If you love riding electric scooters but live in an area that suffers from seasonal rain and snow, Then this list is for you, the avid scooter rider who refuses to let a little water get in his way, whether it comes in its liquid or frozen form!
But not every scooter is built equal so we’ll walk you through the things you should consider if you intend to spend some time with your scooter in harsher weather conditions. Who is better to walk you through the best models and how you can adapt your riding style for increased safety and an overall better riding experience, than someone who lives in the northern Scandinavia?
After testing hundreds of electric scooter models we’ve narrowed it down to our favorites that all have a high IP-rating, good grip on slippery surfaces, and great performance, making them suitable for riding in any weather.
Quick Run-Down: Top 6 All-Weather Electric Scooters
We’ve been rigorously testing electric scooters since early 2015 and if there is something that has definitely improved over the years, it is the material used and the quality of the scooters. This also means that today’s scooters are overall way better at handling the occasional sprinkle of water. But if you know you’re going to expose your scooter to a lot of rain and wet roads it’s better to be safe than sorry.
So here is a list of our 5 favorite electric scooters for riding in wet and snowy road conditions:
Emove Cruiser Best Value
Kaabo Mantis King GT Snow King
What Makes An Electric Scooter Good For Rain/Snow Riding?
When it comes to riding an electric scooter in rain or snow there are a few things you want to make sure you spend some extra thought on in order to make sure it becomes as pleasant of an experience as riding in bad weather can be.
These are the 4 key factors I’ve found that can either make or break your dreams of riding on slippery roads:
Tires – Tires need to have adequate grip on slippery wet or icy surfaces. This means we are opting for pneumatic tires as they have far better contact with the surface. If you’re riding in the rain or on slightly snowy roads normal tires will do the job in combination with an adjusted riding style. But for heavy snow and icy roads you may want to opt for studded or at the very least wider 10” or above tires with a good pattern depth.
Braking – Not all braking systems are equally effective in wet conditions, drum brakes are far superior when it comes to providing the same braking power no matter weather, but more heavy duty disc brakes will do fine too.
IP-Rating – The scooter’s electronics need to have a good IP classification in order to ensure that the scooter can be operated safely in wet environments without breaking. We don’t want those precious electronics to fail on you mid-ride.
Structure – When it comes to the structure we want to make sure the materials used can withstand some water without having to worry about corrosion. Having a good ground clearance is especially important for riding in the snow.
On top of this, you should always adapt your style of riding to the terrain and conditions you’re riding in order to be as safe as possible, not only is it good for your scooter’s longevity, but also for your own safety.
Reviews: Best Water Resistant Electric Scooter
Emove Cruiser S – Best Overall All-Weather Electric Scooter
| Model | Emove Cruiser S |
|---|---|
| Tested Speed | 31.9 mph / 51.3 kmh |
| Tested Range | 43.6 miles / 70.1 km |
| Acceleration | 3.9s |
| Weight | 56 lbs / 25.4 kg |
| Load | 352 lbs / 160 kg |
| Motor Power | 1000W |
| Battery | 1560Wh/52V |
Summary
The Emove Cruiser is such a fantastic all round electric scooter it is topping both this list and our comparison of commuting electric scooters list. It balances performance, riding capabilities, and price perfectly. Rendering it a very versatile scooter that delivers a great riding experience for most tasks, and that includes riding in wet conditions.
The Cruiser comes with a huge 1560Wh battery and a powerful 1000W(1600W Peak) rear mounted motor on a set of wide 10” pneumatic tires that provides the scooter with ample grip even on slippery surfaces such as water and slush.
During our regular real-life testing I was able to take the Cruiser for a ride of 43.6 miles, which is nothing short of remarkable, on top of that we reached a maximum speed during that ride of 31.9 mph and it accelerates to 15.5 mph in 3.9 seconds.
As you can see from looking at it, it is quite a robust piece of machinery with a dual suspension system and double disc brakes for great braking power, but it all comes at the cost of added weight. The scooter weighs in at 56 lbs, which is definitely not what I would consider portable, but you can still fold it down nicely to carry it up stairs or storing/transportation purposes.
A unique feature for this range of electric scooters is having an adjustable handlebar, combine that with its wide foot pad and 352 lbs weight limit and you have a model that is highly customizable and heavily appreciated by riders of all lengths and sizes.
