By now, you should have heard about the Evolve Renegade, the $2,499 mountain-style board with Trampa deck and suspension trucks.
But hold your wallet if you are in the market for a carbon fiber board with a Trampa-style deck because there is a new board by a new brand that offers something similar for a lot less.
This new brand is aptly named On My Way EV, and it’s on its way with its debut board Cavalry.
Unboxing of the OMW Cavalry
OMW Cavalry is another premium heavy-duty All-Terrain Board
OMW Cavalry is pretty similar to the Evolve Renegade, a premium board designed to have a ton of power and a lot of battery and to handle rough terrains.
Similarly, it uses a flexible Trampa-style deck.
Similarly, it is rocking 12s4p Samsung 50S battery ( 864WH – 20AH)
Unlike Evolve Renegade, however, the Cavalry is using DKP Trucks, meaning it wasn’t a hardcore off-road board but instead was designed to be as easy to turn as possible.
While we are still working to put the Cavalry through the paces, it looks very very promising and is an alternative worth considering before pulling the trigger on the pricey $2,499 Evolve.
Plus, OMWEV is a new brand that is eager to prove itself, while Evolve (with all its good and bad) put a premium tax on its board. While both boards have comparable specs, the Cavalry is almost $1000 cheaper at $1,599 (launch price).
If you are interested in buying the OMW Cavalry 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!
Comparison Specification of OMW Cavalry vs Evolve Renegade
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
Battery
12S2P, Molicel P42A, 373 Wh, 8.4AH
Controller
Basecamp custom ESC
Top Speed
34mph (55kph)
Range
25 miles (40 km)
Deck
31.1 inches T700 3K Carbon Fiber
Motor
Belt, 2 x 3000W Hobbywing 5255
Net Weight
19 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.
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!
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
Battery
12S3P, Molicel P42A, 544.32 Wh
Controller
12s Hobbywing ESC
Top Speed
34mph (55kph)
Range
24 miles(38 km)
Deck
33.86-inch Canadian Maple+fibreglass
Motor
Dual 3000W belt-drive motors , 6368
Net Weight
26 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.
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!
For $799 Meepo Aurora has all the same parts as the $649 Meepo NLS 3, but adds the green deck lights and comes with a fast charger. Maybe Meepo was envious of all the eyeballs Backfire got for the Zealot series and decided to follow suit.
The Meepo Aurora’s built-in lights are also very bright, and an added bonus is that they blink when you press the brake. For those who want to turn off the lights, you can do so by double-tapping the power button on the remote.
Meepo Aurora Specifications
Price
$799
Battery
12s2p Molicel P42A 362Wh
Controller
12s Hobbywing ESC
Top Speed
32 Mph / 52 Kph
Range
24 Miles / 38Km
Deck
Bamboo and fibreglass with side inlaid COB light
Motor
2519 W x 2 Belt Drive Motors
Net Weight
22.1 lbs/ 10 kg
Deck: Bamboo and Fibreglass
The deck is the exact same one as the Meepo NLS 3, AKA Meepo Envy. The deck is made of bamboo and fibreglass, and it has a good concave and is extremely flexible. It’s a very good deck. It also features a gorgeous Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis print, hence its name. The mix of greens really compliments its wheels and LED light feature, making for a really cohesive design overall. It also has a clear silicone tail guard, which is great for two reasons: one, it prevents scratches on the nose and tail, and two, since it’s clear instead of black like on the Meepo Envy, the LED lights go around the entire deck.
ESC: 12s Hobbywing ESC
Meepo Aurora, Envy, and Flow are the three boards in Meepo’s current lineup that uses 12S Hobbywing ESC. These are the boards that prioritised smoothness of control and ease of use over thrilling and aggressive accelerations, though having reviewed the Vader, which uses LingYi ESC, the difference in smoothness has almost completely closed.
The 12S Hobbywing ESC comes with four-speed modes and the “smart turn-on” feature, which means the board powers on automatically when the remote is turned on. This ESC pairs with the Meepo M5S remote control, which has a screen for telemetry display.
Battery: 12s2p Molicel P42A 362Wh
Meepo Aurora and Envy came with a Molicel P42A in a 12s2p setup. That’s 362.8 Wh.
