About Onewheel
Onewheel is a self-balancing skateboard brand owned by Future Motions, Inc, a Santa Cruz-based electric vehicle company. Future Motions was founded in 2014 by Kyle Doerksen, a former engineering student at Stanford University. Initially starting out as a Kickstarter campaign, the Onewheel product gained instant popularity, allowing for the commercial launch of the first Onewheel in 2015. Since then, Future Motions has released five updated versions of the Onewheel, three of which are currently available on their website - the Pint, the Pint X, and the GT.
How Does It Work?
The Onewheel attempts to bring the effortless motion of hoverboards seen in movies and television shows to reality - riders simply step on the board and lean forwards to start moving, side to side to turn, and backwards to slow down/stop. Internal gyroscopes and accelerometers send thousands of data pieces to the vehicle’s motor every second, keeping it constantly balanced. At the center of the vehicle is an 11” wheel, which allows riders to traverse pavement, dirt, and everything in between, all while maintaining the feel of smoothly carving waves on a surfboard.
Why Buy Onewheel?
Onewheel is built to provide the perfect combination of recreation and transportation; once you get going on a Onewheel, it is a truly unique and exciting riding experience. With that said, starting out on the Onewheel involves a bit of a learning curve, and it also requires a reasonable amount of balance, which may prove especially difficult for older riders and riders with disabilities.
Boards
The Pint is Onewheel’s smallest, lightest, and most affordable board, starting at $1,050. Its compact design makes it great for short commutes to work and quick joyrides through the city streets.
Range: 6-8 mile
Top speed: 16 mph
Recharge time: 120 mins (50 mins with the optional Pint Supercharger)
Motor: 750W Hypercore® hub motor
Battery: NMC
Sensors: Solid state MEMS 6-DOF
Tire: 10.5in x 4.5-6in Onewheel
Max lean angle: >30 degrees
Size: 8.75in x 10.5in x 27in (222mm x 266mm x 689mm)
Weight: 23lbs
Powder Coat: Ultra-durable matte powder coat ensuring your board will look fly and last a long time.
8 Reasons to Buy the Onewheel Pint
“Whisper-quiet” 750-watt hypercore motor allows you to navigate tight city corridors with ample power and torque
Off-road ready tire offers a smooth ride on pavement, dirt, sand and more, and its rounded profile is designed for carving out quick turns
27-inch-long footbed makes the Pint easy to carry and store in between rides, and it’s also covered with slip-resistant grip tape to ensure a secure footing
Pint also features a magnetic handle for carrying the vehicle, which conveniently stows away while riding
Weighing in at just 23 lbs, the Pint is smallest and lightest Onewheel available, and it’s also their most affordable vehicle
Simplestop technology helps riders stop easily just by leaning on their back foot, shortening the learning curve for new riders
The Pint is customizable - users can deck out their ride with a wide selection of colors and add-ons at checkout
Integrated light bar above wheel displays battery status and other key metrics while riding, and intelligent LED lighting around the edges of the board provides visibility for night time riding
2 Reasons Not to Buy the the Onewheel Pint
With a range of just 6-8 miles, the Pint may not be the right choice as a commuter vehicle due to the chances of battery drainage
Similarly, the Pint maxes out at 16 mph; riders looking for a faster ride may find the Onewheel GT to be a better choice
As with every Onewheel product, the learning curve for new riders is worth considering since improper riding can lead to injury
The Pint X is a step up from the Pint - it features the same compact design, but with improved top speed and range. Of course the improved performance of the Pint X does come at a price - the vehicle starts at $1,400.
Range: 12-18 miles
Top speed: 18 mph
Recharge time for a full charge: 225 minutes (110 minutes with Optional Pint Ultracharger)
Motor: 750W Hypercore® hub motor
Battery: NMC
Sensors: Solid state MEMS 6-DOF
Tire: 10.5in x 4.5-6in Onewheel
Max lean angle: >30 degrees
Size: 8.75in x 10.5in x 27in (222mm x 266mm x 689mm)
Weight: 27lbs
8 Reasons to Buy the Onewheel Pint X
With a powerful hub motor, the Onewheel Pint X runs at a top speed of 18 mph in a single charge and efficiently simmers down in case of traffic.
The e-board features an electric transmission system that allows riders to zip past traffic easily without having to shift gears.
The wide deck board of the Onewheel Pint X securely holds onto the rider's feet and has enough traction to be sure they won't slip - even while jumping through hills, zipping through turns, or speeding on a sidewalk.
The electric skateboard works on all terrains, from paved roads and grass, to dirt paths, sand, and gravel.
