After comparing a selection of the best electric skateboards from top manufacturers, we found the best belt electric skateboard under $1000 is the Boosted Mini X. With Exway X1 Pro, the best urban commuter, and the Exway X1 Pro Riot the fastest.
In this article, we compare price, power, speed, range, and ride. There are many good electric skateboards. The best for you will depend on your budget, whether you are going to take it that last mile or just having fun, so keep reading to find which one you should choose.
Meepo AWD Pro
The Meepo AWD GT was the first electric skateboard with 4WD priced under $1000. Meepo also claims it is the first perfect symmetry electric skateboard with both ends of the board symmetrical and each pair of wheels powered by a separate battery.
This 40-inch longboard has 4 hub motors of 540 watts each (2160 watts), giving it the ability to climb a hill up to 35% and hit a top speed of 28 mph / 44 km/h with a range of 15 miles / 24.3 km.
Meepo claims you can accelerate in 2.5s from 0-18.6 mph / 0-30 km/h. The braking system is applied to each wheel for quick stops. So you better make sure to wear protective gear when riding this board.
The deck is constructed from 7 layers of maple, and 2 layers of bamboo. This makes the board heavier at 23 lbs / 10.6kg, but on the other hand, it rides safer at speeds.
The Meepo AWD GT uses 2 Sanyo 108 Wh Lithium-Ion Batteries, and the board has regenerative braking claiming 22% return. It has custom A365 aluminum Shredder Trucks. The 90 mm PU wheels are swappable, and aluminum handles integrated on both sides of the board.
The board seems to be constructed well. Its components are thoughtfully integrated to provide a stable ride in terms of power and carving. Meepo is also unique in customizing its own trucks, which dramatically improves the ride quality.
Boosted Mini S
The Boosted Mini S has a 29.5-inch concave “deep dish” deck that keeps your feet planted, and the kicktail is perfect for faster turns. Boosted earn their reputation through quality, the trucks CNC machined from a block metal instead of cast.
The Mini S has 80mm rubber wheels that ride with little vibration or shock to your feet and legs. The S has 3 modes, in Expert mode has a top speed of 18 mph and a 7-mile range with regenerative braking. Therefore you may get a little more using Eco mode up to 16 mph or the conservative Beginner mode at max 11 mph.
The boosted board controls are simple. Hold the trigger and roll the dial forward to accelerate and backward to brake. There is a button and LEDs on the remote for switching ride modes and checking battery life. The power brick is relatively large, but then it charges in only 1.5 hours from zero. The remote still uses a Mini USB, which is disappointing.
This is a solid all-around electric skateboard. It’s speedy, goes up and down hills with ease, and is fun to ride around town. The range is a little on the short side, and it doesn’t do the best with very rough roads.
Backfire G3
The Backfire G3 has a flexible 39-inch bamboo and fiberglass deck. There are dual 450W motors powered by a 260Wh battery consisting of 24 21700 battery cells, which takes 2.5 hours to charge from zero.
The G3 has a top speed of 28.5 mph / 46 kph and 18.5 miles or 30 km range on a single charge. With front and back Caliber II trucks, the G3 has an exceptional carving experience and stability when high-speed riding. Overall balance is enhanced by the 17.6 lbs / 8 kg weight and 96mm replaceable PU wheels, and it can climb 30-degree hills.
The R3 wireless remote has an OLED display to show live status and change settings. There are 3 ride modes, Eco Sport and a Turbo button to gain 20% extra power when accelerating. The G3 also has a USB charging port that lets you charge your phone or remote while on the go.
The Backfire G3 lives up to its price tag in performance ride and aesthetic. It’s a comfortable, relaxing ride, which sometimes lacks excitement. If you try it, you will love it.
If you are considering a Backfire board, the only decision you need to make is between the G3 and G3 Plus. The G3 plus is exactly the same ride with a cooler look, extra wheels, and a bigger battery. Its whether you can justify the cost for the additional range.
Exway X1 Pro
– Best Commute –
The Exway X1 Pro has dual 1200W hub motors fully enclosed sitting on an upgraded water-resistant bearing. Power comes from a 193Wh battery giving the Pro a 16 mile / 26 km range and a top speed of 29 mph / 46.6 kph with Turbo mode activated.
The X1 Pro has shock-absorbing grip tape on its 36.8-inch deck to absorb unwanted vibrations and 85mm PU wheels, which Exway have tested to get the optimum wheel size for stability. Seismic trucks came standard on the X1.
