Electric skates are essentially motorized shoes and are the latest e-craze. One of the best models to do this is Segway’s Drift W1 Electric Skates, which have actually been out on the market for a while now.
Anyone who has seen the Back to the Future trilogy knows what a hoverboard is, and these electric skates are somewhat similar. The skates themselves can be moved by pressure from a person’s feet. They rely on a back-and-forth movement and are balanced on a big wheel.
There’s still a need to know how to use the skates and it is a bit different than a typical way of travel as there’s really no left or right. It is much like having two small hoverboards at once, one on each foot. They are their own form of transportation, unique from electric scooters, bikes, rollerblades, and anything else out there.
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This technology can be a bit intimidating for the newbie, but after a bit of practice and testing is manageable. The company behind the devices, Segway, maintains that they should be used on flat ground with a slope of up to 100 degrees.
It is also crucial to try to avoid using them on too many bumpy roads and terrain without a ton of obstacles in the way for safety reasons.
Furthermore, the Drift W1 is not meant to be used on dirt roads but it can handle some small rocks and cracks if necessary. They can also be turned off and recalibrated if need be by being placed upside down on a flat surface where they can get a full-on restart.
There will inevitably be some growing pains and maybe a crash or two early in the learning process. There are silicone bumpers that can help remedy this along with handles that Segway has implemented to make for a better experience.
These skates can handle up to 220 pounds of weight with a battery that will run for about 45 minutes. Segway also put lights that are several colors on the skates themselves, which is stylistic and good for nighttime travel.
While they aren’t exactly cheap with a price point of about $500, they are worth a try if you’re looking to travel quickly and in a fun way for fairly short distances. There is definitely a “cool” factor as well as a practical one given the right scenario.
