Halo Board vs Marbel
When comparing Halo Board vs Marbel, the Slant community recommends Marbel for most people. In the question“What are the best Boosted Board alternatives?” Marbel is ranked 3rd while Halo Board is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose Marbel is:
Marbel is light because it’s made from pressure molded carbon fiber, and the batteries use the latest lithium-ion technology (similar to what is found in the Tesla Model S). Boards are 10.3 pounds with stock wheels.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Convenient to take along
Weighing 14.75lbs, this board is lightweight enough to carry along. It also has a handle in the back that makes it more convenient to pick up and hold.
Pro The design is unique and attractive
You have to be prepared to be stopped by people asking what kind of board it is. It's common for people to stare at the Halo because of the unique, futuristic design.
Pro It's fairly resistant to weather
The hub motors on this board are hidden inside the wheels, so they won't be affected by water as you're riding in the rain or over puddles. Halo Board states the wheels are 100% waterproof and the rest of the board is water resistant.
Pro It's a reliable, well-rounded board
While the Halo doesn't show outstanding performance, it offers a combo of decent range and speed, perfectly sufficient for commuting and casual riding. Both 22 MPH top speed and 14-mile range are above what you'd expect from an average e-board. The Halo can also handle 25% steep inclines, while most mid-level boards don't go above 20%.
Pro It's more durable than the average board
The Halo's deck is stronger than what you get from a typical wooden board. It's made from 100% T700 carbon fiber which doesn't crack or deform as wooden decks sometimes do. In general, the Halo will likely last for a long time.
Pro You can use it as a regular skateboard
Unlike belted motor boards, you can ride the Halo like a normal skateboard when the battery is drained.
Pro Very good remote connectivity
There are no issues with the connection between the board and its remote, which is a pretty common problem with electric boards.
Pro Good option for heavier riders
This board can be used by heavier people without much concern. The max weight capacity of the deck is 286 lbs.
Pro Excellent customer support
You can contact the customer support team and get all your questions resolved, whether you own the board or are only thinking about getting one.
Pro You can track the travel distance
You can check how many miles you've traveled on the screen of the remote.
Pro The braking is very smooth
The braking hits the sweet spot where it isn't so sudden that it launches you forward, but neither so soft that it takes forever to stop.
Pro Very little maintenance is needed
The Halo is a simple and fly-looking board. Unlike many alternatives, it doesn't require a lot of attention in terms of maintenance to work smoothly.
Pro Regenerative braking saves some battery charge
The built-in regenerative brakes convert some of the mechanical energy back to electricity as you're slowing down.
Pro Easy to purchase replacement parts
The Halo website offers replacement parts such as front and rear wheels, the charger, and the remote control. The customer service offers more options if you call.
Pro You can follow the battery status
You don't have to worry that the battery might suddenly die on you, mid-way home from work for example. You can always check the battery level of the board on the remote's screen.
Pro Okay warranty
Halo provides a six month warranty that covers manufacturer defects. However, after having the board for 6 months, things really start falling off at that mark.
Pro Small light weight remote
The remote is small and weighs half of the average cellphone.
Pro Remote has reverse mode
Remote has a reverse option. That's just awesome.
Pro Incredibly lightweight
Marbel is light because it’s made from pressure molded carbon fiber, and the batteries use the latest lithium-ion technology (similar to what is found in the Tesla Model S). Boards are 10.3 pounds with stock wheels.
Pro Great climbing ability
2000 W motor that can handle hills up to a 20 percent grade.
Pro Water resistant electronics
The deck encases all the vital electronics in a seamless water-tight carbon fiber deck to avoid water damage. It’s of course still recommended to clean and lube the bearings in order to keep the device in optimal operating condition.
Pro Regenerative brakes that work when battery is full
When the brakes are applied, the captured energy is used to provide extra energy to the battery. The board is also able to brake when the battery is full.
Pro Easily protects from damage
The board is designed to be able to take a hit. If you lose control and the Marbel collides with a wall or curb, front and rear bumpers made from urethane rubber will protect the board from chips or cracks. No need to waste money on costly ugly bumper accessories just to protect the nose and tail.
