Backfire Zealot V Review – This is a weird board.

I bet it’s very easy for Backfire to design this board. To get the Zealot V, open up Adobe Photoshop and paste the 40-inch Zealot X, select all, and resize it down to 33 inches and voila, you get the Zealot V.

Jokes aside, today we’ll be reviewing the Backfire Zealot V which is a pretty weird board and safe to say it’s one of my least favorite Backfire boards. But to be fair, the Zealot V does have its ups and downs.

Backfire Zealot V Specs:

Price$599
Battery42V 6Ah or 216Wh battery Samsung 30Q 18650
Controller10s Hobbywing ESC
Top Speed26 mph (42 kph)
Range11-12.5 miles (18-20 km)
Deck33” (83.8 cm) ABS, Glass Fiber, And Maple Composite
Motor1500W Dual 750W belt drive
Net Weight16.8 lbs (7.6 kg)

Deck- 33” (83.8 cm) ABS, Glass Fiber, And Maple Composite:

The Zealot V boasts a 33” deck made of ABS, glass fiber, and maple composite. While it’s pretty stiff with minimal flex, we were a bit disappointed to find it considerably flat without much concave, which is kind of a bummer for us because we like decks with more concave to it as it helps with foot placement, making it easier to control the board.

But hey, the deck does look pretty sweet. It’s got those sleek icy blue lights along the length of the deck, which always turns heads. And at $599, it’s the cheapest eskate out there if you’re looking for one with deck lights like this.

Check out our review of Backfire Zealot X and Backfire Zealot S2, two other Backfire with board lights.

ESC and Remote – 10s Hobbywing ESC with Backfire remote:

Moving onto the ESC, the Zealot V is equipped with a 10s Hobbywing ESC, offering 4-speed modes which, as always, are smooth and intuitive. This Hobbywing Esc is paired with a standard Backfire remote, and while it’s not the Halo remote from the Zealot X and S2, it’s still comfy and easy to use.

Battery – 42V 6Ah or 216Wh battery Samsung 30Q 18650 cells:

Powered by a 42V 6Ah or 216Wh battery with Samsung 30Q 18650 cells, the Zealot V is marketed at a range of 11-12.5 miles (18-20 km). These cells are pretty popular in eskates as they have high energy density and discharge rates.

But when putting it to the test, with a 155 lbs (70 kg) rider, we only managed to hit 7.5 miles (12 km) which isn’t super impressive to be honest, especially for a board in this price range. We usually expect at least a 10-mile (16 km) kind of range with hard riding on boards over $400. 

The lack of range is, unfortunately, the price to pay for using belt motors as they’re not as efficient as hub motors, meaning they drain the battery pretty quickly. But they do make up for it with a smoother ride as belt drive motors tend to dampen out road vibrations better.

Motor – Dual 750W belt motors 1500W:

The Backfire Zealot V runs on two 750W belt motors, totaling 1500W. It’s a decent number but not what you would call a game-changer as compared to the Zealot X’s beefier twin 1500W motors, the Zealot V’s power is a bit more on the modest side.

As for the speed, the Zealot V cruises up to a top speed of 26 mph (42 kph). Again, this is pretty standard and nothing extraordinary, so it’s not surprising that we hit that top speed in our test.

Although not the most powerful board on the block, for a 33” board, it’s certainly enough and most definitely capable of getting you up any incline.

Truck and Wheels – 7-inch 50-degree reverse kingpin trucks:

Moving on to the trucks and wheels, the Zealot V is equipped with 7-inch 50-degree reverse kingpin trucks which are similar to the 8-inch trucks you’d find on the Zealot S2. However, unlike the forged trucks on the Zealot X, the Zealot V uses cast trucks, which is to be expected for an eskate in this price range.

Next, despite being a smaller board, the Zealot V went with 96mm wheels. . These are 96mm by 55mm wheels with an 80A durometer. This helps to get the board over most cracks and bumps so you aren’t limited to riding only on sidewalks. This is as opposed to Exway Ripple which is super-duper portable and nimble but has 75mm wheels that are a bit difficult to be ridden on rougher pavement.

Read our review of Exway Ripple here.

Lastly, The Backfire Zealot V weighs at a portable (7.6 kg) which is lighter than most electric longboards and cruisers, and roughly on par with many shortboards.

Specs Summary:

At first glance, for $599 the Backfire Zealot V’s specs are pretty underwhelming. 

However, factoring in the lights as a $150 add-on, the pricing seems more reasonable. Don’t ask me if the lights truly cost $150, we only know Meepo marked up the lightless Meepo Envy to the green-lighted Meepo Aurora by $150. But once you subtract $150 from the price tag, the Zealot V begins to look on par with other belt-driven eskates. For example, it has specs nearly identical to the $449 Wowgo 3E, which is our top pick for the best affordable belt-driven electric skateboard.

Read our review of Wowgo 3E here.

In short, if you like the lights for as much as $150, the Zealot V has good specs. 10s2p with Samsung 30Q, dual 750W belt motors is reasonably good.

