After a rocky start, hoverboards have continued to soar in popularity and remain one of the most cost-efficient and fun ways to get around. In this guide, we’re taking an in-depth look at how tricky it is to master these self-balancing boards and how hard it is to do.
Are hoverboards hard to ride?
The hoverboard’s big brother, the bigger Segway’s take only a few minutes to learn to ride. A few laps of the yard and you’re good to go (although cornering can take a bit longer to master). Those things are big and heavy and when they rebalance, they have enough heft to keep you from toppling off.
Like those rides, the hoverboards use self-balancing technology however hoverboards are a lot smaller. This means that your weight and height can affect the balance more and riders have to do a lot more balancing themselves.
As well as that, there are no handlebars to grip, which helps give the bigger versions a lot of stability and makes you feel safe. You can lean into the bar or hold it when you lean back.
Just getting on and off a hoverboard can take some getting used to, if you’ve not used them before.
Learning to ride a hoverboard takes longer and you have to do a surprising amount of the work yourself. Adults especially might find it hard to ride hoverboards at first as they have a much higher centre of gravity and weigh more.
But don’t be put off by this. It’s generally not hard for most people to learn to ride a hoverboard. Read on and we’ll hopefully cut down the time it takes you to become a hoverboard pro.
Riding a hoverboard is not difficult and you should have the basics down in under an hour
While you might wobble and flail a bit on your first try getting onto a hoverboard (See the video below!) after a few goes, your mind and body will figure out what it needs to do and you’ll get a feel for it. From then on, it’s a question of practising the more tricky bits like turning.
What’s the hardest part for new riders?
When you’re new, hoverboards are wobbly.
Very wobbly.
Putting one foot on the board takes no doing. Getting that second foot on there and actually balancing is the first hurdle to overcome.
Some people like to practice this holding on to a table, or someone’s hand (the person whose hand you’re holding needs to watch the board and dodge out the way when it’s heading to their toes though!)
Initially, you’ll wave your hands around like a mad thing and any nearby vases or TVs should be scared for their lives. Once you do get the hang of this balancing part, you’re 50% of the way there. *
* Interesting fact: although you’re stationary on the board itself, your body can get a good workout.
Learning to turn takes some practice
Another thing that some people find hard when it comes to hoverboards is turning corners. This involves lifting one foot, pressing down with the other, and keeping your balance at the same time.
It’s often better to learn to move backwards and forwards before moving on to turning.
Learning you don’t have to do all the work is hard
When you hop on a hoverboard one problem is that your brain is telling you that you’ll have to do a lot more balancing than you actually have to. That’s why new riders often flail around and quickly pitch of the front or the back.
The more experienced you are, the less work you’ll actually have to do. This can be a tricky hurdle to get over when you’re learning the hoverboard.
People trying hoverboards for the first time
Here’s a video that demonstrates the experience most people will have when they first try to ride a hoverboard. The feeling is weird at first, but after a few goes, 100% of the people were able to get the hang of at least moving forwards.
How long does it take to learn how to ride one
This is a really tricky one as different people pick up the hoverboard faster than others. We’ve heard of people picking it up in a matter of minutes (which seems unlikely but, who knows) but for most people, you should be pretty competent with it and out of the falls and bumps phase within an hour, or much less.
How to make riding your hoverboard easier
If you don’t like the idea of hopping on your new board and just having a go, there’s a wealth of good videos on Youtube that cover everything from getting on and off to taking corners. These guides only last a few minutes but are packed with some handy tips that make learning to ride a boardless difficult.
Here’s a good video if you’re worried about the getting on and off part.
There’s also a very cute video here from Salazzz on youtube.
What you need to master with a hoverboard
- Getting on and off
- Turning
- Stopping and getting off (always step off the back!)
- Going uphill and downhill
How to practice riding a hoverboard safely
Wear a helmet
When you’re first learning to get to grips with the hoverboard, it’s definitely recommended to wear a helmet. It sounds boring (and most people don’t bother) but due to the nature of what you’re doing, it’s a wise choice – even if you’re indoors.
Hoverboards can move away from you quickly when you’re inexperienced and you’ll end up slipping backwards. Even on flat surfaces with no obstacles around, it’s possible to hit your head on the floor.
Practice on something soft
While you might never fall off your hoverboard it’s worth starting on something that will give you a soft landing. Hoverboards will work perfectly well on both carpets or even grass.
Don’t be tempted to hit the street just yet. Take time and practice on something soft. Your bum will thank you later.
Is it easy for children to learn hoverboards?
Children actually have an advantage when it comes to learning the hoverboard. They’re a lot lower to the ground and, apart from having less distance to fall, they have a lower centre of gravity that means they can control it better.
Any child can learn to use a hoverboard and even toddlers have been videoed riding around on self-balancing boards (although I’m not sure I’d have let mine loose on one of these – they seem to fall over perfectly well on their own, without one).
Some tips to make learning the hoverboard easier
- Start off indoors – Hoverboards are perfectly happy on the carpet and it’s a lot more forgiving than the pavement. Finding your balance indoors is a good way to start.
- Practice with it turned off – Another handy tip that can take some of the difficulty out of riding a hoverboard is to keep it turned off and practice stepping on and off. This will give you a good feel for it and help you get your balance.
- Use a table as support – If you’ve got a nice sturdy table or another surface handy, use it to get your balance when you’re starting. Especially when getting on and off while the board is turned on.
- Clear tables and low obstacles out of the way – If you’re practising indoors it’s well worth clearing anything out of the way to give yourself as much space as possible to practice.
- Step on with your dominant foot – the one you use most.
- Learn to bend your knees if you’re going down. Dropping your centre of gravity can prevent or minimize any falls.
- Get a partner – if you’re really struggling to get your balance, or your child is having difficulties at first, a supporting hand can make things easier in the beginning.
- Step of the back of the board, not the front – If you’ve ever done a Segway course, you’ll know one of the first things they teach you is to step off the back. It’s the same with these mini versions. Stepping off the front can lead to literally getting run over by your own hoverboard and a lot of falls happen this way.
How hard are hoverboards compared to other personal transport?
- Compared to cycling – Hoverboards are much faster to learn than riding a bike and there are no stabilizers!
- Compared to skateboards – No competition here really, Hoverboards are far quicker to learn as they won’t fly out from under you if you get your balance wrong.
- Compared to Segways – It’s definitely a lot faster to learn a Segway, but then they’re almost impossible to fall off!
Summing up: Learning to ride a hoverboard isn’t too difficult
Here’s a quick overview of what we’ve covered.
- Anyone can learn to ride a hoverboard, from toddlers to adults.
- Balancing is the main thing people find hard.
- Practice initially with the board turned off.
- Some people pick it up in a few minutes but everyone should have it down in under an hour.
- Start learning your hoverboard on a soft surface rather than a hard one.
- Always step on one foot at a time.
- Practice forwards and backwards then move on to turning.
Happy, safe hoverboarding!