Below is a quick guide to help you choose the correct hoverboard size according to age.

6.5 inches

It is best to choose smaller hoverboards with 6.5 inches wheel size for children 8 years old and younger. It is comfortable for kids 8 years old and below, allowing them to have a more enjoyable ride. It is highly recommended for a weight range of 20 to 100 kg. 

These hoverboards have 12 km/h maximum speed. They come in many different colors and patterns that you can choose from. A charging time of about 2-3 hours can already travel for up to 20 km. 

8 inches

The recommended hoverboard size for children above 8 years old is 8 inches wheel size. This usually has maximum speeds of 10-15 km/h with 100 kg maximum weight capacity. Its minimum carrying weight is 20 kg.

The 8-inch hoverboard has a higher pad level from the ground and slightly bigger wheels compared to the 6-inch. However, it has the same motor power as the 6.5 inches hoverboard.

This size has a wider base that is safe not only for kids but for adults as well. 

Hoverboards of this size also come in different colors and designs. A single charge of 2-3 hours can let you travel up to 20 km as well.

9 inches

Hoverboards that are 9 inches have a maximum weight capacity of 100 kg. This size is recommended for ages above 10 years old. Moreover, this size is also safe for adults.

A single charge of 2-3 hours can travel up to 20 km, with max speed of 10-15 km/h. There are limited designs to choose from for this size.

10 inches

Above 10 years old and adults can ride 10-inch hoverboards with great ease due to its broad, stable base. These have a maximum weight capacity of 100 kg. A single charge can take you up to distances of 15 km.

You can enjoy riding this with its maximum speed of 10 km/h. 10-inch hoverboards come in a wide variety of designs that you can choose from.

Off-Road Hoverboards 

Off-road hoverboards are a special type of hoverboard designed with really big tires and powerful motors. They are different from the average hoverboard and are perfect for riders who want a different experience!

These are what we call as those with “monster tires” that are perfect for off-road riding experiences. The tires of this hoverboard measure 8.5 inches.

With a single charge of 2-3 hours, you can travel up to 20 km. These generally have maximum speed of 12 km/h. This special type of hoverboard comes in different colors as well. We recommend this for kids above 10 years old with a minimum weight of 30kg.

When it comes to choosing a hoverboard, it is important to compare and consider sizes that will fit your child’s weight and age. There are different sizes of hoverboards available that are comfortable for every age, including adults. This is to make sure that they will have an enjoyable and safe hoverboarding riding experience.

The post A Quick Guide: Finding the Right Hoverboard Size for Every Age appeared first on Hoverboards NZ.

It can be with your riding style since physical activities help you discover how your body moves and behaves, with the type of hoverboard you use, and even with the way you customise your hoverboard. 

If you would like to get creative with your hoverboard’s look, here are a few DIY customisations you can try.

Decals/Stickers/Skins

Putting decals, skins, or stickers can be a quick and fun way to upgrade your hoverboard’s look. These items are readily available online, and some are even made especially for hoverboards. If you are feeling extra expressive, you can opt for loud, vibrant, and vivid colors. 

If you want to go for quieter colors, you can opt for less vibrant or plain designs. All you have to do is choose decals, skins, or stickers that will fit your hoverboard. But if they don’t fit, feel free to improvise until they fit your self-balancing scooter. 

Do note that these will peel off overtime. Once they do, you can just strip them off and replace them easily.

Designer Duct Tapes

Designer duct tapes can be a cheaper way to dress up your hoverboard if you find decals, stickers, or skins a bit pricey. All you have to do is purchase a designer duct tape (or three, depending on the number of designs you want to play around with) and get a cutting tool. Some people recommend the X-Acto Basic Knife cutting tool for a more precise cut, but normal tools will also do just fine. 

Once you have your tools ready, stick the duct tape on the areas of your hoverboard that you want to be covered, and cut accordingly. Keep repeating the process until you get your desired results. Like decals, stickers, and skins, designer duct tapes are also temporary. 

