Can You Rent a Onewheel? Try One Before You Buy

Yes, you can rent a Onewheel in some locations, and renting one is a good way to try it before buying. Depending on where you live, you may be able to rent a board from a local Onewheel dealer, a rental company or a peer-to-peer service.

A rental also gives you more time to find out which Onewheel suits you. You can test the range, riding position, comfort and handling in the conditions where you actually plan to ride. In this article, I look at where you can rent a Onewheel, what to consider when choosing a model and what you should check before taking one home.

Quick Guide:

These are the key points to think about when renting a board.

1. Safety Gear: Always prioritize personal protection by using helmets, wrist guards, knee-elbow pads, and any additional safety equipment. Most rental agreements may include a helmet, but bringing your own protective gear is recommended.
2. Insurance and Damage Protection: Check your insurance coverage and consider purchasing additional damage protection offered by rental providers. Damage protection typically covers accidental damage and wear and tear under normal riding conditions but may not cover theft, loss, water damage, or sand damage.
3. Beginner Tips: Whether you’re a new or experienced rider, familiarize yourself with the basics of Onewheel riding. Some rental partners may offer a short lesson and instructions. Learn the proper techniques for mounting, riding, and especially dismounting to avoid accidents.
4. Rental Options: Explore both “Try Before You Buy” services and traditional board rentals. Understand the pricing structure, location, and terms of the rental agreement. Some services may deduct the rental fee from the purchase price if you decide to buy.
5. Review Company Policies: Be aware of the specific terms and conditions of the rental provider. Understand any restrictions, return policies, and potential additional fees. Keep the Onewheel within your line of sight to prevent loss or damage.

Try before you Buy

A relatively new thing on the market is the rise of services that have “Try Before You Buy Rental”. These companies work on the same principles that we are used to seeing in the skiing world. Here it’s common for buyers to often rent skis for a fee to get the feel for them before deciding if they want to buy. If they decide to buy new skis after renting them the fee will be deducted from the list price.

This is perfect for Onewheel but has a quite hefty price. It is a relatively small investment that ensures you do not spend a lot of money on something that may not suit you.

The “Try before you buy ” allows you to do the same as what is done in the ski industry. Some companies let you decide if you want to rent a new or used Onewheel, if Onewheeling is not for you then return it and you will get the deposit back minus the cost for the renting period.

How does it work?

Let’s take SUPrents as an example. You choose to rent a new Onewheel Pint or XR and for how long time (3 days to 10 days). Pay a deposit and SUPrents sends the Onewheel to you for free. You typically put a deposit for the total amount of the board.

Try it out, and if it’s not what you expected, ship it back and they will refund your deposit (minus the cost of the demo period). If Onewheel and floating around is for you, keep the board!

Let’s break it down and see the options for an Onewheel XR:

Option 1 – New Board – For your rental SUPrents will send you a brand new Onewheel XR. Should you decide to keep the new board at the end of your rental you can purchase the board for $1600.

Option 2 – Used Board – For your rental SUPrents will send you a USED Onewheel XR. Should you decide to keep the used board at the end of your rental you can purchase the board for $1499.

Using the Onewheel XR as a reference for pricing. *Prices as of the day of this article and can be changed

Traditional Renting a board

There is always the traditional way of renting a board for a set amount of time to try it out. Most businesses will include a helmet and some training before you head out on your own. If you want to be more prepared read up on my Beginner tips for riding a Onewheel before you rent.

Always check what insurance is included and your own. The Onewheel is considered a dangerous device and I strongly recommend you rent or bring your own protective gear, bare minimum ride with a helmet and wristguards/gloves/support with protection against hyperextension of the wrist.

What to think about when renting an Onewheel

There are a couple of things to think about and take into consideration before renting an Onewheel. This goes for both new and experienced riders.

Safety gear and personal protection.

It’s important to use personal protection and safety gear when riding the board. Most companies will include a helmet in your rental agreement, I would recommend you to if you have wristguards at home and/or knee-elbow pads to bring them. For inspiration here is my list of gear I use when I commute and my recommendation of the best gloves for Onewheel if you decide to purchase a board down the line.

Insurance and Damage Protection.

It’s important to look into your insurance and I would buy the added damage protection package if it’s something you need to pay extra for. Read up on the specific provider, typical adding damage protection covers your Onewheel rental against accidental damage and normal wear and tear under normal riding conditions. Like scuffs, dings, and scratches from riding the board and dismounting.

Damage protection usually does not cover theft or loss or water damage or sand damage. So keep the board in line of sight.

Which Onewheel Should You Rent?

There are several Onewheel models available, and they are not all designed for the same type of riding. If you are renting a Onewheel before buying one, it is worth choosing a model that is close to what you would actually consider buying.

The current lineup ranges from the small and lightweight Pint to the larger GT and the high-performance GT S-Series and Rally XL. The main differences are the size of the board, range, tire, weight and available power.

Onewheel Pint

The Pint is the smallest and lightest Onewheel in the current lineup. It weighs 23 lbs (10.4 kg) and has a claimed range of 6-8 miles (10-13 km) with a top speed of 16 mph (26 km/h).

Its smaller size makes it easy to carry and maneuver. This makes it a good option for short trips, urban riding and riders who want a compact board.

If you are mainly interested in a small Onewheel for short rides, the Pint is the model I would try first and its usuaslly the cheapest.