Riding Experience on the Backfire Zealot V:

The Backfire Zealot V was designed to be portable and nimble, and it accomplished that very well. Turning tight corners and navigating amongst other road users is a breeze.

When you’re not riding the board, its smaller form factor makes it convenient to carry around. At 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg), it’s not the lightest among the lighter boards in town. But it does feel significantly easier to carry around because of the even weight distribution and, again, the smaller form factor.

Despite its smaller size, the Zealot V did well in maintaining  stability at high speeds. While hitting the 26 mph top speed still feels sketchy on a shorter board like this, we think even new riders will be comfortable riding around at 18.5 mph (30 km). The smooth speed control of the Hobbywing ESC obviously helped. Acceleration and braking are perfectly smooth and intuitive, as they always are with Hobbywing ESC.

While these are all great things about the Backfire Zealot V, one big question remains: why didn’t they go with a deck with a kicktail? A more typical shortboard or cruiser deck would have kept the size of the deck down, kept the weight light, and added versatility. You would also be able to have a similar width in your stance as on a shortboard, you can place your back foot on top of the trucks, whereas with Zealot V you can’t.

Some of us at ESHQ do like the design; however, if you are not using the kicktail, not having it means no chance of accidental wheelies. It is also often more portable than a deck with a kicktail, as the board lies flat in car trunks and takes up less space. One team member also appreciated that the board could be pulled by its truck, unlike boards with kicktails that will drag along the floor if you were to pull it around.

Other than that, the power on the Zealot V is good, more than enough, considering the small size. Road vibration is still uncomfortable despite going with big 96mm wheels on a belt drive due to the stiff deck. 

The Verdict – should you get the Backfire Zealot V?

It’s nimble, portable, well-built, and looks really good. The board offers perfect speed control, sufficient power, and a pretty good balance between responsiveness and stability. It’s a pretty board, built well, but at $599, it’s not as affordable as boards that skip the lights.

For many people, the Zealot V might seem stuck in a weird middle ground, but that also means for some, it’s the perfect board with just the right amount of everything.

It’s ideal for those who want a nimble and portable board but aren’t looking for a shortboard with a kicktail.

It’s for those who appreciate the ride profile of a typical longboard, but don’t need one that’s 40 inches.

And it’s for those in search of the most affordable board with built-in deck lights.

I don’t fall into these groups; hence it’s not my favorite Backfire board, but I still have to give kudos to Backfire for trying something new with the Zealot V.

If you are interested in buying the Backfire, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $20 off during checkout.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and help us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!

Exway Ripple Review – The most practical last-mile options (and it’s affordable!)

Sometimes you want to make a wave, sometimes you just want to make a Ripple.

Today, we’ll be reviewing the Exway Ripple, a very portable,  even air travel-friendly mini board for under $400. It has pretty underwhelming specs even for a $349 board, but reviewers all seem to like it, and we are curious to understand why. 

Exway Ripple Specifications:

Price$349
Battery99Wh Travel Edition battery ($349)159Wh Cruiser Edition battery ($469).
Controller10s LingYi ESC
Top Speed16mph (25kph)
Range7.5 miles (12 km) for Travel Edition battery 11.2 miles (18 km) for Cruiser Edition battery
Deck30.7 ‘Flexy’ bamboo, maple and fiberglass composite 
MotorDual 672W Hub drive motors
Net Weight13.1lbs (5.9 kg)

Deck: 30.7 ‘Flexy’ bamboo, maple and fiberglass composite

Starting with the deck, the Ripple has a wide concave deck constructed of tough composite material made of maple, bamboo, and fiberglass. We love the RGB lights under the deck and the sleek, minimal grip tape design. It features amazing decorative LEDs at the side that indicate the battery level and brake lights that blink like a car.

ESC and Remote: 10s LingYi ESC

Moving onto the ESC, with the 10s Lingyi ESC on the Ripple, this is Lingyi’s first appearance in the Exway line. The 10s Lingyi ESC comes with 4-speed modes and is paired with the generic Lingyi remote which has an OLED display to show the speed, battery, and other info.

Battery: Travel Edition (99Wh) and Cruiser Edition (159Wh)

As for the battery, the Ripple comes with two swappable batteries. The travel edition 99Wh battery complies with FAA and other aviation regulations so you can take it to the skies. And the 159Wh cruiser edition, which is still allowed in carry-on baggage with airline approval as most airlines have a limit of up to 160Wh. But even so, some airlines may have their own regulations when it comes to carrying Lithium-ion batteries so be sure to check your airline before traveling. 

We thought the battery was hot-swappable like the Exway Wave, but it isn’t. You need to remove 9 screws to swap the battery so carrying extra battery in the backpack for extra range is not an option here.

Read our review of the Exway Wave here!

