Wowgo Archives - Electric Skateboard HQ

April 6, 2023April 6, 2023 by Paxson Lim

Wowgo Pioneer X4 Review – A Great All-Around Board

Today, we’re taking a closer look at the Wowgo Pioneer X4. This board was released in November 2022 and is the successor to the popular Wowgo 3X.

Previously, the Wowgo 3X was known for its silky smooth riding experience thanks to its flexible deck, genuine Paris V2 trucks, and smooth urethane wheels. It was even touted as the best spiritual successor of the Boosted board.

With this in mind, another thing we’re excited about in this review is the comparison between Pioneer 4 and X4.

Pioneer X4 features a belt-driven motor unlike the hub-driven Wowgo Pioneer 4. Other than that, the two boards are identical in every other aspect. It’s only natural for e-skaters with $400 entry-level boards to consider upgrading to the Pioneer X4 at $699.

So, enough of the context. Let’s see if the Wowgo Pioneer X4 provides a similar riding feel.

Wowgo Pioneer X4 Build and Specs

Deck: Canadian maple, bamboo, fiberglass; mild concave
Electronic Speed Controller: Hobbywing V5.0 ESC; 4-speed modes, remote w/ display screen
Battery: 12S2P Samsung 40T battery
Marketed Range: 20.5 miles or 33 km
Motors: 4230 2*700W Belt
Marketed Top Speed: 28 mph or 45 kp/h
Trucks: Wowgo Trucks
Wheels: 90mm Polyurethane Wheels (can upgrade to 105mm Cloudwheels)

Let’s start with the deck. The Wowgo Pioneer X4 uses the same deck as the Wowgo Pioneer 4. The deck is a combination of Canadian Maple, bamboo, and fiberglass. Unlike the very flexible deck of the Exway Flex ER, the Pioneer X4 has a mild flex that still provides a comfortable ride without sacrificing stability.

The deck has a mild concave and is flat without any camber or rocker. This Pioneer X4 deck is less flexible than the Wowgo 3x, but it provides more stability at high speeds. The board still rocks the Boosted look, featuring an orange and black color scheme.

As for the electronics, the Pioneer X4 uses a Hobbywing ESC with four riding modes with a top speed of up to 28 mph (45 km/h). The remote control is easy to use and has a clear screen that displays speed, battery life, and riding mode.

About the battery, the Wowgo Pioneer X4 is equipped with a 12S2P Samsung 40T battery that provides a capacity of 345Wh. This battery configuration is similar to the Exway Flex ER which also features a 345Wh battery.

More Range From Pioneer X4

The Pioneer X4 has a marketed range of 20.5 miles (33 km). Riding the Pioneer X4 aggressively in the highest speed mode, our 165 lbs (75 kg) test rider managed to get 17 miles (28km) on a single charge. This is surprisingly more than what we get from the hub version Wowgo Pioneer 4.

This goes to show that your mileage may vary depending on how hard you ride the board, the road condition, and how much you just ate. If you ride conservatively, you probably can achieve the 20.5 miles (33 km) as advertised.

Effortless 28 mph Top Speed

Now, let’s talk about the motors and top speed of the Pioneer X4. The board uses 4230 700W dual belt-driven motors, which are powerful enough to take on steep hills and handle rough terrains.

The Pioneer X4 has a healthy marketed top speed of 28 mph (46 kp/h). During our top-speed test, we managed to hit exactly 28 mph (46 km/h). Nice!

For context, this is the top speed that most mid-tier electric skateboards can reach but Pioneer X4 got there without a sweat (more on that later).

Lastly, let’s talk about the wheels. The board comes with 78A soft 90mm polyurethane wheels which are pretty good and provide a smooth ride on the tarmac.

For those who plan to ride on less perfect terrain, there is an option to switch to 105mm Cloudwheels.

The Wowgo Pioneer X4 weighs in at 18 lbs (8.4kg) which is pretty standard for an electric skateboard of this size.

As you can see, the board was put together very well, as to be expected from a veteran brand.

Wowgo Pioneer X4 Ride Experience

Now that we know the build and specs, it’s time to ride!

When it comes to speed control, the Wowgo Pioneer X4 has a smooth and intuitive acceleration and braking system. The 12s Hobbywing ESC provides really smooth acceleration and braking on all four-speed modes. Nothing is surprising here as it is expected from the Hobbywing ESC.

The 12s ESC combined with a strong belt motor system should make the board feel powerful and torquey, yet it is all smooth sailing with the Wowgo Pioneer X4. It’s strong, and powerful, but not jerky even in turbo mode.

During our test, we can accelerate to 25 mph (40 km/h) in just a few seconds without sacrificing comfort. The speed ramped up so smoothly.

