Which hoverboard? Needed as a Christmas present for 8-year-old

elsmandino

Hi there.

My son is after a hoverboard for Christmas, this year, but I have done a bit of research and seem none-the-wiser.

This looks quite good:

Razor Hovertrax Prizma | Smyths Toys UK

Are there any other makes/models that I should perhaps be considering instead?

Thanks in advance.

Jenni_D

Wow! A CAPTCHA just to visit a toy store website? Sheesh!

Given that they have wheels, I've always wondered why they're called "hover" boards. 🙄

MikeJXE

More importantly if you are getting a hover board for an 8 year old you should also be researching safety gear, he will definitely come off it. Head Knees Elbows 

baser999

Must confess I thought they’d been outlawed, too many of them were catching light or blowing up when being charged. 

Neil_Jones

elsmandino said:

Hi there.

My son is after a hoverboard for Christmas, this year, but I have done a bit of research and seem none-the-wiser.

This looks quite good:

Razor Hovertrax Prizma | Smyths Toys UK

Are there any other makes/models that I should perhaps be considering instead?

Thanks in advance.

That's not a hoverboard to my mind, when you said "hoverboard" I was thinking along the lines of like Back To The Future 2, ie something that hovers without any other support.  But that clearly still lives in the world of fiction, eight years late and counting

That's basically a souped up skateboard to my mind.

But yes regardless of that, the kid will fall off it so also budget for a helmet, some knee and elbow pads.

flaneurs_lobster

baser999 said:

Must confess I thought they’d been outlawed, too many of them were catching light or blowing up when being charged. 

What? Eight year olds? 

Andy_L

baser999 said:

Must confess I thought they’d been outlawed, too many of them were catching light or blowing up when being charged. 

They weren't outlawed as such - it was never legal to use them as they count as a "motor vehicle" and don't meet the legal requirements that a motor vehicle has to to be used ton the road and motor vehicles can't be used on the pavement

baser999

Andy_L said:

baser999 said:

Must confess I thought they’d been outlawed, too many of them were catching light or blowing up when being charged. 

They weren't outlawed as such - it was never legal to use them as they count as a "motor vehicle" and don't meet the legal requirements that a motor vehicle has to to be used ton the road and motor vehicles can't be used on the pavement

As you’d have seen from my initial post, my reference to them being outlawed had nothing to do with the legality of taking them on the road. My comment was solely to do with the fact that many models were catching light or blowing up when being charged, being of questionable quality from overseas I believe. 

matelodave

If a 12 year old can disappear under a bus on an electric scooter then there's even more chance that an eight year old on one of these could quite easily do the same. An eight year old really doesn't have the sense to understand how to use one safely.

Just my opinion you understand but I'd hate to be a parent who bought or condoned the use of one and my child got wiped out by using them in the street rather than just the house or garden. 

TELLIT01

I can't help with recommendation but, as long as it is only used on private property and properly supervised, I don't have a problem with it.  The OP does need to be aware that they are illegal to use in public places.

elsmandino

Thanks everyone - much appreciate your input.

Upon review, we have decided against the hoverboard for both practicality and safety reasons.