What is a good scooter for adults?

With a list price of $900, GoTrax GMax Ultra is the company's top-of-the-line commuter scooter. It boasts a 350-watt motor and a 36-volt, 17.5-aH LG lithium-ion battery. Its 10-inch air-filled tires made rides more comfortable than expected considering it doesn't have a suspension. It took approximately four to five hours to charge. 

The scooter is a kick-and-go, meaning you kick to take off and then use the well-placed thumb throttle on the right side of the handlebar to keep moving. It can hit a top speed of 20 mph and, according to GoTrax, you can get about 45 miles of travel between charges. In real-world usage, it was about half of that, which is still pretty good. This also depends on the rider's size, hills and wind conditions. It supports riders up to 220 pounds.

On the left side of the handlebars is the power button, as well as plus and minus buttons. Hold the power button for three seconds to turn the scooter on and off. By default, the scooter requires a three-digit passcode to turn on that is entered using the plus-minus buttons and the power button to confirm. This won't stop someone from pushing the scooter, but the passcode along with a built-in stainless-steel cable and four-digit combination lock are nice to have for quickly locking it up. Plus, if you try to turn it on and roll it, the motors will slow its movement while making a beeping sound until the passcode is entered. 

Holding the minus button puts the scooter in walk mode. This gives you a 3-mph power assist while you walk the scooter. Another nice feature: if the throttle is held for 10 seconds it enters cruise control where the scooter will maintain its speed until the brakes or throttle are touched. It can also be used to change gears when combined with the plus button.

The build quality of the scooter is very good and it weighs 46 pounds. I exceed the 220-pound limit and it moved effortlessly without any creaking underneath me -- at least on level ground. Uphill was another story, though it performed admirably uphill with someone under the weight limit. 

The rear disc brake worked great regardless of the rider's weight. A rear brake light illuminates when engaged and there's an LED headlight with a reflector beneath it. The LED display on the scooter is clear and visible in direct sunlight. It provides information on current speed, battery level and total distance traveled. The scooter is rear-wheel drive; when riding, most of the weight is in the rear and this helps maintain traction. It also makes the front lighter when lifting on or off a curb. 

The scooter's design is clean and sleek, made from aluminum alloy A606 and has an IPX4 rating, which means you're safe from splashing water. It easily folded down for transport and, since the handlebars lock from the side of the deck, it's impossible for the latch to come loose while carrying. When upright, the handlebars are at a perfect height. I didn't feel hunched over them or pressure on my palms, and the steering column is steady and responsive.

When I thought about what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never imagined that I might become an expert in adult kick scooters! Unintentionally, I should add. I’ve done two long-distance kick-scooter challenges –  the first was Scoot the Loop, a 150-mile five-day kickscoot on the London Loop trail. Then, in 2018, I took that to the next level with Kicking the States. I spent three months kick scooting the entire length of the USA. Covering a total of 1,750 miles!

To be clear, that was on manual, un-motorised kick scooters!

While preparing for and doing these adventures, I spent a lot of time researching and understanding everything there is to know about kick scooters for adults (sometimes also called push scooters). Which are the best models? The advantages and disadvantages? Is there really a big difference between the expensive and budget options? How far can they comfortably carry you?

I’ve put everything I’ve learned into this best adult kick scooter guide.

This is me on the Kicking the States adventure – reaching the halfway mark and crossing the Golden Gate Bridge!

Adult Kick Scooters: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• As they are not officially defined as a bike, in most cases, you can scoot on either the road or pavement.
• They are beyond fun going downhill!
• There is no skill to riding them; you just kick and getting the balance right feels very intuitive.
• They’re lightweight and easy to move around and transport.

Cons:

• They are rubbish going uphill (you have to get off and push)
• You are stood up on your feet, which is more tiring than being sat on a bike.
• They are slower than a bike and not so flexible with working on different terrains.
• There are few storage options, although some models do fold down for storage.
• People think you are weird for owning one if you are over the age of 15 (lol!).

How fit do you need to be to ride a kick scooter?

Honestly, not very fit. Mainly because it’s pretty easy to take things at a leisurely pace on a scooter.

Unlike a bike, where you need to get your bum and legs used to using different muscles, I found that kick-scooting was using existing muscle memory. It’s a similar movement to going upstairs or doing a lunge.

Riding kick scooters are ideal for taking short journeys – popping to the shops or commuting to and from work that is not too far away. But they can also be used for longer journeys.

When we did Kicking the States we were travelling about 50km (30 miles) a day on our scooters. This would take us about 5-6 hours of scooting to cover this distance. On our biggest day, we covered 80km (50 miles).

The areas that got sore after a lot of kick scooting were the legs (particularly the knees) and lower back. After a long day of scooting, these parts of the body would be achy. And also my hands – if there was a lot of downhill, the heavy breaking took a fair bit of work and I found my hands would get stiff and the skin rough. This shouldn’t be an issue for shorter journeys though.