To put this into context, the Pioneer X4 felt a bit stronger than the higher-priced Exway Flex ER-Riot. Although, it is not as strong as the power-specialist Meepo Voyager.

Also, voltage sag was not an issue for the Pioneer X4. The board can still reach its top speed at 25% battery.

Compare the Exway Flex ER in this review.

Wowgo Trucks Work Just As Well As Paris Trucks

The Pioneer X4 is a great board for carving, too. The trucks are pretty responsive and have a good return to center. Carving on the board is a lot of fun.

However, we did notice that the trucks came out of the box on the tighter side. This made sharp turns a bit difficult. It’s possible that Wowgo designed the trucks for heavier riders, or maybe they just wanted to prioritize stability.

Nonetheless, after loosening up the trucks a bit, we were able to find the perfect balance between stability and ease of turning. The trucks rode just as well as Paris trucks.

In terms of road vibration and ride-smoothness, the Wowgo Pioneer X4 also performed well. The belt drive system provides a comfortable ride even on poorly paved roads. Plus, the mild flex of the deck helps ease out the road vibrations. However, we did wish that the deck had a bit more flex (it’s personal preference) but it will also make the board even more comfortable when riding on rougher roads.

We think that most riders won’t need to upgrade to Cloudwheels. The stock wheels perform pretty well, as long as you’re not going off-road.

Learn more about Meepo Voyager X here.

Wowgo Pioneer X4 VS Exway Flex ER – Riot

There is no doubt that the Wowgo Pioneer X4 is an excellent electric skateboard and the best value-for-money choice for those who are looking for a premium ride feel on a belt-driven board.

However, is it the best board in the mid-range ($400-$800) market?

Just as the Exway Flex ER looms over the Wowgo Pioneer 4, Exway Flex ER – Riot ($799) casts its long shadow over Wowgo Pioneer X4 ($699). Exway Flex ER – Riot is approximately $150 pricier than the Wowgo Pioneer X4 after factoring shipping fee, but comes with a smartphone app, a waterproof rating, and a fast charger out of the box.

Otherwise, both boards have similar specs, the same battery size, the same 12s Hobbywing ESC, similar ride profile, similar built quality, and post-sale service.

Exway Flex ER has the more flexible deck out of the two, and Wowgo Pioneer X4 has stronger power right out of the box.

Well, it is a close call, and both are really great boards that nobody ever regrets buying. All the improvements of the Exway Flex ER are nice to have, but not really enough to sway a decision one way or the other. In the end, I guess the optimal choice comes down to things like ongoing promotion, waiting time, and stock availability.

Wowgo Pioneer X4 VERDICT

Overall, Wowgo Pioneer X4 is an excellent electric skateboard and the best value-for-money choice for those who are looking for a premium ride feel on a belt-driven board. For $699, the specs are right and the built quality is great. Whether you’re going fast or riding casually, the board delivers great power while maintaining perfect smoothness and stability.

It is easy to see the Wowgo Pioneer X4 be a board that’s universally loved, by beginners and veterans alike, just like Wowgo 3X was. Good job on this one, Wowgo.

If you are interested in buying the Wowgo, 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!

November 12, 2022November 12, 2022 by Paxson Lim

Introducing Wowgo Pioneer 4 and Pioneer X4

On October 2022, Wowgo announced a set of new boards, the Wowgo Pioneer 4($649) and Pioneer X4($699). Wowgo Pioneer 4 and the X4 share the same specs, with the only major difference being the drive train they use. In case it wasn’t clear, Pioneer 4 – hub motors; Pioneer X4 – belt motors.

TLDR; Wowgo Pioneer 4(hub) and Pioneer X4(belt) are designed to be smooth rides that maximizes carving fun. The pair also has competitive specs for its asking price (starting at $649).

Click here to go to Wowgo Pioneer 4 and X4 product page.

Wowgo Pioneer 4 and Pioneer X4 with the remote on top of the deck

Despite the new name, the Wowgo Pioneers series is actually not a new line of products, but the 2022 iteration of Wowgo 3 and Wowgo 3x. For those who are new to the sport, Wowgo 3 and 3x were first launched back in October 2019 (time flies!), and are wildly popular for their buttery smooth riding experience.

Looking for a trip down memory lane? Click here to read our review of the Wowgo 3.

What was improved? Everything.

The old Wowgo 3 and 3x were well-rounded boards. Besides the silky smooth riding experience that they were known for, they were completed with above-average power, battery, and polish. So it is easy to see why Wowgo took an ‘ if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it ‘ approach and went for incremental upgrades over a proven formula.

