Swagtron T6 Review

The Swagtron T6 is the complete package. It's swift, powerful, stable, and burly. The board climbs hills like it ain't no thang and cruises through sand, dirt, and grass like a true all-terrain vehicle. While these big-wheeled boards are on the heavier side, at least the T6 won't leave your wallet quite so light. As if this wasn't enough to warrant purchasing one of these guys, Swagtron offers some of the better customer support in the class.

Performance Comparison

Fun Factor

In our research for this review, it became clear that the main reason people shop for hoverboards is to have fun. So, in order to properly test for this fact, we developed a metric to quantify the phenomenon of fun and weighted the results to account for half of a board's overall score. While fun is difficult to define uniformly, we are confident that certain aspects of hoverboard design and performance will increase the likelihood of it occurring. Moreover, to address the subjectivity of such a metric, we augmented our test panel, believing that an increased sample depth would produce more reliable results. The regiment of tests falling under the fun factor umbrella included measuring each model's top speed, run time, and travel radius.

Additionally, we looked at color options, aftermarket accessories, Bluetooth connectivity, onboard speakers, lights, and weight. Why? Because flair is fun and carrying heavy things is not. The T6 received above-average marks in this metric.

This model has a built-in speaker that doesn't sound half bad, so you can bump tunes as you ride. Clocking in at nearly 12 miles per hour, the T6 is also among the fastest boards in the class. Truth be told, few testers wanted to go any faster on a hoverboard! The larger wheels and large motors make this one of the heaviest boards in the review, though.

Unfortunately, the large size of this product makes it incompatible with third-party skins and carrying cases. Additionally, the wider wheelbase puts the T6 at a serious disadvantage compared to models like the T1 when maneuvering in close quarters. This board just isn't as agile as the smaller boards, costing it a bit in the fun factor department. However, if you can get past the wider turn radius, it really is fun to ride.

Outdoor Capabilities

This testing metric consisted of riding and evaluating each model in various off-pavement terrains such as sand, dirt, grass, and steep slopes. Additionally, we evaluated how each board handled surface inconsistencies such as cracks and heaves in the pavement and standard double door thresholds. The T6 delivered a great performance earning it a spot.

The T6 did very well in our incline test, both ascending and descending 750 vertical feet along a 14% grade with ease. This model performed much like the other off-road models in our lineup.

The performance of the T6 dropped slightly when it came to driving over short grass, with other off-road models crossing the section of lawn with less difficulty. However, the T6 excelled at traversing dirt and sand. Additionally, it delivered an awesome performance when rolling over cracked and bumpy roads and thresholds. Models with larger wheels fared a little bit better, but not by much.

Support

While perhaps not so obvious, this metric is particularly important for hoverboards. We have found that these products are somewhat prone to breaking or developing strange electrical issues that we haven't encountered with the other electric vehicles. Thus, having a reliable customer support contact can make all the difference between a quick fix and frustrating troubleshooting. Like all models made by Swagtron, the T6 delivered the goods in this department.

To test for quality support, we compared the response times and methods for contacting each manufacturer, as well as how helpful their response was in troubleshooting our technical questions. We also evaluated the warranty included with each board. Finally, we assessed how well each board held up to our demanding testing process. We usually don't evaluate long-term durability in our reviews. However, our thinking here is that a more durable board will need fewer customer support services.

The T6 includes a 1-year limited warranty — longer than most models we tested. There are several ways to contact Swagtron, including phone, email, and various social media platforms. The support staff that responded to our email inquiry was prompt and reasonably helpful. The T6 also held up very well to our testing process, sustaining only superficial scrapes and scuffs.

Battery

It could be argued that this is the most important metric in the review. Unlike other electric vehicles such as scooters and bikes, you can't ride a dead hoverboard. As a result, having a long-lasting, quick charging battery is paramount. To evaluate battery quality, we conducted three separate tests: runtime, range, and charging time. The Swagtron T6 is second to none in this category.

At 12 miles, the T6 had the longest range in our lineup. It continued its stellar performance in our runtime test as well. Unlike the range test — which is a continual looping of a flat, smooth tarmac track — the run time test was conducted on our obstacle course. Thus, the board must corner, change directions, spin, and perform rapid back and forth maneuvers that place an increased demand on the power source. The T6 kept up the fight in the obstacle course for 2 hours. It also finished strong in our charging analysis by going from a completely dead battery to a full one in a mere 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Value

While we don't classify the T6 as a budget board, it certainly offers a lot of performance per dollar spent. Accordingly, we find that this board offers consumers a significant value.

Conclusion

The Swagtron T6 is a standout in the hoverboard market. It's swift, stable, and comfortable to ride — making it one of the few models that we would consider as a viable transport option. The large pneumatic tires allow riders to venture off-road without a second thought. On top of that, quality customer support helps ensure that you won't be on your own if you do get into any trouble. This board is a great choice for someone who wants to go fast while retaining agility on all surfaces.