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Skateboards are a classic transportation device. They have rightfully earned their reputation alongside bicycles and roller blades as part of the holy trinity of methods of transport. For exercise or for fun, or even simply to move quickly for a couple of miles, it’s hard to deny the utility and convenience of skateboards. That’s why electric skateboards are all the rage these days.
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With easy to use remote controls and an increased sense of speed and adrenaline, the electric iteration of this classic vehicle is superior in perhaps every single way to the original. Well, except for one aspect: the price.
So many people keep on saying that they would love to own one but they’re simply far too expensive. The majority of electric skateboards cost upwards of a thousand dollars whereas regular skateboards can be purchased for under a hundred bucks. This is precisely why we needed to get this guide out to you. Here we will showcase some of the best and most affordable electric skateboards under $500 that would be worth every penny you spend on it.
Generally speaking, electric skateboards have all the most important features in common. My buying guide cares more for honing in on specific differences: battery life, max speed, visual design, durability, comfort, motor power, and weight. I selected these five boards based on a balance of optimizing these features as well as how well they cater to three groups of experienced riders: beginners, intermediates, and experts.
One example would be that many skateboards function very similarly in specific weather conditions. But if one were to have wheels that performed better on wet surfaces on rainy days then I would point that out. You generally don’t want to ride skateboards, electric or otherwise, on icy grounds though. Skateboards are also supposed to be fairly portable, so bonus points will be handed out for having a fair size.
Now that we’re done with the preamble let’s move onto our first skateboard:
Range
11 miles
Speed
22 mph
Weight
14.5 lbs
Power
760 Watt
Verdict:
The Teamgee H5 Electric Skateboard is the thinnest electric skateboard you can possibly find. In spite of its ultra-thin structure, it’s still safe to use because its deck is specially designed to reinforce stability and control.
Pros:
Cons:
Teamgee H5 Electric Skateboard is probably the most technologically advanced electric skateboard on my list. It isn’t just motorized but it comes packed with a variety of auxiliary components that are helping push skateboards into the 21st century. The Teamgee H5 generally felt like riding on any other skateboard. But it really shined when I took advantage of its unique electronic features.
What I think may be the most appealing aspect was its increased stability and control in spite of its thin structure. You can’t blame me for I am looking for cheap e-skateboards without compromising my safety after all. Teamgee H5 is one of those. Unlike most skateboards, it is lowered 15-20mm to the ground. And as a rule of thumb, the closer you are to the ground, the more stable your ride should be.
The strong grip of its PU wheels is another welcome addition, and I wish more boards had them. These wheels are made to carefully distribute your body’s gravity towards the ground. I may sound like a geek right now but to cut it short, this feature adds an additional layer of security and ride stability.
The thing I noticed about Teamgee that can be an off is it’s significantly heavyweight in spite of its ultra-thin board. Perhaps the materials it is made of must be the culprit. Still, its deck with a combination of 10 ply Canadian Maples and 1 ply fiberglass makes the board strong yet incredibly flexible. So I wouldn’t mind carrying this stuff during short commutes as long as my safety is guaranteed.
Affordability: 2/5. It might be a little bit pricey but it’s still within your $500 budget. Still, the stability and safety this e-skateboard gives can justify its value. It also has the highest quality basic components for the wheels and the board itself. Investing in such isn’t just throwing your moolah down the drain.
Reliability: 4/5. The ultra-thin deck feature is extremely reliable and makes this board a great choice if you live around steep hills. The concave deck also helps a lot. It makes turning significantly effortless and comfortable.
Durability: 3/5. Though Teamgee is made with the strongest Canadian maple and fiberglass, it can significantly wear off as heavier weight beyond its 200 lbs capacity is loaded. Worse road conditions can also affect its battery life, range, and speed.
Range
12.5 miles
Speed
18.6 mph
Weight
16.5 lbs
Power
700 Watt
Verdict:
Fantastic value for money even though it is one of the priciest electric skateboards in our round-up. If you can afford it, you can’t go wrong with the Hiboy S22.
Pros:
Cons:
It would be easy to fool people about the price of this model. The Hiboy S22 is a very fine-looking board and one can tell right off the bat that it’s made from very high-quality components. If you had told me that this model costs roughly double what it actually does, I would have believed you.
The Hiboy has 4 riding modes and 4 braking modes that can give a very smooth riding experience, making it perfect for beginners and experts alike. This skateboard takes two hours to charge to max energy, which is a solid time frame.
