ZBoard 2 Pearl vs Boosted Dual+ (2nd Gen.)

This board has a 24-mile range, beating the vast majority of electric skateboards in this regard that usually don't go farther than 14 miles.

The Zboard Pearl is controlled by two pressure pads instead of a handheld remote. Pressing on the front pad increases forward speed; pressing on the back brakes or sends you in reverse. Having controls different from the majority of alternatives makes this board more fun but also more challenging to ride, even for those who have experience with electric skateboards.

There is a headlight and taillight for riding in the dark. These lights allow the rider to be seen and to see where the board is going.

In order to keep users from being surprised by a dead battery, the ZBoard 2 now comes with LED indicators that keep you apprised of the remaining battery life.

When the battery is completely drained, the brushless motor allows ZBoard to be pushed like a regular skateboard.

The Boosted Dual+ offers a combination of great specs, practical design, and good build quality. It will be suitable for a wide range of riders, from complete beginners to pros who are looking for a fast ride. The flexible bamboo deck offers a pleasant riding experience and helps reduce muscle fatigue at the end of a long ride. All of the components are high-quality to make sure that the board serves you for years (though belted motors require some additional maintenance).

The board can be fully charged in 90-120 minutes. This is pretty quick for the amount of power it offers and pretty convenient for those who use the board regularly, say for commuting.

It's even faster if you purchase the fast charger. It can fully recharge the board in an hour.

Boosted has released a companion app for their boards on iOS. It allows the user to track stats, such as battery level and miles traveled. There is also a feature that allows upgrading the boards' firmware, supplying patches and fixes as well as new features. Lastly, there is a user manual in case there are any questions.

While the price of the Boosted Dual+ is quite high, you’re paying for high-quality components that are meant to last. It comes with a loaded Vanguard deck, Caliber trucks, and Orangatang wheels, as well as two brushless motors.

The Boosted Board looks very similar to a regular longboard, as opposed to many alternatives that try to stand out with bright colors or unusual shapes. It's a more traditional board that doesn't draw too much unwanted attention.

The majority of boards are sold exclusively in the US because of the regulations that prohibit large battery packs on a plane for shipping. Boosted is just below the size limitation, so it can be shipped internationally.

Countries currently supported: Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The controller and the board itself have built-in LED indicators that show battery charge level at a press of a button. This is convenient for checking the battery level on the fly.

Riders can climb hills up to a 25% grade, which is great for those who ride in hilly areas. Most boards don't go higher than 20%.

The Bluetooth remote for the Gen 2 provides a very reliable connection, even in a compact wireless signal area (such as a packed residential city block). This used to be an issue that would cause the remote to quit working, but luckily this has been addressed and is no longer a worry.

There is a six-month warranty on the board that covers manufacturer defects. While not the longest warranty in the industry, it is still decent.

The battery on this board is replaceable, meaning you can carry extra batteries in case there's no time for recharging. It also means that once the original battery stops working as well as it used to, you can replace it with a new one for good, as opposed to having to get a whole new board. Though it should be noted that to change the battery will take a couple of minutes.

A 30W 15V accessory port connected to the device's battery is offered for expandability. If you want to install tail lights or a charging cable, this extra port allows adding that kind of accessories.

The built-in regenerative brakes convert some of the mechanical energy back to electricity as you're slowing down.

You can purchase replacement parts for the board, a new charger, and a remote from the official Boosted website. Other accessories, like helmets and backpacks, are also available.

Upon checkout, you can pick the standard battery pack or the extended pack. The extended pack holds more charge (adds approx. 5 miles to the range) but costs extra $100 and makes it impossible to take the board on a plane due to regulations.

The belt drive, while not completely silent, offers a quieter ride than boards with direct drive. So not a completely silent ride, but less noise than some competitors.

At 14.7-15.5 pounds (depending on the battery pack you get), this board is practical enough to carry in a bag or strapped to a backpack.