What are the different types of hoverboards?

All hoverboards adhere to the same basic principle, i.e. they are battery driven personal transportation devices that consist of a board, an electric motor and two wheels. They are self-balancing, which means that you control the hoverboard’s movements with your bodyweight alone.

As you would expect with any mode of transport, there are different types of hoverboard and the major differentiating factor between them is wheel size.

What are different types of hoverboards? Essentially, they come with standard 6.5” wheels or larger 8.5” or 10”wheels. The latter two sizes are commonly known as ‘all terrain’ hoverboards.

Which one should you choose? It all depends on where you are likely to use the board, what kind of ride you are after and whether or not you are an experienced rider.

The most popular types of hoverboards are those with 6.5” wheels such as the Classic 6.5 Classic Disco LEF Official Hoverboard. Hoverboards with 6.5” wheels are perfect for those who want a lightweight board that will mainly be used on flat surfaces.

The 6.5” Classic Disco Hoverboard reaches top speeds of up to 12km/h, has passed CE and UL safety certificates and comes with sonic bright multicolour LED lights and built-in Bluetooth speaker.

These boards are ideal for kids and newbies who haven’t ridden a hoverboard before.

Then you’ve got the hoverboards with 8.5” wheels like the Blue Galaxy 8.5” Off Road Hummer Official Hoverboard. Popular with teens, these boards can cope with rougher terrain, they give a stable ride and they are better equipped to tackle hills

The Blue Galaxy Hoverboard has solid grip tyres, so you don’t have to worry about developing a puncture and despite the bigger wheels, it still moves at a nippy maximum speed of 15km/h. It also has built in Bluetooth speaker, auto balance technology and precise gyro control, meaning you’ll always get a super smooth and responsive ride.

If you are seriously into off-road riding, consider at 10” wheeled model like the Black Vortex Camo 10” All Terrain Official Hoverboard. This beast of a hoverboard has 10” inflatable rubber tyres that will absorb shocks and make mincemeat out of lumps and bumps in the terrain.

It has a top speed of up to 14km/h and is powered by 700W of silent German engineered motors. Great if you want to tackle slopes, grass and other off-road surfaces. This one is ideal for teenagers and/or heavier adults as it can bear a maximum load of up to 120kg. Gyro sensors mean it will also be responsive with lighter riders and kids too.

Once you’ve decided on the wheel size that suits your needs, you then of course, have to consider the many paint finishes available, along with added extras such as built-in speaker, LED lights and accessories such as a Hoverkart Bundle that will turn your hoverboard into a GoKart – great for tricks, racing and an even more stable ride.

If you’re feeling brave and you’re an experienced rider, you can buy one wheel hoverboards, which have a single wheel in the middle of the board. One wheel hoverboards can tackle all kinds of terrains and you accelerate or slow down by leaning forwards of back. They can travel at speeds of up to 24km/h and are much harder to master than traditional hoverboards. They are expensive too, with prices starting at around £700.