Truck and the best version of Hobbywing ESC, the Flexway, gives the smoothest possible control and a buttery smooth ride that trumps even the Boosted. It would have given Boosted the final killer-blow if it hasn’t already fallen months before Flexway’s releases. Flexway, however, is going to hurt other Boosted-like boards (Wowgo 3 and Wowgo 3x) a lot, like a really lot.

Why? Exway Flex stood head and shoulder above all the competitors. Flex has better polish, has a smartphone app, is IP55 waterproof, has the smart turn on (board automatically turn on with the remote), has better customer service track records, has a more complete accessories options (wheels/ pulleys), has the ability to swap between hubs and belts, etc.

It has received lots of hype, and after reviewing the board ourselves, we know the hype is 100% justified.

Check out Exway Flex product page (click).

4) Ownboard W2 – $549/ $649

Ownboard W2 4AH_Chart

Ownboard W2 (9AH)_Chart


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Belt Driven – Flexy Deck – Smooth Control

Belt-driven electric skateboards tend to cost a bit more to make as compared to hub motors, and Ownboard W2 is made well for the price it’s asking.

All other belt-driven eskate at this price range use an old version of LingYi ESC in-order to make sufficient torque possible, but that causes the board to be significantly less smooth in control. Ownboard W2 instead goes with Hobbywing ESC that allows the silky smooth acceleration and braking that we all know and love.

However, this choice is not without major sacrifices. Going with a weaker 1st Gen Hobbywing ESC means Ownboard W2 fails to capitalise on the natural strength of a belt-driven set-up – it has neither a strong torque nor brakes. W2 also seems a little bit out of place in the low-mid tier segment when it comes to the parts in it. Yes, it has ceramic bearings that are more water-resistant and might roll better. However, it is still using generic Paris clone trucks, generic bushings, generic Hobbywing remotes, and the board looks like it can use a lot more polish.

With all that said, W2 is still the best belt board at the $500 mark – sandwiched between cheaper Apsuboard X1 and better but pricier Exway Flex riot.

Check out Ownboard W2 product page (click).

5) Meepo NLS Pro- $699


Meepo-NLS-Pro_Chart

Flexy deck – Powerful – Big Wheel

Read our full review on Meepo NLS PRO 

Meepo NLS Pro is an upgrade and replacement over the original NLS – AKA, the board that started the whole low mid-tier boom. 

Unlike the other boards from the list, which mainly aim for refinement and minor performance upgrade, NLS Pro pushes the enveloped in a few ways. First, it is a speed demon and has a top speed unmatched by any board of this category (32mph/ 51kmh). It uses the same hub as Meepo V3 (but 100mm), and as mentioned, is the most powerful hub motor on the production board market right now. Second, it uses giant 100mm wheels that are practically semi-AT. NLS Pro also uses a flexible deck that is slightly better in quality compared to the competitors.

Putting it all together, the NLS Pro is very powerful, reasonably smooth (even more so after ‘Flux’ ESC upgrade), very comfortable in both carving (Flex deck and Shredder Trucks), sufficiently stable for me to test the top speed (the new Macroon bushing are great) and practical in most terrain (big 100mm wheels).

For those who likes power but still want something that are smooth and carves fun, NLS Pro is it.

Note: It might be a little bit confusing as NLS Pro (and Meepo Mini 2 ER) change the ESC they use from Hobbywing to LingYi ESC mid-year. This move makes the brake stronger, brought back the push-to-turn-on features. And with November “Flux ESC” update, it should not be any less smooth than Hobbywing ESC now.

Check out Meepo NLS Pro product page (click).

Lower Mid-tier Shortboards: ($499-$700)

This section is easy to write, as there aren’t many contenders here. Looking up to the future, I am excited to see if the new iterations of Arc boards can make this list.

But for the moment, these are my recommendations.

1) Backfire Mini 2 – $599


Backfire-Mini-Chart-01

Sleek unibody stealth design – Carbon Fiber Deck – Agile – Powerful

Read our full review on Backfire Mini

Backfire Mini has lots of things going for it. It has a beautiful, sleek, stealthy, unibody carbon fiber deck that allows the board to be light. It rides very agile and is super powerful, in fact a little bit too powerful for its size. Not to worry, that power is smoothly controlled with the new 12s Hobbywing ESC.

Backfire Mini is also one of the most flight friendly boards as it allows us to swap out the 175Wh battery to a smaller and flight-compatible 99Wh battery – by removing just eight screws on the deck.

Sadly, this beautiful board isn’t without its flaws. Backfire Mini’s most notable shortcomings would be its vulnerability to water. Its electronic compartment with top access can very quickly turn into a water bucket when it rains. Backfire Mini is also relatively weak in range when compared to boards at this price, as some of your money had evidently went into the design and the material cost.

Check out Backfire Mini product page (click).

2) Meepo Mini 2 ER – $629


Meepo-Mini-2-ER.jpg

Boosted Mini Dish Like Deck – Stable – Powerful

Read our full review on Meepo Mini 2 ER 

Unlike the base version of Meepo Mini 2, Mini 2 ER is a beast.