There is one negative with the Cruiser when it comes to riding in wet conditions and that is the fact it has a narrow grip tape on the footpad. I highly recommend you visit your local skate shop to double up and extend that strip all the way towards the edges of the footpad, this will greatly increase your foot grip when both your scooter and shoes are wet.
Strengths as an all-weather scooter
The Emove Cruiser S doesn’t just deliver a heck of a smooth riding experience to its user, it gives you a lot of customization both in terms of performance as well as being able to fine tune it to your perfect riding posture. It handles wet weather perfectly and its wide tires make riding in slush and minor snow a non-issue.
Even if it’s a powerhouse of a ride, and definitely the most bang you can get for your dollar it is not the most nimble scooter, so do keep that in mind if you’re in the market for something more portable you will want to go with one of the recommendations further down the list.
Kaabo Mantis King GT – The King Of Snow Riding
| Model | Kaabo Mantis King GT |
|---|---|
| Tested Speed | 44.7 mph / 71.9 kmh |
| Tested Range | 38.5 miles / 62 km |
| Acceleration | 1.9s |
| Weight | 74 lbs / 33.5 kg |
| Load | 265 lbs / 120 kg |
| Motor Power | 2x1100W(8400W) |
| Battery | 1440Wh/60V |
Summary
The Mantis King GT from Kaabo is a very versatile electric scooter just as the Cruiser, but it’s definitely up there in the premium category in terms of what you get. It is definitely a scooter for the serious buyers who are looking for an all-year round ride.
As a standard it comes with wide 10” street tires that still does a good job in most conditions, but since you’re reading about snow riding you are probably looking for something that really excels during the winter too. The thing that makes the Mantis King GT such a great ride is that you can buy an additional set of studded tires with a deep profile. These tires will give you the best grip even on icy roads during those cold winter months.
The scooter doesn’t just have a great set of tires for wet/icy conditions. It also boasts a heavy-duty suspension system both rear and front, an IPX5 classification, and two hydraulic disc brakes that gives you great braking power no matter freezing temperatures.
Where the latest Mantis really delivers is in terms of cheer riding joy, with two 1100W motors combined with a 1440Wh 60V battery pack and a 30A sine wave controller, it gives you a peak power of 8400W at your fingertips. This all resulted in a top speed of 44.7 mph during our test and a total distance of 38.5 miles in a single charge. So good it even landed itself a spot in our large electric scooter range comparison!
The King GT has had a lot of improvements done to it over the years and quite a few of them have been towards the user experience. It now has both a front and rear hydraulic suspension system that can be easily fine tuned by hand to fit the rider’s preference. The folding mechanism has been improved, although it’s a heavy scooter at 74 lbs, it does make transport/storing much more doable. However, it has resulted in the stem not being as stiff as a few of its competitors in this performance range.
Strengths as an all-weather scooter
I could rave on about all the great features and functions of the Kaabo Mantis King GT but that would make this much more than just a short summary.
This scooter really delivers a remarkable riding experience across all the different seasons of the year whether you’re riding on icy, wet or dry roads it will get you where you need to go. It will do so fast, and as safely as possible. No other electric scooter has yet provided a better riding experience in the snow to date.
Apollo Air – Rain Riding In Style
| Model | Apollo Air |
|---|---|
| Tested Speed | 20.3 mph / 32.6 kmh |
| Tested Range | 21.8 miles / 35 km |
| Acceleration | 5.3s |
| Weight | 41 lbs / 18.6 kg |
| Load | 265 lbs / 120 kg |
| Motor Power | 500W |
| Battery | 540Wh/36V |
Summary
For those looking for a premium lightweight option, you cannot go wrong with the new Apollo Air 2023 version. This new version comes with a lot of new upgrades that makes an already impressive commuter, even better.
You get a bell, a great phone mount for effortlessly using the Apollo scooter app on the go, a great center-mounted display, non-slip comfy throttle levers, and they’ve been able to position the buttons more ergonomically. They’ve also added a much more robust stem latch that has no play to it so the scooter runs really smooth even on rougher roads.
When it comes to performance the Apollo Air is definitely a scooter we would consider premium class. It provides a great smooth riding experience where everything just works as intended and it does so perfectly and silently, no rattling or such noises at all. The scooter comes with a 36V 540Wh battery powering its powerful 500W hub motor. During our test trip through our normal real-life test route we were able to achieve a good 21.8 miles of total range and a top speed of 20.3 mph.