The wheel of the Onewheel Pint X is fitted with a puncture-resistant liner to ensure safe riding on rough trails, as well as convenience while travelling long distances.
The Onewheel Pint X is fitted with a regenerative braking system that promotes better stopping power at high-speeds and provides comfort to the rider.
Despite no front support, the rider is well balanced on the e-board through an independent suspension system that effectively distributes the weight of the board and lowers the rider’s center of gravity.
The steel frame of the Onewheel Pint X is great for cool weather, is durable, and doesn't dent or wear easily.
3 Reasons Not to Buy the Onewheel Pint X
The electric board isn't sealed to be waterproof, so any contact with water can damage the battery and shut off the motor.
The extreme acceleration of the Onewheel Pint X cannot be adjusted.
The Onewheel Pint X electric skateboard is more expensive than other e-boards that have similar features.
The GT is Onewheel’s highest performing vehicle, offering a top speed of 20 mph and up to 32 miles of range. It’s also the first Onewheel to feature the company's very own Trail Slayer tire, which is designed specifically to provide an ultra-grippy riding experience. That said, the GT is considerably more expensive than the other two models, starting at $2,200.
Range: 20-32 miles
Top speed: 20 mph
Recharge time for a full charge: 200 minutes (90 minutes with Optional GT Hypercharger)
Digital shaping - Control the way your board rides
Motor: 750W Hypercore® hub motor
Battery: NMC
Sensors: Solid state MEMS 6-DOF
Tire: 11.5in x 6.5-6.5in Onewheel
Max lean angle: >30 degrees
Size: 9.5in x 11.5in x 29in
10 Reasons to Buy the Onewheel GT
The Onewheel GT is equipped with a 750W hub motor that boosts the acceleration, improves torque, and decreases wear and tear, so it lasts long.
The electric skateboard has an extended deck board that perfectly supports the rider's weight and distributes it evenly, so there's less wobbling at high speeds.
Adding the hydraulic suspension system on the Onewheel GT allows a firmer ride and improves the brake response at high speeds and emergency stops.
The solid steel and aluminum frame improves the durability of the electric board on gravel trails and wipes clean easily without promoting corrosion.
The Onewheel GT recharges fully in under 3 hours and even faster with the hypercharge, so riders can easily set it to charge during long-distance riding and still make the most out of their board.
The redesigned control system of the Onewheel GT allows riders to enjoy high-speed riding while using power efficiently.
The digital shaping of the Onewheel GT allows the rider to control the speed settings, the gear shifts, and the power status.
The Onewheel GT board comes with solid state MEMS 6-DOF sensors that keep an eye out for road obstacles and effectively maneuver around them for safer riding.
The electric skateboard features a maximum lean angle greater than 30 degrees, allowing riders to adjust their stance so the feet do not go numb and there is less strain on the knees.
The high-beam LED lights on the side panels of the Onewheel GT improve nighttime visibility so riders are visible to other drivers on the road and can also look out for others while speeding past any obstacles.
3 Reasons Not to Buy the Onewheel GT
The Onewheel GT weighs 35 lbs which may be a bit difficult to carry especially considering there are no handles for it to be easily portable.
The solid steel frame of the electric skateboard is sturdy but may dent easily under an impact.
The Onewheel GT comes with a price tag of $2200, which is pricier than most e-boards providing almost the same value.
Accessories
In addition to Onewheel’s board lineup, the company offers an extensive line of accessories to supe up your ride. Each accessory package includes the necessary tools to add on the accessory yourself - just make sure you purchase the correct version of the accessory based on your Onewheel model. Now let’s take a look at some of Onewheel’s coolest add-ons…
Fenders
Onewheels ship without fenders, meaning the top of the wheel is exposed between your feet. Similar to a bicycle fender, a Onewheel fender can prevent water and debris being thrown up by the wheel, which comes in handy especially when off-roading. Riders may find a fender to be beneficial, especially for purposes of protecting their shoes. Fenders are available for the Pint models and the GT.
Bumpers
Onewheel offers bumpers, which can easily be attached to the front and rear of your board to give it some extra durability. They’re also easily replaceable, meaning you can continue to protect your Onewheel frame after one pair of bumpers wears out.
Ultrachargers
Ultrachargers offer convenience by effectively halfing the time necessary to get your Onewheel to full charge. They also regulate the charge current so that you don’t overcharge your board when you plug it in at night.
*It’s important to note that chargers are not cross-compatible between the Pint models and the GT.*
Surestance Footboards
If you like the Onewheel but want something closer to your traditional skateboard, the Suretsance Footboards are for you. These footboards are constructed from real wood grain, which improves vibration absorption and gives the Onewheel a more traditional board feel.