The marketed range of the Ripple is 13.5 miles or 18 km with the cruiser edition battery and 8 miles or 12 km with the travel edition battery. In our tests, we were able to travel 8 miles or 13 km at high speed using the Cruiser Edition battery, with a rider weighing 154 lbs or 70 kg. The range of the 99wh travel battery is either 6 miles or 10 km, which is a pretty limited range, to be honest, but that’s what you can expect from a battery this small. It’s advertised as a last mile solution as most people walk a mile after their main mode of transport to get to their final destination and eskates like these are a perfect alternative when commuting between college classes, getting to a bus stop, or even a quick trip to the corner shop.

And when worst comes to worst, it is a hub board so you can kick-push if you completely run out of juice. 

Motor: Dual 672W Hub drive motors

The Exway Ripple uses a hub motor drive at 672W max power, which is marketed with a top speed of 16 mph or 25 kph, which means it’s definitely not built for speed but for casual cruising or beginners. But this makes it too slow for shared roads so you’re going to have to use it on pavements and sidewalks only. Surprisingly, when we took it to the road, we managed to hit 20 mph or 32 km/h, which still isn’t that fast but definitely exceeded the advertised top speed. I am guessing that Exway understates its top speed in order to comply with regulations some countries have. For instance, Singapore has 16mph or 25 kph as the speed limit for PEV.

Truck And Wheels: Reverse Kingpin Trucks And 77mm Polyurethane Wheels

For the trucks, Exway decided to equip Trist 7″ Reverse Kingpin trucks on the Ripple, which sets the Ripple apart from other $400 boards that typically use a cast truck. The back trucks of the Ripple also are made to look much better than most off-the-shelf hub trucks, in which its motors are typically screwed onto a pseudo truck. However, Exway came up with a smarter concept to have the truck’s axles inserted straight into the hub motor wheels, tucking the motor wires away and giving the Ripple a more traditional look. 

In general, the trucks on the Ripple are excellent, but for a budget-conscious consumer, this might be overkill because even generic back trucks have shown to be reliable and sturdy enough, and since the Ripple’s power is limited, a reinforced truck is unlikely to be necessary. However, Exway Ripple is not about value for money; rather, it’s about refined quality, and this is just one example of that.

As for the wheels, we believe that Ripple’s tiny 75mm polyurethane wheels are the board’s biggest drawback and a deal-breaker for many. Nowadays, it’s uncommon to encounter boards with wheels smaller than 90 mm, and for good reason. Your ride is essentially limited to sidewalks and well-paved roads with 75mm wheels. Riding over rough asphalt for even a mile would be unpleasant.

Specs Summary – the Exway Ripple is not very competitive:

As you can see, Exway Ripple is a lot more polished than your typical $400 board but comes with much lower specs. We expect a $400 board to have at least a 10s2p 144wh battery and a 25mph or 40kph top speed, and even with promotion prices, Ripple will never compete with similar-priced competitors in specs.

When you compare it to the Meepo Atom 216Wh battery and its top speed of 29 mph or 47 kph, you can see that the stats differ significantly.

Read our review of the Meepo Atom here!

Our expectations for a $400 board are exceeded by the integrated lights and forged trucks. We also really value its exceptionally lightweight—just 13,1 lbs. (5.9 kg)! You will have to construct your own shortboard, as we did with our Orbiter Shrink a few years ago if you want a good one that is any lighter.

Riding Experience on the Exway Ripple

Like a surf skate with surf trucks that allow for sharp turns, the Exway Ripple is an incredibly fun board to ride on smooth roads and pathways. It will wobble a little if you try to ride it straight, so you have to go with the flow and carve things to keep it steady. The deck has a great size, a good tail, and a nice concave. It feels wider than it is, even though it is only 30″. It’s entertaining to use the kicktail, and if we had the skills, we could definitely use Ripple for tricks.

The LingYi ESC performs admirably in terms of speed control. When combined with relatively weak motors, LingYi ESCs were still flawless even years ago, when they still trailed Hobbywing ESCs in terms of smooth speed control. Since Exway Ripple has a tame motor and LingYi ESC has advanced to the point where it performs on par with Hobbywing ESC, it should come as no surprise that the speed control is incredibly smooth and intuitive.

Clearly, Exway Ripple lacks strength and speed. If you dare to join group rides with it, you will be left behind due to its top speed of 20 mph (32 kph). Although it isn’t really fast, riding on it feels very quick and agile.

Although the motors are strong enough to get me up most inclines, I wouldn’t trust them to get me up anything very steep. Keep to flat, well-paved roads and imagine it as a motorized surf skate.

The Verdict – Is Exway Ripple good?

Exway Ripple is a niche product that everybody can just look at and instantly know if it’s for or not for them.

For instance, Exway Ripple is designed for skaters who make fun of us eskater for our heavy boards, 105mm wheels, and incapacity to ollie up a curb. The board is the most agile and portable available, and its lightweight design should allow it to perform all skate tricks.

Exway Ripple is an enjoyable and useful electric surf skate with a long list of features that are off-limits for those of us who aren’t skilled at ollies. 75mm hub motor wheels are not the right choice if you ride on rough terrain. The larger 159wh battery may not be sufficient if range is a concern. If you need torque or speed, Ripple will be too weak.