Forgoing the Hobbywing ESC, Mini 2 ER uses LingYi ESC for extra power, torque, and push-to-turn-on-features and stronger brakes. And with the ‘Flux’ update on the ESC, control smoothness should be almost equal to the Hobbywing ESC.

Mini 2 ER is NLS PRO with 90mm wheels and shorter deck. They use the same internal and have the same beastly performance. Of course, it is worth repeating that Meepo Mini 2 and 2 ER rides very stable thanks to the wide 200mm Shredder trucks. While some longboard felt sketchy going past 26mph/41kmh, Meepo Mini 2 ER stays pretty stable beyond that.

It is heavy; it is stable, and it is wide – Meepo Mini 2 ER rides like a longboard, as opposed to an agile shortboard. Don’t buy this if you are looking for portability, though; the thing is heavy.

Check out Meepo Mini 2 ER product page (click).

Budget All-Terrain: ($499-$700)

And finally, at this price segment is also where our first all-terrain board makes an appearance. A few company actually tried their hand in developing budget AT board, but little of them are actually good enough.

We will continue to be on the look out for other choices, but for now, your only option for budget All-Terrain will be …

1) Meepo City Rider – $679 – discontinued


Meepo-City-Rider_Chart

Semi-AT – Comfortable – Stable

Read our full review on Meepo City Rider

Meepo City Rider is the most affordable board with giant wheels out there. For $679 you get an AT set-up that’s comfortable to ride.

City Rider is, however, strictly speaking, a semi-AT board. As the name suggested, it used should be confined to roads instead of difficult terrain such as sands/ trails, etc. This is for two reasons: 1) Airless AT means the board will bob and bounce rather badly when riding on uneven terrain, and throw you off the board. 2) The hub motors may get dirt stuck on it, requiring maintenance work.

With that in mind, if you are looking for a big-wheeled board for your exceptionally poor city roads, Meepo City Rider is awesome. The board has very recently switch from Hobbywing ESC to the LingYi ESC and now is with tighter brakes (and push to start feature). Unlike most AT that likes to go with double kingpin trucks, City Rider went with Shredder Trucks with extended length making it super stable in top speed while still plenty good in turning.

Check out Meepo City rider product page (click).

Best Higher Mid-tier Electric Skateboards: ($700-$1000)

Now, let’s look at the best electric skateboards between $700 and $1,000. 
Interestingly, just three years ago, $700 used to mean ‘budget board.’

Now, the higher mid-tier price range gives you boards that are very well rounded. Of course, each of the board in this list is here because they excel in something that others don’t.

This price point also give us a few good AT options.

Higher Mid-tier Longboards: ($700-$1000)

Most of the major Chinese brands that have products in this price range make this list. Why? Because they are all pretty great. My guess is, as they are expanding to the premium market segment, a lot more effort was put into making sure the higher priced boards are truly good.

1) Exway X1 Pro/ Riot – $749/$799 (Best polish/Belt)

Hub drive

Belt drive


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Carbon fiber deck – Sleek design – Powerful – Polished

Read our full review on Exway X1 Pro Riot

If you are the type of person who wants no compromise in product polish, customer service, or just simply couldn’t decide between belt-drive or hub-drive – Exway X1 Pro and Pro Riot is the board for you.

Exway X1 Pro and Pro Riots have their drive train set up modularly so that you can switch between hub set-up and belt set-up conveniently. Exway X1 Pro is probably the more popular amongst the two, as the hub set-up is more consistent with the overall theme of stealth, sleek, and light. The belt-drive Pro Riot has the added benefit of powerful torque and acceleration that bested the Boosted, and the option to use your favourite wheels be it the Orangatang or Abec Flywheel (need to buy the pulley).

While Exway is always pricier, it is for a good reason. It has a refined control, which can be further tailored to your preference with the companion app. The whole user experience with an Exway product is also outstanding, akin to that of the Apple’s: Smart turn on, magnetic charging port, different control slider and ride modes… the list goes on.

Check out Exway X1 Pro product page (click).

2) Backfire G3 & G3 Plus – $799 & $999 (Best Hub)

Bamboo  + Fiberglass dec

Carbon Fiber Deck


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Flexible deck – Comfortable – Powerful

Read our full review on Backfire G3

Read our full review on Backfire G3 Plus

Backfire G3 and G3 Plus are basically a slight variation of the same product.

(G3 Plus has a bigger battery, use carbon fiber deck and slightly stronger motor).

What doesn’t change is that both of them will be the best hub motor longboard in this price segment, as they do everything quite well. They give comfortable ride and has specs that matches their price.

Some may say their brakes can be stronger, and they underperforms in range test (if riding aggressively), but for the majority of the riders with appropriate expectation (on the range), G3 and G3 Plus is undoubtedly the best hub board in this price segment.

Note: Personally, I think G3 Plus is the way to go. Extra 85mm sets of wheels, bigger battery, and carbon fiber deck for $200 extra? Worth it.

Check out Backfire G3 and G3 plus product page (click).

