![Best (and WORST) Electric Skateboards under $300 [Top Picks for 2020]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTY5OjExMDI=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTUzNiAxMDgwIiB3aWR0aD0iMTUzNiIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxMDgwIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==)
When we talked about the best cheap electric skateboards we pointed out that the bottom of the barrel of the entry-level market segment feels like looking for a needle in a haystack. The chances of finding something good are extremely slim.
But...moving up to the $300 price range, gives us a little more wiggle room.
The next step on the price ladder presents a completely different story, though. With more room to play with and without pressure to make compromises in virtually all engineering departments, the manufacturers are capable of pushing more versatile products that sometimes even include a couple of premium features.
So, let’s delve deeper in this pool of creativity and take a look at some of the best electric skateboards under $300.
Since we already covered the cheapest models on the market, we’ll keep the bottom limit at $199 for the sake of the varietyBest 3 electric skateboards under 300$
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick
| Top Pick | Blitzart 38″ Hurricane Electric Skateboard |
| Click for price |
Runner Up
| Runners Up | Swagtron NG-3 Swagskate Electric Skateboard |
| Click for price |
| Backfire G2 Black |
| Click for price | |
| Hiboy S11 Electric Skateboard |
| Click for price | |
| BLITZART Tornado 38″ Electric Longboard |
| Click for price |
In-depth reviews of each product
1. Blitzart 38" Hurricane Electric Skateboard - Best Overall
PROS
CONS
Whenever you begin a discussion about cheap electric skateboards, some issues immediately pop up. The main one is whether the manufacturer delivers what they promised. In the case of the Blitzart Hurricane, the good news is that it delivers in top speed and range departments.
Of course, you have to consider your weight and riding skills; they impact the acceleration and top speed, after all.
Another potential concern is how durable this electric skateboard is. You’ll be happy to learn that it still delivers the same power and acceleration - and that’s after months of riding the board.
Blizzard Hurricane features a durable deck and a pretty good set of trucks. You’ll have to tighten them up initially - but after that, you’re good.
The deck is built out of two layers of bamboo and seven layers of Canadian maple wood. That allows for lots of flexibility for carving and ensures a smooth ride, too.
The best thing about the deck construction is that the bamboo layers don’t take away from its durability:
You don’t have to be gentle with the board at all. It will absorb most of the road vibrations and endure just about everything you throw at it - jumps, slides, and even grinds.
The motor on this electric skateboard is contained within one of the rear wheels and is pretty decently shielded. That means it doesn’t have a belt system where the engine hangs outside, exposed.
One of the downsides to having a single motor is that the board can wobble a bit. It’s because only one wheel is powered by an electric motor. Thankfully, due to how durable the deck is, the wobble is barely noticeable.
The board isn’t the only part of this skateboard that absorbs road vibrations; the wheels play a significant role, too. Hurricane comes with pretty decent polyurethane wheels that are available in several colors. They’re pretty soft, making them excellent for riding over rougher pavements.
If the wheels are too soft for you, you can always switch them out:
The trucks are compatible with all skateboard and longboard wheels, so you can further tweak your riding experience.
Just because the motor is well shielded, that doesn’t mean it’s impervious to the elements. Keep in mind that the number one enemy of any electric skateboard is water. The same goes for the Hurricane:
The motor will likely die if you ride this electric skateboard on a rainy day or over water.
We should mention that the Blitzart Hurricane comes fully assembled out of the box, and you get a four-year warranty to boot.
Specifications
Blitzart Huracane comes with a 350W hub motor. While you might think this is pretty subpar for an electric skateboard, you’d be wrong. The motor can push the Hurricane to speeds of up to 19 miles per hour - and carry a person up to 260 pounds.
And as a cherry on top, the motor features regenerative braking, meaning you will charge your battery every time you slow down.
This electric skateboard comes with a 36-Volt, 4Ah battery that provides you with around 8 miles of range. The charge time of only 2.5 hours is super short - and you can easily replace it, too.