But if you live in a place with good public transport or are traveling somewhere with good pavement, the Exway Ripple is the board you should get. A 15 mph speed limit on the sidewalk doesn’t affect the board’s maximum speed, and its agility makes it easier to maneuver among other pedestrians. It always makes sense to trade off extra battery for less weight if you know you will need to carry the board with you for portions of the trip.

If you are interested in buying the Ripple be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $5 off during checkout.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and help us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!

OMW Calvary Review – Carbon Fiber deck with real flex!?

We will be reviewing the Calvary from On My Way EV, a new brand of board, today. Fresh out of the oven, the OMW Calvary was released on November 17 for $1,599 at launch.

The OMW Calvary is a board that adheres to what we refer to as the “Evolve Formula,” which consists of a double drop deck, double kingpin trucks, and convertible wheels that can be used for both street and all-terrain riding. Though there are many boards with designs that are comparable, the OMW Calvary is definitely one of a kind.

OMW Calvary Specifications:

Price$1599
Battery21700 Samsung 50S  12S4P 20Ah  864Wh
ControllerHobbywing 9028
Top Speed37.2mph (60 kmh)
Range34 miles(55 km​)
Deck44.5*12.7*6.9” Carbon Fiber and Fiberglass Composite
Motor6374 * 2, 165kv Belt motors 
Net Weight38.5lbs (17.5kg)

Deck: 44.5*12.7*6.9” Carbon Fiber and Fiberglass

At first, we were led to believe that this would be a Trampa-style deck because I had been informed that there would be flex and the technical diagram I was staring at looked quite similar to the Trampa-style deck that the Evolve Renegade and the Acedeck Nyx are rocking.

As it happens, the Calvary is actually just a standard double-drop deck made out of fiberglass and carbon fiber composite, more like the Meepo Hurricane Vader or the Evolve Carbon than the Trampa. Still, it’s incredible that they were able to make it flexible. OMW gave us three options for the deck’s flexibility, and we chose the most flexible. And that was a wise decision as the flexibility is only moderate, not extremely flexible, even with the softest deck. Furthermore, it appears that most of the flex occurs at the deck’s neck on both ends. 

While the deck still isn’t as flexible as a bamboo deck, we are still pretty happy about it since it’s quite rare to find a carbon fiber deck that has some flexibility. 

The deck also has a nice concave. I think this is my favorite carbon fiber deck right now.

Trucks: 9” Forged Double Kingpin Trucks

Double Kingpin Trucks on the OMW Calvary

Moving on to the trucks, OMW selected 9″ Forged Double Kingpin Trucks for the Calvary, which came with a set of 96A bushings in addition to strong 106A bushings. This makes this large board easier to turn than a standard Reverse Kingpin truck, and its forged trucks add to its durability. Additionally, there’s a handlebar that can be mounted on the front of the board making it easier to pull it around.

Wheels:  7 inch, 6 inch, and 97mm street wheels.

There are three different wheel options: 97mm street wheels, 6-inch street wheels, and 7-inch street wheels. Although having options is always wonderful, choosing 7-inch wheels is probably the best course of action because riding height isn’t an issue, and the largest wheels give you the highest top speed and ride over aggressive bumps in the road.

Battery: 21700 Samsung 50S  12S4P 

Next, 21700 Samsung 50S 12S4P configuration batteries with a combined capacity of up to 20Ah or 864Wh power the OMW Calvary. The Samsung 50S is a good battery cell for eskate use by many premium electric skateboards, and the majority of high-end AT boards these days use the 12s4p standard. For instance, the $2,499 Evolve Renegade both use similar battery setups, and the $1,499 Meepo Hurricane Vader meanwhile boasts 12s4p but uses a Molicel P42A. What I meant to say is that this is a good, or at least, a reasonable battery size for the price. 

Photo of the charging port of OMW Calvary

You can read our review of the Meepo Hurricane Vader here.

It has a marketed range of 34 miles or 55 km, and in our tests, we were able to reach the 20 miles or 32 km mark with a heavyweight rider weighing 200 lbs or 95 kg for the first 70% of the test and our 70 kg rider for the latter 30%.

ESC: Hobbywing 9028

For the ESC, OMW went with the tried and true Hobbywing ESC, which comes with four-speed settings. And like all Hobbywing ESCs, it has a smart turn-on feature, meaning the board powers on automatically when the remote is turned on. It’s paired with the standard Hobbywing remote, but there’s also a mobile app where you can customize the ride profile.

Remote of the OMW Calvary

By the way, should you choose to purchase the add-on front light kit, you can turn it on and off by double-pressing the power button, which is indeed very convenient. There is also a red LED brake light that blinks much like a car, which comes standard without costing extra.

