Kids love hoverboards. And, each holiday season, parents have to make a tough choice when it comes to which hoverboard to buy.
There is a seemingly endless amount of listings on Amazon, with lots of great reviews and a few terrible reviews.
So how to pick the right hoverboard for your kid?
I have selected safe, UL2272 certified hoverboards for kids age 6 and up.
Safety Facts
It’s important to note that the hoverboards that did catch fire were NOT UL-certified. They were made cheaply and quickly in China, with untested battery packs. Quality checks may were been basically non-existent.
Things are now different: hoverboard companies must have a UL2272 certification for all their models. The UL certification guarantees that the battery packs are built correctly and properly sealed in case of failure.
A Quick Word on Hoverboard Age Requirements
A lot of hoverboard models have no specified age requirement, and some have an “official” age requirement of 6 or 8 years old and up.
That said, my niece is 5 and she rides her Hovertrax like a champ, so really – it depends. I definitely wouldn’t recommend a hoverboard for kids younger than 5. In any case, definitely make sure your kid learns to ride the hoverboard first and is wearing pads. For most kids, an hour in a room without any obvious hazards should suffice in giving them lots of confidence when riding.
Wheel sizes and age: a 6.5 inch wheel hoverboard (the standard diameter) is ideal for younger kids. The larger wheel sizes have quite a few benefits but they are better suited for older kids (10 and up).