Apart from that it has the best throttle engaged regenerative brakes we’ve tested in the sub $1000 category. The brakes are so smooth yet strong and I honestly found myself rarely using the standard drum brake. The handles are very comfortable and are well crafted into place making them great at withstanding water damage.
The deck is spacious giving you ample foot space, which fits great with the wide handlebars that have turn signals mounted at each end. You ride around on 10” pneumatic self-sealing tires that give you a good wide friction surface. At the front you find a nice fork suspension that together with the air-filled tires makes the riding experience very smooth.
The scooter has an IPX6 rating which means it can withstand heavy splashes of water, but of course ride responsibly and avoid any deeper puddles.
Strengths as an all-weather scooter
The Apollo Air delivers a quiet smooth riding experience and it truly shines in a city setting where road maintenance might have been slightly neglected resulting in rougher terrain.
With a throttle activated electric brake for regenerative braking and a durable drum brake you get powerful but smooth slow-downs. You can freely customize the scooters acceleration and braking pattern within the Apollo app to fit your liking.
A powerful, portable and above all good looking addition to our weatherproof electric scooter list.
Segway Ninebot GT2 – Slippery Roads Is No Match With Traction Control
| Model | Segway GT2 |
|---|---|
| Tested Speed | 42.6 mph / 68.5 kmh |
| Tested Range | 31.3 miles / 50.4 km |
| Acceleration | 1.9s |
| Weight | 116 lbs / 52.6 kg |
| Load | 331 lbs / 150 kg |
| Motor Power | 2x1500W(6000W) |
| Battery | 1512/50.4V |
Summary
Segway’s first step into the performance class of electric scooters was with the GT series. Coming in as the first wave of scooters in this category was the GT1 and GT2, where the later of course has the most power and finesse.
As with all Segway scooters the reliability is on point, and the GT2 is also their most powerful and future-rich model to date. What sets it apart on our list is its fantastic traction control. Yes, you heard it right. The traction control system on the Segway GT2 is nothing short of remarkable and it provides a non-skidding riding experience no matter if it shines, rains, or snows.
The scooter has a really great build quality and although most Segway scooter’s are famous for their stability and robustness, nothing compares to the GT2. In terms of performance the scooter packs a punch with a dual motor setup of 1500W in each 11” tire. The big motors are powered by a large 1512Wh 50.4V battery which during our test ride enabled us to reach a top speed of 42.6 mph, and get a total of 31.3 miles out of it.
With this much power you want to make sure you have adequate braking and Segway have done this by implementing not one, but two hydraulic disc brakes and powerful regenerative motor brakes. Normal disc brakes aren’t as efficient in wet weather as the regular drum brakes that Segway usually use, but these hydraulic performance brakes pack enough power to make up for the loss caused when the brake rotors get wet.
The scooter is highly customizable in the Segway app, or if you prefer the highly personal approach you can always flash it with custom firmware and open up every single setting to tweak it to your liking. But out of the box it is set up so that anyone can handle it with ease.
Strengths as an all-weather scooter
There are a few things that we love with the GT2 when it comes to riding on slippery surfaces and that is apart from having the flawless traction control. It also have larger and wider 11” pneumatic self-sealing tires that provide good grip on all surfaces. Suspension makes bumping up and losing some of that good tire traction less of a risk, and you can tweak the acceleration and braking to fit perfectly to whatever riding style, terrain, or weather you will be riding in.
The GT2 comes in at a higher price tag than your regular Segway Ninebot scooters, but in comparison it has so many new things going for it while keeping its beginner friendliness. A perfect choice for anyone looking for a reliable electric scooter that can easily take the place of their car.
Segway Ninebot Max G2 – Most-Sold Water-Resistant Electric Scooter
| Model | Segway Max G2 |
|---|---|
| Tested Speed | 21.4 mph / 34.4 km/h |
| Tested Range | 27.8 miles / 44.7 km |
| Acceleration | 4.17s |
| Weight | 53.5 lbs / 24.3kg |
| Load | 265 lbs / 120kg |
| Motor Power | 450W |
| Battery | 551Wh/36V |
Summary
The go-to model for most peoples electric scooter needs are the second generation of Segway Ninebot most-ever-sold model, the Max G2. Not only does it provide an excellent and powerful ride that caters to a wide user-base, but it also does so while keeping a lot of its portability.
