Hoverboards are fun to ride, whether you just hovering around the neighborhood, commuting to college or work, or exploring off-road terrain. But one of the questions people always seem to ask is can you ride a hoverboard on grass, carpet, or gravel?
Can You Ride A Hoverboard On Grass?
The answer is yes, most hoverboards can be used on grass as long as the grass is short and not too thick. You can ride off-road hoverboards on grass with no problem due to their bigger wheels and specially designed off-road tires, but regular hoverboard models will only be able to ride on shorter less thick grass due to them having smaller wheels and tires that are only suitable for smoother surfaces like roads and sidewalks.
You also have to take into consideration if the soil is dry or wet - dry soil will be easier to ride on, but wet muddy soil will be harder to ride on, especially for regular hoverboard models.
Some of the best hoverboards like the Swagtron T6 Outlaw or Halo Rover X can handle wet, muddy conditions, but you still have to use your judgement and assess the riding surface yourself.
If you do want to ride in wet muddy conditions than you will definitely need to use an off-road hoverboard as a regular model will simply not cut it, and you may end up damaging the board.
Check out our reviews of some of the best off-road hoverboards on the market that can be used on grass, gravel, snow, sand (and even carpets)
Can You Ride A Hoverboard On Gravel?
Off-road hoverboards can be ridden on gravel as they have rugged wheels and tires that have been specifically designed to be able to handle this sort of rough terrain. Although some regular hoverboards can work on gravel it is not recommended that you ride these models on gravely surfaces as they are not built to handle this terrain and are more easily damaged by the small dust particles etc.
Some off-road models also have specific IP ratings which prevent dust particles from getting inside the board and causing havoc to the components - very important in prolonging the life of your board.
Non-off-road hoverboards should not be used on gravel as they have smaller wheels and tires which aren’t suitable for these sort of surfaces. They are also more vulnerable to dust ingress which can damage the internal circuitry, motors, and batteries.
Check the IP rating of your board to see if it can handle these sorts of dusty surfaces and riding conditions. If you ride your board on an unsuitable surface, you can damage your device and may end up voiding your warranty.
Can You Ride A Hoverboard On Carpet?
Although most regular hoverboards and off-road models do technically work on carpet we don’t recommend riding a hoverboard on carpet at all as it is unsafe and will also probably ruin your carpet.
If you're not concerned about your carpet than you can ride a hoverboard on carpet that is very thin. Hoverboards should not be used on thick carpet as it prevents the wheels from turning smoothly which can cause accidents. You may also end up ruining your carpet!
In all honesty we don not recommend riding hoverboards on carpets or rugs. Not only can it ruin the carpet and lead to an accident, it also doesnt provide a great riding experience.
Factors Which Affect Hoverboard Performance On Off-Road Surfaces
Each hoverboard is different and has been designed to be used on specific surfaces. All-terrain hoverboards can be used on a variety of different surfaces, but regular hoverboards should only really be used on smoother surfaces like paved roads and sidewalks etc.
However, there may be the odd occasion when you want to ride you hoverboard on grass, carpet, or gravel even though you’re not sure if it is suitable for these surfaces. In this case here are the factors you should consider to help you decide whether your board is suitable to be ridden on these surfaces.
Wheel Size
Your hoverboard wheel size will directly impact the riding surfaces it is suitable for.
On average, regular (non-off-road) hoverboard models have 6.5” wheels which are suitable for riding on roads and smooth surfaces. Off-road hoverboards have bigger wheels, normally starting from 8.5” or bigger.
Bigger wheels will ride more smoothly on a larger variety of surfaces like grass, gravel, carpet, dirt, etc.
Bigger wheels can navigate these tougher terrains easier than smaller wheels, and can roll over obstacles like stones, pebbles, and other debris with less problems.
Tires
The type of tires your hoverboard has will make a huge difference to how well it can handle grass, gravel, and other surfaces.
Some hoverboards have rugged tires that can make easy work of off-road surfaces like dirt and gravel, whilst some models have smoother tires which are designed to be used on smoother surfaces only.
Self-balancing scooters that have wheels that are 8.5” or bigger will usually have tougher, rugged, all-terrain tires, compared to hoverboards with smaller wheels which will normally have tires that can only be used on conventional surfaces.
Rugged off-road tires will have a bigger tread and surface area which provides greater traction and grip and are more suitable for riding on difficult terrain in wet conditions. Regular tires will have a smaller tread which make them less suitable for surfaces like gravel and dirt.