Both have a marketed range of 24 miles (38 km), but our testing resulted in a range of 16.5 miles (26.5 km) with a 155 lbs (70 kg) rider riding fast.
While we really wish the Meepo Aurora had more range, it’s quite hard to complain. After all, the current benchmark for boards around $700 is a 12s2p arrangement with 21700 cells. Since the Aurora doesn’t have an extended model, Meepo was basically urging you to upgrade to the $999 Voyager X and its 12s3p 544Wh battery if you need additional range.
The fast charger of the Meepo Aurora is Gan 50.4V 6A, while the one on the Meepo NLS 3 was 4A. You can fully charge the Meepo Aurora in about 1.5 hours, 30 minutes quicker now.
It’s also worth noting that Meepo sealed both the ESC and battery very well. Both the ESC and battery enclosures are in their own sealed boxes, so while the Aurora has no official waterproof rating, it should be very water-resistant.
Motor: 2519 Watts x 2 Belt Drive
Aurora uses the same motors as the Meepo Envy. They are 2519 Watts each, larger than most boards at this price. They have an outstanding top speed. The marketed top speed is 32 mph (52 kph), which we had no problem reaching.
Truck and Wheels: Reverse Kingpin Trucks
Meepo uses unbranded 8” 50° reverse kingpin trucks. For heavier riders who like harder bushings, Meepo also included a set of 100A bushings in the box along with the standard 96A double barrel bushings. The wheels are 90MM and 78A with a 65mm contact patch. Compared to other brands, we notice these stock wheels are pretty soft.
Riding Experience on the Meepo Aurora
The riding experience on the Aurora is, obviously, the exact same as the one on NLS 3.
Ditching LingYi ESC and going with Hobbywing ESC is a sign that Meepo Aurora and the NLS 3 were made to be as comfortable of a ride as possible. And the board is indeed buttery smooth in all aspects. The board accelerates and brakes very smoothly thanks to the 12s Hobbywing ESC. The 12s system combined with two powerful motors means the board is also powerful. Not quite at the level of the high-end powerhouses like the $999 Voyager X or the $1200 Zealot X, but it’s definitely on par with some more expensive boards, such as the Zealot S2, which costs $200 more.
And, unlike Zealot S2, the Aurora deck is really comfortable. It has a really good concave, which helps with controlling the board and gauging where our feet are, and the flex of the deck and the soft grippy wheels make carving on the Aurora a very, very enjoyable experience.
And the trucks that Meepo Aurora uses helped, too. The trucks on the Aurora are Meepo’s Shredder trucks, and they ride pretty well, too. They feel like tightened Paris trucks, a bit more stable with good responsiveness. When first testing top speed, there was a bit of a wobble at 27 mph. After a little tightening, we were able to reach top speed without any wobble.
The Aurora also does a good job of damping road vibration. It should come as no surprise that the belt drive, soft wheels, and flexible deck work well together to reduce road vibration.
Verdict – Meepo Aurora
The Meepo Aurora, just like the NLS 3, is a very well-rounded board. It’s built well, has perfect speed control, and has a buttery smooth ride profile thanks to its amazing deck. While it did not have over-the-top power, its power, and top speed is still top-tier for board at this price. It also did not overdeliver on battery size and range as some other less premium budget brands do.
We noticed that the Meepo NLS 3 wasn’t as talked about as the Backfire Zealot S2 despite being a very similar board in the same price categories. Compared to the NLS 3, the Zealot S2 is $200 pricier, a tad bit more powerful, and has a slightly bigger battery, while the NLS 3 and the have better decks. And we think the extra buzz Zealot S2 made came from having the lights; it just looks better on the Facebook feed. So, with Meepo Aurora getting the inlaid LED lights, maybe the NLS 3 will finally, too, get the attention it deserves.
All in all, Meepo Aurora and its green light get a green light from us. It is $150 pricier than the $649 Meepo NLS 3, and that extra $150 went into a fast charger and the lights. Considering faster chargers are expensive, and aftermarket solutions for board lights can also be expensive, Paying $150 extra for them is a reasonable deal if you like the lights.
If you are interested in buying the Meepo 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!
Today, we are reviewing the Wowgo Mini 2s, a new belt-driven electric shortboard from Wowgo.
