by Chris |
Last Updated: September 21, 2021 Acton Blink S2 Review
Pros
- 360-degree integrated lights for safe night rides
- Kicktail
- Low charge time
- Useful app
- Reverse mode
Cons
- A little heavy
- Not the fastest board on the market
Choosing your first eBoard can be overwhelming, especially when there are hundreds of different options and each and every one of them claims they’re the best on the market. Luckily for you, that’s not what we do. We’re here to get into all the details and determine which electric skateboard is best for your needs.
Today we will be getting to know Acton Blink S2, one of the most successful creations of Acton Global. Silicon Valley-based company is one of the pioneers of motorized skates. Therefore, they have already made a pretty good name for themselves.
So good actually that they had no issue raising 1,425 million USD through Indiegogo campaign for the Blink S2. It is the biggest electric skateboard Indiegogo campaign so far. The board was popular even before it actually launched in 2016.
Top Specs
So, what is it about the S2 that caused such a fuss in such a short time? Here are some of the features that make the board so special.
3 Ride Modes
The S2 has 3 ride modes: Beginner, Normal and Pro. This feature makes the board suitable for riders of all kinds. You can start off with the first mode and experiment as you get better at riding.
Top Performance at All Times
What you see on a lot of boards nowadays is that once the battery life drops so does the performance of the device. With the S2 you can travel full speed, even if your battery is on the minimum level. This result is achieved through the throttle and wattage capacity of the battery output and the motor shell.
Reverse Mode
While this is not a completely unique feature, I think it still makes a big difference. Not all boards offer a reverse motion. Fortunately, the Blink S2 does. With a simple throttle move, you can go in the other direction without having to turn your board around. It is a pretty useful feature if you tend to ride in crowded or narrow areas.
Moving on to the basics, let’s find out all there is to know about Acton Blink S2.
The Basics
This funky 31.5-inch board comes with a top speed of 18 mph and can support riders with a max weight of 250 lbs. The board has enough surface for a skateboarder to stand comfortably and have a good grip of the deck.
The Build
The board overall is rather well-built. So, it will last you for a long time. There are inbuilt magnets around the core of the dual hub motor shell. A strong bearing with a washer and six screws plays a big role in giving a rider full control of the board even at high speeds.
The Battery
36V battery can run for approximately 90 minutes or 14 miles depending on how you ride and takes about 1.5 hours to recharge fully, which is a pretty good deal. Some expensive eboards take more than 3 hours to charge.
To make sure the battery does not get damaged, it’s better to recharge it before it’s completely dead.
Deck
As for the deck itself, it is made from Canadian maple wood. It’s a tough wood that provides great stability and a firm grip even on rough terrains. If you go deeper into the deck materials, you will find aircraft grade aluminum, which says a lot about the overall quality of the board.
Overall the board looks pretty cool with neon green details and a trademark bear symbol.
Wheels
These 83mm and 78A hardness parameter wheels are a big part of the design of the board. It creates that extra piece of character that makes the S2 special.
Keeping in mind that the Blink S2 is cheaper than your average quality eboard these wheels are more than we could ask for. They are pretty strong and durable and provide impressive shock absorption as well.
Another great feature of the Acton Blink S2 is the regenerative braking, which can actually charge your battery.
The App
Getting started with your Acton app is quite simple. All you have to do is download the app and pair your board using the serial number specified under the deck. And that’s it, you’re connected.
The app gives you all the information about your board and rides including mode, speed, battery life, and other specs. You can also use the app to control the lights on the board.
The app saves all the information about your trips and also provides some info about other Acton riders in your area. This is pretty useful if you like connecting with like-minded people and share valuable tips or simply nerd about electric skateboards. You have to turn on the Location Services in the app to be able to use this feature.
What makes the S2 stand out on the market is that you can even adjust the inclination angle of the board from the horizontal plane to up to 20% incline.
The Acton Blink S2 definitely offers a wide range of interesting features and some reliable and impressive specs. But is it the best option for you? In order to answer this question, let’s see how it compares to similar boards on the market.
Let’s Compare
Acton Blink S2 vs AC Electric Skateboard
AC has created a rather simple looking board that might even remind you of a regular longboard at a first glance. The deck is made of maple wood, but it also has layers of Bamboo, making the board a bit more flexible.
The AC eboard deck is almost the same length at 38 inches, but comes with wider 90mm wheels. Overall, the board is pretty sturdy, but definitely has some flex. So, this board might be more appealing for those who love to have some fun while riding.
One detail that AC definitely got a better score on, is that it can support heavier riders (up to 300 lb) than the Blink S2.
With 350W brushless hub motos, the AC board has almost the same top speed as the S2 – 17 mph. What’s great about the hub motors is that they let your ride your eboard as a regular skateboard as well.
The AC also has a reverse mode like the S2 and 3-speed modes.
While AC and S2 have a lot in common, there are still some points where the S2 outshines it. And one of the most important ones is the range. The AC has a range of only 10 miles and the battery takes even longer to charge (2.5 hours) than that of the Acton board. Read our review
Acton Blink S2 vs Maxfind MAX C Electric Skateboard
Maxfind Max C comes with a more futuristic and polished design than both Acton and AC board. It definitely has its pros, but there are some cons as well.
One of the best parts about the Max board is that it is probably as light as it gets, weighing only around 8.1 lbs. This makes the board very easy to carry around. So, if your commute involves public transportation or parts where you prefer to walk, this board might be more suitable for you.
The maintenance cost of the board is quite low; one of the reasons for this is that most of the parts are independently replaceable and it’s quite easy to find them online.
As for the cons, the board has a top speed of 14 mph and 2 ride modes: safe and easy. The range of the board is also pretty low – 8 miles. While these specs might be good for a beginner, they are a bit limiting for veterans.
The board is also not recommended for heavier riders as it supports max weight of only 176 lbs.
Acton Blink S2 vs BoardCulture Electric Skateboard
This Board Culture eboard has a rather simplistic design, while still catching the eye of the bypassers. The deck is made of 7 layers of Canadian maple wood that makes the board great on the rough streets.
The board comes with a 500W brushless dual powered motor that provides a top speed of 22 mph, so even more than the S2. You can choose from 3 ride modes using the wireless remote controller that comes with the board.
Also featured in the package is a cool backpack that you can use to transport your board. While the board has a handle, a backpack is a new level of comfort.
If you are willing to pay a little more for some extra speed and strength than you might consider Board Culture eboard as an option.
To sum it up…
The Acton Blink S2 is a decent quality board with impressive specs for such an affordable price. While it might not be the fastest board on the market, you can still get the most out of it no matter whether you are a pro or a beginner.
If you’re looking for a budget board that will not be just a toy for you, but rather an actual transportation mean, than the S2 definitely ticks all the boxes.