As far as e-mobility goes, hoverboards are one of the unique methods of transportation youngsters and adults use to get around. With different features like Bluetooth so you can play music as you ride, or an app so you can control and track the ride. Some even have all-terrain wheels so you can ride on different surfaces more easily and freely, allowing you to explore more as you ride. 

However, the one place your self-balancing hoverboard cannot go is into water. As an electrical mobility product, hover boards require electrical components to function, and to-date water and electricity don't get along too well. The motherboard and lithium-ion battery that gives your self-balancing scooter life are not built to handle water. That means if the hoverboard is submerged in a puddle deep enough, it will likely no longer work (and trust me, you don't want that because replacing the battery or motherboard is not the cheapest thing). 

But don't worry, while hoverboards aren't waterproof, some are water resistant to a certain extent. They may be able to handle being ridden in a light drizzle, while others can survive being ridden over a few small puddles- though we still recommend staying away from water overall to not risk the damage. To determine the water resistance level of your hover board, you can check your board's IP rating. Most hoverboards have an IP rating of 4, which means it can handle splashing water against the exterior without being damaged. But even with this rating, water-resistant boards are not meant to be submerged in water at any depth. So it's important to still try to be wary of how much water your hoverboard is exposed to, to prevent internal damage. 

Make Sure To Check The Warranty

As with all electronics, there is some form of warranty that is given with the product. But in most cases, most manufacturers will have a policy that doesn't cover water damage, which means if anything happens to your board because of water, it'll be out of your pocket to fix. 

Before purchasing your hoverboard make sure you understand the warranty policy that comes with the board, and if applicable, if there's an option for extended warranty. This extended warranty can either be towards the time period of the warranty, or towards the terms of coverage to potentially include water damage. This allows you to prepare yourself for any future water related accidents that may happen, and/or informs you of your options if water damage occurs so you're not surprised by the lack of warranty coverage. If the incident occurs that water gets into the hoverboard, IMMEDIATETLY turn it off, and contact the manufacturer to find out about the options you have to fix.

So to answer the earlier question: no, hoverboards are not waterproof. The fact of the matter is that a dry hoverboard is your friend; you'll get plenty of ride time, while a wet hoverboard will very quickly become a pain in the a** with now having to deal with how to fix it. The best way to keep your hooverboard functional is to keep it on dry land so you can get the most out of it.