Anyone's dc got/want one of those handle less Segway / electric skateboard things?

[DrTinkle]

Dd keeps going on about them, are they a craze?? What do you think?

[MyHeartsPumpingWine]

After seeing ussain bolt getting knocked over by an industrial one I'd be wary.

[DrTinkle]

Yeah fair enough. That was a big beast though. These small ones seem a lot more controlled than a skateboard or heelys, for example.

[tootiredtothink]

Ds has asked for one of these. I have no idea where to buy from though....where are you looking?

Would love to know if they're any good too.

[DrTinkle]

There doesn't seem to be any one 'brand'. There are loads on Amazon for about £300. I think they're all generic Chinese ones that companies are buying and customising. Air wheel do one, an 'airboard' but it's quite expensive. They also make the electric unicycle things.

[jessiepinkman]

Oo watching. Ds 9 has asked for one. I've only seen you tube videos so far. They do look good!

[RandomMess]

DD13 wants a swegway, in her dreams to even get a cheap copy one at that price

Ironically she's really fit and active so not quite sure why!

[tootiredtothink]

Thanks DrTinkle. It was Amazon I'd seen some on but was confused at no brand....and the price differences.

I want somewhere I can get a refund easily enough if it stops working after a week.

[candykane25]

My mothers ankle after a go on a handle less segway! Photo attached

[AuntieStella]

DS2 wants one.

But are swegways subject to the same restrictions on where you can use them as an ordinary (with handle) segway ?

[DrTinkle]

I dunno what restrictions are, I can imagine shopping centres banning them as they did with heelys. Would think police have better things to do than worry about people using them on the street. I believe they go at 6km/hr, what speed restrictions are there on the mobility vehicles? Might be similar I am guessing?? They are expensive for what is likely to be a craze.

[AuntieStella]

Segways are banned for both roads and pavements (fine £75, I think) and are usually banned in parks etc. And yes, there have been prosecutions.

So it's pretty important to me to know if Swegways will be covered by the same rules (and so whether there's anywhere where they can be used) before shelling out on one.

[DrTinkle]

Well I saw some youngsters on them on the south bank the other day. There was a police presence and they didn't look at all interested in them...so I'm guessing not yet anyway. Although this was london and the police probably had more to worry about.

[WeAllHaveWings]

Ds(11) has asked for one and his friends are talking about them. Haven't seen any out and about, and would worry it would be a costly 2 week wonder and never played with again.

[DrTinkle]

Ok, so I did a little research (more then was good for me). It seems that the Skegway things originated from a Chinese company called chic-robot. Theirs have an IO stamped on them that IO Hawk took and added Hawk to. Phunkeeduck are the same but IO have recently added some modifications to theirs, with more to come. Because China is so poor at patents other companies manufacture them too, hence all the cheaper 'unbranded' ones. I gather the Amazon marketplace ones often have faults, don't necessarily come with UK plugs, difficulty with returns, etc. so probably best to buy the versions that ship from Amazon directly for peace of mind about quality and returns. Airwheel company (US and UK) has their own version called an airboard that sells at electrical retailers and gadget shops, this seems a good bet but is expensive £599, although much cheaper than IO hawk. I've emailed them to see where they're manufactured. Skate shops also sell different models with UK plugs and Samsung batteries so worth looking there too. Phew!