In July 2023, Wowgo launched the Wowgo Mini 2s into stiff competition. Just this year, we saw a ton of new electric skateboards occupying what I called the mid-tier price segment ($500 – $800). For shortboards, we have the Tynee Mini 3 ($569) and Tynee Mini 3 Pro ($869), and for cruisers, we have the very good Meepo Flow ($729), Meepo Envy ($699) and Backfire Zealot S2 ($849).
And now, the Wowgo Mini 2s. Priced at $699, it is the upgraded sibling of the Wowgo Mini 2. However, with the Mini 2 now selling for $469, does the Wowgo Mini 2s do enough to justify that extra $200?
Wowgo Mini 2s Specifications:
Price
$699 (Street) $819 (2 in 1)
Battery
12S2P, 260Wh, 6.0Ah, Samsung 30Q
Controller
Hobbywing ESC V5.0
Top Speed
28 mph (45 kph)
Range
18.6 miles (30km)
Deck
Canadian Maple, Bamboo, and Fibreglass
Motor
2 x 700W Motors/Belt Drive
Net Weight
17 lbs (7.7 kg)
Deck – Same!
The deck remains largely unchanged from the Wowgo Mini 2, using a blend of bamboo, and fiberglass. It is completely stiff; the full-length enclosure underneath the deck makes sure of that.
The U-shaped concave design, popularized by the late-boost Mini, can be seen here, though with a more subtle concave compared to others like the Boosted Mini or Exway Wave. This concave provides a responsive yet comfortable stance for riders.
Material: Bamboo, and fiberglass hybrid.
Design: A milder U-shaped concave compared to the Boosted Mini or Exway Wave.
ESC and Remote – 12s Hobbywing ESC
The Wowgo Mini 2s employ the 12s Hobbywing ESC, offering four-speed modes and ensuring a smooth ride. Hobbywing ESC comes with a smart power-on feature ( the board power on automatically when you switch on the remote). The ESC pairs with the latest Hobbywing remote instead of going with the usual Wowgo remote. This is a bit sad, we like the Wowgo remote; it has an elegant look.
A smartphone app is now available for the 12s Hobbywing ESC, thanks to a recent update. You can select one of four preset speeds or download the Tuya app and adjust the speed profile.
Powered by the 12s Hobbywing ESC, the Mini 2s provides four-speed settings.
Supported by a smartphone app, users can modify their speed profile via the Tuya app.
Battery – Disappointing
The Mini 2s comes with a 12S2P battery using Samsung 30Q cells. This is bigger than the 10s2p of the Wowgo Mini 2, which gives the Mini 2s a larger 260 wh battery as compared to the Mini 2’s 10s2p 187 wh battery. Not gonna lie, we were a little disappointed here seeing the $729 Tynee Mini 3 Belt have a much bigger 393 Wh battery in 13S2P configuration and also use a 21700 battery in the Molicel P42A. I was expecting Wowgo to at least go with 21700 cells instead of 18650 cells in the Samsung 30Q, which, don’t get me wrong, are one of the best cells for an electric skateboard, but it’s not that juicy.
At the very least, it outperforms the Exway Wave, which costs the same $699 and has a measly 180-watt-hour battery.
Fortunately, this 12S2P pack still performs well. It’s claimed to last 19 miles (30km); however, in our tests, our 155-pound (70 kg) rider got to 15 miles (24km) by riding fast. While longer is always better (that’s what she said), 15 miles of range should be enough for a shortboard.
Despite this, the 12S2P promised a range of 19 miles (31 km), which, in real-world tests, translated to about 15 miles (24 km) at top speed.
Equipped with a 12S2P battery using Samsung 30Q cells, totals to 260 Wh, bigger than the 187 Wh of its predecessor.
Advertised range: 19 miles (31 km).
Real-world test: 15 miles (24 km) riding fast.
Motor Type – The Star of The Tale
The belt drive is without a doubt, the biggest improvement going from the Mini 2 to the Mini 2s. The Mini 2s uses two 700-watt belt motors compared to the Wowgo Mini 2’s two 680-watt hub motors. These are the same size as those in the Wowgo Pioneer X4!