The max speed is just under 18.6mph, which again, is pretty impressive. Some of the fastest boards on the market can go above 25mph but those are speeds normally reserved for the die-hard hobbyists. If this is your first board then you should know that 18.6mph is more than enough to satisfy casual riders. I’m more in the casual/intermediate camp myself and for me personally, 18.6mph was a nice sweet spot.
The only thing dragging this Hiboy S22 down, almost literally, is the weight. The components are a mix of layers of maple deck. This makes the board sturdy and keeps you balanced even at higher speeds but it also makes it a little too heavy. It weighs 16.5 pounds which is more than ideal. You don’t really notice it when you’re already in the flow of things but it does make initial acceleration a little long. Plus carrying it in and out of the house feels like more of a hassle than it should be.
On the downside, if you are a relatively heavy set then this may not be the perfect board for you. The weight limit for this board is only 220 pounds.
Visually, again, I was surprisingly impressed. The only thing I’d change is the lettering on the surface is a tad too bright for my tastes but it isn’t too distracting or incompatible with the rest of the design anyway. As I said earlier, this looks like something worth double its price.
As for actually riding this skateboard, it delivered on all fronts. Its weight helps make you feel properly secure and it doesn’t waddle when going up or downhills. The wheels didn’t have the best resistance to slippery conditions, but it’s advised to not be riding skateboards on wet pavement in the first place.
Affordability: 4.5/5. The value of the Hiboy S22 is extremely good. It is well within the budget but it really packs a wallop. Owning this board will feel like buying a $1000 model that went on sale.
Reliability: 3/5. While I experienced no issues, there are some reports of the wheels and the battery biting the dust earlier than anticipated, within a couple of months. These are likely fringe faulty copies. The weight and the long acceleration can also make owning this board a little too much work for some users.
Durability: 4/5. The wood board is really well done. The wheels feel sturdy and are always level with the ground. I only weigh 160 pounds but I bet someone twice my size wouldn’t even dent this thing.
Range
10 miles
Speed
13 mph
Weight
10.4 lbs
Power
350 Watt
Verdict:
I’ve never seen other electric skateboards as durable yet cheap as this one. The VOKUL e-skateboard is way lighter than I imagined. I’ve previously ridden boards this size which are at least twice as heavy.
Pros:
Cons:
The VOKUL is a fascinating skateboard that initially attracted me with what I believe are its two biggest selling points: its portability and its automated power switch.
For starters let’s look at the data. The VOKUL has a 350W motor, is far less powerful. It attains a max speed of 13mph, lower than the Benchwheel’s 18.5mph. But on the plus side, it only weighs 10.4 pounds, and boy does that make a difference. I never expected how it’s even lighter when I held it myself. It is very easy to just pick up in one hand just as skateboards were originally meant to be.
This lower weight means that it accelerates faster. It also has a lower weight limit of 200 pounds which was fine for me but may not be for you depending on your size.
Another thing that amazed me is VOKUL‘s automatic power switch. It will automatically turn on as you roll it and turns off after a few minutes of not using it. You should be able to save quite a bit of power you can save with this feature.
A pet peeve of mine with this electric skateboard is its safety hazard when used during rainy days. It is not water-resistant. Water may seep into the skateboard’s battery and charging hole, so it is not really recommended to ride this one on rainy days. VOKUL should address this issue, even if only slightly.
Now for what many of you are probably very concerned with: the motor. Being perfectly honest here, its single 350W motor isn’t impressive enough. Its power is just half-fold or even quarter-fold of its e-skateboard counterparts. Regardless, it could still run up to 10 miles. Now, that’s competitive enough. Still, If there’s a new version for this electric skateboard having dual motors to increase its power, I would definitely trade my current possession for that.
Affordability: 4/5. The VOKUL is an absolute bargain. Can you imagine yourself getting an e-skateboard with a desirable quality at this price point? I experienced it myself. And it’s definitely worth it.
Reliability: 2/5. Again, its motor capacity is really off for me. And the biggest issue is the lack of water-resistant parts.
Durability: 3/5. It may be small but it is sturdier than it looks. Just make sure to keep this thing as dry as possible since it’s not water-resistant.
Range
5 miles
Speed
10 mph
Weight
10.9 lbs
Power
125 Watt
Verdict:
The RazorX may be the cheapest on my list right now, but definitely not the cheapest in terms of quality. It provides a fantastic mix of performance, reliability, and affordability, without sacrificing portability. This board is best for beginners. Even kids as young as nine can ride this thing without overthinking about safety.
