Channel Your Inner Kid: The Best Adult Scooters In 2022

Why Trust Us

I did own a trusty razor scooter as a kid and loved flying up and down the streets of my neighborhood. Scooters for adults are all the rage, but I usually use my trusty longboard these days for my commuting. The good news is, much of the construction and features are oddly similar. Both options feature decks and consider agility vs cruising. The wheel size and bearings have similar effects on the vehicle as well.

Who This Is For

This guide is geared towards adults who are looking for the best scooters. Among this guide are stunt and commuter scooters, foldable scooter options, kick scooters for adults, as well as electric scooters. We tried to find the best of the best for all user groups so you can pick from the top adult scooters for your entry into #ScootLife.

How We Picked

Selecting the best adult scooters was a combination of research, reading adult scooter reviews, and using our expertise from the skate and longboard world to assess this alternative method of two-wheeled transportation.

Features To Look For In Adult Scooters

Depending on your scooting ambitions, you’ll want to consider the following before buying the perfect scooter of your dreams:

Deck – The scooter deck is your footplate and also adds rigidity and strength to your scooter. Decks made from aluminum or magnesium are the strongest and have durability for long distances, while wood (usually maple) gives you a more flexible, responsive ride. The size of the deck is also an important thing to check, particularly if you are tall or have feet on the large side as you need to be able to comfortably get both feet on board; at the very least one behind the other. Deck size is also proportional to the wheel size – the larger the wheels, the larger the deck tends to be. A simple rule of thumb is for portability choose a small deck size, for comfort go larger. Also, check out the deck height as this really makes a difference to just how easy your scooter is to propel. The lower the deck height from its surface to the ground, the more comfortable the push kick needed to keep your scooter going.

Wheels - To determine the smoothness of the glide, adult kick scooters use the same type of bearing in the wheels as skateboards and inline skates. Generally, the higher the wheel bearing rating, the better your adult scooter’s performance. Additionally, larger wheels typically make for a smoother ride, but they are heavier. Now, here’s the engineering geek bit – the bearings are rated by the ABEC standard, and the lower the rating, the lower the precision, with the rating running from 1 to 9. A lower rating means you need to kick more to get a sustained glide, whereas a high rating means less kick effort to glide like a scooting swan. Most kick scooters are rated between 5 and 7, 7 being a really smooth, quality glide per kick. The quality of the bearings also makes a difference to the kick scooter’s overall performance.

Handlebars – For steering, control, and all-around comfort whatever your height, you need a good pair of handlebars to get to grips with your scooter. To get your scooter to fit with you, check that the handlebar stem can be adjusted to your height as you don’t want to be stooping while scooting. Scooter handlebars themselves come in different lengths but the main styles are a one-piece T-bar, one-piece Y-bar, BMX style bar and bat wing bar. The T-bar is an easy-to-use option, coupled with comfy grips they are a good bet for your commuter scooter. Y-bar is also a robust handlebar and slightly longer than the T. The BMX-style handlebar gives good control and is a feature of the hybrid or dirt scooter, while the bat wing bars are the strongest and typically seen on extreme scooters. Check the width of the handlebars to ensure they are comfortable for your size.

Brakes - The basic adult kick scooters are designed to be stopped by the rider pushing their foot down on the rear fender to create friction on the back wheel. The rear fender brake is a simple and effective system, but some scooter models also have a bicycle-style handbrake on the handlebars to support slowing and stopping your scooter. Additional brakes on your scooter are a nice extra feature to have but they do add a little more weight and more parts to keep maintained. Consider a model with additional front brakes if you are maneuvering around a busy town or city (and pedestrians) and you need extra control, otherwise, the rear fender brake works well.

Wheel size - Wheel size matters when it comes to the performance of your scooter. Most scooter tires are made from polyurethane (PU), which is a great, light and durable material for urban surfaces, and also has a good rebound to keep the tire in shape. To adjust the performance of your tires, pick a wheel size for the type of scooting you want to do. Large wheels (180, 200 or 230mm) have a better rolling motion, meaning a longer glide distance per push while giving good shock absorption. Larger wheels are ideal for long commuting or leisure journeys where you need the glide as well as comfort over objects and small lumps and bumps on the ground. But they are heavier, so make your scooter less portable. Smaller wheels (145mm or less) make your scooter the Michael Jackson of the scoot circuit, giving you better agility and speed while keeping it light on its toes. But the payback is a ‘noisier’ ride when it comes to comfort and vibrations and less rolling and more pushing on your behalf.

Folding system - The folding mechanism or folding system for your scooter (if it has one) should be simple to remember and use. If you're feeling frustrated every time you try to size down your scooter to head into the office, you're less likely to use your scooter and default back to driving or public transit. So, if you're looking for a good electric scooter or kick scooter that's portable, pay close attention to its folding mechanism.

Types Of Adult Scooters

When it comes to adult scooters, one size does not always fit all and there are different model types to match what you want to do.

