Blink s2 Review [The Good, The Bad and What You Should Know]

If you’re new to the world of electric skateboarding, you’re probably overwhelmed with the sheer volume of choices on the market. There are over 50 different options, and each one seems to promise to the best board with the fastest top speed and longest battery range.

We dug deeper into a lot of the top boards on the market including all of Acton’s Blink boards. Let’s take a closer look at the Blink s2, specifically.

The Blink s2

The Blink brand of electric skateboards is the brainchild of Acton Global. Acton makes its home in Silicon Valley, and they’re the pioneer behind motorized skates, and  one of the most trusted brands in electric skateboards .

Acton crowdfunded the production of the s2, and it was an overwhelming success. The company hoped to raise $50,000 and ended up raising over a million dollars. This robust round of funding came courtesy of an incredible pre-order deal which offered as much as 50% off the pre-order purchase of the s2. Unfortunately, if you didn’t get in on the ground floor, you can expect to pay substantially more for your s2.

Specs

• Weighs 15lbs
• Dual hub motors for 1000W of power
• 14-mile range
• 18 mph top speed
• 20% incline rate
• LED front, side and tail lights
• Wireless remote
• Fully charges in just over an hour
• 250lb weight limit

When it comes to the technical specs, the Blink s2 delivers big time. It’s on the lighter side compared to some other boards on the market;  it weighs in at 15 pounds .

It also boasts an extremely fast charge time of about  an hour and a half for a full charge . 2 Hub motors for a total of 1000W power the s2, and allow you to reach a top speed of 18 mph.

It’s constructed of rock hard Canadian maple and aircraft aluminum, which makes it a sturdy choice for riders up to 250lbs. The s2 also features integrated front, tail and side lights which not only look awesome but allow for a safer ride at night.

As a rider, you’ll be able to see what’s in front of you more clearly. Meanwhile, the high-powered lights help you stand out to other motorists you’re sharing the road with.

Thanks to the powerful hub motors of the s2, you’ll have no problem tackling inclines of up to 20%.

Regenerative Braking

As your board moves forward, it’s utilizing kinetic energy. With traditional braking systems, friction is used to slow or stop the board from moving forward. Friction brakes reduce kinetic energy, and that energy is just cast off into the ether.

Meanwhile, with regenerative braking systems, the energy that your board loses as it’s stopping is converted into new energy which you’ll be able to use later. Plus, regenerative brakes have a far longer lifespan, because the parts involved wear much more slowly than a traditional friction-based braking system.

Remote Control

The remote for the s2 couldn’t be simpler, or easier to use. It has an ergonomic shape that fits perfectly into the palm of your hand. One simple switch controls the board’s ability to go forward, reverse, or stop.

ACTON App

These days, it seems like everything we buy is a smart product, complete with its own app. The folks at Acton didn’t disappoint on that front, and their app provides a bevy of intuitive controls for your board, as well as some cool social elements.

With the app, you’ll be able to access important data like the remaining battery, your drive time, speed, how much range you have left and more. There’s also some social features that allow you to connect with other riders, share routes and unlock challenges and prizes. All in all, the app adds value and a fun social element to the s2 board.

Pros & Cons

Overall, the s2 has more going for it than it does going against it. But, there are a few areas of improvement for this model.

Pros

• Rides great
• Quality Manufacturing
• 360-degree lighting
• Quick charging
• The Acton App
• Fairly lightweight

Cons

• Top speed doesn’t really “blow you away”
• 14-mile range feels a bit restrictive

Riding Experience – 8/10

The ride on the s2 is great thanks to its 83mm wheels and smooth motor. Acton also adds some bamboo to the board which complements the Canadian rock maple. That way, the board is durable, but also provides great rideability. We think you’ll find the ride to be very comfortable, even on an incline. Compared to other boards around this price point, the s2 is definitely on the smoother side.

Build Quality – 9/10

No complaints here. The s2 is incredibly well made. Each of the different components that make up the board are high quality.

Range – 6/10

The range could be longer. It isn’t short by any means, but at 14 miles, it’s middle of the road in this category.

Speed – 6/10

The s2 is quick and tops out at 18 mph. In its price range, the Halo board blows it away, topping out at 22mph.

What We Think

At 15lbs, it’s also one of the lightest boards in its class, and it’s impressive considering how substantial and well made the s2 feels.

The build quality and riding experience are all top notch, and we appreciated how quickly the s2 charged.

On the other hand, when it comes to the range and top speed, the s2 doesn’t do much to differentiate itself from the competition. The board certainly isn’t slow, nor does it have a short range. But, it’s not exactly fast either, and at 14 miles, the range isn’t extremely impressive either. Overall, the s2 is middle of the road in those categories.

Blink s2

7.3

Riding Experience

8.0/10

Build Quality

9.0/10

Range

6.0/10

Speed

6.0/10

Pros

• Rides great
• Quality Manufacturing
• 360-degree lighting
• Quick charging
• The Acton App

Cons

• Top speed doesn’t really “blow you away”
• 14-mile range feels a bit restrictive