Pros:
Cons:
The RazorX has a couple of secret weapons making it a very interesting choice for over a hundred dollar board. Though its motor power is not that impressive having only 125W, it can run a considerable speed of 10 mph and can last up to 40 minutes in one charge. I know. This is not as impressive as others, but it is quite good enough for its cost.
Its speed can be fast enough for kids yet a little bit slow for adults. But for me, it’s not a big deal at all. A lower speed limit just means a slimmer chance of getting thrown off the board. After all, we’re looking for a good e-skateboard that focuses on safety and affordability.
I can safely say that riding the RazorX is a smooth and satisfying experience. The board itself weighs 10.9 pounds which isn’t too heavy and is more in the range of average weight. It doesn’t take too long to accelerate either. The max speed is only 10 mph but that’s not bad with a 125W motor.
The braking system for this board is really smooth as well. Most electric skateboards have a system that is a sort of gradual decelerating. With this controller, you are in total control of how fast you want to stop, which makes this a very good skateboard in cases of an emergency like an oncoming vehicle.
I also really liked the additional features being incorporated in RazorX. Its high-grip urethane wheels are made for enhanced stability. Also, its rear-wheel-drive motor is carefully made to eliminate alignment issues.
Affordability: 4.5/5. It doesn’t offer the most amount of features but it’s on sale for a solid price and it gets the job done.
Reliability: 3/5. The RazorX is great for beginners thanks to its well-designed wheels and board. However, its battery can die sooner than expected.
Durability: 3.5/5. It’s not the heaviest and most reinforced skateboard on the planet but it can withstand the normal wear and tear that most people throw at it.
Range
13 miles
Speed
12 mph
Weight
10 lbs
Power
700 Watt
Verdict:
provides an affordable electric skateboard that can’t quite compete with the other models’ performance.
Pros:
Cons:
The last board I have to talk to you about today has the most unique shape on today’s list. It has specially rounded ends and a dual motor set up for a total of 700w. Plus it has a cool logo on the upper side that makes it look like it’s owned by a member of a prestigious sports team. This is Alouette’s .
As I’ve mentioned before, I really like longer boards. Call it a personal preference but I feel more stable and secure when my feet have more room to work with. The Alouette’s total length spans two and a half feet, easily making it the longest board on this list. But it’s also thicker than you’d expect. Six layers of maple and bamboo comprise the deck, which is actually very high quality for this price.
Because the wheels are so far apart and because the edges are smaller and rounded, the balance is quite impressive. It’s a little hard to explain but it simultaneously feels lightweight and also secure. Turning requires much less effort than expected with or without remote control usage. The wheels aren’t gripped but the back wheels are heavy which adds to the sensation of feeling well planted.
The underside places the motor in a well-thought-out spot. It doesn’t feel too noticeable beneath your feet as motors often do. Plus it was laid in the center of the board to not offset the delicate balance the entire structure achieves. It’s even less noticeable than smaller motors that are too close to one side of the edge.
Similarly to the Action Blink S, the Alouette also has a 15-degree incline climbing feature. It works just about as well but I thought it would have been a different experience with having slightly more power and a very different overall board design and wheel placement.
The max speed is only 12mph which is surprising given the 700w of power but I surmise that Alouette had to sacrifice speed for balance and stabilization, a common occurrence in this price range.
Affordability: 4/5. 700 watts and 6 layers of wood is already a great value for the asking price. Add the 15-degree incline climbing and the smart design of the board’s shape and you’ve got yourself a winner.
Reliability: 3.5/5. The brakes aren’t too good even on flat surfaces, but luckily the Alouette doesn’t go too fast in the first place.
Durability: 3.5/5. The board itself is very sturdy and thick and has a great grip. The remote control and the front wheels could have been stronger but that’s inexpensive skateboards for you.
Perhaps you’ve noticed a running trend across all five of these electric skateboards: sacrifice. That’s the nature of cheaper products. If they were great at everything then they wouldn’t only cost $300-500. But this list was necessary to make because I wanted people to realize that as long as you prioritize your needs, whether they be brakes or portability or battery life, there is a cheap skateboard out there that can satisfy you.
I’m confident that at least one board on this list can accommodate the majority of people working on a budget. I hope you’ve learned a thing or two about electric skateboards and I hope you find one that matches you and your needs.
If I had to give you one recommendation, I would urge you to take a closer look at the TeamGee electric skateboard. It is one of the most technologically advanced boards I have ever experienced so far. Its exceptional overall ride experience and carefully engineered parts set this board apart from the rest. Have fun with your new toy!
Last update on 2023-11-18 at 02:36 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.