Best Kick Scooter Reviews 2018

With a budget between $70 and $300, you’re assured of getting a good kick scooter that can withstand the demands of daily use and can serve you for a long time. When it comes to price determinants, there are several factors, which include the type, design, and functionalities of any given scooter. If you’re looking for a kick scooter that’s convertible, in most cases you can expect to pay more. The same is true if you’re looking for a professional scooter, which goes beyond the basic designs of your average scooter.

To get the best deal, don’t peg your buying decision on price alone. Go deep and assess who it’s made for and the areas it’s made for. You may go for highly priced kick scooter only to find out that it’s designed for small distance rides. During our research, we identified cheap kick scooters, which we don’t believe are worth purchasing. Some are made of materials that are susceptible to intense wear and tear, which eventually leads to noise. We didn’t feature them since we believe you want something that’ll withstand the test of time.

There are different reasons why people purchase a kick scooter. It can either be for daily commuting to work, as a toy for your little champ or for leisure and exercising during weekends. Whichever reason, the one you pick should meet your specific needs. This means you should understand what a scooter designed for your need looks and feels like, and the best yardstick to use is the features of the scooter. The rule of thumb here is never assume any feature; even the most common feature can make all the difference.

Let’s highlight the critical features that you consider when making a buying decision:

• Wheels: Wheels are the most basic feature in kick scooter yet one of the most significant. The important consideration here is the size and the material used to make the wheel. Below, we shall discuss in details what large and small sized mean imply, and the different materials used to make wheels.
• Wheels bearing rating: In a kick scooter bearings are found in the hub of each wheel. There are different ratings of bearings and each of them impact speed in different way. How do you read precision and which is the best precision? We shall show you in detail later.
• Deck: Another significant feature in a kick scooter is the deck. The deck is the section where you place your feet when riding. You’ll get large and small deck sizes, and each of them affects comfort and portability differently. The best deck should be big enough to accommodate the feet when riding.
• Deck Height: Another feature you can’t afford to ignore when buying a kick scooter is the deck height. There are some kick scooters with a high deck height, while others have a very low deck height. We shall tell you why kick scooters with a low deck height are pricier than their counterparts, and why low deck height makes a kick scooter faster.
• Suspension: Another lesser known feature is the suspension of a kick scooter. While suspension delivers a host of benefits, we shall show you why it’s worth looking into.
• Folding mechanism: Save for the freestyle scooters which are mostly designed for professional and all-terrain scooters, almost every other kick scooter can be folded, especially the latest models. Despite foldable models being travel-friendly, there are many reasons why you may not want to compromise this feature for a bulky kick scooter which isn’t foldable.
• Braking system: There are two different types of brake systems used in kick scooters. Some models have a bicycle-style handbrake while others have a rear fender braking mechanism. Each has its pros and cons. We shall come to this in a few.
• Extras: Apart from these seven features, there are still other features that you may want to consider. They include the handle grip, handlebars, kickstand, and overall build quality.

Having highlighted the features that you may want to consider when shopping, let’s now discuss how these features affect construction and performance.

The construction and design of a kick scooter define its practicality, performance, and ride quality. The best approach when studying the construction and design is to understand the different users whom kick scooters are made for. This is because manufacturers design kick scooters with the users in mind. It’s very rare to find a model that’s usable by everybody. Let’s see the different types of kick scooters and their designs.

Kids’ Kick Scooters : There are different versions of kids’ kick scooters, with one of the most popular designs being the convertible design designed to grow with the little one. This design is convertible from a ride-on seat for parents to push their kids around when they’re young. When the kid is able to push the scooter by themselves, it’s converted to a push bike. Finally, when the kid is big enough to learn to ride a kick scooter, the T-bar and seat are removed making it an adjustable kick scooter. This design is bulky, but makes for better functionality.

Kids/Adults Kick Scooters : If you’re looking for a kick scooter that the whole family can share, this is the type to go for. These are carefully designed to meet the demands of an adult as well as those of young users. This type is characterized by adjustable handlebars to meet demands of users with different heights. They also have a high weight limit which can go up to 300 pounds. There are also some models designed for adults only but can also be used by experienced teenagers.