The trucks on the Hurricane measure 9 inches in width and are built of aluminum. Most of the weight is contained in the deck, which is excellent for stability.
Features
Blitzart Hurricane comes with no special features. However, along with the board, you also get a remote control. It’s nothing special, though, and only features two speed modes.
The only interesting feature of this electric skateboard is the carrying handle. That’s something you don’t often see:
Part of the deck has a cutout for your hand, allowing you to carry this board easily when you’re not riding it.
That’s about it when it comes to its unique features, though.
2. Swagtron NG-3 Swagskate Electric Skateboard
PROS
CONS
Swagtron’s been around for a while now. The company’s made a name for itself by producing some of the best electric scooters on the market.
Sure, their NG-3 Swagskate electric skateboard isn’t as good as their scooters - but it’s a good stepping stone for kids and teenagers.
This electric skateboard features a pretty basic motor and deck, but that’s okay. Why? Because it's incredibly affordable. You won’t have to burn a hole in your wallet just so your little one can learn how to ride an electric board.
Swagtron cut as many corners as possible to keep the cost of this board affordable, though.
The deck is made of polypropylene, there’s no remote control, and the maximum speed isn’t that great.
But that’s what makes it great for kids and teenagers. Before they get to use some of the more advanced boards, this one will help them build experience and confidence.
Just because this electric skateboard is cheap, it doesn’t mean it's bad. Quite the contrary - the NG-3 Swagskate is pretty stable and comfortable to ride.
Because it comes with a single hub motor, there is some wobble, but since the max speed is only 9.7 miles per hour, it’s negligible.
Specifications
As we mentioned above, Swagtron NG-3 comes with a tiny 100W motor. While this might seem a bit underpowered, if you factor in that it’s intended for kids and teenagers, 100 Watts of power is more than enough.
The motor can push this skateboard to speeds of up to 10 miles per hour.
The 16.8 V, 2 Ah battery provides around 6 miles of range. The battery holds enough charge to push the NG-3 uphill, but only if the rider is below 132 pounds. The recharge time is pretty short and is a tad under 1.5 hours.
The deck is built out of high-density polypropylene that can support riders weighing up to 150 pounds.
The polyurethane wheels are made to handle most types of pavement. They are on the softer side, too, which means the ride will be smoother.
Features
Because this is such an inexpensive electric skateboard, there aren’t many features. The only part worth talking about is the Hands-Free Kick-to-Cruise mode:
Instead of using a remote control, this board utilizes a series of sensors to keep the board's speed constant.
The way this works is by you simply kicking off with the board. The board will continue moving at the same speed you kicked off initially - pretty simple and elegant if you ask us.
3. Backfire G2 Black-Upgrade Pick
PROS
CONS
Now, let me start by stating that the G2 Black is a little bit pricier than the range we are talking about in this review! However, I decided to include it because it makes for a great e-skateboard upgrade if you have some extra change to spare. With that being said, let us look at what earns the Backfire G2 a place on our list.
Historically speaking, Backfire has always taken a backseat when it comes to the race as far as affordable electronic skateboards are concerned.
However, we saw a break from tradition with the launch of the G2 Black; only their second offering in their affordable range of boards.
Thanks to the company’s reputation for superior workmanship, the designers managed to produce one of the best cheap electric skateboards in the market.
The quality of Backfire G2 Black is evident right from the construction! Just like its name suggests, the board sports a cute all-black deck that should appeal to all ages and genders.
The design is customized with a few animated stickers, which makes the board endearing to teens and older kids. Weighing just under 15lbs, the G2 Black is a portable board with a 37-inch long deck made out of high-quality 8 ply maple.
The material offers just the right amount of flex to enhance your agility on turns, although heavier riders generally complain that the flex is just too much.
The 96mm wheels used on the board deliver a nice shock-absorbing performance, which ensures that bumps and vibrations are significantly dampened when riding on rugged surfaces.
The G2 is ultra-smooth yet can deliver top speeds to impress any experienced boarder. Although not the most powerful, the motors do well with the ability to help riders flatten steep inclines at a 20% gradient.