You can replace them with the same design or opt for a different look once they start to peel off. 

Spray Paint

If you want to unleash your inner daredevil, spray paint is another way to glam-up your device’s look. Keep in mind that the process of spraying paint will require more care as it is permanent, unlike choosing designs you can easily stick on your hoverboard. However, if you are very much determined on performing this method, all you need are spray paints, tape, and scissors. 

First, use the tape and scissors to cover up all areas that you wouldn’t want to spray paint on. These areas usually include the wheels and rims, and the platform where you place your feet. Once covered, apply a light coat on your hoverboard with your spray paint. 

Let it sit for ten minutes, and then repeat. Once you have applied two, light coats, spray your final coat. The third application should be darker. 

Once finished, you can spray a clear paint to protect and prolong your hoverboard’s new color. Finally, remove the tape and enjoy your device’s new look.

You will discover more ways to customise your hoverboard’s look, especially if you have a knack for DIY designs. Truly, the hoverboard can be a powerful tool for self-expression.

If you are looking for a quality yet affordable hoverboards for sale online to customise, Hoverboard NZ is best supplier for you. With our thousands of satisfied customers, our hover board quality speaks for itself and you can be assure you’re getting the best value for your money!

The post Fun Hoverboard DIY Customisations You Can Try appeared first on Hoverboards NZ.

A hoverboard, Segway, just like self-balancing scooters, has gathered popularity across the globe. Although it was expensive earlier, manufacturers now have started creating quality hoverboards that are affordable and reliable.

Maintaining Your Hoverboard

If you have bought a hoverboard for the first time, you must understand how to take care of the same. Here are five maintenance tips that should be religiously followed by every hoverboard owner. Take a look –

• Keep Your Wheels Clean

Using a hoverboard regularly can assimilate a lot of dirt and debris on its wheels. If you keep your wheels uncleaned for an extended period, the waste may get connected to the motor lowering the efficiency of the hoverboard itself.

Ensure that you clean your wheels regularly. This will not only ensure the proper functionality of the hoverboard but will also maintain its aesthetics.

• Keep the Battery Charged Always

Another important thing that you need to keep in mind while using a hoverboard is to keep its battery charged all the time. Lithium-ion batteries mostly power hoverboards, and they are rechargeable. However, how long or how efficiently these batteries will work in the long run entirely depends on how you take care of them.

Regular charging is mandatory for every hoverboard, Segway. Before you take it out for a ride the first time during the day, make sure it is fully charged.

• Keep It Clean

To ensure the utmost efficiency of your hoverboard, you also have to keep the multi-layer fibreboard clean all the time. The board can accumulate a lot of dirt and debris from day to day use. If you do not maintain the sensor and other inner parts of the board correctly, it can affect its functionality. 

Keeping it clean all the time does not only make it look good but will also improve its efficiency.

• Let It Cool

Just like smartphones, hoverboards also tend to get heat up with excessive use. You must let your hoverboard cool down entirely if you have been using it for an extended period of time.

This will help you increase your hoverboard’s durability and provide you a smooth ride.

• Keep an Eye on The Peddles

When you step on your hoverboard, it should not feel unstable and loose. You should be able to stand on it without any hassle and feel safe riding it. If you are feeling uneasy once you step on your hoverboard, check those peddles. Chances are, the paddles are loose and can get detached any time.

Keep an eye on the paddles and check on them from time to time. After all, it’s a machine, and excessive use can loosen up the paddles. Take help from a professional if you find out the paddles are loose. They will help you tighten those up just as you need it.

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Hoverboards are simple. They are self-balancing scooters or Segways without any handlebars. These boards have recently become quite popular among the masses due to the many benefits that it offers

What are the things that make a self balancing scooter?

Here are the following components that are a must in a self-balancing scooter in no particular order –

• A steel frame that has a central pivot
• A pair of infrared
• A pair of gyroscopes
• Electric motors – 2 (they are located inside the wheels)
• LED lights
• A couple of tilt sensors (they are located inside the wheels)
• Logic board
• Plastic shell
• Charging port
• Batteries 
• Power switch
• Pressure pads

How Does A Self Balancing Scooter or A Hoverboard Work?