The motor is significantly more powerful, and the Mini 2s has a marketed top speed of 28 mph, or 45 kph, and we hit that in our test. This is definitely a lot faster than most riders need, but I’m sure some of you have an appetite for the adrenaline rush.
Although the extra power is exciting, the belt drive’s main advantage is a smoother ride. The original Wowgo Mini 2 was already incredibly powerful with efficient large hub motors; however, they have a tendency to transfer road vibrations a little too well.
A significant leap from the Mini 2, the Mini 2s is powered by two 700-watt belt motors.
Marketed top speed: 28 mph, which was consistent with our tests.
Trucks – Wowgo’s Proprietary Trucks
The trucks are Wowgo 45-degree RKP trucks with double barrel bushings. These are the same trucks seen on the Wowgo 3E and Wowgo Pioneer X4, and we already know they are pretty good.
Wheels – Cloudwheels Compatible
The board comes with standard 78A 90mm polyurethane wheels, and you can upgrade to 105mm cloud wheels for an additional $100 or get both wheels for $819.
Standard: 78A 90mm polyurethane wheels.
Optional: 105mm cloud wheels for an additional $100 or bundled at $819.
Weight
The board weighs 17 pounds (7.7 kg), making it slightly lighter than typical electric longboards but heavier than the Wowgo Mini 2, which weighs 15.32 pounds (6.95 kg).
Summing Up the Specs
To summarise, the $699 Wowgo Mini 2s is essentially a drivetrain and battery upgrade over the $469 Wowgo Mini 2.
At $699, the competition is fierce, with shortboards like the Exway Wave and Tynee Mini 3 and cruiser boards like the Meepo Flow all competing. The Wowgo Mini 2s features a decent battery for the price and two powerful motors. It looks nice, so let’s see if it rides better than the competition.
The Riding Experience of Wowgo Mini 2s
It’s no surprise that the Wowgo Mini 2S has flawlessly smooth and intuitive speed control; after all, it’s powered by a Hobbywing 12S ESC.
The Wowgo Mini 2s, like many of this year’s shortboard debuts, offer a lot of power and torque, even more than most electric longboards. It’s always exciting to take off from a standstill, and the Mini 2s accelerate quickly but smoothly, owing to the Hobbywing ESC. It is still punchy and quick, but the acceleration ramped up smoothly enough that it wasn’t jerky. It can also accelerate quickly to near top speed. And, as a powerful board with belt drive, traveling uphill would be no problem for even the heaviest rider. In terms of power, the Wowgo Mini 2s outperforms the Exway Wave and falls somewhere in between the Tynee Mini 3 Hub and the Tynee Mini 3 Pro.
And just like Uncle Ben said, with great power come great needs for stability, especially for a shortboard. The Wowgo Mini 2s performed well in this aspect; it has a short, narrow deck, but the trucks are well-balanced in terms of stability and ease of turning. We feel pretty comfortable going 25 mph or 40 km/h on it, but afterward, it starts to get scary for us. Again, we believe that no one should ride a shortboard this fast.
After all, most people ride shortboards for the agility they provide, such as maneuvering around pedestrians on the sidewalk and rounding tight corners. And these are the things that the Wowgo Mini 2s excelled at. The truck is responsive and easy to control, and the kicktail, despite its tiny size, is useful for kick turns.
When it comes to reducing road vibrations, the Wowgo Mini 2s outperforms the hub version of the Mini 2, but that’s obviously a very low bar to clear. On uneven roads, all shortboards felt awful, but those with belt drives fared significantly better than those with hubs. The 105mm cloud wheels helped a lot, but we still wouldn’t recommend owning a shortboard if you mostly ride on rough roads.
Verdict – Should you buy the Wowgo Mini 2s?
We really enjoy riding the Wowgo Mini 2s. I mean, we like the Wowgo Mini 2, and the Mini 2s is a lot more powerful and has a smoother ride after switching hub motors for belt drive. Black and grey also look better to our eyes than the purple color of the Wowgo Mini 2. For $699, we wish it came with a bigger battery, but if you are not that concerned about maximizing battery per dollar, the Wowgo Mini 2s is a great electric shortboard to get.
If you are interested in buying the Wowgo, check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $15 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!