The efficient motors are also fully sealed and waterproof to let the board run in all kinds of weather. Overall, the ride performance is gentle and smooth, and this is what makes the Backfire G2 a great pick for beginners who are still learning the ropes.
The battery range won’t over excite you, but you can still do great things with it. Backfire decided to compromise on extra features when designing the G2 Black, but it shouldn’t take away from the overall experience this board offers!
Specifications
A closer look at the specifications on the Backfire G2 Black and you’ll get a feeling that it is truly an upgraded entry-level electric skateboard. The board is propelled by two high-grade 350-watt brushless motors that deliver a punchy performance to get you to a maximum speed of 24mph.
It is also fitted with a 42V 5.2Ah Samsung battery cell that delivers a range of just about 12 miles; a respectable distance for an entry-level product. However, you will not be impressed that you will have to wait 3.5 hours for it to recharge when it runs out of juice.
You can also choose between two riding modes, economic and standard, depending on your riding skills. Overall, the performance is seamless in both modes thanks to the Hobbywing remote!
Features
Don’t expect to find any additional features of the G2 Blac. However, I should mention that the integration of regenerative braking is a plus on the design of the board. This feature recoups some energy during braking, helping to extend the duration of your ride.
4. Hiboy S11 Electric Skateboard
PROS
CONS
Hiboy is a skateboard that should've been worse – way worse. It's one of those products that pop up in the market, have a lucrative price tag, and aim for the wallets of parents and inexperienced riders. The manufacturer even advertises the product as "suitable for kids and youths riding around town and school.”
However, putting Hiboy S11 amongst the dirt cheap bunch for children would do the product a huge disservice. With its solid core specs and stable overall performance, this neat entry feels much more at home on this list.
Even more so, when we take into account that some of the other contenders are seriously under-performing in important departments.
So what we have here?
An energetic and youthful, if a bit divisive design (the skateboard was made to appeal to kids, get over the neon details), dual hub motors capable of pushing heavier weights and climbing smaller inclines, solid speed, stable performance, rock-solid build quality and even a couple of interesting features that spice this package up way beyond its selling price.
The product does have some drawbacks, however. You don’t get any indication when charging the battery and the remote is… Well, let’s call it underwhelming.
But still… The things Hiboy S11 does well coupled with very appealing price make us more than willing to overlook some of it's flaws. Just remember we are talking about an entry-level product.
Specifications
Much like the rest of the skateboards that are aimed at children Hiboy S11 is not particularly fast. However, the speed of 20km/h is not that bad, either – just on par with some of the lower-ranked entries on the list.
The range and the weight fall in the same basket, they score 10km and 4kg respectively (the latter number is actually pretty good). The unit is also capable of climbing the 8% inclines which is not much, but hey, at least you get to go uphill.
Features
When it comes to the features, Hiboy offers a couple of pretty neat surprises. First, you get a regenerative braking system – a true rarity in this price range. Second, there’s the UL 2271 (safety standard for batteries used in electric vehicles).
Finally, unlike most of the products in the entry-level segment, Hiboy S11 actually allows you to choose between four different speed settings which translates to better control over the board.
5. BLITZART Tornado 38" Electric Longboard
PROS
CONS
With its solid building blocks and lucrative price the BLITZART Tornado 38" Electric Skateboard, qualifies for the top segment in the dirt-cheap electric skateboard market segment. Don’t take this as an insult, though - its specs and overall performance lend this unit enough power to compete with more expensive contenders.
It is also mentioning that BLITZART Tornado is quite stylish, but could be considered "boring" by some.
Speaking of looks, there are two versions made by Blitzart, the Tornado, and the Huracane, which sports that standard longboard look. There are three versions available, all black but the wheels color change - black, light orange, or neon green.
Specifications
Looking at the specs, it’s not very hard to conclude that Tornado was designed as a compact product aimed at casual users. It weighs around 13 pounds and breezes with pretty stunning 23 mph (of course keeping in mind the product’s price). The load the skateboard can carry is pretty solid as well. You can mount up to 250lbs of load and still be able to run at a reasonable speed.