With all those videos by different celebrities on YouTube and other social media pages, you must have already understood how a self balancing scooter or a hoverboard work. These are precisely like skateboards. All you have to do is step on the platform, and the motor on the board will take you forward. The speed of the board depends on how far you tilt your board with your feet.

The technology used on these self-balancing scooters is easy to understand.  

These scooters are set up with computer programs, along with gyroscopic and tilted sensors. These all together efficiently supports the function of a self-balancing scooter. 

The tilt and gyroscopic sensors are nothing but balancing devices.

How to Use A Self-Balancing Scooter?

It is easy to use a self-balancing scooter. When you start your scooter, the tilt and the gyroscopic sensors work together to give you a smooth ride, while the computer in the same navigates your route. If you are willing to go forward and tilt your board, the tilt sensor will know that you wish to move forward. If you are already moving forward, the gyroscopic sensors will understand that you want to go faster.

The same way, if you tilt backward, the tilt sensor will know that you either want to slow down or stop. The scooter’s motion, speed, and action entirely depend on how much you tilt it and on which direction you lean it. Watch videos online to determine how you need to balance your tilt to get the right direction and amount of speed.

The hoverboards run on batteries. It is essential that you keep the batteries fully charged. A fully charged batteries can give you backup up to 7 hours. It only takes 2 to 3 hours to charge your hoverboard’s batteries. If you wish to experience an effortless riding, be sure to keep those batteries charged.

It is easy to learn how to ride a hoverboard. If you have done skating before, it will be somewhat more comfortable for you. And even if you haven’t. It is not that hard to learn how to ride a hoverboard. All you need is the right kind of balance and practice.

The post Self Balancing Scooter: How Does It Work? appeared first on Hoverboards NZ.

Unique technology

When you look at a typical hoverboard, it reminds you of board sports like the skateboard. Unlike most board sports, however, this device offers a unique way of transporting you from point A to point B.

The hoverboard consists of a platform–where the rider stands–and two wheels, one on each side. The platform has pressure pads on top, allowing the rider to control the hoverboard. The direction of the pressure applied by the rider’s feet determines the speed and the direction the device is moving towards.  

Although the rider appears to have complete control over the hoverboard, it is important to note that it does not come without complex parts such as the logic board or the “brain”, gyroscope, infrared sensors, and wheels with electric motors. All of these work together for the hoverboard to run smoothly and balance itself, making it a unique mode of transport.

Eco-friendly way to get around

Not only is the hoverboard unique, but it also allows you to travel in an eco-friendly way. Most hoverboards run on rechargeable batteries such as lithium-ion. These are the same batteries you will find in laptops and mobile phones.

All you have to do is plug in your hoverboard when the battery is low. Once you have completed the charging time, you are all set! Make sure to follow your hoverboard’s charging guide to help overall battery life last longer.

Cool tricks you can do

Besides the hoverboard’s ability to transport you from one destination to another, it actually competes with other board sports by letting you perform cool tricks. One of the tricks you can do is spin in circles, called The Spin, which is good for beginners.

For intermediate, try standing on your left foot (or right, whichever is more comfortable) on the left side of the board, too. Then, use the opposite hand to hold onto your board’s bumper.

Lift your right foot up backward and use your free hand to grab your foot in the air for support. Finally, allow your standing foot to apply pressure on the pressure pad, and begin to spin in circles. This trick is called The One-Foot Roundabout.

For experts, try adding a twist to The Spin. As you make your hoverboard spin in a circle, jump 180 degrees halfway into the spin. You will land back on the board.

The direction of your jump should be opposite to the direction where your board is spinning. This trick is called The Turnstyle.

There are more tricks you can do, but make sure to perform each trick in a safe environment. Also, wear the proper safety gear.