3) Wowgo 3x – $749 (Most Boosted-Like)


Wowgo-3x_Chart

Flexible deck – Buttery Smooth – Powerful

We said Wowgo 3 is one of the best mid-tier longboards that are available right now, and Wowgo 3x is everything that, but with belt drive – and belt drive means even stronger torque and even smoother ride (thanks to having more thane by using 4 real wheels).

Flexible deck, Paris Truck, smooth Hobbywing ESC means Wowgo 3x is both buttery smooth and awesome for carving. The 12S customised Hobbywing ESC is thrillingly powerful for the hub-driven Wowgo 3 and even more so for the belt-driven Wowgo 3x. 259wh battery pack promise a range of 14miles or 22.5km, equals to that of the Boosted Stealth, making a direct comparison between the two irresistible.

I know this is an overused cliche but… Wowgo 3 and 3x are the Boosted killer that we’ve been waiting for. For anyone looking for a riding experience very similar to the Boosted, Wowgo 3x is the one for you. 

Considering the riding experience, performance, polish, price and popularity of the Wowgo 3x, I would consider it the product of the year for 2019 and the best electric skateboard coming out of 2019.

Check out Wowgo 3x product page (click).

3) Meepo AWD – $849 (Best Power)


Meepo AWD Pro_Chart

Double Drop Deck – Heavy duty – Powerful – Big 100mm wheels

If your idea of best electric skateboard is the one with the most power, Meepo AWD Pro will sit high on your list. With Enertion Raptor 2 out of the picture, Meepo AWD Pro is now the most powerful hub board out there. With four powerful hub motors, there are no hills too steep and no riders too heavy for the AWD Pro.

Meepo AWD Pro has the highest top speed of all boards outside of the premium boutique boards and it uses a double-drop deck that’s on the stiffer side make sure the board is enough stable for its speed.

Besides having insane torque and crazy top speed, Meepo AWD Pro is an experience similar to the regular V3. It has a similar range using two sets of 10s1p Samsung 40T cells. It uses giant 100mm wheels just like the NLS Pro, making it practically semi-AT.

So, if you need the torque or have lots of hills to climb, Meepo AWD Pro is your only option as Enertion Raptor 2.1 is now off the table, and Acton Qu4tro is un-recommendable. 

Check out Meepo AWD Pro product page (click).

Higher Mid-tier Shortboards: ($700-$1000)

Finally, this is where you can get the most affordable Boosted. There are, however, limited selections of shortboards from other brands. We have the Riptide R1X, which I don’t recommend – and nothing else. My guess is – most of the company had strategically avoid putting out boards that are in direct competition with the Boosted and that’s probably the right business move. 

1) Boosted Mini S and X – $799 & $999 (RIP Boosted)

Boosted-MiniS

Boosted-Mini-X


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Dish like concave – Agile – Smooth – Polished

Note (March 2020): Boosted has gone under. Yes, you heard it right. So, you probably wouldn’t be able to and also shouldn’t get a Boosted at the moment.

While Boosted was never a great buy in the sense of performance per dollar, it is still the best selling electric skateboard brand. Brand name, product polish, design, and customer service is what you are paying for when buying a Boosted.

If you want a shortboard that’s a bit lighter and air-travel friendly, go for the Mini S. If you want something sturdier, has more power and don’t mind the weight? Mini X it is.

Check out Boosted Mini product page (click).

Mid Tier All-Terrain: ($700-$1000)

And finally, at this price segment is also where the true all-terrain board makes appearance. 

As everything affordable, we look to the Chinese brands to find the best value per dollar, and after considering everything from Backfire, Ownboard, and Wowgo. Below are the recommended boards sorted by price.

1) Ownboard Bamboo GT – $999


Ownboard Bamboo GT_Chart

Semi-AT – Comfortable – Turny

(Full Review Coming Soon)

Ownboard Bamboo GT is an easy recommendation. 

They are comfortable to ride on with thick 120mm cloud wheels, double kingpin, and smooth Hobbywing ESC. It is also versatile as it is agile enough for both city commute and light off-road usage.

With good ride feel and great performance, the only nitpick that I have on the Bamboo GT is it lacks in refinement. This I mean by – a little better polish? A higher-quality bushing? A slightly tighter brakes? Oh! And the cloud wheels, as comfortable as they are, might not be as durable as a regular thane wheel.

I will put it this way, Ownboard Bamboo GT is 9/10 boards as it does everything 9/10, almost perfect; leaving you to ponder on the what-ifs.

Check out Ownboard product page (click).

Premium boards: ($1,000-$2,000)

For those who are new to the eskate world, these are probably the only boards that they heard of, namely Boosted and Evolve. Inboard M1 too, started at this price range before they  went under. Enertion Raptor 2 was here before they sort of went under. The weakest specced single drive Trampa Orrsom falls in this price range too (but falls out of recommendation list.) Other than that, you can get some premium boutique brands such as Hoyt St and some decent AT boards for this price.

Instead of splitting boards by category, I’m going to introduce them by brands as few of the boards here allow switch between streets and AT.