However, we have to talk about the elephant in the room – the Tornado can travel 12.5 miles before running dry. This is the best range on any E-Skateboard in the under $300 price range.
Features
As you would expect from a product of this price, the special features are pretty scarce. The included wireless controller offers basic functions - forward/brake, shift which will allow you to go reverse. Furthermore, there’s a light indicator of the battery life, and a On/Off button below near the charging port. You do get to choose between two speed settings (beginner, expert).
A nice touch that you will not find on other boards in this review is the set of shock absorbers, if you throw on some all-terrain wheels, you may have a assembled a decent off-road electric skateboard for less than $300!
For the price, the Tornado represents the best you can get when it comes to range. However we do like its bigger brother, the Tornado a lot more, and the user reviews on Amazon seem to agree.
You can check out our detailed review on the Tornado, and other boards in the under $500 price range here.
6. ACTON Blink Lite Go
PROS
CONS
Action Blink Lite is a product that tries too hard and somehow fails in the most important areas. It tries too hard to look youthful and edgy and ends up looking ridiculous instead. It tries too hard to find some kind of gimmick that will help it find a place in the crowded market and ends up putting the spotlight on the weight.
Ok, 3.5kg are indeed pretty impressive, but does anybody really care about this feature when much better units are only 200-500 grams heavier. The difference is barely noticeable. And still, the unit has enough audacity to sell at the highest price on the list.
Don’t get us wrong, the Action Blink Lite doesn’t only fail in comparison to the other products we covered on the list, but fails even in its own right. The speed is far from great, the supported weight firmly below the average, and the range is horrible.
The frustrating fact is that most of these problems could be remedied if the manufacturer hadn't made the decision to pursue the title of the lightest electric skateboard on the market and equipped the product with more powerful battery and stronger motor.
Of course, not everything is all that bad. The skateboard handles reasonably well (once you manage to finally sync the board with the remote) and acceleration feels surprisingly smooth. Build quality is not that bad either.
Still, all these positives don’t change the fact that Action Blink Lite is rotten from the inside. What we’re left with at the end is the overly expensive skateboard that can be used only for neighborhood stunts and short rides across the campus. Of course, only if you don’t have more than 60kg.
Specifications
So, yeah, we have the weight limit of 60kg – the same limitation we can see on Maxfind Electric Skateboard. However, Maxfind’s product performs much better in other departments.
Action Blink Lite, does nothing substantial to warrant its price. For instance, you’ll be able to pass only 8 kilometers at the maximum speed of 16km/h in one charge.
But, for what it’s worth, the unit is very light and ergonomic, so once the battery’s gone, you won’t have to carry too much dead weight.
Features
When it comes to the features, it’s good to hear that Action Blink Lite bodes slightly better. This time you get the regenerative braking (a weird card to play given the specs, though), an option to use Android or iOS app for navigation and very forgiving 45 minutes of charge time.
How to choose between affordable electric skateboards
Since the models that feature a price that approximates $300 offer much more variety than their cheaper siblings, the list of considerations you have to make while buying goes beyond the basic quality-driven decisions that are crucial for cheaper models.
Let’s take a look at some of the things that should pop up on your radar if you want to make the most for your 300 bucks.
Good build quality and warranty
Obviously, we are still very far from the point where the price we are asked to pay would grant the quality of the board. So, keep the quality of the deck and the wheels as your top priority if you don’t want to put your skating dreams to rest after a couple of crashes.
A solid $300 electric skateboard usually features a maple deck, and polyurethane wheels so there’s no reason to go below this golden standard.
Well, unless you are pursuing a lighter unit in which case you can get away with carbon decks that still offer a very reasonable sturdiness.
As for the warranty, 6 months to test out the performance and discover potential workmanship flaws should be more than enough to ensure you peace of mind. Just make sure to read the fine print and check what's covered.
Battery capacity and range
In the broadest of terms, the battery capacity has the biggest impact on how far your off-road electric skateboard will be able to roam in one charge. But, only in the broadest in terms. If we take a look at the bigger picture we can see that the board’s range is drastically impacted by the motor’s power and type, as well as the unit’s power management.
