Why is the world so infatuated with hoverboards? It’s not very difficult to walk or jog through the neighborhood, or patrol the markets, or walk the hallways at your place of work. Then what is it about a board with two wheels that gets people excited?
It might not be too harsh to say that the novelty of the affair is what drives people to hoverboards. There are probably people who genuuinely benefit from them, but it is not hard to see that most others buy hoverboards because it looks cool. Maybe hoverboards are this generation’s roller skates! You don’t need them to get around, but they’re definitely fun to ride and race on.
If that’s the case, it shouldn’t be too difficult to gather a posse of hoverboard alternatives based on their look and novelty alone. But there is more one can look for other than novelty alone. Turns out, there are many other devices you can buy on the internet, which let you glide in mid air as well as do things not many hoverboard manufacturers are thinking of in any nearby future.
Onewheel Plus
You can figure out there’s just one wheel. What started as a kickstarter campaign has now come to a second, more advanced iteration of the Onewheel board, which has thousands of customers using it in a variety of terrain. The Onewheel plus goes a step further than most traditional hoverboards. Its foot paddles are entirely equipped with sensors. They go a long way in making the device super-stable. You have essentially zero wobbling, even if your legs are shaking.
It is surprising how many terrains the Onewheel plus can take on. Riding technology also rarely comes this well embellished. To help your stunts (do these under supervision only) look even better, the LED panel changes colors depending upon which direction you’re going in. The forward direction is lit with white and the rear is lit red, much like a car.
Going as fast as 19 mph and covering a distance anywhere from 5 to 7 miles in a single charge, this is one of the best rideables in the market.
Boosted Board 2
A skateboard that runs on battery. I’m sure you’ve heard of those before. But I can guarantee it is not remotely as amazing as the Boosted Board. And now that we have the second version of the board with reworked circuitry and better optimised remote control, things have only got better. With Boosted Board 2 comes superior wheel control and optimisation, especially in how the wheels kick in when you’re done going down a slope, an area most hoverboards struggle with thanks to the wobble in the feet.
Given the board has 4 wheels, things become easier to control since there is a lot less stress you have to bear while trying to balance. The battery is removable, a major plus point as compared to hoverboards, since that allows you to fit a whole new battery into your locomotion device and double its range and utility using just one spare battery and a pocket sized screw driver. It goes as fast as 22 mph, and the range is yours to choose depending upon the number on spare batteries you can carry and charge. Also, points for the flexible feel of the board.
Segway Ninebot One S1
A more unicycle design is the USP of the Segway One S1, which is a single electric wheel covered in casing and equipped with some pretty cool features, a style that defines Segway’s aesthetic. The One S1 is heavy. It weighs 25 pounds, and with the bulky body, in terms on lugging it around, it’s nothing short of a suitcase. That aside, the LED displays are funky. The speed is decent too. And once you get a hang of it, it turns out to be a much better deal than hoverboards because of the small area they need to turn in, the fact that they take up only as much space as a normally walking man and so you don’t have to ask fellow pedestrians to move aside, along with the advantage you have in storing your rideable.
The weight seems to be a problem though. The next alternative takes care of that too!
OrbitWheels
A problem that persists with a lot of means of transportation is parking. Hoverboards do take up less space, but they’re cumbersome to carry around, which is a shame. Both those problems are solved with Orbitwheels.
Imagine having large tyres around your feet. That’s essentially what Orbitwheels are. They’re easier to get onto as compared to hoverboards, especially when you need to board them without a support. Plus, they don’t need to be charged, because they’re based completely on manual effort. They’re largely skates that fit sideways.
Full points for the novel design and arrangement. The foot platforms can be plucked out and fitted into the inner rim for easy storage. Orbitwheels are surfboards reimagined. They’re definitely effort intensive, but at least you’ll burn a lot on calories, learn balancing and give your brain a healthy workout along with your mind.
There are other options too, like the Atom 95X MountainBoard, or the Swagtron electric board. Or, you could get a good electric scooter. The 4 alternatives we cited, however, are the safest, easier to procure and amazing in terms on performance and novelty. Be sure to check them out, and tell us what you think of them if/once you’ve already tried them.
