I spent the better part of my youth on a skateboard. For me, it was less a mode of transportation than a way to regularly introduce my body to the pavement.
Now, as an adult, most of my traveling concerns are about getting somewhere fast rather than landing sweet tricks. Age, and a growing concern for my personal safety, has kept me off my board for years. Not to mention San Francisco's hills make for a difficult and dangerous ride.
As a rule, longboards are friendlier to commuters than short boards; once a rider has to go up a hill, they're forced to carry a huge piece of wood instead of riding it.
This is what makes the ZBoard so intriguing. An on-board electric motor keeps the board moving even when a rider encounters a hill. This is accomplished without wireless remotes and other hand-based controls found on other electric skateboards on the market. The ZBoard is all about your feet which appeals to the skateboarder in me.
Two pads on the board control its motor. Lean on the front pad to go forward, lean on the rear pad to brake. They're pressure sensitive, so speeding up or slowing down fluctuates accordingly with your shifting weight.
A quick introduction to the board's simple controls, and I was rolling through the Wired newsroom with no problem. After a few minutes outside, I was rolling up and down the parking lot and avoiding parked cars without ever having to propel the board with my legs. Adjusting the speed of the board was just a matter of adjusting my weight. Lean forward to go faster, lean back to slow down.
The longboard-inspired design and knobby wheels give the board a smooth ride, while small sidewalk pebbles won't throw you off track. The aggressive wheels also make you feel like to you can tackle anything the road throws at you. Cracked concrete, wavy asphalt, even the the occasional yard-crossing short cut seem like breeze with skateboard monster tires.
The company will release two versions, available soon: At $500, the ZBoard Classic will have a range of five miles, a top speed of 15-MPH and weigh in at an arm wrenching 37-pounds. The $750 ZBoard Pro will double the range to 10 miles, raise the top speed to 17-MPH and will shave seven pounds off the final weight.
I tested the lighter ZBoard Pro and even at 30 pounds, my arm got tired quick. The founders say they envision riders using the board to ride to public transportation from their house, then from the bus or train station, to their work. The board is made to ride, or sit on the bus, not walk around with. Unless, that is, you're into weight training while you commute.
Or you could just cruise the beach.
Interested in more amazingly awesome gadgets? Check out our previous entry -- scissors that will cut through almost anything the Fiskars ShopBoss -- in our ongoing Month of Badass Gadgets extravaganza.