Motor: 165 kV 3500W 6374 dual belt motors

As for the motors, The Calvary has very powerful 165 kV 3500W 6374 dual belt motors. 3500W is about the power that most all-terrain electric skateboard goes with, (eg, Hurricane Vader, one of the AT board known for aggressive power, uses 3500W gear motors), so you can expect a good dose of power from these bad boys.

These motors can reach a top speed of 38 mph or 60 km/h when they are used with 7″ wheels; during our tests, we were only able to reach 34 mph or 55 km/h. With the 97mm wheels, we were able to reach speeds of up to 30 mph or 50 km/h.

By the way, even with only 30% of the battery remaining, we are still able to reach the top speed of 31 mph or 50 km/h.

Specs Summary:

To sum it up, this $1,599 2-in-1 board with a double-drop carbon fiber deck, dual kingpin trucks, and a 12-s4p battery is nothing new and wasn’t particularly revolutionary in terms of design or value. 

Even while the OMW Calvary is extremely well-made and polished, it still lacks some of the extra bells and whistles that some ultra-premium manufacturers might include on their boards, including a motorguard, mudguard, and specifically designed remote. The design of the grip tape didn’t exactly win us over, either.

The flexible carbon fiber deck, however, is what makes a significant difference. While everyone thinks carbon fiber decks are gorgeous, they hate the vibration that results from having a rigid deck. The deck on OMW Calvary, admirably, is actually flexible and, spoiler alert, does, in fact, reduce vibration from the road.

Riding Experience on the OMW Calvary

OMW Calvary is a board that wants to go fast and wants to go straight.

The double kingpin trucks that the Calvary uses came out of stock biased towards being stable and not very easy to turn. We did manage to find a sweet spot after loosening the trucks, though. After some tweaking, the trucks became much more responsive and easy to turn. They were still not as good as most double kingpin trucks, but they were good enough for us. The forged truck also felt very precise and had zero slope. 

And we have to admit, this may be the most comfortable fast-riding board we’ve ever reviewed.

First, as you can see, the Hobbywing ESC smoothly accelerates to its maximum speed.

Also, the Cavalry boasts a broad deck with a solid concave that aids in stabilizing our foot placement. During speed changes, I really enjoy placing my foot on the notch at the drop deck, so I have something to push against.

The moderate flex on the deck was enough to take away harsh road vibrations but not too much to jeopardize its stability at high speed. Along with the added stability of the larger 7″ wheels, the lower riding height also gives you peace of mind that an occasional stone or stick won’t cause a wipeout. Additionally, these wheels are pretty special because they have more traction than the majority of all-terrain wheels. Maybe it’s due to the tread pattern. They stick to the tarmac like glue, again, not only adding to stability but also making it fun to do hard carving on. 

Together, these factors made OMW a board that is incredibly comfortable for fast riding. We often found ourselves accelerating to 28 mph or 45 km h without realizing it. And getting to the 34 mph or 55 km h top speed wasn’t a scary ordeal on the Calvary. 

Also, it appeared that the Calvary was configured for greater top speed rather than torque. Meepo Hurricane Vader, which has a lower maximum speed but an insane torque that takes off from a standstill, is a nice counter-example. Instead of being thrilling, Calvary was more comfortable, with a gentle, smooth start followed by an equally comfortable acceleration up to the top speed.

It goes without saying that changing to 6″ wheels or even street wheels will increase torque while lowering the peak speed. Plus, using smaller wheels will make carving more enjoyable and the board more responsive.

OMWEV also went the extra mile in post-sale service:

Below are some post-sale service that OMWEV would like us to highlight to you:

  1. Effortless Returns: OMWEV offer a hassle-free 7-day return policy for skateboards ridden less than 10 miles, exclusively available in the U.S. market;
  2. Comprehensive Warranty: Enjoy the peace of mind with a 12-month warranty covering the entire skateboard (INCLUDE Battery, motors and ESC); 
  3. Lifetime Deck Warranty: Rest assured with a lifetime warranty for the deck, emphasizing its quality and durability. OMW Boards Warranty – 1 Year Coverage, Lifetime for Cavalry Decks

This is pretty good, considering most of the brands just offer a 6-month warranty excluding motors and batteries.

Verdict of the OMW Calvary:

The OMW Calvary is a high-end, two-in-one carbon fiber electric skateboard that performed brilliantly overall. It was built incredibly well, has excellent specs for the price, and has a fantastic ride that emphasizes comfortability at high speeds.

top down photo of the On my way! Calvary

We would suggest the OMW Calvary as the board for you if you’re looking for the most comfortable carbon fiber 2-in-1 for fast riding. Yes, it could have a nicer-looking grip tape design, and yes, it wasn’t groundbreaking in value proposition. But other than that, everything about Calvary is pretty perfect. It matches any of its competitors in specs while delivering a riding experience that’s smoother and comfortable, thanks in no small part to the flexible carbon fiber deck.

As long as you aren’t looking for adrenaline rushes, you will love this board.

If you are interested in buying the OMW Calvary, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $30 off during checkout.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and help us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!