Specification of Wowgo Pioneer 4 and X4

Deck: 38.5 inch x11.2 inch (98CM x 28.5CM)
Electronic Speed Controller: 12s Hobbywing ESC; 4-speed modes, smart turn-on
Battery: 8AH; 12S2P; 345 Wh Samsung 40T (21700)
Marketed Range: 21-22miles (33~35 km)
Motors: 2 x 680W hub-motor(Pioneer 4), 2 x 700W belt-motor(Pioneer X4)
Marketed Top Speed: 28mph (46kmh)
Trucks: Wowgo’s Proprietary Trucks (45° truck)
Wheels: 90mm streets, 105mm cloudwheels
Weight: 18lbs/8.2kg (Pioneer 4) ,18.5lbs/ 8.4kg (Pioneer X4)
Price: $649 (Pioneer 4) & $699 (Pioneer X4)

Retaining the silky smooth riding experience

Going with a flexible deck, Hobbywing ESC, and responsive trucks means the Wowgo Pioneers are going to be buttery smooth in both speed control and in carving.

Flexible deck with wide concave

Wowgo Pioneer 4 and X4 uses a 38.5″ deck made from maple, fiberglass, and bamboo. The deck has a good amount of flex, roughly the same amount as the Wowgo 3 and 3X. It has a healthy concave, nothing crazy, just enough to help your feet feel comfortable on it.

Hobbywing V5.0 ESC

At this point, Hobbywing ESC needs no further introduction as it has been the gold standard of smooth and intuitive control for close to half a decade now. The smart power-on feature where the board automatically powers on when switching on the remote is also a universally loved feature that’s available with Hobbywing ESC. With the newer iteration of the Hobbywing V5.0 ESC, we can expect improved power and stronger braking.

Goodbye Paris trucks

Unlike its predecessor, the Pioneer series moved away from using branded Paris trucks. Both are now using Wowgo’s own proprietary trucks. The Pioneer 4 and X4 went with the same set of trucks as the Wowgo Mini 2, with some adjustments being made on the X4 for the belt system.

We reviewed the Wowgo Mini 2 a while back, so while we mourn the loss of Paris trucks, we can vouch for the quality of Wowgo’s proprietary trucks. That trucks are well-balanced and nimble on the feet, and stable at high speed. The Wowgo trucks should do just as well as the Paris, and keep the carving experience smooth and fun.

Wheels – 90mm wheels with 105mm cloudwheels options

Unsurprisingly, the Wowgo Pioneer 4 and X4 come with standard 90mm wheels with the option of including the 105mm cloudwheels for $100 more.

The 90mm wheels are pretty good, all major electric skateboard brand nowadays uses high-quality wheels that are both soft and durable. Soft wheels are keeping with the theme here, as they provide the final touch for a buttery smooth carving experience.

With that said, 105mm cloudwheels, as good as they are, do take away some of the carving fun. Unlike soft urethane wheels, the narrow contact patch of the cloudwheels doesn’t have that ‘sticky ride feel’ that makes carving fun.

Pioneer 4 vs Pioneer X4 – Hub vs Belt

Also, for those who are not familiar with the difference between drive-train. Hub motors, in this case, Pioneer 4, give a stiffer ride as the hub motors are embedded inside the rear wheels, and that means less soft urethane to absorb vibration.

Hub motors also generate less torque compared to belt-system.The reason? Unlike belt system, there isn’t any gear reduction to amplify the torque.

So why would anyone choose hub(Pioneer 4) over belt(Pioneer X4)?

Well, hub motors (Pioneer 4) are more battery efficient, meaning more range. You also don’t have to replace or maintain the belts, which will break or come loose after some time. Oh also, hubs are silent and free rolls without resistance, making it easier to kick push like a regular longboard.

With all that said, amongst all the variations and combinations, Pioneer X4 with 90mm street will give you the most carving fun, while the Pioneer 4 will get the most from the 105mm cloudwheels, as the extra size helps cushion off harsh bumps from the stiff hub wheels.

Wowgo Pioneer X4 with 105mm cloudwheels on sand terrain

Upgraded specs – Bigger battery, stronger motor.

To keep up with the times, Wowgo Pioneer 4 and X4 have received a small boost in both departments.

Bigger battery – 12s2p Samsung 40T

Wowgo Pioneer 4 and X4 are now rocking 12s2p battery (Wowgo 3 used 10s2p), with Samsung 40T no less (vs 18650 cells previously)!

This gives the pair a 345wh battery, with 21-22miles (32-35km) of range.

These are competitive numbers for the price. For context, its closest competitor, the Exway Flex ER ($799) has a similar battery package (12s2p 345wh) while costing $100 extra.

Wanna see the numbers? Check out the data chart that we have painstakingly compiled.

Bigger hobbywing motors – 680W & 700W Hobbywing

So, the Wowgo Pioneer 4 uses a set of 680W hub motors and the Pioneer X4 has a pair of 700W belt motors.

