Dirt scooters can be an awesome way for your kids to enjoy the great outdoors, keep fit and healthy and also enjoy some social time with their friends.
However, when you’re looking in the market for dirt scooters for your children, it can get a little overwhelming and sometimes a bit complicated. After all, how on earth is a dirt scooter different to a normal kick scooter or the types of scooters you see in a skate park?
We’re going to make things easier for you this comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about dirt scooters.
We have an excellent buyers guide, some frequently asked questions, and some of our picks for dirt scooters you may wish to check out.
What Is A Dirt Scooter?
A dirt scooter is a type of scooter that is designed specifically to be used in difficult terrains, such as offroading or on rough terrains.
This is different from your usual types of scooters as they are not designed for stunts in places like a skatepark.
However, this does not mean that they cannot be used for fun stunts – as your child may decide to go on tough areas such as offroad BMX trails which are going to be inaccessible for traditional kick scooters.
These scooters have strong, heavy wheels with shock-absorbing tires, which can cope with much more difficult surfaces.
Best Dirt Scooters
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We’ll now give you some of our picks for a few of the best dirt scooters out there on the market today! They’ve been highly tried and tested by our own kids, and recommended by previous buyers.
1. Osprey Dirt Scooter
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The Osprey dirt scooter is one of the best of its kind on the market today. It has fantastically designed wheels, with a strong and sturdy alloy-steel frame – perfect for high levels of impact.
It has a huge weight limit of 220 pounds – but yet it is not too heavy, meaning it is perfectly designed to be both lightweight and strong.
It has a dark design, which is perfect for off-roading and dealing with difficult terrains. In other words, everything your child needs for the ideal dirt scooter is right here with this model!
Pros & Key Features
- Weight limit (220 lbs/ 100 kg)
- Strong but lightweight alloy steel
- 200 x 50mm off-road pneumatic inflatable tires
- Cool off-road design in 4 colors
Possible Cons:
- Not really suitable for younger kids under 12 but ideal for your growing teens who love to scoot.
2. Razor Pro RDS Dirt Scooter
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One of the best dirt scooters for tweens, and one of the toughest Razor Scooters. A brand synonomus with high quality kids scooters, the Razor Pro RDS is made for off-road adventures but can equally pound the footpaths and pull some neat tricks.
A wide grip-tape deck gives plenty of traction, and a high clearance means it can handle all sorts of terrain. Made with durable but lightweight aircraft-grade aluminium, this dirt scooter for kids is recommended from ages 10+.
Pros & Key Features:
- Weight Limit 220 lbs/100 kgs (120lbs for aggressive riding)
- Product weight 11.5 lbs
- 200mm pneumatic tires with 60 psi
- BMX-style steel fork with triple-stacked headtube clamp for stability
Possible Cons:
- Handlebar height not adjustable, won’t suit your taller teen
3. Swagtron KR1 Dirt Scooter
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This model of dirt scooter blends in smoothly the perfect mix between looking beautiful and also being extremely practical.
It has an excellently designed frame that allows for plenty of usages and is highly adjustable – allowing your child to change things up as they grow older.
Its handlebars are fixed to prevent any weak spots, meaning you know your child is going to be super safe with this tough and sturdy design.
Pros & Key Features:
- Fixed handlebars 34.2″ wide
- Weight Limit of 264.5 lbs for heavier riders
- 5″ wide deck
- High-volume 7.88″ knobby tires for off-roading
- Visually pleasing design
Possible Cons:
- Aluminum plastic used may deteriorate after a few years
- Recommended only from 13 years+ so won’t suit your younger rider
4. Mongoose Freestyle Dirt Scooter
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With a whopping 220-pound weight limit, this stylish dirt scooter is one of the most ideal choices you can make for your child, suitable from roughly age 8+.
It’s got an amazingly tough design with a durable alloy deck and a tough frame of steel. It comes equipped with a steel foot brake to allow your child to control how and when they stop easily, and it’s easy to adjust too.
It can deal with debris and gravel incredibly well, and due to the wheels – it reduces the risk of flying debris going upwards toward your child . The wide handlebars help with maneuverability.
Pros & Key Features:
- Weight limit 220 lbs/100 kgs
- 200mm pneumatic tires with ABEC 7 bearings
- Strong design
- Deals with very difficult terrains
- 21″ x 5″ traction coated deck provides a sturdy base (Tread Pro is 23″)
Possible Cons:
- Limied colors/designs
Buyer’s Guide
When you’re in the market for a dirt scooter for your child, there are going to be some key areas that you should look at. This buyer’s guide should be able to help you a little bit more with that.
Child’s Age
Perhaps one of the first things you will be looking at is how old your child is and if a dirt scooter is going to be appropriate for them.
Indeed, dirt scooters have to be strong enough to cope with what their intended use. As a result, your child’s height and weight need to be taken into account.
This is because if the scooter is too heavy for your child, it could be due to their age. Luckily, there are dirt scooters available tailored toward younger riders, though we’d suggest for balance and skills required to ride off-road, dirt scooters are suitable from 8-years plus.
Scooter Weight
We touched upon this in the previous point, but the weight of the scooter is a very important consideration before you make a purchase.
As we said, some riders may not be able to cope with the heavier construction of these dirt scooters compare to normal kick scooters – so bear in mind the ability of your child to deal with this.
