The Caroma Electric Skateboard was the perfect gift for my teen

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Teenagers are tough to shop for, and this past Christmas, I was stumped. My 13-year-old wasn't interested in anything other than gaming devices and accessories, but I wanted something that could drag him out into the actual world, so I was thrilled when I came across the Caroma Electric Skateboard.

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I hoped that giving it buttons would make it a little more enticing. It did. He is a beginner when it comes to skateboarding, and he's understandably timid about it. He was worried at first that it would go too fast for him, but luckily the remote allows the board to switch between three speed levels, the lowest maxing out at 6.2 mph. He just keeps it on the low level, for now, and never feels like it's going uncomfortably fast.

The skateboard can move forward and in reverse, and the speed is controlled by a thumb dial on a handheld remote. Of course, it didn't take long before we accidentally misplaced the remote, but the company sent us a new one right away.

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The Caroma Electric Skateboard itself is sturdy, and the built-in handle is helpful for carrying it up hills or across rocky terrain. The motor is supposed to be able to handle a 15-degree incline, but it bogs down when my son tries the hill in front of our house, and I think it's probably very close to 15 degrees. Maybe less. The battery life on it has been impressive. His trips with the board have been relatively brief, but he can use it several times with weeks between charges and it hasn't died on us yet.

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For the experienced skateboarder, the top speed is 12.4 mph. It can carry up to 220 lb, and it's supposed to be able to travel up to eight miles, but we haven't come close to testing it to that extent. Turned off, the board can be ridden like any other board, though it is considerably heavier because of the battery underneath. But, if you were to run out of juice, you could still write it home the old-fashioned way.

The only complaint that my son has had was that he felt the board could be a little longer. But he seems to have adjusted nicely to the 27.5 inches it provides. It comes in a variety of designs and colors, so there's sure to be a look that your budding skateboarder would love.

It's a gift he's used over and over, and it gets him away from the screens. I call that a win!

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.