Pro Kick Scooters : This is the most advanced kick scooter designed for competitions and for those who like to perform stunts and tricks. The main emphasis with this type is the braking system, speed, and rugged construction. They’re also sleek, and most of them have air-filled tires. For easy controlling, they have oversized handlebars. While these are designed for professionals, they’re usable by everyone. The only thing to note is that you can’t use the normal kick scooters to perform tricks.

The above classification is based on the different users that kick scooters target. Another classification can be according to where they’re designed for and this can include all-terrain, which perform well on variety of surfaces, and urban kick scooters that are designed for urban areas. Let’s now see the specific elements that affect design and construction in kick scooters.

Wheels: Wheels are the most conspicuous feature of a kick scooter, with the variation being in size and material. Today, the most commonly used material is PU (polyurethane), which is the best for use on urban surfaces. Another thing with PU is that it’s wear resistant, lightweight, provides a good grip and finally has good rebound abilities. For the longest time now PU material is used in roller-skate, inline skate, and skateboards.

When it comes to size, it can either be large (230, 200 or 180 mm in diameter) or small (145, 125, 125, 120 or 100mm diameter.) A large-sized wheel offers better shock absorption, improved comfort, and better rolling efficiency. However, large wheels make the kick scooter cumbersome and lower its responsiveness. Small wheels are more agile and easier to accelerate. However, they’re not good for rugged terrains.

Deck Size: The deck is where you place the feet when riding. Mostly, the size of the deck is directly proportional to the wheel’s size; the larger the deck, the larger the wheel. Apart from large decks providing enough space for your feet, they also make it easier when stepping on and off and are great for long rides. However, they make the scooter bulky and accelerating or decelerating the scooter takes more effort.

Deck Height: Deck height is the distance from the ground to the lower side of the deck. Research shows that this is one of the most ignored features by users, and yet the height brings a lot of difference. The lower the height, the faster the scooter can be, and it also provides more comfort. Mostly, kick scooters with a low deck are pricier compared with their counterparts.

Folding Mechanism: The presence of a folding mechanism or lack of it should be a key consideration for anyone looking for a highly portable kick scooter. If you’re looking for a scooter for daily commuting to work, the best deal for you is an easy to fold kick scooter to allow you easily pack it. For a weekend or leisure kick, scooter folding mechanism isn’t a must. Research shows that a folding mechanism has negligible impact in performance, except in a poorly designed kick scooter.

Colors: While color has no impact on kick scooter’s performance, it’s one of the most distinguishing features. It’s especially a great deal to kids and adults who have their favorite colors. It’s also a great way to get recognized and leave heads turning when performing tricks and stunts.

Before settling on a kick scooter, one thing you should be sure of is its performance. This is because a poorly designed or weak kick scooter can expose you to injuries or even be a waste of money if it won’t serve you well. Kick scooters perform differently, so have your expectation in mind to match them with a model that can satisfy them. For example, if you’re a professional kick scooter rider, pay more emphasis on speed and strength to enhance your performance and safety. If you intend to use the kick scooter daily, go for one that’s strong, and that performs well on different surfaces. Below are some of the elements that you may want to consider when assessing performance.

Bearing Rating: Bearings are found at the center of each wheel of a kick scooter. Normally, bearings have a rating of 9, 7, 5, 3, or 1, which is a standardized rating developed by ABEC. The important thing to note is that the higher the rating of a bearing the better the performance. A high rating means low friction, which translates to better response in every push. It’s also good to note that bearings can be replaced and are the same with those used in inline skate and skateboards.

Suspension: Just as in vehicles, suspension acts as a shock absorber, especially when riding on uneven surfaces and when doing stunts. Despite this being a handy feature, it’s very rare to find it in most of the high end and recent models as they add a lot of weight and can lead to increased noise.

Braking System: Initially, there was only one braking style — rear fender style. When bike companies started designing kick scooters, they introduced some bike aspects. This was in oversized tires and bicycle-style handbrake. While the bicycle style braking system is the least popular, it’s the best for young kids. It’s also the best for instant braking, while the familiarity with it makes it easy to execute even by beginners.

Having looked at the design and the other factors that affect the performance of a kick scooter, it’s now time that we reveal our choices of some of the best kick scooters on the market.