The World’s First Real Hoverboard

By Jacob Osborn - News Published: 2 Jan 2020, Last Updated: 17 Oct 2023

As you may or may not recall, a company named Hendo campaigned behind a real hoverboard back in 2014. To call it a historic event for Kickstarter would be an understatement, as the product ended up garnering over a half million dollars in funding. That might naturally prompt one to wonder in 2019: how the heck do I buy an actual hoverboard?

The short answer seems to be: you don’t. Indeed, while Hendo is arguably keeping busy these days (we think), the company doesn’t seem to be sending actual hoverboards. Some of its original supporters did receive some in the, but nowadays they are pretty hard to find, despite having popped up in numerous YouTube videos. Furthermore, the brand does distribute White Box kits, so that users might employ hoverboard technology at home.

Hence, we don’t know where you can find real hoverboards for sale. Sorry about that. Now bear in mind, we’re not talking about self-balancing scooters, which have for some reason become alternately known as hoverboards. Those you can find with relative ease. By contrast, we’re talking about real-life hoverboards, the kind that floats in the air as Marty McFly did in “Back to the Future 2.” Like the mighty jet pack or the flying car, it’s a reality that seems so close and yet so far away at the very same time.

Alas, as both you and I await the arrival of actual hoverboards, we’ll simply have to make do with the bevy of alternatives: electric bikes and skateboards, sports cars, Segways, and the aforementioned self-balancing scooters. Then one day, there will be real-life hoverboards for sale on the Internet, followed by a string of regulations and accidents. Naturally.

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General FAQ

How much is a real hoverboard?

Should conceptual hoverboards become a commercial reality, they're expected to sell for as little as US $5000 and as high as US$30,000, depending on model.

Is there a real hoverboard?

Real-life hoverboards have been designed and developed by brands such as Lexus and Hendo, but none are currently available for sale.

Jacob Osborn

Jacob Osborn is an accomplished author and journalist with over 10 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor's degree in English and Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin--Madison and co-authored a Young Adult novel through Simon & Schuster. Now based in Portland, Oregon, Jacob specialises in entertainment, technology and alcohol reporting. You might find him crate-digging at the nearest record store or sampling whisky at the nearest bar. He daydreams of travelling around the world, but for now, the world will have to come to him by way of lifestyle products, gear, gadgetry, and entertainment. Let's call it a happy compromise while he saves up for the next big trip.

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