1) Ownboard Bamboo/Carbon AT (Best Belt AT) – $1,399 & $1,599

Ownboard Bamboo AT_Chart

Ownboard-Carbon-AT_Chart

Ownboard Bamboo GT_Chart

Ownboard Carbon GT_Chart


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Double Drop Deck – Comfortable – Turny

Ownboard Bamboo AT/GT and Carbon AT/GT are obviously ‘inspired’ by Evolve Bamboo and Carbon series. That, however, doesn’t stop them from being really good. 

Using a Hobbywing ESC, the Ownboards are as smooth as can be, more so than their Evolve counterparts. The ride feels with its own double kingpin trucks are as carvy as it can be – perhaps too much so – a drawback that can be mitigated by changing the bushings.

Like the Evolve, the Ownboards also allow the wheels to convert between the street and AT.

All in all, successfully imitating a proven concept of an Evolve AT series while only asking less than half of its price is precisely why Ownboard Bamboo/Carbon AT are the best belt-driven AT boards for most of us right now.

Check out Ownboard Bamboo AT product page (click).

2) Backfire Ranger X2 (Best Hub AT) – $1,199


Backfire Ranger X2_chart

Double Drop Deck – Powerful

Backfire Ranger X1 was the best all-terrain hub board when it was first released, and the Ranger X2 saw improved performance and hence inherited the throne.

With the 12S Hobbywing ESC and 12s3p battery configuration, Backfire is both smooth in control and powerful in torque. It’s double kingpin trucks are also amongst the nicest outside of Evolve’s Supercarve trucks.

Even though the Ranger X2 now has thicker wheels, airless wheels still don’t work as good as pneumatic or even honeycomb when it comes to shock absorption. With that said, for those who want an AT board with hub motors (for a reduced need of maintenance and waterproof ability perhaps?), Ranger X2 is the clear winner.

Check out Backfire Ranger X1 product page (click).

3) Boosted Plus and Stealth – $1,399 & $1,599

Boosted-Plus

Boosted-Stealth


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Flexy Deck – Comfortable – Polished

Read our full review on Boosted Stealth

Note (March 2020): Boosted has gone under. Yes, you heard it right. So, you probably wouldn’t be able to and also shouldn’t get a Boosted at the moment.

You either know you are going to buy a Boosted, or you know you won’t. Numbers and words are unlikely to convince you otherwise. As everyone already knows, Boosted was never about performance per dollar. It’s brand name, design, polish and reliability are the main selling point. At 2020, you can’t even argue that Boosted has a superior riding experience – competition had definitely caught up; what you can argue is that, Boosted is going to age better than the competition, last longer than competing products and kept its resell value better.

I have said it before, and I will say it again. If you want the functionality of a Boosted but don’t quite care about the brand name? Get two Wowgo 3x. One for yourself and one for your friend. Share the love. 
However, if you want the most reliable board on the market right now, Boosted is still it.

Check out Boosted product page (click).

4) Evolve Bamboo GTR and Carbon GTR – $1,699 & $1,999

Evolve-Bamboo-GTR-Street-1

Evolve Carbon GTR Street

Evolve-Bamboo-GTR-AT-1

Evolve Carbon GTR AT


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Swappable AT & Street – Easy to Turn – Powerful

Read our full review on Evolve Bamboo GTR 

There are a few plus points for someone to go for an Evolve board. 1) Brand name; 2) Swappable between AT & Street wheels; 3) Reliable customer service 4) Double Kingpin Trucks that allows sharp turn and fun carves; 5) You live in Australia (where the boards are made).

Evolve used to be the go-to brand when it comes to pure performance. That advantage had long disappeared since the rise of the Chinese brands. Evolve also used to be known for the Double Kingpin trucks and the ability to switch between AT/Street wheels. This advantage was too, gone after a slew of Chinese boards starts to offer one or both of these features. Just to name a few off the top of my head, we have the Ownboard AT/GT, Backfire Ranger X, Verreal RS, and other lesser-known brands like the Vestar and OneWow.

At the end of the day, Evolve still stands for its reputable brand name, reliable customer service, and large groups of die-hard fans. Oh, and they also have a $999 shortboard call the Stoke.


Evolve-Stoke

Read our full review on Evolve Stoke

Check out Evolve’s product page (click).

Best Cost-A-Kidney Boards: (Above $2000)

If price is not a factor, the best electric skateboard obviously are those with meteoric price. However, ranking the board in this segment is pretty impossible, as there is just no way to compare boards at this price. When a board is selling at this price, what’s great about them usually aren’t about the number but about their design. These boards are the small scale boutique brands, or DIY based vendors that aim to craft the fiercest monster money can buy.

P.S.: If you want to get a taste of these boards without shelling out the money, try going on FriendWithA to rent one! ($10 off with our affiliate link).

Now, I’m just gonna list them according to price.

1) Hoyt St – $1,999


Hoyt-St

The stylish one

I know, I know, it’s $1,999 and not over $2,000.

But on a performance per dollar ratio, Hoyt St belongs squarely in this super-premium boutique board list.

Not everyone can pull off the ‘same spec as Boosted but higher price’ move. Hoyt St can because it is so very well crafted.