This board is lightweight 15.1 lbs / 6.8 kg with a load capacity of 265 lb / 120 kg making it robust and portable, perfect for a commuter. Combine this with the regenerative braking, which may compensate for the lack of range, which would be our only negative comment.
The X1 Pro is a board designed with purpose and attention to detail. It is the ideal board for an urban commuter who wants to also have fun. If you are that rider, the X1 Pro should be at the top of your list.
Backfire G3 Plus
The Backfire G3 Plus deck has to be one of the sturdiest and most durable decks made from aerospace-grade carbon fiber, allowing it to maintain its flexibility. Weight is also reduced to 7.3 kg, which is 700g lighter than the Backfire G3.
Backfire also provides both 85mm and 96mm replaceable wheels in the box for various conditions. Other upgrades over the G3 include dual 600W hub motors and the Samsung 21700 40T battery with 346Wh power. Charging time is much higher, but it offers more speed and lasts much longer.
The Plus gets a top speed of 28.5 mph / 46 kph and provides a long 20-25 miles / 32-40km range, which could last two days in an urban city.
The Backfire G3 plus is the upgraded version of the already impressive Backfire G3. Although the difference in price is about $200, there are still enough technical specs and design and weight changes to justify the extra.
Exway X1 Pro Riot
– Fastest –
The Exway X1 Pro Riot is the X1 Pro fitted with a Riot pack. Exway has engineered the board to swap out the hub motors and quickly change to belt-driven motors. So you can either buy the X1 Pro Riot or own an X1 Pro and just buy the Riot Pack.
The Riot is dual 1500W belt-drive motors, which are entirely enclosed design with water-resistant bearings to provide better protection against the elements. The motors also allow you both forward and backward control, just like a Boosted board.
Power comes from a 193Wh battery, which gets a top speed of 29 mph / 45 kph and a range of 16 miles. There is also regenerative braking to try and claw back some power. Charging takes just 70 minutes on a fast charger and 2h 45min with the included standard charger.
The Riot comes with Seismic trucks that you can customize with pretty much any other wheels, although the Standard wheel size of the Exway X1 Pro Riot is 85mm.
The slimline deck is minimalistic with no bulky compartments for the ESC & battery as they are all built into the deck, just like the X1 Pro. The texture of the deck’s underside is coarse, giving you a bit of grip when holding the board.
The Exway X1 Pro Riot may look like a modest upgrade to the X1 Pro. Sure, it merely has most of its looks and style. But its belt-driven system just changes the entire game for its use. This board directly showcases Exway’s build and quality. It has a premium price, but it’s still low enough to compete with some of the premium boosted boards.
Ownboard Bamboo GT
The Ownboard GT comes stock with 120mm Cloud wheels (the ‘GT’ setup) or 6″ airless all-terrain (AT) wheels, and you can buy the combo for $100 more.
The double-drop deck is made from fiberglass and Bamboo with a reasonable amount of flex but not enough to give you the speed wobbles at high speeds with the double-kingpin trucks. The level of flex still affords an extremely comfy ride over the 19 miles / 30 km range.
The Ownboard GT comes with a dual 1500W belt drive motor powered by a Sanyo 4P10S Lithium battery. Giving it a top speed of 24 mph / 38 km/h. At 24 lbs / 11 kg, the Ownboard GT is a hefty and cumbersome board, not for the commute.
The remote is a customized Hobbywing ESC with 3-speed modes Beginner, Middle, and Proficient with a sensor for smooth braking and acceleration.
Ownboard hasn’t tried to innovate on the AT/GT hybrid design. Just build a solid board with bigger motors, smoother velocity curves, and value for money price than competitors such as the Evolve Bamboo GTR and Backfire Ranger.
Boosted Mini X
-Best Overall –
The Boosted Mini X has lost the Orangatang wheels that previously graced Boosted boards. New, more grippy custom-designed 80 mm wheels sit on 190 mm trucks forged from vehicle-grade aluminum.
The X has dual 500W belt-drive motors that produce lots of torque, which makes navigating hilly terrain easy. The top speed is 20 mph with a range of 14 miles with regenerative braking.
Rather than use composites for the 29.5-inch deep dish deck. Boosted have gone with a robust and lightweight poplar core wrapped in fiberglass, which helps dampen vibrations and provides a smoother ride.
All of these changes add up to a relatively hefty 16.8 lbs / 7.6 kg package. It won’t wear you down too much, but it’s not fun to carry across long stretches.
The quality of the components of this board is outstanding. The trucks were manufactured specifically for this drive train. The wheels are completely redesigned, and the deck is state-of-the-art. It’s one of the best boards on the market.
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