Some hoverboard tires are full of air and come with inner tubes which can be replaced if you get a puncture in the same way you’d replace a bicycle inner tube.
Some hoverboard models come with puncture-proof tires which means they can be ridden over sharp stones, and even broken glass without incurring any damage.
The RockSaw is one such hoverboard that has super tough puncture-proof tires that the manufacturers claim can even be ridden over barbed wire!
Motors
Hoverboard motors are housed in the wheels, so the more powerful the motor the easier it will be to power your hoverboard over difficult terrain.
Click here to find out more about how hoverboards work.
Surfaces like gravel, dirt, or grass will probably not be smooth or straight. These sorts of surfaces and terrain will normally contain dips, bumps, slopes, and inclines.
This is where having a hoverboard with good motor power can make all the difference. Powerful motors enable hoverboards to ride over inclines and slopes more easily, and also provide better braking power and traction when riding down inclines.
Dual 300 W – 400 W motors are what you should be looking for if you want a hoverboard capable of tackling steep inclines and uneven ground.
3 Hoverboards For Riding On Grass, Gravel....(And Even Carpets!)
Here are just 3 of the hoverboards we recommend for riding on grass, gravel, rubble, dirt, and any other off-road surface.
1. Swagtron T6 Outlaw
The Swagtron T6 Outlaw is a beast in the world of off-road hoverboards.
It comes with 10” nylon-infused tubeless air-filled tires so you can ride this balance scooter on grass, grass, sand, dirt, rubble, mud, and carpet, as well as on smooth concrete roads and tarmacked surfaces.
Click here to read our full Swagtron T6 review, or click the button below to check out the price and reviews on Amazon.
2. Halo Rover X
The Rover X is a very popular model and has been one of the best selling hoverboards since it first hit the market.
As an all-terrain balance scooter, you can ride this hoverboard on grass, gravel, sand, dirt, mud, rubble, and even light snow.
It comes with rugged 8.5" wheels which are equipped with Halo’s "never-flat" tires, so you don't have to worry about punctures when you're riding.
Check out our full Halo Rover X review or click below to check the best price and read the reviews on Amazon.
3. Segway Ninebot S
This beautiful looking Segway hoverboard is equipped with huge 10.5" tubeless pneumatic vacuum tires which allow you to safely and comfortably explore off-road terrain like grass, gravel, mud, dirt, sand, and even ride on carpet.
It also has an an IP54 rating which means it can be used in wet conditions without you having to worry about the components inside getting damaged.
Click here for our full Segway Ninebot S review, or click the button below to check out the price and reviews on Amazon.
What Are The Best Off-Road Hoverboards?
In addition to the 3 excellent hoverboards mentioned above, there are a number of other great all-terrain boards that are definitely worth checking out.
Some of these self-balancing scooters are more than capable of handling any sort of terrain including smooth roads, gravel, dirt, grass and more.
There are far too many to mention here, so click the link below to read our in-depth reviews on what we consider to be some of the best all-terrain hoverboards that you should consider buying.
Read our reviews of some of the best off-road hoverboards on the market.
As hoverboards have weight limits, it's important to select a board that is right for your weight, otherwise you won't get the best riding experience and could be wasting your money.
If you weigh a bit more than average and are looking for a hoverboard that is suitable for you, than don't fret we have you covered!
Check out our reviews on the best hoverboards for heavy adults, we're sure you'll find a model that is perfect for you.
Summary
If you want to ride your hoverboard on grass, gravel, or other similar off-road surfaces than you should really use an off-road hoverboard instead of a regular hoverboard.
Off-road self-balancing scooters are specifically designed to be used on these sorts of surfaces, and can also handle other difficult terrain such as sand and snow.
These all-terrain models usually have bigger wheels and tires that provide better traction, grip, and balance when being used on grass, mud, dirt, sand, gravel etc.
They also have good motors which give them the speed, power, and traction to ride on uneven, rugged, and difficult surfaces.
Be careful when riding fast hoverboards on surfaces that your board may not be suitable for, this can lead to accidents and to damaging your balance scooter.
Wheel size, tire type, and motor power are just some of the key specs you should pay attention to if you want to buy a hoverboard that is suitable to be used on these sorts of off-road surfaces.
If you're unsure on what other specs and features to look at when you're deciding which hoverboard to buy than check out our beginner friendly hoverboard buying guide.