Segway is still trying to remind people that it doesn’t just make products for mall cops. It’s also got self-balancing scooters, and autonomous robot, and now, roller skates. Like its siblings, the Drift W1 boasts cutting-edge self-balancing technology that makes it worthy of the Segway brand. Segway has of course become a household name after many years, and although the mall cop association has been memed to hell, the company undeniably makes reliable products of transport.
The Drift W1 roller skates are in the same boat. They’ll likely be one of the most talked-about gadgets this year, just for its ridiculous design alone. Look, anyone is welcome to innovate roller skates, and if Segway is one of the first few to release rather experimental attempts, then so be it.
That’s not a slight on the design of the Drift W1 at all. It’s just that for every new innovation, some duds have to come out first to pave the way for more polished iterations. Even still, the Drift W1 roller skates aren’t too terrible-looking — just a bit bizarre.
But concerns on aesthetic go away once you’re actually using the thing. It’s got a battery that last up to 45 minutes, and you can go as fast as 7.5mph. Surely Segway will find a way to extend battery life in future versions.
There are two modes: riding and freestyle. You also get various light settings to give your roller skates some touch of flair as you go about town. There’s also a 10mm rubber bumper for protection. The pair of kicks features magnesium alloy skeleton as well, so they’re quite robust.
Finally, you get IP54 waterproof protection and UL2272 certification, perfect for learning the art of racing in the rain. At 7.5mph, that is.
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