Onewheel Pint X

The Pint X keeps the smaller Pint platform but adds more battery capacity and a higher top speed. Future Motion lists a range of 12-18 miles (19-29 km) and a top speed of 18 mph (29 km/h). It weighs 27 lbs (12.2 kg).

The extra range makes the Pint X more practical for commuting and longer rides than the original Pint.

If you like the compact size of the Pint but think you would want more range, the Pint X is an upgrade.

Onewheel Pint S

The Pint S is a factory-upgraded version of the Pint X. It has the same claimed 12-18 mile range and 18 mph top speed, but comes with a Performance Treaded tire, larger Flared Footpads and a Maghandle Pro.

The treaded tire makes the Pint S more suited to riding away from smooth pavement, while the larger footpads give you more room to move your feet.

For a rental, the Pint S is particularly useful if you want a smaller board but expect to ride a mixture of pavement and trails.

Onewheel XR Classic

The XR Classic brings back the larger XR-style platform with updated electronics and a Performance Treaded tire. It has a claimed range of 17-24 miles (27-39 km), a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) and weighs 30 lbs (13.6 kg).

The larger platform gives it a different feel from the Pint models. It is also a useful option for riders who want a board that works well for both road and trail riding.

If you previously liked the original XR, or are considering a larger Onewheel but do not want the size and weight of a GT, the XR Classic is worth trying. I recommend not renting an old XR as they are old and have been discontinued for a while.

Onewheel GT

The GT is the larger general-purpose model in the current lineup. It has a claimed range of 20-32 miles (32-52 km), a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) and weighs 35 lbs (15.9 kg). It is available with either a Slick or Performance Treaded tire.

The larger battery gives the GT considerably more range than the Pint models. The larger platform and tire also make it better suited to longer rides and mixed terrain.

The downside is weight. At 35 lbs, the GT is considerably heavier to carry than a Pint. I have previously compared the weight of the different Onewheel models in more detail in my article about how much a Onewheel weighs.

If you are considering a GT, I would definitely rent one for long enough to find out whether the additional size and weight work for you.

Onewheel GT S-Series

The GT S-Series is aimed at riders who want more performance rather than maximum range. It uses a 113V powertrain and has a claimed top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) with a range of 16-25 miles (26-40 km). It weighs 33 lbs (15 kg).

The extra power changes the character of the board compared with the GT. It is intended more for riders who want additional torque, acceleration and performance, particularly when riding hills and trails.

If you are considering buying a GT S-Series, renting a standard GT will not give you the same experience. Try the S-Series if that is the type of board you are considering.

Onewheel Rally XL

The Rally XL is the newest and largest performance-oriented model in the lineup. It uses the S-Series powertrain with a longer platform and a much larger 12 x 7 inch Performance Treaded tire. Future Motion lists a claimed range of 18-28 miles (29-45 km) and a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h).

The longer rails provide a wider stance, while the larger tire adds more air volume, ground clearance and traction. This makes the Rally XL particularly interesting for riders who spend more time on rough terrain and trails.

It is also a large board, so I would not choose it simply because it is the newest model. If you are interested in the Rally XL, renting one gives you a chance to see whether the larger platform and tire actually suit your riding.

Which model should you rent?

If you are renting a Onewheel to decide whether you want to buy one, I would try to rent the model that is closest to the board you are considering.

A simple way to look at it is:

• Short urban rides: Pint
• Compact board with more range: Pint X or Pint S
• Larger platform without going all the way to a GT: XR Classic
• Longer rides and general-purpose use: GT
• More power and performance: GT S-Series
• Large tire and trail-focused riding: Rally XL

The claimed range figures are manufacturer figures. Your actual range will depend on factors such as rider weight, tire pressure, temperature, terrain, riding style and speed. I would therefore use the published range to compare the boards rather than expecting to get exactly that distance from a rental.

Is renting a Onewheel worth it?

Renting a Onewheel makes the most sense if you are considering buying one but have never spent more than a few minutes riding one.

A short test ride can tell you whether you like the basic feeling of riding, but a longer rental lets you learn more about the board. You can see how comfortable it is after an hour of riding, how far you actually get on a charge and whether you enjoy riding it in the places where you normally travel.

For an expensive purchase, spending some money on a rental can be cheaper than buying a board and finding out that Onewheeling is not for you.

If the rental company offers a try-before-you-buy arrangement where the rental cost is credited towards the purchase, this becomes even more attractive.

That last point is supported by current rental businesses. For example, Colden Ski & Board currently applies the rental cost towards a Onewheel purchase, while Elite Watersports also offers a rental-to-purchase

Try a Onewheel before buying

There are two ways to try a Onewheel before buying one.

The first is a short demonstration ride from a local dealer. Future Motion says many local dealers have demonstration boards, although you should call ahead to check availability.

The second option is to rent a board for a longer period. This gives you much more time to learn how the board feels and whether it fits your normal riding.

For me, the second option makes more sense if you are seriously considering buying one. A five-minute ride can tell you if you like the concept. A few days of riding tells you much more about whether you actually want to own one. I actually did the first, even if I today recommend the second.

Beginner tips for riding an Onewheel.

It’s recommended to take a look at the basics before riding an Onewheel. Some renting partners will include a short lesson and instructions before renting. If you get your board shipped I recommend you to go to my Beginner tips of Riding an Onewheel before you jump onto the board. There are also good videos on Future Motions Inc. homepage, Basic Operation.

The most important thing to learn is to safely dismount the board. An improper dismount with the footpad still activated can lead to strained muscles or even broken bones when the board launches away from your feet. There is also a risk of hitting a bystander or car.