Form of exercise

Who knew you can have fun with the hoverboard and improve your health at the same time? It may take you less effort to get the device moving unlike other board sports, but it is still an overall body workout.

Burn calories as you improve your reflex, balance, concentration, and stance. You can achieve this by performing tricks and even learning how to dance with your hoverboard.

No matter what the reasons are, the hoverboard continues to win the hearts of many. If you are still wondering why get a hoverboard and discover for yourself.

The post Why are hoverboards so popular? appeared first on Hoverboards NZ.

Here are four creative ideas to spice up the way you ride your hoverboard.

The Magic Carpet Ride

Your dream to ride the Magic Carpet has finally come true! Accessorize your hoverboard by placing a rug, one that resembles Aladdin’s Magic Carpet, on top of it. Due to Aladdin being a legendary movie, you can easily purchase rugs inspired by the film from online shops or local stores near you.

If you feel like tapping into your creativity, opt for a do-it-yourself Magic Carpet that allows you to make adjustments according to your preference, giving you a more comfortable ride. Feel free to take it up a notch by dressing up as one of the characters in Aladdin.

Hoverboard Go-Kart

Want to give yourself a break from the usual standing position on the hoverboard? You can purchase a hoverboard go-kart attachment that allows you to create a go-kart out of your device and actually sit on it. It is quick and easy to install, and children as young as thirteen years old can ride it.

This definitely levels up your hoverboard experience, but be wary of  where you ride your hoverboard. There are schools, malls, and even cities that have banned the use of this device.

In addition, going off-road is highly discouraged, because an uncontrolled environment heightens accident risks. So, it is best to educate yourself on hoverboard laws according to where you live. Remember, ignorance of the law is no excuse.

Learning New Tricks

You are never too old to learn a new trick or two. Practice swerving to the left and to the right. Once you master this move, practice rotating clockwise and counterclockwise.

Again, once you get used to it, move on to the next trick. Make sure to practice in a safe environment to avoid unnecessary accidents. You can also ask the help of hoverboard experts to give you ideas on which moves are safe to try and which moves are not worth all the sweat.

The Hoverboard Dancer

Once you have learned new ways to move with the hoverboard, you can take it a step further by incorporating these moves into your dance choreographies. Try to swerve left and right as you do the Whacking Arms dance move, sway from side to side while doing The Floss, and even recreate the pirouette and pretend you are one graceful ballerina (since all know learning the pirouette takes time).

Just keep practicing, and you will learn to bust a move with the hoverboard.

There are more creative ways you can ride the hoverboard. However, always prioritize your safety by wearing the proper attire and gear. If learning a particular trick compromises your safety, simply move on to the next trick.

The post Get Creative with your Hoverboard appeared first on Hoverboards NZ.

It can make you look and feel cool thanks to its futuristic vibe. It was also surprisingly affordable, making it the perfect gift for almost anyone.

You guessed it right! This strange means of transport is the hoverboard.

The question is: Is it safe?

The hoverboard is also popularly known as a self-balancing scooter. It resembles the skateboard without wheels and relies on batteries for power. Navigation is easy, as one only needs to lean forward or push his / her toes to move forward, and lean backwards or put weight on his / her heels to reverse.

It can be recalled that news of hoverboards catching fire. Even exploding ones were seen left and right. This stirred debates among experts and nonexperts alike over its safety.

There are different possible reasons behind these issues, with the law of supply and demand being the most obvious: the demand for hoverboards went off the charts, and manufacturers had to keep up.

Unfortunately, the pressure to keep up affected the quality of production. This ended the “hoverboard craze” as soon as it started- or so they thought.

Do your research and watch out for fake ones.

After numerous investigations, it was figured that only a select few of hoverboards were deemed unsafe due to the use of fake lithium batteries. Necessary steps were also taken such as product recall and a complete halt in production to ensure the safety of consumers.

Hoverboards undergo rigorous testing.