If you think your child might not be able to cope with heavy weights, then take a look at the overall weight of the scooter and consider buying a dirt scooter with a lighter weight to it.
Some models out there will be designed in such a way that their materials are extremely strong and durable, but they have a lighter weight – however, this might affect the overall price and make it more expensive.
Scooter Wheels
As we mentioned earlier in this guide, the wheels are probably the biggest difference between traditional scooters and dirt scooters. They have different construction, material, and size to cope with the offroading and difficult terrains.
the key difference is that off road scooter wheels are air-filled (pneumatic) normally 200mm x 50mm.
However, there are things within the wheels that you have to consider, so let’s break these down a little more.
The Wheel’s Size
You can actually change the wheels on dirt scooters. While they will likely come equipped with larger wheels to offer a much smoother ride and cope with difficult terrain, you can opt to use smaller wheels if you need to.
You may decide to use smaller wheels if your child is going to go to places like dirt tracks or BMX trails because it can make it a little easier to do tricks.
Hubs
Wheel hubs can cope with impact to the ground and deal with much more physicality – which is why they’re designed with a metal core.
However, you may decide to go for a split-core hub which can make it easier for you or your child to change the wheels. This will be the option to consider if your child will regularly change what they use the scooter for.
Child’s Weight
As with most scooters, the weight of the rider has to be a consideration, as there will be a maximum weight limit that the scooter can withstand.
If you want the longest possible life for your child’s dirt scooter, then you may wish to look for a dirt scooter that can take heavier weights, allowing your child to grow through to adulthood with the scooter.
However, it’s important to note that sometimes, to accommodate heavier weights, the manufacturer will use heavier materials that improve the strength of the scooter.
This, in turn, can make it more difficult for your child to cope with and control when they’re using the scooter. Therefore this is an important consideration to weigh up before you make your purchase.
Purpose Of The Scooter
If you’re looking for a dirt scooter, then the chances are that your child is planning to use the scooter on off-road terrains and in difficult environments.
If they are not looking to do this and will largely be riding on pavements, then you would be better off looking at traditional kick scooters.
While dirt scooters can be used on flat and smooth surfaces, it is much more difficult to cope with due to the added drag from the wheels and tires’ different design.
It is possible, though, to find hybrid types of scooters that can change from your all-purpose uses, such as school runs throughout the week and then off-roading on the weekend.
Handlebars
Your child’s height will play a role as to the height of the handlebars. They need to be at a comfortable height for them to use the scooter easily and smoothly.
Generally speaking, the handlebars should be situated at the midsection, near the hip and waist.
Unlike traditional scooters, you will want the handlebars to be fixed. Some kick scooters can be folded, but dirt scooters need to have fixed handlebars so that this ensures there are no weak areas which won’t cope with impacts.
The grip on the handlebars will likely be very soft, but your child might benefit from using gloves for extra grip.
Size Of The Deck
The deck of the dirt scooter should be very grip focussed, some more than others, but they will vary in size.
Consider the rider’s size to get the deck’s size correct. Smaller or younger riders will be better suited to smaller decks, whereas larger riders and older children will be better off with larger decks, both width and length.
Brakes
As a rule of thumb, most scooters will have a brake fitted which is usually a spring brake. However, you can find scooters which can have this changed or altered to suit your needs if your child requires it.
Your Budget
Now, whilst all of these considerations can be made, you must also think realistically about your budget for your child’s dirt scooter.
Consider trying to get the longest possible life out of your child’s dirt scooter by looking at a model that can withstand more weight, and a dirt scooter that can easily be adjusted to your child’s specifications.
This means that the scooter can grow along with your child, and you should get the maximum possible life out of the scooter, meaning the price is worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course, you’ll likely have some more questions about dirt scooters – so we’ve got some of the most asked below with our answers!
Are Dirt Scooters Safe For Children?
If your child follows all of the safety guidelines and uses the dirt scooter responsibly, then generally, they will be totally safe.
However, it’s important that they wear a safety helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads before they go out on their scooter.
If it is a hot day, it’s a good idea that they also take a bottle of water with them and some sunscreen.
Can My Child Use A Dirt Scooter In A Skatepark?
Yes and no. Dirt scooters are better suited to off-roading and on more difficult terrains – hence they are designed in the way that they are.
However, there’s nothing to say they cannot use them in a skatepark – but they may need to change the wheels. The fact is, it’s probably better to buy a pro-scooter or a stunt scooter for skate parks, rather then a dirt scooter for off-roading.
Are Dirt Scooters More Expensive Than Traditional Scooters?
Not necessarily. The price of the scooter will largely depend on the manufacturer and the seller that you are looking at purchasing the scooter from.
Depending on the materials used, the price might be higher than other traditional kick scooters.
It’s important to note, though, that the price does not necessarily correlate with the quality of the scooter.
Just because a dirt scooter is more expensive does not directly imply that the scooter is better than others, and vice versa.
Final Thoughts
It can be a little tricky trying to find a dirt scooter for your child, but it doesn’t have to play on your mind too much. If you use some of our tips, you should be in much better shape going forward.
We hope this guide has been useful to you getting to understand dirt scooters a little better, good luck with your search!
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