Commuter adult kick scooters are super comfy, lightweight models that are great for your daily commute to work, around campus, or about town. They are also good as general fun scooters and getting out and about with the kids.

Dirt and hybrid scooters are for the more adventurous, who like to take their scooting off the pavement and onto rougher terrain, while for the full-on adrenalin junkies, stunt scooters – which channel the spirit of BMX and trick skateboards – will be your thing.

As well as the different types of adult scooters, you can also choose between human-powered (kick scooters) or electric options.

Safety Tips When Riding A Scooter

Whether you are whizzing ahead on your daily commuter route or out in the park with your friends or kids, scooter riding should be a blast. And, while as an adult riding a scooter you probably shouldn’t take yourself too seriously, your safety should absolutely be taken seriously. There’s nothing like a misguided tumble from your new kick-propelled mean machine for it to be quickly gathering dust in the garage as you renew your subway pass. Most manufacturers recommend helmets and elbow/knee pads and who are we to argue, but if you choose not to kit up, then at least you are aware.

Adult scooters are largely robust things and can forgive the odd knock and tumble but to keep you both in good condition, do think about the following.

• Be aware of the surface you are riding on and adjust your speed or riding style to suit.
• Check your speed and make sure you are in control, especially if you are whizzing along a pedestrian-packed sidewalk to make that 10am meeting.
• As with anything, be sure to keep your scooter in tip-top condition so no unexpected mechanical failings literally take the scooter wheels from under you.

Q: Should I buy a scooter with or without suspension?

A: By absorbing the micro-shocks when rolling over uneven and rough surfaces, especially when you are going at a speed, suspension is good for keeping you comfortable as you scoot. However, there is always a trade-off as a suspension system will make your adult scooter heavier, meaning you do sacrifice a little on both performance and portability. And with the extra moving parts, you do get a noisier ride. So, when deciding whether to go for a model with suspension, you need to think about the main reason you are getting an adult scooter for. For example, if you regularly commute the same route and know it has its rough moments, a scooter for adults with suspension is a good idea as it will make your ride a breeze over rough or uneven surfaces.

But if you are a leisure scooter or your routes vary from smooth to a more bumpy and prefer to have a lightweight, portable scooter, then you could happily go without. If you do opt for no suspension, look for other features that can help to smooth out your ride, such as skateboard-style cambered wood decks rather than rigid aluminum and air-filled pneumatic tires.

Ultimately, it is a personal choice and a few bumps in the road will keep you on your toes!

Q: How do I maintain my scooter?

A: You can certainly increase the shelf life of your scooter and maintain comfort on your ride with a few simple maintenance hacks.

Keeping your new scooter clean is the easiest way to keep it on the road, so wash out all that city grime from your daily commute with a wipe down of the key areas such as the wheel bearings, wheel fixings, and deck. Also keep those nuts and bolts and moving parts clean and well-greased.

If the ride is starting to slow down, check and replace your wheel bearings and test the tread on your tires. Replace if they are wearing too low. When not out scooting your little heart out, keep your adult scooter stored away from the elements to keep it rust-free and rolling smooth. The simplest maintenance hack is to know your scooter and not push it beyond its limits.

Q: What is the maximum weight for an adult scooter?

A: Most adult kick scooters can tolerate 200-250lbs, which is great for most adult riders, but there are models designed specifically for taller adults - the super-robust XOOTR Adult Kick Scooter can take up to 800 pounds. Overweighting your adult scooter will just make it wear and tear quicker or simply ruin its rideability. Another thing to look for is the maximum handlebar height, or an adjustable handlebar. Ideally, the height of your scooter’s handlebars should be between your hips and your chest.

Q: How do I lock up my scooter securely?

A: When locking up your scooter, it is best to lock it to a fixed object, so it cannot be quickly lifted. A locking cable is a good way to secure your scooting pride and joy, taking it through the wheel spokes and around the body to fix it to the bike rack, railing, lamp post or similar. Some folding scooters also use the folding mechanism to lock the collapsed body in place for added security. If you work in a place where you can take your scooter with you or wear it on your back, that might be your best option. A folded scooter can fit in small spaces, a work locker or under your desk with ease. You can buy locks specifically for scooters or a simple strong bike lock would suffice; go for a coded lock so you don’t have to fiddle around with keys.

Q: Can I ride it in the rain or on wet grounds?

A: While you can ride a scooter, much like a skateboard on wet ground or rain, it's more dangerous, and slipping and falling are more likely. Wet leaves and debris can become attached to the wheels, and mud can give you less traction.

Q: Can my kids use a scooter?

A: A: Absolutely! While this guide is about scooters for adults, kick scooters for kids are wildly popular and some options on this list are adjustable enough for all ages, or even just taller children.

Sources:

1. To Scoot Or Not To Scoot: Findings From A Recent Survey About The Benefits And Barriers Of Using E-Scooters For Riders And Non-Riders - ScienceDirect
2. Scooter Use Skyrocketing in Cities, But Are They Safe? A Look at the Evidence - World Resources Institute