Check out Hoyt St product page (click).

2) Metroboard X (AT and Street) – $2,379

Metroboard X (Wheel)-01

Metroboard X AT-01


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The Powerful

If you want a high quality 2 in 1 board made in the USA, the Metroboard is it. 

Metroboard is one of the oldest brands of Eskate and has been making high quality premium electric skateboards for a while now. Their latest flagship MetroboardX is not only pushing up the price, it’s also doubling down on the quality, using many parts that were made specially for it. 

Of course, it also has beefy specs, as all board in this price segment usually do.

Check out Metroboard X product page (click).

3) Kaly.nyc – $2,850-$3,600


The Beast

If you want to get a premium Trampa built, get a Kaly. 

It is powerful, uses gear drives and looks freaking cool, and I think 2/3 of us in ESHQ have one so it probably is best electric skateboards? 

It starts at $2,850 for the base model and the highest specced XL40 is ‘only’ selling at $3,600.

Check out Kaly.nyc product page (click).

4) Lacroix family – $2,500 – $4,000

Lacroix-Jaws.jpg

Lacroix-Nazare.jpg

Lacroix-Nazare-Lonestar.jpg


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The Tank

The Lacroix is the most expensive electric skateboard on the market right now and the Nazare Lonestar is most likely the most powerful board with the beefiest battery in production right now.

Personally, I think Lacroix is tailored for those who are blessed with a wide and endless roads as those roads allow one to take a long cruise in high speed. Lacroix is a very stable ride but wasn’t easiest to turn (or maybe its just not made for my weight) so it probably wasn’t the board for everyone. (But those who have it swear by it!)

Check out Lacroix product page (click).

5) Bioboard family – around $2,100 – $4,150


The Elite

I stand corrected, the Bioboards are the most expensive electric skateboard money can buy right now. Bioboards are made in Sweden, and they aim to offer the highest performance possible.

Let’s go through some numbers, their flagship – Bioboard’s Thorium X4 is an all-wheel-drive with four gear drive. Powered by 12s6p Samsung 30Q battery. It has a top speed of 48mph (77kmh) and a range of 37miles (60km)…

Check out Bioboard product page (click).

Final Words:

So, these are the best electric skateboards for every price point. I hope you enjoyed this list and found it helpful to make an informed purchase decision.

If you think a board is worthy of being on the list (by knocking one of them off of course), please comment below!I hope you enjoy this list and find it helpful to inform your purchase.

And again, do check out our Discount Page for our affiliated discount code. Using them will help us out too!

Backfire G3 Review – The board in the middle.

Introduction

Backfire is on a roll. They have released tons of new boards in just a few short months. Let’s recall, there were the Ranger X2, Backfire Mini, Backfire G3 Plus and now the G3.

Backfire G3, is sandwiched between the all-new G3 Plus and the well-known and more affordable G2T. And as the middle sibling of the group, it is, of course, the most forgotten board in the lineup. However, even just by glancing through the specs on paper and before stepping onto the board, it is apparent that the G3 deserves some attention.

G3 vs G3 Plus

The difference between Backfire G3 and G3 Plus is pretty easy to layout.

  • G3 vs G3 Plus
  • Price: The $200 difference. $799 vs $999
  • Battery: 260wh (Samsung 30T Sunpower) vs 346wh (Samsung 40T)
  • Range: 18.5miles vs 25miles (30km vs 40km)
  • Deck: Bamboo Fiberglass deck vs Carbon Fiber deck
  • Motors: 2x450W vs 2x600W
  • Weight: 17.6lbs vs 16lbs (8kg vs 7.3kg)
  • Package: G3 Plus comes with an extra set of 85mm wheels.

Testing them back to back, the only perceptible difference is actually just the range. I didn’t notice the difference in power even though G3 Plus has a stronger motor. I didn’t notice a significant difference in ride quality even though G3 Plus has a carbon fiber deck. But! I know I like the looks of the G3 Plus better.

G3 has a pretty cool look too!

The Numbers

Range

I did the range test on G3 by exclusively riding on the Turbo mode, and max throttle during every acceleration and leave the LED light blinking through the way. The result? the battery died at about 10.5 miles (17 km).

I think that an average rider could be able to achieve the marketed range of 28.5miles(30km) if the rider chooses to ride on Standard mode as G3 comes with a 12s2p 260WH pack and the Samsung 30T are pretty good cell.

update: It’s now Sunpower Li-ion cell for the G3.

Rules of thumb: Expected range in km = WH divided by 10.
and hence the 260WH =26km = 16miles.

Note: My review unit did have a minor where the board let the rider ride it to complete zero, where the board powered off abruptly leaving me with no brakes. It isn’t troubling as at near-zero battery, the max speed would only be around 12.5miles (20kmh). If that happens to your board, just be careful not to accelerate downhill with near-zero battery.

Top Speed

My top speed test again reveals the maximum speed a hair slower than the marketed number. Similar to the G3 Plus, the top speed of the G3 while reviewing was 27mph(44kmh) reading from the remote. As you can see, Strava was a little more lenient and showed 28mph(45.4kmh) as the top speed, so it is close. Again, while the G3 has a pair of 450W motors smaller than G3 Plus 600W, they have the same top speed and the difference in getting there is, too, practically unnoticeable.

