Onewheel GT Review

Ride Comfort

How comfortable your board is to ride is crucial as it will determine how often you ride it and for how long, so we weighted this metric at 30% of the total score. The GT truly excelled in this metric and became a favorite among our testers. We put this board through our ride comfort category scoring by taking it on a huge variety of rides, from short technical jaunts to long cruises. Collectively, our testers spent several hours on the GT to ensure our love for its comfort is real — we can now confirm it is, in fact, true love.

This board has a very unique, surfy feel that's more akin to a snowboard than an electric skateboard. This equates to the GT being a very fun, enjoyable ride that's almost guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Any small bumps or cracks we could completely ignore, though medium and large bumps required some practice staying balanced on the Onewheel. The concave deck is great for staying on the board, but it's not particularly comfy for the longest rides, especially with the foot pad sensors, which require your feet to stay in specific spots. For short and medium-length rides, this board was among our favorites, and some riders may find this to be a comfy enough ride for even long rides if the concave shaping doesn't bug them when the miles add up.

Range

Range is weighted at 20% of each option's total score as many riders want to be able to ride longer distances. We tested the GT by going out for a ride with a full battery and not coming home til the battery was empty, noting the total distance traveled and any performance quirks as the battery percentage dropped. We also tested the time it took to recharge the battery from empty to full. The GT scored well in the range metric, scoring above average among the different products we tested.

We were impressed with the 25-mile range of the GT — it's an excellent option for those wanting further distances out of their electric skateboard.

The GT needs about 200 minutes to fully charge its battery, landing above average among the other electric skateboards we put through the wringer. With a total range score of 7.9, this option is an excellent choice if you're looking for a more robust battery with reasonable charging times and great distance capacity.

Braking

Braking makes up 20% of the overall score of the GT. This option offers a unique, smooth braking system by leaning on your back leg to slow yourself — our testers loved this once we got fluid with the motion and scored this board at the very top in this metric. We tested this board's braking prowess by riding a sustained downhill and using the braking system to regulate and reduce speed. We also measured the stopping distance required when going from 11-13 mph to a complete stop. Among other metrics that made us love the GT, its braking is truly unparalleled.

When we tested the GT braking downhill, we were blown away at how smoothly we could control our speed. We could effortlessly ride downhill as slowly as we wanted and even come to a complete stop and ride switch back uphill. The motion of leaning back to slow the board down also puts your body in the best position for braking, further sending this option to the top of the charts in this metric.

The stopping distance of this board is among the best tested. The only limitation is trying to brake too hard, where you'll just hit the ground with the bottom of the board. Our test results showed an average stop distance of 14 feet so if you're riding the Onewheel GT through traffic and need to stop quickly, this is among the best options we tested.

Speed

Speed is weighted at 10% of the total score of each board in our review. To calculate each option's speed score, we examined the top speed and the acceleration of each board. At 20 miles an hour, the top speed of the GT lands in the middle of the pack, but we were plenty happy traveling that fast, given we were riding on a single wheel. Considering how fast that 20 mph feels when you're flowing through a bumpy trail, you're unlikely to wish you had more speed from the Onewheel.

We calculated the GT's top speed by creating a standardized track, starting the track at full speed, and recording its time, then repeating this process three times to get an average. To test acceleration, we clocked the time from the board was at a standstill to completing a 50-foot track. This was also done three times to calculate an average.

The Onewheel GT offers an excellent score in the speed metric, especially with an average time of 3.52 seconds for our 50-foot acceleration track. When cruising at top speed, we'd recommend gradually spending more time traveling that fast on this board, as it can throw you off if you aren't used to the balancing nuances of a Onewheel.

Hills

You'd hate to run into a hill on your ride that shuts you down, so we gave the hills metric 10% of the total score of the GT. We tested this board by challenging it with a variety of hill grades up to 15% and notating its performance. This option offers excellent hill climbing ability and never stalled on any of our tests; we only wish it were a bit faster on the up.

If you're okay with a little reduction in speed as you encounter hills on your ride, the GT is a decent option for your uphill riding missions.

Beginner Friendly

We gave this metric 10% of the total score of the GT. As with any product from Onewheel, this option's unique design requires some time to get used to and isn't the easiest for beginners. Regardless, it's still an incredible electric skateboard, and many will find that the time invested in learning how to ride this board is time well spent.

The GT doesn't have a remote, but it does have an intuitive app that allows you to change modes/alter the way the board rides which helps you ease into its capabilities. Even as we tinkered with the various modes, riding on a single wheel simply takes time to get used to, especially for beginners. Onewheel has done an incredible job designing a stabilizing board, and it's less likely to throw off the rider as they learn how to use it.

The Onewheel GT is one of the heavier boards in our lineup, making it less ideal for carrying long distances, though the handle is comfortable to hold.

Should You Buy the Onewheel GT?

The Onewheel GT is an incredible option due, firstly, to its incredibly fun ride, which makes you want to take it out more often. The GT scored well in the other metrics as well and is worthy of consideration if it is within your budget.

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