10 Best Electric Skateboards in 2022 (Meepo, Evolve, and More)

You can get an e-skateboard built specifically for streets. The wheels, deck, and motor are made to handle concrete, asphalt, and gravel. It's perfect for getting around town. If you're a commuter or city-dweller, this might be what you're looking for.

On the downside, a small e-skateboard won't do well on off-road terrain that has a lot of bumps and uneven ground. On the contrary, these can damage the motor, deck, and wheels.

For off-road terrain, you'll want an all-terrain electric skateboard. It's bigger, bulkier, and heavier, but can take a beating. Its wheels are also bigger and specially made for off-road surfaces. The motor is stronger, too.

A small or mini electric skateboard is what it sounds like: small. It's great to use to get around short distances, like shorter commutes or across campus. Because the board is short, keeping your balance may require more effort on your part, which can tire your feet. That's why this e-skateboard is not recommended for long-distance skating.

Be sure to check the weight capacity of the e-skateboard before you purchase, though. Take and extra weight, such as a backpack, into account, so you don't overwork it!

A hub motor acts as the “hub” of the wheels, typically located at the rear of the skateboard. As it rotates, its force causes the wheels to turn. Despite having less torque and power, it's more stable than the other types of motors available and is a good option for beginners.

Furthermore, a hub motor is quiet. If the battery dies, you're still able to kick-push your skateboard to get where you need to go. This motor is not very customizable and the wheel options are limited, but replacement wheels and sleeves are easy to find.

A hub motor works well for casual on-road skating and commuting. It'll come in handy in the city, though not so much for off-road skating.

Belt drive motors have a more complex system that uses pulleys to rotate the wheels. A belt drive motor has high power and torque, making it great for off-road skating. It's highly customizable and you can find a lot of support in online communities.

A downside to this motor is that it has a lot of parts that may need regular tweaking. Furthermore, you can't kick-push your skateboard - you'll need to carry it. Overall, it's a good option to consider if you want a powerful motor to skate on rougher terrain.

With a direct drive motor, you get the high speed and torque of a belt drive without the belts or pulleys. Instead, it offers direct input to the wheels, like a hub motor, so you truly get the best of both worlds.

What's more, a direct drive motor effectively disposes of heat, making it ideal for going at high speeds for longer periods of time. It also allows for kick-pushing, so it's a very flexible motor option!

Unfortunately, the direct drive motor is big and heavy. It's located near to the ground and may easily be damaged by debris. Still, paired with pneumatic wheels, it makes a good option both on the street and off-road.

The advantage of a dual motor is that if one motor fails, there's still another running to help get you where you need to be. It gives off less heat because the amount of work is distributed between the two motors. It also has better acceleration, making it great for going uphill and driving through rough terrain.

Wheel size matters because it affects the type of ground you can traverse on. Small wheels are slower but accelerate faster. Large wheels, on the other hand, are fast and can hold their speed for longer periods of time, but their rate of acceleration is slow and gradual.

Commonly, e-skateboards use wheels that measure 52 to 59 millimeters in diameter. These are good to use on smooth ground. All-terrain wheels are larger, making them more comfortable to use for rides on rough terrain like dirt roads and off-road. If this is what you need, look for wheels at 60 millimeters and above.

Electric skateboards use two types of wheels: urethane and pneumatic. Urethane, made of polyurethane, is the more traditional type of material used for skateboard wheels.

Polyurethane wheels are hard and better suited for smooth roads. And since they're not pumped with air, you won't experience and flat tires. Furthermore, they have less resistance when rolling, making them roll easily so it's recommended to not exceed 20 miles per hour when using these types of wheels.

Pneumatic wheels, on the other hand, are large and pumped with air. They are great for traveling on off-road terrain and at high speeds. They have more resistance when moving, giving them better traction or grip on the surface you are traveling on.

The durometer scale is used to measure hardness. The hardness of wheels typically ranges between 77A and 100A, although the letter B is used to denote hardness that goes beyond 100. So, the higher the number, the harder the wheel. For an electric skateboard, it's better to look for soft or medium wheels rather than very hard ones.

Wheels between 77A and 87A are considered soft. Soft wheels have more grip and less slide. They are good for cruising around. They're also safer because they don't have much difficulty with rocks and cracks on the road. And they can easily maintain speeds.

Meanwhile, hard wheels range from 94A to 84B. They accelerate fast and are often used by professional skaters. Since they have poor grip, they might be difficult to use for beginners. For e-skateboards and getting around, though, they're not recommended.

Bamboo decks are popular because they are the most flexible type of decks. It's also recommended for beginners because it's easy to maneuver. And it's lightweight, making it portable and convenient for commuters to carry around. That's why a bamboo deck is a great option for the city-dweller.

Maple decks are the go-to material because of their classic grain pattern. A maple deck is hard but sturdier than bamboo. This material is very reliable and is built to withstand tougher terrain. Thus, it works well for both street and all-terrain e-skateboards.

Carbon fiber is used for professional boards. A carbon fiber deck is easy to maneuver because it's lightweight. This increases the acceleration rate and speed. It's generally more expensive than both maple and bamboo. It's recommended for advanced skaters.