Top speed also doesn’t suffer much even when the battery got low, similar to the G3 Plus, G3 maintained a speed of around 22mph(36kmh) even at a 25% battery level.

Ride feel

Throttle control

Backfire G3 uses the same customized 12s Hobbywing ESC found in the G3 Plus so eskaters who are familiar with Hobbywing ride feel should know what to expect from the G3.

For those who are new to Backfire’s version of customized Hobbywing ESC, you just need to know that it is deliciously good – perfectly smooth control both in acceleration and braking, intuitive, responsive.

Turbo mode is now without time limit and cooldown and essentially acted as the third and highest speed mode. And the acceleration in Turbo modes is pretty satisfyingly fast. Standard modes are pretty standard and economic or beginner mode has one of the gentlest controls designed to that help the first-timers get used to eskate.

Braking on the G3 behaves the way Backfire usually set it up to behave – smooth, with moderate strength in Turbo mode (and downright weak in standard and economic mode). Those who rode Hobbywing ESC board exclusively will find the setting satisfying, while those who converted from LingYi ESC or other boards with stronger brake will proclaim that it is dangerously weak. Well.. you can’t please everyone.

Board control

Carving is super fun thanks to the flexy bamboo fiberglass deck with good concave and Caliber II trucks that feel reliable and has nice rebounds.
High Speed cruising on the Caliber II trucks feels comfortable.

Riding on poor roads feels all right thanks to the flexy deck and big 96mm wheels with soft thane. You will be surprised at what these sets of big wheels can rollover.

Other stuff:

The LED lights below the deck turn on when you are in Turbo mode. The flashing board lights can be annoying, but it does help you to be seen. Unlike the Backfire G2T, G3 (and also G3 Plus) still doesn’t come with the canon LED light, so again, I put Shredlights on it.

The Verdict:

Boards at this price segment are usually pretty complete and good overall and the Backfire G3 did live up to its price tag. There is little to dislike about the G3, be it the performance, the ride feels, or the aesthetic.

Backfire G3, similar to the G3 Plus, is a comfortable, relaxing ride that maybe isn’t too exciting, but I’m pretty confident that everyone who had tried it if will love it, or will at least like it.

With that said, what is the better deal between G3 and G3 Plus?
Ultimately, that’s for your wallet to decide. While they ride the same, G3 Plus has carbon fiber deck, bigger battery, extra set of wheels, and cooler look (to me). But on the other hand, the cheaper Backfire G3 is practically the same board with less range and why pay more if you don’t need the stamina?

If you are interested in buying a Backfire board, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and uses code: “ESKATEHQ” during check out.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and helps us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!

Unlimited x Loaded Icarus Race Complete – Modular Greatness

Follow the discussion on Reddit here

Throwback To Yesteryear

When I last reviewed the Unlimited kit, Unlimited had just started shipping to their Kickstarter backers, the software was still in the early stages, and there were still some issues left to be worked out. Even then, however, Unlimited had the foundations of a good hub drivetrain. The only gripes I really had at the time were related to the software and the urethane quality. Everything else was fairly solid.

That’s why I was so happy when I saw that Unlimited had partnered up with Loaded, maker of some of the world’s most popular skate decks, parent company of Orangatang, maker of some of the world’s most popular wheels and bushings, and worldwide distributor of Paris trucks. From a business perspective, they now officially function as one entity. Unlimited providing the drivetrain, and Loaded providing the rest of the skate hardware. This is exciting in many ways. Finally, a nice, proven drivetrain comes with nice, proven skate hardware.

When Loaded reached out and asked me to review their new collaboration product, of course I said yes. So… how is it you ask

As it turns out, pretty nice.

Quality Hardware Is The First Key

The problem with a lot of eskate completes is that in order to keep the price low, most of them will skimp on parts that “work” and so are deemed “good enough”. This usually means low quality trucks, urethane, and bushings. The result is suffering ride quality and handling. This has been a big sticking point for me in past reviews, and in my opinion, is the difference between “motorized four wheel platform” and “electronic skateboard”.

I’m happy to report that this complete does not suffer from such issues. Loaded had sent me the Icarus Race Complete for this review, which they say is “furious fast fun”, and I can certainly attest to it being fast and fun. The deck feels great under the feet, although a bit too stiff for me in terms of flex. Loaded sent me the Flex 1 version instead of the Flex 2 which would be tailored more to my weight. That being said, I could still pump and carve fairly well if I really put my whole weight into it. The complete ships with Flex 1, but here’s what Loaded has to say about that:

Loaded uses the flex 1 Icarus as standard equipment on the Unlimited completes to enhance stability at higher speeds. That said, keep in mind that you can always create your own custom electric complete by purchasing a deck and trucks of your choice from loadedboards.com and an Unlimited kit from unlimitedxloadedusa.com. They’ll ship to you separately, and you can assemble the complete yourself using a standard skate tool.