I think the biggest downfall is that all the scooters I tried came up a bit short for me. I’m 5″9, so fairly tall for a woman. While most of the adult kick-scooters are adjustable, even on the highest setting, I find I’m slumped over a bit. While this isn’t ideal, for most short rides – say if you were looking for an adult kick scooter for a 20-minute commute – you wouldn’t really notice this.

4 Best Adult Kick-Scooters for 2024

There isn’t a huge range of adult kick-scooters available, so your options are limited. But there’s enough on the market to get yourself kitted out with the right adult kick scooter for you. You’ll notice that they vary significantly in cost from £70 all the way up to £2,000 and what you buy will depend very much on what you intend to use it for.

1. Yedoo Friday **TOP PICK**

*Best all-round quality kick-scooter*

Buy now
Max weight: 150kg
RRP: £350 / $410

After trying multiple scooter options for our big adventure, we settled on using a Friday Yedoo scooter for our epic challenge. And these scooters did not disappoint!

Starting at £350 these scooters offer an excellent mid-range option. But are by far the best quality and most comfortable to ride. Although they offer big-wheel adult scooter options (like the Yedoo Rodstr), we opted for a Friday Scooter – which was a good balance for lightweight urban scooting while also having the power to take us up and down large hills.

Scooting on a Yedoo felt effortless and offered a smooth ride. They come with suspension. Rear and front braking. And 16″ rubber tires front and back (which you can repair if you get a puncture – same as you would on a bike) and rubber handles.

These scooters really are beautiful to ride!

CON: It’s hard to fault the Yedoo Friday, but there is one feature that is a bit restrictive. The height adjustment on the handlebars is pretty limited so this might not be a good option for anyone really tall.

2. SCHWINN SHUFFLE Fun vintage-style kick scooter

*Best for exercise and recreational scooting

See on Amazon
Max weight: 99kg or 220 pounds
RRP: £160-250 / $200-300

The Schwinn Shuffle is a fun, stylish adult kick scooter option with a classic, vintage look.

It has large 26-inch front and 20-inch rear air-filled wheels for a smooth ride. The steel frame and alloy brakes provide durability. It can support riders up to 200 pounds and fits a range of adult heights.

The Schwinn Shuffle is great for commuting or recreational neighbourhood rides, offering a new way to get out and be active. Key features include the cruiser-style handlebars, front and rear fenders, and linear-pull brakes for precise stopping power.

Overall, the Schwinn Shuffle kick scooter provides a fun and easy way to ride around with its classic styling and large wheels. It’s a good option for casual adult use.

CON: The Schwinn Shuffle is larger and heavier (12kg) than most commuter scooters, so it takes up more storage space. It is also not foldable.

*Best commuter adult kick scooter*

See on Amazon
Max weight: 105kg
RRP: £68 / $55

The Lascoota is one of the most affordable adult kick scooters on the market. Despite its low price tag, this scooter is really well made. It’s sturdy and feels good quality when putting up and riding.

The scooter has a wider deck with grip, making it more comfortable to ride compared with other kick scooters in a similar price range. It can be adjusted to 99cm in height. There’s suspension and wear-resistent wheels which make for a nice smooth ride. I especially love the feel of the grip on the handles and find the brakes reliable and comfortable to use.

Another great feature of the Lascoota is that it folds in half at the push of a button. It also comes with a carry strap. This, along with it’s affordable price tag, makes it the best option for anyone looking for a casual or commuting adult kick scooter.

CONS: Design-wise, these scooters are basic. You will feel every bump and have little control if moving at speed – they aren’t going to be super comfy to ride. The lifeline on a basic cheap scooter like this isn’t going to be long and they can’t take as much weight as other models.

4. GrAvity M1o Trail

*Best off-road kick scooter*

Buy now
Max weight: 150kg
RRP: £750 / $800

This is a good kick-scooter for heavy adults or if you are planning to use the kick-scooter on rough terrain (ie, off-road).

The best option for adult scooters with big wheels is, without doubt, Gravity Scooters. They have a vast range of scooters varying from £450 (their cheapest make is the Urban black) all the way up to £2,000.

We used the Gravity M10 Trail scooter on our Scoot the Loop challenge, which was predominantly off-road scooting. It was a good off-road model, offering versatility and excellent suspension. They have big rubber wheels (a larger wheel at the front, smaller at the back). A front and back handle-bar brake system and a higher footstand improve clearance. Some models come with a dual suspension.

These scooters are built for speed, and to last. Gravity Scooters can be also adapted for mushing (being pulled along by dogs).

CON: Their biggest downfall is the fact that they are large and heavy to lug around and also that they are one of the lowest scooters in terms of height.

5. SwiftyAIR

*Most stylish scooter*

Buy now
Max weigh: 150kg
RRP: £650 / $720

Swifty Scooters are considered one of the best kick scooters for adults commuting, especially in the UK, where you’ll see them being used around London or ridden by celebrities.  Swifty Scooters are not cheap, with a starting price of £650. Goin up to £840 for a folding version.

