Hoverboards and kids - Is it safe?

Research says there is very little evidence showing that hoverboards are riskier to kids than other personal transportation vehicles. A couple of low-quality brands 5 years ago really pushed manufacturers in the direction of focusing on user safety.

Hoverboards mainly target a younger userbase. They may be futuristic and fun to ride, but they are a bit inconvenient as a commuting alternative, and hence mostly kids tend to use them.

Are hoverboards risk-free for kids to ride?

Hoverboards aren't risk-free for kids to ride. There is always a risk of getting hurt when you ride on any transportation device, whether it be electric powered or not. In fact, studies have found that today's hoverboards are almost as safe as riding a bicycle. But again, an electric vehicle can always malfunction, causing the child to fall and get hurt.

Why kids are better hoverboard riders than adults

Kids do not only have a much easier time learning to ride a hoverboard. They are far superior in their style of riding too. Mainly thanks to their lack of risk analysis and the fact that they are way more relaxed and trusting in new technology. 

These perks that kids possess at a young age are critical for learning how to ride fast. When you ride a hoverboard, the first thing you need to do is relax and trust that the machine will keep you up straight. You might have seen those 3-4-year-olds riding around fast indoors already, if not. Check the video below out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09GKDKGc9hA

Even though they are far below the recommended age of 8+ that most hoverboards have, they ride them far better than most adults or older kids do. Children are also far more flexible. Many times they can save them from serious injuries while falling or save the situation altogether. As adults, we are most often stiffer, less relaxed, and not blindly trusting in the hoverboard.

Having the right hoverboard and equipment

After all the problems hoverboards went through back in 2015, manufacturers were forced to increase their quality. That lead to electric rides getting their own UL certificate, and most hoverboards sold by large marketplaces today all have this stamp of approval. That means most of the hoverboards today are safe in terms of battery and charging. But it doesn't mean you don't get to do your due diligence for you to get a decent model. Some brands still build poor quality hoverboards, some have worthless after-sales service and support, and some come onto the market with a low price and disappear.

How do you know what to buy?

Well, I did some research and found this list to be filled with good hoverboards for kids: https://aridejunkie.com/hoverboards-for-kids/ 

It covers most of the popular models, and after doing my due diligence, I saw they had done some heavy research into the brand's history and review score on top of testing them. That sold it to me. 

On top of that you also want to have some quality protective gear. I suggest at least get the following pieces of gear to keep your kids safe while riding.

• Helmet(No-brainer)
• knee-pads
• Elbow-pads
• Wristguard

If you get the above-mentioned safety gear you can rest assure they are as protected as they can be. Remember this, your kids will be safer on it that you would.

Do you have kids that ride hoverboards?

If so, please share your experience and thoughts in the comments!