That is why, when you inspect the number of ampere-hours the battery packs, take a look at how these numbers translate to much more tangible and easy to grasp kilometers of range.
Motor type and quality
Finally, we have a third member of the holy trinity we like to call “electric skateboard’s core specs.” Let’s start with the type:
- Hub motors – A cheaper of the two predominant varieties, hub motors are very light, compact and they are built directly into the wheels. They are also very light and have a fewer number of moving parts which makes them less prone to mechanical damage. The major downside, since they’re built into the wheels their torque is not all that great.
- Belt motors – A true rarity in this price range (which doesn't mean they cannot be found) belt drives are more powerful and produce great torque which means they can easily accelerate or climb up the hills. More torque also implies better power management. However, belt drives are also much louder and harder to maintain.
When it comes to power, this price range offers a lot of versatility. You can expect the units that go all the way up to 400W which is pretty solid.
The deck
A skateboard deck has a lot more going on, even if we completely take the material out of the equation. Since we are going out of the beginner’s league, let’s breeze through some of the deck features that should provide you with the optimal, personalized performance.
- Stiffness – A flexible deck is capable of absorbing some of the riding induced shock. A stiffer deck will produce a bumpier ride but allows for better control over the wheels. An ideal option sits right in the middle.
- Length – The longer the deck, the more stable the board is, making for a more comfortable ride. However, the bigger dimensions also entail heavier weight and bigger power draw.
- Wheelbase – Wheelbase is the distance between a pair of wheels. The longer wheelbase provides better stability at high speeds.
Additional skateboard features
These would be all the small details that have an influence on the overall performance of a board, but not to the same degree as the core features.
- Remote – One of the most popular ways manufacturers use to cut the costs. No wonder the remotes in this category are usually trash. Still, good response time, LED screen and solid grip can drastically improve the things.
- Grip tape – A deck overlay that keeps the rider’s feet tightly on the board. A comfortable addition to the deck that's always nice to have.
- Carrying handles – Some of the boards have a pair of carrying handles built into the deck. They are incredibly convenient when the batteries run dry.
FAQ
Are below $300 skateboards good for first-timers?
Well, if you need to sharpen your skating teeth, choosing a more affordable product definitely makes more sense than pulling out a big grand out of blue. Even more so if you take into consideration that some of the cheaper electric skateboards feature rock-solid and very forgiving specs.
However, if you've never set your foot on the skateboard before, talking a couple of rides with the classic unit should be a much better testing ground.
If you want to record yourself on your new e-skateboard, remember that one hand is reserved for using the throttle remote, so taking selfies might be a challenge.
We would recommend you get a go-pro, or a drone that can follow you around! Check out our sister site, Buy Best Quadcopter for some decent options.
Can I use my electric skateboard when the battery runs dry?
Yes. Even the skateboards that are powered by belt drives can be used if the battery’s dead. You’ll just need to put more effort into it.
Be aware, however, that electric skateboards pack dozens of electronic components that can explode when damaged, so save the stunts for your regular board.
Do electric skateboard last longer than regular skateboards?
It really depends on how well you take care of them. Electric skateboards that are frequently crashed or exposed to rain, don’t have too big of a life expectancy.
On the other hand, normal skateboards that feature only mechanical parts don’t have this problem, so it’s safe to say they have a bit sunnier future. Still, it all boils down to maintenance.
Is it legal to ride an electric skateboard on the road?
Yes, but you need to abide by certain limitations. In most of the areas, the speed limit for electric skateboards is 32km/h (20mph).
How do the speed setting on electric skateboards work?
Usually, electric skateboards offer some of these four common speed settings:
- Slow – Limited speed and only 20% of battery available. Great for beginners.
- Eco – Even stronger speed limitations, but 40% of the battery on disposal. Good for long rides.
- Fast – Full speed and 60% of battery.
- GT – All bets are off. You get full power and full battery capacity to play with.