The wheels, Caguamas cast with Otang’s trademark Happy Thane, provide great grip and rebound. I like these wheels a lot. What’s notable here is that Happy Thane is now used on the hub motors as well, greatly improving the ride from the previous sleeve thane that Unlimited used. Double barrel Nipples bushings were used on the race complete that I received, which, while fairly stiff, complements the other hardware configuration well. You won’t be getting speed wobbles anytime soon from this setup.

Good hardware working together is really key for a good skate setup, and that’s exactly what’s happened here. I’m as pleased as two peas in a pod.

Quality Electronics Is The Second Key

As I mentioned before, Unlimited’s software was a bit buggy the last time I tested the drivetrain. Bugs such as not remembering my settings on the remote and weird motor vibrations behavior when I pressed the cruise control button sort of put me on edge about the other potential bugs that may be present in critical areas, such as driving the motors themselves. Mind you, I never encountered such major issues, but the possibility of issues happening was always in the back of my mind.

This time around, those issues seem to have been fixed. Everything seems to work much smoother, there were no more weird behaviors, settings seem to save properly, and general motor control felt more refined. Both the cruise control button (marked “A”) and the Nitro button (marked “B”) worked seemingly as intended and had no unexpected behaviors. One thing to keep in mind is that the Unlimited drivetrain is unsensored. This means that you must kick off to start instead of simply throttling from a standstill. You don’t have to kick particularly hard, but this might be strange for people who are not familiar with kicking off on a board.

Unlimited and Mellow (another company producing a similar bolt on drivetrain) both told me separately that they did this for “beginner safety” when I asked a while ago, but honestly I think it’s this way for a more practical reason. I think it’s because less things can go wrong. Adding sensors means adding three sensors and a temperature sensor in the motor, and six sensor wires in the main motor cable. More parts increase the chances of things going wrong as well as parts costs, so they just didn’t do it. If you really don’t like having to kick off, this might be a dealbreaker. However, I will say I didn’t really have any problems and I really heavily prefer having sensors.

Aside from the software, the rest of the setup is really ingenious. I really like the modular approach Unlimited took for building their drivetrain. The Unlimited drivetrain itself can mount on any board, and the hub motors on any truck. The hub motors use a friction fit mounting system that’s proven to be fairly reliable so far. Unlimited includes instructions and a torque wrench in the box, and warns that you should always use the torque wrench to tighten the hub motors whenever switching trucks, as the motors do have to be torqued down really hard for them to not slip.

Each battery module that comes with the Unlimited kit is 10S1P with its own BMS. They’re capable of charging at up to 3A, and are linked parallel when more than one battery module is used at a time. The custom MESC ESCs are modular as well and linked by CANbus for a truly LEGO-like system. This is definitely the most flexible modular system for eskate I’ve seen yet, and as an added bonus they’re IP65 rated and airline compliant.

The remote is small and ergonomic, fitting into my smaller hand nicely. It sports an OLED display that clearly shows convenient statistics such as ride mode, current speed, and battery level. There’re a set of menus you can access that allow you to change some basic settings such as ride mode and displayed units. I think a lot of eskate manufacturers don’t focus on the remote enough, and I’m glad Unlimited has taken the remote into consideration.

A note about the firmware I was running though, Loaded informed me when they sent me the review unit that my unit would be running a pre-release firmware. Current retail units are running a soft locked version of the firmware with a lower top speed. This is due to an issue Unlimited had found with their software at the highest speeds. My unit with the pre-release firmware has the top speed unlocked, so I tested it with this in mind. At the time of review, this pre-release firmware is said to be released “soon”.

Now that we’ve got the good stuff out of the way

Let’s talk about some not so good stuff. I think this is mostly on the drivetrain side, as the actual skate hardware is solid. There are some parts of the Unlimited software that still feels just a little bit underbaked. For example, when you plug the board into charge, the drivetrain turns on to light up the battery indicator which is a big bright Unlimited logo on each battery that also acts as the on/off button. That’s totally fine and actually pretty convenient as it allows you to check your battery from the remote as well. What’s not so fine is the fact that on a couple occasions after charging up to full and unplugging the charger, the drivetrain didn’t actually turn off automatically after some time as one would expect. The first time this happened, I didn’t realize that it was staying on and left it overnight, resulting in a 20% drain in the battery.

The accompanying app is also buggy. I had some trouble attempting to connect the drivetrain with the app. However, this may be due to the fact that I’m running a pre-release firmware. Once I got connected however, it was mostly smooth sailing. Also NB: The standard “Pro” speed mode does not actually allow for max acceleration of braking. To unlock it you have to use the app and unlock it in the custom User mode.

There are other very minor issues I have as well, mostly involving the copy displayed in the remote menus and settings. Inconsistent capitalization, punctuation, etc. Again, not major, just details that would really increase the level of polish if improved upon.

All in all,

I think this is a great piece of kit. Fairly minor issues aside, Loaded and Unlimited have a winner. This setup has enough old school skate DNA to satisfy the skaters while having enough get up and go to appease eskaters as well. That’s not an easy balance to strike, but I’m glad somebody’s been able to pull it off.