While wattage number is not the best way to reliably compare motor performance, this is the only information we have at the moment. So, based on the motor wattage, the Pioneer 4 and X4 are 20% stronger than their predecessor and about as strong as any of their similarly priced competitors.

This basically means that the Wowgo Pioneer 4 and X4 are not going to struggle on power and torque, as they improved over the previous Wowgos which were already plenty strong. However, they are also unlikely to give thrilling accelerations or win many drag races as those are not the strongest motor out there. Thrill and power weren’t the ride profile that the series are going for anyways.

The boards have a modest top speed of 28mph (45kmh).

Wowgo Pioneer 4 and Wowgo Pioneer X4 side by side

Takeaways – Wowgo Pioneer 4 and Wowgo Pioneer 4x

It was quite the irony that the Pioneer series is quite the antithesis of innovation. Both the Pioneer 4 and 4X offers nothing new and merely improve over the popular Wowgo 3 and 3X. However, this is not to say that the Pioneers aren’t good boards or weren’t competitive. Actually, it is quite the contrary.

With slight improvements over Wowgo 3’s already very refined riding experience, coupled with well-rounded specs that are competitive at $649-$699, the Wowgo Pioneers 4 and X4 are the definition of a ‘safe choice’ for those who are looking for an enjoyable ride without breaking the bank.

If you are interested in buying a Wowgo, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here to receive $5 off during check out.
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!

March 10, 2022June 4, 2023 by Paxson Lim

Wowgo 2S Max Review – The best budget electric skateboard.

Not too long ago, we crowned the Wowgo 2S Pro as the best budget electric skateboard under $500. So imagine our surprise that just after 7 months, Wowgo find the need to one-up themselves and released Wowgo 2S Max as an update for the 2s Pro.

From Wowgo 2s Pro to 2s Max:

The obvious key changes are

slight upgrade in motor wattage (500W -> 550W) and top speed (25mph ->28mph),
giving the option of 105mm Honeycomb wheels for an extra $120.
update in ESC

Unfortunately, the improvement doesn’t come free, as the $479 Wowgo 2S Max also saw a small price bump from $429 of the 2S Pro to $479.99 for the 2S Max. While it is a pretty foregone conclusion that the 2S Max will inherit the throne of being the best budget electric skateboard, we will have to examine if there is any flaw to the package.

As usual, let’s run through the specs to be clear about those theoretical upgrades…

Build and specs – Wowgo 2s Max

Deck: Canadian Maple, bamboo, and fiberglass; subtle concave with no camber/rocker
ESC: Hobbywing ESC; 4-speed modes, smart power-on
Marketed Top Speed: 28 mph / 45 kph
Motors: 550 W * 2 hub motors
Batteries: 12s2p, 5.0Ah, 50.4V
Marketed Range: 14.3 miles / 23 km (90mm wheels)
Trucks: Poseidon Trucks
Wheels: 90mm street wheels / 105mm honeycomb wheels
Board Weight: 18lbs / 8.2kg

Design & Deck – Wowgo 2s Max

The WowGo 2S Max’s deck is a combination of Canadian Maple, bamboo, and fiberglass. It only has a mild flex to it, and it’s even slightly stiffer than the 2S Pro. It also has a wide but subtle concave and is flat without any camber or rocker. As an upgrade, Wowgo put on a foam grip tape to improve vibration absorption for the 2S Max. However, this made the concave of the deck less prominent and our feet felt less secure during carving and rides.

The design on the grip tapes and the backside of the deck is pretty nice, too. The trident graphic gets to stay, and there’s another option of a new black design which looks pretty cool as well.

Trident underneath the deck (photo of 2s Pro)

For the electronic speed controller, the WowGo 2S Max used the 12s Hobbywing ESC which received minor updates from the one on 2S Pro. It also has the smart power-on feature, of course.

Hobbywing ESC Turbo

It is a given that speed control with the 12s Hobbywing ESC is going to be strong, silky smooth, and intuitive, but we are still looking to see if the “minor update” did anything to improve on that.

There are 4-speed modes, with the highest speed mode named Turbo.

And per usual, it uses the elegant remote that comes with telemetry.

Now, let’s look at the trucks. These are the same Poseidon trucks that Wowgo developed for the Wowgo 2S Pro. The trucks look to be Caliber II clones, are 8- inches 50° with 85 A bushing. From our previous review, we know it is a truck that prioritizes stability over maneuverability.

To check out our Wowgo 2S Pro review, click here.

Wowgo 2s Max have one of the strongest hubs

As for the motors, the 2S Max received a 50W boost per motor and now uses 550W dual hub motors. Judging by the numbers on paper, 550W motors will be amongst the strongest hub motors of all entry-level hub boards, with only the Meepo V4 Shuffle beating it at 620W x 2. To give you more context, most entry-level eskates use 400-450W hubs.

