When comparing Halo Board vs Mellow Board, the Slant community recommends Mellow Board for most people. In the question“What are the best Boosted Board alternatives?” Mellow Board is ranked 1st while Halo Board is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose Mellow Board is:
The two-year warranty for both the drive system and the remote is the longest in the sector, ensuring quality and justifying in part the Mellow's relatively higher price. Unlike most other manufacturers, Mellow has stated that the warranty is fully transferable and covers water damage (within IP65 conditions). The battery has a one-year warranty.
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 2 year full warranty
The two-year warranty for both the drive system and the remote is the longest in the sector, ensuring quality and justifying in part the Mellow's relatively higher price. Unlike most other manufacturers, Mellow has stated that the warranty is fully transferable and covers water damage (within IP65 conditions). The battery has a one-year warranty.
Pro The battery is waterproof
The battery is waterproof up to IP65 conditions, meaning fully dustproof, and proof against direct streams of water. Even though battery pack is hot swappable, the connection is actually even stronger when it is clicked-in (immersion proof at IP67). Since the rest of the board is IP65 though, they recommend against putting and using it underwater.
Pro 4 different driving modes
Mellow Board offers four different driving modes that you can cycle between using the Mellow app or the remote control. These enable you to tailor riding style, and to conserve battery power during your trip. The modes are “Rooky Ride” (Acceleration 20 percent, top speed 12 mph), “Eco Ride” (Acceleration 40% percent top speed 19 mph), “Pro Ride” (Acceleration 100 percent, top speed 25 mph), and “Endless Ride” (Acceleration 10 percent, you push and the cruise control keeps the pace).
Pro Allows the use of ones own deck
The Mellow Drive replaces the rear (and/or front, in a 4WD setup) truck of pretty much any board. You can use your current board as an electric one by putting the Mellow on, or revert a Mellow Board to a standard trick board (grinds, etc), by replacing the Drive with a standard rear truck. Being able to replace a broken or weatherbeaten deck saves you money, and even lets you ride in the rain without getting splattered by using a wide deck shape without cutouts.
Pro Dust and waterproof
The electronics, motors, battery AND remote are dust and waterproof (IP65). This is great for city riders who have to deal with dirty streets and for riders in rainy areas. The external bearing is grease-filled, sealed and user replaceable; the inner one is a long lasting industrial grade, protected behind a grease-filled reservoir behind a flange on the axle.
Pro Can be taken on an airplane
The battery comes in at 99 Wh, right under the limit allowed on a plane, meaning that it can be taken on board on flight. Being able to double as a USB powerbank to charge phones gets it on flights in carry-on baggage without problems.
Pro Can be used to charge the phone
The removable battery pack has a USB charge port also be used to charge phones or other portable electronic devices (around 9 full iPhone 6 charges). This feature lets be brought on flights in carry-on baggage.
Pro Swappable battery
The battery can be swapped on the fly, which is good for those wanting to go on a long journey or those who don't have the opportunity to charge between rides.
Pro Good range and speed
This board has a range of 9 miles and a maximum speed of 25 mph, which is pretty solid for an electric skateboard. In fact, it has a longer range than some of the higher tier boards, which is good for those that want to travel farther in one go.
Pro The remote has a magnetic safety strap
To make sure the remote does not get caught on anything if you fall, the magnetic safety strap will break away when pulled forcefully, protecting you from potentially breaking or twisting your wrist.
Pro Good customer support
The Mellow Team has a very good support. It is always a pleasure to write them.
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 Very expensive
The drive costs €1,499, which is quite a lot considering it doesn’t come with a board. The drive and board combination is priced at €1,799. But over all considered you still get more for the money than you would get with the same amount of money spent for a Boosted Board
Con Design not as slick as initially featured, is now a black box
Some of the distinctive design features teased in the Kickstarter campaign have been replaced by more generic, less inspired designs. What doesn't makes this board bad and it's still the best on the market!