On top of that, the Underwriters Laboratory (UL), an independent, not-for-profit testing laboratory situated In Northwood, Illinois—has raised the standards for the production of hoverboards. For a hoverboard to be declared safe, it must first undergo a series of more than one hundred and fifty (150) tests conducted by the UL.

Some of these tests are called crash test, drop test, short circuit test, imbalanced charging test, over-discharge test, and water exposure test. Once it passes all tests, it is now considered UL 2272 Certified. This has reassured consumers, resulting to the hoverboard regaining its popularity.

Buy from trusted sources.

Although companies are responsible for guaranteeing the safety of their products and providing all the necessary instructions for proper use, consumers must also do their part for their own safety. First, thorough research must be done before making a purchase. This saves you time.

The post The Safety of Hoverboards appeared first on Hoverboards NZ.

Having said that, hoverboards are once again gaining popularity in New Zealand. Yes, they look incredibly cool, but wouldn’t it be great to ride them like a pro and enjoy it? Here are some tips on how you can.

Safety First

It is highly recommended to use safety gear such as helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, tailbone protectors, and wrist guards. Keep your body protected before getting on the hoverboard, especially if you are a first-time user. Remember, even pro users use safety gear in practicing and performing their tricks to avoid injuries.

Next, check your hoverboard before riding. Make sure that it is fully charged and powered on. Do not attempt to stand on a board that is switched off. 

When you are ready to begin, try using the beginner or learning mode. Take it slow. Hoverboards may not be as fast as cars, but the speed range can go from 3mph up to 13 mph.

Another tip that most people overlook is reading your hoverboard’s manual. Get to know the product. This can help you understand specifications and special safety measures. Additionally, when using the board at night, be sure to turn on your LED light so other vehicles can see you.

Finding your Balance on the Hoverboard

Riding hoverboards can be tricky at first. When you attempt to stand on your hoverboard, find your balance by placing one foot on one side. Try using your dominant foot first. Avoid rushing and jumping in. 

Once you feel comfortable and steady, you can now position your other foot. Keep your feet as far as possible to the sides. This will help you control yourself better. 

Remember, most of the control will come from your feet, not from your hips nor your waist. Be sure that your stance does not feel awkward to you or else you would fall off easily.

Just like in skating, bending your knees will help you keep balanced on the hoverboard. Practice riding in a straight line before trying anything else.

Practice, Practice, Practice

As with anything, practicing helps you build muscle memory and confidence. The more you practice, the more you can discover how to ride and control your hoverboard better. 

Learning how to ride the hoverboard is similar to learning how to ride a bicycle. Everyone has different learning curves, so be patient with yourself.

You will also feel more comfortable using your hoverboard the more you practice with it. Building confidence will totally make you feel and look like a pro.

Mastering the Dismount 

A lot of hoverboard users have said that the most challenging part is dismounting, experiencing falls when the hoverboards end up jerking forward. For some, that can seem very sloppy, embarrassing, and not to mention, painful too.

To avoid that, the key is to get off backward instead of forwards. A tip is to use your dominant foot to find your body’s center of gravity and keep the board balanced while you dismount with the other foot.

Challenge Yourself

Once you have mastered the basics of mounting, dismounting, moving, and balancing, you’ll feel ready to move on to the next level. Challenge yourself by learning tricks. One of the beginner-level tricks that both kids and adults can do is “The Stork”. 

This trick involves balancing yourself on one side of the hoverboard. To do this, carefully take off one foot from the board then try to balance yourself with the other.  Relax, focus, and try holding this position for at least ten seconds.

When you’re able to keep balance, try a little spin on your hoverboard. Use gentle pressure, and take it slow.

Finally, you may try placing both your feet on one side. Balance by resting one foot on the board’s bumper. Don’t worry about falling and just relax. You will surely get the hang of it.

Don’t Forget to Have Fun

Try not to overthink so much. Notice how experienced hoverboard users don’t look uncomfortable when they move? They look so cool and relaxed, so don’t forget to smile and have a great time!

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