As a result, this 550W gave an improved marketed top speed of 28 mph (45 kph) and it did exactly that on our top-speed test.

There are also 105mm hub-sleeves and semi-all terrain wheels available. We will talk about how they perform later.

For the standard wheels, WowGo 2S Max is using 78A soft PU wheels, which is pretty usual for entry-level boards.

And when it comes to power, Wowgo 2S Max uses a 12S2P 5.0 AH battery. This gave a battery pack of 216wh in size and had a marketed range of 14.3miles (23km).

With regular street wheels, our 200lbs (90kg) test rider managed to get only 10miles(16km).
With the 105mm honeycomb wheels installed, our test rider got 8.6miles (14km) out of a full charge.

The range is exactly the same as what we get from the previous Wowgo 2S Pro which has very similar battery stats at 5.2AH. Although Wowgo kind of overstated the range, 10miles is the usual range for boards below $500, so we weren’t exactly disappointed or surprised here.

Battery size vs price, you can see that everybody <$500 has a similar battery size.
(Bubble size = motor wattage, bigger is more powerful)

The board weighed in at 18 lbs (8.2kg) and comes with a 6-month warranty.

Riding Experience of Wowgo 2s Max

Now that we know the build and specs, it’s time to ride!

First, let’s talk about speed control. Wowgo 2S Max’s speed and speed control are perfect as expected of the 12s Hobbywing ESC. Both acceleration and braking of the 2S Max are buttery smooth and intuitive. The brake strength is very strong, even stronger than the previous 2S Pro. This is great news as most riders eventually learn to love and prefer strong brakes, especially when the brakes are smooth and intuitive like they always are with Hobbywing ESC.

To know more about electronic speed controllers (ESCs), click here.

Powerful Even With Semi-AT Wheels

When it comes to the torque, the 550W hub motors perform incredibly well. By using one of the strongest hub motors amongst the entry-level hub boards, Wowgo 2S Max is powerful enough for any hills on your path. Although the torque and thrill are still a step behind what a set of powerful belt motors could offer, the Wowgo 2S Max is still one of the strongest hub boards amongst all the entry-level boards we’ve tested.

Having a powerful motor is important especially when you plan to put on the bigger 105mm wheels. With the semi-AT wheels, torque, and braking from Wowgo 2s Max goes from quite strong to just “strong”. A board with lesser power would have a ride feel of “no power” at all if installed with semi-AT wheels.

Stability over responsiveness

When it comes to maneuvering the board, it was, unsurprisingly, the same as it was with the older 2S Pro. Carving is fairly fun but more on the tight side, as the Poseidon trucks prioritized stability over maneuverability. The board has a good return to center and feels very stable at high speed.

Honeycomb Wheels Reduces Around 20% of Road Vibrations

The honeycomb wheels are alright, too. On smooth roads, it’s less fun to carve with the 105mm honeycomb wheels as it takes away the silky smoothness of soft urethane wheels. On rough pavement, however, the honeycomb wheels definitely had an impact in reducing vibration at around 20%, in our opinion. This, plus the foam grip tape makes Wowgo 2S Max a good board for those who have the unfortunate fate of living where roads are terrible.

However, if we were to compare these Honeycomb wheels with the Cloudwheels Donut, we would prefer the Donuts over this ‘Cloudwheel-clone’, as Donuts are better in vibration dampening.

The VERDICT – Wowgo 2s Max

So, the verdict seems like the brand with the funny name has done it again. Wowgo is going to retain its throne three times in a row for making the best affordable electric skateboard (first, the Wowgo Knight, then the 2S Pro, now 2s Max.)

Wowgo 2S Max has the performance that either matched or outmatched its competitors, the ride feels that leads the affordable segment and the polish that is much beyond the asking price.

Simply put, for any rider who wants an entry-level affordable hub board, Wowgo 2S Max (for now) should be the first consideration.

Oh! and the board is now available on Amazon -> https://amzn.to/3MRyli8

If you are interested in buying the Wowgo, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive 5% off during check out.
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!

January 25, 2022January 24, 2023 by Paxson Lim

Wowgo Mini 2 Review— Probably the best shortboard right now

In the world of electric skateboards, shortboard lovers often get the short ends of the stick as most eskate brands spend most of their R&D resources on longboards. It’s very common for most eskate brands to develop a longboard, slap on the same components on a shorter deck, and call it a day. But, not anymore. The Wowgo Mini 2 shortboard just changed the game.

Just look back on Meepo Mini 1 and Wowgo Mini. Don’t we all agree on how uninspired they look? Thankfully, this all changed when the late Boosted made the positively received Boosted Mini, and everyone else followed the craze of making better electric shortboards.

Late 2021, Wowgo finally joined the “make shortboard great” movement as they replaced their pathetic-looking Wowgo Mini with the Wowgo Mini 2—a $559.99 electric shortboard that rocks a 10s2p 187.6Wh battery.

