Can a Hoverboard Go on Carpet and Grass?

If you are looking into buying a hoverboard, you probably also want to think about where you are going to be riding it. Any hoverboard can handle sidewalks and other flat surfaces, but what if you want to take it somewhere else? Can you ride a hoverboard over the carpet and grass?

Well, it depends on the type of hoverboard that you choose. Standard hoverboards typically are only meant for pavement, but off road hoverboards can allow you to travel through grass, dirt, and small rocks much better than the standard.

While the standard can work on carpet (depending on how thick it is), you do need to learn to ride differently. Other types of terrain are better suited for an off-road board. 

Here is everything you need to know about hoverboards and taking them off the familiar path.

What is an Off Road Hoverboard?

An off road hoverboard, also called an all-terrain board, is made to tackle rugged terrain, rough pavement, high grass, carpet, and many other areas in the outdoors. Lately, they have been gaining in popularity, as they can also carry a lot of weight (up to 400+ pounds)- making them perfect for hiking and camping trips.

Off-road boards have a few features that make them stand out from the standard. While the standard is perfect for smooth pavement and a calmer trip,  off-road boards are designed to take more of a beating on intense travels .

These are the features that your new off road hoverboard should have and why it needs them to function properly:

Large Tires

If you are looking to take the hoverboard through the grass, dirt, or other rough terrains you are going to need a large set of quality made tires. Smaller tires work better at navigating smoother surfaces, making them best for pavement, concrete, or other areas in a city.

Large tires can handle rocks, grass, and dirt much better than small ones. They pass over the uneven surfaces easier, making travel through rough terrain possible. A large tire would need to be  at least 8.5 inches tall , although you can buy even large ones for harsher areas. To put it in perspective, standard boards normally use 6 to 6.5-inch tires.

You are also going to need tires with a deep tread. This can greatly improve traction and help keep you from slipping on uneven surfaces. These treads can be spotted by groves that go across the wheel in a deep zig-zag like shape.

These  larger tires travel easier over high grass and gravel, making them the best option  for taking your hoverboard off the pavement.

Sturdy Materials

In an off road hoverboard, you will want to have durable tires that are filled with air. This allows them to have better traction, stability, and can adjust to the surfaces they are traveling over. 

Standard boards have solid tires, without any air. This works best for the surfaces that they travel over.

Off road boards typically have thicker coverings on the bottom to protect the system from debris and water.

Can I Use my Hoverboard on a Carpet?

Yes, no matter which type of board you have, you should be able to take it on the carpet. The standard board can also handle light grass and even dirt paths- the off-road is just better at high grass and rougher paths. 

When using the board on carpet, you might notice that you need to work harder to keep your balance. After a while, it should feel more natural to you. You just need to be aware of it, so that you do not fall over.

Boards with larger wheels tend to feel better on the carpet. A standard hoverboard might feel a little more difficult to balance on, depending on how plush the carpet is.

Be Sure to Protect the Board from Water

Taking your board off the pavement means that it is more likely to get muddy or wet. You will want to take a few extra steps to be sure that it will last a long time. Always be sure that your board has a durable cover on the bottom to protect the battery and logic board from water or dirt.

You can tell if your board is  safe for all-terrain by checking its IP rating . This will let you know if it can withstand a few raindrops or is safe to steer through deep puddles.

If the battery does get wet, dry it as best you can right away.  You can even use a little bit of rubbing alcohol on it to ensure that any lingering moisture evaporates.  If the battery is wet for too long, it will ruin the performance of your board or stop working entirely. 

While replacing a battery is easy to do, you probably do not want to spend extra money when you do not have to.

Conclusion

In short, yes! You can take your hoverboard over the carpet or grass. However, its performance will depend on the type of board, what kind of tires it has, and how rough the terrain is.

If you plan on going off-road often, the sidewalks in your area are cracked and uneven, or the idea of driving it through mud is fun to you- then you will probably want to get an all-terrain hoverboard.

Standard boards are perfect for travel in cities or other leisurely travel. They can still be taken on the carpet and handle it pretty well, once you adjust to balancing differently and moving slowly.