The Max G2 comes with a powerful rear mounted 450W motor and a 551Wh 36V battery-pack capable of giving our test rider an above advertised top speed of 21.1 mph, and a good 27.8 miles of range. The scooter comes with traction control, 10” puncture-free pneumatic tires and both rear and front suspension making it an excellent choice for slippery roads.
Equipped with a very water-safe braking system in terms of a front drum brake and rear regenerative brake, you are sure to get to a hasty stop no matter the surface you are traveling on. You also get all those nifty in-app customization abilities that lets you personalize its performance perfectly after your own taste.
Strengths as an all-weather scooter
The Max G2 comes with an overall IPX5 classification, but an even better rating of IPX7 for its battery compartment. This in combination with its reliable front drum brake, nice 10” pneumatic tires, traction control, and a long list of performance optimizations you can customize makes the Max G2 a fantastic ride for all-weather riding.
Its performance, portability, and price tag makes it a very attractive choice for a wide range of riders. Also it never hurts to be one of the most sold electric scooter models on the market, that on its own tells you that the scooter has been tested thoroughly and will withstand the test of time very well.
Max G30 – Budget Water-resistant Option
| *Tested Speed | 18.4 mph / 29.3 kmh |
| *Tested Range | 21 miles / 33.8 km |
| **Acceleration | 5.3s |
| Weight | 42.1 lbs / 19.1 kg |
| Load | 220 lbs / 100 kg |
| Motor Power | 350W |
| Battery | 551Wh |
Summary
If you’re buying on a tighter budget the predecessor to the Max G2, the Segway Ninebot Max G30 is one of the best models you can get for riding in the wet. It is definitely not out for the count with a 350W rear-mounted motor and a just as large battery of 551Wh.
For a much smaller fee you’ll get a scooter that we’ve clocked to 18.4 mph and 21 miles of range. This is still far better than many of the newer models on the market that are similarly priced.
It has a similarly vast selection of in-app performance optimizations, 10” pneumatic tires, and a very reliable front drum brake + regenerative motor brake combo. So you’re really not missing out on a ton of upgrades.
Strengths as an all-weather scooter
The most compelling thing about the Segway Max G30 is its price tag and its popularity. The scooter has been sold in the millions of models and customers have raved about it since its launch back in 2019, being one of the first long-distance scooters in its price-class.
But above all it is its reliability, still up to industry standard performance, and ability to handle rain that makes it one of our go-to recommendations for new electric scooter riders.
Slippery Road Best Riding Practices
When it comes to riding during wet road conditions there is more to it than just picking the right electric scooter for the job. Here is our list of tips to excel in any weather conditions, to make sure you have the best possible riding experience, and that you get where you need to be safely:
Adjust your riding style – When riding in wet/snowy conditions, you are better off riding at a slow and steady phase. Think ahead and plan your route to avoid any hasty starts and stops, hills, or lots of traffic and puddles.
Brake optimization – Make sure your brakes work as intended before setting off, utilize the electric brake whenever possible. If you plan your route and speed well, you will notice you barely have to utilize your brakes.
Maintenance – Keep your scooter shining like a star for years no matter what weather you ride in. Clean it off at the end of your ride to make sure no rust or dirt piles up and that all the mechanical parts work as they should. Adjusting your brakes when needed and keeping the right pressure are two simple things that can greatly increase the safety and enjoyment of your ride.
Know Thy Electric Scooter Warranty
No warranty is exactly the same, but what is true for most warranties when it comes to electric products is that when it comes to water they generally do not have the best coverage. So if possible consider getting an extended warranty that cover water-damage.
Even if the above scooters are deemed water-resistant there is no such thing as a waterproof electric scooter. So spend some time getting to know the warranty policy of the company you are buying from before finalizing any purchase.
Conclusion
We’ve gone through the most important and vital parts to look at when buying an electric scooter for use during rainy and snowy days. Provided you with the best possible models that come highly recommended not only by us, but by the E-ride community at large.
Apart from choosing the right model we have also taught you the importance of adjusting your style of riding and keeping your electric scooter well maintained in order to handle the slippery roads well. We’ve also talked about how the standard warranty issued by the scooter companies often does not apply to damage caused by water.
All I have to say now is. Get out there and dodge those puddles like a pro with your newfound ride-knowledge, and while you’re at it feel at ease knowing your electric scooter is as protected from the water as an electric scooter can get!
