Skateboards and Scooters. How do they compare?

The skateboard vs. scooter debate has raged for years, and it continues to rage as the popularity of scooters among children – and even adults – grows.

Pro scooters, also known as kick scooters, stunt scooters, trick scooters, or street scooters, are one type of scooter; others include large commute scooters, 3 or 4 wheel scooters, electric scooters, and so on.

In this post, I’m going to compare skateboards to professional scooters. Both are kick-powered (foot-propelled) skateboards that can be used to perform cool tricks in the streets and skatepark.

So, which is better for you or your child: a pro scooter or a skateboard? Here’s a quick rundown:

• Ease of use: a scooter is more maneuverable and stable than a motorcycle.
• Skateboards are more convenient to transport than scooters.
• Learning curve: a scooter is less difficult to master than a skateboard.
• Advanced tricks are difficult to master on both a skateboard and a scooter.
• Scooter is safer than skateboard in terms of safety (more stable)
• Skateboarding is often thought to be cooler than other modes of transportation (scooter on the rise)
• Exercising on a skateboard or a scooter is a great way to get some exercise.

Just by looking at the above list, it’s clear that the skateboard and pro scooter scores are nearly tied! Which one is a better fit for you is determined by how important each of the above criteria is to you.

Let’s start with some key distinctions between the two.

Key differences between a skateboard and a scooter

Kick scooters have two aligned wheels and a handlebar for steering, in case you’re unfamiliar with the concept. Skateboards have four wheels and no handlebars; you steer by shifting your weight on top of the trucks.

Both a skateboard and a scooter have a deck on which you stand. On a scooter, your feet are always between the wheels, whereas on a skateboard, they can be between the wheels (drop-throug, drop-deck) or on top of the wheels (topmount). 

Skateboard vs. scooter: which is easier to ride?

Let’s take a look at the main moves you make on a skateboard or a scooter and compare how difficult they are.

• Kicking and pushing

Because you hold on to the handlebar, kicking for speed is easier on a scooter than on a skateboard. Because there is nothing to hold onto on a skateboard, you must balance on one leg while pushing with the other.

• Steering

On a scooter, turning is easier than on a skateboard because all you have to do is turn the handlebar slightly to steer. On a skateboard, turning requires pressing your toes or heel into the rail and leaning forward or backward without losing your balance.

• Rolling

On a scooter, simply riding while rolling is easier because it is quite stable and you can hold on to the handlebar. A newer skateboarder can easily lose their balance and have the board shoot out from under them due to a bump in the ground, causing them to fall sideways. On a scooter, this is more unlikely to happen.

• Maneuvering

Because of the single front wheel and fork, maneuvering on a scooter is easier than on a skateboard because you can do very tight turns in very little space, similar to riding a tiny bike. Due to the four-wheel design, tight turning on a skateboard without losing your balance (e.g. doing a kick turn) necessitates more skills.

• Stopping

Stopping is easier on a scooter without a brake than on a skateboard because you use the handle to keep your balance while putting your foot down to brake. On the other hand, braking with your feet on a skateboard is difficult and requires good technique. Another advanced method of stopping on a skateboard is sliding.

Skateboard vs. scooter: which is more convenient?

If you or your child will be riding the scooter or skateboard to school or for other short-distance transportation, a skateboard may be more convenient than a scooter because it can be easily carried inside a building or store.

Although a pro scooter is usually lightweight and foldable, it is not as portable as a skateboard. You take your skateboard everywhere and store it under your desk, whereas a scooter may not be as convenient.

Which is more difficult to master: skateboarding or scootering?

Beyond the basics, however, learning advanced tricks on a pro scooter can be just as difficult as learning them on a skateboard. Learning to do a good ollie or kickflip on a skateboard can take 6-8 hours for a beginner. On a scooter, mastering a tailwhip or a 360o takes a lot of practice.

Despite the fact that some tricks are easier to master on a scooter than on a skateboard, scooter riders tend to perform more difficult tricks to compensate. So a 360 on a scooter might be comparable to a 180 on a skateboard in terms of difficulty, and a double whip might be comparable to a kickflip.

Which is cooler, a skateboard or a scooter?

Kick scooters’ primary target market – and the image most people have of them – is younger children aged 7 to 13. Skateboarding is commonly associated with older teens (including “rogue,” rebellious types), but it is also popular among adults who commute or cruise on skateboards or longboards.

When people think of scooters vs. skateboards, they usually think of skateparks and street riding. Skateboarding is usually regarded as cool because it necessitates a high level of skill to ride a vert or grind on a rail.

Advanced scooter tricks, as mentioned, require significant skills, but the popular image of scooter riders is of young kids hanging out at the park and getting in the way of skaters.

Which is safer: a skateboard or a scooter?

Kick scooters are considered to be safer than skateboards, which is why parents prefer to purchase them for their younger children:

Skateboards have a higher center of gravity than scooters, which have a low center of gravity and ride very low to the ground. To provide enough wheel clearance and avoid wheelbite, skateboard decks must be relatively high off the ground.

Because there is nothing to hold on to for support on a skateboard, the risk of losing your balance and falling is higher. When doing stunts at the skatepark, on the other hand, it’s easier to injure yourself with a scooter’s handlebar.

Skateboards frequently experience speed wobbles (shaking) when rolling faster, such as downhill, which can result in a crash! Due to their two-wheel design and tighter axles, scooters are more stable at high speeds and never wobble.

Which is better for exercise: a skateboard or a scooter?

Skateboards and scooters both provide a great workout because you must constantly kick to keep moving. When pushing, you can alternate your feet to spread the effort across both sides of your body, though this is easier on a scooter than on a skateboard.

One could argue that skating provides a more comprehensive workout due to the increased balance training (no handlebar). As a result, your core ab muscles are more actively engaged. Skateboarding takes more effort than riding a scooter for commuting.

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LAST BUT NOT LEAST

So, which is better for you: a skateboard or a scooter? Skateboarding will provide a nice challenge if you (or your child) have strong balance skills and/or are a patient learner, but it will come at the cost of a higher risk of falling. On the other hand, a kick scooter is a lot of fun and can be a nice and safe mode of transportation. If you choose to learn advanced street and park tricks on it, it can also be an opportunity to improve your skills.

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