Reviews You Can Rely On

Hiboy S22 Review

This board is worth considering if you are shopping on the tightest of budgets but its overall results weren't particularly impressive
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Hiboy S22 Review
Credit: Jason Peters
Price:  $500 List
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Manufacturer:   Hiboy Skateboards
By David Wise ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  May 18, 2021
45
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Ride Comfort - 30% 3.9
  • Range - 20% 5.1
  • Braking - 20% 3.7
  • Speed - 10% 6.0
  • Hills - 10% 2.0
  • Beginner Friendly - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

If you are shopping for a new electric skateboard on the slimmest of budgets, then we think you might want to check out the Hiboy S22. This skateboard costs considerably less than most models and delivered acceptable results. It's surprisingly fast for a budget board and has average range and braking abilities. It struggled with the steepest hills and isn't the most comfortable to ride but it's hard to argue with its relatively low price tag if you are trying to spend as little as possible.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Fairly fast
REASONS TO AVOID
Unimpressive hill-climbing skills
Not our favorite ride

Our Analysis and Test Results

One complaint that we have with this board is its uninspiring performance if the pavement is anything but smooth — we definitely would recommend checking out other options if you are routinely riding on less than ideal surfaces.

Performance Comparison


hiboy s22 - we found the hiboy to be a surprisingly speedy board.
We found the Hiboy to be a surprisingly speedy board.
Credit: Jason Peters

Speed


Our first metric rated and scored each skateboard on their peak acceleration and maximum speed. This is our highest weighted metric and we were pleasantly surprised with the well above average performance, of the Hiboy S22, particularly given its budget nature.

To test and score top speed, we timed how long it took each board to complete a 200' course, allowing ample room for them to reach top speed before crossing the starting line. We again averaged the results for multiple trials, then calculated the maximum speed to award points. The Hiboy S22 had an average peak speed of 18.16 miles per hour in our tests.

To compare acceleration, we timed how long it took each skateboard to complete a 50' course, starting from a complete stop. We averaged the results of multiple trials and had the same rider for each board to improve the accuracy of the results. The Hiboy S22 had an average time of 4.91 seconds — easily beating some other boards that cost considerably more.

hiboy s22 - this board delivered typical results in our range test.
This board delivered typical results in our range test.
Credit: Jason Peters

Range


Our second set of tests evaluated the range of each of these electric skateboards, comparing the maximum distance the Hiboy S22 and the other boards could travel at a moderate speed and how long it took each one to recharge when the battery was completely depleted. The Hiboy S22 delivered a decent performance, earning it an average overall range score.

Using a speed of around 12 mph, we started each board with a full charge and then ran them on flat ground with the same rider until they could go no further. The Hiboy S22 made it 10.5 miles before completely stopping, though the last bit was so slow that we feel approximately 10.1 miles would be a more accurate effective range.

These results are with an adult male testing all the boards, so you might get a longer range if you are on the more petite side. This skateboard has a claimed charge time of around 2 hours, though we timed it at closer to three hours to completely recharge. However, 3 hours is about average for these products in our experience.

hiboy s22 - unfortunately, we didn't find this board gave the best ride on less...
Unfortunately, we didn't find this board gave the best ride on less than ideal pavement.
Credit: Jason Peters

Ride


We based scores for our next metric on how comfortable we are and how much we are drawn to each board, as well as how they handled cracks in the road or bumpy pavement. The Hiboy S22 unfortunately failed to impress in this regard, meriting a score a bit below average.

We didn't necessarily find the sharper concave shape of this board to be the most comfortable, particularly on longer rides. We also noticed the trucks feel like they have a different level of resistance to them, with the truck for the motors feeling particularly squirrely.

hiboy s22 - shredding at 18 mph, the hiboy s22 will get you where you need to go...
Shredding at 18 mph, the Hiboy S22 will get you where you need to go in a timely fashion.
Credit: Jason Peters

The stiffer deck on this board makes it much more prone to transmitting road vibrations directly to your feet, which is even further exacerbated by the relatively smaller wheels on this E-skateboard. It also will stall whenever you hit a crack, making for a jarring ride if the pavement is less than ideal.

hiboy s22 - the large front-wheel-drive motor of the hiboy s22 provided more...
The large front-wheel-drive motor of the Hiboy S22 provided more than ten miles of fun to our testing team.
Credit: Jason Peters

Hills


After looking at how each board rode, we assessed how well they tackled hills. We attempted to climb hills of increasing steepness and then compared the results to determine scores. The Hiboy S22 didn't do particularly well, earning another score just below average.

This skateboard made it halfway up our 15% grade test hill, but we found the hill-climbing performance plummeted as the battery became more depleted. Even at a 75% charge, this skateboard struggled to climb even a 10% grade. If you live in a particularly hilly area, we definitely would recommend you consider other options over the Hiboy.

hiboy s22 - while this board is one of the lighter models, it didn't feel...
While this board is one of the lighter models, it didn't feel particularly well balanced to us.
Credit: Jason Peters

Build


We rated and compared the weight of each board, the user-friendliness and ergonomics of the remote, and the responsiveness of the board for our build metric, as well as the quality of the customer support that we received. The Hiboy S22 delivered a decent performance, meriting an overall above-average score.

hiboy s22 - the hiboy s22 has a good build but the location of the battery...
The Hiboy S22 has a good build but the location of the battery weight is not ideal.
Credit: Jason Peters

We found the S22 to be about average when it comes to weight. It is a fairly light board at just over 17 pounds, but we found it to feel very unbalanced. All of the weight is concentrated at the back of the board, making it very cumbersome to carry.

The remote feels decently solid and well-built. It's comfortable to hold and quite easy to swap between different riding and braking modes. It also has lights to indicate the current remote and board status. The S22 only has a slight lag to remote commands — nothing too bothersome once you get used to it. We also found customer support to be fairly responsive, with a handful of different ways that you can reach them.

hiboy s22 - this board delivered fairly average results in our brake tests.
This board delivered fairly average results in our brake tests.
Credit: Jason Peters

Braking


Our final metric looked at the stopping ability of each of these skateboards. We based scores on both the distance it took for the board to stop or slow down enough to run out on flat ground, as well as how comfortable we felt using the brakes to manage our speed when descending steep hills. The Hiboy delivered some typical results in both tests, earning it a middle-of-the-road score.

This skateboard took an average of around 50' to come to a complete stop when traveling about 12 miles per hour on flat ground, with the results of our three trials all being within 5' of each other. It took an average of 32' to slow down enough for our tester to feel confident to hop off and run out, with both of these numbers being just a bit further than average in our experience.

This skateboard was able to keep us at a reduced speed when descending on a 15% grade, as long as we applied full brakes at the start of the hill. It could keep us from accelerating but it definitely wouldn't do that much if we were already at peak speed.

Value


If you are shopping for a new electric skateboard on the tightest of budgets, then the Hiboy S22 can be a great value. It's not without concessions, but it's a good bargain buy if you don't expect too much.

Conclusion


Overall, we think the Hiboy S22 is a solid skateboard. It's far from our favorite but is fast and has plenty of power and decent range for flat terrain. It's a bad choice if you live somewhere with less than ideal streets or plenty of hills, but it can be a very attractive option for those on a budget.

David Wise