Electric skateboards have come a long way since they first entered the scene in 1997. Jam packed with fun features for the everyday rider, Backfire Skateboards recently added a new electric skateboard to their line up, the Backfire Nalu E-Skateboard. I am so excited to share my review of the Backfire Nalu Electric Skateboard board for someone looking into trying out their first e-skateboard.
Disclaimer: We were gifted these boards to test. All opinions remain our own.
What does each Nalu E-skateboard come with
Each Nalu E-skateboard comes with everything you need to get started. There is the skateboard itself with the wheels and trucks already attached, a remote, and charging cords for the remote and skateboard. When everyone arrived, the skateboard had a little bit of a charge already but I decided to charge both the remote and the skateboard before taking it out for the first hour ride.
The board obviously does not come with a helmet but I would highly recommend protecting your head with one while riding. I have to admit, that I don’t usuually wear a helmet skateboarding but do while snowboarding. With the speed of the Nalu, I did want to make sure I protected my head and wore a helmet.
Unexpected Surprises
I was pleasantly surprised by a few of the features of the Nalu and so I wanted to share them first.
The Nalu is lightweight. I probably commented on the lightness of the skateboard so many times that I sounded like a broken record. But it is such a nice weight for an e-skateboard at 12.5 lbs when some run up to 44 lbs and heavier! I was even able to skateboard without using the electric features and enjoy the ride.
The Nalu has a sleek design and hidden powertrain. Each of the Nalu electric skateboards have a nice surf skate design. Even more “sleek” is that the powertrain is covered within the area of the trucks on the board. When I gifted my husband his Nalu Skateboard, he thought that I was giving him another skateboard. It was only when I handed him the remote that he realized it was electric! While riding, people didn’t think we were riding an electric skateboard until we zipped by them going uphill without having to push.
Serious Speed and Safety features for Beginners and Young Riders
The Nalu Electric Skateboards light up! When riding in the dark, or during the day if you really want, you can activate the lights on the Nalu skateboard. The light colour varies on each board and is a fun feature that we have enjoyed using while riding in the dark. It also allows motorists to see you when riding in the dark making it a great safety add. Honestly, I struggled with whether to add this feature to the happy surprises section above or this safety section.
The Nalu has three speed modes. Speed mode one goes up to 6.2 mph (10km/hour), speed mode two goes up to 12.4 mph (20 km/hr) and turbo mode can reach speeds up to 16 mph (25 km/hour). For most people, at 16 mph (25 km/hour) you will feel like you are flying. But if you are looking for serious speed, the Nalu is not Backfire’s fastest skateboard. Their fastest skateboard, the Backfire Hammer Sledge reaches speeds up to 31mphn / 50km/h.
While Backfire skateboards doesn’t market their three speed modes as a safety feature but I love that the remote can be set to limit the speed of the skateboard.
If you are a beginner to riding an electric skateboard, speed mode one can feel fast at first. And trust me, you don’t want to accidentally hit top speeds and then accidentally hit the break button because you are still trying to “figure it out”.
Because of the speed control, I let my my kids try out the Nalu E-skateboard because I could set them up on mode one. They are only 9 and 11 years old and although they are good snowboarders and can skateboard, it would not have been a good idea for them to accidentally fling themselves into traffic at high speed. If you do have kids and want them to try it out, I highly suggest they try it out on their bums first.
How the Nalu Electric Skateboards Ride
The Nalu skateboard offers a smooth ride. The wheels are big and the ride almost feels like I am snowboarding. I am looking forward to testing the “carving” capabilities. I alreayd have the feeling that the Nalu will become my off-season training board.
The Nalu electric skateboard can handle bumps and cracks and is able to ride over 1-2 inch cracks in the sidewalk. Can it ride over bigger bumps? That still needs to be tested because I already was nervous when I tested while riding over a 1 inch tall crack in the sidewalk that suddenly appeared while I was riding around the lake near our house. Make sure to test riding over any bumps, cracks, and rocks of any size at your own risk.
Features strong grip tape on the top of the Nalu Skateboard. Your feet will not be sliding on the top of the board unless you decide to move them. The grip tape on the top of the Nalu E-skateboard really holds onto the soles of your shoes. This is something that my husband and I both commented on more than once during our first ride.
Overall
The Nalu Electric Skateboard is a great all around compact and lightweight board that still boasts some higher speeds. A great beginner electric skateboard or for those more experienced looking for a nice smooth ride to enjoy commuting around their community.
Buy the Nalu Electric Skateboard here.
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