Based on its look, it’s pretty obvious right from the get-go that this is not an assembled-from-spared-parts board.

As per usual, let’s go through the parts and specs.

Build and specs

Deck: Canadian maple, U-shaped concave with kick tail
Weight: 15.32 lb / 6.5 kg
ESC: Hobbywing ESC 4-speed modes with smart power-on
Battery: 187.2 Wh – 10s2p
Marketed range: 15 miles / 25 km
Motors: hub motors 680 W * 2
Marketed top speed: 25 mph / 40 km/h
Wheels: 90mm street / 105 Cloudwheel Donuts

First, let’s look at this deck.

The Wowgo Mini 2 went with a deck with U-shape concave, following a pursuit on the popular Boosted Mini. Unlike Boosted Mini or Exway Wave though, the concave is more subtle on this one.

An aggressive concave would have given the board a more responsive feel but may place some discomfort on our feet. I think most people would find this concave in their sweet spot as it still feels responsive, allowing a comfortable feet placement.

To check out our review on Exway Wave, click here.

Functional kicktail with deck guard

The board obviously has a functional kicktail that sure is useful to those who know how to kick turns. It also has a deck guard under it to help protect the tail. If you want to look cool when braking, you can use the kicktail to brake instead of the remote.

Shortboard polish looks premium

Beneath the deck, we have a single enclosure that houses both the ESC and battery. It appears that Wowgo put in a good effort in designing this mini-board. Unlike the first generation Wowgo Mini which was just assembled from off-the-shelf parts, the Mini 2 looks and feels premium. You can tell that they thought about the design thoroughly. The details on top of the deck are sick! Underneath the deck, you’ll find a very nice gloss finish.

Perfectly smooth ride with Hobbywing ESC

Now, it’s time to look at the electronics!

Wowgo Mini 2 uses Hobbywing ESC with 4-speed modes and smart power-on. For the battery, it uses 10s2p 5.0 Amp-hours with 180 Watt-hours. The board’s marketed range is 15 miles or 25 km. We had a 95kg or 209lbs rider test it out and the result is 11 miles or 18km in range. This is no surprise for a 5AH battery.

You can also check the battery charge level underneath the deck, which might be helpful when you want to check the battery level when charging.

This battery powers a pair of 680W hub motors which are pre-installed with 90mm street wheels. Wowgo Mini 2 is also compatible with 105mm Cloudwheel Donuts. The package included stickers for the hub wheels as well, and a lot more stickers with other designs. We suggest you should just forget about it, as it easily comes off the wheel and is not worth the hassle.

The marketed top speed is a standard 25 mph or 40 km/h, which we can hit with no problem.

To check out our review on Cloudwheel Donuts, click here.

Well balanced 45-degree trucks at stock settings

The trucks are Wowgo’s proprietary 45-degree trucks with double barrel bushings. 45-degree trucks are what most eskate brands go with, as it balances between stability and responsiveness. These are not the same trucks as the Poseidon truck found on Wowgo 2s Pro. Let’s see what it can do later.

Now, to summarize the specs.

On paper, the numbers on Wowgo Mini 2 are the same with most sub-$500 boards from affordable brands. For Wowgo, the slightly higher price is certainly justifiable considering the design and polish. Wowgo also used good quality skate parts, which brings us to the review of the riding experience.

So, how well does the Wowgo Mini 2 ride? Well, we are pretty surprised at how nice the Wowgo Mini 2’s performance is.

Riding experience

First things first, let’s talk about the trucks. It felt really responsive, allowing the board to feel nimble on the feet, and they did this without sacrificing stability. We’re pretty surprised that Wowgo’s proprietary truck performs this well.

To put the truck performance into context:

If you compare Wowgo Mini 2 to Tynee Board Mini and Meepo Mini 2, Tynee Mini and Meepo Mini 2 did not feel nimble and were less fun to carve around. If you compare it to Exway Wave’s Trist trucks on stock settings, Wowgo Mini 2 is more stable.

I always believe that most people get a shortboard for a quick and easy commute on the sidewalk, in college compounds, and a maneuverable board is extra helpful in tight quarters. Obviously, the kicktail is useful for that purpose, too.

Fun to ride with great control and maneuverability

Wowgo Mini 2 is exactly what you want from a shortboard. It is very FUN to ride on smooth roads. Riding it for the first time, I was very shocked.

As we have mentioned, the trucks felt responsive, and the board felt nimble but stable.

And the Hobbywing ESC on this one? The speed controls were super smooth and intuitive, unsurprisingly. What’s rather surprising is that the acceleration is pretty darn strong, too— you might even mistake it for a 12s set-up.