There is no doubt what you are paying for – style!

Swifty Scooters look nice. They are lightweight and have attractive finishing touches, like cork handlebars. Rear and front handle-bar breaks. Some of their models also fold down. The folding mechanism is simple but not as small as a Razor or WeSkate but enough to make it functional as a kick scooter for adults commuting.

CON: Their biggest downfall? For me, they aren’t sturdy enough to justify the price tag. While they look great, they need to be a bit stronger in design. I tried out a Swifty Scooter for a day of riding and had to fix the breaks after just a few hours in.

Kick scooter Panniers, Bags & Accessories

One of the biggest downfalls of a kick-scooter is not having the space for storage as you would do with a regular bike. Of course, you can carry your bag on your back. But this isn’t always comfortable.

For both my kick-scooter challenges, I adapted the scooters so that I could add a waterproof pannier to help carry some of my gear. Here are your options:

#1 Single pannier on the front

For Kicking the States, we travelled super lightweight. We modified our handlebar to add a pole so a 17L bike pannier could slot onto the front (see more pictures here). This worked amazingly.

It was so easy getting the pannier on and off, and surprisingly, it didn’t affect the balance of the scooter. In fact, the extra weight made steering a little bit more stable. The pannier just slots on and off, so it is easy to take off when you stop for a coffee or arrive somewhere.

#2 Double Pannier over the front wheel

This only works well if you have a large front wheel. You can attach back pannier support to the front and hang small panniers on both sides. This gives you more storage and doesn’t interfere with steering, although it makes the Scooter wider.

#3 Platform on the back and front

This is how Dave Cornthwaite set up his scooter for his Japan scooter trip. Swifty Scooters modified a platform on the back and front, which you can put a bag on top. I can’t comment on how this affects the scooting, although I personally felt like the back platform might get in the way when your foot kicks back.

Essential adult kick-scooter accessories:

• A helmet is a necessary safety kick (here’s the one I use)!
• If you do opt to find a storage solution, I highly recommend this bike pannier. 17-20 litres should be enough!
• Lights will allow you to kick-scoot at night safely. There’s no way to attach a light to the back of the scooter, so we opted for a Topside helmet light, which was a brilliant bit of kit. It omits an impressive beam and is rechargeable.
• A water bottle holder can be attached to the front of the handlebars for easy access. Alternatively, you can use a hydration backpack, which is better for carrying larger amounts of water with you.

Looking for an electric adult scooter?

Adult electric scooters (also called adult motor scooters or simply e-scooters) are starting to rise in popularity, especially since companies like Bird in Los Angeles started installing electric scooters that people can hire to get around the city.

They aren’t quite as practical as a regular kick-scooter. You need to weigh up charge time, additional weight that the motor adds, and also the additional restrictions you’ll have as you’re now travelling at speed.

Here are some of the best motor scooters or E-scooters for adults on the market:

• Best budget option for a cheap motor adult scooter: Razor
  For its price (ranges between $200-$300), this scooter is perfect for short journeys. With a max speed of 20km and foldable features, it’s ideal for an electric commuter scooter.
• Best e-kick scooters for heavy adults or off-road: Gravity E-Scooters
  Sturdy, comfortable, and with large wheels. A gravity E-scooter will work on most terrains, including steep off-road downhills. Max speed 25km
• Best for multi-use: Swifty scooter motor kit
  An electric kit will set you back £800 but this can be added to any scooter with the correct front forks width for the 100mm hub motor. You can travel up to 10 miles on one charge.

Inspiration from other adult kick scooter-ers!

To give you some inspiration, here are adventures people have made on adult kick scooters. You can also check out my guide on the best electric balance bikes for kids and toddlers for a different take on two-wheeled fun.

• Jonathan Kelly is a Xootr rider and has some inspiration and guides on the website: http://andythousand.com/

• 1000km in the Caribbean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1oucJG2Pqc and http://www.nicolaibangsgaard.dk/trailer-around-the-caribbean-by-kick-scooter/

• 1000miles in Japan https://davecornthwaite.com/scootjapan

• Touring South America: https://www.yedoo.eu/en/article/a-scooter-expedition-to-teach-you-527kmQ.aspx

• 127-mile canal trip: https://britishadventurer.com/2015/06/09/127-miles-on-a-kick-scooter-not-as-mad-as-it-sounds/

Writing this guide took me a long time, drawing together all my research. If you’d like to say thanks, you can buy me a coffee! I use the money to pay for the hosting and domain to keep this site going.

If you are new to this blog, I’m Bex Band – a full-time adventurer and founder of Britain’s largest adventure community for women, Love Her Wild. I’m on a mission to make getting outdoors and adventures as easy as possible. You can sign up to my newsletter here. Also, check out my award-winning published book Three Stripes South, all about my first big adventure hiking the length of Israel.

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