Basecamp Ghost Review – a $1,599 shortboard!?

For a new company to enter the eskate scene with a premium board, especially a premium shortboard, is a rather bold move, but that’s exactly what Basecamp has done with the Basecamp Ghost. In 2022, Basecamp had just begun producing electric skateboards, and in 2024, they will introduce the $1,599 Basecamp Ghost, an electric shortboard. Even though it’s on pre-order for $1,299, it’s still one of the most expensive electric shortboards available. We expect premium parts throughout the board because of the hefty price tag. 

Basecamp Ghost Specifications

Price$1299
Battery12S2P, Molicel P42A, 373 Wh, 8.4AH
ControllerBasecamp custom ESC
Top Speed34mph (55kph​)
Range25 miles (40 km​)
Deck31.1 inches T700 3K Carbon Fiber
MotorBelt, 2 x 3000W Hobbywing 5255
Net Weight19 LBS / 8.6 KG

Deck: 31.1 inches T700 3K Carbon Fiber

Starting off with the deck, it’s a sleek 31.1-inch Carbon Fibre Deck with a unibody design and no bulging electronic enclosures. The deck of the Meepo Hurricane is also built of T700 3K Carbon Fibre, but unlike many carbon fiber decks, which are designed to be perfectly flat, the Ghost has a nice concave to it.

The Basecamp Ghost also has a tiny kicktail, which means two things:
1) It’s more for show than anything else, and
2) Despite the deck’s overall length of 31.1 inches, which is comparable to a mini-board, the wheelbase and stance are actually quite wide, resembling cruiser boards like the Tynee Stinger and Meepo Flow.

Click here to read our review of the Tynee Stinger.
Click her to read our review of the Meepo Flow.

This means it is far more stable than a typical mini board without expanding the footprint or compromising portability.

Portability is also a unique strength of this board; the carbon fiber material allows the deck to be lighter, and the whole board comes together at a carry-friendly 19 lbs or 8.6 KG. 

Truck and Wheels: 7075 aluminum alloy and 90 MM 76A PU Wheels

Now let’s talk about trucks. These are high-quality CNC trucks that are engraved from 7075 aluminum alloy, so they should perform incredibly well and be a lot more durable than conventional cast trucks.

The wheels are 90 MM 76A PU Wheels and despite being advertised as the most comfortable wheels available, these seem very standard to us despite using the late-Boosted Hemotox technology.

Battery: 12S2P, Molicel P42A, 373 Wh

For the battery, Basecamp went with a 12S2P, Molicel P42A, 373 Wh. On one hand, this is pretty underwhelming for any board over $700, but on the other hand, a bigger battery will reduce the portability, which is one of the unique upsides Ghost has going for itself.

At the very least, it’s using the best cell possible with Molicel P42A. The Ghost is marketed at a range of 25 miles or 40 km. In our tests, we managed to reach 19 miles or 30 km with a 154 lbs or 70 kg rider riding fast modes 3 and 4, which is still a healthy range.

ESC: Basecamp Customized ESC

Moving onto the ESC, Basecamp decided to design their own for the Ghost.

Initially, we were wary of the claim, as there had been many small brands that launched boards with quote-unquote customized ESC but, in truth, were just using a version of Lingyi ESC.However, this is not the case with Ghost; what is within the Ghost gave us the impression of a VESC. It includes smart turn-on features, which let the board to switch on automatically when the remote is turned on, like many VESC do nowadays.  It also came with 4-speed modes.

So we reached out to Basecamp, and they told us that it is an XESC and claims that it is superior to VESC. This Basecamp XESC does provide for the same customizing capabilities as a VESC, although we don’t like to compare the two. It allows for customization of almost everything, including swapping out motors, batteries, etc. And you can change the settings straight from the remote, very convenient. I think this is where Ghost tries to set itself apart and try to be as custom-friendly as possible, catering to the DIY crowd. Caution, though, the advanced customization with the pro settings will void the 1 year warranty, so play around at your own risk.

The remote is very nice, too, it’s very ergonomic and comfortable to hold. The throttle dial has a lot of travel, which always translates to more precise control. 

Motor: Belt, 2 x 3000W Hobbywing 5255

Last but not least is the motors; the Basecamp Ghost uses a belt drive system with two 3000W Hobbywing 5255. These are pretty good motors and can go up to 34 mph or 55kph.In our tests, we managed to hit 30 mph or 48 kph before we ran out of road, but the board feels like it could really go to 55 kph, which is crazy for a shortboard.

Specs Summary:

To sum it up, Basecamp Ghost was well assembled and is truly built of high-quality components. Additionally, the board features a 1-year guarantee and an IP 65 waterproof rating. 

Just going through the specs made it clear that this definitely wasn’t a board that budget shoppers would reach for, as a 12s2p battery for $1,299 is pretty steep. However, since people used to purchase Boosted for similar specs at a higher price, we know that some consumers are willing to pay more for a premium experience. 

