The Best Adult Scooters

Buying Guide

There are two kinds of scooters designed for pavement: manual (kick) and electric. The first kinds use human energy, while the latter works with electricity. They can be a lot of fun if the proper safety precautions are taken.

You should never use scooters around motor vehicles, and it’s essential to wear a helmet (kids should wear knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards, too). Experts don’t recommend that children under the age of eight use scooters. It’s also best for riders to avoid going over obstacles, slippery, icy or sandy surfaces, steep hills or wet or snowy weather.

Kick scooters usually cost under $100 and have a larger front wheel and smaller back wheel, a deck to stand on and a tall bar with a handle (steering column) on the top. The rear fender brake is pressed down with a foot to stop the scooter.

Look for foldable styles that shut down and open up easily; you should be able to do it in under a minute. A foam handle grip makes things more comfortable, and look for ones with adjustable steering column heights.

The wheels are usually made from plastic cores embedded in polyurethane. Larger wheels (180-230mm diameter) are more efficient, have better shock absorption and come with larger decks to stand on, but they weigh more and can make for larger turning radiuses. Smaller (100-145 mm) wheels are more lightweight and agile but have a shorter glide distance and are more likely to catch on pavement cracks.

Kick scooter wheels have two bearings and ABEC (Annual Bearing Engineering Committee) ratings. The higher the ABEC rating number, the higher the precision; most kick scooters average a 5 to 7.

Electric scooters can cost from $500 to over $2,000 because they have motors, batteries and more robust braking systems. Less expensive ones have lower capacity batteries, weaker brakes and less power. Some also have suspension features, which are essential if you plan to use the scooter often. More bells and whistles will add to the weight, which can be problematic if you have to carry or transport it often.

• Don’t wear loose sandals (especially flip flops) when riding a scooter, and avoid riding at night, dusk or dawn.
• Larger deck sizes are more comfortable and make it easier to change foot positions.
• Smaller wheels can transmit more vibration from the ground.
• Attach a strap to your scooter to make it easier to carry.