I recently got my hands on 2 ProZip Hoverboards for testing and a review, and was it ever a wild ride! If you’ve been thinking about getting a hoverboard, whether for getting around or just for fun, today’s review is sure to help you out. Read on for all the details of my experience with the ProZip “Spitfire” Hoverboard and the ProZip “Hummer” Off Road Hoverboard. Each of these hoverboards offers a variety of fun and useful features, but which one is the best option for you?
ProZip Hoverboards:Â Spitfire –Â Intro and Specs
First up is the more basic, or straightforward, of today’s two hoverboards. It’s called the ProZip Spitfire, and it’s equipped with GPS, a dedicated app featuring both Speedometer and Odometer functions, Bluetooth for connecting to your smart device, LED lights, and it’s even UL2272 Safety Certified.
My favourite feature of the Spitfire, though, is its Auto Levelling technology, which makes the board easier to ride by automatically levelling itself out when you turn it on and get ready to ride.
The Spitfire’s recommended age range begins at 7 years old, and it’s maximum riding speed is 10 Km/h. Other than this top speed limit, the Spitfire shares all of the above features with its larger cousin, the Hummer, which we will discuss imminently.
But first, what was it like to ride the ProZip Spitfire?
Spitfire Testing and Recommendations
In testing the Spitfire, I found that my options for where to ride it were extremely limited in comparison with the Hummer. This is because the Spitfire is not an all-terrain hoverboard, and generally requires a smooth, flat surface to be most effective. I therefore did most of my testing of the Spitfire in the back lane behind my home.
You simply lean forward a bit to go forward, then lean back again to stop or go into reverse. You also steer by leaning. I found that if I wanted to turn right, I had to lean more with my left foot, and vice versa. Unfortunately, the lane behind my place isn’t as smooth or level as it ought to be, and I did have some trouble getting the Spitfire up to its maximum speed of 10 Km/h.
This was likely due in large part to the fact that I myself have large parts. In other words, I’m very close to the Spitfire’s maximum weight capacity of 100 Kgs. Someone lighter than I am would likely have had this thing zipping down the lane at a much faster clip than I could, but the heavier the user, the harder the board has to work to move its cargo along.
In my opinion, this board is well made and generally lives up to its promises, but you’re much better off avoiding it if you’re at or near the maximum weight capacity. If you only weigh 120-150 pounds or so, you’re much more likely to be able to enjoy this board!
ProZip Hoverboards: Hummer Intro and Specs
Moving on to the ProZip Hummer Off Road Hoverboard, this is where we really get into some heavy duty territory. Featuring Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced modes for users of all skill levels (the Spitfire also has these settings), the Hummer is big and bad, and ready for any challenge.
This thing can drive on flat, paved surfaces; It can drive on grass and similar terrain, and it can even drive on gravel or bumpy roads. The manufacturers also claim that the Hummer is capable of driving around on snow, but it’s the wrong time of year for me to test that theory out.
As with the smaller Spitfire, the Hummer works with the ProZip Smartphone APP, has GPS, Bluetooth, and AutoLevel, and can carry 100 Kgs of weight (that’s 220 pounds). Where it’s really different, though, is in its robust and heavy duty nature, along with its top cruising speed of 15 Km/h (that’s 5 more K per hour than the Spitfire).
The tires on this thing are also seriously impressive, with their 9-inch diameter and extra wide footprint. And the weight of the board is equally off the charts. None of the specs that I could find actually gave the board’s weight, but it’s certainly not something that you’ll want to carry around!
Finally, the Hummer has a minimum recommended age of 7 years old, so it’s OK for kids to use.Â
Hummer Testing and Recommendations
Riding the Hummer was both easy and fun, and I made it incident free through a significant number of rides. This particular board was definitely the more capable of the 2. With its oversized tires (featuring deep, grippy, treads) and heavy-duty construction, the Hummer is definitely more of an all-terrain hoverboard than the Spitfire. This is not to say that you can truly take it anywhere, but I rode it on pavement, grass, loose gravel, and even indoors without much difficulty at all.
The loose gravel was definitely the most challenging, but really only when I got into the stuff that was extremely fine, much like the really dry sand at the beach. Due to the fact that I am very near to the 100 Kg upper weight limit of this thing, the tires did get stuck a couple of times when I hit that really soft ground. Otherwise, it dragged me around quite easily.
Still, I don’t feel like I ever quite approached the Hummer’s top speed of 15 Km/h (again, my weight likely bogged it down a bit).
But even so, I’d be willing to bet that a much lighter person (say 120-150 pounds instead of north of 200) could really zip along at full speed on this thing on any of the surfaces that I tried it out on.
The auto-levelling feature is truly amazing, and it greatly helps to prevent mishaps. Normally I can barely stand on level ground in tennis shoes without falling over, so I was really quite impressed with myself that I managed not to break my… well, everything.
All in all, I would much more highly recommend this particular hoverboard than it’s less robust brother. There’s really nothing wrong with the Spitfire at all, but if you want to get the most mileage for your money, the Hummer is certainly where it’s at!
Examining the Video Evidence
Please take a few minutes to enjoy the clown show that is me riding around on these cool ProZip Hoverboards. And try not to laugh too hard:
Final Thoughts on ProZip Hoverboards
When it comes to these 2 ProZip Hoverboards, I definitely have a favourite and one that I’m less enthusiastic about. With my own height and weight though, I don’t think I’ll be picking one of these things up any time soon. They’re certainly great for lighter people though, and I suspect that they’re mostly meant for kids and teenagers anyway.
The one caveat that I will give is that I believe these things are best suited to riding around on for fun, not for legitimate transportation purposes. Part of this comes from the likelihood that you wouldn’t be allowed to ride them in the majority of public places anyway (shopping malls, schools, etc.), and part of it comes from the fact that when you enter a no riding zone, you’ll sadly have to pick your board up and carry it. Make no mistake, these things are heavy! As I said, I couldn’t find the actual weights of the boards in their specs, but they’re both in the several pounds range, and definitely not anything you want to lug around for more than 30 seconds at a time.
The bottom line: Get the board you like the best and enjoy riding around on it for fun. Just don’t expect that it’s going to replace your automobile for your daily work commute!
Have some fun with ProZip Hoverboards from Best Buy Canada today, and enjoy the ride!
