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

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.
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Comments

  • Jenni_D
    Jenni_D Posts: 5,415 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    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. 🙄
    Jenni x
  • baser999
    baser999 Posts: 1,242 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Must confess I thought they’d been outlawed, too many of them were catching light or blowing up when being charged. 
  • Neil_Jones
    Neil_Jones Posts: 9,530 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    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.
  • Andy_L
    Andy_L Posts: 12,992 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    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
    baser999 Posts: 1,242 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    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
    matelodave Posts: 9,021 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    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. 
    Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large numbers
  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 17,862 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    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.
  • Thanks everyone - much appreciate your input.

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


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