The Coolest Pieces of Gear We Tested This Week

The satisfaction my kid had when she could first pedal a bike without any help remains a priceless moment. But, the smile she had while zipping around the street on this electric scooter wasn’t like that. This one was all about pure speed (with far less consideration about crashing). Setting up the Jetson Tempo was quick and just about the most difficult part was having a kid wait for the initial overnight charge. The next day the scooter’s design proved intuitive: She stood on the board, pushed off to get it going, then jammed the throttle with her thumb before racing off at around 8 or 9 miles per hour (which turns out to be a perfect speed). The brake over the rear wheel is easy to engage too—step on it and it cuts the power to the battery, stopping the scooter in a few feet. She beat the steel deck up a bit going over concrete and large sticks, not to mention any puddle she could find, but the Tempo didn’t flinch. (Note: There is no rear fender to prevent splashes.) It’s rated to carry 120 pounds up to six miles before needing a recharge, which can take up to five hours. While it doesn’t collapse, at 15 pounds, it’s light enough to carry to toss in the car and take with us. — Sal Vaglica, Senior Editor

[$100; ridejetson.com]

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