Checklist · 10 picks · 3 categories
Links to Amazon are affiliate links. I earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you, and it never decides a pick. How I make money
An e-scooter turns a 25-minute walk into a breezy little ride. The big choice is weight versus comfort: light scooters with solid tires fold up small but feel every crack, while heavier ones with air-filled tires and suspension glide over bumps and climb hills but are a pain to carry up stairs.
The scooters here come from TechGearLab's published tests, which measured top speed, range and hill climbing. Then gear up: TechGearLab's top safety tip is to wear a helmet, so these ones scored 4 or 5 stars in Virginia Tech's impact tests. Add a lock from NBC Select's reviews and a handlebar phone mount from OutdoorGearLab for maps. Each card shows the drawback the reviewers called out.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you ride a regular bike; the Bike Commuter list has the helmets, lights, locks and panniers.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
Pick a budget to see your plan.
Your plan lives in this link. Copy it or email it to yourself so Safari doesn't forget it.
Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 31, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
0 of 3 on your list · tap one to see your options
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxshot V1 | budget | $300-500 | short, flat trips on a budget | 1 outlet |
| Segway Ninebot MAX G3 | splurge | $500+ | hilly routes and rough streets | 1 outlet |
| Segway Ninebot MAX G2 | mid | $500+ | long commutes where range matters more than top speed | 1 outlet |
| Lisen Bike Phone Holder | budget | $15-25 | any handlebar, on a budget | 1 outlet |
| Peak Design Universal Bar Mount | mid | $50-100 | riders who switch between bikes | 1 outlet |
Best electric scooterbudget pick · 27.5 lb
Best for short, flat trips on a budget
TechGearLab's best budget pick: it has everything many people need in a scooter at an incredible price.
Heads up. Bumpy ride on poor pavement, and poor hill climbing
1 outlet. TechGearLab best Buy: best budget electric scooter.
$300-500
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link. I may earn a commission at no cost to you.
splurge pick · 53 lb
Best for hilly routes and rough streets
TechGearLab's best overall electric scooter: its favorite for hill climbing, top speed and ride quality, with the best app and display it has used.
Heads up. Bulky and very heavy, with limited range in boost mode and no cruise control
1 outlet. TechGearLab editors' Choice: best overall electric scooter.
$500+
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · 54 lb
Best for long commutes where range matters more than top speed
TechGearLab's best range and value pick: it offers an incredible 34.4-mile range, the best in its test.
Heads up. At 54 pounds it's challenging to lift and carry, and the handlebar latch is stiff
1 outlet. TechGearLab best Buy: best range and value electric scooter.
$500+
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
Best bike phone mountbudget pick · Handlebar
Best for any handlebar, on a budget
OutdoorGearLab's best bang-for-your-buck phone mount: it fits every bar size the testers found, with a secure, easy-to-operate grip.
Heads up. One of the bulkiest phone mounts
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best bang for your buck phone mount.
$15-25
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · Handlebar
Best for riders who switch between bikes
OutdoorGearLab's best overall bike phone mount: the most secure for mountain biking, fast to switch between bikes and easy to get your phone on and off.
Heads up. Expensive, and it requires a specific adaptor or case
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best overall bike phone mount.
$50-100
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lazer Tonic MIPS | budget | $50-100 | top crash protection for less | 1 outlet |
| Bern Macon 2.0 MIPS | mid | $50-100 | a casual look that still tests well | 1 outlet |
| Thousand Chapter MIPS | splurge | $100-150 | a helmet that looks good off the bike | 1 outlet |
Best bike helmetbudget pick · Road-style
Best for top crash protection for less
Earned the top 5 stars in Virginia Tech and IIHS impact reviews, which measures how well a helmet lowers concussion risk in real-world-style crashes.
Heads up. Virginia Tech scores crash protection only, not fit, comfort or ventilation
1 outlet. Virginia Tech Helmet Lab 5-star bike helmet.
$50-100
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · Skate-style
Best for a casual look that still tests well
A skate-style commuter helmet that earned 4 stars in Virginia Tech and IIHS impact reviews, which recommends choosing 4 or 5 stars.
Heads up. Virginia Tech scores crash protection only, not fit, comfort or ventilation
1 outlet. Virginia Tech Helmet Lab 4-star bike helmet.
$50-100
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
splurge pick · Commuter
Best for a helmet that looks good off the bike
A stylish commuter helmet that earned 4 stars in Virginia Tech and IIHS impact reviews.
Heads up. Virginia Tech scores crash protection only, not fit, comfort or ventilation
1 outlet. Virginia Tech Helmet Lab 4-star bike helmet.
$100-150
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
Best bike lockmid pick · Folding
Best for lower-risk parking and easy carrying
NBC Select's best folding lock: compact when folded, 33 inches long when open, with a mount that installs on any bike and doesn't rattle.
Heads up. The NBC Select tester skips it for high-risk city-center parking
1 outlet. NBC Select best folding lock.
$50-100
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · U-lock
Best for most riders and most bike racks
NBC Select's best bike lock for most people, reviewed for months on a commuter bike in New York City. The cable loops through the front wheel.
1 outlet. NBC Select best U-lock.
$50-100
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
TechGearLab's best budget pick is the Maxshot V1: light, folding and quick for the price, but it struggles on hills and feels bumpy on poor pavement. For long rides, its best range pick, the Segway Ninebot MAX G2, went 34.4 miles in its test.
TechGearLab's advice is to have someone present while charging and to unplug as soon as the battery is full.
If you leave it outside, yes. NBC Select calls the Seatylock Foldylock Compact its best folding lock, and its U-lock pick, the Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7, comes with a cable for the front wheel.