If you’re the type that loves getting out on the weekends, exploring forests, hills and valleys, then you’ve probably considered buying an electric off-road scooter as a companion.
It’s a smart investment. Over the last few years, the massive advances in rechargeable batteries and electric motor technology have made scooters like these a much cheaper and smarter investment.
A modern off-road scooter boasts performance that can rival dedicated dirtbikes. Big wheels, heavy suspension systems, a range that can take you to the horizon and back. All in a unit that you can sling into the boot of a standard car when you’re done and just plug into the mains when you get back home, hugely cutting down on storage and up front costs.
But electric scooters can be a big investment, and there’s a lot to dig through, with more models coming out every week. Making a choice can be dizzying. Our guide will teach you what you need to know:
What to look for when buying an off road electric scooter
Not all scooters are created equal, and even among models that look the same, there can be some serious differences in performance and ride. Here’s what you should be looking for when you’re buying an electric scooter.
Suspension, Wheels and Brakes
Off road scooters need off road wheels. The small, thin, near-treadless wheels of a standard scooter are simply not suitable for anything except standard roads, and a road scooter isn’t designed so that the wheels are replaceable with anything larger.
Expect an off road scooter to have bigger, thicker wheels with much deeper tread, backed up by a powerful suspension system and much larger brakes, normally discs or hydraulics.
Battery, Motor and Range
Off road scooters tend to need big, heavy motors and batteries, to drive you through the conditions you’re going to see, like mud, dirt, rocks, and hills.
On the upside, the extra power is a necessary part of your purchase, as there’s nothing worse than getting stuck in a mud bank and having to drag all 60-100lbs of scooter home with you. A big battery also tends to have a longer battery life and a much longer range.
On the downside, this adds cost to the scooter, as a big motor block and battery are the main expensive components. If you’re going to be seriously off-roading, expect a 2000W+ motor and big battery to make up the majority of the costs.
Size and weight
Because of the bigger motors, larger wheels, suspension system and overall more rugged construction, an off road scooter tends to be bigger and less portable.
Don’t expect your scooter to be mobile and collapsible, like some of the best folding scooters in the market. [LINK] But when you’re racing across rough terrain, you’ll appreciate the extra bulk and build quality.
Lights
Most good electric scooters come with a set of built in LED lights, for low light and night time conditions. Our reviews will point out what each scooter uses, but standards are an LED light strip, or high intensity front and back lights.
Waterproofing
If you’re taking your scooter off-road, the likelihood of meeting some sort of water is high. You might get caught in the rain. After all, this is the UK. You’re also probably going to want to blast through puddles without risk, so some form of waterproofing is a smart bet.
Waterproofing is measured with an IP rating or ingress protection. For an off-road electric scooter, you should be looking for at least IP4, but higher is generally better. Ratings include:
- IPx0: No water resistance at all
- IPx1-3: Limited water protection, or splash proofing
- IPx4-6: Generally rainproof, and resistant to splashing
- Ipx7+: The device can be fully submerged in water without damage.
The Best Off-Road Electric Scooters in 2022
Our top choice, the Kaabo Wolf is an animal, and that’s not just a bad pun.
It runs from a pair of dual 1200W motors that give it a blistering top speed of 50mph! That’s honestly terrifying, especially for something this size. Back that up with 11 inch tubeless air filled tires, motorcycle-grade hydraulic front shocks with spring rears and full hydraulic brakes, with an ABS option, (necessary, if you’re really going to open this up.) And you’ve got possibly the single highest-performing off-road scooter there is.
The range is massive, up to 70 miles at cruising speed, with a high weight limit of 330lbs. The thing itself is also a hefty 101lbs, so you’re not going to be carrying this over your shoulder, but that’s not going to matter.
Two huge front LED lights to keep you illuminated, as well as deck and brake lights, and this actually comes with a proper horn. The downsides are scant. It’s a big old beast, as we’ve mentioned, it’s expensive, but the performance justifies that, and it’s not particularly waterproof.