Pro Quick charge time
Marbel can run for 12 to 16 miles off of a 90-minute charge. This is great for those who commute with the board or use it to go places with access to power outlets, because it’s fast and simple to recharge the board for the return trip.
Pro Tough rechargeable Bluetooth controller
The board uses a tough, plastic, Bluetooth remote that can be recharged using the USB port located on the nose of the board. The remote vibrates to indicate pairing with the board and has an LED indicator for battery level status. It has a safety switch to prevent accidents, and it is tough enough to sit on it or even get run over by a truck.
Pro One of the fastest boards out there
The Marbel can travel at speeds up to 25 mph, even while going uphill. This is remarkable considering that the board only weighs about 10 pounds (10.3 lb with 76 mm wheels). Larger 100 mm wheels will add weight.
Pro Can run without charging
The Marbel longboard can be pushed when it is out of charge. There is a slight drag due to the drive train, but this is still a valuable feature for when the battery is empty.
Pro USB charging port for the remote or other device
The board also doubles as a USB power bank. It can charge any USB device using the battery and accessory port conveniently located on the nose of the board next to the charging port.
Pro Minimalist stealthy clean design
The minimalist, light, and stealthy design of the board shows a clean look, that is not bulky and does not attract too much attention. Nothing is screwed under the deck, and a seamless top deck is used to create an air-tight seal to protect the electronics. No lid screws, no seams, watertight.
Pro Good wheel options
Multiple wheel options allow you to adjust for your riding style and the street conditions. The purchaser can choose between 76mm and 100mm wheels. The larger wheels will easily go over bumps and cracks, and roll more efficiently.
While the larger wheels can be ordered, they will not ship until the Marbel app is released (which is still unknown) as you will be able to set the wheel size in the app, which adjusts your acceleration and top speed setting to match the wheel chosen.
Pro Smartphone app with advanced features
While still in beta phase, previews of the Marbel app show advanced features and community options. These include things like throttle control, wheel size selection, navigation, and security settings, as well as readouts of your remaining range, odometer, trip distance, top speed, gasoline saved compared to a car, etc. A customized mode can be configured to set your preferred acceleration and maximum speed. The app also displays a map with your range radius so you can see how far you can go on the remaining battery level.
Pro Good range on a single charge
Once fully charged, the board will average a range of 16 miles before it's fully depleted. Many other boards only have a range of around 10 miles, so is good for those that may need some extra mileage.
Pro Carbon fiber offers more stability when riding at higher speeds
A flexible board makes for a smoother ride at slow speeds, but a stiffer board offers more stability at higher speeds and better carving around sharp turns. Flexible boards can feel a little loose above 20 mph. If speed is your thing and you need a stiff suspension to get around those tight turns, this is like the Lamborghini of skateboard designs. It carves like it’s on rails.
Pro 1-year warranty
The Marbel Board has one of the strongest warranties of any electric skateboard. Your Marbel Board is covered by a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty that covers defects in workmanship, material, and the battery system. If you have any problems with the board, you can send it back to Florida for servicing free of charge. On average, repair takes about 15 days in the USA.
Pro Anti-theft system
When the app arrives, you will be able to set a pass code to lock your board. A locked Marbel Board can only be operated after inputting the passcode (similar to locking a smartphone), making it useless to a thief unless it is sent back to Marbel headquarters to be unlocked, allowing for the original owner to be notified. The app is currently in beta phase limited release.
Pro Easily purchase spare parts
Available on the Marbel storefront are spare parts for the board. These include new bearings, drive belts, remotes, chargers, and wheels. This is convenient for those that may lose or break the above listed items.
Pro Easily check battery level and speed setting
The 8 LED lights on the nose of the board indicates the battery level and allows you to toggle between speed settings.
Pro Uses standard skate bearings
No need to buy proprietary odd sized, over priced bearings from the board company. Pick your favorite brand bearings and pop them in.