Braking is also smooth and very strong. The kicktail is very functional and easy to use, too. The subtle U-concave of the deck helped with the controls while being subtle enough for you to not notice the shape all the time.

So, great speed control and great maneuverability—those are the strengths. Now, let’s talk about the weakness.

Weak at handling road vibrations

Actually, there is just one weakness.

Wowgo Mini 2 is terrible at handling road vibration which shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, a shortboard with a stiff deck combined with hub motors is a recipe for a very uncomfortable ride on very rough or poorly paved roads. For most shortboards, you will be standing directly on top of the trucks, and all the vibration from the road goes straight up.

From the road > to the trucks > and to your knees.

The great news here is that you can easily swap to the 105mm Cloudwheel Donuts and greatly decrease road vibrations. But honestly, you should probably consider getting a belt-driven longboard with a flexible deck and big or even all-terrain wheels if you deal with rough roads regularly.

THE VERDICT

So, to summarize.

For $559.99, Wowgo Mini 2 gives you a comfortable and nimble ride. The 25mph top speed and the 11 miles range are nothing extraordinary, but the polished build and riding experience more than made up for it. The obvious weakness for Wowgo Mini 2 is the poor comfort riding on rough roads. However, this is an inherent problem faced by all hub-shortboards, and the Mini 2 fares arguably better for having the 105mm Cloudwheel Donuts option available.

All things considered, it is very easy for us to recommend Wowgo Mini 2 for anyone that’s looking for a shortboard to use on good roads. It is the best shortboard to get for those who want something more refined than the entry-level $400 like the Meepo Mini 2, and don’t want to pay extra for the $749 Exway Wave for all its fancy lights and removable battery.

I think anyone who is in the market for an electric shortboard should first consider the Wowgo Mini 2, as it’s substantially better than its cheaper competitor while simultaneously not too far behind its pricier counterparts.

Great job, Wowgo. Love this one.

RIDE SAFE, GUYS.

If you are interested in buying the Verreal 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!

July 9, 2021July 22, 2021 by Paxson Lim

Wowgo 2S Pro Review- the gold standard of budget eskate??

Today we will be reviewing the WowGo 2S Pro—a $429 electric skateboard that aims to be the leader of the best budget boards in the market.

Before the WowGo 2S Pro replaced WowGo Knight on the shelf, WowGo Knight was our reigning champion for the best budget electric skateboard.

So being a theoretical upgrade over the Knight, 2S Pro should inherit that throne, right?

As usual, let’s run through the specs.

Build and specs:

Wowgo 2s Pro specification chart — *red = tested number

Deck: Canadian maple + Bamboo + Fiberglass; mild flexible deck; wide mild concave; flat camber/rocker
Electric speed controller: 12s Hobbywing ESC with smart power-on; remote with telemetry, 4 speed modes
Trucks: Poseidon Trucks by WowGo, 50° front truck, 8 inches, Reverse Kingpin
Bushing type: 85 A
Motor: 500W dual hub motor (not compatible with Cloudwheel Donuts)
Marketed top speed: 25 mph or 40 kph
Battery: 12S2P 5.2 AH battery
Marketed range: 15-16 miles or 24-28 km
Wheels: 78 A soft PU wheels

The deck of WowGo 2S Pro is a combination of Canadian Maple, bamboo, and fiberglass. A mild flex can be expected on this board. To secure your feet, the board features a wide but subtle concave, and it’s flat without any camber or rocker.

Most entry-level boards try to put as much flex on their deck as possible, unlike the 2S Pro. At the end of the day, your personal preference would probably decide on how you feel about the choice, but after reviewing so many budget electric skateboards that went for the similar flexi-deck ride feel, we are just happy to see variations among entry-level eskates.

You can also notice that the design underneath the board is a head-turner.

If you’re familiar with the Loaded Vanguard, WowGo 2S Pro feels like it has the same approach in design. Do you like it? We think it’s dope!

The WowGo 2S Pro also uses the 12s Hobbywing ESC with a smart power-on feature for the board’s electronic speed controller.

We all know how silky smooth the 12s Hobbywing ESC is, and how convenient the smart power-on feature is for your rides.

It’s no surprise that WowGo went with what works. If it ain’t broken, why fix it?

Stable at turbo mode

There are 4 speed modes, with the highest speed mode as Turbo, and the remote is the generic Hobbywing ESC remote with telemetry.

The WowGo remote’s design has always been our favorite. It’s not different from your generic remote when it comes to function, but the way it looks is elegant.

The trucks, on the other hand, are something more special. These are reverse kingpin trucks especially made by WowGo and they call it the Poseidon Truck. The Poseidon Trucks are 8 inches and are 50° at the front. It also has a bushing type of 85 A.

Poseidon Trucks

These trucks look like a Caliber II clone instead of the Paris clone that was on the previous entry-level WowGo boards.

