Some people have called these devices, self-balancing scooters some others have called the hoverboards.

Whatever maybe its name, it has fascinated kids and teens for all generations. It has become a major chunk of pop culture with references from movies from nearly every genre- science fiction, action-adventure, thrillers, comedy and horror (look up “Amer”).

Hoverboards have become an eternal part of American culture and understandably so. These devices have been captivating the imagination of people worldwide and its important to understand its humble beginnings and the top three hovering boards that are hitting the shelves in 2017.

The man who invented the hoverboard

Shane Chen is the man who developed and patented the hovering board design in his lab on the US west coast four years ago. He marketed his design under the brand name Hovertrax, which sold for about $1,000.

Cheap imitations, made in Chinese factories, have flooded the market at about one-quarter of the cost.  The offices of his company, Inventist, in the small town of Camas, Washington, are littered with the carcasses of failed hoverboard prototypes that demonstrate Chen’s taste for trying to get people on the move. These days these things are selling on the scale of millions worldwide.

MORE ABOUT HOVERBOARDS YOU DIDN’T KNOW

The three hoverboards to look forward to this year

Three models that have captured the interest of the zeitgeist in 2017 are:

1. Solowheel Iota:

Coming from the same offices of Inventist’s hoverboards- the Solowheel Iota was marketed as the smallest, greenest, most convenient e-vehicle ever invented.

It will have 8″ wheels and weigh as little as 8lbs. Inventist have a working prototype and are now in the final stages of testing and fine-tuning.

As their fans already know from riding the Solowheel and Hovertrax, their self-balancing technology is the best in the industry, they only use high-quality battery packs and motors, and use a full suite of electronic safety features. People can expect the same level of quality from the Iota that they expec from the hovertrax.

The Iota is perfect for short commuting, hanging out around town, running fast errands or just having fun. These devices are not good for transportation thought because of their wide footprint.

You need to be constantly watching the path of the wheels on both sides of your feet. The wheel on the right may hit an obstacle that you might not see, and then you may get dangerously close to the edge of the curb on your left.

If you hit something, you can make the vehicle rotate, which could throw you off balance. The Iota eliminates these hazards. Because the wheels are between your feet, you only need to scan the road directly in front of you, making it genuinely useful and practical.

2. Halo Rover Hoverboard

The Halo Rover Hoverboard breaks all design conventions. The model holds an LG battery and a mobile app. The mobile app is used to stream music directly to the built-in Bluetooth speakers. Also, the speaker can track the hovering board and it can be used to set the ride mode.

The Halo Rover Hoverboard has special tires that improve stability and grip on various types of surfaces. The wheel guards are a bit smaller and they are now made out of metal. On the frontal side, the board has been equipped with LED guidance light while the top has the same pressure pads that can be used to control the board.

3. The EPIKGO Hoverboard

The EPIKGO Hoverboard is a UL 2272 certified model which means that it is compliant with all the safety regulations for its board and the battery pack. It is more expensive than the other boards but it has inflated wheels which makes rides more fun!

So this year when Thanksgiving and Christmas arrive you know what to look forward to!