Visit Loaded x Unlimited by clicking here.

Backfire Mini review – Is the carbon fiber shortboard worth its price?

Introduction:

With the release of the Backfire Mini, Backfire has finally completed their line-up with a board for every use case, from portability to All Terrain. For $699, the Backfire Mini boards are undoubtedly attractive, especially given their sleek design, carbon fiber deck, and premium look. It’s like a mini Exway to be honest.

For those who have already glanced through the product page, the main selling point of Backfire Mini is pretty apparent – a light portable electric short board with sleek unibody design and that is air-travel friendly, by allowing the components to be easily accessible.

Appearance:

The look of the board speaks for itself. Who doesn’t like a full-black carbon fiber design? On top of the tape we have a foam layer to give some marginal improvement in vibration absorption. The sleek stealthy unibody design is a sight to behold. But the design is also practical. There are 8 screws on the deck that you will need to remove to get access to the electrical components. All in all, the Backfire Mini has a very premium look, I would say even more so than a Boosted Mini.

Riding Experience:

But the premium quality of the board doesn’t end with the looks. On the riding experience, the Backfire Mini is a small agile board, with its 19.5” or 50cm wheelbase. It is very maneuverable and responsive. The trucks are a pair of Caliber II clones with a 180mm hanger. Besides looking similar, I think they behave with similar performance. They are easy to turn, predictable and comfortable to carve in. And for super tight turns, there is always the kicktails for you to use.

The carbon fiber deck, as expected, is not the broadest and has zero flex. Even so, it is pretty comfortable to ride on and I especially love the nice concave on it. The foam below the grip tape also helped add to the grip, keeping my feet in place. The foam layer was intended to help with road vibration, but in this area the help it gives is negligible.. With a stiff deck, and relatively small 85mm wheels with hub motors, the Backfire Mini is average at best in handling road vibration.

Literally zero flex

The Hobbywing ESC that Backfire Mini uses, as always, delivers perfectly smooth acceleration and braking, in all 3 ride modes that it comes with. Turbo mode still only lasts 30 seconds with a 30 second cooldown, but the transition out of Turbo mode was now much more smooth and you won’t feel a sudden jolt of deceleration when the time runs out.

Braking on the Backfire Mini is very smooth, but it does have some flaws. For one, some people will consider the brake power to be a bit soft, but Backfire has been configuring their brakes that way all along, and I always found that a majority of riders prefer it at the current strength. However, braking strongly from high speed seems to cause the two hub wheels to brake at different strengths, right at the very end of the braking. This caused the back of the board to wobble right before it came to a complete stop. Interestingly, it only happens if I’m braking hard from higher speeds, and right before the point where it comes to a halt. After running off the board a few times, I’ve resorted to easing off the brake a little bit at the tail end of braking to avoid the issue.

In short, I like the way Backfire Mini rides, except the quirks in braking. Next, let’s talk about the numbers.

Performance:

The 12s1p Samsung 40T battery pack that the Backfire Mini uses, has a promised range of up to 11 miles or 18km. The 175wh battery pack yielded me 10miles or 16km of range riding in the standard mode. That’s good.

Max speed is obviously miss detected.

Regarding the top speed, the Backfire’s Mini has dual 450W motors, and a marketed top speed of 26mph or 42kmh. And all I can say is it can at the very least hit 25mph or 40kmh, and I did so on my ride, but I was just too afraid to push it any further. If you remember my last review, on the Backfire G3 Plus, I said that I would love my board to be more powerful than I can handle? Well, the Backfire Mini is exactly that. Testing the top speed of this small beast is just too scary for me, and 17mph or 28kmh is about the maximum I can ride without feeling tense. Being light, easily turned, and having a relatively short wheelbase means that the Backfire Mini is not something a regular person would want to ride fast on. Right?

Portability:

And the last number that we should talk about would be the weight. The Backfire Mini weighs only 12.8lbs or 5.8kg, making it pretty friendly to carry around, especially if you have a well-designed backpack to carry it around in.

Be warned:

Before we finish up, I think it is important to mention that the Backfire Mini is not waterproof, or even weatherproof. Built-in electronic compartments with top access are always at risk to become a water bucket when it rains, and my simple lab experiment shows that the risk of water getting in is quite high. 

Verdict:

So, what’s the verdict? Well, the Backfire Mini is pretty great! It looks nice and performs well as an agile shortboard. It has acceptable numbers, and for its size it is stronger than you will ever need. As for the downsides of the Mini, it’s not the most stable board at high speed, it is pretty uncomfortable on poor roads and is not at all weatherproof.

While I couldn’t ride fast on the Backfire Mini, and therefore I wouldn’t pick it for a group ride; I haven’t tried a shortboard that works better than the Backfire Mini as a travel board or for city commutes. The design, the weight, and the control just are perfect for that. Plus, for places that are not the most welcoming to eskate, a stealth design goes a long way.

If you are interested in buying a Backfire board, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and uses code: “ESKATEHQ” during check out.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and helps us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. 

Visit Backfire official website.