With this kind of choice, we bet the Poseidon truck is more likely going to prioritize stability over maneuverability. We will go deeper into that when we talk about the riding experience.

The WowGo 2S Pro also uses 500W dual hub motors. This is where WowGo took a tiny step back by going with a weaker motor than its predecessor, WowGo Knight, which was using a 540W motor. Still, this 500W is quite good compared to other budget boards.

For reference, WowGo’s fiercest competitor such as Meepo V3 uses 540W hubs, but Backfire G2 Black only has 400W hubs.

To check out Meepo V3’s review, click here.

The marketed top speed is 25 mph or 40 kph and in our tested top speed, it hit 26 mph or 42 kph. Awesome!

As for the sleeves of the hub, it’s sad to say that they aren’t compatible with Cloudwheel Donuts.

Don’t worry though, because WowGo is working on a similar semi-AT sleeve which will be released in a couple of months.

For the wheels, WowGo 2S Pro is using the standard for entry-level boards—78A soft PU wheels.

And let’s not forget about power. The WowGo 2S Pro uses a 12S2P 5.2 AH battery. The marketed range is 15-16 miles or 24-28 km and our tested range reached 11 miles or 17 km.

WowGo kind of made an overstatement with the range, but also note that 11 mph is the usual range for most entry-level boards that have a 2p configuration. This is nothing new for us.

Another thing we observed is that WowGo 2S Pro didn’t provide any waterproof certification.

We learned not to trust the “water certification,” anyway, so it doesn’t mean much.

Basically, WowGo is just emphasizing that it’s never a good idea to ride when it’s wet outside.

For a sneak peek at how WowGo 2S Pro can ride on dry pavements, click here.

Riding experience

All build and specs considered, it’s time to ride!

As expected of the 12s Hobbywing ESC, WowGo 2S Pro’s speed and speed control are perfect.

Both the acceleration and braking of the 2S Pro are silky smooth and intuitive. The brake strength is pretty strong, too.

The 500W hub motor’s torque also performs well. By using one of the strongest hub motors amongst the entry-level hub boards, WowGo 2S Pro can conquer any humps on the road.

Although the torque and the thrill are still a step behind what a set of powerful belt motors would offer, WowGo 2S Pro is still one of the strongest hub boards amongst all the entry-level boards we tested.

When it comes to maneuvering the board, carving is fairly fun but more on the tight side.

The Poseidon trucks rebound to center well, and are very stable at high speed.

WowGo 2S Pro definitely favors stability over maneuverability, as it is often the case with Caliber II clones.

To help you picture it out, Poseidon trucks are not as good as genuine Paris Trucks or genuine Caliber II trucks.

But when put alongside with entry-level boards, the Poseidon truck is definitely on par with other good proprietary trucks such as Exway’s Trist truck or Meepo’s Shredder Trucks.

To round up the riding experience, WowGo 2S Pro is a great ride that both beginners and veterans will enjoy.

The wide deck with mild concave is comfortable and helps with both control and knowing your foot position.

The board is both powerful and smooth in speed controls.

The stability from the trucks allows us to go on turbo speed with confidence. The stiffer deck also adds to that stability.

Carving, while not experienced to the fullest, is still very enjoyable thanks to the decent trucks.

For a better comparison, WowGo 2S Pro rides pretty similarly to the WowGo 3. But with a more flexi-deck and genuine Paris truck, WowGo 3 obviously is more fun for carving.

We should also note that the 2S Pro freerolls well, so we guess they probably used good bearings for this one.

If we were to nitpick anything on the 2S Pro, it would probably be its vibration dampening ability, which again, is no surprise for a hub board.

The soft wheels and composite deck did a bit to cushion all the vibration from riding over rough roads. It’s… better than we expected, but we did have a pretty low expectation on this part, to begin with.

We are hoping that, in the future, the Cloudwheel-ish PU sleeves that WowGo is developing will be a good option for those who couldn’t tolerate the vibration.

So, what’s the verdict on the WowGo 2s Pro?

THE VERDICT

Did WowGo 2S Pro inherit the throne from the WowGo Knight as the best budget board?

Well, yes.

It seems to me that WowGo knows what they are doing with WowGo 2S Pro. After all, they were the first among the earliest and most reputable budget brands.

When it comes to entry-level boards under $450, Wowgo 2S Pro now replaced the gold standard that was previously set by the WowGo Knight.

The board’s performance definitely matches its competitors, and the ride feel leads the affordable segment. WowGo 2S Pro’s polish is much beyond the asking price.

Simply put, for any rider that wants an entry-level affordable hub board, Wowgo 2s Pro, for now, should be the first consideration.

Ride safe, guys!

If you are interested in buying a Wowgo, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and receive $5 off during checkout.
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!