When offered a review unit of the Spectra X by Walnutt my initial reaction was to delete the email and go on with my day. Generally, I only review items that I use in my daily life, such as headphones and mobile porn apps. However, upon further reflection, that is a selfish approach to reviewing new technology. So I employed the services of my 20-year-old son who already utilizes an electric skateboard to assist with this review.
Zack, (who is looking for an entry-level job in help desk work) uses an electric skateboard as his daily commuting tool, so is suited to fill in the blanks when it comes to the fact I would never hoist myself up on one of these things, even coming from a skateboarding background. I can still appreciate the technology without having to put myself inevitably in the hospital. I’m not the lithe spring chicken I used to be. He literally is the definition of lithe.
The feature set of the Spectra X puts it in several categories when it comes to using an electric mode of transportation. It comes a power efficient Samsung swappable battery that extends the range by about 4.3 miles which makes it perfect for commuters. The casual rider will enjoy the 3D posture control (which will be explained in a paragraph or two) and the enthusiast should enjoy the dual motor, its 16.5 pound weight and the ability to control the board through a remote or app.
The Spectra X retails for $499 with one battery, $599 with two batteries. The Spectra X Premium, which includes GPS tracking is $100 more in each battery category. These are $100-off pre-order prices, which jump up when the Spectra X officially launches on June 27. The best deal is getting the regular board with two batteries and slapping on one of those tiny GPS trackers with some duct tape and glue.
The board is also IP66 water-resistant, so not IP68 like my phone, but water-resistant enough for small puddles or a spilled Slushee. That should do it for the standard technical features, so let’s talk about that 3D posture control.
The 3D posture control allows you to place your feet on the board wherever you like. Once you have your feet on the board, the sensors kick in and adjust based on your posture and weight sensitivity. So after a few rides, the algorithm inside the Spectra X will have adjusted to your general body movement, making each ride easier and the top speed of 18.6 mph will seem like you are taking that magic carpet ride with Aladdin. Here’s a good video of how the posture control works. Zack however, was only mildy impressed.
“I really wanted to enjoy the 3D posture control — don’t get me wrong it’s not bad for short trips — but it’s not great for long commutes. My legs got tired very quickly, and literally was an ab workout to get the right weight distributions. The board itself is very hard to turn because it registers turns as stops [author’s note: the manufacturer assures me that it does not, it only feels like it does because it has to slow down a lot to turn] which is a nice safety feature when you are commuting, but while you are cruising can get very annoying.
“I looked like an anime character when I was trying to run to get the board to go the top speed, which I guess is accurate for how I normally run, but not for an electric skateboard.”
To be fair, it takes time to master the posture control and I gave Zack about a day to turn around his assessment from when he received the board. He currently rides an Action Blink board, so did compare the Spectra X to that. His overall assessment is that the Spectra X is a great board for short trips and for just screwing around on the sidewalk at moderately high speeds for a human on foot, but not the best for a full-on commute that extends past the two battery range (but the battery system does help with that).
“Compared to my Action Blink S2 I will say it [Spectra X] is a much better experience. The positives are definitely the swappable battery and the app, and the GPS built into the board (premium version only). The not so great, but appreciated nonetheless aspects are the 3D posture control and the remote.
“Compared to the Action board I have to say I enjoy the app so much more. It has so many features, and is very responsive, the only downside is you have to reconnect every time you open the app [author’s note: this depends on Bluetooth connectivity and how long your phone holds an open Bluetooth connection. Clearly his doesn’t hold it very long. Spectra doesn’t automatically disconnect the connection]. Some of the features of the app are being able to adjust the sensitivity of the remote, adjust the level you are of rider (the three modes are Comfort, Sport, and Racing).
“Being able to swap the battery out is a nice welcome change for two reasons. Much easier to take it on a plane (you can’t carry large batteries on the plane, so this one can be checked), and the second battery is handy for longer commutes.
“The GPS is a great feature that I wish more e-boards had in general. It is a very helpful feature. For example, say you left it behind at a restaurant whose manager didn’t want you to have it blocking the way of other patrons, and so they put it in the back, but you and your friend are having such a good time with dinner that you blank out and forget the board [author’s note: I feel like this is a personal experience]. You can then look in the app and see the last known location.”
I’ve been pretty clear how much I abhor electric scooters, but that’s mostly because of the population of morons that leave them all over the sidewalk and in waterways. There is a part of me that is sentimental toward skateboards and hopes that electric boards remain a personal transportation item that is not monetized and laid all over cities like a gross mechanical blanket for every unbalanced weirdo to use.
The Spectra X is a competent upgrade to the current line of Spectra electric skateboards. I think Zack and I can both agree that controlling a skateboard through an app, with the availability of GPS and swappable batteries are pretty solid features when it comes to personal transportation. The Spectra X by Walnutt is available now for pre-order, and always remember to wear a helmet.
A review unit was provided by the manufacturer.
