Sports

Sports at FlipBuy UK: 21 products covering kick scooters and electric scooters, boxing speed bags and platforms, netball hoops and outdoor training equipment. From £48.99 to £406.99.

Electric scooters: the UK law you need to know

This matters before you buy, and many retailers don't say it.

Privately owned electric scooters are illegal to use on public roads, pavements and cycle lanes in the UK. They are classed as motor vehicles, which means they would need insurance, registration, tax, an MOT and a licence, none of which is currently available for them. Only e-scooters in government-approved rental trial schemes may be ridden on public roads.

A privately bought e-scooter may legally be used only on private land, with the landowner's permission. Riding one on a public road or pavement can result in a fine, penalty points on your driving licence, and the scooter being seized.

This is the current position at the time of writing; the law has been under review for some years. Check the GOV.UK guidance on powered transporters before buying, and be clear about where you intend to ride.

Kick scooters have no such restrictions

Manual kick scooters, the folding adult and children's models here, are legal on pavements and in parks, and are the practical choice for commuting and school runs.

How to choose a kick scooter

Check the weight limit against the rider. Adult folding scooters typically take 100kg+; children's models considerably less.
Wheel size decides the ride. Larger wheels (200mm+) roll over cracked pavement and cope with British pavements far better than small ones, which catch on every lip.
Suspension matters more than it sounds if you'll ride any distance on ordinary pavement.
Dual brakes, hand and rear foot brake, give more control, particularly downhill.
Check the folded size if you're taking it on a train or storing it in a hallway.

How to choose boxing equipment for home

Free-standing bags need a weighted base. Check the base capacity and whether filling is included, an unfilled base makes the bag unusable and they ship empty.
Speed bags and reflex bars train timing and reaction, not power. They're excellent cardio and take up little space.
Wall-mounted platforms need a solid wall. Plasterboard alone won't hold the repeated impact, fix into studs or masonry.
Wrap your hands and use gloves. Hand and wrist injuries from bag work without wraps are common and slow to heal.

How to set up outdoor equipment safely

Weighted bases need filling properly. A netball hoop or free-standing bag with a partly filled base tips, and that's how injuries happen
Check the ground. Equipment on grass sinks and destabilises; hard standing is safer for anything with a weighted base
Bring fabric and net components in over winter. Damp and frost rot stitching faster than use does
Check fixings at the start of each season, bolts work loose with use and vibration

Safety kit worth having

None of this is legally required for kick scooters, but it prevents most of the injuries:

A helmet: the single most useful item, particularly for children
Wrist guards for scooters. Wrists take the impact in almost every fall
Lights and reflective clothing if riding near dusk, which in Britain means most of the winter afternoon
Knee and elbow pads for children learning

Common questions

Can I ride an electric scooter on the road?

Not if you own it privately. Private e-scooters may only be used on private land with permission. Only rental scooters in approved trial schemes are permitted on public roads.