Instead of having the standard set of four wheels–two in the front and two in the back–like a regular skateboard, the STAIR ROVER has a total of eight wheels (earlier designs had as many as 12). The idea is that the pairs of wheels on either side can teeter-totter their way down the flight of stairs while the flexible deck keeps you reasonably balanced and in control.

The STAIR ROVER is the creation of London designer Po-Chih Lai. The current version is the eighth iteration and it seems to be the best one yet. Yes, it’s going to take some practice, but this means that you don’t have to get off your board to get down those stairs… going up a flight of stairs, however, is a different matter altogether.

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If you love taking your skateboard no matter wherever you go, you might agree that it is difficult to carry the lengthy thing around. The Snap Skateboard, which is said to be the world’s first folding skateboard, might be the answer to your troubles. As you can see, the skateboard can be folded up and will easily fit into your backpack.

The Snap Skateboard can be folded from 36 inches down to 14 inches all thanks to two patented hinges.  Its deck is made up of aircraft grade 6061-T6 aluminum. A wooden deck was avoided most probably because it would crack if cut into pieces. The board features high-strength steel pins for locking the hinges in place, and also comes with grip tape. You will also be able to replace the wheels and trucks with skateboard parts of your choice.

As for the safety, its makers are saying that it has been designed for both tricks and cruising, although the middle might buckle if it’s pushed too hard. So you might wanna do some ground tricks first before moving onto big jumps.

The Snap Skateboard retails for $119.

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Tired of burning soles on the road for a ride on your skateboard? The ZBoard, claims to be the “world’s first weight-sensing electric skateboard”, and it will save your shoes by letting your weight do the work.

In a world filled with motorized stuff, the ZBoard is really nothing new. You might not have forgotten all the previously introduced motorized skateboards such as the “Board of Awesomeness” which boasts a Kinect-based sensor system, and the remotely controllable Fiik and the Metroboard. What’s new from the ZBoard is the weight-sensor system.

The ZBoard provides up to 400 watts of motor power and features two foot pads that are connected to a micro-controller on the motor. All you have to do is lean forward to put pressure on its front foot pad for taking off. Put you weight on the rear foot pad and the board brakes. If you are headed downhill, the board will automatically reduce your speed and the ZBoard can be stopped even if you are on a hill.

They are offering two versions at the moment, the ZBoard Classic (5 miles of range) and ZBoard Pro (10 miles). The Classic (retails for $599) promises a top speed of 15 mph, while the Pro ($849), which comes equipped with lithium-ion batteries, can go up to 17 mph. And the company says that the tires will do well off-road, but they encourage you to stick to smooth surfaces. Their special pre-order offer, available until March 15, will let you save $100 on both.

But pro skateboarders might argue that motorization will take the fun out of skateboarding. And we don’t think too many stunts are possible on the ZBoard.

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