Frankly, this is a monster. You should probably rack up with protective gear before you step onto this, because the huge top speed and power means this can outpace and outperform some dirtbikes.
But because of that, the Kaabo Wolf is an absolute riot, and possibly the single best off-road electric scooter on the market right now for both performance and fun.
The Ultra stands lives up to its name, with an absurd 2700 peak wattage across dual motors, giving it a monstrous top speed of 50mph even with a 330lb user weight limit, and scary incline handling up to 45%, so no matter what you meet out there, this is going to get over it. The range is also colossal, at up to 75 miles at maximum charge, which is genuinely ridiculous.
Front and back suspension is delivered through hydraulic disc brakes, and massive 11 by 4-inch tyres eat up roads and rough terrain alike. Foldable, this easily fits into the back of most vehicles, but it’s a hefty chunk of weight at 95lbs.
Just like everything else, the space and deck on this is massive, at 12 inches wide at the maximum point. Front, rear, and underside lights keep everything lit up, and the controls are absolutely comprehensive, including things like wireless phone charging, turn indicators, even a fingerprint lock.
Pretty much the only downside to this scooter? The cost is equally as impressive as the performance. It’s really not cheap, but it outperforms basically anything you compare it to. In terms of sheer numbers, the Dualtron Ultra 2 is just that. Ultra.
Compared to the Kaabo Wolf, the Mantis is less of a scooter for scrambling over rough terrain, blasting through forests and screaming across farmlands.
What it is, is a gorgeous hybrid scooter that’s perfectly comfortable on roads and cycle paths, as well as on woodland trails and rough terrain.
First off, the Mantis has two variants. The Base model, and the Pro model. Statistics are pretty similar across the board, except for a few key differences that we’ll touch upon. Whichever model you choose, the performance is impressive, with a maximum speed of 40mph and a range of 30 miles on the Base, and 45 on the Pro.
It’s powered by twin motors that are fast out of the gate, and comfortably handle steep inclines up to 35%. The ride is soft and fluid, due to large, 10 by 2.5 inch wheels and front and rear springs, with the choice of standard disc brakes on the Base, and full hydraulic discs on the Pro.
The display is simple, with speed, cruise control, regenerative braking systems and range, as well as a decent set of front and rear lights.
While it’s not a pure off-road scooter, the Mantis can handle trails and rough terrain easily enough, while also being comfortable as a road runner. If that’s what you’re into, and you’ve got the budget, you should consider the Mantis.
The best budget model on the list, the Chaos Hub Drive doesn’t lack in features, despite having an asking price that’s significantly lower than everything else we’ve looked at so far.
It’s built around a 1600W 48v motor that runs off of four sequential batteries, pushing the top speed up to 25mph, with a solid weight capacity of 265lbs. Despite being on the cheaper end for a quality electric scooter, it uses a rear wheel hub motor and front and back disc brakes and suspension.
It’s worth pointing out that this doesn’t have quite the off-road performance as some of the other models here, with no real water resistance and some issues with rough ground, despite the chunky 6 inch wheels.
But as a way to get started, with fast acceleration, a good top speed, and an impressive price point, this Chaos off-roader is a solid and dependable piece of gear.
We’ve already reviewed the Zipper, in our list of best electric scooters for adults.
But it’s finding its way back into our top lists again due to the combination of quality build, solid performance, and reasonable price.
The motor is a single 1000W block, which pushes this to a top speed of 15mph. That’s a little low, compared to the rest of the scooters on the list, but it’s still more than sufficient for nipping around your property and trail riding. Just don’t expect to be crushing big hills or outpacing serious machines.
The ride is excellent, with large, off road tyres, front coils and rear shocks, a well padded seat, and a massive and comfortable wooden deck. It’s a foldaway scooter, so this is simple to transport, though be warned that it’s a large chunk of metal, at 101lbs.
While we wouldn’t recommend the Zipper if you’re looking for a pure off road scooter, there’s a lot to love here, and this is just as happy trundling down trails or zooming around farmlands. And considering this is by far the cheapest scooter on the list, that’s hard to argue with.