Riding Experience

Basecamp Ghost rides more like a cruiser board and less like a shortboard. The wheelbase is wider than most minis, and it reminds us of the Tynee Stinger and Meepo Flow we just reviewed, just with a narrower deck and a milder concave. 

What Basecamp Ghost did better than those cruisers is the speed control. Whatever ESC Basecamp put into this board, it really does its job well, even better than the latest gen of Hobbywing ESC.

First, you get perfect smoothness in how the speed ramps up. Second, how the speed mode was designed makes sense too. The third speed mode allows you to access the highest top speed while accelerating smoothly up to the top speed. The 4th speed mode was configured to be very intuitive, too. It has a smooth and gentle initial initiation, but if you push the throttle all the way up, it gives you the extra power and the kick.

And, the throttle has a lot of travel and hence gives you more precise control of the acceleration. You can keep the throttle in the midpoint, and it’s already plenty strong, and there is a lot more room for you to push the dial all the way up, and the acceleration just ramps up precisely as strongly as you want it to. And if somehow you want the speed control to behave differently, you can always tinker with it yourself.

Power

Besides a better-than-most speed control, Basecamp Ghost is more powerful than most shortboards too, and we are expecting nothing less from a premium board at this price. The powerful dual 3000W Hobbywing motors do not let you down. For context, the Basecamp Ghost is still one of the most powerful mini boards we evaluated, but not being as mad as certain powerhouses like the Tynee Mini 3 Pro.

It can go up to 34 mph or 55 kph, and the setup is pretty stable. Although we do not have a long, straight, safe road to reach the board’s limits, we can imagine riding that fast on this 31-inch board. And that brings us to the point, the Basecamp Ghost prioritizes stability over responsiveness.

Responsiveness and Stability

Because of its longer wheelbase and lack of a kicktail, the board is more stable than the average micro board and rides like a 35-inch cruiser board with a kicktail. The CNC trucks are great; they are precise but also more biased toward stability than responsiveness. We think this leaning towards stability makes sense as Ghost clearly should be ridden fast, and any board this length has no problem turning tight corners anyway. Although carving is clearly not this board’s strong suit—it is not a longboard with a flexible deck and twin kingpin trucks— but it is still pretty enjoyable though.

Vibration

So, the riding experience on the Ghost is pretty amazing, however, it does have one weakness that came with the design, which is road vibration. With 90mm wheels and a carbon fiber deck, the board conducts unpleasant road vibrations too well. Additionally, since you would typically lay your foot squarely on top of the trucks, the vibration would pass directly from the wheels to the trucks to your knee. Although it can’t be helped, purchasing a small board comes with this inconvenience. Wearing larger wheels might be beneficial.

Verdict of Basecamp Ghost:

The Basecamp Ghost is undoubtedly a premium board and, hence not for everyone. 

If you want a carbon fiber short cruiser that is light and portable, powerful and stable, with perfect speed control,  then Basecamp Ghost will be what you build. It is also one of the rare non-boutique boards that are DIY-friendly, as it has an ESC that allows tinkering with its parts.

All in all, it is not a board that we value-counting plebs at ESHQ would buy, but if we are stealing one board from an electric shortboard store, we will definitely be taking this one.

If you are interested in buying the Basecamp be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $150 Off during checkout.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and help us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!

Tynee Stinger Review – Cruiser with the Best Specs!

After reviewing the Meepo Flow, we re-discovered how well a cruiser deck works on electric skateboards. It’s the perfect size for cruising around. Compared to full-size longboards, they are easier to turn with their relatively shorter wheelbase, and when compared to shortboards, they are much more comfortable for longer rides and have lesser road vibration on rougher roads.  

I guess many brands noticed the same thing, and this year, we see quite a few cruisers released by different brands.

Introducing the $889 Tynee Stinger, another 34-inch board with Double kingpin trucks.

Tynee Stinger Specifications:

Price$899
Battery12S3P, Molicel P42A, 544.32 Wh
Controller12s Hobbywing ESC
Top Speed34mph (55kph​)
Range24 miles(38 km​)
Deck33.86-inch Canadian Maple+fibreglass
MotorDual 3000W belt-drive motors​ , 6368 
Net Weight26 lbs / 11.8 Kg

Deck: 8 ply Canadian Maple and Fibreglass

Starting off with the deck, the Tynee Stinger has a 33.8-inch deck made from 8 layers of maple and fibreglass. It’s pretty stiff with not much flex to it but a nice wide concave and unique deck shape. We really appreciate eskate brands trying out different variations of deck design, and the Stinger is a great example of this by having a lower fishtail dip at the end. It’s ideal for foot placement, and the easier, sharper turns are made possible by the lower centre of gravity, which is practically parallel to the battery level.

In contrast to the sophisticated deck, the belly of the deck is decorated with a clean and minimalistic design with its shock-absorbing grip tape in a simple black and grey colorway. Also, there are wheel wells to prevent wheel bites.