Pro International shipping
The manufacturer will distribute throughout the world, which is great for those who live in areas that do not have comparable electronic skateboard manufacturers.
Pro Fast charger
The charger from Marbel charges faster than most other boards on the market. It's affordable and ships fast.
Cons
Con No aftermarket replacement parts
No option to get things like orangatang wheels or roughstuff wheels for this board. That's a trade-off you will be making with most hub motor wheels.
Con Customer support leaves much to be desired
Slow response times and you will need to constantly follow-up to get any kind of update or ETA.
Con Not water-resistant
Additionally, water damage voids any repair normally covered by the warranty.
Con It's not the best option for long rides
The stiff carbon fiber deck will isn't very comfortable for longer rides. More flexible wooden decks do a better job of absorbing the impact from the imperfections on the road, and as a result, your legs aren't as tired as after riding a carbon board.
Con It's not suited for riding off-road
There's only one set of wheels that comes with the board and their diameter is too small to handle rough terrain. If you often find yourself off-road you could look into models like Evolve GTX 2-in-1 that comes with an additional, larger set of rims.
Con Customer service is very bad
Marbel is not truthful and deletes negative comments on their Facebook when buyers try to get a refund. Many users are still waiting on refunds, with little word from customer service, as they can be missing for weeks at a time. Even when customer service can be gotten ahold of, the information they give tends to not be true.
Con Shipping is delayed
There is currently (Oct. 2016) a three to four week delay on products being shipped after being purchased due to high demand.
Con Boards have reliability issues
Users of the Marbel board are reporting significant quality control issues; boards dying within a week, multiple replacements coming with the same issues. This may be due to the large demand and understaffed assembly.
While build quality is not an issue every owner has experienced, if you do experience it, there may be a long wait to see any resolution.
Con 1-wheel drive power delivery
All 2000 watts of torque must be generated by one wheel, making it more difficult to travel up hills or to brake quickly compared to two-wheel drive boards. Also, having one side of the board carry more of the weight can feel less stable during turning/carving as the wheel connected to the motor may lift off the ground or slip
Con International shipping delays
Many international backers who paid for this board through Kickstarter have not received it due to restrictions on shipping the battery. No timeline has been set for when these boards will be delivered. Check out the Kickstarter page comments to see how many other international customers are still waiting.
Con Never delivered board after 3 years
They still haven't delivered boards to people that bought into the project shortly after the kickstarter ended. $1500 down the drain.
Con May be too stiff of a ride
There are no deck options other than the one carbon fiber deck that Marbel offers, meaning no choice in deck type. For long-boarders who prefer a flexible board (such as what a wood deck would offer), the rigidity of the carbon fiber board can be an issue.
Con Mobile app still unreleased
It is currently in a closed customer beta version for both iOS and Android. The beta app itself crashes at times, so is still unstable and difficult to come by (since it is a closed beta). Release dates have been given numerous times, with the app still not being released after missing a few dates such as the original July 2015 date.
Con Resistance while not powered
There is a slight resistance to push kicking due to the drive train. This is something to consider for those who wish to use the board unpowered often. This is an inherent problem with all belt drive systems; Marbel’s single-wheel drive has less resistance than dual belt drive boards.
Con Issues reported with the motor burning up
Several owners have reported the motor burning up within weeks of use. It seems that this and many other problems stem from the company being low on funds and being understaffed.
Con No easy way to extend ride time
There is no hot swappable battery for this board, meaning users have no easy way of changing batteries in order to extend ride times. The board will have to be charged in between depletions in order to ride it powered.
Con Wheels powered though a single belt motor
This causes a drifting motion while riding because there is too much power on one side vs the opposite side.
Con Can be awkward to hold and carry
The dimensions of the board are 38 inch length by a 10 inch width by a 5 inch height, which could be too large for many to lug around under their arms for an extended length of time. While the board is light at 9.9 pounds, the awkward dimensions of a longboard may be too much for some. A bag or backpack, may be a better way to transport the board when not riding it.