Truck and Wheels: DKP Trucks and 105mm Hydro Wheels

Moving on to the trucks, it seems that every cruiser board uses Double Kingpin trucks, and the Tynee Stinger is no exception.

We don’t recall testing a Tynee with a double kingpin truck in the past, so we are interested to see how it performs.

Next, While we aren’t familiar with Tynee’s double kingpin trucks, we do know these 105mm HydroWheels from our review of the Tynee Mini 3 Pro, which is a super fun and powerful shortboard, by the way. These hydro wheels are a lot different than the cloud wheels, as they’re made out of material somewhere between rubber and PU. It also has tire treads on them which improves its traction on wet roads much better than traditional PU wheels.

Battery: 12S3P, Molicel P42A, 544.32 Wh

Tynee is known to put in a much bigger battery than its rivals, and the Tynee Stinger is no exception. With 12S3P, Molicel P42A, 544.32 Wh, the battery on the Stinger is 30% bigger than the similarly priced Meepo Flow using the same cells.  It is marketed to have a range of 24 miles (38 km), however we were able to travel 22 miles (35 km) when riding fast with a rider weighing 154 pounds (70 kg). Kudos to Tynee for keeping it real with the marketed range.

To read our review on Meepo Flow click here

ESC: 12s Hobbywing ESC

As usual, Tynee opted for the tried and true Hobbywing ESC, which comes with four-speed settings. And like all Hobbywing ESCs, it has a smart turn-on feature, meaning the board powers on automatically when the remote is powered on. It’s paired with the standard Hobbywing remote, but there’s also a mobile app so you can customise the ride profile.

Motor:  Dual 3000W belt-drive motors​ , 6368

Moving onto the motors, the Tynee Stinger packs a punch with its hefty Dual 3000W belt-drive motors​ , 6368, which is way bigger than the already crazily powerful pairs on the Tynee Mini 3 Pro, which are Dual 2775W 6355 belt motors. We’re expecting a heck of a ton of power from these huge motors as their marketed top speed is a whopping 34mph or 55 kph​. We tested it ourselves but bailed at 29 mph or 47 km/h as it gets scary, but the board clearly has more speed to spare.

Specs summary of Tynee Stinger:

To sum it up, the Tynee Stinger has a lot of substance despite its simplistic design. For $889, it packs a lot of battery, has powerful motors, and the 105mm wheels aren’t cheap either. All of this serves to highlight how the Tynee Stinger certainly has a lot of value on paper; all that is left to do is to hit the road and test if the ride lives up to the expectation. 

Riding Experience

Stepping on the Tynee Stinger, we immediately noticed something we don’t quite like about it, which is that it’s very high off the ground due to the thick risers it uses to prevent wheel bites. And you don’t need me to tell you riding in high heels felt a lot less stable at high speed.

But the Tynee Stinger has the power to go really fast. The 12s Hobbywing ESC gives a smooth and intuitive control as always, but the 4th mode came right off the box, being scarily powerful. Much more exhilarating than the Meepo Flow, which is good news for the adrenaline junkies out there, but for everyone else who prefers a more relaxing cruise, there is always the Mobile app to customise to a tamer ride profile.

Again, the board is really powerful, but the high riding height and double kingpin trucks limit how fast we dare to go. 26 mph or 42 km is the limit for us, and even with full safety gear, we only dare to go 29 mph or 47 km/h before it starts to wobble.

While stability wasn’t its strongest suit, the board was undoubtedly built with carving in mind. For the Tynee Stinger, carving is really smooth; words may fail us here, but it feels like drifting when you turn, but in a good way. The turning radius is obviously small, thanks to the short wheelbase and double kingpin trucks.

We can definitely make sharp turns without doing kick turns, which is kinda important because the kick tail is pretty far behind where our rear foot naturally positions, so using it doesn’t come as naturally. Kick turns also were not as easy due to the board’s weight, as those big batteries are heavy.

While we blame the big 105mm hydro wheels for forcing the use of tall risers, they do have their perks. Firstly, though not as well as the Cloud Wheels or the 105 Boosted OEM wheels used on the Meepo Flow, the hydro wheels did decently well in reducing road vibrations, but it did make the board tolerable enough on rough roads.

Secondly is its grip. The hydro wheels are pretty grippy, and that helps make carving fun while preventing the board from drifting.

Verdict – Tynee Stinger:

Unlike many boards nowadays that keep it safe and can be pretty bland, Tynee Stinger is an interesting cruiser board that has clear strengths and weaknesses. 

It is super-duper-powerful and has a great range, and it’s super responsive, too. However, it is also less relaxing to ride due to its higher riding height. Tynee Stinger may not be the best choice if all you want is a comfortable ride to cruise around in. 

On the other hand, Tynee Stinger is an excellent choice if you are a heavy rider who needs the power or you actually need a cruiser board with a great range. Or, if you want a fun ride, the Tynee Stinger’s incredibly strong, nimble, and responsive ride will suit you just fine.

If you are interested in buying the Tynee be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ23” to receive $5 off during checkout.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and help us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!